Population dynamics (1869–1994), demography, and home ranges of the lynx in Bialowieza Primeval Forest (Poland and Belarus)

Population dynamics, demography and home ranges of the Eurasian lynx Lynx lynx were studied in Bialowiez̊a Primeval Forest (BPF, 1250 km²), the best preserved mixed and deciduous forest in the lowlands of Europe; 40% of BPF area belongs to Poland and 60/0 to the Belarus Republic. Results of radiotelemetry of lynx (1991–1994) were combined with the Polish and Belarussian game departments' inventories of lynx numbers (1946–1994), archival hunting statistics (1869–1989), observations and snowtracking of lynx. In 1991–1994, 12 lynx were radiocollared. Their home ranges covered from SO to 246 km² (mean 147 km²), depending largely on the time the lynx was radiotracked. During a given period, i.e. the autumn-winter seasons (I October-30 April), the home ranges were largest in adult males (90–148 km²), then in adult females (82–108 km²), and smallest in subadult lynxes (39–55 km²). Home ranges overlapped extensively. In winters 1992/93 and 1993/94, 21 and 29 lynxes, respectively, were recorded by the mapping of radiotracked and snowtracked individuals in the Polish part of BPF. Of them, 45/11 were ‘transborder’ individuals utilising both Polish and Belarussian pits of BPF. Winter densities were c. 3 adult lynx 100 km^-2 and 5 lynx 100 km^-2 if kittens were included. Adult males formed, on average, 29% and reproducing females 23% of all lynx. Subadults and kittens constituted, respectively, 12% and 35% of the population. Sex ratio was 1:1. During the first 3 months of kittens' life, on average 3.3 kittens/mother were recorded; only 1.6 young/mother survived till independence. Mortality of kittens was at least 48%, and the rate of mortality was highest during the early stage of kittens' life. Mean annual reproduction rate of lynx population was 0.59. In the protected population, annual mortality rate of subadult and adult lynx was on average 0.37. Poaching was the most important factor contributing 71% to the total annual mortality rate. During the last 125 years (1869–1994), three periods with relatively low harvest of lynx by man and thus with fairly natural functioning of lynx population, were recorded: before 1875 (density 2–3 lynx 100 km^-2), in 1920–1959 (4–6 lynx 100 km^-2) and after 1970 (2–5 lynx 100 km^-2). The levels of lynx densities were most probably determined by the varying abundance of roe deer Capreolus capreolus and red deer Cervta elaphus (lynx's main prey) in the ungulate community in BPF. Two periods of near extermination of lynx occurred (1890–1914 and 1960–1970), both caused by deliberate persecution of lynx. As soon as persecution was abandoned, lynx population recovered rapidly, mainly due to immigration from vast continuous forests in the east and north-east. Review of the long-term data on lynx dynamics in the Palaearctic revealed that in the Far North-East (Yakutia), the 10-year cycles of lynx and the blue hare Lupus timidus, its main prey, were recorded. Towards west, the cycle period becomes shorter (5–6 years in the Komi region). In the SW regions of the Palaearctic, where lynx relies on ungulates, lynx numbers are more stable but, periodically, also more aflected by man.     

Major Challenges in Clinical Management of TB/HIV Coinfected Patients in Eastern Europe Compared with Western Europe and Latin America

Objectives

Rates of TB/HIV coinfection and multi-drug resistant (MDR)-TB are increasing in Eastern Europe (EE). We aimed to study clinical characteristics, factors associated with MDR-TB and predicted activity of empiric anti-TB treatment at time of TB diagnosis among TB/HIV coinfected patients in EE, Western Europe (WE) and Latin America (LA).

Design and Methods

Between January 1, 2011, and December 31, 2013, 1413 TB/HIV patients (62 clinics in 19 countries in EE, WE, Southern Europe (SE), and LA) were enrolled.

Results

Significant differences were observed between EE (N = 844), WE (N = 152), SE (N = 164), and LA (N = 253) in the proportion of patients with a definite TB diagnosis (47%, 71%, 72% and 40%, p<0.0001), MDR-TB (40%, 5%, 3% and 15%, p<0.0001), and use of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) (17%, 40%, 44% and 35%, p<0.0001). Injecting drug use (adjusted OR (aOR) = 2.03 (95% CI 1.00–4.09), prior anti-TB treatment (3.42 (1.88–6.22)), and living in EE (7.19 (3.28–15.78)) were associated with MDR-TB. Among 585 patients with drug susceptibility test (DST) results, the empiric (i.e. without knowledge of the DST results) anti-TB treatment included ≥3 active drugs in 66% of participants in EE compared with 90–96% in other regions (p<0.0001).

Conclusions

In EE, TB/HIV patients were less likely to receive a definite TB diagnosis, more likely to house MDR-TB and commonly received empiric anti-TB treatment with reduced activity. Improved management of TB/HIV patients in EE requires better access to TB diagnostics including DSTs, empiric anti-TB therapy directed at both susceptible and MDR-TB, and more widespread use of cART.     

Inducible gene expression from multiple promoters by the tumor-promoting agent, PMA.

Phorbol ester tumor promoters affect a broad scope of changes in mammalian cells. This report describes the activation of expression of an introduced chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) reporter gene by the phorbol ester, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), in a variety of fibroblast and hematopoietic cell lines. PMA-mediated activation appears to be promoter region specific, yet widespread. Enhanced gene expression is observed for four out of five promoter systems tested, and, in some cases, is dependent on the cellular environment. Further experiments indicate that PMA mediates elevated gene expression by rapidly increasing steady state levels of CAT mRNA. The broad range of promoters affected by PMA may help explain the high potency of this agent in tumor production.     

Coat Polymorphism in Eurasian Lynx: Adaptation to Environment or Phylogeographic Legacy?

Journal of Mammalian Evolution - We studied the relationship between the variability and contemporary distribution of pelage phenotypes in one of most widely distributed felid species and an array...     

Reproductive behaviour of wild-living wolves in Białowieża Primeval Forest (Poland)

Characteristics of the reproductive behaviour of wolves (Canis lupus) were studied by radio-tracking and snow-tracking of four packs in Białowieża Primeval Forest (BPF), Poland, in 1995–1999. Signs of mating occurred between 12 January and 22 March. Parturition occurred between 19 April and 12 May, and the denning period lasted for 49–64 days. During that time, wolves used 1–3 den sites, spending on average 27 days at each site. The dens were never reused in consecutive years, but year after year the breeding sites were located in the same parts of the pack’s territory. Ten days before parturition pregnant females reduced their normal mobility by half (from 23 to 13.5 km day⁻¹, on average). During the ten days post-partum, they spent 85% of their time with pups and travelled 3.9 km day⁻¹, only. On days 11–30 after parturition, females spent 74% of their time tending pups and increased their daily movement distance to a mean of 13.3 km. The females resumed full mobility 50–70 days after parturition, which coincides with termination of the weaning process. Anecdotal observations indicated that pups were tended by other pack members while the mother was absent. Compared with the years 1947–1950, in 1995–1999 the breeding season of wolves in BPF occurred two weeks earlier. A possible reason was the 1 to 1.5-degree increase in the mean annual temperature during the last 50 years.     

MHC,parasites and antler development in red deer: no support for the Hamilton & Zuk hypothesis

The Hamilton‐Zuk hypothesis proposes that the genetic benefits of preferences for elaborated secondary sexual traits have their origins in the arms race between hosts and parasites, which maintains genetic variance in parasite resistance. Infection, in turn, can be reflected in the expression of costly sexual ornaments. However, the link between immune genes, infection and the expression of secondary sexual traits has rarely been investigated. Here, we explored whether the presence and identity of functional variants (supertypes) of the highly polymorphic major histocompatibility complex (MHC), which is responsible for the recognition of parasites, predict the load of lung and gut parasites and antler development in the red deer (Cervus elaphus). While we found MHC supertypes to be associated with infection by a number of parasite species, including debilitating lung nematodes, we did not find support for the Hamilton‐Zuk hypothesis. On the contrary, we found that lung nematode load was positively associated with antler development. We also found that the supertypes that were associated with resistance to certain parasites at the same time cause susceptibility to others. Such trade‐offs may undermine the potential genetic benefits of mate choice for resistant partners.     

Marrow fat content, sex and age of red deer killed by wolves in winter in the Carpathian Mountains

Age, sex and legbone marrow fat content of 90 red deer Cervus elaphus killed by wolves Canis lupus in winter in southeastern Poland were examined 1984–1988. The majority of kills were calves (44%) and hinds (40%); stags formed only 16%. The average age of hinds was 7.2 yr compared to 5.3 yr in stags. Animals older than 10 yr comprised only 13% of prey. Adults showed high femoral fat content (> 80%) throughout the winter (76% in early winter and 52% in late winter). Among calves femur marrow fat varied through the winter. In early winter 70% of calves had a high fat content (> 80%), though by late winter only 20% had such a high fat content, whilst 43% had low fat content (< 20%).     

Implications of Storing Urinary DNA from Different Populations for Molecular Analyses

Background

Molecular diagnosis using urine is established for many sexually transmitted diseases and is increasingly used to diagnose tumours and other infectious diseases. Storage of urine prior to analysis, whether due to home collection or bio-banking, is increasingly advocated yet no best practice has emerged. Here, we examined the stability of DNA in stored urine in two populations over 28 days.

Methodology

Urine from 40 (20 male) healthy volunteers from two populations, Italy and Zambia, was stored at four different temperatures (RT, 4°C, −20°C & −80°C) with and without EDTA preservative solution. Urines were extracted at days 0, 1, 3, 7 and 28 after storage. Human DNA content was measured using multi-copy (ALU J) and single copy (TLR2) targets by quantitative real-time PCR. Zambian and Italian samples contained comparable DNA quantity at time zero. Generally, two trends were observed during storage; no degradation, or rapid degradation from days 0 to 7 followed by little further degradation to 28 days. The biphasic degradation was always observed in Zambia regardless of storage conditions, but only twice in Italy.

Conclusion

Site-specific differences in urine composition significantly affect the stability of DNA during storage. Assessing the quality of stored urine for molecular analysis, by using the type of strategy described here, is paramount before these samples are used for molecular prognostic monitoring, genetic analyses and disease diagnosis.     

Dermatoglyphics in hypertension: a review

Hypertension is a major contributor to the global burden of disease and mortality. A major medical advancement would be a better means to ascertain which persons are at higher risk for becoming hypertensive beforehand. To that end, there have been a number of studies showing that certain dermatoglyphic markers are associated with hypertension. This association could be explained if the risk toward developing hypertension later on in life is somehow connected with fetal development of dermatoglyphics. It would be highly valuable from a clinical standpoint if this conjecture could be substantiated since dermatoglyphic markers could then be used for screening out individuals who might be at an elevated risk of becoming hypertensive. The aim of this review was to search for and appraise available studies that pertain to the association between hypertension and dermatoglyphics.A systematic literature search conducted using articles from MEDLINE (PubMed), Trip, Cochran, Google scholar, and gray literature until December 2014. Of the 37 relevant publications, 17 were included in the review. The review performed according to the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) statement.This review showed a fairly consistent finding of an increased frequency of whorl patterns along with a higher mean total ridge count in digital dermatoglyphic results in hypertensive samples compared to controls. However, it was imperative to discuss several limitations found in the studies that could make this association as yet unsettled.