Feeding diversity in deer mice.

Compared the foraging behavior of 2 geographically isolated subspecies of deer mice. Laboratory-reared Peromyscus maniculatus borealis from the prairies of Alberta, Canada and P. m. blandus from the deserts of Arizona were studied in 3 tests emphasizing different aspects of foraging: approach, acquisition, and consumption. Two measures were used to compare feeding: diversity, an index of the breadth of the diet, and preference, an index of what Ss ate most. A consistent difference found between the 2 subspecies in individuals' feeding diversity suggests that this subspecific effect is due to genetic differences, as predicted by evolutionary theory. At the same time that individuals of each subspecies had roughly the same diversity, they had different preferences, which suggests that they are more variable or opportunistic in their foraging choices than predicted by theories of optimal foraging. (38 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Oestrosis in red deer from Spain

Patients with bronchiectasis have an active local and systemic inflammatory response during infective exacerbations. Systemic markers of inflammation were investigated during a stable phase of their illness, because continued inflammation could affect their general health and be involved in disease progression. The relationship between levels of various systemic markers of inflammation and extent of disease on computed tomographic scan, lung function, sputum bacteriology and health related quality of life (HRQoL) was investigated in 87 noncystic fibrosis bronchiectasis patients. Several markers were elevated and correlated with the extent of disease and poor lung function. The total white cell count, neutrophil count and erythrocyte sedimentation rate correlated with both disease measures. Sputum bacteriology did not correlate with inflammation markers and patients with positive and negative cultures were similar. C-reactive protein and total white cell count correlated with some components of a disease-specific HRQoL questionnaire. In conclusion, patients with bronchiectasis in a stable phase have raised systemic markers of inflammation. Some markers, particularly the neutrophil count, correlate with disease severity. This result is in keeping with the hypothesis that the level of inflammation determines disease progression and health status.     

Patellar tendon rupture in five deer

Acute unilateral or bilateral rupture of the patellar tendon was diagnosed in 5 aged obese female Pere David's deer housed at a zoological park. Rupture occurred after an episode of sudden exertion in 4 of 5 deer. Fragmentation, degeneration, necrosis, and mineralization of ruptured patellar tendon fibers were found on histologic examination. Similar changes were often seen in intact contralateral tendons that did not have gross lesions. Patellar tendon rupture in humans is associated with concurrent systemic disease, such as systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, or chronic renal failure. Without evidence of underlying systemic disease, spontaneous patellar tendon rupture in deer can be considered a sequela to age-related tendinous degeneration compounded by sudden exertion and chronic overload attributable to obesity.     

Microsatellites reveal heterosis in red deer

The fitness consequences of inbreeding and outbreeding are poorly understood in natural populations. We explore two microsatellite-based variables, individual heterozygosity (likely to correlate with recent inbreeding) and a new individual-specific internal distance measure, mean d2 (focusing on events deeper in the pedigree), in relation to two measures of fitness expressed early in life, birth weight and neonatal survival, in 670 red deer calves (Cervus elaphus) born on the Isle of Rum between 1982 and 1996. For comparison, we also analyse inbreeding coefficients derived from pedigrees in which paternity was inferred by molecular methods. Only 14 out of 231 calves (6.1%) had non-zero inbreeding coefficients, and neither inbreeding coefficient nor individual heterozygosity was consistently related to birth weight or neonatal survival. However, mean d2 was consistently related to both fitness measures. Low mean d2 was associated with low birth weight, especially following cold Aprils, in which foetal growth is reduced. Low mean d2 was also associated with low neonatal survival, but this effect was probably mediated by birth weight because fitting birth weight to the neonatal survival model displaced mean d2 as an explanatory variable. We conclude that in the deer population fitness measures expressed early in life do not show evidence of inbreeding depression, but they do show evidence of heterosis, possibly as a result of population mixing. We also demonstrate the practical problems of estimating inbreeding via pedigrees compared with a direct marker-based estimate of individual heterozygosity. We suggest that, together, individual heterozygosity and mean d2, estimated using microsatellites, are useful tools for exploring inbreeding and outbreeding in natural population.     

Toxoplasmosis in naturally infected deer from Brazil

Serum samples from 107 cervids were examined for Toxoplasma gondii antibodies using indirect hemagglutination (IHA), indirect immunofluorescence (IFA), enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Dot-ELISA. Samples were obtained from 66 marsh deer (Blastocerus dichotomus) in the State of S?o Paulo (Brazil) and from 41 pampas deer (Ozotocerus bezoarticus) in the State of Goiás (Brazil). Antibodies to T. gondii were found in 23 (22%) of the deer, with 18 and 5 positive samples, respectively, for B. dichotomus and O. bezoarticus. The highest prevalence of T. gondii antibodies were young adults (32%), following by adults (27%) and fawns (13%). Only one serum sample (8%) from a newborn fawn was positive in the serological tests. The convenience of the Dot-ELISA test is obvious when compared with other serological tests for both laboratory or field surveys, mainly due to its features of practicability and reagent stability.     

Experimental Parelaphostrongylus andersoni infections in white-tailed deer

Gross and microscopic lesions caused by Parelaphostrongylus andersoni were studied in white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) infected with large (1000 or 5000) and moderate (200-356) numbers of third-stage larvae. In heavy infections, adult worms caused eosinophilic myositis in the loin and thigh. Masses of eosinophils underwent caseous necrosis surrounded by a granulomatous border. Adult worms, eggs, and larvae were in the lesions. Muscle damage caused by moderate doses was slight. One deer given a moderate dose maintained a patent infection for more than 1 year and was reinfected. Gross lung damage caused by eggs and larvae occurred with both degrees of infection and consisted of firm miliary nodules. Microscopically, the main changes were granulomatous encapsulation of eggs and first-stage larvae in alveolar capillaries, accumulations of eosinophils and mononuclear inflammatory cells in the adjacent alveolar septa, congestion, and interstitial pneumonia.     

Development of feeding diversity in deer mice.

Studied several subspecies of deer mice. The feeding diversities of laboratory-reared Peromyscus were calculated from their choices among peanuts, sunflower seeds, millet, and wheat germ over 6 days in laboratory cages. Age, subspecific differences, and early experience affected feeding diversity. Juvenile mice had more diverse diets than adults. Genetically different mice differed in feeding diversity. Two species differed in whether their feeding diversities were changed by different rearing conditions. In one species early experience with fluctuating diets led to diverse feeding, whereas stable experience led to specialized diets. These data agree with 4 theories: (a) a psychological theory of perceptual development indicating that responses become more specialized with age; (b) an evolutionary theory, indicating that genetic differences arising from natural selection in different environments contribute to differences in feeding behaviors; (c) an ethological theory indicating that behaviors in some species are more susceptible to developmental changes than those same behaviors in other species; and (d) an ecological theory indicating that generalist feeders are adapted to fluctuating conditions and specialists to stable ones. (38 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Hybridization between sika deer (Cervus nippon) and axis deer (Axis axis)

The cause of altered ionic homeostasis leading to cell death during ischemia and metabolic inhibition is unclear. Hemichannels, which are precursors to gap junctions, are nonselective ion channels that are permeable to molecules of less than Mr 1000. We show that hemichannels open upon exposure to calcium-free solutions when they are either heterologously overexpressed in HEK293 cells or endogenously expressed in cardiac ventricular myocytes. In the presence of normal extracellular calcium, hemichannels open during metabolic inhibition. During ischemia and other forms of metabolic inhibition, activation of relatively few hemichannels will seriously compromise the cell's ability to maintain ionic homeostasis, which is an essential step promoting cell death.     

Sambar deer (Cervus unicolor) x red deer (C. elaphus) interspecies hybrids

The artificial insemination of 400 red deer hinds with sambar deer semen resulted in 31 pregnancies at day 40 (24 at day 100) and the birth of four calves. Only one female calf was born alive. The artificial insemination of 10 sambar deer hinds with red deer semen resulted in five pregnancies at day 40, of which none went to term. Gel electrophoresis of three blood proteins confirmed the live calf as the first documented sambar deer x red deer hydrid. G-banded karyotypes were consistent with the calf (2n = 62; six unpaired and one paired metacentric autosomes) being the offspring of a red deer dam (2n = 68; single pair of metacentric autosomes) and a sambar deer sire (2n = 56; seven pairs of metacentric autosomes).     

Scents of monkeys and deer.

Research (e.g., D. Müller-Schwarze, 1969) with black-tailed deer fawns supports the suggestion by C. C. Cleland and J. D. Swartz (1970) that olfaction may have played a role in the relationship between infant monkey and mother surrogate in H. F. Harlow and S. J. Suomi's (see record 1970-15730-001) research. The role of urine's odor in social contexts of terrestrial mammals is stressed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Intestinal nematodes of white-tailed deer in southeastern United States

The small intestine, large intestine, and cecum of 975 white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) from 83 localities in 13 southeastern states were examined for nematodes. In order of prevalence, the following parasites were found: Capillaria bovis, Eucyathostomum webbi, Monodontus louisianensis, Nematodirus odocoilei, Oesophagostomum venulosum, Trichuris sp, Cooperia punctata, Trichostrongylus longispicularis, Strongyloides sp, Cooperia oncophora, Cooperia spatulata, Cooperia sp, and Trichostrongylus calcaratus. Over one-half of the deer examined were free of intestinal nematodes, and most infected deer harbored few parasites. Of the most prevalent species, C bovis, N odocoilei, O venulosum, and Trichuris sp were widely distributed, whereas M louisianensis and E webbi were restricted in distribution. Severe pathogenicity was associated with only heavy Strongyloides sp infections in 2 penned deer. The findings of this study suggested that white-tailed deer of the Southeast are insignificant in the epizootiology of important intestinal nematodes of domestic livestock.     

Voltage-activated intracellular calcium transients in thalamic relay cells and interneurons

The dynamics of intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) following activation of low voltage-activated (LVA) and high voltage-activated (HVA) Ca2+ currents were studied in identified relay neurons and interneurons of the rat dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus (LGNd) in situ using Ca2+ imaging and patch-clamp techniques. In relay neurons, [Ca2+]i transients associated with the LVA Ca2+ current showed a fairly homogeneous somatodendritic distribution, whereas HVA transients significantly decreased to 65% of the somatic value at 60 microns dendritic distance. In interneurons, LVA transients significantly increased to 239% of the somatic value at 60 microns dendritic distance, whereas HVA transients were not significantly different in the soma and dendrites. These results indicate differences in [Ca2+]i dynamics, which may reflect a heterogeneous distribution of Ca2+ channels contributing to subcellular compartmentation in the two types of thalamic neurons.     

Dermatophilus dermatitis enzootic in deer in New York State and vicinity

Bis-(4-methyl-1-homopiperazinylthiocarbonyl)-disulphide (FLA-63) inhibits in vitro purified bovine adrenal medullary dopamine beta-hydroxylase (BDH) concentration-dependently; 50% inhibition is produced by 2 x 10(-6)M FLA-63. Spectrophotometric experiments show that FLA-63 is reduced by ascorbate very likely to the corresponding dithiocarbamate-derivative, which acts as a Cu++-chelator. Cu++-ions are able to completely abolish the inhibition of the DBH caused by FLA-63 in concentrations up to 2.5 x 10(-6)M. It is concluded that FLA-63 inhibits the DBH mainly in its reduced form via the formation of a chelate-complex with copper ions derived from the DBH.     

Seasonality of meal patterns and hormonal correlates in red deer

A human MUC1-transfected mouse mammary adenocarcinoma cell line (GZHI) was used to develop both subcutaneous and intravenous tumor models. A vaccine formulation comprised of a 24 mer (human MUC1) synthetic peptide encapsulated with monophosphoryl lipid A adjuvant (MPLA) in multilamellar liposomes was tested for immunogenicity and anti-tumor activity. A low dose of the human MUC1 peptide (5 microg) administered in liposomes provided excellent protection of mice in both tumor challenge models. The protective antitumor activity mediated by the liposome formulation correlated with anti-MUC1-specific T-cell proliferation, gamma-interferon (IFN-gamma) production and IgG2a anti-MUC1 antibodies, suggesting a type 1 (T1) T-cell response. In contrast, lack of protection in mice immunized with negative control vaccines correlated with IgG1 anti-MUCI antibody formation, low or no anti-MUC1 IgG2a and low antigen-specific T-cell proliferation, consistent with a type 2 (T2) T-cell response to the tumor.