Phaidra - University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna
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Social influence and attention bias in free-ranging domestic pigs: Effects of demonstrator rank and friendship
No full textPigs, as highly social animals, form stable hierarchies and different relationships to other members of their group. Pigs, mostly of very young ages, have been shown to use social learning to gather information about food locations and even extractive foraging techniques from various types of sources. The present study aims to investigate whether also adult pigs, living in a long-term stable kin-based sounder, use information of their group mates and, more specifically, whether this is based on their mates\u27 rank or their relationship with them. The dominance order of 20 female semi-naturally housed Kune Kune pigs (aged between five to seven years) was established with dyadic hierarchy tests, where two pigs competed against each other over a monopolizable food source. Their affiliative relationships (i.e. friendships) towards each other were assessed based on observations during their daily lives. After finding suitable demonstrator dyads, differing in rank and/or relationship quality to the respective observer, six rounds of two-choice tests were conducted. Prior to each two-choice test, two demonstrators were positioned on each side of the observer and were allowed to feed from a trough with an assigned olfactory cue that provided additional information in the subsequent test. After two minutes, the observer pig was allowed to enter a test room and was given the choice between two food bowls, which were marked with the olfactory cues connected to the respective demonstrators. Results indicate that sows, irrespective of their own rank, preferred to pay attention to the relatively lower-ranking demonstrator during the exposure phase, possibly due to avoidance of the relatively higher-ranking demonstrator. Furthermore, the observers with higher sociability preferred to pay more attention to the demonstrators with whom they had better friendships. In the two-choice test, we found no significant effect of demonstrator rank or friendship. However, a left side bias in more sociable observers may point towards at least some social effects. Overall, the study provided evidence that not only dominance, but also socio-positive relationships between individuals affect the behaviour of domestic pigs
Alpine salamanders at risk? The current status of an emerging fungal pathogen
No full textAmphibians globally suffer from emerging infectious diseases like chytridiomycosis caused by the continuously spreading chytrid fungi. One is Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal) and its disease ? the \u27salamander plague\u27 ? which is lethal to several caudate taxa. Recently introduced into Western Europe, long distance dispersal of Bsal, likely through human mediation, has been reported. Herein we study if Alpine salamanders (Salamandra atra and S. lanzai) are yet affected by the salamander plague in the wild. Members of the genus Salamandra are highly susceptible to Bsal leading to the lethal disease. Moreover, ecological modelling has shown that the Alps and Dinarides, where Alpine salamanders occur, are generally suitable for Bsal. We analysed skin swabs of 818 individuals of Alpine salamanders and syntopic amphibians at 40 sites between 2017 to 2022. Further, we compiled those with published data from 319 individuals from 13 sites concluding that Bsal infections were not detected. Our results suggest that the salamander plague so far is absent from the geographic ranges of Alpine salamanders. That means that there is still a chance to timely implement surveillance strategies. Among others, we recommend prevention measures, citizen science approaches, and ex situ conservation breeding of endemic salamandrid lineages
Reproductive isolation arises during laboratory adaptation to a novel hot environment
No full textReproductive isolation can result from adaptive processes (e.g., ecological speciation and mutation-order speciation) or stochastic processes such as "system drift" model. Ecological speciation predicts barriers to gene flow between populations from different environments, but not among replicate populations from the same environment. In contrast, reproductive isolation among populations independently adapted to the same/similar environment can arise from both mutation-order speciation or system drift.In experimentally evolved populations adapting to a hot environment for over 100 generations, we find evidence for pre- and postmating reproductive isolation. On one hand, an altered lipid metabolism and cuticular hydrocarbon composition pointed to possible premating barriers between the ancestral and replicate evolved populations. On the other hand, the pronounced gene expression differences in male reproductive genes may underlie the postmating isolation among replicate evolved populations adapting to the same environment with the same standing genetic variation.Our study confirms that replicated evolution experiments provide valuable insights into the mechanisms of speciation. The rapid emergence of the premating reproductive isolation during temperature adaptation showcases incipient ecological speciation. The potential evidence of postmating reproductive isolation among replicates gave rise to two hypotheses: (1) mutation-order speciation through a common selection on early fecundity leading to an inherent inter-locus sexual conflict; (2) system drift with genetic drift along the neutral ridges
Molecular Characterization of Chimeric Staphylococcus aureus Strains from Waterfowl
No full textStaphylococcus aureus is a versatile pathogen that does not only occur in humans but also in various wild and domestic animals, including several avian species. When characterizing S. aureus isolates from waterfowl, isolates were identified as atypical CC133 by DNA microarray analysis. They differed from previously sequenced CC133 strains in the presence of the collagen adhesin gene cna; some also showed a different capsule type and a deviant spa type. Thus, they were subjected to whole-genome sequencing. This revealed multiple insertions of large regions of DNA from other S. aureus lineages into a CC133-derived backbone genome. Three distinct strains were identified based on the size and extent of these inserts. One strain comprised two small inserts of foreign DNA up- and downstream of oriC; one of about 7000 nt or 0.25% originated from CC692 and the other, at ca. 38,000 nt or 1.3% slightly larger one was of CC522 provenance. The second strain carried a larger CC692 insert (nearly 257,000 nt or 10% of the strain\u27s genome), and its CC522-derived insert was also larger, at about 53,500 nt or 2% of the genome). The third strain carried an identical CC692-derived region (in which the same mutations were observed as in the second strain), but it had a considerably larger CC522-like insertion of about 167,000 nt or 5.9% of the genome. Both isolates of the first, and two out of four isolates of the second strain also harbored a hemolysin-beta-integrating prophage carrying "bird-specific" virulence factors, ornithine cyclodeaminase D0K6J8 and a putative protease D0K6J9. Furthermore, isolates had two different variants of SCC elements that lacked mecA/mecC genes. These findings highlight the role of horizontal gene transfer in the evolution of S. aureus facilitated by SCC elements, by phages, and by a yet undescribed mechanism for large-scale exchange of core genomic DNA
Definition of diseases during the fresh cow period and individual treatments in the conventional and sensor-based groups
No full textSupplementary material of the publication:
Simoni A, König F, Weimar K, Hancock A, Wunderlich C, Klawitter M, Breuer T, Drillich M, Iwersen M. 2024. Evaluation of sensor-based health monitoring in dairy cows: Exploiting rumination times for health alerts around parturition. Journal of dairy science. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2023-2431
A Novel CARMIL2 Immunodeficiency Identified in a Subset of Cavalier King Charles Spaniels with Pneumocystis and Bordetella Pneumonia
No full textPet dogs are a valuable natural animal model for studying relationships between primary immunodeficiencies and susceptibility to Pneumocystis and other opportunistic respiratory pathogens. Certain breeds, such as the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, are over-represented for Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP), suggesting the presence of a primary immunodeficiency in the breed. Here, we report the discovery of a CARMIL2 nonsense variant in three Cavalier King Charles Spaniel dogs with either PCP (n = 2) or refractory Bordetella pneumonia (n = 1). CARMIL2 encodes a protein that plays critical roles in T-cell activation and other aspects of immune function. Deleterious CARMIL2 variants have recently been reported in human patients with PCP and other recurrent pneumonias. In addition to opportunistic respiratory infection, the affected dogs also exhibited other clinical manifestations of CARMIL2 deficiencies that have been reported in humans, including early-onset gastrointestinal disease, allergic skin disease, mucocutaneous lesions, abscesses, autoimmune disorders, and gastrointestinal parasitism. This discovery highlights the potential utility of a natural canine model in identifying and studying primary immunodeficiencies in patients affected by PCP
Genomic signatures of climate adaptation in bank voles
No full textEvidence for divergent selection and adaptive variation across the landscape can provide insight into a species\u27 ability to adapt to different environments. However, despite recent advances in genomics, it remains difficult to detect the footprints of climate-mediated selection in natural populations. Here, we analysed ddRAD sequencing data (21,892 SNPs) in conjunction with geographic climate variation to search for signatures of adaptive differentiation in twelve populations of the bank vole (Clethrionomys glareolus) distributed across Europe. To identify the loci subject to selection associated with climate variation, we applied multiple genotype-environment association methods, two univariate and one multivariate, and controlled for the effect of population structure. In total, we identified 213 candidate loci for adaptation, 74 of which were located within genes. In particular, we identified signatures of selection in candidate genes with functions related to lipid metabolism and the immune system. Using the results of redundancy analysis, we demonstrated that population history and climate have joint effects on the genetic variation in the pan-European metapopulation. Furthermore, by examining only candidate loci, we found that annual mean temperature is an important factor shaping adaptive genetic variation in the bank vole. By combining landscape genomic approaches, our study sheds light on genome-wide adaptive differentiation and the spatial distribution of variants underlying adaptive variation influenced by local climate in bank voles
A systematic approach to defining and verifying descriptors used in the Qualitative Behavioural Assessment of sows
No full textQualitative Behaviour Assessment (QBA) is a welfare evaluation tool that uses a holistic approach to capturing an animal\u27s emotional state. Lists of QBA descriptors validated to assess pig welfare exist, but their definitions are often not described in peer-reviewed literature and the processes used to develop definitions are lacking. The objective of this study is to detail a systematic approach to creating clear definitions for a pre-existing fixed list of QBA descriptors and test their application. A fixed list of 20 descriptors from the EU Welfare Quality® assessment protocol for pigs was modified, and ten pig experts were recruited to assist with defining these descriptors in a focus group-style discussion. Half of the experts involved in creating descriptor definitions partook in a subsequent step, where the newly developed definitions were tested by implementing QBA on a video library of post-weaned sows selected to capture the breadth of sow behaviour. Experts displayed excellent agreement in identifying a PCA dimension interpreted as the valence of descriptors and good agreement for another reflecting arousal. Inter-observer reliability was also measured for each descriptor. Only two descriptors exhibited less than moderate agreement between experts whereas half of the descriptors evoked substantial agreement or better. These findings support our process to delineate clear definitions for a fixed list of QBA descriptors in pigs. This study is the first of its kind detailing the in-depth process of creating and verifying descriptor definitions for future use in sow welfare assessment
Agreement between Clinical Assessment and Laboratory Diagnosis of Ringworm in Calves at Auction Markets
No full textTo limit the spread of bovine ringworm, control measures such as movement restrictions are highly recommended. In this context, calves at auction markets in Styria, Austria, displaying skin lesions characteristic for bovine ringworm, are excluded from the auctions. To investigate whether these clinical assessments correspond to laboratory diagnosis, a total of 166 samples taken from skin lesions assigned to the three clinical categories \u27ringworm very likely (v), likely (l) or unlikely (u)\u27 were mycologically examined using microscopy, culture, and nested PCR followed by amplicon sequencing. Further, the relationships of isolated dermatophytes were determined through multi-locus sequence typing (MLST). Overall, a high agreement between clinical assessment and laboratory results were observed with microscopy and nested PCR, providing more consistent results and molecular detection possessing an analytical sensitivity superior to that of cultural isolation (culture 21.7% vs. nested PCR 48.2%). Phylogenetic analyses revealed that most of the isolated dermatophytes belong to a unique Trichophyton verrucosum MLST genotype. In conclusion, clinical assessments were largely confirmed through laboratory diagnosis with nested PCR and sequencing, providing rapid, sensitive, and species-specific detection of dermatophytes in calves at auction markets displaying skin lesions typical for ringworm; this seems to be predominantly caused by a single Trichophyton verrucosum strain
