Publications

TitleAbstractYear(sorted ascending)
Filter
PMID
Filter
quasi-steady state aerodynamics of the cheetah tail.during high-speed pursuit of prey, the cheetah (acinonyx jubatus) has been observed to swing its tail while manoeuvring (e.g. turning or braking) but the effect of these complex motions is not well understood. this study demonstrates the potential of the cheetah's long, furry tail to impart torques and forces on the body as a result of aerodynamic effects, in addition to the well-known inertial effects. the first-order aerodynamic forces on the tail are quantified through wind tunnel testing and ...201627412267
effects of hand-rearing on reproductive success in captive large cats panthera tigris altaica, uncia uncia, acinonyx jubatus and neofelis nebulosa.species survival plans and european endangered species programmes have been developed for several species of endangered felids in order to build up captive reserve populations and support their conservation in the wild. the siberian tiger (panthera tigris altaica), snow leopard (uncia uncia), cheetah (acinonyx jubatus) and clouded leopard (neofelis nebulosa) are managed in such ex situ conservation programmes. many zoological institutions hand-rear offspring if rearing by the mother fails. hand- ...201627214261
spotting cheetahs: identifying individuals by their footprints.the cheetah (acinonyx jubatus) is africa's most endangered large felid and listed as vulnerable with a declining population trend by the iucn(1). it ranges widely over sub-saharan africa and in parts of the middle east. cheetah conservationists face two major challenges, conflict with landowners over the killing of domestic livestock, and concern over range contraction. understanding of the latter remains particularly poor(2). namibia is believed to support the largest number of cheetahs of any ...201627167035
the difference between trivial and scientific names: there were never any true cheetahs in north america.dobrynin et al. (genome biol 16:277, 2015) recently published the complete genome of the cheetah (acinonyx jubatus) and provided an exhaustive set of analyses supporting the famously low genetic variation in the species, known for several decades. their genetic analyses represent state-of-the-art and we do not criticize them. however, their interpretation of the results is inconsistent with current knowledge of cheetah evolution. dobrynin et al. suggest that the causes of the two inferred bottle ...201627150269
counting cats: spatially explicit population estimates of cheetah (acinonyx jubatus) using unstructured sampling data.many ecological theories and species conservation programmes rely on accurate estimates of population density. accurate density estimation, especially for species facing rapid declines, requires the application of rigorous field and analytical methods. however, obtaining accurate density estimates of carnivores can be challenging as carnivores naturally exist at relatively low densities and are often elusive and wide-ranging. in this study, we employ an unstructured spatial sampling field design ...201627135614
conservation of spermatogonial stem cell marker expression in undifferentiated felid spermatogonia.spermatogonial stem cells (sscs) are distinct in their ability to self-renew, transmit genetic information, and persist throughout the life of an individual. these characteristics make sscs a useful tool for addressing diverse challenges such as efficient transgenic production in nonrodent, biomedical animal models, or preservation of the male genome for species in which survival of frozen-thawed sperm is low. a requisite first step to access this technology in felids is the establishment of mol ...201627129396
ultrasonographic adrenal gland findings in healthy semi-captive cheetahs (acinonyx jubatus).cheetahs in captivity are believed to suffer from stress predisposing them to poor health. to date fecal glucocorticoids have been used as a non-invasive indicator of chronic stress. this study examines, the feasibility of transabdominal adrenal gland ultrasonography in cheetahs and determined normal adrenal measurements that can potentially be used as a more reliable indicator of chronic stress and/or adrenal function. thirty-three adult cheetahs, aged between 2 and 13 years, accommodated in la ...201627093075
feliform carnivores have a distinguished constitutive innate immune response.determining the immunological phenotype of endangered and threatened populations is important to identify those vulnerable to novel pathogens. among mammals, members of the order carnivora are particularly threatened by diseases. we therefore examined the constitutive innate immune system, the first line of protection against invading microbes, of six free-ranging carnivore species; the black-backed jackal (canis mesomelas), the brown hyena (hyena brunnea), the caracal (caracal caracal), the che ...201627044323
energy cost and return for hunting in african wild dogs and cheetahs.african wild dogs (lycaon pictus) are reported to hunt with energetically costly long chase distances. we used high-resolution gps and inertial technology to record 1,119 high-speed chases of all members of a pack of six adult african wild dogs in northern botswana. dogs performed multiple short, high-speed, mostly unsuccessful chases to capture prey, while cheetahs (acinonyx jubatus) undertook even shorter, higher-speed hunts. we used an energy balance model to show that the energy return from ...201627023457
bacterial profile of necrotic pulps in cheetah (acinonyx jubatus) canine teeth.the role of microbes and their antimicrobial susceptibilities in both acute and chronic infections of the dental pulp in humans has been well studied. presently, no data are available on endodontic pathogens in cheetahs (acinonyx jubatus). the aim of this study was to isolate and identify the bacteria found in the canine teeth of cheetahs, where the pulp was necrotic and exposed due to a complicated crown fracture. thirty-six microbiologic samples were taken from root canals (rcs) of the canine ...201627010269
reference intervals for selected serum biochemistry analytes in cheetahs acinonyx jubatus.published haematologic and serum biochemistry reference intervals are very scarce for captive cheetahs and even more for free-ranging cheetahs. the current study was performed to establish reference intervals for selected serum biochemistry analytes in cheetahs. baseline serum biochemistry analytes were analysed from 66 healthy namibian cheetahs. samples were collected from 30 captive cheetahs at the africat foundation and 36 free-ranging cheetahs from central namibia. the effects of captivity-s ...201626974036
effect of portal access system and surgery type on surgery times during laparoscopic ovariectomy and salpingectomy in captive african lions and cheetahs.a prospective randomized study was used to compare surgery times for laparoscopic ovariectomy and salpingectomy in female african lion (panthera leo) (n = 14) and cheetah (acinonyx jubatus) (n = 20) and to compare the use of a multiple portal access system (mpas) and single portal access system (spas) between groups. two different portal techniques were used, namely mpas (three separate ports) in lions and spas (sils™ port) in cheetahs, using standard straight laparoscopic instruments. portal ac ...201626935755
validation of an enzyme-immunoassay for the non-invasive monitoring of faecal testosterone metabolites in male cheetahs (acinonyx jubatus).in mammals, the sex hormone testosterone is the major endocrine variable to objectify testicular activity and thus reproductive function in males. testosterone is involved in the development and function of male reproductive physiology and sex-related behaviour. the development of a reliable androgen enzyme-immunoassay (eia) to monitor faecal testosterone metabolites (ftm) is a powerful tool to non-invasively assess the gonadal status of males. we validated an epiandrosterone eia for male cheeta ...201626828820
comparative sacral morphology and the reconstructed tail lengths of five extinct primates: proconsul heseloni, epipliopithecus vindobonensis, archaeolemur edwardsi, megaladapis grandidieri, and palaeopropithecus kelyus.this study evaluated the relationship between the morphology of the sacrum-the sole bony link between the tail or coccyx and the rest of the body-and tail length (including presence/absence) and function using a comparative sample of extant mammals spanning six orders (primates, carnivora, rodentia, diprotodontia, pilosa, scandentia; n = 472). phylogenetically-informed regression methods were used to assess how tail length varied with respect to 11 external and internal (i.e., trabecular) bony s ...201626767965
acoustic structure and contextual use of calls by captive male and female cheetahs (acinonyx jubatus).the vocal repertoire of captive cheetahs (acinonyx jubatus) and the specific role of meow vocalizations in communication of this species attract research interest about two dozen years. here, we expand this research focus for the contextual use of call types, sex differences and individual differences at short and long terms. during 457 trials of acoustic recordings, we collected calls (n = 8120) and data on their contextual use for 13 adult cheetahs (6 males and 7 females) in four russian zoos. ...201627362643
feline panleukopaenia virus in captive non-domestic felids in south africa.an outbreak of feline panleukopaenia virus (fplv) infection was diagnosed by pathology, electron microscopy and polymerase chain reaction (pcr) in vaccinated captive-bred subadult cheetahs in south africa. subsequent to this disease outbreak, 12 cases of fplv diagnosed on histology were confirmed by pcr in captive african black-footed cat, caracal, cheetah, lion, ocelot and serval. phylogenetic analyses of the viral capsid protein gene on pcr-positive samples, vaccine and national center for bio ...201627380652
in the absence of a "landscape of fear": how lions, hyenas, and cheetahs coexist.aggression by top predators can create a "landscape of fear" in which subordinate predators restrict their activity to low-risk areas or times of day. at large spatial or temporal scales, this can result in the costly loss of access to resources. however, fine-scale reactive avoidance may minimize the risk of aggressive encounters for subordinate predators while maintaining access to resources, thereby providing a mechanism for coexistence. we investigated fine-scale spatiotemporal avoidance in ...201628031805
benign pigmented dermal basal cell tumor in a namibian cheetah (acinonyx jubatus).a 3.5-year-old wild born cheetah (acinonyx jubatus), living in a large enclosure on a private namibian farm, developed a large exophytic nodular neoplasm in its skin at the height of the left shoulder blade. we describe the clinical appearance, the surgical removal, and histological examination of the tumor, which was diagnosed as a moderately pigmented benign basal cell tumor. a three-year follow-up showed no evidence of recurrence after the surgery. although neoplasia is reported in nondomesti ...201629955422
the distribution and numbers of cheetah (acinonyx jubatus) in southern africa.assessing the numbers and distribution of threatened species is a central challenge in conservation, often made difficult because the species of concern are rare and elusive. for some predators, this may be compounded by their being sparsely distributed over large areas. such is the case with the cheetah acinonyx jubatus. the iucn red list process solicits comments, is democratic, transparent, widely-used, and has recently assessed the species. here, we present additional methods to that process ...201729250465
non-invasive identification of protein biomarkers for early pregnancy diagnosis in the cheetah (acinonyx jubatus).approximately 80% of cheetahs living in typical zoological collections never reproduce. in more than 60% of breedings, the female is confirmed to ovulate, but parturition fails to occur. it is unknown if these non-pregnant intervals of elevated progesterone (deemed luteal phases) are conception failures or a pregnancy terminating in embryonic/fetal loss. there have been recent advances in metabolic profiling and proteome analyses in many species with mass spectrometry used to identify 'biomarker ...201729236714
save iran's cheetah from extinction. 201729220006
save iran's cheetah from extinction. 201732080535
cardiopulmonary effects of anaesthesia maintained by propofol infusion versus isoflurane inhalation in cheetahs (acinonyx jubatus).to compare the cardiopulmonary effects of propofol total intravenous anaesthesia (tiva) with isoflurane in cheetahs (acinonyx jubatus) to evaluate feasibility for field use.201729169839
ultrasonographically determined renal values and comparisons to serum biochemistry renal variables in aged semi-captive cheetahs (acinonyx jubatus).cheetahs in captivity have a high prevalence of chronic renal diseases. we ultrasonographically evaluated the renal volumes, a variety of renal dimensions, interarcuate artery resistive indices (ri) as well as aortic diameters and the length of the ventral aspect of the 6th lumbar vertebrae in 27 aged semi-captive anesthetized cheetahs. renal size, dimensions and ratios were compared to urine specific gravity, serum creatinine and urea values.201729110712
suspected adverse reactions to oral administration of a praziquantel-pyrantel combination in captive cheetahs (acinonyx jubatus).objective to characterize adverse reactions to oral administration of a combination of praziquantel and pyrantel embonate or pyrantel pamoate, with or without oxantel embonate, in captive cheetahs (acinonyx jubatus). design retrospective case series and case-control study. animals 16 captive cheetahs with signs of adverse reaction to oral administration of praziquantel and pyrantel, with or without oxantel embonate (affected group), and 27 cheetahs without such reactions (unaffected group), all ...201729099259
new generation agent defeat weapons: energetic n,n'-ethylene-bridged polyiodoazoles.sodium salts of iodine-rich pyrazole and imidazole with 1-(2-bromoethyl)-5-aminotetrazole are useful precursors for energetic n,n'-ethylene-bridged polyiodoazoles. compounds 1-3 were characterized with ir, and 1 h and 13 c nmr spectroscopy as well as elemental analyses. the molecular structures of 1 and 2 were confirmed by using single crystal x-ray diffraction. heats of formation were calculated using gaussian 03 and detonation properties and biocidal efficiency were calculated with cheetah 7. ...201729047175
energy and biocides storage compounds: synthesis and characterization of energetic bridged bis(triiodoazoles).energetic bridged triiodopyrazoles and triiodoimidazoles were designed and synthsized by reacting potassium triiodopyrazolate or triiodoimidazolate with corresponding dichloro compounds. all compounds were fully characterized by 1h and 13c nmr spectroscopy, ir spectroscopy, and elemental analyses. the structure of compound 1 was further confirmed by single-crystal x-ray diffraction. all of the compounds exhibit good thermal stability with decomposition temperatures between 199 and 270 °c and hig ...201729035045
eosinophilic plasmacytic conjunctivitis concurrent with gingival fistula caused by schizophyllum commune in a captive cheetah (acinonyx jubatus).we describe for the first time the diagnosis of schizophyllum commune infection in a captive cheetah. eosinophilic plasmacytic conjunctivitis was detected histopathologically in a biopsy specimen. both a second surgical specimen and drainage fluid from a gingival mass and fistula contained fungal hyphae in giant cells with granulomatous inflammation. allergic s. commune mycosis was suspected at this point. a monokaryotic isolate was characterized morphologically, and then identified genetically. ...201729034160
evaluation of symmetric dimethylarginine as an early biomarker of chronic kidney disease in captive cheetahs (acinonyx jubatus).symmetric dimethylarginine (sdma) has been shown to be a valuable biomarker for early detection of chronic kidney disease (ckd) in canine and feline patients. recognition of early (subclinical) kidney disease would be of value in cheetahs (acinonyx jubatus) as prevalence of ckd is relatively high in this species in captivity. fifty-eight banked serum and plasma samples from seven adult cheetahs that died of ckd were analyzed for creatinine, urea, and sdma. a marked increase in sdma was noted on ...201728920795
the global decline of cheetah acinonyx jubatus and what it means for conservation.establishing and maintaining protected areas (pas) are key tools for biodiversity conservation. however, this approach is insufficient for many species, particularly those that are wide-ranging and sparse. the cheetah acinonyx jubatus exemplifies such a species and faces extreme challenges to its survival. here, we show that the global population is estimated at ∼7,100 individuals and confined to 9% of its historical distributional range. however, the majority of current range (77%) occurs outsi ...201728028225
intrinsic factors, adrenal gland morphology, and disease burden in captive cheetahs (acinonyx jubatus) in south africa.adrenal gland weight (aw) and corticomedullary ratio (acmr) are used as indicators of stress in animals. captive cheetahs (acinonyx jubatus) have higher acmrs than free-ranging ones and stress has been linked to gastritis, amyloidosis, glomerulosclerosis, and myocardial fibrosis. we reviewed age, sex, body weight (bw), kidney weight (kw), and left aw and acmr with necropsy findings in 51 south african captive cheetahs. eleven common histopathologic lesions were counted for each animal as measure ...201728026881
cardiorespiratory effects of dexmedetomidine-butorphanol-midazolam (dbm): a fully reversible anesthetic protocol in captive and semi-free-ranging cheetahs (acinonyx jubatus).multiple anesthesia protocols have been used in the cheetah ( acinonyx jubatus ). twenty healthy, captive cheetahs were immobilized with dexmedetomidine (15.8 ± 1.9 μg/kg), butorphanol (0.22 ± 0.03 mg/kg), and midazolam (0.18 ± 0.03 mg/kg) by intramuscular injection. induction, recumbency, and recovery times were recorded, and physiologic parameters were monitored. anesthesia was antagonized with atipamezole (0.125 ± 0.02 mg/kg) and naltrexone (0.1 ± 0.014 mg/kg) intramuscularly. all cheetahs we ...201728363055
cheetahs have a stronger constitutive innate immunity than leopards.as a textbook case for the importance of genetics in conservation, absence of genetic variability at the major histocompatibility complex (mhc) is thought to endanger species viability, since it is considered crucial for pathogen resistance. an alternative view of the immune system inspired by life history theory posits that a strong response should evolve in other components of the immune system if there is little variation in the mhc. in contrast to the leopard (panthera pardus), the cheetah ( ...201728333126
tracking data from nine free-roaming cheetahs (acinonyx jubatus) collared in the thabazimbi area, limpopo province, south africa.in partnership with the university of pretoria, the endangered wildlife trust's carnivore conservation programme collared six male and three female free-roaming cheetahs (acinonyx jubatus) in the thabazimbi area in limpopo province, south africa. this study was undertaken to determine the spatial ecology of free-roaming cheetahs that occur outside of formal protected areas on private ranchland, where they frequently come into conflict with, and are sometimes killed by, private landowners. the da ...201728325981
gas chromatography-mass spectrometry profiles of urinary organic acids in healthy captive cheetahs (acinonyx jubatus).in captivity, cheetahs (acinonyx jubatus) frequently suffer from several unusual chronic diseases that rarely occur in their free-ranging counterparts. in order to develop a better understanding of their metabolism and health we documented the urine organic acids of 41 apparently healthy captive cheetahs, in an untargeted metabolomic study, using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. a total of 339 organic acids were detected and annotated. phenolic compounds, thought to be produced by the anaer ...201728259021
interspecies somatic cell nuclear transfer in asiatic cheetah using nuclei derived from post-mortem frozen tissue in absence of cryo-protectant and in vitro matured domestic cat oocytes.recent accomplishments in the field of somatic cell nuclear transfer (scnt) hold tremendous promise to prevent rapid loss of animal genetic resources using ex situ conservation technology. most of scnt studies use viable cells for nuclear transfer into recipient oocytes. however, preparation of live cells in extreme circumstances, in which post-mortem material of endangered/rare animals is improperly retained frozen, is difficult, if not impossible. this study investigated the possibility of int ...201728166968
spatial and temporal avoidance of risk within a large carnivore guild.within a large carnivore guild, subordinate competitors (african wild dog, lycaon pictus, and cheetah, acinonyx jubatus) might reduce the limiting effects of dominant competitors (lion, panthera leo, and spotted hyena, crocuta crocuta) by avoiding them in space, in time, or through patterns of prey selection. understanding how these competitors cope with one other can inform strategies for their conservation. we tested how mechanisms of niche partitioning promote coexistence by quantifying patte ...201728070283
serosurvey for selected viral pathogens among sympatric species of the african large predator guild in northern botswana.the recent increase in the creation of transboundary protected areas and wildlife corridors between them lends importance to information on pathogen prevalence and transmission among wildlife species that will become connected. one such initiative is the kavango zambezi transfrontier conservation area of which botswana's okavango delta constitutes a major contribution for wildlife and ecosystems. between 2008 and 2011, we collected serum samples from 14 lions ( panthera leo ), four leopards ( pa ...201727763827
piroplasms in brown hyaenas (parahyaena brunnea) and spotted hyaenas (crocuta crocuta) in namibia and south africa are closely related to babesia lengau.the objective of our study was identification and molecular characterization of piroplasms and rickettsias occurring in brown (parahyaena brunnea) and spotted hyaenas (crocuta crocuta) from various localities in namibia and south africa. whole blood (n = 59) and skin (n = 3) specimens from brown (n = 15) and spotted hyaenas (n = 47) were screened for the presence of babesia, theileria, ehrlichia and anaplasma species using the reverse line blot (rlb) hybridization technique. pcr products of 52/6 ...201727913878
wildlife population dynamics in human-dominated landscapes under community-based conservation: the example of nakuru wildlife conservancy, kenya.wildlife conservation is facing numerous and mounting challenges on private and communal lands in africa, including in kenya. we analyze the population dynamics of 44 common wildlife species in relation to rainfall variation in the nakuru wildlife conservancy (nwc), located in the nakuru-naivasha region of kenya, based on ground total counts carried out twice each year from march 1996 to may 2015. rainfall in the region was quasi-periodic with cycle periods dependent on the rainfall component an ...201728103269
gut microbiomes of free-ranging and captive namibian cheetahs: diversity, putative functions, and occurrence of potential pathogens.although the significance of the gut microbiome for host health is well acknowledged, the impact of host traits and environmental factors on the inter-individual variation of gut microbiomes of wildlife species is not well understood. such information is essential, however, since changes in the composition of these microbial communities beyond the natural range might cause dysbiosis leading to increased susceptibility to infections. we examined the potential influence of sex, age, genetic relate ...201728782134
impact of mimicking natural dispersion on breeding success of captive north american cheetahs (acinonyx jubatus).this paper examines the effects of transfer away from natal facility and littermate presence on cheetah breeding success in the aza species survival plan (ssp) population. transfer and breeding history data for captive males and females were gathered from seven and four aza ssp breeding facilities, respectively, to identify factors influencing breeding success. the results indicate that transfer history (p = 0.032), age at transfer (p = 0.013), and female littermate presence/absence (p = 0.04) w ...201728901642
pathology and epidemiology of oxalate nephrosis in cheetahs.to investigate cases of acute oxalate nephrosis without evidence of ethylene glycol exposure, archived data and tissues from cheetahs ( acinonyx jubatus) from north america ( n = 297), southern africa ( n = 257), and france ( n = 40) were evaluated. renal and gastrointestinal tract lesions were characterized in a subset of animals with ( n = 100) and without ( n = 165) oxalate crystals at death. crystals were confirmed as calcium oxalate by raman spectroscopy in 45 of 47 cheetahs tested. crystal ...201728891390
serial millisecond crystallography of membrane and soluble protein microcrystals using synchrotron radiation.crystal structure determination of biological macromolecules using the novel technique of serial femtosecond crystallography (sfx) is severely limited by the scarcity of x-ray free-electron laser (xfel) sources. however, recent and future upgrades render microfocus beamlines at synchrotron-radiation sources suitable for room-temperature serial crystallography data collection also. owing to the longer exposure times that are needed at synchrotrons, serial data collection is termed serial millisec ...201728875031
conservation genetics of the cheetah: lessons learned and new opportunities.the dwindling wildlife species of our planet have become a cause célèbre for conservation groups, governments, and concerned citizens throughout the world. the application of powerful new genetic technologies to surviving populations of threatened mammals has revolutionized our ability to recognize hidden perils that afflict them. we have learned new lessons of survival, adaptation, and evolution from viewing the natural history of genomes in hundreds of detailed studies. a single case history o ...201728821181
ketamine-medetomidine and ketamine-medetomidine-midazolam anesthesia in captive cheetahs (acinonyx jubatus)-comparison of blood pressure and kidney blood flow.six clinically healthy captive cheetahs ( acinonyx jubatus ) were anesthetized twice using two different drug combinations to investigate if blood pressure and kidney blood flow are affected by medetomidine dosage. protocol km (2.0 mg/kg ketamine and 0.05 mg/kg medetomidine) was compared with protocol kmm (2.0 mg/kg ketamine, 0.02 mg/kg medetomidine, and 0.1 mg/kg midazolam). heart rate (hr), respiratory rate (rr), body temperature, end-tidal carbon dioxide pressure (etco2), and anesthetic depth ...201728749272
analysis of zp1 gene reveals differences in zona pellucida composition in carnivores.the zona pellucida (zp) is an extracellular envelope that surrounds mammalian oocytes. this coat participates in the interaction between gametes, induction of the acrosome reaction, block of polyspermy and protection of the oviductal embryo. previous studies suggested that carnivore zp was formed by three glycoproteins (zp2, zp3 and zp4), with zp1 being a pseudogene. however, a recent study in the cat found that all four proteins were expressed. in the present study, in silico and molecular anal ...201728679462
age-associated and deslorelin-induced declines in serum anti-müllerian hormone concentrations in female cheetahs, acinonyx jubatus.anti-müllerian hormone (amh) is widely used in human medicine to non-invasively estimate the size of the ovarian follicle reserve and to predict the ovarian response to gonadotropin stimulation in the context of assisted reproductive technologies (e.g., ivf). these applications of amh testing have recently expanded to non-human mammals, with production animals, such as cows, goats and sheep being the primary focus of amh research. however, few investigations have involved exotic species, and in ...201728602789
inferior vena cava collapsibility detects fluid responsiveness among spontaneously breathing critically-ill patients.measurement of inferior vena cava collapsibility (civc) by point-of-care ultrasound (pocus) has been proposed as a viable, non-invasive means of assessing fluid responsiveness. we aimed to determine the ability of civc to identify patients who will respond to additional intravenous fluid (ivf) administration among spontaneously breathing critically-ill patients.201728525778
the relationship between direct predation and antipredator responses: a test with multiple predators and multiple prey.most species adjust their behavior to reduce the likelihood of predation. many experiments have shown that antipredator responses carry energetic costs that can affect growth, survival, and reproduction, so that the total cost of predation depends on a trade-off between direct predation and risk effects. despite these patterns, few field studies have examined the relationship between direct predation and the strength of antipredator responses, particularly for complete guilds of predators and pr ...201728475209
dietary behaviour of man-eating lions as revealed by dental microwear textures.lions (panthera leo) feed on diverse prey species, a range that is broadened by their cooperative hunting. although humans are not typical prey, habitual man-eating by lions is well documented. fathoming the motivations of the tsavo and mfuwe man-eaters (killed in 1898 in kenya and 1991 in zambia, respectively) may be elusive, but we can clarify aspects of their behaviour using dental microwear texture analysis. specifically, we analysed the surface textures of lion teeth to assess whether these ...201728424462
levosimendan for hemodynamic support after cardiac surgery.acute left ventricular dysfunction is a major complication of cardiac surgery and is associated with increased mortality. meta-analyses of small trials suggest that levosimendan may result in a higher rate of survival among patients undergoing cardiac surgery.201728320259
laser-shocked energetic materials with metal additives: evaluation of chemistry and detonation performance.a focused, nanosecond-pulsed laser has been used to ablate, atomize, ionize, and excite milligram quantities of metal-doped energetic materials that undergo exothermic reactions in the laser-induced plasma. the subsequent shock wave expansion in the air above the sample has been monitored using high-speed schlieren imaging in a recently developed technique, laser-induced air shock from energetic materials (lasem). the method enables the estimation of detonation velocities based on the measured l ...201728157864
mechanical characterization and comparison of energy storage and return prostheses.the suitability of finite element analysis (fea) for standardizing the mechanical characterization of energy storage and return (esar) prostheses was investigated. a methodology consisting of both experimental and numerical analysis was proposed and trialed for the vari-flex(®) modular(tm), flex-foot cheetah and cheetah xtreme by össur(®) and a 1e90 sprinter by ottobock(®). gait analysis was conducted to determine suitable orientation angles for non-destructive testing (ndt) of the esar prosthes ...201728111069
when protected areas prove insufficient: cheetah and "protection-reliant" species. 201728069967
agreement of bioreactance cardiac output monitoring with thermodilution during hemorrhagic shock and resuscitation in adult swine.the study tests the hypothesis that noninvasive cardiac output monitoring based upon bioreactance (cheetah medical, portland, or) has acceptable agreement with intermittent bolus thermodilution over a wide range of cardiac output in an adult porcine model of hemorrhagic shock and resuscitation.201727749345
movement patterns of cheetahs (acinonyx jubatus) in farmlands in botswana.botswana has the second highest population of cheetah (acinonyx jubatus) with most living outside protected areas. as a result, many cheetahs are found in farming areas which occasionally results in human-wildlife conflict. this study aimed to look at movement patterns of cheetahs in farming environments to determine whether cheetahs have adapted their movements in these human-dominated landscapes. we fitted high-time resolution gps collars to cheetahs in the ghanzi farmlands of botswana. gps lo ...201727913453
public exposure and number of conspecifics have no influence on ovarian and adrenal activity in the cheetah (acinonyx jubatus).cheetahs in managed zoological collections do not reproduce efficiently, a problem that may be related to environmental/management stressors. in this study, we examined 17 adult female cheetahs to determine the influence of two environmental factors, (1) being housed on- or off-exhibit and (2) number of adult conspecifics (males and/or females) in nearby enclosures, on profiles and concentrations of ovarian and adrenal hormones. secondarily, we assessed a subset of group-housed siblings (n=5 fem ...201727908659
development of mhc-linked microsatellite markers in the domestic cat and their use to evaluate mhc diversity in domestic cats, cheetahs, and gir lions.diversity within the major histocompatibility complex (mhc) reflects the immunological fitness of a population. mhc-linked microsatellite markers provide a simple and an inexpensive method for studying mhc diversity in large-scale studies. we have developed 6 mhc-linked microsatellite markers in the domestic cat and used these, in conjunction with 5 neutral microsatellites, to assess mhc diversity in domestic mixed breed (n = 129) and purebred burmese (n = 61) cat populations in australia. the m ...201724620003
the pros and cons of polymorphism: a brighter future for cheetahs? 20171754718
the effects of intrinsic enrichment on captive felids.environmental enrichment is a well-known technique, which has been used to enhance the welfare of captive animals. the aim of this study is to investigate how three different forms of intrinsic enrichment, namely, a hay ball without scent, a hay ball with catnip, and a hay ball with cinnamon, influenced the behavior of six cheetah and two sumatran tigers at fota wildlife park, ireland. enrichment-directed behaviors, as well as pacing, locomotion, inactive, and exploratory behaviors were investig ...201729165868
epidemiology of clinical feline herpesvirus infection in zoo-housed cheetahs (acinonyx jubatus).objective to determine the incidence of and risk factors for clinical feline herpesvirus (fhv) infection in zoo-housed cheetahs and determine whether dam infection was associated with offspring infection. design retrospective cohort study. animals 144 cheetah cubs born in 6 zoos from 1988 through 2007. procedures data were extracted from the health records of cheetahs and their dams to identify incident cases of clinical fhv infection and estimate incidence from birth to 18 months of age. univar ...201728959932
determination of the diversity of astroviruses in feces from cats in florida.astroviruses are small, nonenveloped rna viruses that have been linked to numerous diseases in a variety of species, including enteric disease in humans and cheetahs. species mamastrovirus 2, previously known as feline astrovirus, has been isolated from the feces of domestic cats and cheetahs. a total of 122 cat fecal samples from alachua county, fl animal services and the veterinary community outreach program at the university of florida were analyzed, and 35 contained astroviral rna that was a ...201729202674
seasonal recurrence of cowpox virus outbreaks in captive cheetahs (acinonyx jubatus).cowpox virus infections in captive cheetahs (acinonyx jubatus) with high morbidity and mortality have already been reported in the uk and russia in the 1970s. however, most of the reported cases have been singular events. here, we report a total of five cowpox virus outbreaks in cheetahs in the same safari park in denmark between 2010 and 2014. nine cheetahs showed varying severity of clinical disease; two of them died (22%). all episodes occurred between august and october of the respective yea ...201729121668
use of levosimendan in cardiac surgery: an update after the levo-cts, cheetah, and licorn trials in the light of clinical practice.levosimendan is a calcium sensitizer and adenosine triphosphate-dependent potassium channel opener, which exerts sustained hemodynamic, symptomatic, and organ-protective effects. it is registered for the treatment of acute heart failure, and when inotropic support is considered appropriate. in the past 15 years, levosimendan has been widely used in clinical practice and has also been tested in clinical trials to stabilize at-risk patients undergoing cardiac surgery. recently, 3 randomized, place ...201829076887
hiss and snort call types of wild-living giraffes giraffa camelopardalis: acoustic structure and context.vocalization as part of vigilance behaviour is widespread across animal taxa, including ruminants. calls of wild-living giraffes have never been recorded and spectrographically investigated. this study reports the acoustic structure of vigilance-related hiss and snort calls of wild-living giraffes giraffa camelopardalis.201829316966
the occurrence of some nonblood protozoan parasites in wild and domestic mammals in south africa.relatively little is known about protozoan parasites in african animals. here we investigated the occurrence of protozoan parasites in mammals from south africa. oocysts of protozoan parasites were detected in 13 of 56 (23%) fecal samples using conventional microscopic examination methods. cryptosporidium spp. and isospora spp. were detected in eight (14 %) and five (9 %) samples, respectively. mixed parasitic infection of cryptosporidium spp. and isospora spp. was recorded in banded mongoose ( ...201829369722
biomechanics of predator-prey arms race in lion, zebra, cheetah and impala.the fastest and most manoeuvrable terrestrial animals are found in savannah habitats, where predators chase and capture running prey. hunt outcome and success rate are critical to survival, so both predator and prey should evolve to be faster and/or more manoeuvrable. here we compare locomotor characteristics in two pursuit predator-prey pairs, lion-zebra and cheetah-impala, in their natural savannah habitat in botswana. we show that although cheetahs and impalas were universally more athletic t ...201829364874
cheetahs discriminate familiar and unfamiliar human voices.domestic species can make the distinction between several human sub-groups, especially between familiar and unfamiliar persons. the domestication hypothesis assumes that such advanced cognitive skills were driven by domestication itself. however, such capacities have been shown in wild species as well, highlighting the potential role of early experience and proximity with humans. nevertheless, few studies have been focusing on the use of acoustic cues in wild species and more comparative studies ...201830341369
retrospective analysis and validation of serum symmetric dimethylarginine (sdma) concentrations in cheetahs ( acinonyx jubatus).kidney disease is common among captive cheetahs ( acinonyx jubatus). serum creatinine is the most common measurement to estimate glomerular filtration rate (gfr) because of the ease of its clinical use, but it is a crude estimate that only increases after significant disease is already present and is affected by extrarenal factors. symmetric dimethylarginine (sdma) is a renal biomarker in humans, dogs, and cats that correlates with serum creatinine and gfr and appears to be an earlier and more s ...201830212357
living on the edge: multiscale habitat selection by cheetahs in a human-wildlife landscape.animals select habitats that will ultimately optimize their fitness through access to favorable resources, such as food, mates, and breeding sites. however, access to these resources may be limited by bottom-up effects, such as availability, and top-down effects, such as risk avoidance and competition, including that with humans. competition between wildlife and people over resources, specifically over space, has played a significant role in the worldwide decrease in large carnivores. the goal o ...201830151175
levosimendan for perioperative cardioprotection: myth or reality?levosimendan is a calcium sensitizer drug causing increased contractility in the myocardium and vasodilation in the vascular system. it is mainly used for the therapy of acute decompensated heart failure. several studies on animals and humans provided evidence of the cardioprotective properties of levosimendan including preconditioning and anti-apoptotic. in view of these favorable effects, levosimendan has been tested in patients undergoing cardiac surgery for the prevention or treatment of low ...201829564979
a new perspective on the pathogenesis of chronic renal disease in captive cheetahs (acinonyx jubatus).the sustainability of captive cheetah populations is limited by high mortality due to chronic renal disease. this necropsy study, conducted on 243 captive cheetahs from one institution, investigated the relationships between focal palatine erosions, gastritis, enterocolitis, glomerulosclerosis, chronic renal infarcts, renal cortical and medullary fibrosis, and renal medullary amyloidosis at death. associations between the individual renal lesions and death due to chronic renal disease and compar ...201829513736
natural and anthropogenic drivers of cub recruitment in a large carnivore.recruitment is a critical parameter governing population dynamics and influences population persistence. understanding the drivers of recruitment is therefore important for conservation, especially for long-lived mammals such as large carnivores, which have low reproductive rates, rendering them prone to extinction. using cheetahs (acinonyx jubatus) as a model species, i investigated the variation in cub recruitment in relation to habitat and the abundance of tourists and predators. per litter, ...201830038771
synchrotron radiation reveals the identity of the large felid from monte argentario (early pleistocene, italy).we describe here a partial skull with associated mandible of a large felid from monte argentario, italy (early pleistocene; ~1.5 million years). propagation x-ray phase-contrast synchrotron microtomography of the specimen, still partially embedded in the rock matrix, allows ascribing it reliably to acinonyx pardinensis, one of the most intriguing extinct carnivorans of the old world plio-pleistocene. the analysis of images and 3d models obtained through synchrotron microtomography - here applied ...201829844540
the international mouse phenotyping consortium (impc): a functional catalogue of the mammalian genome that informs conservation.the international mouse phenotyping consortium (impc) is building a catalogue of mammalian gene function by producing and phenotyping a knockout mouse line for every protein-coding gene. to date, the impc has generated and characterised 5186 mutant lines. one-third of the lines have been found to be non-viable and over 300 new mouse models of human disease have been identified thus far. while current bioinformatics efforts are focused on translating results to better understand human disease pro ...201830100824
on the optimization of low-cost fdm 3d printers for accurate replication of patient-specific abdominal aortic aneurysm geometry.there is a potential for direct model manufacturing of abdominal aortic aneurysm (aaa) using 3d printing technique for generating flexible semi-transparent prototypes. a patient-specific aaa model was manufactured using fused deposition modelling (fdm) 3d printing technology. a flexible, semi-transparent thermoplastic polyurethane (tpu), called cheetah water (produced by ninjatek, usa), was used as the flexible, transparent material for model manufacture with a hydrophilic support structure 3d p ...201829782613
the reporting of a bacillus anthracis b-clade strain in south africa after more than 20 years.anthrax is a disease with an age old history in africa caused by the gram-positive endospore forming soil bacterium bacillus anthracis. epizootics of wild ungulates occur annually in the enzootic region of pafuri, kruger national park (knp) in the limpopo province of south africa. rigorous routine surveillance and diagnostics in knp, has not revealed these rare isolates since the 1990s, despite unabated annual outbreaks. in 2011 a cheetah was diagnosed as anthrax positive from a private game res ...201829716659
energy expenditure in people with transtibial amputation walking with crossover and energy storing prosthetic feet: a randomized within-subject study.energy storing feet are unable to reduce the energy required for normal locomotion among people with transtibial amputation. crossover feet, which incorporate aspects of energy storing and running specific feet, are designed to maximize energy return while providing stability for everyday activities.201829614468
material matters: analysis of density uncertainty in 3d printing and its consequences for radiation oncology.using 3d printing to fabricate patient-specific devices such as tissue compensators, boluses, and phantoms is inexpensive and relatively simple. however, most 3d printing materials have not been well characterized, including their radiologic tissue equivalence. the purposes of this study were to (a) determine the variance in hounsfield units (hu) for printed objects, (b) determine if hu varies over time, and (c) calculate the clinical dose uncertainty caused by these material variations.201829493803
one year daily changes in fecal sexual steroids of two captive female cheetahs (acinonyx jubatus) in italy.the present study evaluated changes of fecal sexual steroids in two female cheetahs (geijsha and duchessa) in northern italy throughout one year. wet feces were collected daily from two sibling animals of the same age, housed with conspecific males and managed in the same conditions, and estrogens and progestogens concentrations were analyzed by radioimmunoassay (ria). evidence of ovarian activity based on regular fluctuation in estrogen excretion was demonstrated in both females. none of the an ...201829449038
oral, maxillofacial and dental diseases in captive cheetahs (acinonyx jubatus).descriptions of several oral, maxillofacial and dental conditions/diseases exist for a variety of captive large felids, but little is reported on the pathology of free roaming large felids. apart from focal palatine erosions (fpes) as initially described by fitch and fagan (1982) and some reference to absent incisor teeth, few data exist on diseases affecting the oral, maxillofacial and dental structures of cheetahs (acinonyx jubatus), regardless of their captivity status. this study reports 18 ...201829422320
recent inner ear specialization for high-speed hunting in cheetahs.the cheetah, acinonyx jubatus, is the fastest living land mammal. because of its specialized hunting strategy, this species evolved a series of specialized morphological and functional body features to increase its exceptional predatory performance during high-speed hunting. using high-resolution x-ray computed micro-tomography (μct), we provide the first analyses of the size and shape of the vestibular system of the inner ear in cats, an organ essential for maintaining body balance and adapting ...201829396425
luck in food finding affects individual performance and population trajectories.energy harvesting by animals is important because it provides the power needed for all metabolic processes. beyond this, efficient food finding enhances individual fitness [1] and population viability [2], although rates of energy accumulation are affected by the environment and food distribution. typically, differences between individuals in the rate of food acquisition are attributed to varying competencies [3], even though food-encounter rates are known to be probabilistic [4]. we used animal ...201830449669
coping with intrasexual behavioral differences: capture-recapture abundance estimation of male cheetah.population estimates are a fundamental requirement of ecology and conservation. while capture-recapture models are an established method for producing such estimates, their assumption of homogeneous capture probabilities is problematic given that heterogeneity in individual capture probability is inherent to most species. such variation must be accounted for by abundance models; otherwise, biased estimates are risked.here, we investigate the performance of four types of heterogeneity models for ...201830377492
roads threaten asiatic cheetahs in iran.wildlife-vehicle collisions are an important cause of mortality for many animal species. they also prove extremely detrimental to the critically endangered asiatic cheetah (acinonyx jubatus venaticus) [1,2]. one to two asiatic cheetahs are killed by vehicles on iran's roads annually [3,4]. as such, the asiatic cheetah could be the next charismatic felid subspecies to go extinct in the near future [5]. we identified one statistically-significant cluster of cheetah-vehicle collisions on the shahro ...201830300597
tinder for cheetahs. 201830273322
the fastest animals and vehicles are neither the biggest nor the fastest over lifetime.here we show how the size of a body affects its maximum average speed of movement through its environment. the theoretical challenge was to predict that 'outliers' must exist, such as the cheetah for terrestrial animals and the jet fighter for airplanes. we show that during a travel that starts from rest and continues at cruising speed, the body size for minimum travel time, or maximum average speed, is not the biggest. the results are compared with extensive data for military aircraft for chase ...201830150767
ultrasound assessment of the change in carotid corrected flow time in fluid responsiveness in undifferentiated shock.adequate assessment of fluid responsiveness in shock necessitates correct interpretation of hemodynamic changes induced by preload challenge. this study evaluates the accuracy of point-of-care doppler ultrasound assessment of the change in carotid corrected flow time induced by a passive leg raise maneuver as a predictor of fluid responsiveness. noninvasive cardiac output monitoring (nicom, cheetah medical, newton center, ma) system based on a bioreactance method was used.201830134304
fatal tickborne phlebovirus infection in captive cheetahs, japan.two captive cheetahs from a zoo in japan died of a severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome-like illness. severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus, an endemic tickborne phlebovirus, was detected systemically with secretion of infectious viruses into the saliva. these cases highlight the risk for exposure of captive animals to endemic arthropodborne pathogens.201830124411
assessing puberty in ex situ male cheetahs (acinonyx jubatus) via fecal hormone metabolites and body weights.cheetahs are one of the most heavily studied felid species, with numerous publications on health, disease, and reproductive physiology produced over the last 30 years. despite this relatively long history of research, there is a paucity of crucial biological data, such as pubertal onset, which has direct and significant applications to improved management of ex situ cheetah populations. this study aimed to determine age of pubertal onset in ex situ male cheetahs using non-invasive fecal steroid ...201830026021
reactions of female cheetahs (acinonyx jubatus) to urine volatiles from males of varying genetic distance.understanding the factors used by female cheetahs (acinonyx jubatus) to make mate choice decisions could benefit zoo breeding programs, which currently assign mates based primarily on genetic distance. because transporting animals between institutions is costly and can be stressful, females are often limited in the number of males available for mating. one solution would be to determine if an easily transported substance could be used to gauge interest by a female to a potential mate. here, we i ...201829900582
cheetahs cannot fool biologgers. 201830591837
evaluation of butorphanol-azaperone-medetomidine in captive cheetah (acinonyx jubatus) immobilization.the butorphanol-azaperone-medetomidine fixed-dose combination (bam, respectively, 30-12-12 mg ml-1) with subsequent antagonism by naltrexone-atipamezole was evaluated for reversible immobilization of captive cheetahs (acinonyx jubatus).201930554889
locomotor correlates of the scapholunar of living and extinct carnivorans.the relationship of carpal morphology to ecology and habitat is under studied in carnivorans and more generally in mammals. here, we use 3d-scanning techniques to assess the usefulness of a carpal bone, the scapholunar, in carnivorans to reflect ecology and habitat, and to reconstruct the ecology of five extinct carnivorans from two fossil sites: rancho la brea and natural trap cave. we 3d-scanned scapholunars and measured articular surface areas and angles between articular facets using geomagi ...201931188504
body temperature, activity patterns and hunting in free-living cheetah: biologging reveals new insights.as one of the few felids that is predominantly diurnal, cheetahs (acinonyx jubatus) can be exposed to high heat loads in their natural habitat. little is known about long-term patterns of body temperature and activity (including hunting) in cheetahs because long-term concurrent measurements of body temperature and activity have never been reported for cheetahs, or, indeed, for any free-living felid. we report here body temperature and locomotor activity measured with implanted data loggers over ...201929851240
dosimetry assessment of patient-specific 3d printable materials for hdr surface brachytherapy.3d printable material water equivalence was investigated within the range of iridium-192 source energies. the aim is to compare the dose calculated by our treatment planning system (tps) with the dose measured in the presence of printed materials. the purpose of this investigation is to assess the feasibility of using 3d materials for brachytherapy surface applicators.201931707143
ward-based goal-directed fluid therapy (gdft) in acute pancreatitis (gap) trial: study protocol for a feasibility randomised controlled trial.acute pancreatitis is an inflammatory disease of the pancreas with high risk of developing multiorgan failure and death. there are no effective pharmacological interventions used in current clinical practice. maintaining fluid and electrolyte balance is the mainstay of supportive management. goal-directed fluid therapy (gdft) has been shown to decrease morbidity and mortality in surgical conditions with systemic inflammatory response. there is currently no randomised controlled trial (rct) inves ...201931601585
precision and consistency of the passive leg raising maneuver for determining fluid responsiveness with bioreactance non-invasive cardiac output monitoring in critically ill patients and healthy volunteers.the passive leg raising (plr) maneuver has become standard practice in fluid resuscitation. we aim to investigate the precision and consistency of the plr for determining fluid responsiveness in critically ill patients and healthy volunteers using bioreactance non-invasive cardiac output monitoring (nicom™, cheetah medical, inc., newton center, massachusetts, usa).201931560711
acute bradycardia associated with positional change in a hyperkalaemic cheetah (acinonyx jubatus). 201931521515
Refresh
firstprev
1234567
nextlast
Displaying items 501 - 600 of 663