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preparing our paralympians: research and development at ossur, uk. interview by sarah a. curran.in the last 25 years, the continuous evolution in the design of prostheses for individuals with transfemoral and transtibial amputations has been remarkable. mirroring this development is the dependency and expectancy of the prosthesis technology by the athletes, coaches and other personnel involved in creating paralympians of today and the future. össur is recognised as a leader in designing innovative prosthetic products that have contributed worldwide to developing leading paralympians. the o ...201222918916
biomechanical differences between experienced and inexperienced wheelchair users during sport.during functional wheelchair movement there are several types of stroke pattern that a manual wheelchair user (mwcu) can utilize in order to propel.201222918910
knowledge of mange among masai pastoralists in kenya.pastoralists in low-income countries usually live in close proximity to their animals and thus represent an important repository of information about livestock disease. since wild and domestic animals often mix freely whilst grazing, pastoralists are also able to observe first-hand the diseases that are present in wildlife and as such are key informants in disease outbreaks in sylvatic animals. we report here the findings of the first study of the knowledge and role of masai pastoralists in mang ...201222912858
retraction for christiansen and mazák. a primitive late pliocene cheetah, and evolution of the cheetah lineage. 201222908293
what can zookeepers tell us about interacting with big cats in captivity?despite the potential dangers involved, interactions between zookeepers and captive big cats are increasing. research with other animals, particularly nonhuman primates, suggests that closer interactions can be beneficial not only for the animals and their keepers, but also for zoo visitors. this study sought to determine whether the same benefits may apply to keeper-big cat interactions. an online questionnaire was completed by 86 keepers worldwide, assessing which types of handling (hands-on, ...201322887705
molecular detection and characterization of potentially new babesia and theileria species/variants in wild felids from kenya.piroplasms frequently infect domestic and wild carnivores. at present, there is limited information on the occurrence and molecular identity of these tick-borne parasites in wild felids in kenya. in 2009, a pair of captive lions (panthare leo) was diagnosed with suspected babesiosis and mineral deficiency at an animal orphanage on the outskirts of nairobi, kenya. blood smears indicated presences of haemoparasites in the erythrocytes, however, no further investigations were conducted to identify ...201222796449
cutaneous leishmaniasis and rickettsial african tick-bite fever: a combination of exotic traveler's diseases in the same patient.cutaneous leishmaniasis and rickettsial african tick-bite fever are two zoonoses increasingly diagnosed in industrialized nations due to more international travel to endemic areas.201222788813
fleet of foot: nimble robots like this "cheetah" will help the military navigate terrain too rocky for wheels. 201222779272
high speed galloping in the cheetah (acinonyx jubatus) and the racing greyhound (canis familiaris): spatio-temporal and kinetic characteristics.the cheetah and racing greyhound are of a similar size and gross morphology and yet the cheetah is able to achieve a far higher top speed. we compared the kinematics and kinetics of galloping in the cheetah and greyhound to investigate how the cheetah can attain such remarkable maximum speeds. this also presented an opportunity to investigate some of the potential limits to maximum running speed in quadrupeds, which remain poorly understood. by combining force plate and high speed video data of ...201222723482
an advanced method to assess the diet of free-ranging large carnivores based on scats.the diet of free-ranging carnivores is an important part of their ecology. it is often determined from prey remains in scats. in many cases, scat analyses are the most efficient method but they require correction for potential biases. when the diet is expressed as proportions of consumed mass of each prey species, the consumed prey mass to excrete one scat needs to be determined and corrected for prey body mass because the proportion of digestible to indigestible matter increases with prey body ...201222715373
the clavicles of smilodon fatalis and panthera atrox (mammalia: felidae) from rancho la brea, los angeles, california.the rancho la brea collections at the george c. page museum in los angeles, california, contain the largest single inventory of smilodon fatalis remains representing virtually every bone in the skeleton. eighteen clavicles of two distinctive shapes have been recovered from historical and recent excavations at rancho la brea. in this study, we identify these specimens to species through comparison of their morphology and morphological variability with clavicles found in modern felids. this study ...201222592918
characterization of α2,3- and α2,6-sialyltransferases from helicobacter acinonychis.genome sequence data were used to clone and express two sialyltransferase enzymes of the gt-42 family from helicobacter acinonychis atcc 51104, a gastric disease isolate from cheetahs. the deposited genome sequence for these genes contains a large number of tandem repeat sequences in each of them: hac1267 (rqkele)(15) and hac1268 (eekllefkni)(13). we obtained two clones with different numbers of repeat sequences for the hac1267 gene homolog and a single clone for the hac1268 gene homolog. both g ...201222504533
evaluation and interpretation of the effects of environmental enrichment utilizing varying degrees of sampling effort.documenting the effects of novel forms of enrichment is becoming increasingly important within the field of environmental enrichment. appropriate documentation and evaluation must accompany any enrichment research project in order for accurate results to be obtained. the objective of the present study was to provide an example of how the level of effort in documenting the effect of enrichment is linked to how it is evaluated. this study was carried out on eight cheetahs (acinonyx jubatus) at fot ...201322383365
first report of taenia acinonyxi (ortlopp, 1938) in acinonyx jubatus venaticus from iran.the asian cheetah is known as iranian panther. a four years old female cheetah was killed in a road accident by a truck in abbas abad (biarjamand) county around shahrood city in semnan province, central part of iran. two days after the accident the carcass of animal was autopsied and only five cestodes were obtained from its intestine. in inspection of other organs no other helminth was observed. cestod samples were fixed and stained by carmine acid. characterization of the cestodes using morpho ...201122347321
pandemic (h1n1) 2009 in captive cheetah.we describe virus isolation, full genome sequence analysis, and clinical pathology in ferrets experimentally inoculated with pandemic (h1n1) 2009 virus recovered from a clinically ill captive cheetah that had minimal human contact. evidence of reverse zoonotic transmission by fomites underscores the substantial animal and human health implications of this virus.201222305505
fermentation of animal components in strict carnivores: a comparative study with cheetah fecal inoculum.the natural diet of felids contains highly digestible animal tissues but also fractions resistant to small intestinal digestion, which enter the large intestine where they may be fermented by the resident microbial population. little information exists on the microbial degradability of animal tissues in the large intestine of felids consuming a natural diet. this study aimed to rank animal substrates in their microbial degradability by means of an in vitro study using captive cheetahs fed a stri ...201222287677
the swimming behavior of selected archaea.the swimming behavior of bacteria has been studied extensively, at least for some species like escherichia coli. in contrast alomost no data have been published for archaea in this respect. in a systematic study we asked how the archaeal model organisms halobacterium salinarum, methanococcus voltae, methanococcus maripaludis, methanocaldococcus jannaschii, methanocaldococcus villosus, pyrococcus furiosus and sulfolobus acidocaldarius swim and which swimming behavior they exhibit. the two euryarc ...201222247169
different patterns of metabolic cryo-damage in domestic cat (felis catus) and cheetah (acinonyx jubatus) spermatozoa.felid spermatozoa are sensitive to cryopreservation-induced damage, but functional losses can be mitigated by post-thaw swim-up or density gradient processing methods that selectively recover motile or structurally-normal spermatozoa, respectively. despite the importance of sperm energy production to achieving fertilization, there is little knowledge about the influence of cryopreservation or post-thaw processing on felid sperm metabolism. we conducted a comparative study of domestic cat and che ...201122227231
dietary isoflavone absorption, excretion, and metabolism in captive cheetahs (acinonyx jubatus).dietary isoflavones, capable of influencing reproductive parameters in domestic cats (felis catus), have been detected in commercial diets fed to captive cheetahs (acinonyx jubatus). however, the absorptive and metabolic capacity of cheetahs towards isoflavones has not yet been studied. experiments were designed to describe the plasma concentration-time curve, metabolite profile, and urinary and fecal excretion of genistein and daidzein in cheetahs following consumption of isoflavones. four adul ...201122204061
using pgfm (13,14-dihydro-15-keto-prostaglandin f2α) as a non-invasive pregnancy marker for felids.understanding the complex endocrine interactions that control reproduction in felids is essential for captive breeding management. the most important demand is a quick and reliable pregnancy diagnosis. however, the occurrence of pseudopregnancies in felids complicates matters. we investigated whether the fecal prostaglandin metabolite (pgfm) recently suggested for pregnancy diagnosis in the lynx is suitable for all felid species. we found that increased levels of pgfm during the last trimester i ...201122192399
unintended consequences of conservation actions: managing disease in complex ecosystems.infectious diseases are increasingly recognised to be a major threat to biodiversity. disease management tools such as control of animal movements and vaccination can be used to mitigate the impact and spread of diseases in targeted species. they can reduce the risk of epidemics and in turn the risks of population decline and extinction. however, all species are embedded in communities and interactions between species can be complex, hence increasing the chance of survival of one species can hav ...201122163323
Effect of diet on the incidence of and mortality owing to gastritis and renal disease in captive cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) in South Africa.Seventy-two adult cheetahs were evaluated for the degree of gastritis by endoscopic biopsy and for renal disease by serum creatinine. Cheetahs free of Grade 3 gastritis and renal disease were placed on Trial A; remaining cheetahs were placed on Trial B, which ran concurrently. All cheetahs were monitored for 4 years. Cheetahs exited Trial A and entered Trial B if they developed Grade 3 gastritis or renal disease. Cheetahs exited Trial B if they developed clinical gastritis or renal disease that ...201122083933
animal fibre: the forgotten nutrient in strict carnivores? first insights in the cheetah.as wild felids are obligate carnivores, it is likely that poorly enzymatically digestible animal tissues determine hindgut fermentation, instead of plant fibre. therefore, faecal concentrations of short-chain fatty acids (scfa, including branched-chain fatty acids, bcfa), indole and phenol were evaluated in 14 captive cheetahs, fed two different diets differing in proportion of poorly enzymatically digestible animal tissue. using a cross-over design, the cheetahs were fed exclusively whole rabbi ...201122074361
How to spot a cheetah. 201122053345
blood values of adult captive cheetahs (acinonyx jubatus) fed either supplemented beef or whole rabbit carcasses.this study evaluated nutrient intake and relevant blood parameters of 14 captive cheetahs, randomly assigned to a meat-only diet (supplemented beef, sb) or a whole prey diet (whole rabbit, wr) for 4 weeks each. despite a higher food intake, daily metabolizable energy intake was lower when fed wr (308 kj bw(-1) ) compared with sb (347 kj bw(-1) ) (p = 0.002). the ratio of protein to fat was markedly lower for wr (2.3:1) compared with sb (8.8:1), which was reflected in higher serum urea levels whe ...201122052742
mitogenomic analysis of the genus panthera.the complete sequences of the mitochondrial dna genomes of panthera tigris, panthera pardus, and panthera uncia were determined using the polymerase chain reaction method. the lengths of the complete mitochondrial dna sequences of the three species were 16990, 16964, and 16773 bp, respectively. each of the three mitochondrial dna genomes included 13 protein-coding genes, 22 trna, two rrna, one o(l)r, and one control region. the structures of the genomes were highly similar to those of felis catu ...201122038004
cheetahs have 4 serum amyloid a genes evolved through repeated duplication events.amyloid a (aa) amyloidosis is a leading cause of mortality in captive cheetahs (acinonyx jubatus). we performed genome walking and pcr cloning and revealed that cheetahs have 4 saa genes (provisionally named saa1a, saa1b, saa3a, and saa3b). in addition, we identified multiple nucleotide polymorphisms in the 4 saa genes by screening 51 cheetahs. the polymorphisms defined 4, 7, 6, and 4 alleles for saa1a, saa3a, saa1b, and saa3b, respectively. pedigree analysis of the inheritance of genotypes for ...201121987659
the curse of the prey: sarcoptes mite molecular analysis reveals potential prey-to-predator parasitic infestation in wild animals from masai mara, kenya.recently, there have been attempts to understand the molecular epidemiology of sarcoptes scabiei, to evaluate the gene flow between isolates of s. scabiei from different hosts and geographic regions. however, to our knowledge, a molecular study has not been carried out to assess the molecular diversity and gene flow of sarcoptes mite in a predator/prey ecosystem.201121978557
integrated bayesian network framework for modeling complex ecological issues.the management of environmental problems is multifaceted, requiring varied and sometimes conflicting objectives and perspectives to be considered. bayesian network (bn) modeling facilitates the integration of information from diverse sources and is well suited to tackling the management challenges of complex environmental problems. however, combining several perspectives in one model can lead to large, unwieldy bns that are difficult to maintain and understand. conversely, an oversimplified mode ...201121853523
digital gene expression for non-model organisms.next-generation sequencing technologies offer new approaches for global measurements of gene expression, but are mostly limited to organisms for which a high-quality assembled reference genome sequence is available. we present a method for gene expression profiling called edge, or ecop15i-tagged digital gene expression, based on ultra high-throughput sequencing of 27 bp cdna fragments that uniquely tag the corresponding gene, thereby allowing direct quantification of transcript abundance. we sho ...201121844123
hippobosca longipennis - a potential intermediate host of a species of acanthocheilonema in dogs in northern india.abstract: background: hippobosca longipennis (the 'dog louse fly') is a blood sucking ectoparasite found on wild carnivores such as cheetahs and lions and domesticated and feral dogs in africa, the middle east and asia, including china. known as an intermediate host for acanthocheilonema dracunculoides and a transport host for cheyletiella yasguri, it has also been suggested that h. longipennis may be a vector for other pathogens, including acanthocheilonema sp. ? nov., which was recently report ...201121781294
characterization of the gastric immune response in cheetahs (acinonyx jubatus) with helicobacter-associated gastritis.captive cheetahs have an unusually severe progressive gastritis that is not present in wild cheetahs infected with the same strains of helicobacter. this gastritis, when severe, has florid lymphocyte and plasma cell infiltrates in the epithelium and lamina propria with gland destruction, parietal cell loss, and, in some cases, lymphoid follicles. the local gastric immune response was characterized by immunohistochemistry in 21 cheetahs with varying degrees of gastritis. the character of the resp ...201121730348
beta amyloid deposition and neurofibrillary tangles spontaneously occur in the brains of captive cheetahs (acinonyx jubatus).alzheimer disease is a dementing disorder characterized pathologically by a+¦ deposition, neurofibrillary tangles, and neuronal loss. although aged animals of many species spontaneously develop a+¦ deposits, only 2 species (chimpanzee and wolverine) have been reported to develop a+¦ deposits and neurofibrillary tangles in the same individual. here, the authors demonstrate the spontaneous occurrence of a+¦ deposits and neurofibrillary tangles in captive cheetahs (acinonyx jubatus). among 22 cheet ...201121712514
reactivation of a cryptococcus gattii infection in a cheetah (acinonyx jubatus) held in the national zoo, havana, cuba. 201121668523
allometry in the distribution of material properties and geometry of the felid skull: why larger species may need to change and how they may achieve it.extant members of the cat family (felidae) have been considered behaviourally and morphologically conservative, i.e., despite great differences in size, there is relatively little variation in either the shape of the felid skull and dentition across species, or in the way in which these structures are used to kill and dismember prey. consequently felids have been considered an appropriate focus for a number of investigations into the influence of allometry on craniomandibular mechanics and morph ...201121651916
minimizing predation risk in a landscape of multiple predators: effects on the spatial distribution of african ungulates.studies that focus on single predator-prey interactions can be inadequate for understanding antipredator responses in multi-predator systems. yet there is still a general lack of information about the strategies of prey to minimize predation risk from multiple predators at the landscape level. here we examined the distribution of seven african ungulate species in the fenced karongwe game reserve (kgr), south africa, as a function of predation risk from all large carnivore species (lion, leopard, ...201121618919
oxidative phosphorylation is essential for felid sperm function, but is substantially lower in cheetah (acinonyx jubatus) compared to domestic cat (felis catus) ejaculate.compared to the normospermic domestic cat, sperm metabolic function is compromised in the teratospermic cat and cheetah, but the pathway(s) involved in this deficiency are unknown. glycolysis is essential for sperm motility, yet appears to function normally in spermatozoa of either species regardless of structural morphology. we conducted a comparative study to further understand the mechanisms of energy production in felid spermatozoa, with the hypothesis that oxidative phosphorylation is requi ...201121593479
increasing age influences uterine integrity, but not ovarian function or oocyte quality in the cheetah (acinonyx jubatus).although the cheetah routinely lives for >12 yr in ex situ collections, females > 8 yr of age reproduce infrequently. we tested the hypothesis that reproduction is compromised in older cheetah females due to a combination of a disrupted gonadal, oocyte and uterine function/integrity. we assessed (1) ovarian response to gonadotropins, (2) oocyte meiotic, fertilization and developmental competence and (3) uterine morphology in three age classes of cheetahs (young, 2-5 yr, n = 17; prime, 6-8 yr, n ...201121565998
focal palatine erosion in captive and free-living cheetahs (acinonyx jubatus) and other felid species.we examined 1,092 skulls of captive and free-living individuals, representing 33 felid species, to determine the prevalence of focal palatine erosion (fpe). fpe was detected in 3.2% of cats evaluated, including cheetah (acinonyx jubatus) and 14 other felid species. the prevalence of fpe between cheetah (9.4%; n = 64) and non-cheetah species (2.8%; n = 1,028) (χ(2) test; p = 0.004) and between captive (5.7%; n = 246) and free-living (2.4%; n = 824) individuals (χ(2) test; p = 0.010) were signific ...201121541986
bilateral carpal valgus deformity in hand-reared cheetah cubs (acinonyx jubatus).four hand-reared cheetah cubs (acinonyx jubatus) exhibited progressively severe bilateral valgus deformity of the carpi (cv) during the weaning period. radiographs of the thoracic limbs suggested normal bone ossification, and serum chemistry was unremarkable. all affected cubs developed cv shortly after the onset of gastroenteritis, which was treated medically, and included use of a prescription diet. a sudden decrease in growth rate was associated with gastrointestinal disease. before gastroent ...201121462246
trinitromethyl-substituted 5-nitro- or 3-azo-1,2,4-triazoles: synthesis, characterization, and energetic properties.various new polynitro-1,2,4-triazoles containing a trinitromethyl group were synthesized by straightforward routes. these high nitrogen and oxygen-rich compounds were fully characterized using ir and multinuclear nmr spectroscopy, elemental analysis, natural bonding orbital (nbo) analysis, and differential scanning calorimetry (dsc) and, in the case of 12, with single crystal x-ray structuring. the heats of formation for all compounds were calculated with gaussian 03 (revision d.01) and then com ...201121449560
growth rates and energy intake of hand-reared cheetah cubs (acinonyx jubatus) in south africa.growth rate is an important factor in neonatal survival. the aim of this study was to determine growth rates in hand-reared cheetah cubs in south africa fed a prescribed energy intake, calculated for growth in the domestic cat. growth was then compared with previously published data from hand-reared cubs in north america and the relationship between growth and energy intake explored. daily body weight (bw) gain, feed and energy intake data was collected from 18 hand-reared cheetah cubs up to 120 ...201121429043
daily fecal sex steroid hormonal changes and mating success in captive female cheetahs (acinonyx jubatus) in japan.daily fecal estrogen and progestin concentrations were measured by enzyme immunoassay in five female cheetahs (acinonyx jubatus) for 4-6 months. the animals were housed under different conditions: (1) a female always housed in a group including one or more males; (2) two females isolated individually for short or long periods; (3) the other two females housed together. these females were separately housed with males for mating around the time of the estrogen peaks. the hormone profiles were simi ...201121398057
a defense of the primitive cheetah skull. 201121385697
functional anatomy of the cheetah (acinonyx jubatus) forelimb.despite the cheetah being the fastest living land mammal, we know remarkably little about how it attains such high top speeds (29 m s(-1)). here we aim to describe and quantify the musculoskeletal anatomy of the cheetah forelimb and compare it to the racing greyhound, an animal of similar mass, but which can only attain a top speed of 17 m s(-1). measurements were made of muscle mass, fascicle length and moment arms, enabling calculations of muscle volume, physiological cross-sectional area (pcs ...201121332715
glycolytic enzyme activity is essential for domestic cat (felis catus) and cheetah (acinonyx jubatus) sperm motility and viability in a sugar-free medium.we have previously reported a lack of glucose uptake in domestic cat and cheetah spermatozoa, despite observing that these cells produce lactate at rates that correlate positively with sperm function. to elucidate the role of glycolysis in felid sperm energy production, we conducted a comparative study in the domestic cat and cheetah, with the hypothesis that sperm motility and viability are maintained in both species in the absence of glycolytic metabolism and are fueled by endogenous substrate ...201121325689
nitrogen-rich salts based on energetic nitroaminodiazido[1,3,5]triazine and guanazine.highly dense nitrogen-rich ionic compounds are potential high-performance energetic materials for use in military and industrial venues. guanazinium salts with promising energetic anions and a family of energetic salts based on nitrogen-rich cations and the 6-nitroamino-2,4-diazido[1,3,5]triazine anion (nadat) were prepared and fully characterized by elemental analysis, ir spectroscopy, (1)h nmr and (13)c nmr spectroscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry (dsc). the crystal structures of ne ...201121268156
neurological dysfunction and caudal fossa overcrowding in a young cheetah with hypovitaminosis a. 201021257402
fecal progestagens to detect and monitor pregnancy in captive female cheetahs (acinonyx jubatus).the purposes of the present study were to establish a noninvasive monitoring assay of fecal progestagen measurement to detect pregnancy and to identify the components of fecal progestagens in early, middle and late pregnancy in cheetahs. feces were collected from 7 female cheetahs and analyzed from 30 days before the last copulation to parturition in 9 pregnancies. blood was collected from one cheetah. fecal progestagen and serum progesterone concentrations were determined by enzyme immunoassay ...201121242656
phylogeography, genetic structure and population divergence time of cheetahs in africa and asia: evidence for long-term geographic isolates.the cheetah (acinonyx jubatus) has been described as a species with low levels of genetic variation. this has been suggested to be the consequence of a demographic bottleneck 10 000-12 000 years ago (ya) and also led to the assumption that only small genetic differences exist between the described subspecies. however, analysing mitochondrial dna and microsatellites in cheetah samples from most of the historic range of the species we found relatively deep phylogeographic breaks between some of th ...201121214655
cheetah paradigm revisited: mhc diversity in the world's largest free-ranging population.for more than two decades, the cheetah (acinonyx jubatus) has been considered a paradigm of disease vulnerability associated with low genetic diversity, particularly at the immune genes of the major histocompatibility complex (mhc). cheetahs have been used as a classic example in numerous conservation genetics textbooks as well as in many related scientific publications. however, earlier studies used methods with low resolution to quantify mhc diversity and/or small sample sizes. furthermore, hi ...201121183613
from tiger to panda: animal head detection.robust object detection has many important applications in real-world online photo processing. for example, both google image search and msn live image search have integrated human face detector to retrieve face or portrait photos. inspired by the success of such face filtering approach, in this paper, we focus on another popular online photo category-animal, which is one of the top five categories in the msn live image search query log. as a first attempt, we focus on the problem of animal head ...201021156394
functional anatomy of the cheetah (acinonyx jubatus) hindlimb.the cheetah is capable of a top speed of 29 ms(-1) compared to the maximum speed of 17 ms(-1) achieved by the racing greyhound. in this study of the hindlimb and in the accompanying paper on the forelimb we have quantified the musculoskeletal anatomy of the cheetah and greyhound and compared them to identify any differences that may account for this variation in their locomotor abilities. specifically, bone length, mass and mid-shaft diameter were measured, along with muscle mass, fascicle lengt ...201121062282
hemodynamic changes as a diagnostic tool in acute heart failure--a pilot study.to examine whether posturally induced changes in cardiac output differentiate patients presenting with dyspnea to the emergency department (ed) with acute heart failure (ahf) from other causes.201221030189
nitroimino-tetrazolates and oxy-nitroimino-tetrazolates.highly energetic 1,1'-ethylenebis(oxy)bis(5-nitroimino-tetrazolate) salts were obtained by reacting equimolar quantities of the acidic 1,1'-ethylenebis(oxy)bis(5-nitroimino-tetrazole) and energetic bases in aqueous solution. additionally, metathesis of silver 1,1'-ethylenebis(oxy)bis(5-nitroimino-tetrazolate) with diaminoguanidinium chloride or triaminoguanidinium chloride gave the corresponding oxy-nitroimino-tetrazolate salt. these salts were fully characterized using ir and multinuclear nmr s ...201020925341
female reproductive cycles of wild female felids.many felid species are endangered because of destructive human activities. as a result, zoos are being tasked with sustaining genetically healthy populations in case of catastrophic extinctions. unfortunately, with the exception of a few species, most felids do not reproduce well in captivity. the ability to track reproductive activity via hormones is key to developing successful ex situ breeding programs. through the development of noninvasive fecal hormone monitoring techniques, a high degree ...201020888156
is the climate right for pleistocene rewilding? using species distribution models to extrapolate climatic suitability for mammals across continents.species distribution models (sdms) are increasingly used for extrapolation, or predicting suitable regions for species under new geographic or temporal scenarios. however, sdm predictions may be prone to errors if species are not at equilibrium with climatic conditions in the current range and if training samples are not representative. here the controversial "pleistocene rewilding" proposal was used as a novel example to address some of the challenges of extrapolating modeled species-climate re ...201020877563
renal lesions of nondomestic felids.to comprehensively evaluate the occurrence of renal lesions in a variety of nondomestic felids, necropsy cases from 1978 to 2008 were reviewed from a municipal zoo and a large cat sanctuary for those in which the kidneys were examined histologically. seventy exotic felids were identified (25 tigers, 18 lions, 6 cougars, 5 leopards, 3 snow leopards, 3 clouded leopards, 3 canadian lynx, 2 ocelots, 2 bobcats, 2 cheetahs, 1 jaguar), and their histologic renal lesions were evaluated and compared. the ...201020876911
evaluation of two milk replacers fed to hand-reared cheetah cubs (acinonyx jubatus): nutrient composition, apparent total tract digestibility, and comparison to maternal cheetah milk.commercially prepared milk replacers are frequently used to provide the sole source of nutrition for hand-reared cheetah cubs (acinonyx jubatus). the nutrient composition of two commonly used milk replacers was determined. using titanium dioxide as an indigestible marker, nutrient digestibility was calculated from the analyses of fecal samples collected from each cub (n = 4 on formula 1, and n = 2 on formula 2). mean apparent total tract digestibility for both formulas was >90% for all nutrients ...201020853414
bilateral vision loss in a captive cheetah (acinonyx jubatus).the following case report describes a 1-year-old female cheetah (acinonyx jubatus) with bilateral blindness and unresponsive pupils. for comparison, a second healthy 2.5-year-old male cheetah without visual deficits was also examined. clinical examination of both animals included biomicroscopy, indirect ophthalmoscopy, tonometry, and electroretinography. the young female cheetah showed no menace response, no direct or indirect pupillary light reflex, and no dazzle reflex in either eye. fundus le ...201020840102
is the presence of abnormal prion protein in the renal glomeruli of feline species presenting with fse authentic?in a recent paper written by hilbe et al (bmc vet res, 2009), the nature and specificity of the prion protein deposition in the kidney of feline species affected with feline spongiform encephalopathy (fse) were clearly considered doubtful. this article was brought to our attention because we published several years ago an immunodetection of abnormal prion protein in the kidney of a cheetah affected with fse. at this time we were convinced of its specificity but without having all the possibiliti ...201020684771
exposure of growing and adult captive cheetahs (acinonyx jubatus) to dietary isoflavones: twenty years later.dietary isoflavones are associated with oestrogenic and anti-oestrogenic effects, and have been linked to infertility in cheetahs. this study aimed to determine the isoflavone content of commercially prepared diets consumed by captive cheetahs. sixteen international zoological facilities provided diets, and the isoflavone content of each diet was determined by acid hydrolysis and hplc quantification. proximate nutritional composition was also determined. over half the diets analysed contained de ...201020662971
3,4,5-trinitropyrazole-based energetic salts.high-density energetic salts that are comprised of nitrogen-rich cations and the 3,4,5-trinitropyrazolate anion were synthesized in high yield by neutralization or metathesis reactions. the resulting salts were fully characterized by (1)h, (13)c nmr, and ir spectroscopy; differential scanning calorimetry; and elemental analysis. additionally, the structures of the 3,5-diaminotriazolium and triaminoguanidinium 3,4,5-trinitropyrazolates were confirmed by single-crystal x-ray diffraction. based on ...201020661962
biochemical and immunohistochemical characterization of feline spongiform encephalopathy in a german captive cheetah.feline spongiform encephalopathy (fse) is a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy that affects domestic cats (felis catus) and captive wild members of the family felidae. in this report we describe a case of fse in a captive cheetah from the zoological garden of nuremberg. the biochemical examination revealed a bse-like pattern. disease-associated scrapie prion protein (prp(sc)) was widely distributed in the central and peripheral nervous system, as well as in the lymphoreticular system and in ...201020660146
theoretical studies on the formation mechanism and explosive performance of nitro-substituted 1,3,5-triazines.to develop new highly energetic materials, we have considered the design of molecules with high nitrogen content. possible candidates include 1,3,5-triazine derivatives. in this work, we studied potential synthetic routes for melamine using the mp2/6-31+g(d,p)//b3lyp/6-31g(d) level of theory. the mechanisms studied here are stepwise mechanism beginning with the dimerization of cyanamide and one-step termolecular mechanism. the same type of mechanism is also applied to nitro-substituted 1,3,5-tri ...201020652990
evidence for compromised metabolic function and limited glucose uptake in spermatozoa from the teratospermic domestic cat (felis catus) and cheetah (acinonyx jubatus).cheetahs and certain other felids consistently ejaculate high proportions (≥ 60%) of malformed spermatozoa, a condition known as teratospermia, which is prevalent in humans. even seemingly normal spermatozoa from domestic cat teratospermic ejaculates have reduced fertilizing capacity. to understand the role of sperm metabolism in this phenomenon, we conducted a comparative study in the normospermic domestic cat versus the teratospermic cat and cheetah with the general hypothesis that sperm metab ...201020650882
babesia lengau sp. nov., a novel babesia species in cheetah (acinonyx jubatus, schreber, 1775) populations in south africa.in a previous paper, we reported on a large number of cheetah blood specimens that gave positive signals only for babesia and/or theileria genus-specific probes on the reverse line blot (rlb) assay, indicating the presence of a novel species or variant of an existing species. some of these specimens were investigated further by microscopic, serological, sequencing, and phylogenetic analyses. the near-full-length 18s rrna genes of 13 samples, as well as the second internal transcribed spacer (its ...201020519464
[histopathology of strobilocercosis found in the livers of white mouse.]the adult form of taenia taeniaeformis is found in the intestine of the cat and cheetah. the larva form is called strobilocercus fasciolaris and is found in rodents such as mice and rats. our objective was to draw attention to that rare zoonosis, since it has already been reported in the literature as strobilocercosis in humans. during an experimental animal study conducted at inonu university, some unexpected cystic formations were found in the livers of nine 6-8-month-old healthy white mice, w ...201020340085
seroprevalences to viral pathogens in free-ranging and captive cheetahs (acinonyx jubatus) on namibian farmland.cheetah populations are diminishing rapidly in their natural habitat. one reason for their decline is thought to be a high susceptibility to (infectious) diseases because cheetahs in zoos suffer from high disease-induced mortality. data on the health status of free-ranging cheetahs are scarce, and little is known about their exposure and susceptibility to infectious diseases. we determined seroprevalences to nine key viruses (feline herpesvirus 1, feline calicivirus, feline parvovirus, feline co ...201019955325
feline immunodeficiency virus (fiv) in wild pallas' cats.feline immunodeficiency virus (fiv), a feline lentivirus related to hiv, causes immune dysfunction in domestic and wild cats. the pallas' cat is the only species from asia known to harbor a species-specific strain of fiv designated fiv(oma) in natural populations. here, a 25% seroprevalence of fiv is reported from 28 wild mongolian pallas' cats sampled from 2000 to 2008. phylogenetic analysis of proviral rt-pol from eight fiv(oma) isolates from mongolia, russia, china and kazakhstan reveals a un ...201019926144
lion (panthera leo) and cheetah (acinonyx jubatus) ifn-gamma sequences.cloning and sequencing of the full length lion and cheetah interferon-gamma (ifn-gamma) transcript will enable the expression of the recombinant cytokine, to be used for production of monoclonal antibodies and to set up lion and cheetah-specific ifn-gamma elisas. these are relevant in blood-based diagnosis of bovine tuberculosis, an important threat to lions in the kruger national park. alignment of nucleotide and amino acid sequences of lion and cheetah and that of domestic cats showed homologi ...201019913304
dogs, cats, and kin: a molecular species-level phylogeny of carnivora.phylogenies underpin comparative biology as high-utility tools to test evolutionary and biogeographic hypotheses, inform on conservation strategies, and reveal the age and evolutionary histories of traits and lineages. as tools, most powerful are those phylogenies that contain all, or nearly all, of the taxa of a given group. despite their obvious utility, such phylogenies, other than summary 'supertrees', are currently lacking for most mammalian orders, including the order carnivora. carnivora ...201019900567
a comparative approach to the study of keeper-animal relationships in the zoo.research on intensively farmed animals over the past 25 years has shown that human-animal interactions, by affecting the animal's fear of humans, can markedly limit the productivity and welfare of farm animals. this article begins to explore some of the factors that need to be considered to investigate keeper-animal relationships (kars) in the zoo. in the mid-1990s, a large body of multi-institutional data on zookeepers and animals was collected from 46 zoos. using standardized questionnaires, 8 ...200919885915
periaortic haemangiosarcoma in an african wild dog (lycaon pictus).a 9-year-old apparently healthy male african wild dog (lycaon pictus) was found dead in its enclosure at the de wildt cheetah and wildlife centre. necropsy revealed a pericardium distended by approximately 250 ml of thick blood. a soft, red, lobulated mass was attached to the periaortic fat between the level of the aortic valves and the pericardial reflection. histologically, the mass was consistent with a haemangiosarcoma. other findings in the heart included mild to moderate ventricular hypert ...200919831274
evaluation of nutrient digestibility and fecal characteristics of exotic felids fed horse- or beef-based diets: use of the domestic cat as a model for exotic felids.the objective of this study was to determine the effects of feeding commercially available beef- and horse-based diets on nutrient digestibility and fecal characteristics of large captive exotic felids and domestic cats. four species of large exotic felids including cheetahs, malayan tigers, jaguars, and amur tigers, and domestic cats were utilized in a crossover design. raw meat diets included a beef-based diet (57% protein; 28% fat) and a horse-based diet (51% protein; 30% fat). all cats were ...201019830746
myosin heavy chain composition of tiger (panthera tigris) and cheetah (acinonyx jubatus) hindlimb muscles.felids have a wide range of locomotor activity patterns and maximal running speeds, including the very fast cheetah (acinonyx jubatas), the roaming tiger (panthera tigris), and the relatively sedentary domestic cat (felis catus). as previous studies have suggested a relationship between the amount and type of activity and the myosin heavy chain (mhc) isoform composition of a muscle, we assessed the mhc isoform composition of selected hindlimb muscles from these three felid species with differing ...201019768738
advances in reproductive science for wild carnivore conservation.knowledge about reproduction is critical for predicting the viability of wildlife populations in nature and for managing breeding programmes in captivity. intensive species-based studies are the priority, because reproductive mechanisms are extraordinarily diverse, even within the same taxonomic family. carnivores deserve more attention as such species are highly vulnerable to environmental change and human persecution. the present review provides contemporary illustrations of how reproductive s ...200919754535
possible case of maternal transmission of feline spongiform encephalopathy in a captive cheetah.feline spongiform encephalopathy (fse) is considered to be related to bovine spongiform encephalopathy (bse) and has been reported in domestic cats as well as in captive wild cats including cheetahs, first in the united kingdom (uk) and then in other european countries. in france, several cases were described in cheetahs either imported from uk or born in france. here we report details of two other fse cases in captive cheetah including a 2(nd) case of fse in a cheetah born in france, most likel ...200919738899
carbonyl and oxalyl bridged bis(1,5-diaminotetrazole)-based energetic salts.high density energetic salts containing nitrogen rich cations and carbonyl- or oxalylbis(diamino-tetrazole) anions, which were obtained from cyanogen azide and hydrazine, were readily synthesized. in every case, a new family of energetic salts 3-14 were characterized by vibrational spectroscopy, multinuclear ((1)h, (13)c, (15)n) nmr, elemental analyses, density, differential scanning calorimetry and impact sensitivity. compound 12 was structured by single crystal x-ray diffraction. the densities ...200919658135
cocrf deformable model: a geometric model driven by collaborative conditional random fields.we present a hybrid framework for integrating deformable models with learning-based classification, for image segmentation with region ambiguities. we show how a region-based geometric model is coupled with conditional random fields (crf) in a simple graphical model, such that the model evolution is driven by a dynamically updated probability field. we define the model shape with the signed distance function, while we formulate the internal energy with a c(1) continuity constraint, a shape prior ...200919574164
real-time reinforcement learning by sequential actor-critics and experience replay.actor-critics constitute an important class of reinforcement learning algorithms that can deal with continuous actions and states in an easy and natural way. this paper shows how these algorithms can be augmented by the technique of experience replay without degrading their convergence properties, by appropriately estimating the policy change direction. this is achieved by truncated importance sampling applied to the recorded past experiences. it is formally shown that the resulting estimation b ...200919523786
oral examination and radiographic evaluation of the dentition in wild cats from namibia.feline tooth resorption has been widely reported in domestic cats and sporadically described in other felidae. the goal of the present study was to determine the prevalence of tooth resorption and to report other dental problems in a population of wild felidae. observations of dental disorders and anomalies were made in skulls from 73 wild felidae (cheetahs, leopards, caracals, african wildcats, and lions) originating from namibia. in addition, radiographs were taken in 43 cases to determine sig ...200919476083
phylogeny of a novel "helicobacter heilmannii" organism from a japanese patient with chronic gastritis based on dna sequence analysis of 16s rrna and urease genes."helicobacter heilmannii" is an uncultivable spiral-shaped bacterium inhabiting the human gastric mucosa. it is larger and more tightly-coiled than h. pylori. we encountered a patient with chronic gastritis infected a "h. heilmannii"-like organism (hhlo), designated as sh6. gastric mucosa derived from the patient was orally ingested by specific pathogen free mice. colonization of the mice by sh6 was confirmed by electron microscopy of gastric tissue specimens. in an attempt to characterize sh6, ...200919412605
nutrient digestibility and fecal characteristics are different among captive exotic felids fed a beef-based raw diet.nutrient digestibility has not been well characterized in exotic felids. the objective of this experiment was to evaluate differences in nutrient digestibility and fecal characteristics in five large exotic captive felid species, including bobcats, jaguars, cheetahs, indochinese tigers, and siberian tigers. all animals were individually housed and adapted to a beef-based raw diet (nebraska brand((r)) special beef feline, north platte, ne) for 16 d. total fecal collections were conducted from day ...200819360610
comparison of several types of enrichment for captive felids.enrichment can increase the complexity of the captive environment and possibly enhance captive animals' well-being by stimulating active behaviors and reducing stereotypical behaviors commonly seen in zoo felids. in this study, three different enrichment items were added to outdoor enclosures of felids at the montgomery zoo to test their effects on activity levels and stereotypic pacing. bones, frozen fish, and spices (cinnamon, chili powder, and cumin) were presented over a 3-month period to si ...200719360587
immunohistochemical study of prp(sc) distribution in neural and extraneural tissues of two cats with feline spongiform encephalopathy.two domestic shorthair cats presenting with progressive hind-limb ataxia and increased aggressiveness were necropsied and a post mortem diagnosis of feline spongiform encephalopathy (fse) was made. a wide spectrum of tissue samples was collected and evaluated histologically and immunohistologically for the presence of prpsc.200919335885
who's the faster runner: the cheetah or the rabbit? 200919292856
[ultrasound findings in spontaneous and postoperative anal pain].to assess the use of endoanal ultrasounds to identify anal pain etiology in patients with either spontaneous or post-operative pain, and to review the most frequent causes.200819222335
comparative thermoregulation and the quest for athletic supremacy.there are a number of different strategies used by animals to effectively deal with the changing environment. the various thermoregulatory strategies employed by mammals can be a critical factor determining the survival and physical performance in a range of conditions. however, it is not readily appreciated that mammals regulate their body temperature in different ways and it is usually assumed that the mechanisms for temperature regulation are very similar amongst all endotherms. in this chapt ...200819208996
energetic ethylene- and propylene-bridged bis(nitroiminotetrazolate) salts.high energy density materials with ethylene- and propylene bis(5-nitroiminotetrazolate) as the anions are reported; all salts were fully characterized by ir, and (1)h, (13)c, and (15)n nmr spectroscopy as well as elemental analyses. in addition, the heats of formation (deltah(f)) and the detonation pressures (p) and velocities (d) were calculated.the synthesis and detonation properties of high energy density materials with ethylene- and propylene bis(nitroiminotetrazolate) as the anions are repo ...200919197919
characterization of an outbreak of astroviral diarrhea in a group of cheetahs (acinonyx jubatus).a mamastrovirus was identified in an outbreak of diarrhea in cheetahs (acinonyx jubatus). five young adult and two adult cheetahs presented with lethargy, anorexia, watery diarrhea and regurgitation over an 11-day period. fecal samples were submitted for electron microscopy and culture. electron microscopy results revealed particles morphologically consistent with an astrovirus, and no other viral pathogens or significant bacterial pathogens were identified. the astrovirus was confirmed and sequ ...200919171442
a primitive late pliocene cheetah, and evolution of the cheetah lineage.the cheetah lineage is a group of large, slender, and long-limbed cats with a distinctive skull and dental morphology, of which only the extant cheetah (acinonyx jubatus) is present today. the lineage is characterized by having abbreviated, tall, and domed crania, and a trenchant dentition with a much reduced, posteriorly placed protocone on the upper carnassial. in this article, we report on a new discovery of a late pliocene specimen from china with an estimated age of approximately 2.2-2.5 mi ...200919114651
neoplasia in felids at the knoxville zoological gardens, 1979-2003.a review of medical records and necropsy reports from 1979-2003 found 40 neoplasms in 26 zoo felids, including five lions (panthera leo, two males and three females), three leopards (panthera pardus, two males and one female), one jaguar (panthera onca, female), 11 tigers (panthera tigris, three males and eight females), two snow leopards (panthera uncia, one male and one female), two cougars (felis concolor, one male and one female), one bobcat (felis rufus, male), and one cheetah (acinonyx jub ...200819110704
highly dense nitranilates-containing nitrogen-rich cations.high density energetic salts containing nitrogen-rich cations and the nitranilic anion were readily synthesized in high yield by metathesis reactions of sodium nitranilate 2 and an appropriate halide. all of the new compounds were fully characterized by elemental, spectral (ir, (1)h, (13)c nmr), and thermal (dsc) analyses. the structure of hydrazinium nitranilate (4) was also determined by single-crystal x-ray analysis. the high symmetry and oxygen content of the anion give these salts extensive ...200919072948
ulnar metaphyseal osteochondrosis in seven captive bred cheetahs (acinonyx jubatus).distal ulna metaphyseal osteochondrosis was identified in seven captive bred cheetahs raised in australia between 1984 and 2005. the disorder was characterized by bilateral carpal valgus conformation. in the metaphyseal region of the distal ulnae, an osteolucent defect that appeared as a proximal extension of the lucent physis was identified radiographically between 6 and 10 months of age. ulna ostectomy was done to correct the angular limb deformity. histologically, changes were identified in t ...200819051644
improved quality of cryopreserved cheetah (acinonyx jubatus) spermatozoa after centrifugation through accudenz.sperm cryopreservation, in combination with assisted reproductive techniques, is a valuable tool for the genetic management of endangered felids. however, the acrosome of the cheetah spermatozoon is especially sensitive to cryopreservation, with approximately 40% of spermatozoa experiencing acrosomal damage immediately after thawing and then another approximately 15% loss during the next 4 hours in vitro. additionally, thawing causes a reduction in sperm motility by approximately 20% with anothe ...200919023140
motions of the running horse and cheetah revisited: fundamental mechanics of the transverse and rotary gallop.mammals use two distinct gallops referred to as the transverse (where landing and take-off are contralateral) and rotary (where landing and take-off are ipsilateral). these two gallops are used by a variety of mammals, but the transverse gallop is epitomized by the horse and the rotary gallop by the cheetah. in this paper, we argue that the fundamental difference between these gaits is determined by which set of limbs, fore or hind, initiates the transition of the centre of mass from a downward- ...200918854295
molecular detection of babesia rossi and hepatozoon sp. in african wild dogs (lycaon pictus) in south africa.blood specimens from wild dogs (n=301) were obtained from de wildt cheetah and wildlife centre (pretoria) and five game reserves (4 in the north-west province and 1 in limpopo province), south africa. specimens were screened for babesia, theileria, hepatozoon and ehrlichia/anaplasma species using pcr and reverse line blot (rlb) assays. positive results were obtained in 18 (6%) wild dogs. sixteen specimens were found positive for babesia rossi and two dogs were hepatozoon sp. positive. it appears ...200818752897
naturally acquired anthrax antibodies in a cheetah (acinonyx jubatus) in botswana.an outbreak of anthrax in the jwana game reserve in jwaneng, botswana, was first observed when three cheetahs (acinonyx jubatus) died of the disease in november 2004. in the aftermath of this event, banked serum samples collected from 23 wild-caught cheetahs were examined, by the inhibition enzyme-linked immunoassay (elisa), for antibodies to the protective antigen (pa) of bacillus anthracis. of the 23 cheetahs, 16 regularly accessed the reserve. antibodies to pa were detected in one cheetah col ...200818689661
captive breeding of cheetahs in south africa--30 years of data from the de wildt cheetah and wildlife centre.the de wildt cheetah and wildlife centre was established in 1971 and the first cheetah cubs were born in 1975. during the period 1975-2005, 242 litters were born with a total of 785 cubs. mean cub survival from 1 to 12 months and greater than 12 months of age was 71.3 and 66.2%, respectively. the majority of losses (84.9%) occurred during the first month postpartum whereas only 15.1% deaths took place between 1 and 12 months of age. females were first bred at an age of approximately 3 years, rea ...200818638106
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