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proposed revision to the taxonomy of the genus pestivirus, family flaviviridae.we propose the creation of seven new species in the genus pestivirus (family flaviviridae) in addition to the four existing species, and naming species in a host-independent manner using the format pestivirus x. only the virus species names would change; virus isolates would still be referred to by their original names. the original species would be re-designated as pestivirus a (original designation bovine viral diarrhea virus 1), pestivirus b (bovine viral diarrhea virus 2), pestivirus c (clas ...201728786787
pilot study: pharmacokinetics of oral and topical moxidectin in the reticulated giraffe (giraffa camelopardalis).the objective of this study was to obtain an estimate of the pharmacokinetic parameters of moxidectin administered at a dosage of 1 mg/kg orally and topically to healthy adult giraffe ( giraffa camelopardalis ). the maximum plasma concentration (cmax) of moxidectin after oral and topical administration was 69.2 ± 4.6 and 18.6 ± 16.1 ng/ml (p = 0.045), respectively. the areas under the plasma curve (auc), a measure of total drug exposure, was 532.0 ± 232.3 and 209.1 ± 180.0 day*ng/ml (p = 0.308) ...201728749301
new leaves in the growing tree of pestiviruses.pestiviruses are a group of viruses of veterinary importance infecting livestock animals like pigs, cattle, and sheep, and also wildlife animals like wild boar and different deer species. while for decades only four classical species (classical swine fever virus, bovine viral diarrhea virus types 1 and 2, border disease virus), and a few so-called atypical pestiviruses were known (e.g., giraffe virus, pronghorn virus, hobi virus), a series of novel pestiviruses was identified in the last years ( ...201729029724
detomidine and butorphanol for standing sedation in a range of zoo-kept ungulate species.general anesthesia poses risks for larger zoo species, like cardiorespiratory depression, myopathy, and hyperthermia. in ruminants, ruminal bloat and regurgitation of rumen contents with potential aspiration pneumonia are added risks. thus, the use of sedation to perform minor procedures is justified in zoo animals. a combination of detomidine and butorphanol has been routinely used in domestic animals. this drug combination, administered by remote intramuscular injection, can also be applied fo ...201728920785
the effects of captivity on the mammalian gut microbiome.recent studies increasingly note the effect of captivity or the built environment on the microbiome of humans and other animals. as symbiotic microbes are essential to many aspects of biology (e.g., digestive and immune functions), it is important to understand how lifestyle differences can impact the microbiome, and, consequently, the health of hosts. animals living in captivity experience a range of changes that may influence the gut bacteria, such as diet changes, treatments, and reduced cont ...201728985326
pigmented villonodular synovitis in a reticulated giraffe (giraffa camelopardalis).: a 17-yr-old, female, captive-born reticulated giraffe ( giraffa camelopardalis ) presented with acute-onset lameness of the right metacarpophalangeal (fetlock) joint. despite multiple courses of treatment, the lameness and swelling progressively worsened over a 3.5-yr period, and the giraffe was euthanized. at necropsy, gross and microscopic changes in the right, front fetlock and associated flexor tendon sheath included villous synovial hyperplasia and the formation of discrete pigmented nodu ...201728749260
how heart valves evolve to adapt to an extreme-pressure system: morphologic and biomechanical properties of giraffe heart valves.heart valves which exist naturally in an extreme-pressure system must have evolved in a way to resist the stresses of high pressure. giraffes are interesting as they naturally have a blood pressure twice that of humans. thus, knowledge regarding giraffe heart valves may aid in developing techniques to design improved pressure-resistant biological heart valves.201728544833
delayed-onset bilateral diffuse uveal melanocytic proliferation associated with gastric adenocarcinoma.to report an unusual case of delayed-onset bilateral diffuse uveal melanocytic proliferation in a patient with a remote history of gastric adenocarcinoma 17 years earlier.201727662408
bilateral diffuse uveal melanocytic proliferation: a case report.to report a case of bilateral diffuse uveal melanocytic proliferation (bdump) in the setting of metastatic ovarian cancer.201727046327
congenital nutritional myodegeneration (white muscle disease) in a giraffe ( giraffa camelopardalis) calf.it is well known that vitamin e and selenium deficiencies in domestic ruminants can lead to white muscle disease. after a clinically normal gestation period at ouwehand zoo in the netherlands, a newborn giraffe ( giraffa camelopardalis) calf showed clinical signs of white muscle disease almost immediately after birth. the calf was rejected by the mother and was euthanized 3 days later because of deterioration of clinical signs. at necropsy, pulmonary edema and pallor of skeletal and heart muscle ...201729297809
herbivory and drought generate short-term stochasticity and long-term stability in a savanna understory community.rainfall and herbivory are fundamental drivers of grassland plant dynamics, yet few studies have examined long-term interactions between these factors in an experimental setting. understanding such interactions is important, as rainfall is becoming increasingly erratic and native wild herbivores are being replaced by livestock. livestock grazing and episodic low rainfall are thought to interact, leading to greater community change than either factor alone. we examined patterns of change and stab ...201729140577
quantitative aspects of the ruminating process in giraffes (giraffa camelopardalis) fed with different diets.giraffes are ruminants feeding on fresh browse and twigs in the wild, but in zoos, their diet is mainly based on alfalfa hay, grains, and pellets occasionally supplemented by twigs and foliage. these diets, which differ in composition and digestibility, affect the behavior of the animals, tooth wear patterns, and chewing efficiency. we quantified several parameters of the rumination process in ten zoo housed giraffes of different sexes and ages fed either with alfalfa hay, fresh browse, or a com ...201729134672
analysis of the microbial diversity in the fecal material of giraffes.using bacterial and fungal tag-encoded flx-titanium amplicon pyrosequencing, the microbiota of the fecal material of seven giraffes living in captivity at the jacksonville zoo and gardens, jacksonville, fl was investigated. in all samples, the most predominant bacterial phylum was the firmicutes followed by bacteroidetes. the most predominant fungi were members of the phylum ascomycota followed by neocallimastigomycota in five of seven samples. the reverse was true in the other two samples.201729085995
influence of ration composition on nutritive and digestive variables in captive giraffes (giraffa camelopardalis) indicating the appropriateness of feeding practice.the nutrition of captive giraffe (giraffa camelopardalis), a browsing ruminant, is challenging because browse availability is limited in zoos and rations need to be composed of compensatory feeds. in this study, ration composition for giraffes in 12 german zoos was documented and linked to animal variables that indicate suitability of nutrition. rations differed in proportion of ration items and chemical composition resulting in various grades of accordance with feeding recommendations. an estim ...201729024063
the evolution of interferon-tau.thirty years ago, a novel type i interferon (ifn) was identified by molecular cloning of cdna libraries constructed from rna extracted from ovine and bovine pre-implantation embryos. this protein was eventually designated as ifn-tau (ifnt) to highlight its trophoblast-dependent expression. ifnt function is not immune related. instead, it interacts with the maternal system to initiate the establishment and maintenance of pregnancy. this activity is indispensable for the continuation of pregnancy. ...201728982935
the earliest ossicone and post-cranial record of giraffa.the oldest giraffa material presently known consists of dental specimens. the oldest post-cranial giraffa material belongs to the plio-pleistocene taxon giraffa sivalensis, where the holotype is a third cervical vertebra. we describe three non-dental specimens from the early late miocene of the potwar plateau, including an 8.1 million year old ossicone, 9.4 million year old astragalus, and 8.9 million year old metatarsal and refer them to giraffa. the described ossicone exhibits remarkable simil ...201728926638
accuracy of noninvasive anesthetic monitoring in the anesthetized giraffe (giraffa camelopardalis).this study evaluated the accuracy of pulse oximetry, capnography, and oscillometric blood pressure during general anesthesia in giraffes (giraffa camelopardalis). thirty-two giraffes anesthetized for physiologic experiments were instrumented with a pulse oximeter transmittance probe positioned on the tongue and a capnograph sampling line placed at the oral end of the endotracheal tube. a human size 10 blood pressure cuff was placed around the base of the tail, and an indwelling arterial catheter ...201728920806
giraffes could have evolved long necks to keep cool. 201728905928
attempted surgical correction of a persistent right fourth aortic arch in a juvenile rothschild's giraffe (giraffa camelopardalis rothschildi).a 5-mo-old female rothschild's giraffe ( giraffa camelopardalis rothschildi) presented for regurgitation. esophagoscopy at 24 wk of age revealed a markedly dilated cranial esophagus with a tight stricture at the level of the heart base consistent with a vascular ring anomaly. surgical exploration confirmed persistent right fourth aortic arch with ductus originating from left subclavian artery at its junction with the aorta and left subclavian artery. the patent ductus arteriosus was surgically l ...201728749280
progressive erosion of the relaxin1 gene in bovids.the relaxin/insulin-like (rln/insl) gene family is a group of genes that encode peptide hormones involved in a variety of physiological functions related to reproduction. previous studies have shown that relaxin plays a key role in widening of the pubic bone during labor and in gamete maturation. because of these functions, studying the evolution of rln1, the gene encoding for relaxin, is relevant in livestock species, most of which belong in the group laurasiatheria, which includes cow, pig, ho ...201728733228
meiotic recombination in the giraffe (g. reticulata).recently, the reticulated giraffe (g. reticulata) was identified as a distinct species, which emphasized the need for intensive research in this interesting animal. to shed light on the meiotic process as a source of biodiversity, we analysed the frequency and distribution of meiotic recombination in 2 reticulated giraffe males. we used immunofluorescence detection of synaptonemal complex protein (sycp3), meiotic double strand breaks (dsb, marked as rad51 foci) in leptonema, and crossovers (cos, ...201728723680
east africa turmoil imperils giraffes. 201728642388
restoring maximum vertical browsing reach in sauropod dinosaurs.the ongoing controversy centered on neck posture and function in sauropod dinosaurs is misplaced for a number of reasons. because of an absence of pertinent data it is not possible to accurately restore the posture and range of motion in long necked fossil animals, only gross approximations are possible. the existence of a single "neutral posture" in animals with long, slender necks may not exist, and its relationship to feeding habits is weak. restorations of neutral osteological neck posture b ...201728556505
of giraffes' necks and the inheritance of chromatin states.new work reports that both derepressed and hyper-repressed chromatin states in animals can be transmitted to progeny for many generations. transmission depends on genomic architecture and histone modifications.201728546575
a giraffe neck sign of the medial meniscus: a characteristic finding of the medial meniscus posterior root tear on magnetic resonance imaging.the posterior root ligament of the medial meniscus (mm) has a critical role in regulating the mm movement. an accurate diagnosis of the mm posterior root tear (mmprt) using magnetic resonance imaging (mri) is important for preventing sequential osteoarthritis following the mmprt. however, diagnosis of the mmprt is relatively difficult even after using several characteristic mri findings. the aim of this study was to identify a useful meniscal body sign of the mmprt for improving diagnostic mri r ...201728416188
evolutionary analysis of vision genes identifies potential drivers of visual differences between giraffe and okapi.the capacity of visually oriented species to perceive and respond to visual signal is integral to their evolutionary success. giraffes are closely related to okapi, but the two species have broad range of phenotypic differences including their visual capacities. vision studies rank giraffe's visual acuity higher than all other artiodactyls despite sharing similar vision ecological determinants with many of them. the extent to which the giraffe's unique visual capacity and its difference with oka ...201728396824
response to "how many species of giraffe are there?"it is not unexpected that a proposal, such as ours [1], of four new mammalian species stirs up controversy, as evident in the correspondence by bercovitch et al.[2]. we appreciate that their concerns are unrelated to the quality of the genetic data, the methodological approach or analyses, but are focused on the interpretation. thus, we provided an analysis of giraffe speciation based on genomic sequence data, and not just "another viewpoint on giraffe taxonomy" [2]. we maintain our perspective ...201728222288
age and socially related changes in fecal androgen metabolite concentrations in free-ranging male giraffes.in many mammal species, androgen levels in males are elevated during periods of mating activity, often to facilitate aggressive behavior between males over access to fertile females. however, this pattern might be less obvious in species with a rather low male-male aggression rate, or in those that are not strictly seasonal breeders. a complex social structure, as well as additional social and environmental factors, might add more to the complexity. here, we applied a non-invasive method to moni ...201828978410
growth rate and stable carbon and nitrogen isotope trophic discrimination factors of lion and leopard whiskers.stable isotope analysis (sia) of whiskers has been used to identify temporal feeding habits, intra-population diet variation, as well as individual dietary specialisation of marine and terrestrial carnivores. however, the potential of the method to disclose such dietary information for large wild felids is hampered by lack of information on species-specific whisker growth rates, whisker growth patterns and whisker-diet trophic discrimination factors (tdfs).201828971533
the impact of age-class and social context on fecal glucocorticoid metabolite levels in free-ranging male giraffes.one of the primary sources of perceived stress is the social environment of an animal and the interactions with conspecifics. an essential component of the response to a stressor is the activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis, which results amongst others in a temporal increase in circulating glucocorticoid (gc) levels. giraffes occur in a highly flexible fission-fusion social system and group compositions can change on a daily basis, with bulls establishing an age-related d ...201828963053
hiss and snort call types of wild-living giraffes giraffa camelopardalis: acoustic structure and context.vocalization as part of vigilance behaviour is widespread across animal taxa, including ruminants. calls of wild-living giraffes have never been recorded and spectrographically investigated. this study reports the acoustic structure of vigilance-related hiss and snort calls of wild-living giraffes giraffa camelopardalis.201829316966
reconstructing an incomparable organism: the chalicothere in nineteenth and early-twentieth century palaeontology.palaeontology developed as a field dependent upon comparison. not only did reconstructing the fragmentary records of fossil organisms and placing them within taxonomic systems and evolutionary lineages require detailed anatomical comparisons with living and fossil animals, but the field also required thinking in terms of behavioural, biological and ecological analogies with modern organisms to understand how prehistoric animals lived and behaved. yet palaeontological material often worked agains ...201829362901
sesquiterpenoids from streptomyces anulatus isolated from giraffa camelopardalis feces. 201829314238
population structure of giraffes is affected by management in the great rift valley, kenya.giraffe populations in east africa have declined in the past thirty years yet there has been limited research on this species. this study had four objectives: i) to provide a baseline population assessment for the two largest populations of rothschild's giraffes in kenya, ii) to assess whether there are differences in population structure between the two enclosed populations, iii) to assess the potential and possible implications of different management practices on enclosed giraffe populations ...201829298338
treatment for active tuberculosis in giraffe (giraffa camelopardalis) in a zoo and potential consequences for public health - case report.bovine tuberculosis (btb) is an infectious disease that occurs in many species of both domestic and free-ranging animals, as well as animals kept in zoos. according to the polish regulations, cattle tuberculosis are slaughtered and microbiological examinations are performed, the rest of animal species can be treated and laboratory diagnostics are not obligatory.201830586985
limited introgression supports division of giraffe into four species.all giraffe (giraffa) were previously assigned to a single species (g. camelopardalis) and nine subspecies. however, multi-locus analyses of all subspecies have shown that there are four genetically distinct clades and suggest four giraffe species. this conclusion might not be fully accepted due to limited data and lack of explicit gene flow analyses. here, we present an extended study based on 21 independent nuclear loci from 137 individuals. explicit gene flow analyses identify less than one m ...201830397455
the noncervical lateral transverse foramina.the lateral vertebral foramen (lvf) is an osseous feature found in thoracic and lumbar vertebrae of some artiodactyls and perissodactyls. to learn more about the distribution and characteristics of the lvf, we examined museum specimens from the smithsonian mammal collection and teaching specimens from the cornell university college of veterinary medicine. we identified five anatomically different types of lvf and noted their occurrence in 60 species. the lvf varies from a deep lateral groove at ...201830350317
longitudinal and transverse variation of trace element concentrations in elephant and giraffe hair: implication for endogenous and exogenous contributions.the spatial distribution of trace elements in hair is highly heterogeneous at the microscale. the relatively mild spatial variation of endogenous signal incorporated during hair growth may be amplified by orders of magnitude due to later exogenous contaminations. here, we studied the longitudinal and transverse distributions of trace elements in elephant and giraffe hair and discussed the possible endogenous and exogenous contributions. laser ablation icp-ms analyses were performed on cross sect ...201830338407
what the theatre taught me about alzheimer's (or: the giraffe in the hallway problem).the author recounts her experience as an alzheimer's care-giver to her mother, stressing the value of her professional background in theater.201830336079
mammals repel mosquitoes with their tails.the swinging of a mammal's tail has long been thought to deter biting insects, which, in cows, can drain up to 0.3 liters of blood per day. how effective is a mammal's tail at repelling insects? in this combined experimental and theoretical study, we filmed horses, zebras, elephants, giraffes and dogs swinging their tails. the tail swings at triple the frequency of a gravity-driven pendulum, and requires 27 times more power input. tails can also be used like a whip to directly strike at insects. ...201830323113
seeing spots: quantifying mother-offspring similarity and assessing fitness consequences of coat pattern traits in a wild population of giraffes (giraffa camelopardalis).polymorphic phenotypes of mammalian coat coloration have been important to the study of genetics and evolution, but less is known about the inheritance and fitness consequences of individual variation in complex coat pattern traits such as spots and stripes. giraffe coat markings are highly complex and variable and it has been hypothesized that variation in coat patterns most likely affects fitness by camouflaging neonates against visually hunting predators. we quantified complex coat pattern tr ...201830310743
assessing animal welfare in animal-visitor interactions in zoos and other facilities. a pilot study involving giraffes.in recent years, awareness of the controversial aspects connected with wild animal-visitor interactions (avis) in zoos and other facilities has increased due to cultural changes. therefore, the need to apply transparent procedures to evaluate avis programs in zoos and similar facilities has also increased. this study presents results of animal welfare's assessment of a pilot test of a protocol based on six steps that aim to explore and assess the overall value of avis considering the impact both ...201830200194
detection and characterization of okapi (okapia johnstoni)-specific papillomavirus type 1 (ojpv1).papillomavirus-specific dna was detected in skin lesions collected from an okapi (okapia johnstoni) in the zoo basel. according to the nucleotide sequence analysis, the virus belongs to the genus deltapapillomavirus. based on bioinformatics analysis, we propose to designate the newly identified virus as okapia johnstoni papillomavirus type 1 (ojpv1). ojpv1 is genetically most closely related to a recently described giraffe (giraffa camelopardalis) -specific papillomavirus (gcpv1). of note, the p ...201830173736
large mammal declines and the incipient loss of mammal-bird mutualisms in an african savanna ecosystem.over the past half-century, large mammal populations have declined substantially throughout east africa, mainly due to habitat loss and unsustainable direct exploitation. while it has been acknowledged that the loss of large mammals can have direct and cascading effects on community composition and ecosystem characteristics, limited quantitative work has been done on how declines of large herbivore populations impacts the abundance of mutualistic symbionts. using a space-for-time observational a ...201830153277
an assessment of forage selection by giraffe introduced into umfurudzi park, northern zimbabwe.giraffe (giraffa camelopardalis) is one of the flagship herbivore species in the savanna ecosystem and is of high conservation value. management of the species under diversified ecosystems, particularly, their introduction in new ecosystems is of great concern, given that limited information is available of how the species acclimatizes to new ecosystems and which forage species it selects. the objectives of the present study were to (i) identify woody plant species selected by the recently intro ...201830140482
evaluation of somatotype in the reticulated giraffe (giraffa camelopardalis reticulata) using three-dimensional laser measurement.the giraffe (giraffa camelopardalis) is a difficult animal to keep in captivity as it has high mortality due to nutrition-related disorders, perhaps because the giraffe's condition is difficult to evaluate. image analysis techniques have recently become popular and may be useful for evaluating the giraffe's somatotype. the present study aimed to evaluate the giraffe somatotype using a three-dimensional laser measurement device, and to examine the usefulness of this method. first, ten zoo staff m ...201830089738
the effects of increased hay-to-grain ratio on behavior, metabolic health measures, and fecal bacterial communities in four masai giraffe (giraffa camelopardalis tippelskirchi) at cleveland metroparks zoo.we evaluated whether increasing the hay-to-grain ratio offered to masai giraffe (giraffa camelopardalis tippelskirchi) at cleveland metroparks zoo would reduce oral stereotypies and alter feeding behaviors, maintain or increase serum calcium-to-phosphorus ratio, decrease serum insulin-to-glucose ratio and salivary insulin, and alter fecal bacterial community structure. giraffe transitioned to a ∼90:10 hay-to-grain ratio in even increments over 8 weeks. a ration balancer was added during the seve ...201830070393
quantifying the ecological success of a community-based wildlife conservation area in tanzania.in tanzania, community-based natural resource management of wildlife occurs through the creation of wildlife management areas (wmas). wmas consist of multiple villages designating land for wildlife conservation, and sharing a portion of subsequent tourism revenues. nineteen wmas are currently operating, encompassing 7% of tanzania's land area, with 19 more wmas planned. the ecological success or failure of wmas for wildlife conservation has yet to be quantified. we defined ecological success in ...201829867255
stress and social behaviors of maternally deprived captive giraffes (giraffa camelopardalis).maternal deprivation can cause long-term behavioral changes in captive mammals. studies regarding captive ungulates have also indicated behavioral shifts in the presence of the animal keeping staff; however, little is known about these effects in captive giraffes (giraffa camelopardalis). to examine this, we observed a population of reticulated giraffes composed of maternally raised and maternally deprived individuals by direct and camera observations at binder park zoo, battle creek, michigan. ...201829527718
[zoological origin survey of commercial hippocampus in chinese herbal markets by morphological and dna sequencing identification].hippocampus is a precious animal medicine in chinese herbal medicines. numerous seahorse species possessing similar morphology were used as commercial hippocampus in herbal markets. clarifing the zoological of commercial hippocampus in herbal markets is a crucial issue, which contributed to establish authentication and quality control standard. this study investigated 1 156 dried seahorse samples collected from eight main herbal markets using co ⅰ fragment dna sequencing coupling with morphologi ...201830717541
bovine-like coronaviruses in domestic and wild ruminants.coronaviruses (covs) produce a wide spectrum of disease syndromes in different mammalian and avian host species. these viruses are well-recognized for their ability to change tissue tropism, to hurdle the interspecies barriers and to adapt ecological variations. it is predicted that the inherent genetic diversity of covs caused by accumulation of point mutations and high frequency of homologous recombination is the principal determinant of these competences. several covs (e.g. severe acute respi ...201830683171
a ghost fence-gap: surprising wildlife usage of an obsolete fence crossing.wildlife fencing has become more prevalent throughout africa, although it has come with a price of increased habitat fragmentation and loss of habitat connectivity. in an effort to increase connectivity, managers of fenced conservancies can place strategic gaps along the fences to allow wildlife access to outside habitat, permitting exploration, dispersal and seasonal migration. wildlife can become accustomed to certain movement pathways and can show fidelity to these routes over many years, eve ...201830515359
semantic memory organization in japanese patients with schizophrenia examined with category fluency.disorganization of semantic memory in patients with schizophrenia has been studied by referring to their category fluency performance. recently, data-mining techniques such as singular value decomposition (svd) analysis have been reported to be effective in elucidating the latent semantic memory structure in patients with schizophrenia. the aim of this study is to investigate semantic memory organization in patients with schizophrenia using a novel method based on data-mining approach.201829618990
a rare case of unilateral diffuse melanocytic proliferation.a 67-year-old woman presented with metamorphopsia in the right eye. leopard mottling was seen temporal to the fovea oculus dexter with corresponding hyper- and hypo-autofluorescent lesions on fundus autofluorescence. spectral domain-optical coherence tomography revealed hyperreflective dots in the retinal pigment epithelium and choroid with subretinal fluid (srf). intravitreal bevacizumab was administered with which srf resolved, albeit with increase in the areas of mottling. the patient was dia ...201829582831
chemical characterization of the milk oligosaccharides of some artiodactyla species including giraffe (giraffa camelopardalis), sitatunga (tragelaphus spekii), deer (cervus nippon yesoensis) and water buffalo (bubalus bubalis).mammalian milk/colostrum usually contains oligosaccharides along with the predominant disaccharide lactose. it has been found that the number and identity of these milk oligosaccharides varies among mammalian species. oligosaccharides predominate over lactose in the milk/colostrum of arctoidea species (carnivora), whereas lactose predominates over milk oligosaccharides in artiodactyla including cow, sheep, goat, camel, reindeer and pig. to clarify whether heterogeneity of a variety of milk oligo ...201830467790
[radiological imaging of acute infectious and non-infectious enterocolitis].computed tomography (ct) is often used as the initial diagnostic test in patients with inflammatory and infectious types of enterocolitis. the differential diagnosis is broad, including infectious, non-infectious and vascular causes, which have substantially different management strategies. although a definitive diagnosis often relies on endoscopic biopsy results, stool culture results or other clinical features, radiologists often help to guide the diagnosis.201829569035
object permanence in giraffa camelopardalis: first steps in giraffes' physical cognition.although behavior, biology, and ecology of giraffes have been widely studied, little is known about their cognition. giraffes' feeding ecology and their fission-fusion social dynamics are comparable with those of chimpanzees (pan troglodytes), suggesting that they might have complex cognitive abilities. to assess this, we tested 6 captive giraffes on their object permanence, short-term memory, and ability to use acoustic cues to locate food. first, we tested whether giraffes understand that obje ...201930372108
extracting physiological information in experimental biology via eulerian video magnification.videographic material of animals can contain inapparent signals, such as color changes or motion that hold information about physiological functions, such as heart and respiration rate, pulse wave velocity, and vocalization. eulerian video magnification allows the enhancement of such signals to enable their detection. the purpose of this study is to demonstrate how signals relevant to experimental physiology can be extracted from non-contact videographic material of animals.201931831016
terrestrial mammalian wildlife responses to unmanned aerial systems approaches.unmanned aerial systems (uas) are increasingly being used recreationally, commercially and for wildlife research, but very few studies have quantified terrestrial mammalian reactions to uas approaches. we used two vertical take-off and landing (vtol) uas to approach seven herbivore species in the moremi game reserve, botswana, after securing the relevant permissions. we recorded responses to 103 vertical and 120 horizontal approaches, the latter from three altitudes above ground level (agl). we ...201930765800
land use, redd+ and the status of wildlife populations in yaeda valley, northern tanzania.redd+ projects primarily focus on reducing carbon emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries. these projects are regularly evaluated against their core objective of conserving carbon stocks, but their contribution to biodiversity conservation has rarely been assessed. to assess the conservation value of the area and the relative performance of a redd+ land use plan in yaeda valley, a semi-arid savannah ecosystem in northern tanzania, we implemented an annual wild ...201930947305
atypical porcine pestivirus (appv) as a new species of pestivirus in pig production.the genus pestivirus, which belongs to the family flaviviridae, includes ssrna+ viruses responsible for infectious diseases in swine, cattle, sheep, goats, and other domestic and wild animals. recently, several putative pestiviruses species have been discovered and characterized in mammalian species (giraffe pestivirus, antelope pestivirus, hobi virus, bungowannah virus, and linda virus); one of these is a genetically distinct pestivirus, named atypical porcine pestivirus (appv), discovered usin ...201930847345
descriptive analysis of cerebral arterial vascular architecture in dromedary camel (camelus dromedarius).the artiodactyl brain has multiple levels of vascular pooling and the rostral epidural rete mirabile (rerm) at its base. the current study is the first of its kind to precisely demonstrate the arterial vasculature of the dromedary brain, utilizing a new casting method with colored latex and epoxy paint. in total, 35 freshly slaughtered dromedary heads were injected with colored latex or colored epoxy paint prior to dissection in order to reveal cerebral vasculature; ten processed heads were chem ...201931333420
digesta passage in nondomestic ruminants: separation mechanisms in 'moose-type' and 'cattle-type' species, and seemingly atypical browsers.ruminants have been classified as having a 'moose-type' or 'cattle-type' digestive physiology. 'cattle-type' ruminants have a clear difference in the mean retention time (mrt) of fluid vs. small particles in the reticulorumen (rr), with a high 'selectivity factor' (sf = mrtparticle/ mrtfluid, >1.80), and are typically grazers and intermediate feeders. 'moose-type' ruminants have lower sf (<1.80), possibly because of defensive salivary proteins that constrain amounts of (high-viscosity) saliva, a ...201931220621
cryptosporidium infections in terrestrial ungulates with focus on livestock: a systematic review and meta-analysis.cryptosporidium spp. are causative agents of gastrointestinal diseases in a wide variety of vertebrate hosts. mortality resulting from the disease is low in livestock, although severe cryptosporidiosis has been associated with fatality in young animals.201931521186
giraffe or leopard spot chorioretinopathy as an outstanding finding: case report and literature review.presentation of two typical cases with characteristic leopard retinopathy secondary to bilateral diffuse uveal melanocytic proliferation (bdump) and idiopathic uveal effusion syndrome (iues) and brief review of the literature about leopard spot retinopathy.201929948498
fission-fusion dynamics of a megaherbivore are driven by ecological, anthropogenic, temporal, and social factors.fission-fusion dynamics hypothetically enable animals to exploit dispersed and ephemeral food resources while minimizing predation risk. disentangling factors affecting group size and composition of fission-fusion species facilitates their management and conservation. we used a 6-year data set of 2888 group formations of masai giraffes in tanzania to investigate determinants of social group size and structure. we tested whether ecological (lion density, vegetation structure, and prevalence of pr ...201931451928
genetic analysis of african lions (panthera leo) in zambia support movement across anthropogenic and geographical barriers.the luangwa valley in eastern zambia is a transverse offshoot of the great rift valley system. this region appears to have an isolating effect as evidenced by suspected endemic subspecies, such as the cookson's wildebeest and thornicroft's giraffe. recent mitochondrial dna studies demonstrated that african lions in zambia consist of two highly diverse eastern and western sub-populations. herein, we report nuclear and mitochondrial dna results from 409 lions that support this population substruct ...201931150429
assessing transmission of antimicrobial-resistant escherichia coli in wild giraffe contact networks.there is growing evidence that anthropogenic sources of antibiotics and antimicrobial-resistant bacteria can spill over into natural ecosystems, raising questions about the role wild animals play in the emergence, maintenance, and dispersal of antibiotic resistance genes. in particular, we lack an understanding of how resistance genes circulate within wild animal populations, including whether specific host characteristics, such as social associations, promote interhost transmission of these gen ...201930413480
effectiveness of ultra-rapid cryopreservation of sperm from endangered species, examined by morphometric means.this study compares the effectiveness of the ultra-rapid and conventional freezing of sperm from captive bovids, giraffids, cervids, ursids, a cercopithecid, a delphinid and a phascolarctid. the relationship between sperm head dimensions and cryosurvival was also examined. compared to conventional freezing, the ultra-rapid freezing of epididymal sperm from the dama gazelle, giraffe and brown bear returned higher cryoresistance ratios (cr, the ratio, in percentage, between the value of the variab ...201930852388
molecular identification of bloodmeal sources and trypanosomes in glossina spp., tabanus spp. and stomoxys spp. trapped on cattle farm settlements in southwest nigeria.the interactions of host, vector and parasite in bovine trypanosomiasis transmission cycles in southwest nigeria are not yet well understood. trypanosoma (trypanosomatida: trypanosomatidae) species infection prevalences and bloodmeal sources were determined in transmitting vectors of the genera glossina (diptera: glossinidae), tabanus (diptera: tabanidae) and stomoxys (diptera: muscidae) collected using nzi traps in cattle settlements in southwest nigeria. sequenced cytochrome b mitochondrial dn ...201930730048
small mammal diversity of mt. kenya based on carnivore fecal and surface bone remains.ecological dynamics and faunal diversity documentation is normally conducted by direct observation and trapping of live animals. however, surveys of carnivore scat prey and surface bone remains, which are relatively inexpensive, can provide complementary data that expand carnivore diet breadth and may improve accuracy regarding inferences of the ecological dynamics of a given ecosystem. we used this inexpensive method to document species diversity variation with elevation on the leeward (sirimon ...201930348933
characterization of a mlic detector for qa in scanned proton and carbon ion beams.beam energy validation is a fundamental aspect of the routine quality assurance (qa) protocol of a particle therapy facility. a multilayer ionization chamber (mlic) detector provides the optimal tradeoff between achieving accuracy in particle range determination and saving operational time in measurements and analysis procedures. we propose the characterization of a commercial mlic as a suitable qa tool for a clinical environment with proton and carbon-ion scanning beams.201931998821
bilateral diffuse retinal pigment epithelium proliferation induced by choroidal inflammation: a case report.proliferation of retinal pigment epithelium (rpe) is typically observed in limited ocular disorders, in connection with the local mechanism of rpe proliferation-mediated wound repair. bilateral and diffuse type rpe proliferation is considered to be associated with paraneoplastic syndromes, such as a bilateral diffuse uveal melanocytic proliferation. however, other reported diseases that induce bilateral diffuse rpe proliferation are quite rare, especially for patients who are considered to have ...201931764858
population structure and spatial ecology of kordofan giraffe in garamba national park, democratic republic of congo.population numbers of kordofan giraffe (giraffa camelopardalis antiquorum) have declined throughout its range by more than 85% in the last three decades, including in the isolated easternmost population found in the garamba national park (np) in the democratic republic of congo.we provide new data on the conservation status and ecology of kordofan giraffe in garamba np, specifically on the current population dynamics, distribution patterns, and spatial ecology for informed conservation managemen ...201931641481
the two oxpecker species reveal the role of movement rates and foraging intensity in species coexistence.the two buphagus oxpecker species are specialized passerines that forage for ticks and other food particles on the body of ungulates in the african savannahs. one of their intriguing features is their ability to coexist despite sharing the same, specialized diet. using co-occurrence data (photographs of giraffes with oxpeckers on them) and approximate bayesian computing, we demonstrate that yellow-billed oxpeckers changed host faster than red-billed oxpeckers and appeared to displace red-billed ...201931640529
ancient skull, amazon fires and giraffe protections. 201931462803
assessment of contrafreeloading preferences in giraffe (giraffa camelopardalis).contrafreeloading is an intriguing phenomenon in which animals will work to obtain resources, such as food, when the same resource is simultaneously freely available. multiple hypotheses exist for why animals might choose to contrafreeload. in this study, we assessed preferences for contrafreeloading in giraffe at the bronx zoo to determine whether they actually preferred to contrafreeload or were simply demonstrating a willingness to contrafreeload. food was presented in a range of distribution ...201931432564
new metabolites produced by streptomyces badius isolated from giraffa camelopardalis feces. 201931429118
sleep-related behaviors in zoo-housed giraffes (giraffa camelopardalis reticulata): basic characteristics and effects of season and parturition.despite increasing interest in the behavior of zoo animals, studies of nocturnal behavior of zoo animals are limited. in this study, we investigated the relationship between parturition, season, and the sleep-related behaviors in captive reticulated giraffes to better understand the nocturnal life in giraffes. the subjects were two adult reticulated giraffes living in kyoto city zoo, japan. observations were made via an infrared camera that was mounted in the indoor enclosure between june 2007 a ...201931389632
potential impact of construction noise on selected zoo animals.in anticipation of a major construction project in an urban new zealand zoo, a study was initiated to assess the response to construction noise of selected animal species (elephant, giraffe, emu and alligator) previously observed to be sensitive to this kind of noise. the overall aim was to detect any signs of aversive responses to this noise to enable keepers to recognize these and take any necessary mitigating actions during the construction period. the experimental approach involved the creat ...201931370284
an integrated chromosome-scale genome assembly of the masai giraffe (giraffa camelopardalis tippelskirchi).the masai giraffe (giraffa camelopardalis tippelskirchi) is the largest-bodied giraffe and the world's tallest terrestrial animal. with its extreme size and height, the giraffe's unique anatomical and physiological adaptations have long been of interest to diverse research fields. giraffes are also critical to ecosystems of sub-saharan africa, with their long neck serving as a conduit to food sources not shared by other herbivores. although the genome of a masai giraffe has been sequenced, the a ...201931367745
a protocol for the ethical assessment of wild animal-visitor interactions (avip) evaluating animal welfare, education, and conservation outcomes.due to the popularity of wild animal-visitor interactions (avis), there is a need for an ethical assessment of their impact on animal welfare, education, and conservation. the protocol presented in this study is designed to evaluate such interactions on an integrated level, using a transparent analysis of all the aspects involved, including all the stakeholders and the potential conflicts of values. the protocol consists of a six-step process encompassing dedicated data acquisition and a specifi ...201931349726
comparison of anesthesia of adult giraffe (giraffa camelopardalis) using medetomidine-ketamine with and without a potent opioid.two anesthetic protocols in adult giraffe were compared by retrospective study. thirteen anesthesia records for medetomidine-ketamine (mk) and seven for medetomidine-ketamine with a potent opioid (mko) were evaluated for differences in demographic, behavioral, drug, and respiratory parameters. giraffe stood significantly more quickly with mko vs mk though mk animals were physically restrained to preclude premature standing as part of normal recovery practices (5.5 min vs 21.4 min, p = 0.01). reg ...201931260214
using qualitative behaviour assessment to investigate human-animal relationships in zoo-housed giraffes (giraffa camelopardalis).human-animal relationships (har) in zoos develop from repeated interactions between animals and their caretakers. har have been shown to affect health and welfare in farm animals, but limited zoo-based studies exist. this study investigates the association between the qualitative behaviour assessment (qba) of emotional expression in giraffes and keeper action score in four types of keeper-animal interaction (kai). three giraffes generating 38 clips. qba, using a free-choice profiling methodology ...201931234320
first detection of mycobacterium bovis infection in giraffe (giraffa camelopardalis) in the greater kruger national park complex: role and implications.bovine tuberculosis (bovine tb) caused by mycobacterium bovis has become endemic in some wildlife populations in south africa. the disease has been reported in 21 wildlife species in the country. in this study, we report m. bovis infection in two female giraffes (giraffa camelopardalis) from two different nature reserves within the greater kruger national park complex (gknpc). mycobacterium bovis was isolated from tissue lesions consistent with macroscopic appearance of tuberculosis (tb) and con ...201931233666
protect giraffes from wildlife trade. 201931123130
growth, husbandry, and diets of five successfully hand-reared orphaned giraffe calves (giraffa camelopardalis rothschildi and giraffa camelopardalis reticulata).giraffe in the wild are in ongoing decline because of poaching and habitat loss and fragmentation, and were recently assessed as "vulnerable" on the iucn (international union for conservation of nature) red list of threatened species. captive breeding and saving each individual are therefore becoming more important to save this species from extinction. this paper describes the husbandry and diets of successfully hand-reared rothschild's giraffes (giraffa camelopardalis rothschildi; n = 3) and re ...201931120680
quantifying the severity of giraffe skin disease via photogrammetry analysis of camera trap data.developing techniques to quantify the spread and severity of diseases afflicting wildlife populations is important for disease ecology, animal ecology, and conservation. giraffes (giraffa camelopardalis) are in the midst of a dramatic decline, but it is not known whether disease is playing an important role in the broad-scale population reductions. a skin disorder referred to as giraffe skin disease (gsd) was recorded in 1995 in one giraffe population in uganda. since then, gsd has been detected ...201931009309
directional selection on body size but no apparent survival cost to being large in wild new zealand giraffe weevils.when an individual's reproductive success relies on winning fights to secure mating opportunities, bearing larger weapons is advantageous. however, sexual selection can be extremely complex, and over an animal's life the opportunity to mate is influenced by numerous factors. we studied a wild population of giraffe weevils (lasiorhynchus barbicornis) that exhibit enormous intra and intersexual size variation. males bear an elongated rostrum used as a weapon in fights for mating opportunities. how ...201930840338
the running kinematics of free-roaming giraffes, measured using a low cost unmanned aerial vehicle (uav).the study of animal locomotion can be logistically challenging, especially in the case of large or unhandleable animals in uncontrolled environments. here we demonstrate the utility of a low cost unmanned aerial vehicle (uav) in measuring two-dimensional running kinematics from free-roaming giraffes (giraffa camelopardalis giraffa) in the free state province, south africa. we collected 120 hz video of running giraffes, and calibrated each video frame using metatarsal length as a constant object ...201930775166
thyroid fine needle aspiration: successful prospective implementation of strategies to eliminate unnecessary biopsy in the veteran population.thyroid nodules are prevalent in over half the general population. several multidisciplinary societies have management recommendations. however, the majority of data to support these guidelines are derived from studies of predominantly younger and female populations. this study's aim was to evaluate characteristics of thyroid nodules in a largely older and male veteran population and apply these findings prospectively to reduce unnecessary thyroid fine needle aspiration (fna).201929499838
technical note: use of commercial multilayer faraday cup for offline daily beam range verification at the mclaren proton therapy center.daily verification of the proton beam range in proton radiation therapy is a vital part of the quality assurance (qa) program. the objective of this work is to study the use of a multilayer faraday cup (mlfc) to perform a quick and precise daily range verification of proton beams produced by a synchrotron.201930570757
the locomotor kinematics and ground reaction forces of walking giraffes.giraffes (giraffa camelopardalis) possess specialised anatomy. their disproportionately elongate limbs and neck confer recognised feeding advantages, but little is known about how their morphology affects locomotor function. in this study, we examined the stride parameters and ground reaction forces from three adult giraffes in a zoological park, across a range of walking speeds. the patterns of grfs during walking indicate that giraffes, similar to other mammalian quadrupeds, maintain a forelim ...201930510118
physiological essay on gulliver's travels: a correction after three centuries.gulliver's travels by jonathan swift, published in 1726, was analyzed from the viewpoint of scaling in comparative physiology. according to the original text, the foods of 1724 lilliputians, tiny human creatures, are needed for gulliver, but the author found that those of 42 lilliputians and of 1/42 brobdingnagians (gigantic human creatures) are enough to support the energy of gulliver. the author further estimated their heartbeats, respiration rates, life spans and blood pressure. these calcula ...201930610552
the host-specificity of theileria sp. (sable) and theileria sp. (sable-like) in african bovidae and detection of novel theileria in antelope and giraffe.tick-borne diseases caused by theileria are of economic importance in domestic and wildlife ruminants. the majority of theileria infects a limited number of host species, supporting the concept of host specificity. however, some theileria seem to be generalists challenging the host specificity paradigm, such as theileria sp. (sable) reported from various vertebrate hosts, including african buffalo, cattle, dogs and different antelope species. we tested the hypothesis that t. sp. (sable) uses bov ...202031566155
cutaneous filariasis in free-ranging rothschild's giraffes (giraffa camelopardalis rothschildi) in uganda.across africa, wild giraffes suffer from a variety of skin disorders of mostly unknown etiology. with their populations already threatened from anthropogenic factors, it is important to understand infectious disease risks to giraffes. here we describe filarid parasites and a portion of their genetic sequence associated with skin disease in rothschild's giraffes (giraffa camelopardalis rothschildi) in uganda.202031532733
isolation and characterisation of carbapenem-resistant xanthomonas citri pv. mangiferaeindicae-like strain gir from the faecal material of giraffes.the purpose of this study was to determine if giraffes (giraffa camelopardalis) living in captivity at the jacksonville zoo and gardens, jacksonville, fl were colonised with carbapenem-resistant bacteria and, if found, to identify underlying genetic mechanisms contributing to a carbapenem-resistant phenotype. faecal samples from seven giraffes were examined for carbapenem-resistant bacteria. only one isolate (a xanthomondaceae) was found to be carbapenem-resistant by antibiotic susceptibility te ...202031485840
community-based wildlife management area supports similar mammal species richness and densities compared to a national park.community-based conservation models have been widely implemented across africa to improve wildlife conservation and livelihoods of rural communities. in tanzania, communities can set aside land and formally register it as wildlife management area (wma), which allows them to generate revenue via consumptive or nonconsumptive utilization of wildlife. the key, yet often untested, assumption of this model is that economic benefits accrued from wildlife motivate sustainable management of wildlife. to ...202031993122
ontogenetic similarities between giraffe and sauropod neck osteological mobility.the functional morphology of sauropod dinosaur long necks has been studied extensively, with virtual approaches yielding results that are difficult to obtain with actual fossils, due to their extreme fragility and size. however, analyses on virtual fossils have been questioned on several of their premises, such as the ability to accurately reconstruct intervertebral tissue with only skeletal data; or whether zygapophyseal overlap can be used to determine the limits of range of motion, since some ...202031929581
evaluating the social structure of captive rothschild's giraffes (giraffa camelopardalis rothschildi): relevance to animal management and animal welfare.social network analysis (sna) is useful for evaluating management zoo regimes to ensure that any fitness benefits of sociality are preserved in captive-housed groups. this paper explores the association patterns of 13 giraffes housed at longleat safari park, uk. wild giraffes exhibit a fission-fusion social system with preferential bonding. as zoo-housed giraffes are common, they are excellent study subjects for using sna to investigate key aspects of sociality within a managed social environmen ...202030712403
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