Evidence of a fine-scale genetic structure for the endangered Pyrenean desman (Galemys pyrenaicus) in the French Pyrenees

Times Cited: 0Gillet, F. Garrido, M. T. Cabria Blanc, F. Fournier-Chambrillon, C. Nemoz, M. Sourp, E. Vial-Novella, C. Zardoya, R. Aulagnier, S. Michaux, J. R.Conservatoire d'Espaces Naturels de Midi-Pyrenees (CEN-MP) [LIFE13NAT/FR/000092]; European Union Funding Network (ERDF); European Union Funding Network (LIFE+); Agence de l'eau Adour-Garonne; Agence de l'eau Rhone-Mediterranee-Corse; DREAL Aquitaine, Midi-Pyrenees, and Languedoc-Roussillon; Conseil Regional Aquitaine, Midi-Pyrenees and Languedoc-Roussillon; Conseil General des Pyrenees-Atlantiques, de l'Aude et des Pyrenees-Orientales; EDF; SHEM; Patagonia; Parc National des Pyrenees; ANRT (Association Nationale de la Recherche et de la Technologie); ANRT (CIFRE) [2011/1571]We thank the following people who collected tissue samples: EDF agents, Pyrenees National Park agents, M. Bayon, A. Bertrand, J.-P. Besson, J.-P. Quere, A. Charbonnel, F. Elzear, L. Fabre, P. Fantin, B. Le Roux, V. Lacaze, M. Lagardere, F. Lasserre, B. Le Corre, M. Mas, P. Maunas, G. Nogue, F. Prud'Homme, T. Quintilla, B. Salmeron, T. Tico, S. Torreilles, and S. Vernet. We also thank representatives of the following organizations who collected feces samples: Association des Naturalistes de l'Ariege, Conservatoire d'Espaces Naturels d'Aquitaine, Conservatoire d'Espaces Naturels de Midi-Pyrenees, Federation Aude Claire, Federation des Reserves Naturelles Catalanes, Groupe de Recherche et d'Etude pour la Gestion de l'Environnement, Office National de la Chasse et de la Faune Sauvage, Office National des Forets, and Parc National des Pyrenees. This study is part of the "Plan National d'Actions en faveur du Desman des Pyrenees" and the LIFE+ Desman project (LIFE13NAT/FR/000092) which are coordinated by the Conservatoire d'Espaces Naturels de Midi-Pyrenees (CEN-MP) and financially supported by the following structures: European Union Funding Network (ERDF and LIFE+), Agence de l'eau Adour-Garonne, Agence de l'eau Rhone-Mediterranee-Corse, DREAL Aquitaine, Midi-Pyrenees, and Languedoc-Roussillon, Conseil Regional Aquitaine, Midi-Pyrenees and Languedoc-Roussillon, Conseil General des Pyrenees-Atlantiques, de l'Aude et des Pyrenees-Orientales, EDF, SHEM, Patagonia, Parc National des Pyrenees, and ANRT (Association Nationale de la Recherche et de la Technologie). FG is supported by a French research fellowship provided by ANRT (CIFRE No 2011/1571).01545-1542The Pyrenean desman (Galemys pyrenaicus) is a small, semiaquatic mammal endemic to the Pyrenean Mountains and the northern half of the Iberian Peninsula where it lives in cold and well-oxygenated flowing mountain streams. This species is currently classified as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and has been undergoing habitat loss and fragmentation for decades, inevitably impacting its distribution. A recent genetic study, based on mitochondrial and intronic sequences, showed that the genetic variability of the Pyrenean desman is very low in the Pyrenees. In this study, we investigated the potential existence of genetic structure and gene flow at a smaller scale using 24 polymorphic microsatellite loci. As the Pyrenean desman is a very elusive species, we supplemented our tissue sample collection with samples of feces collected in the French range of this species. We successfully identified 70 individuals based on 355 fecal samples. Bayesian analyses revealed 3 genetic and geographic clusters (1 eastern, 1 central, and 1 western, including 3 genetic subclusters), with origins tracing back only 200 years. These clusters were characterized by low levels of genetic diversity and high inbreeding coefficients. Although gene flow among clusters appeared to be limited, populations seem to have exchanged alleles recently. Therefore, connectivity between watersheds should be enhanced to maintain genetic diversity and potentially improve the long-term survival of the Pyrenean desman in France

Asymptomatic

Protozoan parasites of the Cryptosporidium genus cause severe cryptosporidiosis in newborn lambs. However, asymptomatic infections also occur frequently in lambs and ewes. In sheep, the most commonly detected Cryptosporidium species are C. ubiquitum, C. xiaoi and C. parvum. Due to a lack of relevant information about such infections in France, we investigated the situation on five dairy sheep farms in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques Department in south-western France in December 2017. Individual fecal samples were collected from 79 female lambs (5–17 days old) and their mothers (72 ewes). Oocysts were screened using Heine staining before and after Bailenger concentrations. Cryptosporidium species identification and genotyping were performed using real-time PCR and gp60 gene sequencing. No cases of clinical cryptosporidiosis were observed in the 79 lambs. Microscopically, Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts were observed in only one lamb on one farm (prevalence 1.3%) and one ewe on another farm (prevalence 1.4%). By contrast, Cryptosporidium spp. DNA was detected in 17 ewes (prevalence ranging from 10.5% to 50% depending on the farm) and in 36 lambs (prevalence ranging from 0% to 77.8% depending on the farm). Only zoonotic Cryptosporidium parvum IId and IIa genotypes were identified when genotyping was possible. Cryptosporidium ubiquitum and C. xiaoi were detected on one and three farms, respectively. We conclude that healthy young lambs and their mothers during the peripartum period could be a source of environmental contamination with oocysts

Vrnili smo se z dopusta

International audienceThe Pyrenean desman is a vulnerable mammal species endemic to Pyrenees and the northern Iberian Peninsula. The presence of this elusive species can he most easily detected by sampling its faeces. However, these faecal samples can be confused with those of other vertebrate species living in the same habitats. This study provides two easy and reliable methods tor the identification of the Pyrenean desman faeces based on genetic analyses. The first one consists of a nested PCR and sequencing of a mitochondrial cytochrome b fragment, and the second one is an enzymatic digestion with endonucleases AluI and Sau3AI. The restriction patterns given by the two enzymes were found suitable for the successful discrimination of the Pyrenean desman from the other species based on species-specific sequence variations

Unfavorable genetic correlations between fecal egg count and milk production traits in the French blond-faced Manech dairy sheep breed

International audienceBackgroundGenetic selection has proven to be a successful strategy for the sustainable control of gastrointestinal parasitism in sheep. However, little is known on the relationship between resistance to parasites and production traits in dairy breeds. In this study, we estimated the heritabilities and genetic correlations for resistance to parasites and milk production traits in the blond-faced Manech breed. The resistance to parasites of 951 rams from the selection scheme was measured through fecal egg counts (FEC) at 30 days post-infection under experimental conditions. Six milk production traits [milk yield (MY), fat yield (FY), protein yield (PY), fat content (FC), protein content (PC) and somatic cell score (LSCS)], were used in this study and were collected on 140,127 dairy ewes in first lactation, as part of the official milk recording. These ewes were related to the 951 rams (65% of the ewes were daughters of the rams).ResultsFecal egg counts at the end of the first and second infections were moderately heritable (0.19 and 0.37, respectively) and highly correlated (0.93). Heritabilities were moderate for milk yields (ranging from 0.24 to 0.29 for MY, FY and PY) and high for FC (0.35) and PC (0.48). MY was negatively correlated with FC and PC (− 0.39 and − 0.45, respectively). FEC at the end of the second infection were positively correlated with MY, FY and PY (0.28, 0.29 and 0.24, respectively with standard errors of ~ 0.10). These slightly unfavorable correlations indicate that the animals with a high production potential are genetically more susceptible to gastrointestinal parasite infections. A low negative correlation (− 0.17) was also found between FEC after the second infection and LSCS, which suggests that there is a small genetic antagonism between resistance to gastrointestinal parasites and resistance to mastitis, which is another important health trait in dairy sheep. ConclusionsOur results indicate an unfavorable but low genetic relationship between resistance to gastrointestinal parasites and milk production traits in the blond-faced Manech breed. These results will help the breeders’ association make decisions about how to include resistance to parasites in the selection objective