Contención química de un puma (puma concolor) mediante ketamina-medetomidina, revertida con atipamezol, en Tamaulipas, México

Chemical restraint of a free-ranging male cougar (Puma concolor) was carried out with Ketamine (90 mg) and Medetomidine (1.2 mg) by an airgun. During the chemical restraint, was necessary to apply additional 75 mg of ketamine. The procedure was reverted with atipamezol. During chemical restraint the animal had excessive salivation and vomit

Factores abióticos y bióticos determinantes para la presencia de Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis en anfibios mexicanos

We evaluated the presence of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) in 13 Mexican amphibians associated to abiotic and biotic factors as a species distribution model by a classification and regression tree (CART). Chytrid fungus was diagnosed from cutaneous swabs in adults’ amphibians and oral swabs of tadpoles by nested PCR for a 300bp rRNA fragment. Specimens were sampled in seven vegetation types, during dry and rainy seasons. The chytrid fungus was detected in Charadrayla taeniopus and Leptodactylus fragilis, species that were not previously recorded with the fungus; the Bd also was confirmed on amphibians that inhabit from perennial rainforest at southeastern Mexico. According to CARTs, host species and precipitation were the most important factor to Bd occurrence but their combination with other variables as development stage, environmental temperature, season, vegetation type and aquatic life index have influence on its presence. In addition, the tadpoles had 1.52 times more prevalence of Bd than adults, and that tadpoles from two amphibian species studied could be reservoirs potentially. Although no amphibian showed clinical signs of chytridiomycosis, our findings indicate that the presence and persistence of Bd may be related with species susceptibility or resistance and interaction of diverse abiotic and biotic factors.Evaluamos la presencia de Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) en 13 especies de anfibios mexicanos asociada a factores abióticos y bióticos como un modelo de distribución de especies mediante árboles de clasificación y regresión (CART). El hongo quítrido fue diagnosticado a partir de hisopados cutáneos de anfibios adultos, y frotis orales de renacuajos por medio de PCR anidada para un fragmento de rRNA de 300 pb. Los especímenes fueron muestreados en siete tipos de vegetación durante las temporadas seca y lluviosa. El hongo quítrido se detectó por primera vez en Charadrayla taeniopus y Leptodactylus fragilis, especies en las que no se había registrado previamente; también se confirmó su presencia en anfibios de la selva alta perennifolia del sureste de México. De acuerdo con los CART, las dos variables más importantes para la ocurrencia de Bd son la especie del hospedero y la precipitación, pero su combinación con otras variables como el estado de desarrollo, la temperatura ambiental, la temporada climática, el tipo de vegetación y altos índices de vida acuática influyen en la presencia del hongo quítrido. Además, se obtuvo que los renacuajos tienen 1.52 veces más prevalencia de Bd que los adultos, y los renacuajos de dos especies de anfibios estudiadas son potencialmente reservorios. Aunque ningún anfibio mostró signos clínicos de quitridiomicosis, nuestros hallazgos indican que la presencia y la persistencia de Bd pueden estar relacionadas con la susceptibilidad o resistencia de las especies y la interacción de diversos factores abióticos y bióticos

Genetic and Phylogenetic Divergence of Feline Immunodeficiency Virus in the Puma (Puma concolor)

Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) is a lentivirus which causes an AIDS-like disease in domestic cats (Felis catus). A number of other felid species, including the puma (Puma concolor), carry a virus closely related to domestic cat FIV. Serological testing revealed the presence of antibodies to FIV in 22% of 434 samples from throughout the geographic range of the puma. FIV-Pco pol gene sequences isolated from pumas revealed extensive sequence diversity, greater than has been documented in the domestic cat. The puma sequences formed two highly divergent groups, analogous to the clades which have been defined for domestic cat and lion (Panthera leo) FIV. The puma clade A was made up of samples from Florida and California, whereas clade B consisted of samples from other parts of North America, Central America, and Brazil. The difference between these two groups was as great as that reported among three lion FIV clades. Within puma clades, sequence variation is large, comparable to between-clade differences seen for domestic cat clades, allowing recognition of 15 phylogenetic lineages (subclades) among puma FIV-Pco. Large sequence divergence among isolates, nearly complete species monophyly, and widespread geographic distribution suggest that FIV-Pco has evolved within the puma species for a long period. The sequence data provided evidence for vertical transmission of FIV-Pco from mothers to their kittens, for coinfection of individuals by two different viral strains, and for cross-species transmission of FIV from a domestic cat to a puma. These factors may all be important for understanding the epidemiology and natural history of FIV in the puma

El comercio de anfibios y la presencia de Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis en vida libre: ¿dispersión en círculo vicioso?

The amphibian trade has an important role in Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) persistence, for at least 28 amphibian species can serve as vectors. The objectives of this work are to evaluate the presence and prevalence of Bd in amphibian traded in two petshops in Mexico City, as well as to verify their presence in wild amphibian populations of species traded. It was found that 92% of amphibians sold in the two petshops were captured free-living, and 37.3% of these animals were infected with Bd, according to histological analysis. The prevalence of 30.8% of Bd in wild amphibians at the wild capture sites was detected by means of DNA amplification. No significant differences were found between prevalence of wild and trade amphibians, but the trend was higher for trade amphibians. The importance of amphibian management and conservation plans has been growing in the last years. The pet trade and its capture from the wild turn these trade routes and their captive management into means of pathogenic dispersion, which may increase the risk of disease outbreaks.Keywords: Chytridiomycosis, pet trade, optical microscopy, nested PCR.El comercio de anfibios tiene un papel importante en la persistencia del Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), ya que al menos 28 especies pueden servir como vectores. Los objetivos de este trabajo fueron evaluar la presencia de Bd en anfibios comercializados en dos mercados de mascotas en la Ciudad de México; además verificamos su presencia en poblaciones silvestres de las especies comerciadas. Se encontró que el 92% de los anfibios comercializados fueron capturados de vida libre, y el 37.3% estuvieron infectados con Bd de acuerdo con análisis histológicos. La prevalencia de 30.8% de Bd en anfibios silvestres fue detectada por amplificación de ADN. No hubo diferencias significativas entre las prevalencias de los anfibios silvestres y de comercio, pero la tendencia es mayor para los anfibios de comercio. La importancia de los planes de conservación de anfibios a nivel mundial ha crecido en los últimos años. El mercado de mascotas y la captura de individuos de vida libre hacen que las rutas de comercio y el manejo de individuos para estos fines sea una forma de dispersión de patógenos y un gran riesgo de brotes de las enfermedades.Palabras claves: Quitridiomicosis, mercado de mascotas, microscopia óptica, PCR anidado

Inmovilización en campo del lobo marino de California (Zalophus californianus) con un equipo portátil de anestesia inhalada usando isofluorano

The field study was carried out on 11 rookeries in the Gulf of California in Mexico. A total of 288 pups and two adult females of the Califonia sea lion (Zalophus californianus) were anesthetized with isoflurane in a portable anesthesia machine. Duration of the anesthesia in the pups was six to 25 min (mean 12.51; SD ± 4.38). An average of 24 pups were worked with in each island, (a range of 16-29 animals), from an estimated two to 42 days of age, and six to 17.4 kg each (mean 10.41 kg; SD ± 2.02) totaling 137 males and 151 females. Induction in the adult females took from four to 10 minutes and they were anesthetized for one hour and twenty minute, presenting prolonged apneas. The inhaled anesthesia with isoflurane proved to be an effective and safe method for the inmobilization of free ranging California sea lion pups and adult females, and allowed us to obtain quality data in a situation of limited work time, rocky beaches and hot weather during the summer.El trabajo de campo se llevó a cabo en 11 loberas de reproducción del Golfo de California, México, en los meses de junio y julio durante la temporada de reproducción. Un total de 288 crias (137 machos; 151 hembras) y dos hembras adultas de lobo marino de California (Zalophus californianus) fueron anestesiadas con isofluorano con equipo potátil de anestesia inhalada. La duración de la anestesia en las crías fue de seis a 25 minutos (media 12.51; DS ± 4.38). Se manejaron 24 crías en promedio por isla (con un rango de 16 a 29 animales) de una edad de dos a 42 días y de seis a 17.4 kg de peso (media 10.4 kg; DS ± 2.02). En las hembras adultas el tiempo de inducción fue de cuatro a 10 minutos y se manejaron por un periodo de una hora veinte minutos, encontrando apneas prolongadas. La anestesia inhalada usando isofluorano probó ser eficaz y segura para la inmovilización de crías y hembras adultas de lobo marino de California en condiciones de campo, permitiendo la obtención de datos de calidad en una situación de tiempo limitada, playas rocosas y clima desértico en verano

Assessment of adrenocortical and gonadal hormones in male spider monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi) following capture, restraint and anesthesia

The spider monkey (SM) (Ateles geoffroyi) a New World primate species native to Mexican forests, has become endangered in the wild due to environmental perturbations. Little is known about adrenal function and its relationship to reproduction in this species. Our objectives were to assess serum glucocorticoid (GC), mineralocorticoid (MC) and testosterone concentrations in captive SM and evaluate adrenal and testicular responses to potentially stressful animal handling procedures. Seven adult males, housed in a single mixed gender group in an off‐exhibit enclosure at the University Park were captured for anesthesia every 2 months over a 1‐year period. Blood samples were collected from each male at three time points: (1) ∼5–10 min after ketamine injection in the outdoor enclosure; (2) ∼2 hr later following animal transport to the laboratory and immediately after tiletamine–zolazepam injection; and (3) ∼20–30 min following the second anesthetic injection. Serum samples were frozen and later analyzed for cortisol, corticosterone, aldosterone and testosterone via radioimmunoassay. Cortisol was the primary GC detected in SM serum with much higher mean concentrations than for corticosterone. Capture, restraint and anesthesia resulted in significant increases in both cortisol and corticosterone concentrations. Whereas aldosterone concentrations were unchanged by animal handling procedures, testosterone concentrations significantly declined under anesthesia over time. In summary, these results provide data for the main adrenocortical hormones in male SM and characterize their acute adrenal responses to potentially stressful handling and anesthesia procedures. Our findings also suggest an interaction between acute increases in corticosteroids and decreased concentrations of serum testosterone. Zoo Biol. 32:641–647, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc

Stress in Wildlife Species: Noninvasive Monitoring of Glucocorticoids

Depression and stress are related pathologies extensively studied in humans. However, this relationship is not well known in animals kept in zoos and even less known in wild animals. In zoo animals, acute and chronic stress caused by difficulties in coping with stressors such as public presence and noise, among others, can induce the appearance of repetitive pathological behaviors such as stereotypies, many times associated with organic pathologies that deeply affect their health and welfare. In the wild, factors such as deforestation, habitat fragmentation, lack of food and water, and human disturbances are potential causes of acute and chronic stress for the resident fauna. Glucocorticoids (GC) have been extensively used as stress indicators in many species including humans. Since chase and handling of wild animals immediately raise their GC serum levels, noninvasive methods have been developed to assess stress without interference caused by sample collection. The hormones and their metabolites can be measured in various body fluids and excreta and detect basal feedback free hormone concentrations as well as the response to ACTH and handling. In order to study the influence of disturbing factors we have measured GC as stress indicators by noninvasive techniques in dolphins and felids (ocelots, jaguarundis and margays) and cortisol and testosterone in spider monkeys

Phylogeographic Patterns and Evolution of the Mitochondrial DNA Control Region in Two Neotropical Cats (Mammalia, Felidae)

The ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) and margay (L. wiedii) are sister-species of Neotropical cats which evolved from a lineage that migrated into South America during the formation of the Panamanian land bridge 3–5 million years ago. Patterns of population genetic divergence of each species were studied by phylogenetic analyses of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region sequences in individuals sampled across the distribution of these taxa. Abundant genetic diversity and remarkably concordant phylogeographic partitions for both species were observed, identifying parallel geographic regions which likely reflect historical faunal barriers. Inferred aspects of phylogeography, population genetic structure, and demographic history were used to formulate conservation recommendations for these species. In addition, observed patterns of sequence variation provided insight into the molecular evolution of the mtDNA control region in closely related felids

Reproductive Status of Endemic Felid Species in Latin American Zoos and Implications for Ex Situ Conservation

Reproductive evaluations were conducted on 185 male cats representing eight endemic Latin American species that were maintained in 44 zoos and private facilities in 12 Latin American countries. Reproductive assessments (testicular measures, ejaculate quality, and blood testosterone/cortisol concentration) were used to establish normative values for large- and small-sized cats in Latin American collections. Data also were analyzed using multiple regression to study the impact of proven breeder status, diet, and various animal housing combinations. Most felids (\u3e95%) in the survey were of wild-born origin, and \u3c20% had produced offspring in captivity. Larger felids had bigger testes and produced more semen, but tended to produce low-sperm-density ejaculates. The ejaculates of small felids were more sperm-concentrated, but contained fewer total spermatozoa. Sperm motility was unrelated to species size, and certain species (puma, margay, tigrina, and jaguarundi) consistently produced few (\u3c40%) normal sperm forms. Across species, \u3e50% of males had low sperm counts (\u3c1 million total sperm per ejaculate). Among large cats (jaguars and pumas), proven breeders had larger (P\u3c0.05) testes, greater semen volume, and more normal sperm than nonbreeders. Males on adequate diets had higher (P\u3c0.05) circulating cortisol. Among small-sized felids, proven breeders had higher (P\u3c0.05) testosterone, and males housed alone or paired with a conspecific female had more (P\u3c0.05) total sperm per ejaculate and greater (P\u3c0.05) seminal and testicular volumes. Fifty-nine ejaculates (potentially representing ∼100 artificial insemination (AI) or 26,000 in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedures) were cryopreserved for a felid genome resource bank. In conclusion, breeding success and reproductive traits for many endemic felids in Latin American zoos appear to be suboptimal, and likely would benefit from improvements in diet and exhibitry. Technology transfer and continued training of zoo staff and scientists in Latin American countries are essential if these zoos are to achieve their tremendous conservation potential for felids and other threatened endemic species