Publications

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the role of the wolf in endemic sylvatic trichinella britovi infection in the abruzzi region of central italy.during the period 2004-2014 in the abruzzi region (central italy), muscle samples gathered from hunted wild boars (n=16,323) and retrieved from carcasses of other susceptible wild mammals (n=838) and birds (n=438) were tested for trichinella larvae according to european union regulations. although no positive samples were found from wild birds, 91 wild mammals tested positive. six species were found to harbor trichinella spp. infections, namely wolf (canis lupus, 59 positive samples out of 218), ...201627522469
the occurrence of nematodes of the genus trichinella in wolves (canis lupus) from the bieszczady mountains and augustowska forest in poland.the aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence of trichinella infection in wolves (canis lupus) in two regions in poland. muscle samples were collected from 21 wolves between 1999 and 2015 and processed by artificial digestion. in two cases, the muscle larvae (ml) were obtained and stored in alcohol. ml were detected in 12 wolves and genotyped by multiplex pcr. trichinella britovi was confirmed in 12 wolves (54.5%). the larval burdens in infected animals ranged from 0.009 to 27 l ...201627103397
seroprevalence of neospora caninum in feral swine (sus scrofa) in the united states.the protozoon neospora caninum is a major cause of abortion in cattle worldwide. canids (canis familiaris, canis latrans, canis lupus) are definitive hosts whereas many other animal species, including pigs, are intermediate hosts for the parasite. between 2012 and 2014, serum samples from 1059 feral swine (sus scrofa) from 29 states of the usa were tested for n. caninum antibodies, using the n. caninum agglutination test (nat). of these, 159 (15.0%) feral pigs from 21 states tested positive, wit ...201627514880
seroprevalence and risk factors of infections with neospora caninum and toxoplasma gondii in hunting dogs from campania region, southern italy.hunting dogs have probably a higher level of exposure to neospora caninum dubey, carpenter, speer, topper et uggla, 1988 and toxoplasma gondii nicolle et manceaux, 1908 than other canine populations for their different lifestyle. the aim of our survey was to determine the seroprevalence of n. caninum and t. gondii in hunting dogs from southern italy and assess risk factors related to these protozoan infections. blood samples were collected from 398 hunting dogs (19 different breeds, aged from 5 ...201627189127
canine visceral leishmaniasis in wild canines (fox, jackal, and wolf) in northeastern iran using parasitological, serological, and molecular methods.although many studies had been conducted on various aspects of canine visceral leishmaniasis (cvl) in domestic dogs in the endemic areas of iran, investigations on cvl in wild canines are rare.201628032106
canisome--the protein signatures of canis lupus familiaris diseases.although the applications of proteomics in human biomedicine have been explored for some time now, in animal and veterinary research, the potential of this resource has just started to be explored, especially when companion animal health is considered. in the last years, knowledge on the canis lupus familiaris proteome has been accumulating in the literature and a resource compiling all this information and critically reviewing it was lacking. this article presents such a resource for the first ...201626776818
fleas and ticks in carnivores from a domestic-wildlife interface: implications for public health and wildlife.fleas and ticks are parasites of wild and domestic mammals, and can be vectors of several pathogens. in rural areas, domestic carnivores such as the domestic dog (canis lupus familiaris l.), may act as a "bridge" between natural areas and human settlements where ectoparasites can be used as a metric of such link. the aim of this study was to identify fleas, ticks, and rickettsia spp., collected from domestic and wild carnivores in a natural reserve and surrounding human settlements in central ch ...201627539151
description and life-cycle of taenia lynciscapreoli sp. n. (cestoda, cyclophyllidea).a new species of tapeworm, taenia lynciscapreoli sp. n. (cestoda, cyclophyllidea), is described from the eurasian lynx (lynx lynx), the main definitive host, and the roe deer (capreolus capreolus and capreolus pygargus), the main intermediate hosts, from finland and russia (siberia and the russian far east). the new species was found once also in the wolf (canis lupus) and the eurasian elk/moose (alces alces), representing accidental definitive and intermediate hosts, respectively. the conspecif ...201627199592
thelazia callipaeda in wild carnivores from romania: new host and geographical records.thelazia callipaeda is a vector-borne zoonotic nematode parasitizing the conjunctival sac of domestic and wild carnivores, rabbits and humans, with a vast distribution in asia and the former soviet union. in europe, the nematode has an emerging trend, being reported in italy, france, switzerland, germany, spain, portugal, bosnia and herzegovina, croatia, romania, greece and serbia, with human cases known in italy, france, spain, serbia and croatia. in romania, the infection was so far reported o ...201627316971
development of a real-time pcr for a sensitive one-step coprodiagnosis allowing both the identification of carnivore feces and the detection of toxocara spp. and echinococcus multilocularis.studying the environmental occurrence of parasites of concern for humans and animals based on coprosamples is an expanding field of work in epidemiology and the ecology of health. detecting and quantifying toxocara spp. and echinococcus multilocularis, two predominant zoonotic helminths circulating in european carnivores, in feces may help to better target measures for prevention. a rapid, sensitive, and one-step quantitative pcr (qpcr) allowing detection of e. multilocularis and toxocara spp. w ...201626969697
first detection of echinococcus multilocularis in dogs in a highly endemic area of poland.the aim of the investigation was to estimate the epizootic situation concerning infection by the cestode echinococcus multilocularis leuckart, 1863 in dogs (canis lupus familiaris linnaeus) from a polish region where this parasite is highly prevalent in red foxes. faecal samples (n = 148) were collected from rural dogs in podkarpackie province. samples were examined through nested pcr (for e. multilocularis), multiplex pcr (e. multilocularis, species of taenia linnaeus, 1758) and pcr [e. granulo ...201627311792
italian wolves (canis lupus italicus altobello, 1921) and molecular detection of taeniids in the foreste casentinesi national park, northern italian apennines.after centuries of massive decline, the recovery of the wolf (canis lupus italicus) in italy is a typical conservation success story. to learn more about the possible role of parasites in the wolves' individual and population health and conservation we used non-invasive molecular approaches on fecal samples to identify individual wolves, pack membership, and the taeniids present, some of which are zoonotic. a total of 130 specimens belonging to 54 wolves from eight packs were collected and exami ...201728180084
occurrence and molecular genotyping of giardia duodenalis and cryptosporidium spp. in wild mesocarnivores in spain.there is a surprisingly scarce amount of epidemiological and molecular data on the prevalence, frequency, and diversity of the intestinal protozoan parasites giardia duodenalis and cryptosporidium spp. in wildlife in general and mesocarnivore species in particular. consequently, the extent of the cyst/oocyst environmental contamination attributable to these wild host species and their potential implications for public veterinary health remain largely unknown. in this molecular epidemiological su ...201728215875
molecular identification of cryptic cysticercosis: taenia ovis krabbei in wild intermediate and domestic definitive hosts.the complex life cycle of taeniids represents an ideal model of a multi-host system. the complexity of these parasites can therefore cover the epidemiological issues of the interface between wild and domestic animals, especially once spatial overlap between wild and domestic definitive and intermediate hosts occurs. here we use the occurrence of taenia ovis krabbei in two model areas as an example of this epidemiological complexity. in two contiguous areas in the italian northern apennines, two ...201728349853
hepatozoon spp. infects free-ranging jaguars (panthera onca) in brazil.this study investigated the presence of hepatozoon spp. in jaguars (panthera onca) and domestic animals in the cerrado, amazon and pantanal biomes of brazil. between february 2000 and january 2010, blood samples were collected from 30 jaguars, 129 domestic dogs (canis lupus familiaris) and 22 domestic cats (felis catus) for molecular tests. all of the jaguars from the pantanal (n=22) and cerrado (n=4) and 3 of 4 jaguars from the amazon were positive for hepatozoon spp. domestic dogs (62.8%) and ...201728207298
prediction of lymph node parasite load from clinical data in dogs with leishmaniasis: an application of radial basis artificial neural networks.quantification of leishmania infantum load via real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qpcr) in lymph node aspirates is an accurate tool for diagnostics, surveillance and therapeutics follow-up in dogs with leishmaniasis. however, qpcr requires infrastructure and technical training that is not always available commercially or in public services. here, we used a machine learning technique, namely radial basis artificial neural network, to assess whether parasite load could be learned fr ...201728115177
molecular diagnosis and phylogeographic analysis of trypanosoma evansi in dogs (canis lupus familiaris) suggest an epidemiological importance of this species in colombia.surra disease is a zoonosis caused by trypanosoma (trypanozoon) evansi, a salivary trypanosome, originally from africa, which affects a wide range of mammalian worldwide. dogs are highly susceptible to t. evansi infection and they often exhibit strong clinical signs than can lead to death, even within weeks in untreated acute cases. the present survey is the first report through clinical, parasitological and molecular approaches, of two fatal cases of t. evansi in colombian dogs. after analysing ...201728364836
seroprevalence of toxoplasma gondii infection in zoo and domestic animals in jiangxi province, china.toxoplasma gondii is a zoonotic protozoan parasite that infects a wide range of warm-blooded animals throughout the world. in the present study, antibodies to t. gondii were determined using a commercial indirect hemagglutination (iha) test in wild animals in a zoo. three of 11 giraffes (giraffa camelopardalis) (27%), 1 of 5 wolves (canis lupus laniger) (20%), 1 of 6 hippopotamuses (hippopotamus amphibious) (17%), and 2 of 9 tundra swans (cygnus columbianus) (22%) were found to be positive. no a ...201728224883
group or ungroup - moose behavioural response to recolonization of wolves.predation risk is a primary motivator for prey to congregate in larger groups. a large group can be beneficial to detect predators, share predation risk among individuals and cause confusion for an attacking predator. however, forming large groups also has disadvantages like higher detection and attack rates of predators or interspecific competition. with the current recolonization of wolves (canis lupus) in scandinavia, we studied whether moose (alces alces) respond by changing grouping behavio ...201728239401
ungulate predation and ecological roles of wolves and coyotes in eastern north america.understanding the ecological roles of species that influence ecosystem processes is a central goal of ecology and conservation biology. eastern coyotes (canis latrans) have ascended to the role of apex predator across much of eastern north america since the extirpation of wolves (canis spp.) and there has been considerable confusion regarding their ability to prey on ungulates and their ecological niche relative to wolves. eastern wolves (c. lycaon) are thought to have been the historical top pr ...201728064464
amblyomma auricularium (ixodida: ixodidae) in florida: new hosts and distribution records.previous published evidence for the occurrence of an exotic armadillo tick, amblyomma auricularium (conil), in florida is scant, but we found it is fully established and integrated into the state's tick fauna. we collected 11,192 specimens of this tick from naturalized nine-banded armadillos, dasypus novemcinctus l., and 14 other species of wild native mammals and birds in florida, while sampling statewide during 2004 through 2007. in all, we document its specific presence only in 14 contiguous ...201728082640
population expansion and individual age affect endoparasite richness and diversity in a recolonising large carnivore population.the recent recolonisation of the central european lowland (cel) by the grey wolf (canis lupus) provides an excellent opportunity to study the effect of founder events on endoparasite diversity. which role do prey and predator populations play in the re-establishment of endoparasite life cycles? which intrinsic and extrinsic factors control individual endoparasite diversity in an expanding host population? in 53 individually known cel wolves sampled in germany, we revealed a community of four ces ...201728128348
the prevalence and impact of babesia canis and theileria sp. in free-ranging grey wolf (canis lupus) populations in croatia.babesia spp. and theileria spp. are important emerging causes of disease in dogs. alongside these domesticated hosts, there is increasing recognition that these piroplasms can also be found in a range of wild animals with isolated reports describing the presence of these pathogen in foxes (vulpes vulpes) and captive grey wolves (canis lupus). the prevalence and impact of these infections in free-ranging populations of canids are unknown. to gain a better insight into the epidemiology and pathoge ...201728376903
the eurasian otter (lutra lutra) as a potential host for rickettsial pathogens in southern italy.canine monocytic ehrlichiosis and rickettsiosis are zoonotic tick-borne diseases of canids caused by the intracellular obligate bacteria ehrlichia canis and rickettsia species respectively. in this study, we investigated using standard and real-time pcr and sequencing, the occurrence and molecular characterization of e. canis and rickettsia species in the eurasian otter (lutra lutra) from the southern italian population. samples were screened by using molecular assays also for neospora caninum, ...201728267780
protozoan and helminth parasite fauna of free-living croatian wild wolves (canis lupus) analyzed by scat collection.the european wolf (canis lupus) is a large carnivore species present in limited areas of europe with several small populations still being considered as endangered. wolves can be infected by a wide range of protozoan and metazoan parasites with some of them affecting free-living wolf health condition. on this account, an epidemiological survey was conducted to analyze the actual parasite fauna in croatian wild wolves. in total, 400 individual faecal samples were collected during field studies on ...201728043382
is the free-ranging jaguar (panthera onca) a reservoir for cytauxzoon felis in brazil?this study investigated the occurrence of cytauxzoon felis and babesia spp. in free-ranging jaguars (panthera onca), domestic dogs (canis lupus familiaris) and domestic cats (felis catus) from the cerrado, amazon and pantanal biomes of brazil. blood samples were collected from 30 jaguars, 129 dogs and 22 cats for detection of the 18s rrna genes of piroplasmids. all of the jaguars from the pantanal (n=22) and cerrado (n=4) and three of four jaguars from the amazon were positive for c. felis, but ...201728196774
a serosurvey of diseases of free-ranging gray wolves (canis lupus) in minnesota.we tested serum samples from 387 free-ranging wolves ( canis lupus ) from 2007 to 2013 for exposure to eight canid pathogens to establish baseline data on disease prevalence and spatial distribution in minnesota's wolf population. we found high exposure to canine adenoviruses 1 and 2 (88% adults, 45% pups), canine parvovirus (82% adults, 24% pups), and lyme disease (76% adults, 39% pups). sixty-six percent of adults and 36% of pups exhibited exposure to the protozoan parasite neospora caninum . ...201728192048
desert pastoralists' negative and positive effects on rare wildlife in the gobi.in arid regions of the developing world, pastoralists and livestock commonly inhabit protected areas, resulting in human-wildlife conflict. conflict is inextricably linked to the ecological processes shaping relationships between pastoralists and native herbivores and carnivores. to elucidate relationships underpinning human-wildlife conflict, we synthesized 15 years of ecological and ethnographic data from ikh nart nature reserve in mongolia's gobi steppe. the density of argali (ovis ammon), th ...201727976422
commensal in conflict: livestock depredation patterns by free-ranging domestic dogs in the upper spiti landscape, himachal pradesh, india.in human-populated landscapes worldwide, domestic dogs (canis lupus familiaris) are the most abundant terrestrial carnivore. although dogs have been used for the protection of livestock from wild carnivores, they have also been implicated as predators of livestock. we used a combination of methods (field surveys, interview surveys, and data from secondary sources) to examine the patterns and factors driving livestock depredation by free-ranging dogs, as well as economic losses to local communiti ...201728074403
sexually dimorphic aggression indicates male gray wolves specialize in pack defense against conspecific groups.aggression directed at conspecific groups is common among gregarious, territorial species, and for some species such as gray wolves (canis lupus) intraspecific strife is the leading cause of natural mortality. each individual in a group likely has different measures of the costs and benefits associated with a group task, such as an aggressive attack on another group, which can alter motivation and behavior. we observed 292 inter-pack aggressive interactions in yellowstone national park between 1 ...201728143722
endocrine and paracrine controls of canine follicular development and function.canid reproduction is unique among other mammals in that females experience long and variable periods of ovarian inactivity. while the domestic dog exhibits a non-seasonal, largely sporadic monoestrus occurring once or twice a year, most wild canids, such as the gray wolf (canis lupus) and red wolf (canis rufus), are seasonal breeders with onset apparently dependent on species, latitudinal location and/or variety of environment factors. neuroendocrine controls of ovarian functions have been most ...201728111799
masticatory muscle myositis in a gray wolf (canis lupus).a 10-yr-old male, neutered gray wolf ( canis lupus ) was presented for atrophy of the temporalis and masseter muscles. clinical signs and magnetic resonance imaging were consistent with a myopathy. positive serology for antibody titers directed against type 2m myofibers, and the observation of a mixed mononuclear inflammatory cell infiltrate along with eosinophils and neutrophils within the temporalis muscle, were diagnostic for masticatory muscle myositis. importantly, protozoal myositis was ex ...201728363075
the longevity of para-aminopropiophenone (papp) wild dog baits and the implications for effective and safe baiting campaigns.considerable effort goes into mitigating the impacts caused by invasive animals and prohibiting their establishment or expansion. in australia, management of wild dogs (canis lupus dingo and their hybrids) and their devastating impacts is reliant upon poison baiting. the recent release of baits containing the humane toxin para-aminopropiophenone (papp) offers potential improvements for control of wild dogs, but little is known about the environmental persistence of papp in manufactured baits tha ...201728357798
environmental enrichment in kennelled pit bull terriers (canis lupus familiaris).although social enrichment can be considered beneficial in helping dogs cope with the kennel environment, when taking individual needs into account, it places a large demand on the carers and may not be appropriate in under-resourced kennels. some kennels are also designed in such a way that there is too much social interaction, in that individuals cannot choose to distance themselves from conspecifics. this study therefore aimed to assess the effects of easily accessible enrichment on the behav ...201728333069
a cryptic mitochondrial dna link between north european and west african dogs.domestic dogs have an ancient origin and a long history in africa. nevertheless, the timing and sources of their introduction into africa remain enigmatic. herein, we analyse variation in mitochondrial dna (mtdna) d-loop sequences from 345 nigerian and 37 kenyan village dogs plus 1530 published sequences of dogs from other parts of africa, europe and west asia. all kenyan dogs can be assigned to one of three haplogroups (matrilines; clades): a, b, and c, while nigerian dogs can be assigned to on ...201728302420
molecular detection of hepatozoon spp. in domestic dogs and wild mammals in southern pantanal, brazil with implications in the transmission route.hepatozoon parasites comprise intracellular apicomplexan parasites transmitted to vertebrate animals by ingestion of arthropods definitive hosts. the present work aimed to investigate the occurrence of hepatozoon spp. in wild animals, domestic dogs and their respective ectoparasites, in southern pantanal region, central-western brazil, by molecular techniques. between august 2013 and march 2015, 31 coatis (nasua nasua), 78 crab-eating foxes (cerdocyon thous), seven ocelots (leopardus pardalis), ...201728291601
population genetic analysis and genome-wide association study of patellar luxation in a thai population of pomeranian dogs.the genetics of patellar luxation (pl) were investigated in pomeranian dogs presented at the small animal hospital, faculty of veterinary science, chulalongkorn university. a cohort of 339 pomeranian dogs, part of a four-generation pedigree of 842 pomeranians, was screened for pl from 2006 to 2013. pl was present in 77% of the screened dogs, with 84% having bilateral and 16% unilateral luxation. medial pl was more common (95%) than lateral pl (2%) or bidirectional pl (3%). the risk of pl was sim ...201728266317
longitudinal quasi-static stability predicts changes in dog gait on rough terrain.legged animals utilize gait selection to move effectively and must re-cover from environmental perturbations. we show that on rough terrain domestic dogs, canis lupus familiaris, spend more time in longitudinal quasi-statically stable patterns of movement. here longitudinal refers to the rostro-caudal, axis. we used an existing model in the literature to quantify the longitudinal quasi-static stability of gaits neighbouring the walk, and found that trot-like gaits are more stable. we thus hypoth ...201728264903
an enhanced grey wolf optimization based feature selection wrapped kernel extreme learning machine for medical diagnosis.in this study, a new predictive framework is proposed by integrating an improved grey wolf optimization (igwo) and kernel extreme learning machine (kelm), termed as igwo-kelm, for medical diagnosis. the proposed igwo feature selection approach is used for the purpose of finding the optimal feature subset for medical data. in the proposed approach, genetic algorithm (ga) was firstly adopted to generate the diversified initial positions, and then grey wolf optimization (gwo) was used to update the ...201728246543
molecular characterization and in-silico analysis of the tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-3 (timp-3) gene of canine mammary tumor.mammary tumors are the second most common tumors (after skin tumors) in female dogs (canis lupus familiaris). tissue inhibitor of metlloproteinases-3 (timp-3) is a matrix associated endogenous inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinases (mmps). cancer metastasis occurs as a result of imbalance between mmps and timps. timp-3 is involved significantly in regulation of mmps as well as progression of canine mammary tumor.201728215146
pulmonary neuroendocrine tumor in a female wolf (canis lupus lupus).a 17-year-old female wolf (canis lupus lupus) had a right lung mass that was adhered to the thoracic cavity. histopathological examination revealed that the mass consisted of sheets, cord or ribbon-like structures of monotonous, small, cuboidal cells with round, oval or short-spindle nuclei and scant clear cytoplasm, demarcated by a fine fibrovascular stroma. focal necrosis, congestion and thrombi were observed. immunohistochemically, the tumor cells diffusely expressed cytokeratin ae1/ae3, and ...201728190820
dental pulp as a source of low-contaminated dna.the in-laboratory contamination of the ancient samples hinders the result interpretation of the investigations in the field of paleomicrobiology. we had promoted the dental pulp as a sample that limits the risks of in-laboratory contamination of the ancient material. in this work, we measured the contamination of the dental pulp manipulated according to paleomicrobiology protocol, used as a source of a total dna for metagenomics. first, total dna extracted from two dog canines was sequenced usin ...201728188902
cross-jurisdictional management of a trophy-hunted species.gray wolves (canis lupus) are managed for competing uses in the greater yellowstone ecosystem (gye). tourism benefits yellowstone national park (ynp) visitors while trophy hunting benefits hunters outside of the park. we investigate the policy scope of gray wolf management across jurisdictional boundaries by incorporating three foundations of the behavioral ecology of wolves: refuge-seeking behavior, optimal foraging group size and territoriality. tradeoffs between and within consumptive and non ...201728188735
"wolves (canis lupus) and dogs (canis familiaris) differ in following human gaze into distant space but respond similar to their packmates' gaze": correction to werhahn et al. (2016).reports an error in "wolves (canis lupus) and dogs (canis familiaris) differ in following human gaze into distant space but respond similar to their packmates' gaze" by geraldine werhahn, zsófia virányi, gabriela barrera, andrea sommese and friederike range (journal of comparative psychology, 2016[aug], vol 130[3], 288-298). in the article, the affiliations for the second and fifth authors should be wolf science center, ernstbrunn, austria, and comparative cognition, messerli research institute, ...201728182485
competition between apex predators? brown bears decrease wolf kill rate on two continents.trophic interactions are a fundamental topic in ecology, but we know little about how competition between apex predators affects predation, the mechanism driving top-down forcing in ecosystems. we used long-term datasets from scandinavia (europe) and yellowstone national park (north america) to evaluate how grey wolf (canis lupus) kill rate was affected by a sympatric apex predator, the brown bear (ursus arctos). we used kill interval (i.e. the number of days between consecutive ungulate kills) ...201728179516
the cattle-wolf dilemma: interactions among three protected species.this paper utilizes economic valuation to offer a new perspective on livestock rancher-predator conflicts. while most studies have considered losses to the species directly involved, i.e., cattle and wolves (canis lupus), we take into account other species that are threatened by efforts to protect livestock. in this case, vultures (gyps fulvus) and gazelles (gazella gazella), both endangered species, are either poisoned (vultures) or suffer from habitat fragmentation (gazelles) in the upper gali ...201727796488
modified discrete grey wolf optimizer algorithm for multilevel image thresholding.the computation of image segmentation has become more complicated with the increasing number of thresholds, and the option and application of the thresholds in image thresholding fields have become an np problem at the same time. the paper puts forward the modified discrete grey wolf optimizer algorithm (mdgwo), which improves on the optimal solution updating mechanism of the search agent by the weights. taking kapur's entropy as the optimized function and based on the discreteness of threshold ...201728127305
poor construction, not time, takes its toll on subsidised fences designed to deter large carnivores.large carnivore conservation may be considered as successful in sweden, as wolf (canis lupus), lynx (lynx lynx), brown bear (ursus arctos), golden eagles (aquila chrysaetos), and wolverine (gulo gulo) populations have recovered from extinction or near extinction to viable populations during the last three decades. particularly the wolf and lynx populations have returned at the cost of an increasing number of carnivore attacks on domestic livestock. to support coexistence between carnivores and l ...201728394912
let's stay together? intrinsic and extrinsic factors involved in pair bond dissolution in a recolonizing wolf population.for socially monogamous species, breeder bond dissolution has important consequences for population dynamics, but the extent to which extrinsic or intrinsic population factors causes pair dissolution remain poorly understood, especially among carnivores. using an extensive life-history data set, a survival analysis and competing risks framework, we examined the fate of 153 different wolf (canis lupus) pairs in the recolonizing scandinavian wolf population, during 14 winters of snow tracking and ...201727559712
comparative locomotor costs of domestic dogs reveal energetic economy of wolf-like breeds.the broad diversity in morphology and geographic distribution of the 35 free-ranging members of the family canidae is only rivaled by that of the domesticated dog, canis lupus familiaris. considered to be among nature's most elite endurance athletes, both domestic and wild canids provide a unique opportunity to examine the variability in mammalian aerobic exercise performance and energy expenditure. to determine the potential effects of domestication and selective breeding on locomotor gait and ...201727811300
playful activity post-learning improves training performance in labrador retriever dogs (canis lupus familiaris).situations that are emotional and arousing have an effect on cognitive performance. it is thought that beta adrenergic activation and the release of stress hormones enhance memory consolidation and lead to an increase in memorability of emotional events. this beneficial effect has been shown in humans, non-human primates and rodents. techniques which could enhance memory for learning specific tasks would be highly valuable, especially in dogs, which are extensively trained to aid humans. a pseud ...201727777045
ensemble ecosystem modeling for predicting ecosystem response to predator reintroduction.introducing a new or extirpated species to an ecosystem is risky, and managers need quantitative methods that can predict the consequences for the recipient ecosystem. proponents of keystone predator reintroductions commonly argue that the presence of the predator will restore ecosystem function, but this has not always been the case, and mathematical modeling has an important role to play in predicting how reintroductions will likely play out. we devised an ensemble modeling method that integra ...201727478092
expert-based versus habitat-suitability models to develop resistance surfaces in landscape genetics.landscape genetics aims to investigate functional connectivity among wild populations by evaluating the impact of landscape features on gene flow. genetic distances among populations or individuals are generally better explained by least-cost path (lcp) distances derived from resistance surfaces than by simple euclidean distances. resistance surfaces reflect the cost for an organism to move through particular landscape elements. however, determining the effects of landscape types on movements is ...201727730367
computed tomography examination and mitochondrial dna analysis of japanese wolf skull covered with skin.a canis skull, right half of the mandible and part of the left half of the mandible were subjected to three-dimensional (3d) computed tomography (ct) observation and mitochondrial dna (mtdna) analysis in order to determine whether the specimens belonged to the extinct japanese wolf, canis lupus hodophilax (temminck, 1839). osteometric analysis of the skull and right half of the mandible revealed that the material (jw275) was indeed typical of the japanese wolf. sequence analysis of a 600-bp mtdn ...201727746405
the role of oxytocin in relationships between dogs and humans and potential applications for the treatment of separation anxiety in dogs.the hormone oxytocin plays an important role in attachment formation and bonding between humans and domestic dogs. recent research has led to increased interest in potential applications for intranasal oxytocin to aid with the treatment of psychological disorders in humans. while a few studies have explored the effects of intranasally administered oxytocin on social cognition and social bonding in dogs, alternative applications have not yet been explored for the treatment of behavioural problems ...201726548910
the morphology of the mandibular coronoid process does not indicate that canis lupus chanco is the progenitor to dogs.the domestication of wolves is currently under debate. where, when and from which wolf sub-species dogs originated are being investigated both by osteoarchaeologists and geneticists. while dna research is rapidly becoming more active and popular, morphological methods have been the gold standard in the past. but even today morphological details are routinely employed to discern archaeological wolves from dogs. one such morphological similarity between canis lupus chanco and dogs was published in ...201727340333
predators and the public trust.many democratic governments recognize a duty to conserve environmental resources, including wild animals, as a public trust for current and future citizens. these public trust principles have informed two centuries of u.s.a. supreme court decisions and environmental laws worldwide. nevertheless numerous populations of large-bodied, mammalian carnivores (predators) were eradicated in the 20th century. environmental movements and strict legal protections have fostered predator recoveries across th ...201726526656
post-conflict opponent affiliation reduces victim re-aggression in a family group of captive arctic wolves (canis lupus arctos).post-conflict affiliative interactions have been widely investigated in primates but not extensively in other species. using the post conflict-matched control (pc-mc) comparison method, this study investigated the patterns of post-conflict opponent affiliation (poa) of a captive family group of 19 arctic wolves (canis lupus arctos), investigating the correlation with various factors. we found that poas occurred mainly in the non-feeding context and more often when the victim was dominant and the ...201729108020
potential role of wolf (canis lupus) as passive carrier of european brown hare syndrome virus (ebhsv).european brown hare syndrome virus (ebhsv) was detected in a faecal swab collected from a wolf carcass in northern italy. the full-length genome of the ebhsv wolf/17/2016/ita strain was determined. in the vp60 capsid gene, the wolf strain displayed the highest genetic identity (99.2-99.1% nucleotide and 99.6-99.7% amino acid) with two ebhsv strains recently found in the intestinal content of a red fox and in the spleen and liver of a hare in northern italy. this finding poses interrogatives on t ...201729195228
metabolic differences between dogs of different body sizes.the domesticated dog,canis lupus familiaris, has been selectively bred to produce extreme diversity in phenotype and genotype. dogs have an immense diversity in weight and height. specific differences in metabolism have not been characterized in small dogs as compared to larger dogs.201729225968
an anatomic description of intrinsic brachial muscles in the crab-eating fox (cerdocyon thous, linnaeus 1776) and report of a variant arterial distribution.the crab-eating fox (cerdocyon thous) is a wild canid distributed throughout south america. it is one of the wild canids reported being hit by vehicles and injured in snares, thus inducing trauma or injury to the musculoskeletal system, possibly occurring in the brachial region. the main objective of this research was to provide an anatomic description of the crab-eating fox's intrinsic brachial muscles including shape, origin, insertion, innervation and arterial blood supply, compared with that ...201729214655
nasally-administered oxytocin has limited effects on owner-directed attachment behavior in pet dogs(canis lupus familiaris).the present study explored the effects of intranasal oxytocin, a naturally occurring hormone, on the behavior of pet dogs during an attachment test. each dog participated in two testing sessions. on one visit saline was administered nasally, and on another, oxytocin was administered nasally. for half of the dogs (n= 20), solutions were administered with a mucosal atomization device (mad) and for half of the dogs (n= 20), solutions were administered using a nasal spray bottle. condition order was ...201729033879
modelling personality, plasticity and predictability in shelter dogs.behavioural assessments of shelter dogs (canis lupus familiaris) typically comprise standardized test batteries conducted at one time point, but test batteries have shown inconsistent predictive validity. longitudinal behavioural assessments offer an alternative. we modelled longitudinal observational data on shelter dog behaviour using the framework of behavioural reaction norms, partitioning variance into personality (i.e. inter-individual differences in behaviour), plasticity (i.e. inter-indi ...201728989764
comprehensive annotation and evolutionary insights into the canine (canis lupus familiaris) antigen receptor loci.dogs are an excellent model for human disease. for example, the treatment of canine lymphoma has been predictive of the human response to that treatment. however, an incomplete picture of canine (canis lupus familiaris) immunoglobulin (ig) and t cell receptor (tr)-or antigen receptor (ar)-gene loci has restricted their utility. this work advances the annotation of the canine ar loci and looks into breed-specific features of the loci. bioinformatic analysis of unbiased rna sequence data was used ...201728924718
pyrazine analogues from wolf urine induced unlearned fear in rats.urine excreted from the common grey wolf (canis lupus) contains a kairomone, inducing fear-related behaviors in various mammals. numerous fear-inducing substances activate neurons at the main and/or accessory olfactory bulb (aob), medial and central amygdala, and hypothalamus. our previous study showed that the mixture of pyrazine analogues (p-mix) contained in wolf urine induced avoidance and fear-related behaviors in laboratory mice and hokkaido deer (cervus nippon yesoensis), a species native ...201728920093
gray wolf mortality patterns in wisconsin from 1979 to 2012.starting in the 1970s, many populations of large-bodied mammalian carnivores began to recover from centuries of human-caused eradication and habitat destruction. the recovery of several such populations has since slowed or reversed due to mortality caused by humans. illegal killing (poaching) is a primary cause of death in many carnivore populations. law enforcement agencies face difficulties in preventing poaching and scientists face challenges in measuring it. both challenges are exacerbated w ...201729674782
effects of breeder turnover and harvest on group composition and recruitment in a social carnivore.breeder turnover can influence population growth in social carnivores through changes to group size, composition and recruitment. studies that possess detailed group composition data that can provide insights about the effects of breeder turnover on groups have generally been conducted on species that are not subject to recurrent annual human harvest. we wanted to know how breeder turnover affects group composition and how harvest, in turn, affects breeder turnover in cooperatively breeding grey ...201728555834
disentangling timing of admixture, patterns of introgression, and phenotypic indicators in a hybridizing wolf population.hybridization is a natural or anthropogenic process that can deeply affect the genetic make-up of populations, possibly decreasing individual fitness but sometimes favoring local adaptations. the population of italian wolves (canis lupus), after protracted demographic declines and isolation, is currently expanding in anthropic areas, with documented cases of hybridization with stray domestic dogs. however, identifying admixture patterns in deeply introgressed populations is far from trivial. in ...201728549194
harvest and group effects on pup survival in a cooperative breeder.recruitment in cooperative breeders can be negatively affected by changes in group size and composition. the majority of cooperative breeding studies have not evaluated human harvest; therefore, the effects of recurring annual harvest and group characteristics on survival of young are poorly understood. we evaluated how harvest and groups affect pup survival using genetic sampling and pedigrees for grey wolves in north america. we hypothesized that harvest reduces pup survival because of (i) red ...201728539521
genome sequence of a novel canine picornavirus isolated from an american foxhound.a candidate new canine picornavirus was isolated from a respiratory swab collected from an american foxhound (canis lupus familiaris) in 1968. the assembled genome sequence of strain a128thr is 7,618 bases in length, comprising a complete protein-coding sequence of the 2,213-amino-acid polyprotein and partial terminal untranslated sequences.201728522706
practice makes perfect: familiarity of task determines success in solvable tasks for free-ranging dogs (canis lupus familiaris).domestic dogs' (canis lupus familiaris) socio-cognitive faculties have made them highly sensitive to human social cues. while dogs often excel at understanding human communicative gestures, they perform comparatively poorly in problem-solving and physical reasoning tasks. this difference in their behaviour could be due to the lifestyle and intense socialization, where problem solving and physical cognition are less important than social cognition. free-ranging dogs live in human-dominated enviro ...201728492975
histomorphometrics and quantitative unbiased stereology in canine uteri treated with medroxyprogesterone acetate.this article describes the effects of mpa use on the canine uterus using stereological methods. entire reproductive tracts were removed from normal healthy canine bitches (canis lupus familiaris) and grouped as: nulliparous (n = 11), multiparous (n = 11) and mpa-treated (n = 11; nulliparous; two treatments; 5 mg/kg). 1 cm samples were cut from the corpus, horn and uterine tube and fixed in 10% formaldehyde. sections of each were mounted on slides and stained with hematoxylin-eosin. we assessed t ...201728460663
dna methylation patterns of behavior-related gene promoter regions dissect the gray wolf from domestic dog breeds.a growing body of evidence highlights the relationship between epigenetics, especially dna methylation, and population divergence as well as speciation. however, little is known about how general the phenomenon of epigenetics-wise separation of different populations is, or whether population assignment is, possible based on solely epigenetic marks. in the present study, we compared dna methylation profiles between four different canine populations: three domestic dog breeds and their ancestor th ...201728321510
a tale of dog and man: tibetan mastiff found to gain high-altitude adaptation after domestication by interbreeding with the tibet gray wolf. 201728158704
experienced gray wolf optimization through reinforcement learning and neural networks.in this paper, a variant of gray wolf optimization (gwo) that uses reinforcement learning principles combined with neural networks to enhance the performance is proposed. the aim is to overcome, by reinforced learning, the common challenge of setting the right parameters for the algorithm. in gwo, a single parameter is used to control the exploration/exploitation rate, which influences the performance of the algorithm. rather than using a global way to change this parameter for all the agents, w ...201728092578
understanding predation risk and individual variation in risk avoidance for threatened boreal caribou.predation risk is a driver of species' distributions. animals can increase risk avoidance in response to fluctuations in predation risk, but questions remain regarding individual variability and the capacity to respond to changes in spatial risk across human-altered landscapes. in northeast british columbia, canada, boreal caribou populations declined as roads and seismic lines have increased, which are theorized to increase gray wolf predation. our goal was to model risk and to evaluate individ ...201729238553
compensatory selection for roads over natural linear features by wolves in northern ontario: implications for caribou conservation.woodland caribou (rangifer tarandus caribou) in ontario are a threatened species that have experienced a substantial retraction of their historic range. part of their decline has been attributed to increasing densities of anthropogenic linear features such as trails, roads, railways, and hydro lines. these features have been shown to increase the search efficiency and kill rate of wolves. however, it is unclear whether selection for anthropogenic linear features is additive or compensatory to se ...201729117234
spatially varying density dependence drives a shifting mosaic of survival in a recovering apex predator (canis lupus).understanding landscape patterns in mortality risk is crucial for promoting recovery of threatened and endangered species. humans affect mortality risk in large carnivores such as wolves (canis lupus), but spatiotemporally varying density dependence can significantly influence the landscape of survival. this potentially occurs when density varies spatially and risk is unevenly distributed. we quantified spatiotemporal sources of variation in survival rates of gray wolves (c. lupus) during a 21-y ...201729187986
xx disorder of sex development is associated with an insertion on chromosome 9 and downregulation of rspo1 in dogs (canis lupus familiaris).remarkable progress has been achieved in understanding the mechanisms controlling sex determination, yet the cause for many disorders of sex development (dsd) remains unknown. of particular interest is a rare xx dsd subtype in which individuals are negative for sry, the testis determining factor on the y chromosome, yet develop testes or ovotestes, and both of these phenotypes occur in the same family. this is a naturally occurring disorder in humans (homo sapiens) and dogs (c. familiaris). phen ...201729053721
free-ranging dogs prefer petting over food in repeated interactions with unfamiliar humans.dogs (canis lupus familiaris) are the first species to have been domesticated and, unlike other domesticated species, they have developed a special bond with their owners. the ability to respond to human gestures and language, and the hypersocial behaviours of dogs are considered key factors that have led them to become man's best friend. free-ranging dogs provide an excellent model system for understanding the dog-human relationship in various social contexts. in india, free-ranging dogs occur ...201729038310
occurrence of tongue worm,linguatula cf. serrata(pentastomida: linguatulidae) in wild canids and livestock in south-eastern australia.pentastomids are obligate zoonotic arthropod parasites utilising canids and vulpids as their definitive hosts and several herbivorous species as their intermediate hosts. reported only 10 times in australia over the last 150 years as incidental findings, adult pentastomids referred to aslinguatula serratahave been encountered in nasal cavities of domestic and wild dogs, and foxes. nymphs have been reported in cattle and rabbits. in the present study, a number of potential definitive hosts, inclu ...201728971014
differences in the gut microbiota of dogs (canis lupus familiaris) fed a natural diet or a commercial feed revealed by the illumina miseq platform.recent advances in next-generation sequencing technologies have enabled comprehensive analysis of the gut microbiota, which is closely linked to the health of the host. consequently, several studies have explored the factors affecting gut microbiota composition. in recent years, increasing number of dog owners are feeding their pets a natural diet i.e., one consisting of bones, raw meat (such as chicken and beef), and vegetables, instead of commercial feed. however, the effect of these diets on ...201729201150
helminth infections in faecal samples of apennine wolf (canis lupus italicus) and marsican brown bear (ursus arctos marsicanus) in two protected national parks of central italythis article reports the results of a copromicroscopic and molecular investigation carried out on faecal samples of wolves (n=37) and brown bears (n=80) collected in two protected national parks of central italy (abruzzo region). twenty-three (62.2%) samples from wolves were positive for parasite eggs. eight (34.78%) samples scored positive for single infections, i.e. e. aerophilus (21.74%), ancylostoma/uncinaria (4.34%), trichuris vulpis (4.34%), t. canis (4.34%). polyspecific infections were f ...201729274214
prey use by dingoes in a contested landscape: ecosystem service provider or biodiversity threat?in australia, dingoes (canis lupus dingo) have been implicated in the decline and extinction of a number of vertebrate species. the lowland wet tropics of queensland, australia is a biologically rich area with many species of rainforest-restricted vertebrates that could be threatened by dingoes; however, the ecological impacts of dingoes in this region are poorly understood. we determined the potential threat posed by dingoes to native vertebrates in the lowland wet tropics using dingo scat/stom ...201729152188
the novel isoxazoline ectoparasiticide lotilaner (credelio™): a non-competitive antagonist specific to invertebrates γ-aminobutyric acid-gated chloride channels (gabacls).the isoxazolines are a novel class of parasiticides that are potent inhibitors of γ-aminobutyric acid (gaba)-gated chloride channels (gabacls) and, to a lesser extent, of inhibitory glutamate-gated chloride channels (glucls). lotilaner (credelio™), a novel representative of this chemical class, is currently evaluated for its excellent ectoparasiticide properties.201729089046
molecular characterization of complete genomic segment-2 of picobirnavirus strains detected in a cat and a dog.we report here molecular characterization of complete genomic segment-2 of picobirnavirus (pbv) strains pbv/cat/kna/k40/2014 and pbv/dog/kna/rvc7/2015 detected in a cat (felis catus) and a dog (canis lupus familiaris), respectively, on the caribbean island of st. kitts. to obtain the full-length nucleotide (nt) sequence of gene segment-2 of the canine and feline pbv strains, the 5'- and 3'- portions of gene segment-2 containing an overlapping region were amplified using a non-specific primer-bas ...201728688978
filarioid infections in wild carnivores: a multispecies survey in romania.filarioids are vector-borne parasitic nematodes of vertebrates. in europe, eight species of filarioids, including zoonotic species, have been reported mainly in domestic dogs, and occasionally in wild carnivores. in romania, infections with dirofilaria spp. and acanthocheilonema reconditum are endemic in domestic dogs. despite the abundant populations of wild carnivores in the country, their role in the epidemiology of filarioid parasites remains largely unknown. the aim of the present study was ...201728705255
angiostrongylus vasorum in wolves in italy: prevalence and pathological findings.angiostrongylus vasorum is a nematode residing in the heart and pulmonary vessels of dogs and wild carnivores. in europe the red fox is its reservoir, while only three records from wolves have been published. angiostrongylus vasorum has a worldwide distribution, and many pieces of evidence demonstrate that it is spreading from endemic areas to new ones. in italy, a. vasorum was reported with increasing frequency in dogs and foxes in the last decades, and now it is considered endemic throughout t ...201728800774
surveillance for antibodies against six canine viruses in wild raccoons (procyon lotor) in japan.raccoons (procyon lotor) are found worldwide. they are frequently seen in crowded inner cities as well as in forests or wooded areas, often living in proximity to humans and their pets. we examined sera from 100 wild raccoons in japan for antibodies to six canine viruses with veterinary significance to assess their potential as reservoirs. we also aimed to understand the distribution of potentially infected wildlife. we found that 7% of samples were seropositive for canine distemper virus (cdv), ...201728715293
viral gut metagenomics of sympatric wild and domestic canids, and monitoring of viruses: insights from an endangered wolf population.animal host-microbe interactions are a relevant concern for wildlife conservation, particularly regarding generalist pathogens, where domestic host species can play a role in the transmission of infectious agents, such as viruses, to wild animals. knowledge on viral circulation in wild host species is still scarce and can be improved by the recent advent of modern molecular approaches. we aimed to characterize the fecal virome and identify viruses of potential conservation relevance of diarrheic ...201728649326
genome sequence of canine adenovirus type 1 isolated from a wolf (canis lupus) in southern italy.canine adenovirus type 1 (cadv-1), a dna virus of the family adenoviridae, causes infectious canine hepatitis, a highly contagious disease primarily affecting canids. in this report, we describe the isolation and whole-genome sequence of a cadv-1 isolate from the liver of a free-ranging wolf (canis lupus).201728428308
genetic characterization of canine parvovirus in sympatric free-ranging wild carnivores in portugal.since its emergence in the 1970s, canine parvovirus (cpv) has been reported in domestic and nondomestic carnivores worldwide with severe implications on their health and survival. here, we aim to better understand cpv circulation in multihost-pathogens systems by characterizing cpv dna or viruses in 227 free-ranging wild carnivores of 12 species from portugal. collected samples during 1995-2011 were analyzed by pcr and sequence analysis. the canine parvovirus dna was detected in 4 (2%) animals o ...201728657857
lambdapapillomavirus 2 in a gray wolf ( canis lupus ) from minnesota with oral papillomatosis and sarcoptic mange.oral papillomatosis was diagnosed in a gray wolf ( canis lupus ) with sarcoptic mange from minnesota, usa found dead in february 2015. intranuclear inclusion bodies were evident histologically, and papillomaviral antigens were confirmed using immunohistochemistry. sequencing of the l1 papillomavirus gene showed closest similarity to lambdapapillomavirus 2.201728475450
molecular and serological detection of trypanosoma cruzi in dogs (canis lupus familiaris) suggests potential transmission risk in areas of recent acute chagas disease outbreaks in colombia.chagas disease is a zoonotic infection widely distributed in tropical and subtropical regions of america, including more than 50% of the colombian territory. in the last years, an increase of outbreaks of acute chagas disease has been observed in the east of the country due to environmental changes and mammal movements toward human settlements. given the importance of dogs (canis lupus familiaris) as reservoir hosts and sentinels of trypanosoma cruzi infection across different regions of america ...201728532988
apex predatory mammals as bioindicator species in environmental monitoring of elements in dinaric alps (croatia).tissue element investigations of apex terrestrial mammals are very scarce in europe. we quantified 16 essential and nonessential elements in the kidney cortex, liver, and muscle tissue of 467 brown bears (ursus arctos), 125 gray wolves (canis lupus), one eurasian lynx (lynx lynx), and three golden jackals (canis aureus) from croatia by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (icp-ms). renal cadmium (0.6% of animals) and lead (1%) and hepatic lead (5%) were found in toxicologically relevant ...201728879543
phylogenetic evidence for the ancient himalayan wolf: towards a clarification of its taxonomic status based on genetic sampling from western nepal.wolves in the himalayan region form a monophyletic lineage distinct from the present-day holarctic grey wolf canis lupus spp. (linnaeus 1758) found across eurasia and north america. here, we analyse phylogenetic relationships and the geographic distribution of mitochondrial dna haplotypes of the contemporary himalayan wolf (proposed in previous studies as canis himalayensis) found in central asia. we combine genetic data from a living himalayan wolf population collected in northwestern nepal in ...201728680672
quantity discrimination in canids: dogs (canis familiaris) and wolves (canis lupus) compared.accumulating evidence indicates that animals are able to discriminate between quantities. recent studies have shown that dogs' and coyotes' ability to discriminate between quantities of food items decreases with increasing numerical ratio. conversely, wolves' performance is not affected by numerical ratio. cross-species comparisons are difficult because of differences in the methodologies employed, and hence it is still unclear whether domestication altered quantitative abilities in canids. here ...201728899810
studies of wolf x coyote hybridization via artificial insemination.following the production of western gray wolf (canis lupus) x western coyote (canis latrans) hybrids via artificial insemination (ai), the present article documents that the hybrids survived in captivity for at least 4 years and successfully bred with each other. it further reports that backcrossing one of the hybrids to a male gray wolf by ai also resulted in the birth of live pups that have survived for at least 10 months. all male hybrids (f1 and f2) produced sperm by about 10 months of age, ...201728863171
comment on "whole-genome sequence analysis shows two endemic species of north american wolf are admixtures of the coyote and gray wolf".whole-genome data do not support a recent hybrid origin for red and eastern wolves.201728630899
ancestry-specific methylation patterns in admixed offspring from an experimental coyote and gray wolf cross.reduced fitness of admixed individuals is typically attributed to genetic incompatibilities. although mismatched genomes can lead to fitness changes, in some cases the reduction in hybrid fitness is subtle. the potential role of transcriptional regulation in admixed genomes could provide a mechanistic explanation for these discrepancies, but evidence is lacking for nonmodel organisms. here, we explored the intersection of genetics and gene regulation in admixed genomes derived from an experiment ...201728182234
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