Serologic survey for evidence of exposure to vesicular stomatitis virus, pseudorabies virus, brucellosis and leptospirosis in collared peccaries from Arizona

Two hundred eighteen usable serum samples were collected from hunter-killed collared peccaries (Tayassu tajacu) during March 1986, in three areas of Arizona. Evaluations for antibodies against vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) New Jersey (NJ) type, VSV Indiana type, pseudorabies virus, brucellosis, and leptospirosis revealed positive test results in 8%, 0%, less than 1%, 0%, and 23% of the sera, respectively. Exposure of peccaries to VSV (NJ) was widespread, but variation in the prevalence of seropositive peccaries was not found between the three areas sampled. The exposure of peccaries to VSV (NJ) probably was related to the recent epizootics in livestock in the vicinity. Exposure to Leptospira interrogans serovars also was widespread, and geographic variation in the prevalence of peccaries with antibodies against L. interrogans was found.     

Evaluation of genetic variability in the collared peccary Pecari tajacu and the white-lipped peccary Tayassu pecari by microsatellite markers

In this study, the microsatellite technique was used to evaluate the genetic variability in populations of collared and white-lipped peccaries kept in captivity. Six primers developed for domestic pigs were used and amplified in both species. They revealed the presence of five polymorphic loci and one monomorphic locus. The polymorphic loci included 4 of the 16 alleles in collared peccaries, and 3 of the 10 alleles in the white-lipped peccaries. Polymorphic information content (PIC) in both species and all the loci was highly informative. The probability of paternity exclusion (PEC), if one of the parents is known, was almost as high in white-lipped peccaries (95.53%) as in the collared (99,48%). The Fst values for collared (0.042) and white-lipped (0.1387) peccaries showed that both populations are not structured. The Fis values for all loci, except ACTG2 in white-lipped peccaries (-0.0275) and in both species (0.1985 to 0.9284 in collared peccaries and 0.3621 to 0.4754 in the white-lipped), revealed a high level of homozygosis, probably caused by inbreeding. Data on heterologous amplification and genetic variability in collared and white-lipped peccaries are presented for the first time.     

Serologic survey for antibodies to canine distemper virus in collared peccary (Tayassu tajacu) populations in Arizona

In 1989, a disease outbreak was observed among collared peccaries (javelina, Tayassu tajacu) in southern Arizona (USA) and canine distemper virus (CDV) was isolated from affected animals. Subsequently, 364 sera were collected from hunter-harvested javelina over a 4 yr period (1993-96) and were tested for antibody to CDV. Neutralizing antibody to CDV was detected in 58% of the serum samples suggesting that CDV infection is probably enzootic in the collared peccary populations of southern Arizona.     

Do Collared Peccaries Negatively Impact Understory Insectivorous Rain Forest Birds Indirectly Via Lianas and Vines?

Tropical rain forest understory insectivorous birds are declining, even in large forest reserves, yet the mechanisms remain unclear. Abundant large mammals can reshape forest structure, which degrades foraging microhabitat. We used six sites in Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama with varying collared peccary (Pecari tajacu) density to test three linked hypotheses: (1) locally declining understory insectivores forage preferentially in liana tangles; (2) vine and liana density, cover, and frequency of dense tangles are lower in the presence of abundant collared peccaries; and consequently (3) abundant collared peccaries are associated with reduced understory insectivorous bird abundance. Three insectivores that declined at La Selva preferentially foraged in liana tangles: Checker‐throated Antwren (Epinecrophylla fulviventris), Dot‐winged Antwren (Microrhopias quixensis), and Ruddy‐tailed Flycatcher (Terenotriccus erythrurus). Vine density, liana cover, liana tangle frequency, and forest cover were lower in the presence of collared peccaries relative to experimental mammal exclosures, with the greatest differences at La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica. Across sites, five of seven vine and liana measures showed negative, curvilinear relationships with peccary densities. Vine and liana measures peaked at sites with intermediate peccary density, and were low at La Selva. Structural equation models suggest negative indirect effects of the collared peccaries on focal bird densities, mediated by vine and liana density, cover, or tangle frequency. Forest area and rainfall affected both lianas and birds, but collared peccaries also contributed to the reduced abundance of understory insectivores. Indirect effects such as that suggested here may occur even in large, protected forest reserves where large mammal communities are changing.     

Serological survey suggests circulation of coronavirus on wild Suina from Argentina, 2014–2017

Swine coronaviruses affecting pigs have been studied sporadically in wildlife. In Argentina, epidemiological surveillance of TGEV/PRCV is conducted only in domestic pigs. The aim was to assess the prevalence of TGEV/PRCV in wild Suina. Antibodies against these diseases in wild boar and captive collared peccary were surveyed by ELISA. Antibodies against TGEV were found in three collared peccaries (n?=?87). No TGEV/PRCV antibodies were detected in wild boar (n?=?160). Preventive measures should be conducted in contact nodes where the transmission of agents may increase. Epidemiological surveillance in wildlife populations and in captive animals before their reintroduction should be attempted.

     

安徽省猪圆环病毒2型感染的流行病学调查

目的了解安徽地区猪群中猪圆环病毒2型(PCV2)的感染状况。方法应用酶联免疫吸附试验(ELISA)对采自安徽省14个地(市)的468份血清样品进行PCV2抗体检测,并运用PCR技术同步进行PCV2核酸检测。结果PCV2抗体检测的平均阳性率为74.36%,且阳性率随猪的日龄增长而升高,皖南地区的阳性检出率明显高于淮北和江淮两个地区,PCR与ELISA检测结果的符合率为99.37%。结论安徽省猪群中普遍存在PCV2的感染,病毒血症与抗体共存现象显著。     

Brucella suis infections in collared peccaries in Venezuela

A bacteriologic and serologic study was conducted on two ranches in the states of Apure and Guarico, Venezuela for brucellosis in collared peccaries (Tayassu tajacu). One hundred thirty-nine peccaries were necropsied and tissues were cultured. Forty-three isolations of Brucella suis biovar 1, were made from lymph nodes and spleens of 25 males and 18 females. Antibody to Brucella sp. was detected in sera from 122 animals by the rapid plate agglutination, standard tube agglutination, 2-mer-captoethanol, rivanol, complement fixation and card tests. Young animals had infection and reactor rates nearly as high as the older animals indicating most were infected at a relative early age. Results suggest that this species may transmit brucellosis when living with domestic animals. This is the first report of B. suis biovar 1 from collared peccaries in Venezuela.     

Diet Overlap and Foraging Activity between Feral Pigs and Native Peccaries in the Pantanal

Inter-specific competition is considered one of the main selective pressures affecting species distribution and coexistence. Different species vary in the way they forage in order to minimize encounters with their competitors and with their predators. However, it is still poorly known whether and how native species change their foraging behavior in the presence of exotic species, particularly in South America. Here we compare diet overlap of fruits and foraging activity period of two sympatric native ungulates (the white-lipped peccary, Tayassu pecari, and the collared peccary, Pecari tajacu) with the invasive feral pig (Sus scrofa) in the Brazilian Pantanal. We found high diet overlap between white-lipped peccaries and feral pigs, but low overlap between collared peccaries and feral pigs. Furthermore, we found that feral pigs may influence the foraging period of both native peccaries, but in different ways. In the absence of feral pigs, collared peccary activity peaks in the early evening, possibly allowing them to avoid white-lipped peccary activity peaks, which occur in the morning. In the presence of feral pigs, collared peccaries forage mostly in early morning, while white-lipped peccaries forage throughout the day. Our results indicate that collared peccaries may avoid foraging at the same time as white-lipped peccaries. However, they forage during the same periods as feral pigs, with whom they have lower diet overlap. Our study highlights how an exotic species may alter interactions between native species by interfering in their foraging periods.     

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus and porcine circovirus type 2 infections in wild boar (Sus scrofa) in southwestern Germany

Samples were collected from 203 wild boars (Sus scrofa) hunted in Baden-Wurtemburg, Germany from November-January 2008 and 2009. Samples from the lung and tonsil were analyzed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) for porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) type 1 (European type) and type 2 (American type). A qPCR to detect porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2)-specific genome was performed on tissue homogenates including lung, tonsils, and inguinal lymph nodes. Serum samples were tested for antibodies against PRRSV and PCV2 by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). No PRRSV was detected in any of the 203 samples and one sample had detectable antibodies against PRRSV. We detected PCV2 in organ materials from 103 wild boars with a prevalence of 50.7%. The number of wild boars positive for PCV2 by PCR varied according to the population density of wild boars among woodlands. More positive samples were detected in woodlands with a high density of wild boars. We found no correlation between the number of PCV2-positive wild boars and the density of domestic pigs in the surrounding area. The number of wild boars positive for antibodies against PCV2 by the INGEZIM Circovirus IgG/IgM test kit was low (53 sera positive for IgG- and three sera positive for IgM-antibodies) in comparison to the higher positive results from the INGEZIM CIRCO IgG test kit (102 positive and 12 inconclusive results).     

Influence of the thawing rate on the cryopreservation of semen from collared peccaries (Tayassu tajacu) using Tris-based extenders

The objective was to evaluate the influence of the thawing rate on the quality of frozen-thawed (cryopreserved in Tris-based extenders) semen obtained from collared peccaries (Tayassu tajacu). Semen from 13 sexually mature collared peccaries males were collected by electroejaculation, and evaluated for motility, vigor, sperm viability, membrane integrity, and sperm morphology. Semen was divided in two equal portions: the first was diluted in Tris-fructose and the other in Tris-glucose, with egg yolk (20%) and glycerol (3%) added to each portion. Extended semen was frozen in liquid nitrogen and thawed using two thawing protocols (37 °C for 1 min or 55 °C for 7 s, followed by an additional 30 s at 37 °C). There were no significant differences between the two extenders after extension, chilling, or glycerol addition. After thawing at 37 °C, there were 37.9 ± 4.2% and 28.5 ± 5.1% motile spermatozoa for samples extended in Tris-fructose and Tris-glucose, respectively, with 33.8 ± 3.7% and 28.2 ± 3.5% motile spermatozoa after thawing at 55 °C (no significant differences). Furthermore, there were no significant interactions between extenders and thawing protocols for any semen end point. In conclusion, semen from collared peccaries was successfully cryopreserved in Tris-based extenders and thawed with two protocols (37 °C for 1 min or 55 °C for 7 s).     

Interspecific association between an ungulate and a carnivore or a primate

In the Brazilian Pantanal, we observed collared peccaries (Pecari tajacu) associating with South American coatis (Nasua nasua) 13 times and three times with black howler monkeys (Alouatta caraya). The scansorial coati drop fruit whilst feeding that both collared peccaries and other coatis consume. Young coatis were also observed chewing on the pulp left over from seeds spat out by collared peccaries who had removed the hard exocarp. Both species react to each other’s alarm calls. Peccaries also benefited from the fruits dropped by black howler monkeys. Ecologically, coatis are omnivores; but taxonomically, they are carnivores. To our knowledge, the collared peccary/coati association is the first report of an interspecific association between an ungulate and a carnivore.     

Intraspecific aggression results in death of a collared peccary

An adult male collared peccary (Dicotyles tajacu) caught from the wild was released into an outdoor enclosure containing 12 other wild adult peccaries. The introduced male died of severe infection as a result of scrotal wounds inflicted by resident peccaries.     

Influence of storage time and nutrient medium on recovery of fibroblast-like cells from refrigerated collared peccary (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pecari tajacu</Emphasis> Linnaeus, 1758) skin

Animal cloning is a promising technology for biodiversity conservation, and its success depends on the recovery of nucleus donor cells. Specifically for collared peccaries, found sometimes in regions that are difficult to access, the storage at 4–6°C of skin tissues would be an alternative for the conservation of genetic material. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate different storage periods and the presence of a nutrient medium at 4–6°C on the recovery of somatic cells from the skin of collared peccaries. To analyze cell recovery rates, ear explants were distributed in non-refrigerated samples and samples refrigerated for 10, 30, and 50 d in the absence or presence of nutrient medium. All explants were analyzed by histologically and cultured. Only the fragments stored for 50 d without medium showed an increase in the total thickness of skin. Moreover, increased storage period, regardless of the presence of medium, increased the halo number and reduced the metabolic activity. After culture, only the fragments stored without medium for 50 d did not yield any somatic cells. Cells recovered from explants stored for 10 d showed similar characteristics to these recovered from non-refrigerated explants, regardless of the presence of medium, including the day at which explants achieved attachment and the total time to reach subconfluence. In conclusion, viable cells can be recovered from somatic tissues of collared peccaries stored for up to 50 d in the presence of medium, and tissues refrigerated for up to 10 d in the presence of medium yielded more viable cells.     

Vitamin A levels of blood in collared peccaries (Tayassu tajacu) from south Texas

Serum vitamin A concentrations were determined for 24 adult female collared peccaries from 1 captive and 2 wild populations during the period 30 January-15 March, 1983. Normal serum vitamin A concentrations of well-fed captive peccaries (mean = 39.0 micrograms/dl) were slightly higher than the reported range of values for domestic swine. Mean vitamin A concentrations of blood serum did not differ among the captive and 2 wild populations. However, a few individuals from the wild populations had low serum levels of vitamin A which suggested a possible vitamin A deficiency for these females.     

Effect of centrifugation and sugar supplementation on the semen cryopreservation of captive collared peccaries (Tayassu tajacu)

The present study is aimed at evaluating the effect of centrifugation for seminal plasma removal and the supplementation of fructose or glucose to the Tris-based extender on the kinematic patterns of the motility parameters of frozen–thawed semen obtained from captive collared peccaries (Tayassu tajacu). Semen samples (n = 14) were collected from 10 sexually mature male collared peccaries by electroejaculation. These samples were further evaluated for parameters such as motility, vigor, sperm viability, membrane integrity, and sperm morphology. The samples were divided into four aliquots, and only two of these aliquots were centrifuged. The semen aliquots (centrifuged and raw semen samples) were diluted in Tris-based extenders supplemented with fructose or glucose. Egg yolk (20%) and glycerol (3%) were added to all the samples which were cryopreserved in liquid nitrogen and thawed at 37 °C/1 min. The frozen–thawed semen was evaluated for the same parameters described for the fresh semen. On the other hand, the kinematic motility patterns were evaluated by a computer-aided system. After thawing, it was observed that the values for the total sperm motility were around 30% for all the samples. A negative effect of centrifugation was verified for parameters such as sperm morphology, linearity, straightness, and beat cross frequency (P < 0.05). However, no differences between fructose and glucose were verified for any semen end point (P > 0.05). In conclusion, it is not recommended to centrifuge the ejaculates from collared peccaries prior to conducting the cryopreservative procedures using a Tris-based extender supplemented with fructose or glucose.     

Effect of centrifugation and sugar supplementation on the semen cryopreservation of captive collared peccaries (Tayassu tajacu)

The present study is aimed at evaluating the effect of centrifugation for seminal plasma removal and the supplementation of fructose or glucose to the Tris-based extender on the kinematic patterns of the motility parameters of frozen–thawed semen obtained from captive collared peccaries (Tayassu tajacu). Semen samples (n = 14) were collected from 10 sexually mature male collared peccaries by electroejaculation. These samples were further evaluated for parameters such as motility, vigor, sperm viability, membrane integrity, and sperm morphology. The samples were divided into four aliquots, and only two of these aliquots were centrifuged. The semen aliquots (centrifuged and raw semen samples) were diluted in Tris-based extenders supplemented with fructose or glucose. Egg yolk (20%) and glycerol (3%) were added to all the samples which were cryopreserved in liquid nitrogen and thawed at 37 °C/1 min. The frozen–thawed semen was evaluated for the same parameters described for the fresh semen. On the other hand, the kinematic motility patterns were evaluated by a computer-aided system. After thawing, it was observed that the values for the total sperm motility were around 30% for all the samples. A negative effect of centrifugation was verified for parameters such as sperm morphology, linearity, straightness, and beat cross frequency (P < 0.05). However, no differences between fructose and glucose were verified for any semen end point (P > 0.05). In conclusion, it is not recommended to centrifuge the ejaculates from collared peccaries prior to conducting the cryopreservative procedures using a Tris-based extender supplemented with fructose or glucose.     

Experimental bluetongue and epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus infection in California black-tailed deer.

Four adult black-tailed deer (Odocoileus hemioneus columbianus) and five fawns were inoculated with bluetongue virus (BTV) and one adult deer was inoculated with epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD) virus to produce clinical signs and lesions of hemorrhagic disease. Serologic response was monitored using the agar gel immunodiffusion (AGID) test and the competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (C-ELISA). Embryonating chicken eggs and vero cells were used to detect viremia. No animal exhibited clinical or pathologic signs of hemorrhagic disease. Bluetongue viremia was detected as early as 2 days post-inoculation (DPI-2) and in some animals, persisted until at least DPI-12. The earliest detection of BTV antibodies using the AGID was DPI-8. Two adult deer remained seropositive for BTV antibodies for > 9 mo and 1 yr, respectively, using both the AGID and C-ELISA tests. We observed cross reactions between BT and EHD antibodies using the AGID tests. Also, the AGID test did not consistently detect exposure to BTV. Viremia was not detected in the deer inoculated with EHD although this animal was AGID positive between DPI-6 and DPI-49.     

Description of collared peccary (Tayassu tajacu) milk composition

Composition of collared peccary (Tayassu tajacu) milk was described for samples obtained from a group of four captive females maintained on a high quality diet and four wild-caught females inhabiting semiarid rangelands in southern Texas. The gross composition of peccary and porcine milks are fairly similar, with some differences in mineral composition. Results suggest that bottle formulations developed for domestic swine piglets would provide adequate nutrition for hand-rearing nursling peccaries.