Reproductive seasonality in wild northern pig-tailed macaques (Macaca leonina)

Primates - Macaque reproductive patterns range from strictly seasonal breeding to non-seasonal breeding, but factors explaining this variation are not fully understood. Valid reproductive...     

Interactions between lar gibbons and pig-tailed macaques at fruit sources

Interactions are reported between white-handed gibbons (Hylobates lar) and pig-tailed macaques (Macaca nemestrina) in Khao Yai National Park, Thailand, in which gibbons selected ripe fruit from sources before macaques arrived on 4 occasions during June and July of 1989. The macaques foraged near gibbons or from shared fruit sources during 13% of gibbon observation time. Gibbons made their presence known in fruit trees when macaques approached on 3 occasions and macaques did not enter fruit trees occupied by gibbons. An aggressive interaction is reported in which a single white-handed gibbon vigorously excluded 22–28 macaques from a rare and valuable fruit tree (Sandoricum koetjape). The observations suggest that exploitative and interference competition may exist between these species.     

Parasites may exit immunocompromised northern pig-tailed macaques(Macaca leonina) infected with SIVmac239

Parasites can increase infection rates and pathogenicity in immunocompromised human immunodeficiency virus(HIV) patients. However, in vitro studies and epidemiological investigations also suggest that parasites might escape immunocompromised hosts during HIV infection.Due to the lack of direct evidence from animal experiments, the effects of parasitic infections on immunocompromised hosts remain unclear. Here,we detected 14 different parasites in six northern pig-tailed macaques(NPMs) before or at the 50 th week of simian immunodeficiency virus(SIV) infection by ELISA. The NPMs all carried parasites before viral injection. At the 50 th week after viral injection, the individuals with negative results in parasitic detection(i.e., 08247 and 08287) were characterized as the Parasites Exit(PE) group, with the other individuals(i.e., 09203, 09211, 10205, and 10225) characterized as the Parasites Remain(PR) group. Compared with the PR group, the NPMs in the PE group showed higher viral loads, lower CD4~+T cells counts, and lower CD4/CD8 rates. Additionally, the PE group had higher immune activation and immune exhaustion of both CD4~+and CD8~+T cells. Pathological observation showed greater injury to the liver, cecum, colon,spleen, and mesenteric lymph nodes in the PE group.This study showed more seriously compromised immunity in the PE group, strongly indicating that parasites might exit an immunocompromised host.     

北平顶猴(Macaca leonina)血液学和血液生化指标参考值的测定与分析

平顶猴是重要的非人灵长类实验动物,广泛应用于艾滋病等重大疾病的动物模型研究。平顶猴分为明打威猴、巽他平顶猴和北平顶猴三个种。我国及周边东南亚国家分布的平顶猴为北平顶猴。该文测定和分析了青幼年(2～4a)和成年(5～10a)北平顶猴的血液学和血液生化指标参考值。结果表明个体性别、年龄和体重等对该指标均有影响。雌性个体的红细胞数、血红蛋白和碱性磷酸酶均低于雄性个体。青幼年个体的白细胞数、淋巴细胞数、单核细胞数、血小板分布宽度、碱性磷酸酶、天冬氨酸转氨酶和胆固醇均高于成年猴,而肌酐和甘油三酯则低于成年猴。个体体重与青年猴的平均血红蛋白含量和肌酐正相关,与成年猴的平均血红蛋白含量、粒细胞百分比、血红蛋白和肌酐正相关,而与成年猴的淋巴细胞数、淋巴细胞百分比、红细胞分布宽度变异系数、天冬氨酸转氨酶和胆固醇负相关。该研究提供的北平顶猴血液学和血液生化指标参考值范围,对其基础研究、疾病诊断和模型建立等具有重要意义。     

Experimental infection of rhesus and pig-tailed macaques with macaque rhadinoviruses

The recognition of naturally occurring rhadinoviruses in macaque monkeys has spurred interest in their use as models for human infection with Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (human herpesvirus 8). Rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) and pig-tailed macaques (Macaca nemestrina) were inoculated intravenously with rhadinovirus isolates derived from these species (rhesus rhadinovirus [RRV] and pig-tailed rhadinovirus [PRV]). Nine rhadinovirus antibody-negative and two rhadinovirus antibody-positive monkeys were used for these experimental inoculations. Antibody-negative animals clearly became infected following virus inoculation since they developed persisting antibody responses to virus and virus was isolated from peripheral blood on repeated occasions following inoculation. Viral sequences were also detected by PCR in lymph node, oral mucosa, skin, and peripheral blood mononuclear cells following inoculation. Experimentally infected animals developed peripheral lymphadenopathy which resolved by 12 weeks following inoculation, and these animals have subsequently remained free of disease. No increased pathogenicity was apparent from cross-species infection, i.e., inoculation of rhesus macaques with PRV or of pig-tailed macaques with RRV, whether the animals were antibody positive or negative at the time of virus inoculation. Coinoculation of additional rhesus monkeys with simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) isolate SIVmac251 and macaque-derived rhadinovirus resulted in an attenuated antibody response to both agents and shorter mean survival compared to SIVmac251-inoculated controls (155.5 days versus 560.1 days; P < 0.019). Coinfected and immunodeficient macaques died of a variety of opportunistic infections characteristic of simian AIDS. PCR analysis of sorted peripheral blood mononuclear cells indicated a preferential tropism of RRV for CD20(+) B lymphocytes. Our results demonstrate persistent infection of macaque monkeys with RRV and PRV following experimental inoculation, but no specific disease was readily apparent from these infections even in the context of concurrent SIV infection.     

Analysis of immunoglobulin,complements and CRP levels in serum of captive northern pig-tailed macaques (Macaca leonina)

The northern pig-tailed macaque(NPM,Macaca leonina) has become a widely used animal model in biomedical research. In this study, we measured serum immunoglobulin IgG, IgM, IgA, complement C3, C4 and CRP levels in 3-11 year old captive northern pig-tailed macaques using HITACHI 7600-20 automated chemistry analyzer in order to determine the influences of age and gender on these items. The results showed that serum IgA, IgM, C3 and C4 levels were not correlated with age(P0.05), while serum IgG levels increased progressively with age(r=0.202;P=0.045). Serum IgG, IgA, IgM and C3 levels were higher in females than in males(P0.05). Moreover, serum C3 concentration was both positively and strongly correlated with that of C4(r=0.700; P0.0001). This study provides basic serum immunoglobulin and complement data of captive northern pig-tailed macaques, which may prove useful for future breeding efforts and biomedical research.     

Gene pool differences between northern and southern Altaians inferred from the data on Y-chromosomal haplogroups

Y-chromosomal haplogroups composition and frequencies were analyzed in Northern and Southern Altaians. In the gene pool of Altaians a total of 18 Y-chromosomal haplogroups were identified, including C3xM77, C3c, DxM15, E, F*, J2, I1a, I1b, K*, N*, N2, N3a, O3, P*, Q*, R1*, R1a1, and R1b3. The structured nature of the Altaic gene pool is determined by the presence of the Caucasoid and Mongoloid components, along with the ancient genetic substratum, marked by the corresponding Western and Eastern Eurasian haplogroups. Haplogroup R1a1 prevailed in both ethnic groups, accounting for about 53 and 38% of paternal lineages in Southern and Northern Altaians, respectively. This haplogroup is thought to be associated with the eastward expansion of early Indo-Europeans, and marks Caucasoid element in the gene pools of South Siberian populations. Similarly to haplogroup K*, the second frequent haplogroup Q* represents paleo-Asiatic marker, probably associated with the Ket and Samoyedic contributions to the Altaic gene pool. The presence of lineages N2 and N3a can be explained as the contribution of Finno--Ugric tribes, assimilated by ancient Turks. The presence of haplogroups C3xM77, C3c, N*, and 03 reflects the contribution of Central Asian Mongoloid groups. These haplogroups, probably, mark the latest movements of Mongolian migrants from the territory of contemporary Tuva and Mongolia. The data of factor analysis, variance analysis, cluster analysis, and phylogenetic analysis point to substantial genetic differentiation of Northern and Southern Altaians. The differences between Northern and Southern Altaians in the haplogroup composition, as well as in the internal haplotype structure were demonstrated.     

Metabolic fingerprinting reveals differences between northern and southern strains of the cryptic diatom Chaetoceros socialis

Morphology and molecular phylogeny constitute the structural elements of diatom taxonomy. These approaches do not, however, give information on the functioning of taxa. Additional methods to serve a more integrated and wide-ranging taxonomy have therefore been called for. Metabolic fingerprinting is one approach used within the field of metabolomics, often applied in classification of samples. Here we apply metabolic fingerprinting in a taxonomic study of a cryptic diatom species. Strains of the cosmopolitan diatom Chaetoceros socialis from two geographical areas; the north-east Atlantic and Arctic and the Gulf of Naples, were cultivated at three different temperatures; 2.5, 8 and 13°C. The strains from the two different geographical areas exhibited different growth rates as well as different photosynthetic efficiencies. Algal extracts, collected at the end of the growth experiments, were analysed by Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography High Resolution Mass Spectrometry. The two groups of strains were separated by principal component analysis of their metabolic fingerprints. Analysis of the data revealed both qualitative and quantitative differences in metabolite markers. These phenotypic differences reinforce differences also found for morphology, phylogenetic markers and growth rates, and point at different adaptive characteristics in organisms living under different temperature regimes.     

The Crow Corvus corone hybrid zone in southern Denmark and northern Germany

In hybrid zones genetically differentiated populations meet and interbreed. As they result from ongoing divergence and potential speciation, such zones provide opportunities to study how different factors affect this process. One well-known avian hybrid zone is that between the Hooded Crow Corvus corone cornix and Carrion Crow C. c. corone , which extends throughout much of Europe. We compare the current position and width of the zone in southern Denmark and northern Germany with that described in detail by Meise in 1928. A GPS technique was used to determine the geographical position of more than 1000 Crows in established pairs in which all individuals were classified as either Carrion, Hooded or hybrid phenotype. The data show that the Carrion Crow has expanded northwards and that this is most pronounced at the eastern side of the study area. Here the hybrid zone has moved around 19 km. However, the width of the zone seems to have remained stable over time. Possible reasons for why the zone may have moved are discussed.     

Environmental and genetic effects on flowering differences between northern and southern populations of Arabidopsis lyrata (Brassicaceae)

Arabidopsis lyrata (Brassicaceae) is a close outcrossing relative of A. thaliana. We examine flowering time variation of northern and southern A. lyrata populations in controlled environmental conditions, in a common garden experiment with A. thaliana, and in the field. Southern populations of A. lyrata flowered earlier than northern ones in all environmental conditions. Individuals from southern populations were more likely to flower in short days (14 h light) than northern ones, and all populations had a higher probability of flowering and flowered more rapidly in long days (20 h). The interaction of population and day length significantly affected flowering probability, and flowering time in one of two comparisons. The common garden experiment demonstrated differences between populations in the response to seed cold treatment, but growth chamber experiments showed no vernalization effect after 4 wk of rosette cold treatment. In a field population in Norway, a high proportion of the plants flowered in each year of the study. The plants progressed to flowering more rapidly in the field and common garden than in the growth chamber. The genetic basis of these flowering time differences here can be further studied using A. thaliana genetic tools.     

Critical photoperiod and daylength threshold differences between northern and southern populations of the butterfly Limenitis archippus

Laboratory studies show that different photoperiods induce diapause in northern (Vermont) and southern (Maryland) larval strains of the butterfly Limenitis archippus. The northern strain responds to $\text{1}\text{2}\text{hr}$ longer photoperiod thresholds and critical ranges than does the southern one. These responses are correlated with geographic differences in the ambient photoperiod of the two localities. In this facultative diapausing species, third instar larvae construct hibernacula within the basal portions of tubular leaves spun with silk, when daylength approaches either 13·5 hr (Vermont strain) or 13·0 hr (Maryland strain). When reared in total darkness some larvae develop directly to fourth inszar without diapause, although mortality is high. Among both strains different broods exhibit different incidences of diapause. Reciprocal inter-strain hybrids show intermediate diapause responses, suggesting that larval diapause is under the control of multiple genes.     

Species differences of male loud calls and their perception in sulawesi macaques

Playback experiments were conducted to investigate interspecific discrimination of male loud calls in Sulawesi macaques. Loud calls of four macaque species living in Sulawesi (Macaca tonkeana, M. maurus, M. hecki, andM. nigrescens) and a control stimulus (an 8-sec frequency modulated sound) were played back to semi-free-ranging Tonkean macaques (M. tonkeana). A preliminary acoustic analysis indicated that the calls of these four species differ in some spectral and temporal features. In the playback experiments, Tonkean macaques responded in a similar manner to conspecific calls and calls of two other species,M. maurus andM. hecki. In contrast, animals responded more weakly to the call ofM. nigrescens and the control stimulus. Males responded more strongly than females to all stimuli, while females appeared to be more discriminating for species differences than males. Analyses on the acoustic features of loud calls suggested that high frequency, wide frequency range, and repetition of sound units at a high rate elicit quick responses from animals.     

Life history phenology differences between southern and northern populations of the apple maggot fly, Rhagoletis pomonella

The textbook version of sympatric host race formation in Rhagoletis pomonella (Walsh) (Diptera: Tephritidae) features an ancestral hawthorn-infesting race and a derived apple race differing in life-history timing and response to host fruit odor. However, previous research has focused largely on northeastern North America. To investigate life-history timing in poorly studied southeastern North American populations with very diverse hosts, we performed common garden experiments on emergence time on six southern R. pomonella populations and four other R. pomonella species-group populations. Findings were: (1) the diverse adult emergence times of southern populations resulted largely from genetic differences; (2) some southern populations had bimodal emergence curves; (3) correlations of allozyme markers and emergence times were uncommon in southern populations; and (4) mean emergence times from common garden rearings and dates of field collection of the populations were strongly correlated.