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confirming hypoderma tarandi (diptera: oestridae) human ophthalmomyiasis by larval dna barcoding.dna barcoding is a practical tool for species identification, when morphological classification of an organism is difficult. herein we describe the utilisation of this technique in a case of ophthalmomyiasis interna. a 12-year-old boy was infested during a summer holiday in northern norway, while visiting an area populated with reindeer. following medical examination, a diptera larva was surgically removed from the boy's eye and tentatively identified from its morphological traits as hypoderma t ...201424827102
two missense mutations in melanocortin 1 receptor (mc1r) are strongly associated with dark ventral coat color in reindeer (rangifer tarandus).the protein-coding region of melanocortin 1 receptor (mc1r) was sequenced to identify potential variation affecting coat color in reindeer (rangifer tarandus). a t→c sequence variation at nucleotide position 218 (c.218t>c) causing an amino acid (aa) change from methionine to threonine at aa position 73 (p.met73thr) was identified. in addition, a t→g sequence variation was found at nucleotide position 839 (c.839t>g), causing phenylalanine to be exchanged by cysteine at aa position 280 (p.phe280cy ...201425039753
cross-amplification of nonspecific microsatellites markers: a useful tool to study endangered/vulnerable species of southern andes deer.thirty-nine microsatellite loci that are highly conserved in red deer, sika deer, reindeer, soay sheep, and other artiodactyls were tested in two vulnerable and endangered neotropical deer (pudu: pudu puda and huemul: hippocamelus bisulcus) with the aim of producing a standardized set of markers that can be used successfully in noninvasive samples from these species. we also compared these nonspecific loci against eight polymorphic loci that were recently developed for huemul to determine whethe ...201424841651
acute impacts of the deer ked (lipoptena cervi) infestation on reindeer (rangifer tarandus tarandus) behaviour.blood-sucking ectoparasites have often a strong impact on the behaviour of their hosts. the annual insect harassment of reindeer (rangifer tarandus tarandus) has increased in the southern part of the finnish reindeer herding area because of the recent invasion of a blood-feeding ectoparasitic louse-fly, the deer ked (lipoptena cervi). we studied the impact of the deer ked on the behaviour of reindeer. twelve reindeer were infested with a total of 300 keds/reindeer on six occasions in a 5-week pe ...201424562815
the sheep kap8-2 gene, a new kap8 family member that is absent in humans.the keratin-associated proteins (kaps) are fundamental components of hair and wool fibres, and are believed to in part be responsible for some of the properties of these fibres. kaps can be divided into three groups: the high sulphur (hs) kaps, the ultra-high sulphur (uhs) kaps and the high glycine-tyrosine (hgt) kaps. kap8 is a hgt-kap family and was believed to be coded for by a single gene in both humans and sheep. however, the recent identification of a kap8-2 gene in goats led us to investi ...201425279319
aboveground and belowground legacies of native sami land use on boreal forest in northern sweden 100 years after abandonment.human activities that involve land-use change often cause major transformations to community and ecosystem properties both aboveground and belowground, and when land use is abandoned, these modifications can persist for extended periods. however, the mechanisms responsible for rapid recovery vs. long-term maintenance of ecosystem changes following abandonment remain poorly understood. here, we examined the long-term ecological effects of two remote former settlements, regularly visited for -300 ...201424933815
infestation by hypoderma tarandi in reindeer calves from northern finland--prevalence and risk factors.serum samples from 953 reindeer (rangifer t. tarandus) calves-of-the-year from 21 reindeer herding co-operatives in finland in slaughter season 2006/2007 were assayed for antibodies against hypodermin c by an elisa detecting igg. data on presence of hypoderma tarandi larvae on 12,327 reindeer hides from 17 of the 21 herding co-operatives in slaughter season 2005/2006 were included for support. elisa showed a seroprevalence of 60.9%, with no significant difference between females and males, and i ...201424412359
preservation of viral genomes in 700-y-old caribou feces from a subarctic ice patch.viruses preserved in ancient materials provide snapshots of past viral diversity and a means to trace viral evolution through time. here, we use a metagenomics approach to identify filterable and nuclease-resistant nucleic acids preserved in 700-y-old caribou feces frozen in a permanent ice patch. we were able to recover and characterize two viruses in replicated experiments performed in two different laboratories: a small circular dna viral genome (ancient caribou feces associated virus, or acf ...201425349412
reindeer warble fly-associated human myiasis, scandinavia. 201323697827
brucellosis in terrestrial wildlife.the epidemiological link between brucellosis in wildlife and brucellosis in livestock and people is widely recognised. when studying brucellosis in wildlife, three questions arise: (i) is this the result of a spillover from livestock or a sustainable infection in one or more host species of wildlife? (ii) does wildlife brucellosis represent a reservoir of brucella strains for livestock? (iii) is it of zoonotic concern? despite their different host preferences, b. abortus and b. suis have been is ...201323837363
gammaherpesvirus infection in semidomesticated reindeer (rangifer tarandus tarandus): a cross-sectional, serologic study in northern norway.malignant catarrhal fever (mcf) is caused by a group of gammaherpesviruses that primarily affect domestic and wild ruminants. using competitive-inhibition enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, we screened 3,339 apparently healthy, semidomesticated reindeer (rangifer tarandus tarandus) from finnmark county, norway, sampled during slaughter. the overall antibody prevalence was 3.5% and varied among reindeer herding districts in finnmark (0-6.7%), the largest reindeer herding region in norway. the ris ...201323568901
what to eat now? shifts in polar bear diet during the ice-free season in western hudson bay.under current climate trends, spring ice breakup in hudson bay is advancing rapidly, leaving polar bears (ursus maritimus) less time to hunt seals during the spring when they accumulate the majority of their annual fat reserves. for this reason, foods that polar bears consume during the ice-free season may become increasingly important in alleviating nutritional stress from lost seal hunting opportunities. defining how the terrestrial diet might have changed since the onset of rapid climate chan ...201324223286
conservation strategies for species affected by apparent competition.apparent competition is an indirect interaction between 2 or more prey species through a shared predator, and it is increasingly recognized as a mechanism of the decline and extinction of many species. through case studies, we evaluated the effectiveness of 4 management strategies for species affected by apparent competition: predator control, reduction in the abundances of alternate prey, simultaneous control of predators and alternate prey, and no active management of predators or alternate pr ...201323282104
warble infestations by hypoderma tarandi (diptera; oestridae) recorded for the first time in west greenland muskoxen.in the northern hemisphere, caribou (rangifer spp.) populations are known to be infested with the skin-penetrating ectoparasite, hypoderma tarandi (diptera; oestridae). although regarded as host specific, h. tarandi has been reported from other species, and has become of increasing concern as a zoonosis infecting humans. in february 2012, concurrent with the hunting of muskoxen, we examined carcasses for muscle and tissue parasites, and recorded warble larvae infestations. dna extracted from sam ...201324533338
disentangling woodland caribou movements in response to clearcuts and roads across temporal scales.although prey species typically respond to the most limiting factors at coarse spatiotemporal scales while addressing biological requirements at finer scales, such behaviour may become challenging for species inhabiting human altered landscapes. we investigated how woodland caribou, a threatened species inhabiting north-american boreal forests, modified their fine-scale movements when confronted with forest management features (i.e. clearcuts and roads). we used gps telemetry data collected betw ...201324223713
explaining geographic gradients in winter selection of landscapes by boreal caribou with implications under global changes in eastern canada.many animal species exhibit broad-scale latitudinal or longitudinal gradients in their response to biotic and abiotic components of their habitat. although knowing the underlying mechanism of these patterns can be critical to the development of sound measures for the preservation or recovery of endangered species, few studies have yet identified which processes drive the existence of geographical gradients in habitat selection. using extensive spatial data of broad latitudinal and longitudinal e ...201324194942
shifting mirrors: adaptive changes in retinal reflections to winter darkness in arctic reindeer.arctic reindeer experience extreme changes in environmental light from continuous summer daylight to continuous winter darkness. here, we show that they may have a unique mechanism to cope with winter darkness by changing the wavelength reflection from their tapetum lucidum (tl). in summer, it is golden with most light reflected back directly through the retina, whereas in winter it is deep blue with less light reflected out of the eye. the blue reflection in winter is associated with significan ...201324174115
the influence of landscape matrix on isolated patch use by wide-ranging animals: conservation lessons for woodland caribou.for conservation purposes, it is important to design studies that explicitly quantify responses of focal species to different land management scenarios. here, we propose an approach that combines the influence of landscape matrices with the intrinsic attributes of remaining habitat patches on the space use behavior of woodland caribou (rangifer tarandus caribou), a threatened subspecies of rangifer. we sought to link characteristics of forest remnants and their surrounding environment to caribou ...201324101980
environmental and individual drivers of animal movement patterns across a wide geographical gradient.within the rapidly developing field of movement ecology, much attention has been given to studying the movement of individuals within a subset of their population's occupied range. our understanding of the effects of landscape heterogeneity on animal movement is still fairly limited as it requires studying the movement of multiple individuals across a variety of environmental conditions. gaining deeper understanding of the environmental drivers of movement is a crucial component of predictive mo ...201323020517
investigating the prehistory of tungusic peoples of siberia and the amur-ussuri region with complete mtdna genome sequences and y-chromosomal markers.evenks and evens, tungusic-speaking reindeer herders and hunter-gatherers, are spread over a wide area of northern asia, whereas their linguistic relatives the udegey, sedentary fishermen and hunter-gatherers, are settled to the south of the lower amur river. the prehistory and relationships of these tungusic peoples are as yet poorly investigated, especially with respect to their interactions with neighbouring populations. in this study, we analyse over 500 complete mtdna genome sequences from ...201324349531
whole transcriptome characterization of the effects of dehydration and rehydration on cladonia rangiferina, the grey reindeer lichen.lichens are symbiotic organisms with a fungal and an algal or a cyanobacterial partner. lichens inhabit some of the harshest climates on earth and most lichen species are desiccation-tolerant. lichen desiccation-tolerance has been studied at the biochemical level and through proteomics, but the underlying molecular genetic mechanisms remain largely unexplored. the objective of our study was to examine the effects of dehydration and rehydration on the gene expression of cladonia rangiferina.201324325588
inferring parturition and neonate survival from movement patterns of female ungulates: a case study using woodland caribou.analyses of animal movement data have primarily focused on understanding patterns of space use and the behavioural processes driving them. here, we analyzed animal movement data to infer components of individual fitness, specifically parturition and neonate survival. we predicted that parturition and neonate loss events could be identified by sudden and marked changes in female movement patterns. using gps radio-telemetry data from female woodland caribou (rangifer tarandus caribou), we develope ...201324324866
phenolic responses of mountain crowberry (empetrum nigrum ssp. hermaphroditum) to global climate change are compound specific and depend on grazing by reindeer (rangifer tarandus).mountain crowberry (empetrum nigrum ssp. hermaphroditum) is a keystone species in northern ecosystems and exerts important ecosystem-level effects through high concentrations of phenolic metabolites. it has not been investigated how crowberry phenolics will respond to global climate change. in the tundra, grazing by reindeer (rangifer tarandus) affects vegetation and soil nutrient availability, but almost nothing is known about the interactions between grazing and global climate change on plant ...201324287946
impacts of human disturbance on large prey species: do behavioral reactions translate to fitness consequences?anthropogenic disturbances have been demonstrated to affect animal behavior, distribution, and abundance, but assessment of their impacts on fitness-related traits has received little attention. we hypothesized that human activities and infrastructure cause a decrease in the individual performance of preys because of anthropogenically enhanced predation risk. we evaluated the impacts of commercial logging and road networks on the fitness of a large herbivore known to be sensitive to human distur ...201324040029
nitrogen allocation to offspring and milk production in a capital breeder.nitrogen (n) is a limiting nutrient for many herbivores, especially when plant availability and n content are low during the period of maternal investment, which is common for arctic ungulates. we used natural abundance of n isotopes to quantify allocation of maternal nitrogen to neonatal calves and milk in wild migratory caribou (rangifer tarandus). we contrasted female-calf pairs from two herds in northern quebec/labrador, canada: rivière-george herd (rg; low population size with heavy calves) ...201324015525
preferred habitat and effective population size drive landscape genetic patterns in an endangered species.landscape genetics provides a framework for pinpointing environmental features that determine the important exchange of migrants among populations. these studies usually test the significance of environmental variables on gene flow, yet ignore one fundamental driver of genetic variation in small populations, effective population size, n(e). w(e) combined both approaches in evaluating genetic connectivity of a threatened ungulate, woodland caribou. we used least-cost paths to calculate matrices o ...201324004939
animal source food intake and association with blood cholesterol, glycerophospholipids and sphingolipids in a northern swedish population.the high intake of game meat in populations with a subsistence-based diet may affect their blood lipids and health status.201323984293
effects of increase in temperature and open water on transmigration and access to health care by the nenets reindeer herders in northern russia.the indigenous nenets reindeer herders in northern russia annually migrate several hundred kilometers between summer and winter pastures. in the warming climate, ice-rich permafrost and glaciers are being significantly reduced and will eventually disappear from parts of the arctic. the emergent changes in hydrological cycles have already led to substantial increases in open water that stays unfrozen for longer periods of time. this environmental change has been reported to compromise the nomadic ...201323971018
persistent organic pollutants in meat, liver, tallow and bone marrow from semi-domesticated reindeer (rangifer tarandus tarandus l.) in northern norway.the aim of this project was to study 14 polychlorinated biphenyls (pcbs), 5 dichlorodiphenyl trichloroethans (ddts), 12 organochlorine pesticides (ocps) and 6 polybrominated diphenylethers (pbdes) in meat, liver, tallow and bone marrow from semi-domesticated reindeer.201323938064
why herd size matters - mitigating the effects of livestock crashes.analysing the effect of pastoral risk management strategies provides insights into a system of subsistence that have persevered in marginal areas for hundreds to thousands of years and may shed light into the future of around 200 million households in the face of climate change. this study investigated the efficiency of herd accumulation as a buffer strategy by analysing changes in livestock holdings during an environmental crisis in the saami reindeer husbandry in norway. we found a positive re ...201323936386
economic and ecological outcomes of flexible biodiversity offset systems.the commonly expressed goal of biodiversity offsets is to achieve no net loss of specific biological features affected by development. however, strict equivalency requirements may complicate trading of offset credits, increase costs due to restricted offset placement options, and force offset activities to focus on features that may not represent regional conservation priorities. using the oil sands industry of alberta, canada, as a case study, we evaluated the economic and ecological performanc ...201323869724
lichen conservation in heavily managed boreal forests.lichens are an important component of the boreal forest, where they are long lived, tend to accumulate in older stands, and are a major food source for the threatened woodland caribou (rangifer tarandus caribou). to be fully sustainable, silvicultural practices in the boreal forest must include the conservation of ecological integrity. dominant forest management practices, however, have short-term negative effects on lichen diversity, particularly the application of herbicides. to better underst ...201323869621
experiences of being a young male sami reindeer herder: a qualitative study in perspective of mental health.to explore experiences of what it is to be a young male sami reindeer herder in sweden, a group with previously known stigma and specific health issues, and to understand experiences in perspective of mental health.201323853764
sense of coherence of reindeer herders and other samis in comparison to other swedish citizens.samis are indigenous people in north europe. in the territory called sápmi (lapland), reindeer herding is the traditional base for the sami economy. the relation between living conditions and positive health of the swedish samis has been sparsely studied. as health is closely linked to sense of coherence (soc), an understanding of the background factors to soc may contribute knowledge that might be useful in promoting living conditions and health.201323853763
complex biotic interactions drive long-term vegetation dynamics in a subarctic ecosystem.predicting impacts of global warming requires understanding of the extent to which plant biomass and production are controlled by bottom-up and top-down drivers. by annually monitoring community composition in grazed control plots and herbivore-free exclosures at an arctic location for 15 years, we detected multiple biotic interactions. regular rodent cycles acted as pulses driving synchronous fluctuations in the biomass of field-layer vegetation; reindeer influenced the biomass of taller shrubs ...201323836791
capital and income breeding traits differentiate trophic match-mismatch dynamics in large herbivores.for some species, climate change has altered environmental conditions away from those in which life-history strategies evolved. in such cases, if adaptation does not keep pace with these changes, existing life-history strategies may become maladaptive and lead to population declines. we use life-history theory, with a specific emphasis on breeding strategies, in the context of the trophic match-mismatch framework to form generalizable hypotheses about population-level consumer responses to clima ...201323836789
bone mineral density and geometry parameters determined in vitro from dual-energy digital radiography images in the assessment of bone maximal load of reindeer femora.dual-energy digital radiography (dedr) has been shown to be a potential method to determine bone mineral density (bmd) and predict maximal load with similar accuracy as standard bone densitometry using dxa (dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry). in addition to bone density, bone geometry has also been shown to have effect on bone fragility and fracture risk.201323761551
eating habits of a population undergoing a rapid dietary transition: portion sizes of traditional and non-traditional foods and beverages consumed by inuit adults in nunavut, canada.to determine the portion sizes of traditional and non-traditional foods being consumed by inuit adults in three remote communities in nunavut, canada.201323724920
rates of disturbance vary by data resolution: implications for conservation schedules using the alberta boreal forest as a case study.investigations of biophysical changes on earth caused by anthropogenic disturbance provide governments with tools to generate sustainable development policy. canada currently experiences one of the fastest rates of boreal forest disturbance in the world. plans to conserve the 330 000 km(2) boreal forest in the province of alberta exist but conservation targets and schedules must be aligned with rates of forest disturbance. we explore how disturbance rate, and the accuracy with which we detect it ...201323703708
movement responses of caribou to human-induced habitat edges lead to their aggregation near anthropogenic features.the assessment of disturbance effects on wildlife and resulting mitigation efforts are founded on edge-effect theory. according to the classical view, the abundance of animals affected by human disturbance should increase monotonically with distance from disturbed areas to reach a maximum at remote locations. here we show that distance-dependent movement taxis can skew abundance distributions toward disturbed areas. we develop an advection-diffusion model based on basic movement behavior commonl ...201323669544
biochemical and hematologic reference values for free-ranging, chemically immobilized wild norwegian reindeer (rangifer tarandus tarandus) during early winter.hematologic and serum biochemistry values were evaluated in free-ranging, wild norwegian reindeer (rangifer tarandus tarandus) as part of a reintroduction program in southwestern norway in november 1995 and 1996. animals were immobilized with medetomidine-ketamine by dart from a helicopter. blood was drawn for serum chemistry from 31 adults (nine males and 22 females) and for hematology from 29 adults (eight males and 21 females). significant differences (p<0.05) were found between male and fema ...201323568897
antlers on the arctic refuge: capturing multi-generational patterns of calving ground use from bones on the landscape.bone accumulations faithfully record historical ecological data on animal communities, and owing to millennial-scale bone survival on high-latitude landscapes, have exceptional potential for extending records on arctic ecosystems. for the porcupine caribou herd, maintaining access to calving grounds on the arctic national wildlife refuge (anwr, alaska) is a central management concern. however, variability in calving ground geography over the 30+ years of monitoring suggests establishing the impa ...201323536601
fibromatous lesions of antler velvet and haired skin in reindeer (rangifer tarandus). 201323492928
population densities, vegetation green-up, and plant productivity: impacts on reproductive success and juvenile body mass in reindeer.global warming is expected to cause earlier springs and increased primary productivity in the arctic. these changes may improve food availability for arctic herbivores, but may also have negative effects by generating a mismatch between the surge of high quality food in the spring and the timing of reproduction. we analyzed a 10 year dataset of satellite derived measures of vegetation green-up, population densities, calf body masses and female reproductive success in 19 reindeer (rangifer tarand ...201323451049
suicidal expressions in young swedish sami, a cross-sectional study.to investigate the experience of suicidal expressions (death wishes, life weariness, ideation, plans and attempts) in young swedish sami, their attitudes toward suicide (atts), and experience of suicidal expressions and completed suicide in significant others and to compare with swedes in general.201323346555
physiologic evaluation of medetomidine-ketamine anesthesia in free-ranging svalbard (rangifer tarandus platyrhynchus) and wild norwegian reindeer (rangifer tarandus tarandus).previously published studies indicated that combinations of medetomidine and ketamine were effective for both svalbard (rangifer tarandus platyrhynchus) and wild norwegian reindeer (rangifer tarandus tarandus). both previous studies indicated that reindeer were hypoxemic on the basis of pulse oximetry. we conducted a physiologic evaluation of these two protocols using arterial blood gases. medetomidine (10 mg) and ketamine (200 mg) were administered by dart from the ground in svalbard reindeer ( ...201324502737
hand-rearing wild caribou calves for studies of nutritional ecology.caribou (rangifer tarandus) are considered difficult to hand-rear in captivity because they are sensitive to the composition and volume of formulated milks. we used a strict feeding schedule and a commercial milk formula designed specifically for caribou to bottle-feed neonates captured from five wild caribou herds in alaska. under a feeding protocol adjusted for age and mass, the growth rates and body mass of 26 hand-reared caribou calves to weaning were similar to those of three maternally nur ...201322968786
first serosurvey of besnoitia spp. infection in wild european ruminants in spain.besnoitia besnoiti has been reported to affect cattle, wildebeest, kudu and impala, and b. tarandi other wild ruminants (caribou, reindeer, mule deer and musk ox), causing similar characteristic clinical signs and lesions. however, both besnoitia species have been reported in different geographical areas and the link between the sylvatic and domestic life cycles of besnoita spp. in wild ruminants and cattle remains unknown. the aim of this study was to evaluate the presence of specific antibodie ...201323790546
johan turi's animal, mineral, vegetable cures and healing practices: an in-depth analysis of sami (saami) folk healing one hundred years ago.the healing knowledge of a sami (saami) hunter and reindeer herder was surveyed as a window into the concepts of health, healing, and disease in early twentieth-century sapmi (northern sweden). the two books of johan turi (1854-1936)--an account of the sami (1910) and lappish texts (1918-19) were examined to determine the varieties of recorded zootherapeutic, mineral, chemical, and ethnobotanical lore, as well as the therapeutic acts, identified conditions, and veterinary knowledge included.201323941666
identification and characterization of two novel viruses in ocular infections in reindeer.a thorough understanding of virus diversity in wildlife provides epidemiological baseline information about pathogens. in this study, eye swab samples were obtained from semi-domesticated reindeer (rangifertarandus tarandus) in norway during an outbreak of infectious eye disease, possibly a very early stage of infectious keratoconjunctivitis (ikc). large scale molecular virus screening, based on host nucleic acid depletion, sequence-independent amplification and next-generation sequencing of par ...201323874987
variables associated with besnoitia tarandi prevalence and cyst density in barren-ground caribou (rangifer tarandus) populations.besnoitia tarandi has been documented in free-ranging reindeer and caribou (rangifer tarandus spp.) since 1922 throughout their arctic and subarctic ranges; however, very little is known about its epidemiology. we evaluated variables associated with b. tarandi prevalence and cyst density with the use of barren-ground caribou (rangifer tarandus) from two migratory herds in northern quebec: the rivière-aux-feuilles and the rivière-george herds. diagnosis of infection was made upon the microscopic ...201323307369
surveillance for echinococcus canadensis genotypes in canadian ungulates.the geographic and host distribution, prevalence and genotypes of echinococcus canadensis in wild ungulates in canada are described to better understand the significance for wildlife and public health. we observed e. canadensis in 10.5% (11/105) of wild elk (wapiti; cervus canadensis) in riding mountain national park, manitoba, examined at necropsy, over two consecutive years (2010-2011). molecular characterization of hydatid cyst material from these elk, as well as three other intermediate wild ...201324533321
a nearctic parasite in a palearctic host: parelaphostrongylus andersoni (nematoda; protostrongylidae) infecting semi-domesticated reindeer in alaska.parelaphostrongylus andersoni is a muscle-dwelling protostrongylid nematode that infects caribou and white-tailed deer across north america, and can cause significant muscular and pulmonary pathology in these species. we collected 44 fecal samples from semi-domesticated reindeer (rangifer tarandus tarandus) from the kakarak herd of western seward peninsula, alaska, usa. this herd has no record of historical contact and extremely limited possibility of contemporary contact with native grant's car ...201324533324
divergent parasite faunas in adjacent populations of west greenland caribou: natural and anthropogenic influences on diversity.gastrointestinal parasite diversity was characterised for two adjacent populations of west greenland caribou (rangifer tarandus groenlandicus) through examinations of abomasa and small intestines collected from adult and subadult females during late winter. three trichostrongyline (trichostrongylina: nematoda) species were identified from the abomasa, although none were recovered from the small intestines, with faunal composition differing between the caribou populations. in caribou from kangerl ...201324533335
comparison of virokine from camel pseudocowpoxvirus (pcpv) with interleukin 10 of the dromedary camel (camelus dromedarius).cellular interleukin-10 (il-10) gene from the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of the healthy dromedary camel (camelus dromedarius) and viral il-10 (vil-10) from the skin scabs of the dromedary camels infected with contagious ecthyma (a parapoxviral infection in the camels) were amplified by polymerase chain reaction, cloned and characterized. sequence analysis revealed that the open reading frame (orf) of dromedarian camel il-10 is 537 bp in length, encoding 178 amino acid polypeptide while o ...201323306428
experimental parapoxvirus infection (contagious ecthyma) in semi-domesticated reindeer (rangifer tarandus tarandus).contagious ecthyma (contagious pustular dermatitis, orf) occurs world-wide in sheep and goats and is caused by orf virus (genus parapoxvirus, family poxviridae). contagious ecthyma outbreaks have been described in semi-domesticated reindeer (rangifer tarandus tarandus) in sweden, finland and norway, occasionally with high mortality. fourteen one-year-old reindeer were corralled in mid-april. one week after arrival, two animals received a commercial live orf virus vaccine for sheep (scabivax(®)) ...201323201244
the modification and evaluation of an elisa test for the surveillance of mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis infection in wild ruminants.enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (elisa) is often used to test wildlife samples for mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (map) infection. however, commercially available kits are only validated for use with domestic ruminant species. a literature review was performed to document the current use of map serum elisa in wild and semi-domestic ruminants. we then modified and evaluated a commercial elisa kit (idexx mycobacterium paratuberculosis antibody test kit) for use with species for whic ...201323302439
an unusual presentation of mycobacterium avium spp. paratuberculosis infection in a captive tundra reindeer (rangifer tarandus tarandus).this report describes an unusual presentation of paratuberculosis in a captive, 4-year-old female tundra reindeer (rangifer tarandus tarandus). the gross and histological presentation was consistent with clinical paratuberculosis as previously reported for other ruminants, with poor body condition, subcutaneous oedema, granulomatous ileitis (multibacillary), mesenteric lymphadenitis and hepatitis. however, this animal also presented with unusual lung lesions, with necrosis and mineralization sim ...201323290384
multi-trophic resource selection function enlightens the behavioural game between wolves and their prey.1. habitat selection strategies translate into movement tactics, which reckon with the predator-prey spatial game. strategic habitat selection analysis can therefore illuminate behavioural games. cover types at potential encounter sites (i.e. intersections between movement paths of predator and prey) can be compared with cover types available (i) within the area of home-range-overlap (hro) between predator and prey; and (ii) along the path (mp) of each species. unlike the hro scale, cover-type a ...201323701257
phylogenetic relationships among sarcocystis species in cervids, cattle and sheep inferred from the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit i gene.coccidian parasites in the genus sarcocystis have a two-host life cycle, and have traditionally been identified on the basis of morphological features of the sarcocyst stage in their intermediate hosts. additional molecular species identification, delimitation and phylogeny of sarcocystis spp. have been based mainly on the nuclear ssrrna gene. this gene is well suited for discrimination between more distant species but less so for closely related species. the objective of this study was therefor ...201323542092
probiotic dosing of ruminococcus flavefaciens affects rumen microbiome structure and function in reindeer.highly cellulolytic bacterial species such as ruminococcus flavefaciens are regarded essential for the microbial breakdown of cellulose in the rumen. we have investigated the effect of ruminal dosing of r. flavefaciens strain 8/94-32 during realimentation of starved reindeer (males, n = 3). microbiome function measured as in situ digestion of cellulose and food pellets (percent dmd; dry matter disappearance) decreased after probiotic dosing. microbial community analyses (>100,000 16s rdna gene s ...201323959114
the earliest case of extreme sexual display with exaggerated male organs by two middle jurassic mecopterans.many extant male animals exhibit exaggerated body parts for display, defense or offence in sexual selection, such as male birds of paradise showing off colorful and elegant feathers and male moose and reindeers bearing large structured antlers. for insects, male rhinoceros and stag beetles have huge horn-like structure for fighting and competition and some male leptopanorpa scorpionflies have very long abdominal terminal segments for sexual display and competition. fossil records of insects havi ...201323977031
predicting shifts in parasite distribution with climate change: a multitrophic level approach.climate change likely will lead to increasingly favourable environmental conditions for many parasites. however, predictions regarding parasitism's impacts often fail to account for the likely variability in host distribution and how this may alter parasite occurrence. here, we investigate potential distributional shifts in the meningeal worm, parelaphostrongylosis tenuis, a protostrongylid nematode commonly found in white-tailed deer in north america, whose life cycle also involves a free-livin ...201323666800
a protein a/g indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the detection of anti-brucella antibodies in arctic wildlife.a species-independent indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ielisa) based on chimeric protein a/g was established for the detection of anti-brucella antibodies in arctic wildlife species and compared to previously established brucellosis serological tests for hooded seals (cystophora cristata), minke whales (balaenoptera acutorostrata), sei whales (balaenoptera borealis), fin whales (balaenoptera physalus), and polar bears (ursus maritimus), as well as bacteriology results for reindeer and ...201323572454
invasion, establishment, and range expansion of two parasitic nematodes in the canadian arctic.climate warming is occurring at an unprecedented rate in the arctic and is having profound effects on host-parasite interactions, including range expansion. recently, two species of protostrongylid nematodes have emerged for the first time in muskoxen and caribou on victoria island in the western canadian arctic archipelago. umingmakstrongylus pallikuukensis, the muskox lungworm, was detected for the first time in 2008 in muskoxen at a community hunt on the southwest corner of the island and by ...201323828740
occurrence of non-tuberculous mycobacteria species in livestock from northern china and first isolation of mycobacterium caprae.we investigated the presence of mycobacterium spp. in livestock in northern china. of the 163 clinical samples selected for this study, 20 were from throat swabs of dairy cows, and 143 were tissue samples (including lung tissue from one reindeer, hilar lymph node tissue from 55 cows, and liver tissue from 87 sheep). a total of 41 mycobacterial isolates were identified including two isolates of m. caprae and 39 non-tuberculous mycobacteria (ntm) isolates. multi-locus variable-number tandem repeat ...201323298678
conjunctival squamous cell carcinoma in a reindeer (rangifer tarandus tarandus).an 8-year-old female adult reindeer (rangifer tarandus tarandus) was referred to the veterinary hospital of madrid for evaluation of a conjunctival mass on the left eye which had been present for about 2 months. a surgical excision was performed and biopsy material submitted for light microscopic evaluation which confirmed the diagnosis of conjuctival squamous cell carcinoma. nuclear p53 immunolabeling was found in 52% of the neoplastic cells. follow-up examination at 12 months postsurgery did n ...201323121493
phylogenetic position of linguatula arctica and linguatula serrata (pentastomida) as inferred from the nuclear 18s rrna gene and the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit i gene.genomic dna was isolated from a linguatula serrata female expelled from a dog imported to norway from romania and from four linguatula arctica females collected from semi-domesticated reindeer from northern norway and subjected to pcr amplification of the complete nuclear 18s rrna gene and a 1,045-bp portion of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit i gene (cox1). the two species differed at two of 1,830 nucleotide positions (99.9% identity) of the complete 18s rrna gene sequences and at ...201323873617
the importance of observation versus process error in analyses of global ungulate populations.population abundance data vary widely in quality and are rarely accurate. the two main components of error in such data are observation and process error. we used bayesian state space models to estimate the observation and process error in time-series of 55 globally distributed populations of two species, cervus elaphus (elk/red deer) and rangifer tarandus (caribou/reindeer). we examined variation among populations and species in the magnitude of estimates of error components and density depende ...201324201239
consumption of tomato products is associated with lower blood mercury levels in inuit preschool children.some evidence suggests that various diet components and nutrients, including vegetables, fruit and food-derived antioxidants, could mitigate contaminant exposure and/or adverse health effects of contaminants. to examine the effect of the consumption of tomato products on blood mercury levels in inuit preschool children, 155 inuit children (25.0±9.1months) were recruited from 2006-2008 in nunavik childcare centers (northern québec, canada). food frequency questionnaires were completed at home and ...201323127601
dietary exposure to persistent organic pollutants and metals among inuit and chukchi in russian arctic chukotka.the general aim was to assess dietary exposure to selected persistent organic pollutants (pops) and metals among eskimo (inuit) and chukchi of the chukotka peninsula of the russian arctic, and to establish recommendations for exposure risk reduction.201222789517
dietary exposure to persistent organic pollutants and metals among inuit and chukchi in russian arctic chukotka.the general aim was to assess dietary exposure to selected persistent organic pollutants (pops) and metals among eskimo (inuit) and chukchi of the chukotka peninsula of the russian arctic, and to establish recommendations for exposure risk reduction.201228417734
native predators reduce harvest of reindeer by sámi pastoralists.contemporary efforts to protect biological diversity recognize the importance of sustaining traditional human livelihoods, particularly uses of the land that are compatible with intact landscapes and ecologically complete food webs. however, these efforts often confront conflicting goals. for example, conserving native predators may harm pastoralist economies because predators consume domestic livestock that sustain people. this potential conflict must be reconciled by policy, but such reconcili ...201222908719
neandertal mobility and large-game hunting: the exploitation of reindeer during the quina mousterian at chez-pinaud jonzac (charente-maritime, france).neandertals were effective hunters of large ungulates throughout their geographic and temporal ranges. equipped with this knowledge, researchers in paleoanthropology continue to seek insight on the relationships between hunting and subsistence strategies with other components of the neandertals' niche, such as mobility, site use, and lithic technology. the quina mousterian deposits from the rockshelter site of chez pinaud jonzac (charente-maritime, france; hereafter jonzac) offer an excellent op ...201222951376
selected vitamins and essential elements in meat from semi-domesticated reindeer (rangifer tarandus tarandus l.) in mid- and northern norway: geographical variations and effect of animal population density.meat samples (n = 100) were collected from semi-domesticated reindeer originating from 10 grazing districts in norway. we aimed at studying concentrations, correlations, geographical variations and the effect of animal population density on vitamins a, b3, b7, b12 and e, and calcium, iron, zinc, selenium, chromium and cobalt. mean concentrations of vitamins a, b3, b7; b12 and e were <5 µg, 6.6 mg, <0.5 µg, 4.7 µg and 0.5 mg/100 g wet weight, respectively. concentrations of calcium, iron, zinc, s ...201222852060
frequency of consumption of foods and beverages by inuvialuit adults in northwest territories, arctic canada.limited data exist regarding nutrient intakes and overall dietary quality in canadian arctic populations. this cross-sectional study determined the frequency of consumption of traditional meats (e.g. caribou, polar bear, seal, char and whale) and non-traditional store-bought foods including non-traditional meats (e.g. beef, pork and chicken), grains, dairy, fruits, vegetables and non-nutrient dense foods (nndfs) (e.g. butter, chocolate, chips, candy and pop) by inuvialuit adults (175 women, mean ...201222475024
theileriosis in a reindeer (rangifer tarandus tarandus) associated with a potentially novel theileria sp.a 5-year-old male neutered reindeer (rangifer tarandus tarandus) from missouri was presented with a 3-week history of anorexia, respiratory distress, lethargy, and weight loss. blood smear review revealed that a small percentage of rbcs contained small (1-2 μm in length) pleomorphic piroplasms (signet ring, rod- or pear-shaped, and elongate forms) with an eccentric magenta nucleus and basophilic cytoplasm. nested pcr to specifically amplify a portion of the piroplasm small subunit ribosomal rna ...201223025520
level of selected toxic elements in meat, liver, tallow and bone marrow of young semi-domesticated reindeer (rangifer tarandus tarandus l.) from northern norway.to gain knowledge on toxic elements in semi-domesticated reindeer and their distribution in meat, liver, tallow and bone marrow. the correlations between concentrations in meat and liver, as well as the use of the latter as an indicator for toxic elements in meat, were also investigated.201222564461
avoidance of roads and selection for recent cutovers by threatened caribou: fitness-rewarding or maladaptive behaviour?the impact of anthropogenic disturbance on the fitness of prey should depend on the relative effect of human activities on different trophic levels. this verification remains rare, however, especially for large animals. we investigated the functional link between habitat selection of female caribou (rangifer tarandus) and the survival of their calves, a fitness correlate. this top-down controlled population of the threatened forest-dwelling caribou inhabits a managed forest occupied by wolves (c ...201222951736
evaluation of two quantitative pcr assays using bacteroidales and mitochondrial dna markers for tracking dog fecal contamination in waterbodies.this study describes a comparative performance evaluation of two qpcr assays targeting a dog-associated bacteroidales 16s rrna genetic marker (canbac-ucd) and a dog mitochondrial dna (mtdna) marker. the same fecal and environmental samples were assayed for the two markers thereby allowing direct comparison. a wide range of non-target species including, human, pig, horse, deer, mountain goat, bison, caribou, and moose were tested. marker persistence was also monitored in freshwater microcosms. bo ...201223041493
parasites in ungulates of arctic north america and greenland: a view of contemporary diversity, ecology, and impact in a world under change.parasites play an important role in the structure and function of arctic ecosystems, systems that are currently experiencing an unprecedented rate of change due to various anthropogenic perturbations, including climate change. ungulates such as muskoxen, caribou, moose and dall's sheep are also important components of northern ecosystems and are a source of food and income, as well as a focus for maintenance of cultural traditions, for northerners. parasites of ungulates can influence host healt ...201222726643
defining parasite biodiversity at high latitudes of north america: new host and geographic records for onchocerca cervipedis (nematoda: onchocercidae) in moose and caribou.onchocerca cervipedis is a filarioid nematode of cervids reported from central america to boreal regions of north america. it is found primarily in subcutaneous tissues of the legs, and is more commonly known as 'legworm'. blackflies are intermediate hosts and transmit larvae to ungulates when they blood-feed. in this article we report the first records of o. cervipedis from high latitudes of north america and its occurrence in previously unrecognized host subspecies including the yukon-alaska m ...201223110962
the rudolph sign of nasal vestibular furunculosis: questions raised by this common but under-recognized nasal mucocutaneous disorder.nasal vestibular furunculosis is a mucocutaneous disorder commonly seen in the general population. despite its prevalence in clinical practice, it has been inconsistently described and labeled in the medical literature. we present a case of nasal vestibular furunculosis presenting as recurrent exquisitely tender unilateral erythema and edema of the nasal tip (i.e., the rudolph sign--as in rudolph the red nosed reindeer). this symptom complex responded rapidly to topical intranasal mupirocin oint ...201222483517
polymorphisms and variants in the prion protein sequence of european moose (alces alces), reindeer (rangifer tarandus), roe deer (capreolus capreolus) and fallow deer (dama dama) in scandinavia.the prion protein (prp) sequence of european moose, reindeer, roe deer and fallow deer in scandinavia has high homology to the prp sequence of north american cervids. variants in the european moose prp sequence were found at amino acid position 109 as k or q. the 109q variant is unique in the prp sequence of vertebrates. during the 1980s a wasting syndrome in swedish moose, moose wasting syndrome (mws), was described. snp analysis demonstrated a difference in the observed genotype proportions of ...201222441661
evaluation of serodiagnostic assays for mycobacterium bovis infection in elk, white-tailed deer, and reindeer in the united states.in 2011, the united states department of agriculture conducted a project in which elk (cervus elaphus spp.), white-tailed deer (wtd) (odocoileus virginianus), and reindeer (rangifer tarandus) were evaluated by the single cervical tuberculin test (sct), comparative cervical tuberculin test (cct), and serologic tests. the rapid antibody detection tests evaluated were the cervidtb stat-pak (stat-pak), and the dual path platform vettb (dpp). blood was collected from presumably uninfected animals pri ...201222792512
obligate larval inhibition of ostertagia gruehneri in rangifer tarandus? causes and consequences in an arctic system.larval inhibition is a common strategy of trichostrongylidae nematodes that may increase survival of larvae during unfavourable periods and concentrate egg production when conditions are favourable for development and transmission. we investigated the propensity for larval inhibition in a population of ostertagia gruehneri, the most common gastrointestinal trichostrongylidae nematode of rangifer tarandus. initial experimental infections of 4 reindeer with o. gruehneri sourced from the bathurst c ...201222953998
development and availability of the free-living stages of ostertagia gruehneri, an abomasal parasite of barrenground caribou (rangifer tarandus groenlandicus), on the canadian tundra.climate change in the arctic is anticipated to alter the ecology of northern ecosystems, including the transmission dynamics of many parasite species. one parasite of concern is ostertagia gruehneri, an abomasal nematode of rangifer ssp. that causes reduced food intake, weight loss, and decreased pregnancy rates in reindeer. we investigated the development, availability, and overwinter survival of the free-living stages of o. gruehneri on the tundra. fecal plots containing o. gruehneri eggs were ...201222717158
disease transmission in an extreme environment: nematode parasites infect reindeer during the arctic winter.parasitic nematodes are found in almost all wild vertebrate populations but few studies have investigated these host-parasite relationships in the wild. for parasites with free-living stages, the external environment has a major influence on life-history traits, and development and survival is generally low at sub-zero temperatures. for reindeer that inhabit the high arctic archipelago of svalbard, parasite transmission is expected to occur in the summer, due to the extreme environmental conditi ...201222705063
development and application of a delayed-release anthelmintic intra-ruminal bolus system for experimental manipulation of nematode worm burdens.in order to quantify the impact of parasites on host population dynamics, experimental manipulations that perturb the parasite-host relationship are needed but, logistically, this is difficult for wild hosts. here, we describe the use of a delayed-release anthelmintic delivery system that can be administered when the hosts can be captured and its activity delayed until a more appropriate period in the host-parasite cycle. our model system is svalbard reindeer infected with a nematode parasite, m ...201222417532
detection of mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis in several herds of arctic caribou (rangifer tarandus ssp.).mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (map) is a common pathogen in domestic ruminants that causes granulomatous inflammation of the small intestine leading to emaciation and wasting. clinical disease (johne's disease) is also reported for several wild ruminant species. between 2007 and 2009 we collected 561 fecal samples from caribou (rangifer tarandus ssp.) representing 10 herds of migratory caribou, two herds of caribou from greenland, and three populations of boreal woodland caribo ...201223060493
construction of chimeric bovine viral diarrhea viruses containing glycoprotein e rns of heterologous pestiviruses and evaluation of the chimeras as potential marker vaccines against bvdv.bovine viral diarrhea virus (bvdv) infections are enzootic in the cattle population and continue to cause significant economic losses to the beef and dairy industries worldwide. extent of the damages has stimulated increasing interest in control programs directed at eradicating bvdv infections. use of a bvdv marker vaccine would facilitate eradication efforts as a negatively marked vaccine would enable differentiation of infected from vaccinated animals (diva). we describe here the construction ...201222521286
experimental oral transmission of chronic wasting disease to reindeer (rangifer tarandus tarandus).chronic wasting disease (cwd), a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy of cervids, remains prevalent in north american elk, white-tailed deer and mule deer. a natural case of cwd in reindeer (rangifer tarandus tarandus) has not been reported despite potential habitat overlap with cwd-infected deer or elk herds. this study investigates the experimental transmission of cwd from elk or white-tailed deer to reindeer by the oral route of inoculation. ante-mortem testing of the three reindeer expose ...201222723928
the role of genetics in chronic wasting disease of north american cervids.chronic wasting disease (cwd) is a major concern for the management of north american cervid populations. this fatal prion disease has led to declines in populations which have high cwd prevalence and areas with both high and low infection rates have experienced economic losses in wildlife recreation and fears of potential spill-over into livestock or humans. research from human and veterinary medicine has established that the prion protein gene (prnp) encodes the protein responsible for transmi ...201222460693
evidence for a recent population bottleneck in an apicomplexan parasite of caribou and reindeer, besnoitia tarandi.the evolutionary history and epidemiology of parasites may be reflected in the extent and geographic distribution of their genetic variation. among coccidian parasites, the population structure of only toxoplasma gondii has been extensively examined. intraspecific variation in other coccidia, for example, those assigned to the genus besnoitia, remains poorly defined. here, we characterize the extent of genetic variation among populations of besnoitia tarandi, a parasite whose intermediate hosts ...201222742966
comparison of gross visual and microscopic assessment of four anatomic sites to monitor besnoitia tarandi in barren-ground caribou (rangifer tarandus).the objective of this study was to establish a standardized protocol to monitor besnoitia tarandi prevalence and intensity in barren-ground caribou (rangifer tarandus) herds by: 1) calculating the relative sensitivity and specificity of the gross visual assessment of four anatomical sites compared with microscopic evaluation, and 2) determining which of four anatomical sampling sites was the most sensitive for detecting b. tarandi cysts by microscopy. sampled tissues consisted of the conjunctiva ...201222740539
evidence of alphaherpesvirus infections in alaskan caribou and reindeer.the reindeer (rangifer tarandus tarandus) industry in alaska began with animals imported from siberia (russia) in the 1890's. cervid herpes virus 2 (cvhv2) is endemic in reindeer in scandinavia. we sought to determine if the same virus, or similar herpesviruses, were circulating in alaskan reindeer and caribou (rangifer tarandus granti). serum samples from 292 reindeer were collected during annual reindeer handlings (1988-2005) near nome, alaska. in 2005, swab samples were collected from 40 calv ...201222243919
serological evidence of besnoitia spp. infection in canadian wild ruminants and strong cross-reaction between besnoitia besnoiti and besnoitia tarandi.bovine besnoitiosis, caused by besnoitia besnoiti, is considered to be emergent in europe and responsible for severe economic losses due to the chronic and debilitating course of the disease but has not been reported in north america. besnoitia tarandi is a related species and it has been reported in reindeer and caribou from different locations of the arctic pole, including north america. diagnosis of clinical besnoitiosis is largely based on the recognition of dermal grossly visible tissue cys ...201222795672
averted doses to norwegian sámi reindeer herders after the chernobyl accident.abstract-: the chernobyl fallout is an enduring challenge to reindeer husbandry in norway, and south sámi reindeer herders in central and southern norway are as contaminated by cs as inhabitants close to chernobyl. therefore, norwegian authorities continuously recommend to these reindeer herders the use of countermeasures to reduce their intake of cs. in this study, the authors have applied data on contamination levels in reindeer, results of dietary surveys, and whole body monitoring data in lo ...201222217593
tolerance of an expanding subarctic shrub, betula glandulosa, to simulated caribou browsing.densification of the shrub layer has been reported in many subarctic regions, raising questions about the implication for large herbivores and their resources. shrubs can tolerate browsing and their level of tolerance could be affected by browsing and soils productivity, eventually modifying resource availability for the caribou. our objective was to assess the compensatory growth potential of a subarctic shrub, betula glandulosa michx., in relation with caribou browsing and nutriment availabili ...201223272191
Dual-energy digital radiography in the assessment of bone mechanical properties.At present, bone fragility and fracture risk are estimated with bone mineral density (BMD), measured by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA). It is known that DXA-based BMD (BMD(DXA)) has a relationship with mechanical characteristics of bone. Dual-energy digital radiography (DEDR) has also been shown to be a potential method to determine BMD, but the ability of DEDR-based BMD (BMD(DEDR)) to predict bone mechanical properties is not yet known. In this study, we investigated the ability of BMD( ...201222156238
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