| phylogenetic reconstruction of south american felids defined by protein electrophoresis. | phylogenetic associations among six closely related south american felid species were defined by changes in protein-encoding gene loci. we analyzed proteins isolated from skin fibroblasts using two-dimensional electrophoresis and allozymes extracted from blood cells. genotypes were determined for multiple individuals of ocelot, margay, tigrina, geoffroy's cat, kodkod, and pampas cat at 548 loci resolved by two-dimensional electrophoresis and 44 allozyme loci. phenograms were constructed using th ... | 1994 | 7932791 |
| molecular phylogeny of mitochondrial cytochrome b and 12s rrna sequences in the felidae: ocelot and domestic cat lineages. | molecular phylogeny of the cat family felidae is derived using two mitochondrial genes, cytochrome b and 12s rrna. phylogenetic methods of weighted maximum parsimony and minimum evolution estimated by neighbor-joining are employed to reconstruct topologies among 20 extant felid species. sequence analyses of 363 bp of cytochrome b and 376 bp of the 12s rrna genes yielded average pair-wise similarity values between felids ranging from 94 to 99% and from 85 to 99%, respectively. phylogenetic recons ... | 1996 | 8975691 |
| disparate phylogeographic patterns of molecular genetic variation in four closely related south american small cat species. | tissue specimens from four species of neotropical small cats (oncifelis geoffroyi, n = 38; o. guigna, n = 6; leopardus tigrinus, n = 32; lynchailurus colocolo, n = 22) collected from throughout their distribution were examined for patterns of dna sequence variation using three mitochondrial genes, 16s rrna, atp8, and nadh-5. patterns between and among o. guigna and o. geoffroyi individuals were assessed further from size variation at 20 microsatellite loci. phylogenetic analyses using mitochondr ... | 1999 | 10703553 |
| seroprevalence of toxoplasma gondii in captive neotropical felids from brazil. | seroprevalence of toxoplasma gondii was determined in 865 captive neotropical felids from 20 states from brazil, sampled from september 1995 to april 1997. sera were tested by the modified agglutination test (mat) using formalin-fixed whole tachyzoites and mercaptoethanol. antibodies (mat> or =1:20) to t. gondii were found in 472 of 865 (54.6%) cats: in 45 of 99 (45.9%) jaguarundis (herpailurus yagouaroundi), in 97 of 168 (57.7%) ocelots (leopardus pardalis), in 68 of 131 (51.9%) oncillas (l. ti ... | 2001 | 11777601 |
| ticks (acari: ixodida) on wild carnivores in brazil. | the present study reports field data of ticks infesting wild carnivores captured from july 1998 to september 2004 in brazil. additional data were obtained from one tick collection and from previous published data of ticks on carnivores in brazil. during field work, a total of 3437 ticks were collected from 89 cerdocyon thous (crab-eating fox), 58 chrysocyon brachyurus (maned wolf), 30 puma concolor (puma), 26 panthera onca (jaguar), 12 procyon cancrivorus (crab-eating raccoon), 4 speothos venati ... | 2005 | 16082932 |
| potential existence of a sylvatic cycle of taenia ovis krabbei in patagonia, argentina. | red deer (cervus elaphus) were introduced in southern latin america about a century ago and characteristics of the invasion raise concerns over their epidemiological role for various diseases. we report on the possible occurrence of taenia ovis krabbei established in a sylvatic cycle in patagonia. hook characters, size, appearance, and location of a cysticercus from a wild red deer are consistent with taenia ovis ovis or t. o. krabbei. although it is not possible to differentiate between t. o. o ... | 2006 | 16289565 |
| isolation of malassezia spp. from cerumen of wild felids. | the objective of this study was to determine the presence of different species of the genus malassezia in the healthy external auditory canal of wild felids maintained in captivity. one hundred and thirty-two adult animals (264 samples of cerumen), 77 males (58.3%) and 55 females (41.7%), were studied: large felids (55 animals) - 26 lions (panthera leo), 13 tigers (panthera tigris), 6 leopards (panthera pardus), 6 jaguars (panthera onca), 2 cheetahs (acinonyx jubatus), 2 pumas (puma concolor); s ... | 2006 | 16772235 |
| risk factors associated with sero-positivity to toxoplasma gondii in captive neotropical felids from brazil. | from september 1995 to february 2001, blood samples were collected from 865 neotropical felids belonging to 8 different species. these animals were housed in 86 institutions located in 78 cities of 20 brazilian states. our goal was to identify the risk factors associated with sero-positivity to toxoplasma gondii in captive neotropical felids from brazil. all serum samples were tested by the modified agglutination test (mat), using formalin-fixed whole tachyzoites and mercaptoethanol. for each an ... | 2007 | 17140683 |
| ecological and biogeographical inferences on two sympatric and enigmatic andean cat species using genetic identification of faecal samples. | the carnivore community of the altiplano ecosystem of the high andes, including the andean mountain cat (leopardus jacobita) and pampas cat (leopardus colocolo), is one of the least studied in the world. we determined the origin of 186 carnivore samples (184 faeces and two skulls) collected above 3000 m above sea level in northern chile, including 33 from the andean mountain cat and 75 from the pampas cat using diagnostic molecular genetic sequence variation. we determined for the first time foo ... | 2008 | 18205675 |
| inter-species hybridization among neotropical cats of the genus leopardus, and evidence for an introgressive hybrid zone between l. geoffroyi and l. tigrinus in southern brazil. | natural hybrid zones between distinct species have been reported for many taxa, but so far, few examples involve carnivores or neotropical mammals in general. in this study, we employed mitochondrial dna (mtdna) sequences and nine microsatellite loci to identify and characterize a hybrid zone between two neotropical felids, leopardus geoffroyi and l. tigrinus, both of which are well-established species having diverged from each other c. 1 million years ago. these two felids are mostly allopatric ... | 2008 | 18785898 |
| molecular detection of cytauxzoon spp. in asymptomatic brazilian wild captive felids. | cytauxzoon spp. dna was detected for the first time in blood samples from asymptomatic brazilian wild captive felids. in 2006, 72 edta blood samples from seven wild felids species: puma concolor (puma), leopardus pardalis (ocelot), puma yagouaroundi (jaguarundi), leopardus wiedii (margay), leopardus tigrinus (little spotted cat), oncifelis colocolo (pampas cat) and panthera onca (jaguar) were analyzed using polymerase chain reaction to amplify the 18s rrna gene segment in order to verify the pre ... | 2009 | 19204356 |
| influence of ancient glacial periods on the andean fauna: the case of the pampas cat (leopardus colocolo). | while numerous studies revealed the major role of environmental changes of the quaternary on the evolution of biodiversity, research on the influence of that period on current south-american fauna is scarce and have usually focused on lowland regions. in this study, the genetic structure of the pampas cat (leopardus colocolo), a widely distributed felid, was determined and linked to ancient climate fluctuations on the andean region. | 2009 | 19331650 |
| spatially explicit inference for open populations: estimating demographic parameters from camera-trap studies. | we develop a hierarchical capture-recapture model for demographically open populations when auxiliary spatial information about location of capture is obtained. such spatial capture-recapture data arise from studies based on camera trapping, dna sampling, and other situations in which a spatial array of devices records encounters of unique individuals. we integrate an individual-based formulation of a jolly-seber type model with recently developed spatially explicit capture-recapture models to e ... | 2010 | 21141198 |
| dna extraction from hair shafts of wild brazilian felids and canids. | wild felids and canids are usually the main predators in the food chains where they dwell and are almost invisible to behavior and ecology researchers. due to their grooming behavior, they tend to swallow shed hair, which shows up in the feces. dna found in hair shafts can be used in molecular studies that can unravel, for instance, genetic variability, reproductive mode and family structure, and in some species, it is even possible to estimate migration and dispersion rates in given populations ... | 2010 | 21174262 |
| mesocestoides sp. (eucestoda, mesocestoididae) parasitizing four species of wild felines in southern brazil. | leopardus colocolo, leopardus geoffroyi, leopardus tigrinus and puma yagouaroundi are wild feline species endangered mainly due to habitat destruction and vehicle run overs. seventeen felines hit on the roads were collected in southern brazil and examined for parasites. cestodes were identified as mesocestoides sp. the parasites were found in the small intestine of the hosts with a prevalence of 66.7% (l. colocolo and l. tigrinus), 60% (p. yagouaroundi) and 50% (l. geoffroyi). rodents and lizard ... | 2011 | 21722494 |
| multiparasitism in a wild cat (leopardus colocolo) (carnivora: felidae) in southern brazil. | parasitic diseases reflect the health and balance of ecosystems, affecting not only individuals but also entire populations or communities. the aim of this study was to report on the diversity of parasitic helminths detected in the feces of a wild feline in southern brazil. parasites were obtained from fecal samples, and four techniques were used for parasitological examination: direct examination, centrifugal flotation with zinc sulfate (faust technique), simple sedimentation (hoffman technique ... | 2016 | 27580395 |
| molecular and serological detection of babesia spp. in neotropical and exotic carnivores in brazilian zoos. | large and small piroplasms have been observed in the blood smears of various wild carnivores, but few studies utilizing molecular characterization have been done. the goal of this present study was to investigate the presence of babesia sp. by molecular and serologic techniques in exotic and neotropical carnivores maintained in captivity at brazilian zoos. blood and sera samples were collected from 146 brazilian wild felids, 21 exotic felids, 1 genet (genetta tigrina), 3 european wolves (canis l ... | 2011 | 22946386 |
| exposure of free-ranging wild carnivores and domestic dogs to canine distemper virus and parvovirus in the cerrado of central brazil. | human population growth around protected areas increases the contact between wild and domestic animals, promoting disease transmission between them. this study investigates the exposure of free-ranging wild carnivores and domestic dogs to canine distemper virus (cdv) and parvovirus in emas national park (enp) in the cerrado savanna of central brazil. serum samples were collected from 169 wild carnivores, including the maned wolf (chrysocyon brachyurus), crab-eating fox (cerdocyon thous), hoary f ... | 2016 | 27469023 |
| molecular and morphologic characterization of sarcocystis felis (apicomplexa: sarcocystidae) in south american wild felids from brazil. | wild felids are thought to share parasites with domestic cats. however, little is known of the coccidian parasites of wild felids. we investigated the presence of sarcocystis spp. in tissues of 6 species of 90 neotropical small felids killed in road accidents in the state of rio grande do sul, brazil by using microscopic and molecular techniques. formalin-fixed tissues from 28 felids were examined, and sarcocystis felis-like sarcocysts were detected in 4 wild cats (2 puma yagouaroundi and 2 leop ... | 2016 | 26827854 |
| toxoplasma gondii in free-ranging wild small felids from brazil: molecular detection and genotypic characterization. | brazil harbors the largest number of wild neotropical felid species, with ten of the twelve species recorded in the american continent. although these animals are considered to be definitive hosts for toxoplasma gondii, there are few descriptions of the parasite in these species. here, we performed a molecular detection of t. gondii by amplification of the marker its-1 from tissue samples obtained from 90 free-ranging wild small neotropical felids from rio grande do sul - brazil. of the sampled ... | 2013 | 23932730 |
| medium- and large-sized mammals in a steppic savanna area of the brazilian pampa: survey and conservation issues of a poorly known fauna. | the wildlife of the brazilian pampa is threatened by large-scale habitat loss, due in particular to the expansion of soybean cultivation and the conversion of grasslands areas into extensive areas of silviculture. it is essential to study how the mammal fauna copes with the highly fragmented, human-influenced, non-protected landscape. our study presents the results of a survey of the large- and medium-sized mammals of a typical human-influenced steppic savanna area of the pampa biome. the survey ... | 2016 | 26909626 |
| medium- and large-sized mammals in a steppic savanna area of the brazilian pampa: survey and conservation issues of a poorly known fauna. | the wildlife of the brazilian pampa is threatened by large-scale habitat loss, due in particular to the expansion of soybean cultivation and the conversion of grasslands areas into extensive areas of silviculture. it is essential to study how the mammal fauna copes with the highly fragmented, human-influenced, non-protected landscape. our study presents the results of a survey of the large- and medium-sized mammals of a typical human-influenced steppic savanna area of the pampa biome. the survey ... | 2016 | 26840582 |
| molecular data reveal complex hybridization and a cryptic species of neotropical wild cat. | hybridization among animal species has recently become more recognized as an important phenomenon, especially in the context of recent radiations. here we show that complex hybridization has led to contrasting patterns of genomic composition among closely related species of the neotropical cat genus leopardus. we show strong evidence of ancient hybridization and introgression between the pampas cat (l. colocolo) and northeastern populations of tigrina (l. tigrinus), leading to remarkable cytonuc ... | 2013 | 24291091 |
| comparing hair-morphology and molecular methods to identify fecal samples from neotropical felids. | to avoid certain problems encountered with more-traditional and invasive methods in behavioral-ecology studies of mammalian predators, such as felids, molecular approaches have been employed to identify feces found in the field. however, this method requires a complete molecular biology laboratory, and usually also requires very fresh fecal samples to avoid dna degradation. both conditions are normally absent in the field. to address these difficulties, identification based on morphological char ... | 2017 | 28880947 |
| daily rhythmicity of behavior of nine species of south american feral felids in captivity. | the authors analyzed the daily activity rhythms of the domestic cat and of eight of the ten feral felid species that are indigenous to south america. all species showed daily rhythmicity of activity in captivity under a natural light-dark cycle. the robustness of the rhythmicity varied from species to species, but the grand mean of 34% was within the range of robustness previously described for mammalian species ranging in size from mice to cattle. there was not a sharp division between diurnal ... | 2017 | 28842189 |
| recurrent evolution of melanism in south american felids. | morphological variation in natural populations is a genomic test bed for studying the interface between molecular evolution and population genetics, but some of the most interesting questions involve non-model organisms that lack well annotated reference genomes. many felid species exhibit polymorphism for melanism but the relative roles played by genetic drift, natural selection, and interspecies hybridization remain uncertain. we identify mutations of agouti signaling protein (asip) or the mel ... | 2015 | 25695801 |
| philodryas chamissonis (reptilia: squamata: colubridae) preys on the arboreal marsupial dromiciops gliroides (mammalia: microbiotheria: microbiotheriidae). | philodryas chamissonis, the chilean long-tailed snake, is a diurnal predator mainly of liolaemus lizards, but also of amphibians, birds, rodents and juvenile rabbits. dromiciops gliroides (colocolo opossum) is an arboreal marsupial endemic of temperate rainforest of southern south america. little information is available about this marsupial's biology and ecology. here we report the predation of one colocolo opossum by an adult female p. chamissonis in a mixed nothofagus forest, composed mainly ... | 2013 | 23644784 |
| trophic ecology of sympatric small cats in the brazilian pampa. | information about resource partitioning among small cat species that live in sympatry in south america is fairly incomplete. knowledge about feeding habits is essential for understanding the role of these predators in the environment, the impact on prey populations, and potential competition among themselves and with other carnivores. this study aimed to describe and compare the diet of four sympatric small cats in the grasslands of southern brazil. we analysed the stomach contents of 37 geoffro ... | 2018 | 30052676 |
| cellular characterization and effects of cryoprotectant solutions on the viability of fibroblasts from three brazilian wild cats. | preserving genetic material in cryogenic conditions presents a viable alternative for the protection of species' gene variability. however, there is an enormous need to establish and test cryopreservation protocols that are suitable for each diverse cell type to guarantee technical success in the long run. considering this, fibroblasts from jaguar (panthera onca), oncilla (leopardus tigrinus), and pampas cat (leopardus colocolo) were subjected to cell characterization and then cryopreservation i ... | 2020 | 33035068 |
| phylogeographic analyses of the pampas cat (leopardus colocola; carnivora, felidae) reveal a complex demographic history. | the pampas cat is a small felid that occurs in open habitats throughout much of south america. previous studies have revealed intriguing patterns of morphological differentiation and genetic structure among its populations, as well as molecular evidence for hybridization with the closely related l. tigrinus. here we report phylogeographic analyses encompassing most of its distribution (focusing particularly on brazilian specimens, which had been poorly sampled in previous studies), using a novel ... | 2018 | 29668017 |