Purification and crystallization of haemoglobin from donkey (Equus asinus)

Haemoglobin acts as an important protein for oxygen carrier in all living beings. Purification of donkey haemoglobin was done using PEG 4000 as a separating medium. Crystallization was achieved using hanging drop vapor diffusion method using 2.8 M phosphate buffer, pH 6.8. Data collection was done using mar345 image plate detector system. The crystals grown under 2.8 M phosphate buffer are monoclinic with space group C2 and cell dimensions a=107.664 A, b=63.084 A, c=54.042 A, and beta=111.747 degrees.     

Feral donkey Equus asinus populations on the Karpaz peninsula, Cyprus

Numerous researchers have documented the adverse effects of feral donkeys Equus asinus introduced to semi-arid ecosystems. With the release of feral donkeys and potential increasing populations in natural habitats in northern Cyprus, there is concern for negative impacts on vegetation and native species. In the north of the island, there has been only one published study of feral donkey populations, and population estimators were relatively subjective. We estimated feral donkey populations on the Karpaz Peninsula using line transect surveys and quantitative distance sampling estimators. We stratified the sampling by using 11 sample units within the study area. We evaluated potential biases associated with habitat, topography, and perpendicular distance from the transect line and found that these variables did not bias donkey detections during our surveys. Using program DISTANCE, we found that a hazard rate cosine model was the best model that described our distance data based on model selection criterion (Akaikes Information Criteria adjusted for small sample bias). Estimated effective strip width was 280.19 m and detection probability was 0.47 with this model. Estimated donkey density was 6.7 donkeys/km², and estimated total abundance was 800 donkeys for the entire 132.5 km² study area. Of 95 donkey groups detected: 16% were detected in agricultural habitats with flat topography, 9% were detected in agricultural habitats with sloped topography, 24% were detected in shrub/forest habitats with flat topography, and 51% were detected in shrub/forest habitats with sloped topography. Of 102 behavioral observations recorded (multiple behaviors were detected in groups), frequencies of behaviors were 1% bedded, 70% standing, 22% grazing, 6% moving, and 2% other. Our estimated donkey population density in the Karpaz Peninsula was >2 times densities reported in arid regions of the United States and Australia, but slightly lower than earlier density estimates reported for the Karpaz region. These estimates of feral donkey populations in the Karpaz Peninsula provide a quantitative baseline from which to make population management decisions.     

Cross-modal individual recognition in domestic horses (Equus caballus) extends to familiar humans

It has recently been shown that some non-human animals can cross-modally recognize members of their own taxon. What is unclear is just how plastic this recognition system can be. In this study, we investigate whether an animal, the domestic horse, is capable of spontaneous cross-modal recognition of individuals from a morphologically very different species. We also provide the first insights into how cross-modal identity information is processed by examining whether there are hemispheric biases in this important social skill. In our preferential looking paradigm, subjects were presented with two people and playbacks of their voices to determine whether they were able to match the voice with the person. When presented with familiar handlers subjects could match the specific familiar person with the correct familiar voice. Horses were significantly better at performing the matching task when the congruent person was standing on their right, indicating marked hemispheric specialization (left hemisphere bias) in this ability. These results are the first to demonstrate that cross-modal recognition in animals can extend to individuals from phylogenetically very distant species. They also indicate that processes governed by the left hemisphere are central to the cross-modal matching of visual and auditory information from familiar individuals in a naturalistic setting.     

Morphological study on the inferior olivary nuclear complex of the donkey (Equus asinus)

This study provides basic data on the normal structure of the inferior olivary complex (IOC) of the donkey, Equus asinus, at the light microscopic level. In common with that of other mammals, the donkey IOC consisted of three major nuclei and four minor groups of cells. The former was comprised of the medial and dorsal accessory olives (MAO and DAO, respectively) and the principal olive (PO), and the latter was comprised of the dorsal cap, nucleus beta, ventrolateral outgrowth and dorsomedial cell column. The MAO had the longest rostral to caudal representation and formed the caudal pole of IOC. The DAO was located dorsally to the MAO in the caudal half of the IOC. In the rostral half, the DAO bended ventrally and merged with the dorsal lamella of PO. More rostrally, the DAO lost its connection with the dorsal lamella and then conversely connected with the ventral lamella of PO. The DAO formed the rostral pole of the IOC. The PO extended through the rostral half of the IOC. The dorsal cap was a small group of cells. Overall, the donkey IOC is similar to that of other mammals.     

Crystal structure of haemoglobin from donkey (Equus asinus) at 3A resolution

Haemoglobin from donkey was purified and crystallized in space group C2. The present donkey haemoglobin model comprises of two subunits alpha and beta. These alpha and beta subunits comprise of 141 and 146 amino acid residues, respectively, and the haem groups. The donkey haemoglobin differs from horse only in two amino acids of alpha-chain (His20 to Asn and Tyr24 to Phe) and these substitutions do not significantly change the secondary structural features of donkey haemoglobin. The haem group region and subunit contacts are closely resemble with that of horse methaemoglobin.     

A case of adoption and allonursing in captive plains zebra (Equus burchellii)

Although allonursing (allowing non-filial offspring to suckle) can be a costly behaviour, it has been reported for many mammals including ungulate species. However, such behaviour is very rare in equids. This is the first report on adoption and allonursing in captive plains zebra (Equus burchellii), recorded in the Dv?r Králové Zoo, Czech Republic. We observed a case of adoption of an orphaned foal by a lactating mare, who then regularly nursed two foals (filial and non-filial). The allonursing mare rejected more suckling attempts, terminated suckling bouts more often, and had a shorter suckling bout duration than other mares. When nursing both foals at the same time, the suckling bout lasted for less time than when nursing a single foal, regardless of whether it was filial or non-filial. The allonursing mare apparently did not discriminate between the filial and non-filial foal.     

Centric fission in the karyotype of a mother-daughter pair of donkeys (Equus asinus)

A mother-daughter pair of donkeys was found to have identical karyotypes with a diploid number of 63. The difference from the species karyotype could be explained by a centric fission event in the third largest autosomal pair.     

Lateralized behaviour of a non-social cichlid fish (Amatitlania nigrofasciata) in a social and a non-social environment

Cerebral lateralization, the partitioning of cognitive function preferentially into one hemisphere of the brain, is a trait ubiquitous among vertebrates. Some species exhibit population level lateralization, where the pattern of cerebral lateralization is the same for most members of that species; however, other species show only individual level lateralization, where each member of the species has a unique pattern of lateralized brain function. The pattern of cerebral lateralization within a population and an individual has been shown to differ based on the stimulus being processed. It has been hypothesized that sociality within a species, such as shoaling behaviour in fish, may have led to the development and persistence of population level lateralization. Here we assessed cerebral lateralization in convict cichlids (Amatitlania nigrofasciata), a species that does not shoal as adults but that shoals briefly as juveniles. We show that both male and female convict cichlids display population level lateralization when in a solitary environment but only females show population level lateralization when in a perceived social environment. We also show that the pattern of lateralization differs between these two tasks and that strength of lateralization in one task is not predictive of strength of lateralization in the other task.     

Morphological identification of ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) infesting donkeys (Equus asinus) in Maputo Province,Mozambique

Donkeys (Equus asinus) are rustic animals, but in Africa’s poorest regions, they can present multiple health problems, including tick infestation. The study’s objective was to determine the species composition of ticks that infest donkeys in Maputo Province (Mozambique). Ticks were collected in five conveniently selected southern districts of Maputo Province (Moamba, Matutuíne, Marracuene, Boane, and Matola) and were identified to species level using a stereoscopic microscope with the aid of dichotomous identification keys. In total, 500 ticks were collected from all 88 selected donkeys. Three genera of ticks were identified, namely Rhipicephalus (97.2%; 486/500), Amblyomma (2.2%; 11/500), and Hyalomma (0.6%; 3/500). Seven species were identified, of which Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi with 50.4% (252/500) was the most prevalent, followed by Rhipicephalus appendiculatus (27.4%; 137/500), Rhipicephalus turanicus (11.6; 10/500), Rhipicephalus (boophilus) microplus (6.8; 20/500), Amblyomma hebraeum (2.2%; 11/500), Rhipicephalus sanguineus (1%; 5/500) and Hyalomma truncatum (0.6%; 3/500). Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi occurred in all locations, whereas Hyalomma truncatum occurred only in the Boane district. Males were the most prevalent (67.2%; 336/500). The study revealed that donkeys in Maputo Province were infested with seven tick species of which R. evertsi evertsi was the main species.

     

Cylicocyclus asini n. sp. (Nematoda: Cyathostominae) from donkeys Equus asinus in South Africa

Cylicocyclus asini n. sp. is described from the ventral colons of seven domesticated donkeys Equus asinus in South Africa. The specimens are smaller than 11 members of the genus Cylicocyclus, which currently comprises 10 recognised species, one recognised subspecies and two species inquirendae, but is similar in size to the two smaller species, C. ashworthi and C. leptostomum. Additionally, the small size of its buccal capsule places it within the so-called small buccal capsule group, namely C. ashworthi, C. leptostomum, C. nassatus, C. radiatus and C. triramosus. The shape of the oesophagus at the oesophago-intestinal junction is elongate, similar to that of C. leptostomum. The female specimens have a tail length shorter than the vulva to anus distance, similar to three of the smaller Cylicocyclus species, namely C. leptostomum, C. radiatus and C. triramosus. The new species is distinguished from the smaller members of the genus by the presence of a `club-foot' posterior in the female specimens, 40–46 elements in the external leaf-crown and a deep division of the dorsal ray which extends beyond the origin of the externodorsal ray. Similarly, the new species can be separated from the two other members in the genus with a `club-foot' posterior in the females (C. auriculatus and C. gyalocephaloides) by its body length (6.6–8.47 mm) and the presence of a nipple-like dorsal gutter.     

Blood protein polymorphisms in the donkey (Equus asinus)

Transferrin, albumin, 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase and vitamin D-binding protein polymorphisms were detected in 242 feral and domesticated Australian donkeys by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, starch gel electrophoresis, autoradiography, immunoblotting with specific antisera and activity staining. All four TF and two ALB variants were donkey specific while only one of the PGD variants was donkey specific. The two GC variants were electrophoretically identical to the Equus caballus F and S proteins. Available evidence suggested that the TF, ALB, PGD and GC systems are controlled by co-dominant alleles with frequencies of the most common alleles of each system being 0·831, 0·946, 0·957 and 0·861 respectively. Glucose phosphate isomerase and plasminogen were monomorphic in the Australian population of donkeys.     

笼养川金丝猴社会偏侧行为的初步研究

社会环境中动物个体之间在互动行为过程中所表现出的行为偏侧称为社会偏侧.社会偏侧对于物种个体和群体的适应性生存均有重要意义.本研究基于生物系统发生关系,应用定量多维方法和The Observer 11.0动物行为观察分析系统初步研究笼养川金丝猴社会偏侧(社会互动过程中的位置偏侧)的基本特征.研究结果显示:(1)笼养川金丝...     

秦岭川金丝猴的一种自发性双足姿势的脚偏好

与手偏好相比较,脚偏好被认为是研究大脑半球中语言功能偏侧性调控表达的一种更佳的行为预测指标。当前国际科学界对于人类大脑半球功能不对称性和肢体偏好进化起源的关注,有力地推动了非人灵长类物种肢体偏好行为学研究,其中关于树栖灵长类物种的相关研究,对身体姿势在灵长类肢体偏好表达的理解有十分关键作用。川金丝猴(Rhinopithecus roxellana)是我特有濒危灵长类物种,主要营树栖生活。本研究首次关注秦岭川金丝猴自发性非移动双足姿势(双足叠放)的脚偏好。研究发现在个体水平上每个焦点动物均表现出明显的脚偏好,在群组水平上表现出显著的右脚偏好,脚偏好表达无显著性别差异,其研究结果支持“姿势起源理论”。本文首次呈现野生旧大陆猴物种群组水平脚偏好的研究证据。     

Variation of acidic prealbumins in the donkey (Equus asinus)

Starch gel electrophoresis of 55 donkey serum samples revealed three prealbumin (Pr) phenotypes temporarily designated PrM, PrMT and PrT. The distribution was in agreement with a genetic theory of two codominant alleles of frequencies, Pr^M= 0.87 and Pr^T= 0.13. Variation was also observed for proteins migrating with the same rate as the Xh zones in the horse.     

Anthrax outbreak among Grevy's zebra (Equus grevyi) in Samburu, Kenya

An anthrax outbreak occurred in the Wamba area of southern Samburu, Kenya, between December 2005 and March 2006. The outbreak affected equids including the endangered Grevy's zebras (Equus grevyi), plain zebras (Equis Burchelli) and donkeys (Equus asinus). Most of the deaths were localized in Nkaroni area just west of Wamba town. The diagnosis of anthrax was rapidly confirmed by bacteriological methods. The relevant government departments, including the Kenya Wildlife Service and Veterinary Department, and other stakeholders were promptly informed. Fifty‐three Grevy's zebra and 26 plains zebras died from anthrax. An equal number (eighteen) of adult male and female Grevy's zebras succumbed to the disease. The outbreak affected immature and mature individuals equally. The dead plain zebras included fifteen adult females, two adult males and nine immature individuals. The Veterinary Department responded by vaccinating livestock while Kenya Wildlife Service vaccinated 620 Grevy's zebras within southern Samburu. Examination of sites at which carcasses of animals which succumbed to the disease were burnt, revealed that unsupervised burning did not eliminate anthrax spores in 42% of the cases (n = 14). There is an urgent need to incorporate strategic wildlife disease monitoring in the struggle to save Grevy's zebras and other endangered species.     

蒙古野驴的秋季食性分析

2006 年9 月在新疆卡拉麦里山有蹄类野生动物保护区内采集了25 堆蒙古野驴粪便和10 科共29 种植物标本,采用粪便显微组织学分析方法分析了蒙古野驴的秋季食性,并初步探讨了其食性与周围环境的关系。结果表明,蒙古野驴秋季食性广, 共采食8 科26 种植物。这些植物按照其在食物组成中的比例可分为3 大类:主要食物为梭梭、针茅、驼绒藜, 共占食物组成的61.3% ;常采食植物为柽柳、角果藜、蒿、琵琶柴、芨芨草等11种,共占食物组成的33.3%; 少见采食的植物为盐爪爪、獐毛、顶羽菊、黑果枸杞、里海盐爪爪等12 种,共占食物组成的6.7% 。按科别而论,蒙古野驴采食最多的是藜科植物,其次是禾本科植物。从被采食植物的分布区域分析,其采食区域广阔,包括了保护区内所有的生境类型。      

Parasite-mediated selection drives an immunogenetic trade-off in plains zebras (Equus quagga)

Pathogen evasion of the host immune system is a key force driving extreme polymorphism in genes of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC). Although this gene family is well characterized in structure and function, there is still much debate surrounding the mechanisms by which MHC diversity is selectively maintained. Many studies have investigated relationships between MHC variation and specific pathogens, and have found mixed support for and against the hypotheses of heterozygote advantage, frequency-dependent or fluctuating selection. Few, however, have focused on the selective effects of multiple parasite types on host immunogenetic patterns. Here, we examined relationships between variation in the equine MHC gene, ELA-DRA, and both gastrointestinal (GI) and ectoparasitism in plains zebras (Equus quagga). Specific alleles present at opposing population frequencies had antagonistic effects, with rare alleles associated with increased GI parasitism and common alleles with increased tick burdens. These results support a frequency-dependent mechanism, but are also consistent with fluctuating selection. Maladaptive GI parasite ‘susceptibility alleles’ were reduced in frequency, suggesting that these parasites may play a greater selective role at this locus. Heterozygote advantage, in terms of allele mutational divergence, also predicted decreased GI parasite burden in genotypes with a common allele. We conclude that an immunogenetic trade-off affects resistance/susceptibility to parasites in this system. Because GI and ectoparasites do not directly interact within hosts, our results uniquely show that antagonistic parasite interactions can be indirectly modulated through the host immune system. This study highlights the importance of investigating the role of multiple parasites in shaping patterns of host immunogenetic variation.