Domestic animal Research Papers - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Camels usually inhabit remote areas, where diagnostic facilities and laboratories are very scarce. The species differences between the camel and other domestic animals necessitate some specific examination techniques. The objective of this study was to describe the clinical examination methods and sources of common errors that require special consideration in the camel. Young camels are examined in the standing position, while adults require restraint. Restraining procedures, both standing and in sternal recumbency, are described. New equipment and a crush were designed. The body temperature of the camels examined fluctuated from 35.7 to 38.9°C, being lowest in the morning and highest in the afternoon; high temperature in the morning is indicative of fever, while high afternoon temperatures could be hyperthermia. It was difficult to take the pulse rate for routine procedures. The heart rate ranged from 35 to 50 per min; there was no difference between the heart rate in the morning a...

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- Physiology, Veterinary Medicine, Biology, Ethiopia

Domestication of the donkey from the African wild ass transformed ancient transport systems in Africa and Asia and the organization of early cities and pastoral societies. Genetic research suggests an African origin for the donkey, but pinpointing the timing and location of domestication has been challenging because donkeys are uncommon in the archaeological record and markers for early phases of animal domestication are hard to determine. We present previously undescribed evidence for the earliest transport use of the donkey and new paleopathological indicators for early phases of donkey domestication. Findings are based on skeletal data from 10 ≈5,000-year-old ass skeletons recently discovered entombed in an early pharaonic mortuary complex at Abydos, Middle Egypt, and a concurrent study of 53 modern donkey and African wild ass skeletons. Morphometric studies showed that Abydos metacarpals were similar in overall proportions to those of wild ass, but individual measurements varied...

- by Matthew D Adams
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- Genetics, Paleontology, Morphometrics, Egyptian Archaeology

Information on richness of plant resources, and their forms of use and management in the biosphere reserve Tehuaccin-Cuicatldn, Mexico is analyzed. This 10 000 km 2 region hosts nearly 2700 vascular plant species, and it is acknowledged as one of the arid areas with the highest floristic diversity in North America. The seven indigenous ethnic groups that live in this region have cultural roots that date back almost 10 000 years. Based upon ethnobotanical and floristic studies, as well as bibliographical sources, a total of 808 useful plant species were identified, most of them (90%) being native, and 44 species being endemic to the region. A total of 681 species are wild plants, 109 are weeds and ruderal plants, and 86 are domesticated crops. However, it was noted that considerable overlap exists between the species of these 3 categories. For example, while wild and ruderal plants (706 species) are foraged by both humans and domestic animals, 59 species of this group are also managed in situ. On the other hand, 168 wild, ruderal and domesticated species are cultivated. The Tehuacdn-Cuicatldn Valley is one of the richest regions of Mexico in plant resources. Local knowledge on use and management of plants is a valuable source of information for designing conservation and social development strategies for the biosphere reserve. RECURSOS VEGETALES DEE VALLE DE TEHUACAN-CUICATLA.N, MI~XICO. Se analiza informaci6n sobre la riqueza de recursos vegetales, as{ como sus formas de uso y manejo en la reserva de la biosfera Tehuaccin-Cuicatldn, M~xico. Esta regi6n, con una extensi6n de 10 000 km z, alberga a cerca de 2700 especies de plantas vasculares y e s reconocida como una de las zonas 6ridas con mayor diversidad florfstica de Norteamdrica. Incluye ademds a siete grupos dtnicos indfgenas con una historia cultural iniciada hace aproximadamente 10 000 a~os. Con base en estudios etnobotdnicos y florfsticos, asf como informaci6n bibliogrdfica, se identificaron un total de 808 especies de plantas lltiles, la mayor parte de las cuales (90%) son nativas y 44 son enddmicas para la regi6n. Un total de 681 especies son silvestres, 109 son arvenses y ruderales, y 86 son domesticadas, con algunas especies presentando al mismo tiempo condici6n de silvestres, arvenses y domesticadas. En total, 706 especies de plantas silvestres, arvenses y ruderales son forrajeadas tanto por humanos como por animales do-m~sticos en las 6reas donde se encuentran, pero 59 de ellas son tambidn manejadas in situ, mientras que 168 especies silvestres, arvenses y ruderales, asf como domesticadas, son cultivadas. El Valle de Tehuacdn es una de las regiones de Mdxico con mayor diversidad de recursos vegetales. El conocimiento indigena sobre uso y manejo de las plantas locales es una fuente de informaci6n valiosa para el dise~o de estrategias de conservaci6n y desarrollo social para la reserva de la biosfera.

- by Alfonso Banuet
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- Plant Biology, Social Development, Economic botany, North America

The process of domestication involves adaptation, usually to a captive environment. Domestication is attained by some combination of genetic changes occurring over generations and Ž. developmental mechanisms e.g., physical maturation, learning triggered by recurring environmental events or management practices in captivity that influence specific biological traits. The transition from free-living to captive status is often accompanied by changes in availability andror accessibility of shelter, space, food and water, and by changes in predation and the social environment. These changes set the stage for the development of the domestic phenotype. Behavioral development in animals undergoing domestication is characterized by changes in the quantitative rather than qualitative nature of responses. The hypothesized loss of certain behavior patterns under domestication can usually be explained by the heightening of response thresholds. Increases in response frequency accompanying domestication can often be explained by atypical rates of exposure to certain forms of perceptual and locomotor stimulation. Genetic changes influencing the development of the domestic phenotype result from inbreeding, genetic drift, artificial selection, natural selection in captivity, and relaxed selection. Experiential contributions to the domestic phenotype include the presence or absence of key stimuli, changes in intraspecific aggressive interactions and interactions with humans. Man's role as a buffer between the animal and its environment is also believed to have an important effect on the development of the domestic phenotype. The domestication process has frequently reduced the sensitivity of animals to changes in their environment, perhaps the single-most important change accompanying domestication. It has also resulted in modified rates of behavioral and physical development. Interest in breeding animals in captivity for release in nature has flourished in recent decades. The capacity of domestic animals to survive and reproduce in nature may depend on the extent to which the gene pool of the population has been altered during the domestication process and flexibility in behavioral development. ''Natural'' gene pools should be protected when breeding wild animals in captivity for the purpose of reestablishing free-living natural populations. In some

- by Edward Price
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- Genetics, Zoology, Genetic Drift, Biology

Cats have become the most popular companion animal in Western Europe. Unlike other domestic animals, cats are strict carnivores and this influences both their nutritional requirements and food preferences. Cats have very high protein requirements and their diet must contain some nutrients, such as arginine, taurine, niacin, vitamin A and arachidonic acid. Besides its nutritional value, a diet for cats must also be highly palatable. This paper offers a quick overview of feline nutritional peculiarities and the factors that influence food palatability in cats.

- by Giacomo Biagi
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- Western Europe, Cats, Animal Feed, CAT

Sperm cells are the endpoint of male spermatogenesis and have particular anatomic and metabolic features. Sperm cryopreservation and storage currently require liquid nitrogen or ultralow refrigeration methods for long or short term storage, which requires routine maintenance and extensive space requirements. Conserving sperms have several purposes such as artificial reproductive technologies (ART), species conservation and clinical medicine. The combinations of storage temperature, cooling rate, chemical composition of the extender, cryoprotectant concentration, reactive oxygen species (ROS), seminal plasma composition and hygienic control are the key factors that affect the lifespan of spermatozoa. Sperm preservation protocols vary among animal species owing to their inherent particularities that change extenders used for refrigeration and freezing. Extenders for freezing sperm cells contain buffers, carbohydrates (glucose, lactose, raffinose, saccharose and trehalose), salts (sodium citrate, citric acid), egg yolk and antibiotics. The use of different cryoprotectants, like trehalose or glycerol, as well as different concentrations of egg yolk and other constituents in semen extenders are being studied in our laboratory. Several cooling rates have been tested to freeze sperm cells. The use of faster rates (15-60°C/min) gives rise to best sperm survivals after freezing-thawing, but more studies are needed to find the adequate cooling rates for each animal species. Sheep and goat males of some native breeds are being used in studies performed in EZN. Semen from those males has been frozen and stored as part of the Portuguese Animal Germplasm Bank. In small ruminants, individual variations in the quality of frozen semen have been observed, suggesting specific differences in sperm susceptibility to freezing methods, particularly obvious in goat males. Best quality frozen semen from small ruminants is being used in cervical artificial insemination studies aiming to increase productive parameters in selected flocks.

- by Joao Barbas
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- Cryopreservation, Semen Analysis, Cooling Rate, Species conservation

Indigofera glandulosa Wendl., (Barbada) belongs to the family Leguminosae, subfamily-Papilionoidae and tribe Indigoferae is widely distributed as weed in India, Indonesia and North Australia. It is an annual herb or sub-shrub growing along roadside and open grassland areas. The plant produce seeds rich in valuable food ingredients such as proteins, carbohydrates, essential amino acids and vitamins. The plant is described as nourishing food for human beings and is believed to possess the qualities of a tonic in Indian medicine. It is highly palatable forage legume; green plants are generally appreciated by domestic animals. Environmentally, it is utilized for the nitrogen enrichment in degraded soil, as the roots produce nodules fixing atmospheric nitrogen. It can be grown in dry regions, therefore appears to drought resistant and at low cost. The plant species remains unexploited although it has high forage and nutritious value. The meagre information on I. glandulosa lead us to explore this neglected and underutilized species to utilize it as food for human beings, forage for animals and for nitrogen enrichment of the soil. The seed viability and seed germination data revealed seed dormancy associated with the hard and impermeable seed coat and it could be overcome by treating the seeds with concentrated sulphuric acid for 10-15 min thus improving the seed germination percentage up to 75%. The result of the present investigation provides preliminary information on agronomical and morphological traits related to yield and biomass production of I. glandulosa from its natural habitat. In addition the detailed survey about taxonomic characters, distribution, cultivation and utilization of I. glandulosa has been documented. Keywords Forage plant Á Indigofera glandulosa Á Neglected and underutilized species Á Nitrogen fixation Á Nutritious food

- by Vinayak Lokhande
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- Agricultural Biotechnology, Seed germination, Seed dormancy, Nitrogen Fixation

The Nipah virus outbreak in Malaysia (September 1998 to May 1999) resulted in 265 cases of acute encephalitis with 105 deaths, and near collapse of the billion-dollar pig-farming industry. Because it was initially attributed to Japanese encephalitis, early control measures were ineffective, and the outbreak spread to other parts of Malaysia and nearby Singapore. The isolation of the novel aetiological agent, the Nipah virus (NiV), from the cerebrospinal fluid of an outbreak victim was the turning point which led to outbreak control 2 months later. Together with the Hendra virus, NiV is now recognised as a new genus, Henipavirus (Hendra + Nipah), in the Paramyxoviridae family. Efforts of the local and international scientific community have since elucidated the epidemiology, clinico-pathophysiology and pathogenesis of this new disease. Humans contracted the infection from close contact with infected pigs, and formed the basis for pig-culling that eventually stopped the outbreak. NiV ...

- by Lai-meng Looi
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- Malaysia, Chiroptera, Disease Outbreaks, Cerebrospinal Fluid

Molecular Cytogenetics Application in Diagnostics and Research Methods of in situ hybridization in cytogenetics are based on the ability of single-stranded nucleic acids to bind with complementary parts of the target DNA, which is fixed on a microscope slide. Target DNA must be single stranded as well and DNA probe is labeled either radioactively or with some fluorochromes. Preferentially, non-radioactively labeled DNA has been used as probe for in situ hybridization, and localization of probes is performed by indirect or direct immunofluorescence. Fluorescent signals are detected using a fluorescence microscope, equipped with a high-performance CCD (charge coupled device) camera and software specified for chromosome and signal analysis. Several fluorochromes can be used for simultaneous evaluation of hybridization signals in one experiment. Different kinds of DNA probes can be used in hybridization experiments such as centromere and locus-specific probes, painting probes for whole chromosomes or their parts, or telomere and subtelomere probes. The type of DNA probe most suitable for in situ hybridization is determined by the specificity of the clinical diagnosis or conventional cytogenetics. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) has been developed and extensively used to:

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of 3-methylhistidine (3MH) as an index of muscle protein degradation in dairy goats. The criterion for validation was the rapid and quantitative excretion of radiolabeled 3MH. Three adult dry does and four bucks were confined to metabolism cages and injected with 5 ml of L-3-[14C]methylhistidine dihydrochloride (4 microCi/mL) diluted in normal saline. The does' urine was collected from catheters and the bucks' urine from stainless steel separators protected with fecal collection bags. The daily urine samples were analyzed for labeled amino acid. Urinary recovery of radioactivity from all does was less than 33% after 3 d and was proceeding at less than 5% d. After 9 d, total recovery was less than 50% of total dose for the does. Elimination rates were slightly higher and more variable for the yearling bucks (25-63% after 4 d). On the basis of these data, 3MH does not appear to be a valid index of muscle protein degradation in ...

- by C. Calvert
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- Nutrition and Dietetics, Nutrition, Metabolism, Animal Production

En partant d'une presentation critique du modele de la revolution des « productions secondaires » de Sherratt, les auteurs resument les recentes preuves biochimiques, isotopiques et paleogenetiques de l'exploitation neolithique du lait en Europe. Elles suggerent que l'exploitation laitiere s'est developpee bien avant la revolution des « productions secondaires ». Dans un second temps, ils concentrent leur propos sur les indices osteoarcheologiques au Proche-Orient et en Europe mediterraneenne. En s'appuyant sur les recentes ameliorations des techniques archeozoologiques de construction et d'interpretation des profils d'abattage qui traduisent les strategies de gestion des animaux, ils analysent 36 de ces profils pour les moutons ou chevres (caprines) et 17 pour les bovins. Ils mettent en evidence l'exploitation laitiere des caprines des les tout premiers stades du Neolithique dans les deux regions concernees, et suggerent fortement l'utilisation d...

- by Daniel Helmer
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- Art, Osteology, Agriculture, Mediterranean

- by Paolo Malanima
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- Medieval History, Infectious Disease, Yellow fever, Digestive System

Twenty samples from cases of rabies in humans and domestic animals diagnosed in Venezuela between 1990 and 1994 and one sample from a vampire bat collected in 1976 were characterized by reactivity to monoclonal antibodies against the viral nucleoprotein and by patterns of nucleotide substitution in the nucleoprotein gene. Three antigenic variants were found: 1, 3, and 5. Antigenic variant 1 included all samples from dogs and humans infected by contact with rabid dogs. Unique substitutions permitted identification of two separate outbreaks of dog rabies in the Maracaibo Depression and Los Llanos region and in the Andean region of Venezuela. Samples from the vampire bat and two head of cattle were characterized as antigenic variant 3 and showed a nucleotide sequence homology of 96 to 98% to each other and to samples of vampire bat-associated rabies throughout Latin America. Ten of the remaining 12 samples were characterized as antigenic variant 5. Genetic studies indicated that 11 of these samples formed a highly homologous and distinctive group but were closely related to samples of vampire bat-associated rabies. The 12th sample of variant 5 (from a cat) showed only 78 to 80% genetic homology to samples of rabies associated with vampire bats. The application of antigenic and genetic typing to rabies surveillance in Latin America is essential to improve control programs. Recognition of the source of outbreaks of dog rabies and identification of wildlife species maintaining sylvatic cycles of rabies transmission permit better utilization of public health resources.

- by Antonio Utrera
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- Genetics, Biology, Medicine, Chiroptera
- by Walter Muranyi
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- Genetics, Biological Sciences, Disease Outbreaks, Infectious Disease

- by Stephen McGarvey
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- Microbiology, Zoology, Philippines, Public Health

Congenital duplications are said to be more common in cattle than in other domestic animals, and the anterior part of the body is usually affected. Dipygus or caudal duplication is a rare anomaly in the calf that is structurally related to monozygotic twins. A female Holstein calf with six legs was studied. Radiographic and computed tomographic evaluation revealed that the pelvic symphysis had not been formed, and each half of pelvic bone had been attached to a plate-like bone piece medially. Postmortem dissection on the pelvic region showed duplicated uterus and urinary bladder. Anal atresia was seen as an associated defect. To the author's best knowledge, this is the first report of bladder duplication in a dipygus calf. In addition, this is the first report of a dipygus calf with six legs from Iran.

- by Mohammad Hasanzade
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- Clinical Sciences, Urinary Bladder, Comparative haematology, Domestic animal

Biotechnology applied to livestock encompasses various reproductive techniques supported by molecular biology. Technologies for the transfer of gene constructs involve microinjection into the pronucleus of fertilized oocytes or DNA mass transfer. The last one can be made through the use of sperm, which carry the incorporated gene construct into the ovum at fertilization, or through the use of retroviral vectors in cell lines. One of the prerequisites to establishing transgenic lines is the presence of the foreign DNA in the gametes or one-cell embryos to ensure that the conceptus develops into a transgenic animal. To reach this objective, foreign genes can be transferred using different methods and strategies depending up on the species of domestic animal used for this venture and their biological potential. Transgenic animals are now commonly used worldwide as models for human disease and the commercial availability of transgenic protein products for therapeutic use is thought to b...

- by D. Bongalhardo
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- Mass Transfer, Molecular Biology, Biology, Gene expression

Many species of mammals are threatened or endangered. Methods of assisted reproduction that are being used with increasing frequency to produce offspring of domestic animals and humans are often viewed as offering innovative ways to reproduce non-domestic species as well. Uncounted millions of live young of domestic or laboratory species have been produced from gametes and embryos stored at-70°C or below, sometimes for as long as 25 to 35 yrs. Such methods of cryopreservation are now being applied with increasing frequency and urgency to preserve gametes and embryos of non-domestic and threatened species to establish "genome resource banks" or "frozen zoos." But levels of success to produce live young from such cryopreserved gametes or embryos vary considerably from species to species, as well as from individual to individual. It is sometimes thought that differences among species in fundamental characteristics of their gametes may determine the efficacy of cryopreservation and the production of live young. However, it may not be that ineffective cryopreservation is responsible for low success rates. Rather, the limiting factor may be insufficient information and knowledge of the most basic reproductive biology of such non-domestic species. Even standard methods of cryopreservation may be completely adequate to act as a "temporary" expedient to preserve germplasm of non-domestic species to permit time to acquire a fuller understanding of the biology and behavior of non-domestic species.

- by Nucharin Songsasen
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- Carnivora, Cryopreservation, Reproductive Biology, Artiodactyla

Stable isotope signatures of both human and non-human animal bone samples indicate that Neolithic farmers of the Yellow and Wei River basins in China potentially cultivated millet for two reasons: as a staple for human consumption and as fodder for domesticated animals, specifically pigs, dogs, and perhaps chicken. Bone samples were analyzed from four Neolithic sites: Jiangzhai, Shijia, Xipo, and Kangjia, spanning the time period from 7000 to 4000 years ago. A combination of very high carbon isotope ratios (d 13 C Z ÿ7.7 G 0.4&) and low nitrogen isotope ratios (d 15 N Z 7.5 G 0.5&) in samples of Xipo pig and dog bone suggests that these monogastric animals consumed substantial quantities of C 4 plants, almost certainly millets. In fact, the proportion of C 4 plants in animal diets appears to have been even greater than that in human diet. Stable isotope values (d 13 C Z ÿ10.0 G 0.8&; d 15 N Z 8.3 G 0.5&) of human bone collagen recovered at Jiangzhai and Shijia indicate a staple role for millets, as well as the consumption of both wild and other non-C 4 domesticated plant foods. As millet agriculture and animal husbandry apparently depended on one another, a strong mutualism between them was likely established in northern China during the Neolithic. We propose that variable redistribution of agricultural products between humans and animals, depending on the availability of wild resources and annual fluctuations in agricultural output, helped ensure the stability of Neolithic human subsistence in the Yellow and Wei River basins.

- by Robert A . Benfer
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- Archaeology, Geochemistry, Biological Anthropology, Archaeological Science

A critical review of fear tests used on cattle, pigs, sheep, poultry and horses. PHYSIOL. BEHAV. 000-000, 2007. Fear is arguably the most commonly investigated emotion in domestic animals. In the current review we attempt to establish the level of repeatability and validity found for fear tests used on cattle, pigs, sheep and goats, poultry and horses. We focus the review on the three most common types of fear tests: the arena test (open field), the novel object test, and the restraint test. For some tests, e.g. tonic immobility in poultry, there is a good and broad literature on factors that affect the outcome of the test, the validity of the test and its age dependency. However, there are comparatively few of these well defined and validated tests and what is especially missing for most tests is information on the robustness, i.e., what aspects can be changed without affecting the validity of the tests. The relative absence of standardized tests hampers the development of applied ethology as a science.

- by Alain Boissy
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- Fear, Applied Animal Behavior, Biological Sciences, Sheep

The paper presents a synthesis of the on-site archaeobotanical investigations of the Terramara di Montale, one of the most important sites of the Terramara cultural system which characterised the Po Plain in the Middle-Late Bronze Age (1650-1200 b.c.). Samples for pollen analysis and macroremains, including seed/fruit and wood/charcoal records, were collected from stratigraphic sequences and occupation levels during the excavations 1996-2001. The results permitted the reconstruction of the main characteristics of the landscape which at the onset of the Terramara rapidly passed from a natural, more forested landscape with mixed oak wood and conifers to a more open and anthropic landscape characterised by cereal fields, pastures and meadows. People felled oaks and other trees such as Populus/Salix and Fraxinus to make piles or walls for houses. Wood from these species was also recorded as charcoal in the hearths. Palynological and carpological data show that the inhabitants of the Terramara largely founded their economy on cereals (mainly Triticum aestivum/durum, T. dicoccum and Hordeum vulgare). They also grew a few legumes (Vicia faba var. minor,

- by Andrea Cardarelli
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- Cultural Geography, Archaeology, Experimental Archaeology, Geology

A case of mediastinal lymphoma in a free-living, adult male European badger (Meles meles), from Trento Province (northern Italy) is described. A yellow-red mass delimited by a thick fibrous capsule completely occupied the anterior mediastinum. Based on the histologic and immunohistochemical findings, a diagnosis of mediastinal lymphocytic lymphoma was made. Documentation of neoplasms in free-living species is important for comparison with domestic animals and humans and may give insight into epidemiology of these diseases. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of a mediastinal lymphoma in a badger.

- by Franco Mutinelli
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- Zoology, Immunohistochemistry, Carnivora, Wildlife Diseases

Shiraz district in south of Iran is a classical focus of Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) and previous research has consistently documented the etiologic agent to be Leishmania tropica and Leishmania major in urban and rural areas, respectively. However, none of the Phlebotomus sergenti, a known vector for L. tropica, of the region has been found infected. We report the first isolation of L. tropica from sandflies in urban community of southern part of Shiraz city. Parasite polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and gene sequencing analyses indicate CL cases in this community were caused by either L. major or L. tropica. Sandflies of P. sergenti were infrequent, however, three out of 10 (30.0%) females captured in urban area were found infected with L. tropica. But, no human cases were found to be infected with L. tropica. Phlebotomus papatasi were found the most dominant and infected species where 41 out of 207 (20%) tested individuals harboring L. major in suburb area of the city. Patients have been lived in the suburb area of the city where people keep normally domestic animals in their houses which provide appropriate environment for completion of sandfly life cycle and expansion of CL disease in the region.

- by Mohammad Shirzadi
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- Microbiology, Iran, PCR, Experimental parasitology

Various biomolecular components preserved in domesticated animal bones recovered from the Nubian site of Qasr Ibrim are used for dietary reconstruction of their foddering and foraging behaviours. Utilising models of the biochemical... more

- by Mark Copley
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- Archaeology, Geochemistry, Molecular Biology, Archaeological Science

Intestinal parasites, both helminths and protozoa, are commonly found in domestic animals, and the possible transmission of enteric parasites from dogs and cats to humans may constitute a global potential health risk worldwide. In the present study, we analysed 148 stool samples from dogs (n=126) and cats (n=22) collected from animal shelters and veterinary clinics, in the district of Évora, Portugal. Microscopic examination confirmed that Giardia was the most frequent parasite in the studied population (34/148; 23%). Other parasites such as Ancylostoma sp., Isospora spp., Toxocara, Trichuris spp., Toxascaris and Toxoplasma were also found. Furthermore, molecular characterization of Giardia duodenalis analysis targeting the small subunit ribosomal RNA (ssu-rRNA) was performed revealing the presence of host-specific (C and D) and zoonotic assemblages (A and B). This work points out to the importance of protozoan parasites in companion animals, and reanalyses the need for parasite prophylaxis.

- by Ludovina Padre
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- Microbiology, Biology, Medicine, Cats

Schistosoma japonicum causes a chronic parasitic disease, which persists as a major public health concern in The Philippines, the People's Republic of China and Indonesia. This infection is unique among helminthic zoonoses because it can infect humans and more than 40 other mammals. The objective of this study was to estimate the sensitivity and specificity of the Danish Bilharziasis Laboratory

- by Ernesto Jr Balolong
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- Microbiology, Parasitology, Biology, Philippines

Anthrax is a disease of human beings and animals caused by the encapsulated, spore-forming, Bacillus anthracis. The potential role of insects in the spread of B. anthracis to humans and domestic animals during an anthrax outbreak has been confirmed by many studies. Among insect vectors, the house fly Musca domestica is considered a potential agent for disease transmission. In this study, laboratory-bred specimens of Musca domestica were infected by feeding on anthrax-infected rabbit carcass or anthrax contaminated blood, and the presence of anthrax spores in their spots (faeces and vomitus) was microbiologically monitored. It was also evaluated if the anthrax spores were able to germinate and replicate in the gut content of insects. These results confirmed the role of insects in spreading anthrax infection. This role, although not major, given the huge size of fly populations often associated with anthrax epidemics in domestic animals, cannot be neglected from an epidemiological point of view and suggest that fly control should be considered as part of anthrax control programs.

- by Elvira Tarsitano
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- Biomechanics, Biology, Medicine, Multidisciplinary

The globalisation of trade and food, the increased volume and speed of international travel, climate change, and the related escalation of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases mean that countries are now more interconnected and interdependent than ever before. Africa is beleaguered by a range of endemic infectious and parasitic tropical diseases which, due to its diverse wildlife populations and indigenous livestock, can serve as a reservoir of high-impact or transboundary diseases and play a role in the emergence of disease, particularly at the wildlife, domestic animal and human interfaces. It is therefore essential to integrate animal and public health issues into the veterinary curriculum. Veterinary training in most parts of sub-Saharan Africa has focused on producing veterinarians to serve the livestock sector although socio-economic changes and privatisation of Veterinary Services have caused curriculum adjustments, as have globalisation and the increased risk of the ...

- by Gerry Swan
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- Climate Change, Africa, Global Health, Animal Welfare

Thirty lambs displayed symptoms of meningoencephalitis. An unusual gram-positive coccus was isolated in pure culture from the blood and brain samples from one of the affected animals, and phenotypic and phylogenetic characterization showed this to be Globicatella sanguinis. This is the first report of the isolation of G. sanguinis in pure culture from an animal infection.

- by Angel Khoo
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- Genetics, Agent Based, Clinical Microbiology, Biological Sciences
- by Alan Baird
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- Fertility, Drug delivery, Drug Delivery System, Ruminants
- by Thomas Deliberto
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- United States, Wild Boar, Rare plants, Tree Planting
- by Fabia Rosi
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- Animal Production, Seasonality, Thermal Stress, Energy Balance

The discovery of several 5000-year old seeds of wild watermelon, Citrullus lanatus, at an archaeological site Uan Muhuggiag in southwest Libya, re-opens the debate on the origin, wild distribution and domestication history of this species. The seeds were found within a plant assemblage of wild seeds and fruits, associated with pottery and bones of domestic animals belonging to Neolithic pastoralists. The presumed wild progenitor of the modern cultivar C. lanatus is today found exclusively in a region centring on the Kalahari Desert. This new archaeobotanical record raises the possibility that this distribution was much more extensive in the past.

- by Marijke Van der Veen
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- Archaeology, Geology, Archaeobotany, Environmental Archaeology

To assess the presence of rickettsial pathogens in ticks from Egypt, we collected ticks from domestic and peridomestic animals between June 2002 and July 2003. DNA extracts from 1019 ticks were tested, using PCR and sequencing, for Anaplasma spp., Bartonella spp., Coxiella burnetii, Ehrlichia spp., and Rickettsia spp. Ticks included: 29 Argas persicus, 10 Hyalomma anatolicum anatolicum, 55 Hyalomma anatolicum excavatum, 174 Hyalomma dromedarii, 2 Hyalomma impeltatum, 3 Hyalomma marginatum rufipes, 55 unidentified nymphal Hyalomma, 625 Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) annulatus, 49 Rhipicephalus sanguineus, and 17 Rhipicephalus turanicus. Ticks were collected predominantly (>80%) from buffalo, cattle, and camels, with smaller numbers from chicken and rabbit sheds, sheep, foxes, a domestic dog, a hedgehog, and a black rat. We detected Anaplasma marginale, Coxiella burnetii, Rickettsia aeschlimannii, and four novel genotypes similar to: ''Anaplasma platys,'' Ehrlichia canis, Ehrlichia spp. reported from Asian ticks, and a Rickettsiales endosymbiont of Ixodes ricinus.

- by Amanda Loftis
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- Zoology, Veterinary Medicine, Egypt, Veterinary

Earlier land use in European mountains included grazing by different kinds of livestock, while today it may be more homogenous, and the grazing may have either been intensified or been abandoned. Different domestic animal species graze in different areas of the landscape. Therefore, grazing stocks composed of different species have an unequal effect on the landscape. This study compares the influence of four domestic animal species (cattle, sheep, goats, reindeer) on landscape dynamics in Jotunheimen, a Norwegian mountain range. Interviews and maps showing grazing land of domestic animals were performed to collect information about land use in the summer farm surroundings. Grazing pressure maps (prior to 1960 and 1960-2002) using the land use information obtained, and vegetation maps (from the 1960s and 2002) using aerial photographs, were digitized. Vegetation was spatially linked with grazing pressure using GIS and multiple multinomial and linear regressions were used to investigate each species' effect on vegetation type change and displacement of the forest line, respectively. The results show that cattle grazing influenced transitions from grasslands, cattle together with goats affected transitions from heaths, and cattle, goats, and reindeer influenced displacement of the birch forest line. High grazing pressure from these three domestic animals suppressed forest and scrub establishment in open habitats. Only goats, however, caused transitions from scrub and birch forest to open vegetation types.

- by Bård Pedersen
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- Engineering, Cattle Grazing, Environmental Sciences, Cultural Landscape
- by John C McEwan
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- Genomics, Biology, Breeding, Biological Sciences
- by Kenneth Sargent
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- Microbiology, Chemistry, Biology, Water Chemistry

Background: Recycled treated or untreated wastewater represents an important health challenge in developing countries due to potential water related microbiological exposure. Our aim was to assess water quality and health implications in a Mexico City periurban agricultural area. Methodology/Principal Findings: A longitudinal study in the Xochimilco wetland area was conducted, and 42 sites were randomly selected from 211, including irrigation water canals and effluents of treatment plants. Sample collection took place during rainy and dry seasons (2000-2001). Microbiological parameters (total coliforms, fecal coliforms, streptococci/ enterococci, and bacteria other than Vibrio grown on TCBS), Helicobacter pylori, and physicochemical parameters including trihalomethanes (THM) were determined. Fecal coliforms and fecal streptococci are appropriate indicators of human or animal fecal contamination. Fecal coliform counts surpass Mexican and World Health Organization irrigation water guidelines. Identified microorganisms associated with various pathologies in humans and domestic animals comprise Escherichia coli, Klebsiella spp., Salmonella spp., Enterobacter spp., Enterococcus spp., and Pseudomonas spp; H. pylori was also present in the water. An environmental characteristic of the canal system showed high Total Organic Carbon content and relatively low dissolved oxygen concentration; residual chlorine as a disinfection control is not efficient, but THMs do not represent a problem. During the rainy season, temperature and conductivity were higher; in contrast, pH, dissolved oxygen, ammonia, and residual chlorine were lower. This is related with the continuous load of feces from human and animal sources, and to the aquatic systems, which vary seasonally and exhibit evidence of lower water quality in effluents from treatment plants. Conclusions/Significance: There is a need for improvement of wastewater treatment systems, as well as more efficient monitoring, regulation, and enforcement procedures for wastewater disposal into bodies of water.

- by Marisa Mazari-Hiriart
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- Biology, Agriculture, Helicobacter pylori, Medicine

Evidence from several archaeological sites in sub-Saharan Africa suggests that the transition to modern human technology, marked by the change from the Middle to the Later Stone Age (LSA), occurred first in East Africa. Enkapune Ya Muto rockshelter, in the central Rift Valley of Kenya, contains the oldest known archaeological horizons spanning this transition. Radiocarbon and obsidian hydration dates from this 5•6-m deep cultural sequence show that the Later Stone Age began substantially earlier than 46,000 years ago. Ostrich eggshell beads were made 40,000 years ago. Early dates for the LSA and beads may have implications for the origin and dispersal of modern human behaviour and modern humans out of Africa. This site also contains the only known occurrences dating to the Middle Holocene dry phase in highland Kenya and Tanzania, as well as occurrences that span the transition from hunting and gathering to food production, and from the Neolithic to the Iron Age. The adoption of domestic animals by indigenous Eburran hunter-gatherers in highland East Africa occurred gradually between 4900 and 3300 uncorrected radiocarbon years  and the Neolithic/Later Iron Age transition occurred around 1300 .

- by Stanley Ambrose
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- Archaeology, Geochemistry, Human Evolution, Archaeological Science

- by Elvira Tarsitano
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- Biomechanics, Biology, Medicine, Multidisciplinary
- by Onder Ergonul
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- Epidemiology, Small Mammals, South Africa, Typhoid Fever

Contact with other animals was the cause of the worst infectious illnesses that have affected the human species in past agrarian societies. Various strains of influenza, smallpox, malaria, plague, measles, and cholera were provoked by infections which first affected domestic animals or those non-domestic species with which humans came into contact, such as mice, fleas or lice 1 and were then transmitted from animals to humans and from humans to other animals. In pre-modern agrarian societies, between two thirds and three quarters of deaths were caused by infectious diseases. Only in recent times has what is defined as an epidemic transition taken place. In 18 th-19 th century Europe there was a shift from illnesses transmittable from one person to another to degenerative non-infectious diseases. 2 The mortality rate has depended to a lesser degree on bacteria and viruses and on the inter-specific struggle among different animal species. Great epidemics mark the agricultural world of the past; from Neolithic times onwards. The formation of much denser societies with respect to those of hunters and gatherers, and daily contact with domestic animals are at the origins of serious epidemic infections which have accompanied humans for 10,000 years. Among these are infections of the digestive system-typhoid and paratyphoid fevers, dysentery, diarrhoea, cholera-; infections of the breathing apparatus, transmitted through the air-smallpox, diphtheria, measles, influenza: infections of the reproductive system-syphilis and venereal diseases in general-; diseases introduced into tissue and into the blood stream deriving from insect bites-plague, typhoid fever, yellow fever and malaria-. 3 Density and mobility of population, and poor diet have often been regarded as determinants of these epidemics. The relationship between population and resources plays an important role, but chance also plays a role in the spread of infections. The existence of the plague in Europe from the 14 th until the 18 th century has been discussed in recent years. Although some differences exist between the medieval disease and the one directly observed by modern epidemiologists, the prevailing opinion is still that the Black Death was actually caused by plague. 4

- by Paolo Malanima
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- Medieval History, Infectious Disease, Yellow fever, Digestive System

In South Asia, and throughout the developing world, the predominant official approach to livestock development has been improvement of production by means of upgrading local breeds via cross-breeding with exotic animals. This strategy has led to the replacement and dilution of locally adapted breeds with non-native one. This has resulted in an alarming loss that has been estimated by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations to amount to one breed every two weeks. Based on selected case studies this paper argues that development strategies using locally adapted breeds and species are much more likely to benefit livestock keepers whilst also maintaining domestic animal diversity and bearing a smaller ecological footprint. It also analyses the rationale for "Livestock Keepers' Rights", a principle that grew out of the struggle of traditional livestock keepers to retain control over their production resources, such as grazing areas and breeding stock, in the face of unfavourable policy environments.

- by Ilse Köhler-Rollefson
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- Animal genetic resources, South Asia, United Nations, Case Studies

An increasing loss of genetic diversity has been observed for all agriculturally used species, and poultry genetic resources are considered to be one of the most endangered. Conservation of domestic animal diversity must encompass identifying, characterising and monitoring genetic resources for their best short-term use, whilst ensuring their long-term ready availability. As an important first step to describe the existent resources, country surveys were done as initiated by FAO, and these data were collected in the FAO Global Data Bank for Farm Animal Genetic Resources. Efficient methods have been developed to quantify genetic structure of genetic resource populations. Thereby, biodiversity can be described at several levels, from phenotypic observations to molecular data. Recently, molecular techniques have become available, and the most widely used technique is currently the genetic characterisation of populations at a range of microsatellite loci. Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in genes and non-coding parts of the genome is considered as a worthwhile tool for the biodiversity assessment. A significant methodological way in studying poultry breed biodiversity is thought to be the system approach in planning experiments and analysing results. Another important step for the sustainable management of genetic resources is the establishment of conservation measures in situ as living populations or ex situ as cryopreserved material. The conservation methodologies seem to be especially critical in the third world countries where losses of native genetic resources may have a dramatic impact on sustainable development of animal production. By 2000 , 118 active conservation programs were listed by FAO for the five major avian species. Technologies for storage of frozen semen in chicken and turkey have been under development for decades, but their large-scale application in conservation measures of poultry genetic resources has not yet taken place. Cryopreservation of chicken and turkey semen as partly used by commercial breeders are of considerable interest in preserving genetic diversity, even fertilising ability obtained from frozen-thawed poultry spermatozoa is limited compared to mammalian species, in particular cattle, and varies obviously between breeds. Laboratory techniques to preserve other avian cells, such as somatic cells and primordial germ cells, are under investigation, but cryopreservation of embryos seems not to be successful.

- by Steffen Weigend
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- Genetics, Animal genetic resources, Sustainable Development, Animal Production

The following paper examines the climatic and cultural changes that occurred

Background: Currently, information on species-specific hookworm infection is unavailable in Malaysia and is restricted worldwide due to limited application of molecular diagnostic tools. Given the importance of accurate identification of hookworms, this study was conducted as part of an ongoing molecular epidemiological investigation aimed at providing the first documented data on species-specific hookworm infection, associated risk factors and the role of domestic animals as reservoirs for hookworm infections in endemic communities of Malaysia. Methods/Findings: A total of 634 human and 105 domestic canine and feline fecal samples were randomly collected. The overall prevalence of hookworm in humans and animals determined via microscopy was 9.1% (95% CI = 7.0-11.7%) and 61.9% (95% CI = 51.2-71.2%), respectively. Multivariate analysis indicated that participants without the provision of proper latrine systems (OR = 3.5; 95% CI = 1.53-8.00; p = 0.003), walking barefooted (OR = 5.6; 95% CI = 2.91-10.73; p,0.001) and in close contact with pets or livestock (OR = 2.9; 95% CI = 1.19-7.15; p = 0.009) were more likely to be infected with hookworms. Molecular analysis revealed that while most hookworm-positive individuals were infected with Necator americanus, Ancylostoma ceylanicum constituted 12.8% of single infections and 10.6% mixed infections with N. americanus. As for cats and dogs, 52.0% were positive for A. ceylanicum, 46.0% for Ancylostoma caninum and 2.0% for Ancylostoma braziliense and all were single infections. Conclusion: This present study provided evidence based on the combination of epidemiological, conventional diagnostic and molecular tools that A. ceylanicum infection is common and that its transmission dynamic in endemic areas in Malaysia is heightened by the close contact of human and domestic animal (i.e., dogs and cats) populations.

- by Yvonne Lim Ai Lian
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- Genetics, Malaysia, Adolescent, Molecular Diagnostics
- by Karam Pal Singh
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- Genetics, Biology, Medicine, Cats

Tracking social and economic change in Andean societies prior to the invasion of the Spanish has always been a difficult task, especially given that these cultures failed to develop any form of written record. Here we present a new method... more

- by Alex Chepstow-Lusty
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- Archaeology, Earth Sciences, Geochemistry, Archaeological Science