The purpose of the research
is study of some issues of fauna, spread and ecology of nematodes of the genus Dirofilaria in biogeocenoses of Uzbekistan.
Materials and methods
.
Nematodes of the genus ...Dirofilaria (
D. immitis
and
D. repens
) were collected from domestic and wild carnivorous mammals within Uzbekistan. The studies were carried out during 2015–2021. 559 individuals of carnivorous mammals were studied by the method of complete helminthological dissection. The found parasites were collected and fixed according to generally accepted methods. The helminths and ectoparasites were identified and their morphology was studied by temporary and permanent specimens using modern microscopes. The parasite species was identified in accordance with the keys and descriptions given in the papers by domestic and foreign researchers. To identify intermediate hosts of Dirofilaria (
D. immitis
), mosquitoes (Culicidae) were caught and examined on and around dogs. A total of 4064 specimens of mosquitoes were studies in spring, summer and autumn using the generally accepted method. We determined the prevalence and intensity of helminth infection in carnivorous. To study the nucleotide sequences in Dirofilaria, we used mature nematodes
D. immitis
and
D. repens
collected from dissected animals. Live nematodes were washed in saline (0.9% NaCl) and fixed in 70% ethanol. We conducted the isolation of genomic DNA, PCR amplification, electrophoresis and sample analysis.
Results and discussion
. In total, two species of Dirofilaria were found in representatives of carnivores in Uzbekistan, namely,
D. immitis
(Leidy, 1856) and
D. repens
Railliet et Henry, 1911. Original data on the spread of Dirofilaria in domestic and wild carnivores, as well as some materials on D. immitis intermediate hosts recorded from mosquitoes Aedes caspius and Culex pipiens were presented. The mtDNA-COI nucleotide sequences were determined to identify species of mature nematodes
D. immitis
(MN 650648.1), and
D. repens
(MZ 081850.1) was deposited by GenBank.
The aim of the study was to morphologically and genetically compare parasitic nematodes from the genus Uncinaria found in different hosts. These common parasites belong to hookworm nematodes (family ...Ancylostomatidae). Worms were collected during dissection of mammals obtained from the Institute of Veterinary Hygiene in Warsaw, where the animals had been tested for rabies. The hosts of the nematodes were European badgers (Meles meles) from the family Mustelidae, as well as red foxes (Vulpes vulpes), dogs (Canis familiaris), and raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides) from the family Canidae. The parasites were viewed under a microscope, and identified on the basis of their morphological features characteristic of the species U. stenocephala. Isolated, PCR-amplified, and sequenced rDNA segments containing internal transcribed spacer segments (ITS1 and ITS2) in the gene encoding 5.8S rDNA were also compared. No genetic or morphological differences were found between Uncinaria hookworms obtained from the four different host species. This means that wild raccoon dogs and badgers can be a source and reservoir for the hookworm U. stenocephala that infects dogs.
Chile ha experimentado una extensa sequía, la que ha sido sostenida desde el año 2010. En este contexto nosotros realizamos un estudio trófico en Lycalopex culpaeus, en la zona mediterránea chilena, ...en medio de este evento climático extremo, para analizar como este fenómeno de restricción en disponibilidad de recursos tróficos afecta la dieta del culpeo. El análisis de fecas permite observar que L. culpaeus sustentó su dieta en el consumo de lagomorfos y de ganado, probablemente muerto. Durante este periodo no se registró cambios en la actividad de los zorros. Otro aspecto interesante, fue la presencia sostenida de mamíferos carnívoros en las fecas a lo largo del año; esto último sostiene lo observado en otras regiones, respecto a lo común que serían las muertes interespecíficas entre mamíferos carnívoros.
The article analyses feeding specifics depending on the season of five species of predatory mammals belonging to two families: Mustelidae and Canidae. It was established that the largest number of ...food objects in the red fox’s diet is characteristic for the winter period (44 objects). In winter, this species enriches its diet with invertebrates, fish, domestic mammals, and ungulates in small quantities. The main objects of food during this period are rodents (19%) and birds (16.6%). Rodents are also the basis of the weasel’s winter diet (50%). Both species of marten also consume rodents and birds in the winter, however, the pine marten hunts birds more often (17.4%) compared to rodents (13%), whereas the stone marten rarely hunts birds in the winter and the basis of its diet is made up by rodents (23.1%). The spring period is characterised by a sharp decrease in objects of plant origin in the diet of all carnivorous mammals considered. In spring, the stone marten consumes the largest share of animal feed (80%). The share of animals in the pine marten’s diet also increases, but this species actively hunts invertebrates (37.1%). Birds were not detected in the diet of the pine marten in spring, but they are present in the diet of the weasel in this period (5.9%). Almost half of the summer diet of all species considered consists of plant objects. All predators are characterised by the consumption of a large number of invertebrates during this period, with the lowest share of them in the diet of the stone marten (5.6%), whose main food in the summer is plants (55.6%), rodents (22.2%) and birds (16.7%). In autumn, the share of plant components in the diet of predators is more than 50%, and this period is characterised by having the highest share of juicy fruits in the diet throughout the year, except for the weasel, in the diet of which plants are rarely found during this period (21.4%). The basis of the diet of this species during this period is mammals (64.3%). The share of rodents (15.5%) and birds (8.3%) in the red fox’s diet increases in the autumn period. Inedible objects were recorded in food samples of two species: red fox and pine marten. For the marten, the largest number of these objects was registered in the summer period, and for the fox, non-food objects were absent only in the summer diet.
Charaspet K, Sukmasuang R, Khoewsree N, Pla-Ard M, Paansri P, Keawdee B, Chanachai Y, Bhumpakphan N. 2021. Spatial and temporal overlaps of top predators: Dhole, tiger and leopard, and their ...potential prey in Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary, Thailand. Biodiversitas 22: 580-592. The study of the spatial-temporal overlap of top predators and their prey is important to understand competition among predators and predator-prey relationships so that the viable populations of predators and other animals can be sustained. This research aimed to study the abundance of three top predators: Dhole (Cuon alpinus), tiger (Panthera tigris) and leopard (Panthera pardus), and their potential wild prey in Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary, Thailand, and to investigate the spatial-temporal overlap between those three predators, and their potential wild prey. We tested two significant hypotheses: (i) tiger and leopard had the highest spatial-temporal overlap and the spatial overlap of dhole and leopard was higher in comparison to dhole and tiger due to a higher prey overlap; (ii) the three species of large carnivore avoided spatial-temporal overlap even if they were in the same area. The study was conducted using camera traps. In addition, the spatial-temporal overlap of large carnivores and their potential prey was studied to understand the important species of prey of these large carnivores. The results showed that the spatial overlap of tiger and leopard was the highest. Dhole had significant spatial overlap with leopard, which was higher in comparison to dhole and tiger. A significant temporal overlap of dhole and leopard was not found. Also, a significant temporal overlap of tiger and leopard was not found. The results were based on hypotheses that conformed to the niche overlap index of the potential prey and the temporal overlap coefficient. There were ten important species of potential prey of large carnivores: Sambar deer (Rusa unicolor), red muntjac (Muntiacus muntjak), gaur (Bos gaurus), banteng (Bos javanicus), wild boar (Sus scrofa), Malayan porcupine (Hystrix brachyura), large Indian civet (Viverra zibetha), Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus), pig-tailed macaque (Macaca nemestrina) and red jungle fowl (Gallus gallus). The important recommendation is the protection of the sanctuary from wildfires which spread from the outside in, especially in dry evergreen forest. Food resources of herbivores in the area must be managed, as well as the prevention of epidemics from livestock to wild animals.
Abstract The morphological knowledge of the salivary glands in wild species is fundamental, since these studiescan be used as conservation strategies, clinical treatments and the preservation of ...species threatened with extinction. Thus, the aim of the study was to anatomically describe the larger salivary glands: parotid, mandibular, sublingual and molar of the jaguar. For this, two specimens of puma (Puma concolor) were used, after death by road traffic accident, donated by the Clinical Surgical Service Department of the Veterinary Hospital “Dr. Halim Atique “(UNIRP). The animals were fixed with 10% aqueous formaldehyde solution, dissected, descriptively analyzed and photographed. Morphologically, the parotid gland is grayish-yellow in color, distinctly lobulated, and has a semilunar shape. This gland is located in the posterolateral region of the face and at its ventral end we observe the parotid duct. The mandibular gland presents a slightly rounded outline, a grayish color and its surface is covered by a capsule of connective tissue. This gland is located in the posterolateral region of the face and we find the mandibular duct at its ventral end. The monostomatic sublingual gland is located on the rostral border of the mandibular gland and it is covered by the mandibular lymph nodes. The molar gland is a yellowish-gray membranous protuberance, elongated, with rectangular shape and it lies dorsally to the labial commissure. Based on the dissections, we conclude that the morphological and topographic characteristics of salivary glands of puma follow the same structural pattern described for other species of carnivorous mammals (domestic and wild).
Resumo O conhecimento morfológico das glândulas salivares em espécies silvestres é fundamental, pois podem ser utilizadas como estratégias de conservação, tratamentos clínicos e preservação de espécies ameaçadas de extinção. Dessa forma, o objetivo do estudo foi descrever anatomicamente as glândulas salivares maiores: parótida, mandibular, sublingual e molar da onça-parda. Para isso, foram utilizados dois espécimes de onça-parda (Puma concolor), após morte por atropelamento, doados pelo Setor de Atendimento Clínico Cirúrgico de Animais Selvagens (SACCAS) do Hospital Veterinário “Dr. HalimAtique” (UNIRP). Os animais foram fixados com solução aquosa de formol a 10%, dissecados, analisados descritivamente e fotografados. Morfologicamente, a glândula parótida possui uma coloração cinza amarelada, é distintamente lobulada e apresenta um formato semilunar. Essa glândula localiza-se na região póstero-dorsal da face, e na sua extremidade ventral observamos o ducto parotídeo. A glândula mandibular apresenta um contorno levemente arredondado, coloração acinzentada e sua superfície é revestida por uma cápsula de tecido conjuntivo. Essa glândula situa-se na região póstero-ventral da face e na sua extremidade ventral encontramos o ducto mandibular. A glândula sublingual monostomática está localizada na borda rostral da glândula mandibular e apresenta-se coberta pelos linfonodos mandibulares. A glândula molar é uma protuberância membranosa de coloração cinza amarelada, formato retangular alongado que fica situada ventralmente a comissura labial. Fundamentado nas dissecações, concluímos que as características morfológicas e topográficas das glândulas salivares da onça-parda seguem o mesmo padrão estrutural descrito para outras espécies de mamíferos carnívoros (domésticos e silvestres).
Materials and methods. Epizootic situation and distribution of trichinellosis in carnivorous mammals (wolf, fox, white bear, brown bear, wolverine, lynx) in the territory of Yakutia were studied. ...Trichinellosis was detected in five of six examined animal species. Results and discussion. The extension of infection caused by Trichinella spp. was in wolf 15,2 % (13 regions of Yakutia were investigated), in red fox – 3,3 (10 regions), in brown bear – 19,7 (16 regions), in wolverine – 20 % (10 regions). The highest level of infeсtion of brown bear with Trichinella spp in Olekminsky region of Yakutia was 42,8 %. Trichinellosis was detected in three examined white bears of tundra zone. In examined lynx trichinellosis was not registered. Based on the genetic investigations, the authors presume that the species of Trichinella native is circulating on the territory of Yakutia.
•A model of local and landscape disturbance effects on seed dispersal is proposed.•The model is tested regionally with a keystone semiarid scrub dispersed by mammals.•Disturbance at each scale ...impacts on seed dispersal via distinct pathways.•Fruit intake is affected by remnant while disperser abundance by landscape features.•Attention to the scale of disturbance is needed to recover seed dispersal functions.
The scale of disturbance is of paramount importance to understand the disruptive effect of anthropogenic perturbation on animal seed dispersal and its consequences for plant species conservation at regional level. However, the intricate ways by which landscape and local-scale disturbances affect seed dispersal remain unclear. We propose a conceptual scheme of the direct and indirect effects that large-scale (landscape) and local-scale (within-habitat remnant) disturbances may have on seed dispersal. We evaluate this scheme regionally with Ziziphus lotus, a mammalian-dispersed keystone scrub of threatened European semiarid habitats dispersed by mammals. Using Structural Equation Modeling we disentangled whether disturbance effects on seed dispersal function happen via landscape/remnant structural changes or by shortage in food provision (fruit and carnivores’ prey abundance) and if such changes cascade on seed dispersal by modifying primarily the fruit consumption rates or the animal-disperser assemblages. Disturbances at both spatial scales impacted on seed dispersal, which collapsed in some localities, especially those without juveniles. Rates of fruit consumption by seed dispersers increased with fruit availability that, in turn, depended on the level of alteration at the local scale of each remnant. However, the abundance and diversity of seed dispersers responded to structural changes in the landscape, like natural habitat cover and complexity. Attention to both scales of disturbance is thus needed to recover the seed dispersal function. Management within remnants to improve their state and enhance food provision will favor fruit consumption rates, while increasing natural habitat cover and landscape complexity will favor the disperser-assemblage abundance and diversity.
Vertebrates developed tooth replacement over 400 million years ago. Then, 200 million years later, the combination of vertical tooth replacement with the thecodont implantation (teeth in bone ...sockets) appeared a key morphological innovation in mammalian evolution. However, we discovered that an extinct fish taxon,
, showed the same innovation in the lineage Serrasalmimidae, which survived the end Cretaceous mass extinction event. The carnassial teeth are known in both mammals and pycnodont fish, but these teeth do not share the same tissues or developmental processes. Therefore, this serrasalmimid pycnodont fish might have independently acquired mammal-like tooth replacement and implantation, indicating that the fish and mammals convergently evolved the carnassial dental morphologies at about the same time, approximately 60 My ago, in separate ecosystems.
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