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sars-cov-2 in animals: potential for unknown reservoir hosts and public health implications.severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (sars-cov-2, previously 2019-ncov) is suspected of having originated in 2019 in china from a coronavirus infected bat of the genus rhinolophus. following the initial emergence, possibly facilitated by a mammalian bridge host, sars-cov-2 is currently transmitted across the globe via efficient human-to-human transmission. results obtained from experimental studies indicate that animal species such as cats, ferrets, raccoon dogs, cynomolgus macaques, ...202133892621
ease conflict in asia with snow leopard peace parks. 202032165575
identifying priority landscapes for conservation of snow leopards in pakistan.pakistan's total estimated snow leopard habitat is about 80,000 km2 of which about half is considered prime habitat. however, this preliminary demarcation was not always in close agreement with the actual distribution-the discrepancy may be huge at the local and regional level. recent technological developments like camera trapping and molecular genetics allow for collecting reliable presence records that could be used to construct realistic species distribution based on empirical data and advan ...202033151925
oral lesions in captive nondomestic felids with a focus on odontogenic lesions.odontogenic lesions are well described in domestic cats, but published literature describing these lesions in nondomestic felids is limited. this study reports oral lesions in 109 captive, non-domestic felids. ten cases of odontogenic lesions were diagnosed, including 9 with fibromatous epulis of periodontal ligament origin (feplo) and one odontogenic cyst in a cougar. feplo was common in lions. feplo did not recur after surgical removal in any of the 3 cases for which follow-up information was ...202033016248
an ecological framework for contextualizing carnivore-livestock conflict.carnivore predation on livestock is a complex management and policy challenge, yet it is also intrinsically an ecological interaction between predators and prey. human-wildlife interactions occur in socioecological systems in which human and environmental processes are closely linked. however, underlying human-wildlife conflict and key to unpacking its complexity are concrete and identifiable ecological mechanisms that lead to predation events. to better understand how ecological theory accords ...202032406970
identification errors in camera-trap studies result in systematic population overestimation.reliable assessments of animal abundance are key for successful conservation of endangered species. for elusive animals with individually-unique markings, camera-trap surveys are a benchmark standard for estimating local and global population abundance. central to the reliability of resulting abundance estimates is the assumption that individuals are accurately identified from photographic captures. to quantify the risk of individual misidentification and its impact on population abundance estim ...202032286438
issues and opportunities associated with trophy hunting and tourism in khunjerab national park, northern pakistan.trophy hunting and mass tourism are the two major interventions designed to provide various socioeconomic and ecological benefits at the local and regional levels. however, these interventions have raised some serious concerns that need to be addressed. this study was conducted in khunjerab national park (knp) with an aim to analyze comparatively the socioeconomic and ecological impacts of trophy hunting and mass tourism over the last three decades within the context of sustainability. focus gro ...202032244688
assurance of the existence of a trans-boundary population of the snow leopard (panthera uncia) at tsagaanshuvuut - tsagan-shibetu spa at the mongolia-russia border.the existence of a trans-boundary population of the snow leopard (panthera uncia) that inhabits the massifs of tsagaanshuvuut (mongolia) - tsagan-shibetu (russia) was determined through non-invasive genetic analysis of scat samples and by studying the structure of territory use by a collared female individual. the genetic analysis included species identification of samples through sequencing of a fragment of the cytochrome b gene and individual identification using a panel of 8 microsatellites. ...202031773859
relative influence of wild prey and livestock abundance on carnivore-caused livestock predation.conservation conflict over livestock depredation is one of the key drivers of large mammalian carnivore declines worldwide. mitigating this conflict requires strategies informed by reliable knowledge of factors influencing livestock depredation. wild prey and livestock abundance are critical factors influencing the extent of livestock depredation. we compared whether the extent of livestock predation by snow leopards panthera uncia differed in relation to densities of wild prey, livestock, and s ...202033145001
detection and genetic characterization of viruses present in free-ranging snow leopards using next-generation sequencing.snow leopards inhabit the cold, arid environments of the high mountains of south and central asia. these living conditions likely affect the abundance and composition of microbes with the capacity to infect these animals. it is important to investigate the microbes that snow leopards are exposed to detect infectious disease threats and define a baseline for future changes that may impact the health of this endangered felid. in this work, next-generation sequencing is used to investigate the feca ...202033195503
the relationship between plant-eating and hair evacuation in snow leopards (panthera uncia).although most felids have an exclusive carnivore diet, the presence of plant matter in scat has been reported among various species. this indicates that there may be an adaptive significance to the conservation of plant-eating behavior in felid evolution. some studies have hypothesized that felids consume plants for self-medication or as a source of nutrition. in addition, it is thought that plant intake helps them to excrete hairballs, however, no scientific work has confirmed these effects. th ...202032736376
meta-replication, sampling bias, and multi-scale model selection: a case study on snow leopard (panthera uncia) in western china.replicated multiple scale species distribution models (sdms) have become increasingly important to identify the correct variables determining species distribution and their influences on ecological responses. this study explores multi-scale habitat relationships of the snow leopard (panthera uncia) in two study areas on the qinghai-tibetan plateau of western china. our primary objectives were to evaluate the degree to which snow leopard habitat relationships, expressed by predictors, scales of r ...202032760557
molecular identification of taenia hydatigena and mesocestoides species based on copro-dna analysis of wild carnivores in mongolia.cyclophyllidean tapeworms obligatorily parasitize numerous mammalian species, including herbivores, domestic animals and humans, of which, the genera taenia and mesocestoides are well characterized. however, little is known about these parasitic infections in wild animals. this study aims to investigate the prevalence and distribution of taenia sp. and mesocestoides sp. in wild carnivores in mongolia by identifying tapeworm species based on mtdna analysis. the field survey was carried out in 201 ...202031956480
review of canine distemper vaccination use and safety in north american captive large felids (panthera spp.) from 2000 to 2017.data on canine distemper virus (cdv) vaccination were collected on 812 large felids (351 tigers, panthera tigris; 220 lions, panthera leo; 143 snow leopards, panthera uncia; 50 leopards, panthera pardus; and 48 jaguars, panthera onca) from 48 institutions to assess vaccine use and safety. the documented individual vaccination events with multiple products numbered 2,846. canarypox-vectored cdv vaccines were the most commonly used vaccines (96.3% of all vaccinations) and the purevax® ferret diste ...202031926507
multiple factors influence local perceptions of snow leopards and himalayan wolves in the central himalayas, nepal.an understanding of local perceptions of carnivores is important for conservation and management planning. in the central himalayas, nepal, we interviewed 428 individuals from 85 settlements using a semi-structured questionnaire to quantitatively assess local perceptions and tolerance of snow leopards and wolves. we used generalized linear mixed effect models to assess influential factors, and found that tolerance of snow leopards was much higher than of wolves. interestingly, having experienced ...202033088621
retreat of large carnivores across the giant panda distribution range.as both a flagship and umbrella species, the giant panda (ailuropoda melanoleuca) is one of the most heavily invested species in conservation. here, we report the wide distribution range retreat of the leopard (panthera pardus, 81% loss), snow leopard (p. uncia, 38%), wolf (canis lupus, 77%) and dhole (cuon alpinus, 95%) from protected areas in the giant panda distribution range since the 1960s. the present findings indicate the insufficiency of giant panda conservation for protecting these larg ...202032747773
a retrospective study of reported disorders of the oral cavity in large felids in australian zoos.disorders of the oral cavity are conditions reported by veterinarians that impact the health and welfare of large felids in human care. there have been no studies documenting the prevalence of these conditions and species affected in australian zoos. a review of the medical records of lions (panthera leo), tigers (panthera tigris), cheetahs (acinonyx jubatus), jaguars (puma onca), snow leopards (panthera uncia), persian leopards (panthera pardus saxicolor), and cougars (puma concolor) from 10 au ...201931120658
range contraction of snow leopard (panthera uncia).snow leopard (panthera uncia) is native to mountain ranges of central and south asia, where it occurs from 3,000-4500 m elevation. the species is enlisted as "endangered" by iucn and its populations are reportedly declining. in the current study, we compared the past and current distribution ranges of the species using spatial analysis. we used quantum geographical information system (qgis) software to reconstruct and quantify its past distribution range and compare with its current one. snow le ...201931369579
a pilot study-genetic diversity and population structure of snow leopards of gilgit-baltistan, pakistan, using molecular techniques.the hindu kush and karakoram mountain ranges in pakistan's northern areas are a natural habitat of the snow leopard (panthera uncia syn. uncia uncia) but the ecological studies on this animal are scarce since it is human shy by nature and lives in difficult mountainous tracts. the pilot study is conducted to exploit the genetic diversity and population structure of the snow leopard in this selected natural habitat of the member of the wildcat family in pakistan.201931720096
differentiating enteropathy-associated t-cell lymphoma type 2 from inflammatory bowel disease in a snow leopard (uncia uncia).after a history of intermittent vomiting, endoscopic biopsies of stomach and duodenum were collected from a 13-yr-old male snow leopard (uncia uncia). on microscopic examination, monomorphic small lymphocytes expanded the duodenal mucosa and occasionally formed intraepithelial nests. immunohistochemistry of the infiltrating small lymphocytes in the mucosa and within the epithelium had strong, perimembranous labeling for cd3e, with few cd79a-positive lymphocytes located at the base of the villi. ...201931260218
what factors best explain attitudes to snow leopards in the nepal himalayas?the snow leopard panthera uncia is a vulnerable wild felid native to mountainous regions of 12 asian countries. it faces numerous overlapping threats, including killings by herders retaliating against livestock losses, the illegal wildlife trade, loss of prey and habitat, infrastructure, energy and mining developments, and climate change. the species ranges over large territories that often lie outside of protected areas (pa), so coexistence with human populations across its range is key to its ...201931644548
health and zoonotic infections of snow leopards panthera unica in the south gobi desert of mongolia.background: snow leopards, panthera uncia, are a threatened apex predator, scattered across the mountains of central and south asia. disease threats to wild snow leopards have not been investigated.methods and results: between 2008 and 2015, twenty snow leopards in the south gobi desert of mongolia were captured and immobilised for health screening and radio-collaring. blood samples and external parasites were collected for pathogen analyses using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (elisa), micro ...201931231481
18f-fdg pet/ct of sarcoidosis with extensive cutaneous and subcutaneous nodules: the snow leopard sign. 201931123764
modelling potential habitat for snow leopards (panthera uncia) in ladakh, india.the snow leopard panthera uncia is an elusive species inhabiting some of the most remote and inaccessible tracts of central and south asia. it is difficult to determine its distribution and density pattern, which are crucial for developing conservation strategies. several techniques for species detection combining camera traps with remote sensing and geographic information systems have been developed to model the habitat of such cryptic and low-density species in challenging terrains. utilising ...201930695083
diet and prey selection by snow leopards in the nepalese himalayas.visual attractiveness and rarity often results in large carnivores being adopted as flagship species for stimulating conservation awareness. their hunting behaviour and prey selection can affect the population dynamics of their prey, which in turn affects the population dynamics of these large carnivores. therefore, our understanding of their trophic ecology and foraging strategies is important for predicting their population dynamics and consequently for developing effective conservation progra ...201830517109
osteochondral autograft transfer for treatment of stifle osteochondritis dissecans in two related snow leopards ( panthera uncia).two related female snow leopards ( panthera uncia) were diagnosed with osteochondritis dissecans of the lateral femoral condyle via radiographs and computed tomography. lesions were either bilateral (patient 1) or unilateral (patient 2). surgical treatment was performed using an osteochondral autograft transfer system following cartilage flap removal. after a 6-wk recovery period, both animals had a markedly improved gait with mild pelvic limb stiffness. patient 1 developed intermittent lameness ...201830212335
assessment of habitat suitability of the snow leopard (panthera uncia) in qomolangma national nature reserve based on maxent modeling.habitat evaluation constitutes an important and fundamental step in the management of wildlife populations and conservation policy planning. geographic information system (gis) and species presence data provide the means by which such evaluation can be done. maximum entropy (maxent) is widely used in habitat suitability modeling due to its power of accuracy and additional descriptive properties. to survey snow leopard populations in qomolangma (mt. everest, qnnr) national nature reserve, tibet, ...201829872029
use of equine amniotic membrane free-island grafts for treatment of a midstromal corneal ulcer and descemetocele in a snow leopard (panthera uncia).case description a 7-year-old sexually intact female snow leopard (panthera uncia) was examined because of blepharospasm, periocular discharge, ventral deviation of the upper eyelid cilia, third eyelid prolapse, and corneal opacity of the right eye. clinical findings an ophthalmic examination performed with the patient anesthetized revealed a 3 × 3-mm ulcer that extended approximately 60% of the depth of the right cornea and was accompanied by perilesional and intralesional cellular infiltrates ...201830668260
an iga1-lambda-type monoclonal immunoglobulin deposition disease associated with membranous features in a patient with igg4-related kidney disease: a case report.igg4-related disease (igg4-rd) is a newly recognized fibroinflammatory condition. the kidney is one of the organs commonly affected by igg4-rd. tubulointerstitial nephritis (tin) is the main feature, and membranous nephropathy (mn) has also been described frequently. in mn, polyclonal immunoglobulins and complements are deposited in granular form along the glomerular basement membranes (gbms). unusual cases of monoclonal immunoglobulin deposition disease (midd) associated with membranous feature ...201830458736
the validity of three snow leopard subspecies: response to senn et al. 201829434338
gastric dilatation and enterotoxemia in ten captive felids.case description 10 large felids at 8 facilities were determined or suspected to have developed gastric dilatation with or without enterotoxemia over a 20-year period. four felids were found dead with no premonitory signs. clinical findings 4 felids (2 male snow leopards [uncia uncia], 1 male amur tiger [panthera tigris altaica], and 1 male sumatran tiger [panthera tigris sumatrae]) were found dead or died before they could be evaluated. six felids had hematemesis (1 male and 1 female african li ...201830211645
characterizing conflict between humans and big cats panthera spp: a systematic review of research trends and management opportunities.conservation of big cats (panthera spp.), a taxonomic group including tigers, lions, jaguars, leopards and snow leopards, is a daunting challenge. as expanding human populations across panthera range countries exacerbate competition for land and prey, conflicts between humans and big cats are inevitable. through a systematic review of the peer-reviewed literature published from 1991 to 2014 and indexed in web of science and google scholar (186 articles), our study explored the current state of k ...201830226894
[trichophyton mentagrophytes-from snow leopard to man : a molecular approach for uncovering the chain of infection].sources of infection for trichophyton (t.) mentagrophytes-a zoophilic dermatophyte-comprise pet rodents (guinea pigs, mice, rabbits) and sometimes cats. human infections due to dermatophytes after contact with zoo animals, however, are extreme rare. four zoo keepers from basel zoo were diagnosed to suffer from tinea manus and tinea corporis due to t. mentagrophytes. the 22-year-old daughter of one zoo keeper was also infected with tinea corporis after having worked in the snow leopard section fo ...201830120492
responses of snow leopards, wolves and wild ungulates to livestock grazing in the zorkul strictly protected area, tajikistan.long recognized as a threat to wildlife, livestock grazing in protected areas has the potential to undermine conservation goals, via competition, habitat degradation, human-carnivore conflict and disruption of predator-prey relationships. in the strictly protected area zorkul in tajikistan (zorkul reserve), grazing is commonplace despite official prohibition, with potentially detrimental effects on local fauna, in particular, snow leopard panthera uncia, wolf canis lupus, brown bear ursus arctos ...201830500847
comparison of subjective well-being and personality assessments in the clouded leopard (neofelis nebulosa), snow leopard (panthera uncia), and african lion (panthera leo).the study of subjective well-being in nonhuman animals is growing in the field of psychology, but there are still only a few published studies and the focus is on primates. to consider whether the construct of subjective well-being could be found in another mammal, this study aimed to assess subjective well-being in felids and to examine its association with personality. personality is one of the strongest and most consistent predictors of well-being in humans. this relationship could have impor ...201726983676
impact of wild prey availability on livestock predation by snow leopards.an increasing proportion of the world's poor is rearing livestock today, and the global livestock population is growing. livestock predation by large carnivores and their retaliatory killing is becoming an economic and conservation concern. a common recommendation for carnivore conservation and for reducing predation on livestock is to increase wild prey populations based on the assumption that the carnivores will consume this alternative food. livestock predation, however, could either reduce o ...201728680665
range-wide snow leopard phylogeography supports three subspecies.the snow leopard, panthera uncia, is an elusive high-altitude specialist that inhabits vast, inaccessible habitat across asia. we conducted the first range-wide genetic assessment of snow leopards based on noninvasive scat surveys. thirty-three microsatellites were genotyped and a total of 683 bp of mitochondrial dna sequenced in 70 individuals. snow leopards exhibited low genetic diversity at microsatellites (an = 5.8, ho = 0.433, he = 0.568), virtually no mtdna variation, and underwent a bottl ...201728498961
systemic arterial hypertension secondary to chronic kidney disease in two captive-born large felids.systemic arterial hypertension (sht) has been widely described in the domestic cat (felis catus). in these feline patients, sht is considered as the most common vascular disorder of middle-aged to older animals, and secondary sht related to chronic kidney disease (ckd) represents the most common form of the disease. we describe here the first two cases of spontaneous sht in large felids, i.e. one 18-year old, 34.4 kg, male north-chinese leopard (panthera pardus japonensis, case #1) and one 20-ye ...201728435002
what risks do herbal products pose to the australian community?traditional herbal products are widely used in australia to treat a broad range of conditions and diseases. it is popularly believed that these products are safer than prescribed drugs. while many may be safe, it is worrying that the specific effects and harmful interactions of a number of their components with prescription medications is not well understood. some traditional herbal preparations contain heavy metals and toxic chemicals, as well as naturally occurring organic toxins. the effects ...201728152355
squamous cell carcinoma in two snow leopards (uncia uncia) with unusual auricular presentation.squamous cell carcinoma (scc) is well documented in snow leopards ( uncia uncia ) and most common locations are oral, facial, or pedal. these two cases illustrate an unusual auricular presentation, which is more often reported in white domestic cats. the animals were aged and presented clinical signs of otitis such as head shaking and ear scratching. clinical examinations showed auricular canal masses with chronic purulent otitis. in both cases, clinical deterioration led to euthanasia and histo ...201728749302
snow leopard and himalayan wolf: food habits and prey selection in the central himalayas, nepal.top carnivores play an important role in maintaining energy flow and functioning of the ecosystem, and a clear understanding of their diets and foraging strategies is essential for developing effective conservation strategies. in this paper, we compared diets and prey selection of snow leopards and wolves based on analyses of genotyped scats (snow leopards n = 182, wolves n = 57), collected within 26 sampling grid cells (5×5 km) that were distributed across a vast landscape of ca 5000 km2 in the ...201728178279
commensal in conflict: livestock depredation patterns by free-ranging domestic dogs in the upper spiti landscape, himachal pradesh, india.in human-populated landscapes worldwide, domestic dogs (canis lupus familiaris) are the most abundant terrestrial carnivore. although dogs have been used for the protection of livestock from wild carnivores, they have also been implicated as predators of livestock. we used a combination of methods (field surveys, interview surveys, and data from secondary sources) to examine the patterns and factors driving livestock depredation by free-ranging dogs, as well as economic losses to local communiti ...201728074403
snow leopard conservation status is spot on. 201729239357
snow leopard conservation status is spot on. 201732081996
poaching: is snow leopard tally underestimated? 201729072273
snow leopards, ancient zero and cassini's big finish. 201728933442
canine distemper in a vaccinated snow leopard ( panthera uncia).a 6-yr-old male snow leopard ( panthera uncia) presented with acute seizures, hyperthermia, and tachypnea. because of a diagnosis of anuric renal failure, the animal was euthanized. on histopathologic examination, numerous intralesional intracytoplasmic and intranuclear inclusions were found in the lungs, lymph nodes, and stomach. positive immunohistochemical staining for canine distemper virus (cdv) was found in the lungs and, to a lesser extent, in the lymph nodes and brain. molecular testing ...201729297812
effects of hand-rearing on reproductive success in captive large cats panthera tigris altaica, uncia uncia, acinonyx jubatus and neofelis nebulosa.species survival plans and european endangered species programmes have been developed for several species of endangered felids in order to build up captive reserve populations and support their conservation in the wild. the siberian tiger (panthera tigris altaica), snow leopard (uncia uncia), cheetah (acinonyx jubatus) and clouded leopard (neofelis nebulosa) are managed in such ex situ conservation programmes. many zoological institutions hand-rear offspring if rearing by the mother fails. hand- ...201627214261
modeling outcomes of approaches to sustained human and snow leopard coexistence.the snow leopard (uncia uncia) is in danger of extinction. killing to protect livestock is among the primary causes of its decline. efforts to mitigate this threat have focused on balancing the need to conserve the snow leopard with the needs of local people in snow leopard habitat, many of whom rely on raising livestock for their livelihoods. conservation of the snow leopard has the characteristics of a public good, and outside funding is required to support conservation efforts. there are 5 co ...201626032441
challenges of snow leopard conservation in china. 201627142350
combination therapy with fluoxetine and alprazolam to control anxiety in a hand-reared snow leopard (uncia uncia).a captive hand-reared adult male snow leopard ( uncia uncia ) was treated for anxiety associated with taunting from visitors, the presence of large crowds, and introduction to a female for breeding. behaviors included shaking, chewing on tail, panting, panicking, and bouncing off the viewing glass, pacing, and avoidance of the female. combination therapy of oral fluoxetine and alprazolam were administered initially to minimize anxious behaviors while the fluoxetine achieved therapeutic levels. t ...201627691935
predicting the distributions of predator (snow leopard) and prey (blue sheep) under climate change in the himalaya.future climate change is likely to affect distributions of species, disrupt biotic interactions, and cause spatial incongruity of predator-prey habitats. understanding the impacts of future climate change on species distribution will help in the formulation of conservation policies to reduce the risks of future biodiversity losses. using a species distribution modeling approach by maxent, we modeled current and future distributions of snow leopard (panthera uncia) and its common prey, blue sheep ...201627516864
patterns of snow leopard site use in an increasingly human-dominated landscape.human population growth and concomitant increases in demand for natural resources pose threats to many wildlife populations. the landscapes used by the endangered snow leopard (panthera uncia) and their prey is increasingly subject to major changes in land use. we aimed to assess the influence of 1) key human activities, as indicated by the presence of mining and livestock herding, and 2) the presence of a key prey species, the blue sheep (pseudois nayaur), on probability of snow leopard site us ...201627171203
a spotlight on snow leopard conservation in china.china holds the greatest proportion of the snow leopard's (panthera uncia) global range and is central to their conservation. the country is also undergoing unprecedented economic growth, which increases both the threats to the snow leopard and the opportunities for its conservation. in this paper we aim to review published literature (from 1950 to 2014) in english and mandarin on snow leopard ecology and conservation in china in order to identify thematic and geographic research gaps and propos ...201627135283
phylogenomic evidence for ancient hybridization in the genomes of living cats (felidae).inter-species hybridization has been recently recognized as potentially common in wild animals, but the extent to which it shapes modern genomes is still poorly understood. distinguishing historical hybridization events from other processes leading to phylogenetic discordance among different markers requires a well-resolved species tree that considers all modes of inheritance and overcomes systematic problems due to rapid lineage diversification by sampling large genomic character sets. here, we ...201626518481
the complete mitochondrial genome structure of the jaguar (panthera onca).the jaguar (panthera onca) is the largest felid in the western hemisphere, and the only member of the panthera genus in the new world. the jaguar inhabits most countries within central and south america, and is considered near threatened by the international union for the conservation of nature. this study represents the first sequence of the entire jaguar mitogenome, which was the only panthera mitogenome that had not been sequenced. the jaguar mitogenome is 17,049 bases and possesses the same ...201625010076
predation may counteract climatic change as a driving force for movements of mountain ungulates.temperature variations are expected to influence altitudinal movements of mountain herbivores and, in turn, those of their predators, but relevant information is scarce. we evaluated monthly relationships between temperature and altitude used by a large mountain-dwelling herbivore, the himalayan tahr hemitragus jemlahicus, and its main predator, the snow leopard panthera uncia, in an area of central himalaya for five consecutive years (2006-2010). in contrast to expectations, there was no signif ...201627312822
combined dna, toxicological and heavy metal analyses provides an auditing toolkit to improve pharmacovigilance of traditional chinese medicine (tcm).globally, there has been an increase in the use of herbal remedies including traditional chinese medicine (tcm). there is a perception that products are natural, safe and effectively regulated, however, regulatory agencies are hampered by a lack of a toolkit to audit ingredient lists, adulterants and constituent active compounds. here, for the first time, a multidisciplinary approach to assessing the molecular content of 26 tcms is described. next generation dna sequencing is combined with toxic ...201526658160
face value: towards robust estimates of snow leopard densities.when densities of large carnivores fall below certain thresholds, dramatic ecological effects can follow, leading to oversimplified ecosystems. understanding the population status of such species remains a major challenge as they occur in low densities and their ranges are wide. this paper describes the use of non-invasive data collection techniques combined with recent spatial capture-recapture methods to estimate the density of snow leopards panthera uncia. it also investigates the influence o ...201526322682
discrimination factors of carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes from diet to hair and scat in captive tigers (panthera tigris) and snow leopards (uncia uncia).in order to use stable isotope ratio values obtained from wild animal tissues, we must accurately calculate the differences in isotope ratios between diet and consumer (δtissue - δdiet). these values, called trophic discrimination factors (tdfs, denoted with ∆), are necessary for stable isotope ecology studies and are best calculated in controlled environments.201526044274
species identification refined by molecular scatology in a community of sympatric carnivores in xinjiang, china.many ecological studies and conservation management plans employ noninvasive scat sampling based on the assumption that species' scats can be correctly identified in the field. however, in habitats with sympatric similarly sized carnivores, misidentification of scats is frequent and can lead to bias in research results. to address the scat identification dilemma, molecular scatology techniques have been developed to extract dna from the donor cells present on the outer lining of the scat samples ...201525855225
genetically based low oxygen affinities of felid hemoglobins: lack of biochemical adaptation to high-altitude hypoxia in the snow leopard.genetically based modifications of hemoglobin (hb) function that increase blood-o2 affinity are hallmarks of hypoxia adaptation in vertebrates. among mammals, felid hbs are unusual in that they have low intrinsic o2 affinities and reduced sensitivities to the allosteric cofactor 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (dpg). this combination of features compromises the acclimatization capacity of blood-o2 affinity and has led to the hypothesis that felids have a restricted physiological niche breadth relative to ...201526246610
hepatic lesions in 90 captive nondomestic felids presented for autopsy.hepatic lesions in nondomestic felids are poorly characterized. the purpose of this study was to evaluate hepatic lesions in 90 captive, nondomestic felids including tigers, cougars, and lions. hepatic lesions were histologically characterized as vacuolar change (lipidosis or glycogenosis), biliary cysts, biliary hyperplasia, hepatitis, necrosis, neoplasia, fibrosis, veno-occlusive disease, cholestasis, hematoma, congestion, or hemorrhage. stepwise logistic regression analyses were performed for ...201524788521
prevalence of valvular regurgitations in clinically healthy captive leopards and cheetahs: a prospective study from the wildlife cardiology (wlc) group (2008-2013).the purpose of this prospective study was to evaluate transthoracic echocardiograms from clinically healthy large felids for the presence of valvular regurgitations (vr). physiologic vr commonly occur in normal dogs and cats, but the percentage of large felids with vr has not been previously reported. during a 5-yr study period (2008-2013), 28 healthy animals were evaluated under general anesthesia: 16 cheetahs (acinonyx jubatus soemmeringuii) with a mean age of 1.5±0.8 yr (range 0.7-3.5 yr), 5 ...201526352956
bilateral lenticular encephalitozoon cuniculi infection in a snow leopard (panthera uncia).bilateral phacoclastic uveitis caused by lenticular infection with encephalitozoon cuniculi is described in a snow leopard. the diagnosis was made on histopathological and immunohistological examination of both eyes submitted after postmortem examination. there was a positive antibody titer for e. cuniculi (1:320). polymerase chain reaction (pcr) and sequence analysis of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded ocular tissue detected the dna of e. cuniculi, strain iii. no other systemic lesions attribu ...201525311355
foods, macronutrients and fibre in the diet of blue sheep (psuedois nayaur) in the annapurna conservation area of nepal.food resources are often critical regulating factors affecting individual fitness and population densities. in the himalayan mountains, bharal "blue sheep" (pseudois nayaur) are the main food resource for the endangered snow leopard (panthera uncia), as well as being preyed upon by other predators. blue sheep, however, may face a number of challenges including food resource competition with other wild and domestic ungulates, and hunting pressure. here, we characterized the diet of blue sheep in ...201526445655
analytical methods for chemical and sensory characterization of scent-markings in large wild mammals: a review.in conjoining the disciplines of "ethology" and "chemistry" the field of "ethochemistry" has been instituted. ethochemistry is an effective tool in conservation efforts of endangered species and the understanding of behavioral patterns across all species. chemical constituents of scent-markings have an important, yet poorly understood function in territoriality, reproduction, dominance, and impact on evolutionary biology, especially in large mammals. particular attention has recently been focuse ...201424603639
prey preferences of the snow leopard (panthera uncia): regional diet specificity holds global significance for conservation.the endangered snow leopard is a large felid that is distributed over 1.83 million km(2) globally. throughout its range it relies on a limited number of prey species in some of the most inhospitable landscapes on the planet where high rates of human persecution exist for both predator and prey. we reviewed 14 published and 11 unpublished studies pertaining to snow leopard diet throughout its range. we calculated prey consumption in terms of frequency of occurrence and biomass consumed based on 1 ...201424533080
multiscale factors affecting human attitudes toward snow leopards and wolves.the threat posed by large carnivores to livestock and humans makes peaceful coexistence between them difficult. effective implementation of conservation laws and policies depends on the attitudes of local residents toward the target species. there are many known correlates of human attitudes toward carnivores, but they have only been assessed at the scale of the individual. because human societies are organized hierarchically, attitudes are presumably influenced by different factors at different ...201425039397
blue sheep in the annapurna conservation area, nepal: habitat use, population biomass and their contribution to the carrying capacity of snow leopards.the himalaya region of nepal provides a habitat for the endangered snow leopard (panthera uncia) and its principal prey species, the blue sheep (pseudois nayaur). the aim of this study was to describe the habitat, the distribution and the population structure of blue sheep, and to estimate their contribution to the carrying capacity of snow leopard in the upper mustang region of nepal. blue sheep were recorded at altitudes from 3209-5498 m on slopes with gradients of 16-60° and aspects of 40°ne ...201424447660
personality structure in the domestic cat (felis silvestris catus), scottish wildcat (felis silvestris grampia), clouded leopard (neofelis nebulosa), snow leopard (panthera uncia), and african lion (panthera leo): a comparative study.although the study of nonhuman personality has increased in the last decade, there are still few studies on felid species, and the majority focus on domestic cats. we assessed the structure of personality and its reliability in five felids-domestic cats, clouded leopards, snow leopards, african lions, and previous data on scottish wildcats-and compared the results. in addition to the benefits of understanding more about this taxon, comparative studies of personality structure have the potential ...201425111629
panel of polymorphic heterologous microsatellite loci to genotype critically endangered bengal tiger: a pilot study.in india, six landscapes and source populations that are important for long-term conservation of bengal tigers (panthera tigris tigris) have been identified. except for a few studies, nothing is known regarding the genetic structure and extent of gene flow among most of the tiger populations across india as the majority of them are small, fragmented and isolated. thus, individual-based relationships are required to understand the species ecology and biology for planning effective conservation an ...201424455462
fecal endocrine monitoring of reproduction in female snow leopards (uncia uncia).although the snow leopard (uncia uncia) is a common endangered felid species in zoos, little is known about the complex endocrine interactions controlling ovarian function and conception in this species. the goal of this work was to characterize ovarian activity throughout the estrous cycle, nonpregnant luteal phase (pseudopregnancy), and gestation in female snow leopards. this goal was accomplished using an enzyme immunoassay to measure fecal concentrations of estrogen metabolites (e) and proge ...201424681212
role of tibetan buddhist monasteries in snow leopard conservation.the snow leopard (panthera uncia) inhabits the rugged mountains in 12 countries of central asia, including the tibetan plateau. due to poaching, decreased abundance of prey, and habitat degradation, it was listed as endangered by the international union for conservation of nature in 1972. current conservation strategies, including nature reserves and incentive programs, have limited capacities to protect snow leopards. we investigated the role of tibetan buddhist monasteries in snow leopard cons ...201423992599
himalayan fossils of the oldest known pantherine establish ancient origin of big cats.pantherine felids ('big cats') include the largest living cats, apex predators in their respective ecosystems. they are also the earliest diverging living cat lineage, and thus are important for understanding the evolution of all subsequent felid groups. although the oldest pantherine fossils occur in africa, molecular phylogenies point to asia as their region of origin. this paradox cannot be reconciled using current knowledge, mainly because early big cat fossils are exceedingly rare and fragm ...201424225466
vigorous dynamics underlie a stable population of the endangered snow leopard panthera uncia in tost mountains, south gobi, mongolia.population monitoring programmes and estimation of vital rates are key to understanding the mechanisms of population growth, decline or stability, and are important for effective conservation action. we report, for the first time, the population trends and vital rates of the endangered snow leopard based on camera trapping over four years in the tost mountains, south gobi, mongolia. we used robust design multi-season mark-recapture analysis to estimate the trends in abundance, sex ratio, surviva ...201425006879
anterior segment dysgenesis (peters' anomaly) in two snow leopard (panthera uncia) cubs.two sibling snow leopards, a male and a female, with bilateral anterior segment dysgenesis (asd), are reported. both snow leopards also had colobomas of both upper eyelids. all eyes exhibited a central corneal opacity associated with a defect in posterior corneal stroma, endothelium and descemet's membrane. iris strands were present attached to the termination of descemet's membrane and to the periphery of the posterior corneal defect. the iris was hypoplastic, and cataract was present in all fo ...201323217015
the tiger genome and comparative analysis with lion and snow leopard genomes.tigers and their close relatives (panthera) are some of the world's most endangered species. here we report the de novo assembly of an amur tiger whole-genome sequence as well as the genomic sequences of a white bengal tiger, african lion, white african lion and snow leopard. through comparative genetic analyses of these genomes, we find genetic signatures that may reflect molecular adaptations consistent with the big cats' hypercarnivorous diet and muscle strength. we report a snow leopard-spec ...201324045858
benign gastric neuroendocrine tumors in three snow leopards (panthera uncia).neuroendocrine tumors are relatively rare neoplasms arising from neuroendocrine cells that are distributed throughout the body and are predominant in the gastrointestinal tract. this report describes benign, well-differentiated gastric neuroendocrine tumors in three captive snow leopards (panthera uncia). all tumors were well circumscribed, were within the gastric mucosa or submucosa, and had histologic and immunohistochemical features of neuroendocrine tumors. histologic features included packe ...201323805563
reversible immobilization of free-ranging snow leopards (panthera uncia) with a combination of medetomidine and tiletamine-zolazepam.conservation and research of the elusive snow leopard (panthera uncia) have been hampered by inadequate knowledge about its basic life history. global positioning system (gps) collars can provide useful information, but there has been limited information available on safe capture methods, drug doses, and efficacy for effective immobilization of free-ranging snow leopards. we describe a drug protocol using a combination of medetomidine and tiletamine-zolazepam for the chemical immobilization of f ...201323568909
subtype distribution of blastocystis isolates from a variety of animals from new south wales, australia.a total of 438 stool samples from 38 different species of animal from seven different locations were studied for the presence of blastocystis. pcr analysis was completed on all samples and dna sequence data from the rdna were submitted to subtype allocation. there was a total of 80 (18%) sequences from 18 species, and nine different subtypes were identified - st1, st2, st3, st4, st5, st7, st11, st12 and st13. this is the first report of blastocystis from the eastern grey kangaroo, red kangaroo, ...201323398989
nanog is an essential factor for induction of pluripotency in somatic cells from endangered felids.nanog has an important role in pluripotency induction in bovines and snow leopards. to examine whether it was required for wild felids globally, we examined the induction of pluripotency in felids from asia (bengal tiger, panthera tigris), africa (serval, leptailurus serval), and the americas (jaguar, panthera onca). dermal fibroblasts were transduced with genes encoding the human transcription factors oct4, sox2, klf4, and cmyc with or without nanog. both four- and five-factor induction resulte ...201323514873
globalization of the cashmere market and the decline of large mammals in central asia.as drivers of terrestrial ecosystems, humans have replaced large carnivores in most areas, and human influence not only exerts striking ecological pressures on biodiversity at local scales but also has indirect effects in distant corners of the world. we suggest that the multibillion dollar cashmere industry creates economic motivations that link western fashion preferences for cashmere to land use in central asia. this penchant for stylish clothing, in turn, encourages herders to increase lives ...201323866036
standardizing the double-observer survey method for estimating mountain ungulate prey of the endangered snow leopard.mountain ungulates around the world have been threatened by illegal hunting, habitat modification, increased livestock grazing, disease and development. mountain ungulates play an important functional role in grasslands as primary consumers and as prey for wild carnivores, and monitoring of their populations is important for conservation purposes. however, most of the several currently available methods of estimating wild ungulate abundance are either difficult to implement or too expensive for ...201222231373
purulent meningoventriculitis caused by streptococcus equi subspecies zooepidemicus in a snow leopard (panthera uncia).streptococcus equi subspecies zooepidemicus (sez) is a zoonotic pathogen that causes respiratory tract infections in man and animals. sez infections are very rare in felids. this report describes purulent meningoventriculitis caused by sez in an approximately 16-year-old male snow leopard (panthera uncia). the animal exhibited neurological signs and died 1 month after their onset. on necropsy examination, the surface blood vessels of the brain were swollen and there was an increased volume and t ...201222516084
[multiple ocular coloboma (moc) with persistent pupillary membrane in the snow leopard (panthera uncia)].in a litter of three snow leopards, bilateral colobomata of the upper temporal eyelids, bilateral persistent pupillary membranes and a unilateral coloboma of the optic nerve entrance are described as "multiple ocular colobomata" (moc). the causal pathogenesis of each of the colobomata is discussed comparatively. the colobomata of the eyelids, essential feature of the moc syndrome in snow leopards, are most probably not of hereditary, but rather of intrauterine infectious viral origin.20123368914
Inducing pluripotency in somatic cells from the snow leopard (Panthera uncia), an endangered felid.Induced pluripotency is a new approach to produce embryonic stem-like cells from somatic cells that provides a unique means to understand both pluripotency and lineage assignment. To investigate whether this technology could be applied to endangered species, where the limited availability of gametes makes production and research on embryonic stem cells difficult, we attempted generation of induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells from snow leopard (Panthera uncia) fibroblasts by retroviral transfect ...201222079579
prey preference of snow leopard (panthera uncia) in south gobi, mongolia.accurate information about the diet of large carnivores that are elusive and inhabit inaccessible terrain, is required to properly design conservation strategies. predation on livestock and retaliatory killing of predators have become serious issues throughout the range of the snow leopard. several feeding ecology studies of snow leopards have been conducted using classical approaches. these techniques have inherent limitations in their ability to properly identify both snow leopard feces and pr ...201222393381
characterization of extraintestinal pathogenic escherichia coli isolated from captive wild felids with bacteremia.diseases caused by extraintestinal pathogenic escherichia coli (expec) in wild felids are rarely reported. although urinary tract infections are infrequently reported in domestic cats, such infections when present are commonly caused by expec. the present work characterized expec strains isolated from 2 adult felines, a snow leopard (panthera uncia) and a black leopard (panthera pardus melas), that died from secondary bacteremia associated with urinary tract infections. isolates from both animal ...201222826042
personality assessment in snow leopards (uncia uncia).knowledge of individual personality is a useful tool in animal husbandry and can be used effectively to improve welfare. this study assessed personality in snow leopards (uncia uncia) by examining their reactions to six novel objects and comparing them to personality assessments based on a survey completed by zookeepers. the objectives were to determine whether these methods could detect differences in personality, including age and sex differences, and to assess whether the two methods yielded ...201221455952
stifle osteochondritis dissecans in snow leopards (uncia uncia).three snow leopard (uncia uncia) cubs, female and male siblings and an unrelated female, had lameness attributed to osteochondritis dissecans (ocd) lesions noted at 6, 8, and 10 mo of age, respectively. all cubs were diagnosed with ocd via radiographs. the sibling cubs both had lesions of the right lateral femoral condyles, while the unrelated cub had bilateral lesions of the lateral femoral condyles. subsequently, ocd was confirmed in all three cases during surgical correction of the lateral fe ...201222779240
long-term monitoring of fecal steroid hormones in female snow leopards (panthera uncia) during pregnancy or pseudopregnancy.knowledge of the basic reproductive physiology of snow leopards is required urgently in order to develop a suitable management conditions under captivity. in this study, the long-term monitoring of concentrations of three steroid hormones in fecal matter of three female snow leopards was performed using enzyme immunoassays: (1) estradiol-17β, (2) progesterone and (3) cortisol metabolite. two of the female animals were housed with a male during the winter breeding season, and copulated around the ...201121559303
development of a pcr assay to detect papillomavirus infection in the snow leopard.papillomaviruses (pvs) are a group of small, non-encapsulated, species-specific dna viruses that have been detected in a variety of mammalian and avian species including humans, canines and felines. pvs cause lesions in the skin and mucous membranes of the host and after persistent infection, a subset of pvs can cause tumors such as cervical malignancies and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma in humans. pvs from several species have been isolated and their genomes have been sequenced, thereby ...201121767399
noninvasive genetic population survey of snow leopards (panthera uncia) in kangchenjunga conservation area, shey phoksundo national park and surrounding buffer zones of nepal.the endangered snow leopard is found throughout major mountain ranges of central asia, including the remote himalayas. however, because of their elusive behavior, sparse distribution, and poor access to their habitat, there is a lack of reliable information on their population status and demography, particularly in nepal. therefore, we utilized noninvasive genetic techniques to conduct a preliminary snow leopard survey in two protected areas of nepal.201122117538
clinical challenge. diskospondylitis of l6-l7 in a snow leopard cub (uncia uncia). 201122204083
big cat phylogenies, consensus trees, and computational thinking.abstract phylogenetics seeks to deduce the pattern of relatedness between organisms by using a phylogeny or evolutionary tree. for a given set of organisms or taxa, there may be many evolutionary trees depicting how these organisms evolved from a common ancestor. as a result, consensus trees are a popular approach for summarizing the shared evolutionary relationships in a group of trees. we examine these consensus techniques by studying how the pantherine lineage of cats (clouded leopard, jaguar ...201121563975
mitogenomic analysis of the genus panthera.the complete sequences of the mitochondrial dna genomes of panthera tigris, panthera pardus, and panthera uncia were determined using the polymerase chain reaction method. the lengths of the complete mitochondrial dna sequences of the three species were 16990, 16964, and 16773 bp, respectively. each of the three mitochondrial dna genomes included 13 protein-coding genes, 22 trna, two rrna, one o(l)r, and one control region. the structures of the genomes were highly similar to those of felis catu ...201122038004
supermatrix and species tree methods resolve phylogenetic relationships within the big cats, panthera (carnivora: felidae).the pantherine lineage of cats diverged from the remainder of modern felidae less than 11 million years ago and consists of the five big cats of the genus panthera, the lion, tiger, jaguar, leopard, and snow leopard, as well as the closely related clouded leopard. a significant problem exists with respect to the precise phylogeny of these highly threatened great cats. despite multiple publications on the subject, no two molecular studies have reconstructed panthera with the same topology. these ...201020138224
renal lesions of nondomestic felids.to comprehensively evaluate the occurrence of renal lesions in a variety of nondomestic felids, necropsy cases from 1978 to 2008 were reviewed from a municipal zoo and a large cat sanctuary for those in which the kidneys were examined histologically. seventy exotic felids were identified (25 tigers, 18 lions, 6 cougars, 5 leopards, 3 snow leopards, 3 clouded leopards, 3 canadian lynx, 2 ocelots, 2 bobcats, 2 cheetahs, 1 jaguar), and their histologic renal lesions were evaluated and compared. the ...201020876911
female reproductive cycles of wild female felids.many felid species are endangered because of destructive human activities. as a result, zoos are being tasked with sustaining genetically healthy populations in case of catastrophic extinctions. unfortunately, with the exception of a few species, most felids do not reproduce well in captivity. the ability to track reproductive activity via hormones is key to developing successful ex situ breeding programs. through the development of noninvasive fecal hormone monitoring techniques, a high degree ...201020888156
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