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nanog is an essential factor for induction of pluripotency in somatic cells from endangered felids.nanog has an important role in pluripotency induction in bovines and snow leopards. to examine whether it was required for wild felids globally, we examined the induction of pluripotency in felids from asia (bengal tiger, panthera tigris), africa (serval, leptailurus serval), and the americas (jaguar, panthera onca). dermal fibroblasts were transduced with genes encoding the human transcription factors oct4, sox2, klf4, and cmyc with or without nanog. both four- and five-factor induction resulte ...201323514873
molecular data reveal complex hybridization and a cryptic species of neotropical wild cat.hybridization among animal species has recently become more recognized as an important phenomenon, especially in the context of recent radiations. here we show that complex hybridization has led to contrasting patterns of genomic composition among closely related species of the neotropical cat genus leopardus. we show strong evidence of ancient hybridization and introgression between the pampas cat (l. colocolo) and northeastern populations of tigrina (l. tigrinus), leading to remarkable cytonuc ...201324291091
extent of linkage disequilibrium in the domestic cat, felis silvestris catus, and its breeds.domestic cats have a unique breeding history and can be used as models for human hereditary and infectious diseases. in the current era of genome-wide association studies, insights regarding linkage disequilibrium (ld) are essential for efficient association studies. the objective of this study is to investigate the extent of ld in the domestic cat, felis silvestris catus, particularly within its breeds. a custom illumina goldengate assay consisting of 1536 single nucleotide polymorphisms (snps) ...201323308248
development of snp markers identifying european wildcats, domestic cats, and their admixed progeny.introgression can be an important evolutionary force but it can also lead to species extinction and as such is a crucial issue for species conservation. however, introgression is difficult to detect, morphologically as well as genetically. hybridization with domestic cats (felis silvestris catus) is a major concern for the conservation of european wildcats (felis s. silvestris). the available morphologic and genetic markers for the two felis subspecies are not sufficient to reliably detect hybri ...201323398610
environmental determinants of spatial and temporal variations in the transmission of toxoplasma gondii in its definitive hosts.toxoplasmosis is a major zoonosis, and its prevention requires multiple approaches due to the complex life-cycle of its causative agent, toxoplasma gondii. environmental contamination by oocysts is a key factor in the transmission of t. gondii to both humans and meat-producing animals; however, its spatial and temporal variations are poorly understood. we analysed the distribution of t. gondii seropositivity in a sample of 210 cats, including the european wildcat (felis silvestris silvestris), t ...201324533347
trophoblast apoptosis through polarization of macrophages induced by chinese toxoplasma gondii isolates with different virulence in pregnant mice.toxoplasma gondii is an apicomplexan parasite capable of transplacental transmission to cause spontaneous abortion or significant disease in the surviving neonate. different from the dominant genotypes of t. gondii strains in european and north american which belong to three distinct clonal lineages, type i, type ii, and type iii, isolates from china possess the predominant genotype of china 1(toxodb#9) with a different virulence. the genotype-associated pathogenesis has been investigated previo ...201323722717
genetic characterisation of toxoplasma gondii isolates from european beavers (castor fiber) and european wildcats (felis silvestris silvestris).six free-ranging european beavers (castor fiber) from berlin greater metropolitan area and twelve european wildcats (felis silvestris silvestris) originating from the german federal state of saxony-anhalt were found dead and their carcasses were submitted for necropsy. brain and lung samples were analysed for the presence of toxoplasma gondii dna. histo-pathologic analysis of one beaver revealed several cyst-like protozoal structures in parts of the brain. tissue dna isolated from all animal sam ...201322989954
assessing the status of wild felids in a highly-disturbed commercial forest reserve in borneo and the implications for camera trap survey design.the proliferation of camera-trapping studies has led to a spate of extensions in the known distributions of many wild cat species, not least in borneo. however, we still do not have a clear picture of the spatial patterns of felid abundance in southeast asia, particularly with respect to the large areas of highly-disturbed habitat. an important obstacle to increasing the usefulness of camera trap data is the widespread practice of setting cameras at non-random locations. non-random deployment in ...201324223717
snapshot of viral infections in wild carnivores reveals ubiquity of parvovirus and susceptibility of egyptian mongoose to feline panleukopenia virus.the exposure of wild carnivores to viral pathogens, with emphasis on parvovirus (cpv/fplv), was assessed based on the molecular screening of tissue samples from 128 hunted or accidentally road-killed animals collected in portugal from 2008 to 2011, including egyptian mongoose (herpestes ichneumon, n = 99), red fox (vulpes vulpes, n = 19), stone marten (martes foina, n = 3), common genet (genetta genetta, n = 3) and eurasian badger (meles meles, n = 4). a high prevalence of parvovirus dna (63%) w ...201323527182
to the root of the curl: a signature of a recent selective sweep identifies a mutation that defines the cornish rex cat breed.the cat (felis silvestris catus) shows significant variation in pelage, morphological, and behavioral phenotypes amongst its over 40 domesticated breeds. the majority of the breed specific phenotypic presentations originated through artificial selection, especially on desired novel phenotypic characteristics that arose only a few hundred years ago. variations in coat texture and color of hair often delineate breeds amongst domestic animals. although the genetic basis of several feline coat color ...201323826204
first evidence of hemoplasma infection in free-ranging namibian cheetahs (acinonyx jubatus).infections with feline hemotropic mycoplasmas (hemoplasmas) have been documented in domestic cats and free-ranging feline species with high prevalences in iberian lynxes (lynx pardinus), eurasian lynxes (lynx lynx), european wildcats (felis silvestris silvestris), african lions (panthera leo) in tanzania and domestic cats in south africa. the prevalence of hemoplasmas has not yet been investigated in free-ranging felids in southern africa. in this study we screened 73 blood samples from 61 cheet ...201323123173
generation, characterization and therapeutic potential of anti-feline tnf-alpha mabs for feline infectious peritonitis.feline infectious peritonitis (fip) is a lethal infectious disease affecting domestic and wild cats. several reports suggested that tnf-alpha is related to the progression of fip. thus, the administration of a feline tnf-alpha-neutralizing antibody to cats with fip may reduce the disease progression. in this study, we have prepared nine monoclonal antibodies (mabs) that recognize feline tnf-alpha. all mabs neutralized recombinant tnf-alpha. the 50% inhibitory concentrations (ic50) of the mabs fo ...201324095161
effect of chloroquine on feline infectious peritonitis virus infection in vitro and in vivo.feline infectious peritonitis (fip) is a feline coronavirus-induced fatal disease in domestic and wild cats. several studies have investigated potential treatments for fip. however, there have been no reports on agents that have exhibited a therapeutic effect. recently, chloroquine has been reported to antiviral effect. we investigated whether chloroquine can be used to treat fip in vitro and in vivo. it was demonstrated that chloroquine has inhibitory effect against the replication of fipv and ...201323648708
apparent total tract macronutrient and energy digestibility of 1- to- 3-day-old whole chicks, adult ground chicken, and extruded and canned chicken-based diets in african wildcats (felis silvestris lybica).our objectives were to evaluate the composition of whole 1- to- 3-day-old chicks (whole), ground adult chicken (ground), chicken-based canned diet (canned), and chicken-based extruded diet (extruded); and evaluate apparent total tract energy and macronutrient digestibility of these diets by four captive african wildcats (felis silvestrus lybica) utilizing a latin square design. we analyzed diets for macronutrient and mineral (ca, p, k, na, mg, fe, cu, mn, zn, and s) composition, and screened for ...201323818436
canine distemper virus (cdv) in another big cat: should cdv be renamed carnivore distemper virus?one of the greatest threats to the conservation of wild cat populations may be dogs or, at least, one of their viruses. canine distemper virus (cdv), a single-stranded rna virus in the paramyxoviridae family and genus morbillivirus, infects and causes disease in a variety of species, not just canids. an outbreak of cdv in wild lions in the serengeti, tanzania, in 1994 was a wake-up call for conservationists, as it demonstrated that an infectious disease could swiftly impact a previously healthy ...201324045642
virological survey in free-ranging wildcats (felis silvestris) and feral domestic cats in portugal.to determine the presence of viral pathogens in natural areas a survey was conducted on an opportunistic sample of fifty eight wild (felis silvestris silvestris) and feral cats (f. s. catus). the biological materials included serum, lung tissue extract and stool. feline leukemia virus p27 antigen was detected in 13/50 serum/lung tissue extract samples (26%), canine distemper virus antibodies were detected in 2/26 serum/lung tissue extract samples (7.7%), feline coronavirus rna was present in 6/2 ...201222424865
how the leopard hides its spots: asip mutations and melanism in wild cats.the occurrence of melanism (darkening of the background coloration) is documented in 13 felid species, in some cases reaching high frequencies at the population level. recent analyses have indicated that it arose multiple times in the felidae, with three different species exhibiting unique mutations associated with this trait. the causative mutations in the remaining species have so far not been identified, precluding a broader assessment of the evolutionary dynamics of melanism in the felidae. ...201223251368
considering extinction of dependent species during translocation, ex situ conservation, and assisted migration of threatened hosts.translocation, introduction, reintroduction, and assisted migrations are species conservation strategies that are attracting increasing attention, especially in the face of climate change. however, preventing the extinction of the suite of dependent species whose host species are threatened is seldom considered, and the effects on dependent species of moving threatened hosts are unclear. there is no published guidance on how to decide whether to move species, given this uncertainty. we examined ...201222443127
environmental factors associated with the seroprevalence of toxoplasma gondii in wild boars (sus scrofa), france.toxoplasma gondii is a protozoan parasite infecting humans and animals. wild boars sus scrofa are a potential source of human infection and an appropriate biological model for analyzing t. gondii dynamics in the environment. here, we aimed to identify environmental factors explaining the seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis in french wild boar populations. considering 938 individuals sampled from 377 'communes', overall seroprevalence was 23% (95% confidence interval: [22-24]). using a poisson regres ...201222820902
integrative taxonomy at work: dna barcoding of taeniids harboured by wild and domestic cats.in modern taxonomy, dna barcoding is particularly useful where biometric parameters are difficult to determine or useless owing to the poor quality of samples. these situations are frequent in parasitology. here, we present an integrated study, based on both dna barcoding and morphological analysis, on cestodes belonging to the genus taenia, for which biodiversity is still largely underestimated. in particular, we characterized cestodes from italian wildcats (felis silvestris silvestris), free-r ...201222233209
disruption of thiamine uptake and growth of cells by feline leukemia virus subgroup a.feline leukemia virus (felv) is still a major cause of morbidity and mortality in domestic cats and some wild cats despite the availability of relatively effective vaccines against the virus. felv subgroup a (felv-a) is transmitted in natural infections, and felv subgroups b, c, and t can evolve directly from felv-a by mutation and/or recombination with endogenous retroviruses in domestic cats, resulting in a variety of pathogenic outcomes. the cell surface entry receptor for felv-a is a putativ ...201223269813
large-scale serosurvey of besnoitia besnoiti in free-living carnivores in spain.the disease bovine besnoitiosis is responsible for severe economic losses caused by the protozoan besnoitia besnoiti. the identity of the definitive host (dh) of this parasite has yet to be determined, although it is presumed to be a carnivore. with the aim of advancing in the identification of b. besnoiti dh, a necessary step in implementing control strategies, the contact rate of 205 free-roaming carnivores with this parasite in spain was studied. the study included 16 wolves (canis lupus), 41 ...201222770702
exposure to selected pathogens in to selected pathogens in geoffroy's cats and domestic carnivores from central argentina.wild carnivores share a high percentage of parasites and viruses with closely related domestic carnivores. because of increased overlap and potential contact with domestic species, we conducted a retrospective serosurvey for 11 common carnivore pathogens in 40 geoffroy's cats (leopardus geoffroyi) sampled between 2000 and 2008 within or near two protected areas in central argentina (lihué calel national park, la pampa, and campos del tuyú national park, buenos aires), as well as five domestic ca ...201223060491
prey preference of snow leopard (panthera uncia) in south gobi, mongolia.accurate information about the diet of large carnivores that are elusive and inhabit inaccessible terrain, is required to properly design conservation strategies. predation on livestock and retaliatory killing of predators have become serious issues throughout the range of the snow leopard. several feeding ecology studies of snow leopards have been conducted using classical approaches. these techniques have inherent limitations in their ability to properly identify both snow leopard feces and pr ...201222393381
the plant physical features selected by wildcats as signal posts: an economic approach to fecal marking.the chemical signals of solitary and territorial felid species are essential for their intraspecific communication. we studied the selection of plant substrates during the fecal marking behavior of the european wildcat felis silvestris from september 2008 to june 2009 in a protected area in northwest spain. the aim of the study was to examine the selection of plants as signal posts with respect to their physical characteristics. we hypothesized that wildcats deposit their fecal marks on plants w ...201222926138
cats of the pharaohs: genetic comparison of egyptian cat mummies to their feline contemporaries.the ancient egyptians mummified an abundance of cats during the late period (664 - 332 bc). the overlapping morphology and sizes of developing wildcats and domestic cats confounds the identity of mummified cat species. genetic analyses should support mummy identification and was conducted on two long bones and a mandible of three cats that were mummified by the ancient egyptians. the mummy dna was extracted in a dedicated ancient dna laboratory at the university of california - davis, then direc ...201222923880
real-time pcr as a surveillance tool for the detection of trichinella infection in muscle samples from wildlife.trichinella nematodes are the causative agent of trichinellosis, a meat-borne zoonosis acquired by consuming undercooked, infected meat. although most human infections are sourced from the domestic environment, the majority of trichinella parasites circulate in the natural environment in carnivorous and scavenging wildlife. surveillance using reliable and accurate diagnostic tools to detect trichinella parasites in wildlife hosts is necessary to evaluate the prevalence and risk of transmission f ...201222541794
effect of natural photoperiod on epididymal sperm quality and testosterone serum concentration in domestic cat (felis silvestris catus).the aim of this study was to assess epididymal sperm characteristics and serum testosterone concentration in cats under natural photoperiod. the hypothesis was that natural photoperiod induces seasonal changes in spermatozoal quality and serum testosterone concentration. mixed breed tomcats (n = 43) that underwent bilateral orchiectomy at a municipal public pet shelter were used in the study. epididymides were divided into two groups according to time of castration. in group i, toms were castrat ...201223279507
vocal correlates of sender-identity and arousal in the isolation calls of domestic kitten (felis silvestris catus). 201223259698
specifying and sustaining pigmentation patterns in domestic and wild cats.color markings among felid species display both a remarkable diversity and a common underlying periodicity. a similar range of patterns in domestic cats suggests a conserved mechanism whose appearance can be altered by selection. we identified the gene responsible for tabby pattern variation in domestic cats as transmembrane aminopeptidase q (taqpep), which encodes a membrane-bound metalloprotease. analyzing 31 other felid species, we identified taqpep as the cause of the rare king cheetah pheno ...201222997338
laparoscopic oviductal embryo transfer and artificial insemination in felids--challenges, strategies and successes.embryo transfer (et) and artificial insemination (ai) are potentially invaluable techniques for the propagation and management of genetically valuable domestic cat and endangered nondomestic cat populations. many of the challenges that impair the effective application of et and ai in felids may be overcome by using laparoscopic oviductal (lo) approaches. lo-et and lo-ai are minimally-invasive procedures, requiring only two small skin incisions for insertion of a laparoscope and grasping forceps ...201223279483
prevalence of seropositivity to pathogens in small carnivores in adjacent areas of lazovskii reserve.the prevalence of infectious diseases in wild and feral carnivores is poorly known in primorsky krai, where rare species such as the amur tiger and the far east leopard roam. in this study we evaluated the prevalence of seropositivity in feral (cats, dogs) and wild (raccoon dog, badger, american mink, far eastern wild cat) carnivores to various pathogens: distemper virus, parvovirus, feline immunodeficiency and feline leukemia virus, feline coronavirus, toxoplasma gondii, mycoplasma sp., and chl ...201232214774
daily fecal sex steroid hormonal changes and mating success in captive female cheetahs (acinonyx jubatus) in japan.daily fecal estrogen and progestin concentrations were measured by enzyme immunoassay in five female cheetahs (acinonyx jubatus) for 4-6 months. the animals were housed under different conditions: (1) a female always housed in a group including one or more males; (2) two females isolated individually for short or long periods; (3) the other two females housed together. these females were separately housed with males for mating around the time of the estrogen peaks. the hormone profiles were simi ...201121398057
prevalence of antibody to toxoplasma gondii in terrestrial wildlife in a natural area.we conducted a cross-sectional study from 2008 to 2009 to evaluate the occurrence of feral and wild cats and the risk of toxoplasma gondii infection in terrestrial wildlife in a natural area in illinois, usa. felids are definitive hosts for t. gondii and cats are a key component of rural and urban transmission of t. gondii. we selected four forest sites within the interior of the park and four edge sites within 300 m of human buildings. feline and wildlife occurrence in the natural area was dete ...201121441191
serological detection of viral infections in captive wild cats from costa rica.serum samples from a total of 44 wildcats, 28 margays (leopardus wiedii), 10 ocelots (leopardus pardalis), four jaguaroundis (herpailurus yaguaroundi), one oncilla (leopardus tigrina), and one jaguar (panthera onca) were obtained between january 2001 and august 2002 from the profelis centre for rehabilitation of wild felids, located in the northwestern region of costa rica. forty three samples were tested for antibodies against feline immunodeficiency virus (fiv) and p27 antigen of feline leukem ...201121547230
viral transcriptome analysis of feline immunodeficiency virus infected cells using second generation sequencing technology.feline immunodeficiency virus (fiv) is a widespread pathogen causing immunodeficiency in domestic cats and related wild cat species. the virus genome includes the main structural genes common to all retroviruses as well as accessory genes displaying essential functions during the viral life cycle. expression of viral genes involves transcription of provirus genomes into full-length transcripts, which are partially processed into several spliced mrna variants for the translation of particular pro ...201121742384
paw preference is not affected by postural demand in a nonprimate mammal (felis silvestris catus).previously, it has been thought that handedness is unique to humans. recently, it has been found that hand or paw preferences are common among a variety of vertebrate species. different models have been put forth to describe the evolution of primate handedness. in this study we aimed to explore whether these models can also be used to predict manual laterality in nonprimate mammalian groups. the cat (felis silvestris catus) is a good nonprimate model for manual laterality, as cats frequently use ...201121842980
trichostatin a modified histone covalent pattern and enhanced expression of pluripotent genes in interspecies black-footed cat cloned embryos but did not improve in vitro and in vivo viability.abstract the black-footed cat (bfc; felis nigripes), one of the smallest wild cats, is listed as threatened. interspecies somatic cell nuclear transfer (is-scnt) offers the possibility of preserving endangered species. development to term of interspecies bfc (is-bfc) cloned embryos has not been obtained, possibly due to abnormal epigenetic reprogramming. treatment of intraspecies cloned embryos with tsa improves nuclear reprogramming and in vitro and in vivo viability. in this study, we evaluate ...201121718106
when cats' ways of life interact with their viruses: a study in 15 natural populations of owned and unowned cats (felis silvestris catus).in natural populations, virus circulation is influenced by host behavior and physiological characteristics. cat populations exhibit a great variability in social and spatial structure, the existence of different ways of life within a same population may also result in different epidemiological patterns. to test this hypothesis, we used a logistic regression to analyze the risk factors of feline immunodeficiency virus (fiv), feline herpes virus (fhv), feline calicivirus (fcv), and feline parvovir ...201121705099
[FeLV infection in the cat: clinically relevant aspects].The feline leukemia virus (FeLV) is a retrovirus of the domestic cat that was described almost 50 years ago. The FeLV-infection may lead to fatal diseases in domestic and small wild cats. The use of efficacious diagnostics assays and vaccines led to a reduction of the FeLV prevalence; however, FeLV still poses a problem for the cat presented with the infection. This article aims to describe recent developments in diagnostics and findings in the infection pathogenesis that are clinically relevant ...201122045454
feline histoplasmosis in brazil: clinical and laboratory aspects and a comparative approach of published reports.the present study described clinical and epidemiological aspects of three cases of feline histoplasmosis and compared them to previously described cases. a detailed mycological identification and antifungal susceptibility profile of each isolate are presented. secondarily, a serological survey for anti-histoplasma antibodies was performed with domestic and wild cats. diseased animals presented nodular to ulcerated skin lesions and respiratory disorders as main clinical signs. h. ...201122006110
a suite of genetic markers useful in assessing wildcat (felis silvestris ssp.)-domestic cat (felis silvestris catus) admixture.the wildcat (felis silvestris ssp.) is a conservation concern largely due to introgressive hybridization with its congener f. s. catus, the common domestic cat. because of a recent divergence and entirely overlapping ranges, hybridization is common and pervasive between these taxa threatening the genetic integrity of remaining wildcat populations. identifying pure wildcats for inclusion in conservation programs using current morphological discriminants is difficult because of gross similarity be ...201121846752
the ontogenesis of lateralized behavior in the domestic cat, felis silvestris catus.for the first time, the development of paw preferences in the domestic cat, felis silvestris catus, is explored. twelve cats were tested at ages 12 weeks, 6 months, and 1 year on a challenge requiring them to use one of their paws to retrieve food. to control for repeated testing of the same cats at different ages, the subjects' paw preferences were compared with those of cats tested just once, at 6 months (n = 11) or 1 year (n = 14) of age. analysis revealed a significant effect of age on the d ...201122201373
linking genetic diversity and temporal fluctuations in population abundance of the introduced feral cat (felis silvestris catus) on the kerguelen archipelago.linking temporal variations of genetic diversity, including allelic richness and heterozygosity, and spatio-temporal fluctuations in population abundance has emerged as an important tool for understanding demographic and evolutionary processes in natural populations. this so-called genetic monitoring was conducted across 12 consecutive years (1996-2007) at three sites for the feral cat, introduced onto the kerguelen archipelago fifty years ago. temporal changes in allelic richness and heterozygo ...201122098605
presence of bartonella species in wild carnivores of northern spain.the genus bartonella was detected by pcr in 5.7% (12/212) of wild carnivores from northern spain. based on hybridization and sequence analyses, bartonella henselae was identified in a wildcat (felis silvestris), bartonella rochalimae in a red fox (vulpes vulpes) and in a wolf (canis lupus), and bartonella sp. in badgers (meles meles).201122138983
molecular characterization of hepatozoon species in a leopard cat (prionailurus bengalensis) from thailand.hepatozoon gamonts were observed by light microscopy in neutrophils of a male, wild-caught leopard cat. complete blood counts at presentation and 6 months later were unremarkable. serologic tests were negative for both fiv and felv. a partial sequence of the 18s rrna gene from the hepatozoon found in the cat indicated that, compared with all species examined, the protozoan had the closest relationship (99.2% sequence similarity) with the hepatozoon of the water python (stegonotus cucullatus). th ...201020230573
characterization of blood cells in the leopard cat (prionailurus bengalensis).the leopard cat (prionailurus bengalensis) is the most frequently encountered wild cat in most of southeast asia. limited hematologic investigation exists for this species.201020230574
trichinella infection in wild animals from endemic regions of argentina.natural infection with trichinella has been described in more than 150 mammalian species. however, few reports of trichinella infection in wild animals have come from argentina. in this study, muscle tissue was obtained from wild animals in argentina with the aim of evaluating the presence of trichinella. a total of 169 muscle samples were collected to determine the presence of trichinella larvae by artificial digestion. the 169 muscle samples originated from 12 species including 36 opossums (di ...201020424859
serological survey of toxoplasma gondii in captive neotropical felids from southern brazil.toxoplasma gondii is the causative intracellular protozoan of toxoplasmosis in human being and animals. members of the felidae family are considered the single definitive host for the infection; both wild and domestic cats are able to excrete oocysts in the environment. wild cats maintained in captivity may serve as source of infection for other clinically susceptible animals in the same environment. the aim of this study was to determine the frequency of t. gondii igg antibodies in 57 neotropic ...201020472340
angiostrongylus species in wild carnivores in the iberian peninsula.a survey of angiostrongylus parasites was carried out between 2003 and 2006 in wild carnivore species in the basque country (northern spain). parasitological examination consisted in the dissection of heart and lungs for the extraction of adult worms. nematodes were identified using morphometrical features and also pcr amplification and sequencing analysis. the animal species included in this study were eurasian badger (meles meles), weasel (mustela nivalis), beech marten (martes foina), pine ma ...201020728995
use of spatial capture-recapture modeling and dna data to estimate densities of elusive animals.assessment of abundance, survival, recruitment rates, and density (i.e., population assessment) is especially challenging for elusive species most in need of protection (e.g., rare carnivores). individual identification methods, such as dna sampling, provide ways of studying such species efficiently and noninvasively. additionally, statistical methods that correct for undetected animals and account for locations where animals are captured are available to efficiently estimate density and other d ...201021166714
parasites of domestic and wild animals in south africa. xlviii. ticks (acari: ixodidae) infesting domestic cats and wild felids in southern africa.ticks collected from domestic cats (felis catus), cheetahs (acinonyx jubatus),caracals (caracal caracal), african wild cats (felis lybica), black-footed cats (felis nigripes), a serval (leptailurus serval), lions(panthera leo), and leopards (panthera pardus) were identified and counted. thirteen species of ixodid ticks and one argasid tick were identified from domestic cats and 17 species of ixodid ticks from wild felids. the domestic cats and wild felids harboured 11 ixodid species in common. t ...201023327159
factors affecting seroprevalence of toxoplasma gondii in the endangered iberian lynx (lynx pardinus).wild felids are considered important in maintaining the sylvatic cycle of toxoplasma gondii. although, t. gondii antibodies have been reported in several species of wild felids, little is known of the epidemiology and risk factors associated with t. gondii infection in wild cats. the iberian lynx (lynx pardinus) is the most endangered felid species in the world. in the present study, seroprevalence and associated risk factors for t. gondii infection in a large population of iberian lynx in spain ...201019879052
feline immunodeficiency virus (fiv) in wild pallas' cats.feline immunodeficiency virus (fiv), a feline lentivirus related to hiv, causes immune dysfunction in domestic and wild cats. the pallas' cat is the only species from asia known to harbor a species-specific strain of fiv designated fiv(oma) in natural populations. here, a 25% seroprevalence of fiv is reported from 28 wild mongolian pallas' cats sampled from 2000 to 2008. phylogenetic analysis of proviral rt-pol from eight fiv(oma) isolates from mongolia, russia, china and kazakhstan reveals a un ...201019926144
detection and identification of bartonella sp. in fleas from carnivorous mammals in andalusia, spain.a total of 559 fleas representing four species (pulex irritans, ctenocephalides felis, ctenocephalides canis and spilopsyllus cuniculi) collected on carnivores (five iberian lynx lynx pardinus, six european wildcat felis silvestris, 10 common genet genetta genetta, three eurasian badger meles meles, 22 red fox vulpes vulpes, 87 dogs and 23 cats) in andalusia, southern spain, were distributed in 156 pools of monospecific flea from each carnivore, and tested for bartonella infection in an assay ba ...200919941605
possible case of maternal transmission of feline spongiform encephalopathy in a captive cheetah.feline spongiform encephalopathy (fse) is considered to be related to bovine spongiform encephalopathy (bse) and has been reported in domestic cats as well as in captive wild cats including cheetahs, first in the united kingdom (uk) and then in other european countries. in france, several cases were described in cheetahs either imported from uk or born in france. here we report details of two other fse cases in captive cheetah including a 2(nd) case of fse in a cheetah born in france, most likel ...200919738899
siphonaptera associated with wild mammals from the central atlantic forest biodiversity corridor in southeastern brazil.we collected 379 samples of eight flea species from 235 specimens of wild mammals captured in three areas of the central atlantic forest corridor in the state of espírito santo, southeastern brazil, between august 2006 and february 2008. among the 22 mammal species, we found eight species of marsupials (order didelphimorphia), 13 species of rodents (order rodentia), and one species of wild cat (order carnivora). the total prevalence of infestation was 28.1%, with similar percentages in rodents ( ...200919769047
thelazia callipaeda (spirurida, thelaziidae) in wild animals: report of new host species and ecological implications.thelazia callipaeda infects the eyes of carnivores and humans in far eastern asiatic and european countries. studies have demonstrated the occurrence of t. callipaeda in foxes from areas where canine thelaziosis is endemic. however, there is little information on the role of wild carnivores as hosts of this nematode. from may 2003 to may 2009, a total of 130 carcasses of red foxes (vulpes vulpes; n=75), wolves (canis lupus; n=2), beech martens (martes foina; n=22), brown hares (lepus europaeus; ...200919782474
when domestic cat (felis silvestris catus) population structures interact with their viruses.many theoretical studies have proposed different causal mechanisms by which the structure of a host population could have important implications for life history traits of pathogens. however, little information is available from real systems to test these hypotheses. the domestic cat, felis silvestris catus, whose populations exhibit a great variability in social and spatial structure, represent an ideal case study to assess this question. in the present article, we show how cat population struc ...200919281962
neutrophil survival factors (tnf-alpha, gm-csf, and g-csf) produced by macrophages in cats infected with feline infectious peritonitis virus contribute to the pathogenesis of granulomatous lesions.feline infectious peritonitis (fip) is a feline coronavirus (fcov)-induced fatal disease of domestic and wild cats. the infiltration of neutrophils into granulomatous lesions is unusual for a viral disease, but it is a typical finding of fip. this study aimed to investigate the reason for the lesions containing neutrophils in cats with fip. neutrophils of cats with fip were cultured, and changes in the cell survival rate were assessed. in addition, the presence or absence of neutrophil survival ...200919343474
oral examination and radiographic evaluation of the dentition in wild cats from namibia.feline tooth resorption has been widely reported in domestic cats and sporadically described in other felidae. the goal of the present study was to determine the prevalence of tooth resorption and to report other dental problems in a population of wild felidae. observations of dental disorders and anomalies were made in skulls from 73 wild felidae (cheetahs, leopards, caracals, african wildcats, and lions) originating from namibia. in addition, radiographs were taken in 43 cases to determine sig ...200919476083
human and feline invasive cervical resorptions: the missing link?--presentation of four cases.this report describes 4 patients presenting with multiple teeth affected by invasive cervical resorption (icr). the cases came to our attention between 2006 and 2008; previously, no cases of multiple icr (micr) had been reported in switzerland. characteristics common to all 4 cases included progression of disease over time, similar clinical and radiographic appearance of lesions, and obscure etiology. the histologically assessed teeth showed a similar pattern of tooth destruction, with resorptiv ...200919482196
seroprevalence of toxoplasma gondii and neospora caninum in feral cats (felis silvestris catus) in majorca, balearic islands, spain.felids are important in the epidemiology of toxoplasma gondii infection because they are the only hosts that can excrete environmentally resistant oocysts. antibodies to t. gondii and neospora caninum were determined in serum samples from 59 feral cats (felis silvestris catus) captured in baited traps during authorized predator control campaigns in majorca, balearic islands, spain. antibodies to t. gondii assayed by the modified agglutination test (mat) were found in 50 (84.7%) of 59 cats with m ...200919665309
the social function of tail up in the domestic cat (felis silvestris catus).we investigated the social function of tail up in order to verify its possible relationship with the hierarchical organization of a social group. domestic cats live at higher densities than their ancestor which is a solitary species. since the signals needed by solitary animals have different properties than those needed by group-living individuals, signalling pattern utilised by the domestic cat has inevitably changed. kittens displayed the tail up when greeting their mother; this behaviour can ...200918930121
an autosomal genetic linkage map of the domestic cat, felis silvestris catus.we report on the completion of an autosomal genetic linkage (gl) map of the domestic cat (felis silvestris catus). unlike two previous linkage maps of the cat constructed with a hybrid pedigree between the domestic cat and the asian leopard cat, this map was generated entirely with domestic cats, using a large multi-generational pedigree (n=256) maintained by the nestlé purina petcare company. four hundred eighty-three simple tandem repeat (str) loci have been assigned to linkage groups on the c ...200919059333
trichinella species circulating among wild and domestic animals in romania.trichinellosis is one of the most important zoonotic diseases in romania. even though the disease is a serious public health concern, only a limited number of trichinella isolates have been identified at the species level; in the past, all larvae were assumed to be trichinella spiralis. the present study was conducted to identify trichinella spp. circulating among wild and domestic animals in romania, using pcr-based methods. trichinella spp. larvae originating from 54 wild and 23 domestic mamma ...200919059726
parvovirus infection in a eurasian lynx (lynx lynx) and in a european wildcat (felis silvestris silvestris).a eurasian lynx and a european wildcat from the same wildlife park were submitted for necropsy examination after sudden death and after death following a clinical history of lethargy, respectively. neither animal had been vaccinated against feline parvovirus (feline panleukopenia virus). feral domestic cats were widespread in the area of the wildlife park and a number of these animals that had been captured had recently died from parvovirus infection. gross and microscopical findings in the two ...200919135211
a micro-architecture for binocular disparity and ocular dominance in visual cortex.in invertebrate predators such as the praying mantis and vertebrate predators such as wild cats the ability to detect small differences in inter-ocular retinal disparities is a critical means for accurately determining the depth of moving objects such as prey. in mammals, the first neurons along the visual pathway that encode binocular disparities are found in the visual cortex. however, a precise functional architecture for binocular disparity has never been demonstrated in any species, and coa ...200919158677
serologic survey for canine distemper virus and canine parvovirus in free-ranging wild carnivores from portugal.a serologic survey for canine distemper virus (cdv) and canine parvovirus (cpv) was performed on serum and lung extract from an opportunistic sample of 120 free-ranging wild carnivores (13 species) from portugal, collected from 1995 to 2006. antibodies to cdv were detected in wolf (canis lupus; 3/27) and red fox (vulpes vulpes; 2/22). antibodies to cpv were detected in wolf (9/28), red fox (2/14), wildcat (felis silvestris;1/8), genet (genetta genetta; 17/18), and stone marten (martes foina; 3/1 ...200919204354
purification, crystallization and preliminary crystallographic study of low oxygen-affinity haemoglobin from cat (felis silvestris catus) in two different crystal forms.haemoglobin is a metalloprotein which plays a major role in the transportation of oxygen from the lungs to tissues and of carbon dioxide back to the lungs. the present work reports the preliminary crystallographic study of low oxygen-affinity haemoglobin from cat in different crystal forms. cat blood was collected, purified by anion-exchange chromatography and crystallized in two different conditions by the hanging-drop vapour-diffusion method under unbuffered low-salt and buffered high-salt con ...200919255493
a serological survey of common feline pathogens in free-living european wildcats (felis silvestris) in central spain.twenty-five serum samples of 22 free-living european wildcats (felis silvestris) captured from 1991 to 1993 in central spain were tested for evidence of exposure to seven feline pathogens. all the wildcats but one (95.4%) presented evidence of contact with at least one of the agents (mean = 2.2). contact with feline leukemia virus (felv) was detected in 81% of the wildcats (antibodies, 77%; antigen p27, 15%). antibodies to feline calicivirus (fcv, 80%), feline herpesvirus (fhv, 20%), feline parv ...200932214938
[occurrence of platynosomum illiciens in enclosured wild cats in the state of bahia, brazil].this paper reports the occurrence of eggs of platynosomum illiciens, found in the feces of three species of wild cats herpailurus yagouaroundi, puma concolor and leopardus tigrinus from material collected at the enclosures of the park zoobotânico getúlio vargas in salvador, bahia, brazil. it is the first record of this parasite in p. onca and l. tigrinus.200819265585
cortisol determination in hair and faeces from domestic cats and dogs.the present study explored the feasibility of a hair cortisol assay in domestic cats (felis silvestris catus) and dogs (canis familiaris) as a valid and reliable alternative to existing non-invasive techniques for monitoring the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (hpa) axis activity. to this aim, 56 new hair growth samples and 870 faecal samples from 27 domestic cats and 29 domestic dogs were collected and cortisol content was assessed. a significant positive association was observed in both species ...200817727851
preference for attractive faces in human infants extends beyond conspecifics.human infants, just a few days of age, are known to prefer attractive human faces. we examined whether this preference is human-specific. three- to 4-month-olds preferred attractive over unattractive domestic and wild cat (tiger) faces (experiments 1 and 3). the preference was not observed when the faces were inverted, suggesting that it did not arise from low-level image differences (experiments 2 and 3). in addition, the spontaneous preference for attractive tiger faces influenced performance ...200818171370
detecting hybridization between wild species and their domesticated relatives.the widespread occurrence of free-ranging domestic or feral carnivores (dogs, cats) or ungulates (pigs, goats), and massive releases of captive-reproduced game stocks (galliforms, waterfowl) is raising fear that introgressive hybridization with wild populations might disrupt local adaptations, leading to population decline and loss of biodiversity. detecting introgression through hybridization is problematic if the parental populations cannot be sampled (unlike in classical stable hybrid zones), ...200818173502
atypical toxoplasma gondii strain from a free-living jaguar (panthera onca) in french guiana.like domestic cats, wild felids are involved in the complete infective cycle of toxoplasma gondii because they can host in their gastrointestinal tract sexually mature parasites and shed infective oocysts in their feces. we report, to our knowledge, the first isolation and molecular characterization of a t. gondii strain from the heart tissue of a free-living jaguar (panthera onca) in french guiana. sequencing at six polymorphic markers indicated that the jaguar isolate had an atypical genotype, ...200818256411
quantification of endogenous and exogenous feline leukemia virus sequences by real-time pcr assays.endogenous retroviruses are integrated in the genome of most vertebrates. they represent footprints of ancient retroviral infection and are vertically transmitted from parents to their offspring. in the genome of all domestic cats, sequences closely related to exogenous felv known as endogenous feline leukemia virus (enfelv), are present. enfelv are incapable of giving rise to infectious virus particles. however, transcription and translation of enfelv have been demonstrated in tissues of health ...200818295344
from aquatic to terrestrial food webs: decrease of the docosahexaenoic acid/linoleic acid ratio.fatty acid composition of the adipose tissue of six carnivorous mammalian species (european otter lutra lutra, american mink mustela vison, european mink mustela lutreola, european polecat mustela putorius, stone marten martes foina and european wild cat felis silvestris) was studied. these species forage to differing degrees in aquatic and terrestrial food webs. fatty acid analysis revealed significant differences in polyunsaturated fatty acid composition between species. more specifically, our ...200818335265
hematologic, cytochemical, ultrastructural, and molecular findings of hepatozoon-infected flat-headed cats (prionailurus planiceps).the flat-headed cat (prionailurus planiceps) is a small wild cat of southeast asia and is considered extremely endangered. little is known about the hematologic values, blood cell morphology, or hemoparasites of this species in relation to other felidae.200818366542
frequency of toxoplasma gondii infection in sheep from a tropical zone of mexico and temporal analysis of the humoral response changes.an indirect elisa and an immunoblot were standardized to detect anti-toxoplasma gondii antibodies in sheep, and were compared with a commercial elisa as reference. sensitivity was 92.0 and 96.0%, and specificity 88.0 and 75.0%, respectively. then the serum samples of 103 sheep on a ranch located in the eastern region of mexico were analysed. a frequency ranging from 77 to 84% was observed, with a heterogeneous pattern among the animals by immunoblotting. ten months later 56 sheep were sampled an ...200818474123
validation of non-fluorescent methods to reliably detect acrosomal and plasma membrane integrity of common marmoset (callithrix jacchus) sperm.simple, rapid and stable sperm evaluation methods which have been optimized for common marmoset (callithrix jacchus) are critical for studies involving collection and evaluation of sperm in the field. this is particularly important for new species groups such as callitrichidae where the sperm have been little studied. of this family, c. jacchus is the best known, and has been chosen as a model species for other members of the genus callithrix. the fundamental evaluation parameters for sperm of a ...200818479742
hybridization versus conservation: are domestic cats threatening the genetic integrity of wildcats (felis silvestris silvestris) in iberian peninsula?cross-breeding between wild and free-ranging domestic species is one of the main conservation problems for some threatened species. the situation of wildcats (felis silvestris silvestris) in europe is a good example of this critical phenomenon. extensive hybridization was described in hungary and scotland, contrasting with occasional interbreeding in italy and germany. first analyses in portugal revealed a clear genetic differentiation between wild and domestic cats; however, four hybrids were d ...200818522917
neospora caninum antibodies in wild carnivores from spain.serum samples from 251 wild carnivores from different regions of spain were tested for antibodies to neospora caninum by the commercial competitive screening enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (c-elisa) and confirmed by neospora agglutination test (nat) and/or by indirect fluorescent antibody test (ifat). samples with antibodies detected by at least two serological tests were considered seropositive. antibodies to n. caninum were found in 3.2% of 95 red foxes (vulpes vulpes); in 21.4% of 28 wolve ...200818556128
analysis of a village chicken production system and performance of improved dual purpose chickens under a subtropical hill agro-ecosystem in india.this study was designed to analyze the low input backyard poultry production system practiced by the tribal farmers, and evaluate the performance of an improved dual-purpose breed, the vanaraja. results revealed that a significantly (p < 0.05) higher number of farmers used temporary, non-conventional poultry houses made of locally available materials, such as bamboo and wood. most of the farmers (65.9 %) did not provide balanced feed to their poultry and did not vaccinate their birds against any ...200818575965
seroprevalence of antibodies to toxoplasma gondii in gordon's wildcat (felis silvestris gordoni) in the middle east.most species of felids tested have been found to be the definitive host for toxoplasma gondii. gordon's wildcat (felis silvestris gordoni) is a threatened species found in the united arab emirates (uae) and oman. antibodies to t. gondii were found in all 29 captive and 2 of 7 wild-caught f. s. gordoni in uae examined by the modified agglutination test (mat). titers were 1:100 in 1, 1:200 in 5, 1:400 in 6, 1:800 in 10, 1:1,600 in 5, and 1:3,200 or higher in 4. none of these cats was ill, despite ...200818576866
refinement of a commercial bench-top relaxin assay for pregnancy diagnosis using urine from domestic and nondomestic felids.relaxin, a 6-kda polypeptide hormone, is excreted in the urine during pregnancy in several mammalian species. a recent study showed that detection of urinary relaxin using a bench-top serum assay (witness relaxin kit, synbiotics corp., san diego, california 92127, usa) can be diagnostic for pregnancy in domestic cats (felis silvestris catus), but it is unknown whether the bench-top kit is applicable with urine across felid species. our objectives were to 1) examine modifications in urine process ...200818634207
frequency and risk factors for toxoplasmosis in ovines of various regions of the state of colima, mexico.infection of ewes by toxoplasma gondii may induce abortions, thus it has consequences for sheep production. colima, western state of mexico, has favourable climatic conditions for transmission and both domestic and wild cats live there. the aim of this study was to determine the frequency of specific antibodies in sheep from the coast, a mountain, and a hill of colima. serum samples from 351 sheep were tested by a previously standardized indirect elisa. the frequency of infection was estimated a ...200818801208
copy number polymorphism of endogenous feline leukemia virus-like sequences.in the cat genome, endogenous feline leukemia virus (enfelv) exists as multiple, nearly full-length proviral sequences. even though no infectious virus is produced from enfelv sequences, transcription and translation have been demonstrated in tissues of healthy cats and in feline cell lines. to test the hypothesis that the enfelv loads play a role in exogenous felv-a infection and pathogenesis, we designed three real-time pcr assays to quantify u3 and env enfelv loads (two within u3 amplifying d ...200717329079
persistent anxiety-like behavior in marmosets following a recent predatory stress condition: reversal by diazepam.initial investigations indicated the use of the marmoset predator confrontation test (mpct) as an experimental procedure to measure fear/anxiety-related behaviors in non-human primates. however, possible long-term habituation effects and re-use of experimental subjects need to be verified. this study, therefore, compared the behavioral response of experienced versus naïve adult black tufted-ear marmosets (callithrix penicillata) in the mpct, with/without diazepam administrations. subjects were t ...200717391742
the in vitro effect of ph on osteoclasts and bone resorption in the cat: implications for the pathogenesis of forl.dental disease due to osteoclast over-activity reaches epidemic proportions in older domestic cats and has also been reported in wild cats. feline osteoclastic resorptive lesions (forl) involve extensive resorption of the tooth leaving it liable to root fracture and subsequent tooth loss. the aetio-pathogenesis of forl is not known. recent work has shown that systemic acidosis causes increased osteoclast activation and that loci of infection or inflammation in cat mouth are likely to be acidotic ...200717477347
the near eastern origin of cat domestication.the world's domestic cats carry patterns of sequence variation in their genome that reflect a history of domestication and breed development. a genetic assessment of 979 domestic cats and their wild progenitors-felis silvestris silvestris (european wildcat), f. s. lybica (near eastern wildcat), f. s. ornata (central asian wildcat), f. s. cafra (southern african wildcat), and f. s. bieti (chinese desert cat)-indicated that each wild group represents a distinctive subspecies of felis silvestris. f ...200717600185
molecular detection of "candidatus mycoplasma haemominutum" in a lion (panthera leo) from a brazilian zoological garden.although mycoplasma haemofelis and "candidatus mycoplasma haemominutum" infections have been reported in wild cats from united states, their presence among native and captive wild cats in brazil is still unknown. a 12 year old healthy male lion (panthera leo) from the zoological garden of curitiba, brazil was anesthetized for transportation and dental evaluation. a blood sample was obtained for a complete blood cell count (cbc) and pcr analysis. dna was extracted and fragments of mycoplasma haem ...200717625699
first u.s. record of the hard tick ixodes (pholeoixodes) gregsoni lindquist, wu, and redner.ixodes (pholeoixodes) gregsoni lindquist, wu, and redner, a species of hard tick described in 1999 in canada, was recovered from a harvested fisher (martes pennanti erxleben) and a domestic cat (felis silvestris catus ragni and randi) in vermont in 2001 and from harvested mink (mustela vison schreber) in maine in 2003. these samples are the first records of this species within the united states. although knowledge of this tick's natural history and distribution are still preliminary, these recor ...200717626374
sperm cryopreservation in endangered felids: developing linkage of in situ-ex situ populations.many of the world's cat species face growing threats to their continued survival in nature. for some species, managed captive populations may provide a reservoir for future reintroduction or genetic augmentation. because most zoo populations are derived from small founder sizes and are subject to loss of genetic variation over time, periodic infusion of founder alleles is necessary to avoid the dire consequences of inbreeding. collection and freezing of semen from free-living nondomestic felids ...200717644981
seroprevalence of toxoplasma gondii antibodies in wild carnivores from spain.serum samples from 282 wild carnivores from different regions of spain were tested for antibodies to toxoplasma gondii by the modified agglutination test using a cut-off value of 1:25. antibodies to t. gondii were found in 22 of 27 (81.5%) of iberian lynx (lynx pardinus), 3 of 6 european wildcats (felis silvestris), 66 of 102 (64.7%) red foxes (vulpes vulpes), 15 of 32 (46.9%) wolves (canis lupus), 26 of 37 (70.3%) eurasian badgers (meles meles), 17 of 20 (85.0%) stone martens (martes foina), 4 ...200717689869
the evolution of cats. genomic paw prints in the dna of the world's wild cats have clarified the cat family tree and uncovered several remarkable migrations in their past. 200717695844
death by attack from a wild boar.attacks on humans by wild animals causing fatal injuries are not uncommon in rural and forest areas of india. but death occurring due to attack by a wild boar is rare. as the victims of boar attack are usually recovered from dense forest areas, the investigating officers could be misled as to the nature of infliction of these multiple, fatal penetrating injuries to a possible homicide. unlike the injuries inflicted by wild cats, canines and bulls, the hallmark of boar attack is the infliction of ...200616263321
nuclear and microtubule remodeling and in vitro development of nuclear transferred cat oocytes with skin fibroblasts of the domestic cat (felis silvestris catus) and leopard cat (prionailurus bengalensis).the leopard cat (prionailurus bengalensis), a member of the felidae family, is a threatened animal in south korea. in terms of protecting endangered felids, nuclear transfer (nt) is a potentially valuable technique for assuring the continuation of species with dwindling numbers. in the present experiment, nuclear and microtubule remodeling and the in vitro developmental potential of enucleated domestic cat oocytes reconstructed with nuclei of somatic cells from either domestic cat fibroblast (dc ...200616310987
bayesian analyses of admixture in wild and domestic cats (felis silvestris) using linked microsatellite loci.methods recently developed to infer population structure and admixture mostly use individual genotypes described by unlinked neutral markers. however, hardy-weinberg and linkage disequilibria among independent markers decline rapidly with admixture time, and the admixture signals could be lost in a few generations. in this study, we aimed to describe genetic admixture in 182 european wild and domestic cats (felis silvestris), which hybridize sporadically in italy and extensively in hungary. cats ...200616367835
ovarian response to repeated administration of alternating exogenous gonadotropin regimens in the ocelot (leopardus pardalis) and tigrinus (leopardus tigrinus).exogenous gonadotropins are used to stimulate ovarian follicular growth and ovulation in mammalian species, including wild cats. however, successes in application of assisted reproduction techniques in nondomestic felids have been sparse. our objectives were to assess the effectiveness of alternating gonadotropin regimens on ovarian responses. five adult female ocelots and four adult female tigrinus were treated four to six times, using alternating ecg/hcg and pfsh/plh at 4-month intervals. lapa ...200616472853
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