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Natural killer (NK) cells belong to the innate immune system. The germline-encoded natural killer cell receptors represent activating and inhibitory receptors regulating multiple NK cell activities. The natural cytotoxicity receptors (NCRs) are activating natural cytotoxicity triggering receptors 1, 2, and 3 (NKp46, NKp44, and NKp30), encoded by the genes NCR1, NCR2, and NCR3, respectively. NCRs may be expressed in different cell types engaged in mechanisms of innate and adaptive immunity. The family Felidae, comprising the domestic cat and a wide variety of free-ranging species represents a well-suited model for biomedical and evolutionary studies. We characterized the NCR1, NCR2, and NCR3 genes in a panel of felid species. We confirmed the presence of potentially functional genes NCR1, NCR2, and NCR3 in all species. All three genes are conserved within the family and are similar to other phylogenetically related mammalian families. The NCR1 and NCR2 phylogenetic trees based on both nucleotide and protein sequences corresponded to the current zoological taxonomy, with some exceptions suggesting effects of different selection pressures in some species. Highly conserved NCR3 sequences did not allow a robust phylogenetic analysis. Most interspecific differences both at the nucleotide and protein level were found in NCR2. Within species, the most polymorphic CDS was detected in NCR1. Selection analyses indicated the effects of purifying selection on individual amino acid sites in all three genes. In stray cats, a rather high intraspecific diversity was observed.

Fleas have rarely been reported from the puma, Puma concolor (Linnaeus, 1771), despite its vast geographic range, its breadth of habitat use, and its diverse diet, all of which bring it into contact with many other species of mammals and potentially their fleas. We review the reported occurrence of 8 species of fleas from pumas, 7 of these species being from wild hosts and 1 species from a host in captivity, and we correct the mistaken report of 1 other flea species from the puma. We present 10 new records of 4 species of fleas from the puma in Utah and Texas. 2 of these flea species, Cediopsylla inaequalis inaequalis (Baker, 1895) and Odontopsyllus dentatus (Baker, 1904), represent new host records, and 1 species, Chaetopsylla setosa Rothschild, 1906, is a new state record for Utah as well as being 1 of the 2 southernmost known localities for this species. At least 7 of the 9 flea species now known from free-ranging pumas are species that are acquired by pumas from their prey. Pumas may be primary hosts of 2 flea species, but even these fleas may be from prey. Some of the flea species that parasitize pumas transmit sylvatic plague, and, since pumas are highly vagile and are known to become infected with plague, they may spread the disease through their dispersal of infected fleas. Pumas and their fleas also may be involved in the ecology of several other bacterial zoonoses, which are discussed.

The morphology of the mammalian middle ear-including the size, shape, and stiffness of individual ossicles-controls their vibrational response to sound and, is closely related to an animal's auditory capabilities. While the relationship between middle ear morphology and hearing frequency has been explored in living carnivorans, the size and shape of ossicles in fossil carnivorans have been sparsely documented. In this study, we present the first morphological data on four iconic carnivoran taxa from the Rancho La Brea Tar Pits: Smilodon fatalis, Panthera atrox, Canis dirus, and Arctodus simus. These data are contextualized with samples of extant felids, canids, and ursids to determine the extent to which the ossicles of these iconic fossil taxa resemble their living relatives. Six, five, and seven linear measurements were taken from the malleus, incus, and stapes, respectively. Comparisons of geometric means reveal that the ossicles of fossil canids and felids are similar in size to living analogs, but those of A. simus are significantly larger than those of any living ursid. Further, principal components analyses demonstrate close morphological affinities between fossil and extant taxa within canids and felids, and again, a greater disparity between fossil and extant ursids. Canids and ursids occupy distinct regions of the morphospace, yet both overlap the morphological range spanned by felids. While some elements-for example, the stapes-require further specimens to facilitate more nuanced interpretations of variation, our findings underscore the need for concerted efforts towards identifying and preserving these bones within fossil assemblages.

The bobcat (Lynx rufus) is a medium-sized carnivore well adapted to various environments and an indicator species for landscape connectivity. It is one of the 4 species within the extant Lynx genus in the family Felidae. Because of its broad geographic distribution and central role in food webs, the bobcat is important for conservation. Here we present a high-quality de novo genome assembly of a male bobcat located in Mendocino County, CA, as part of the California Conservation Genomics Project (CCGP). The assembly was generated using the standard CCGP pipeline from a combination of Omni-C and HiFi technologies. The primary assembly comprises 76 scaffolds spanning 2.4 Gb, represented by a scaffold N50 of 142 Mb, a contig N50 of 66.2 Mb, and a BUSCO completeness score of 95.90%. The bobcat genome will be an important resource for the effective management and conservation of this species and comparative genomics exploration.

Amphimachairodus hezhengensis sp. nov. Machairodus palanderi p.257, Deng et al. 2013 Amphimachairodus sp. p.11 Jiangzuo et al. 2023 Holotype: HMV2041, a nearly complete cranium (figure 1; electronic supplemenatry material, figures S1 and S2). Etymology: After the place (Hezheng Paleozoological Museum, Hezheng, China) where the specimen was found and is currently stored. Type locality: Houshan, Linxia Basin, Gansu province of northern China. Chronology and distribution: Thus far only known from the early Late Miocene of northern China. Diagnosis: medium-sized Amphimachairodus with small incisors and I1 with lingually posited accessory cusps; long C-P3 diastema; presence of P2; relatively small cheek teeth; small P4 preparastyle and moderate protocone. Differential diagnosis: differs from Machairodus and Nimraoides in having different cranial morphology, e.g. lower angle between facial and neurocranial part, wide forehead, retracted orbit and long rostrum, shorter and dorsally arched zygomatic arch, slightly overhanging glenoid fossa, more arched incisor row and more separated lingual accessory cusps in I2, presence of P2, more distinct P4 preparastyle and smaller protocone; differs from Lokotunjailurus in having larger size, longer C-P3 diastema, stronger P3 anterior accessory cusp and more robust P4; differs from other species of Amphimachairodus in having smaller incisors, I1 with two closely located lingual accessory cusps, longer C-P3 diastema, smaller cheek teeth, smaller P4 preparastyle and slightly larger protocone., Published as part of Jiangzuo, Qigao, Werdelin, Lars, Sanisidro, Oscar, Yang, Rong, Fu, Jiao, Li, Shijie, Wang, Shiqi & Deng, Tao, 2023, Origin of adaptations to open environments and social behaviour in sabretoothed cats from the northeastern border of the Tibetan Plateau, pp. 1-11 in Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences (20230019) (20230019) 290 (1997) on page 1992, DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2023.0019, http://zenodo.org/record/7893737, {"references":["23. Deng T, Qiu ZX, Wang BY, Wang XM, Hou SK. 2013 Late Cenozoic Biostratigraphy of the Linxia Basin, Northwestern China. In Fossil mammals of Asia (eds X Wang, LJ Flynn, M Fortelius), pp. 243 - 273. New York, NY: Columbia University Press.","26. Jiangzuo Q, Wang S, Deng T. 2023 Chronological framework and palaeoecology of Carnivora from the Linxia Basin, China. Palaeogeogr. Palaeoclimatol. Palaeoecol. 615, 111463. (doi: 10.1016 / j. palaeo. 2023.111463)"]}

The iconic sabretooth Homotherium is thought to have hunted cooperatively, but the origin of this behaviour and correlated morphological adaptations are largely unexplored. Here we report the most primitive species of Amphimachairodus ( Amphimachairodus hezhengensis sp. nov.), a member of Machairodontini basal to Homotherium , from the Linxia Basin, northeastern border of the Tibetan Plateau (9.8–8.7 Ma). The long snout, laterally oriented and posteriorly located orbit of Amphimachairodus suggest a better ability to observe the surrounding environment, rather than targeting single prey, pointing to an adaptation to the open environment or social behaviour. A pathological forepaw of Amphimachairodus provides direct evidence of partner care. Our analyses of trait evolutionary rates support that traits correlated with killing behaviour and open environment adaptation evolved prior to other traits, suggesting that changes in hunting behaviour may be the major evolutionary driver in the early evolution of the lineage. A. hezhengensis represents one of the most important transitions in the evolution of Machairodontini, leading to adaptation in open environments and contributing to their further dispersal and radiation worldwide. This rapid morphological change is likely to be correlated with increasingly arid environments caused by the rise of the Tibetan Plateau, and competition from abundant large carnivores in this area.

Amphimachairodus Kretzoi, 1929 Diagnosis: machairotont of large size. Rostrum long, and forehead wide. Orbit anterior border located at P4. Glenoid fossa overhung above basicranium. Mastoid process large, and paroccipital moderate to highly reduced. Mandibular flange weak or moderate, cornoid process small. Incisors large with serration, and upper I1 and I2 with laterally posited accessory cusps. P2 variably present. P3 with distinct anterior accessory cusp. P4 with distinct preparastyle and moderate to very small protocone. m1 with metaconid-talonid complex mostly absent. Included species: Amphimachairodus giganteus (Wagner, 1848), Amphimachairodus horribilis (Schlosser, 1903), Amphimachairodus palanderi (Zdansky, 1924), Amphimachairodus coloradensis (Cook, 1922), Amphimachairodus aloarezi Ruiz-Ramoni et al. 2019 and Amphimachairodus hezhengensis sp. nov., Published as part of Jiangzuo, Qigao, Werdelin, Lars, Sanisidro, Oscar, Yang, Rong, Fu, Jiao, Li, Shijie, Wang, Shiqi & Deng, Tao, 2023, Origin of adaptations to open environments and social behaviour in sabretoothed cats from the northeastern border of the Tibetan Plateau, pp. 1-11 in Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences (20230019) (20230019) 290 (1997) on page 1992, DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2023.0019, http://zenodo.org/record/7893737

Literature records of chewing lice (Phthiraptera) from mammals in Malaysia were checked and reviewed, resulting in a list of 13 confirmed species belonging to eight genera (Bovicola, Felicola, Gliricola, Gyropus, Haematomyzus, Heterodoxus, Lorisicola, Trichodectes) from four families (Boopiidae, Gyropidae, Haematomyzidae, Trichodectidae) in three suborders (Amblycera, Ischnocera, Rhynchophthirina). We present a checklist of those 13 chewing lice recorded from Peninsular Malaysia and Malaysian Borneo, including hosts, localities, and literature references. An additional 12 species are listed and discussed as possibly occurring in this country. A host-louse list is also given.

Altres ajuts: CERCA Programme/Generalitat de Catalunya Among the vertebrates found at Cava Monticino, carnivorans are by far the most abundant of all the large mammals. Five different taxa were recovered: one felid, two hyaenids, one canid and one mustelid. The small-sized felid remains can be attributed to Felis christoli and seems to represent one of the earliest records of a true member of the genus Felis in Western Europe. Hyaenids at Cava Monticino are represented by the large wolf-sized and cursorial Lycyaena cf. chaeretis, and by the peculiar small Plioviverrops faventinus, the most abundant taxon of all. The latter is one of the most derived species of the genus and the last to appear in the fossil record of these mongoose-like hyaenids. The medium-sized canid recorded at Cava Monticino, Eucyon monticinensis, represent one of the oldest, certain record in the Old World of the genus Eucyon. It was a mesocarnivorous species that preyed on small vertebrates (abundantly recorded in the area of Cava Monticino during the Late Miocene). Lastly, mustelids are represented by the large relative of the extant honey badger, Mellivora benfieldi, whose record at Cava Monticino represents the northernmost record of the species and, presently, the only record of the genus outside of Africa.

Dissection reports of large cats (family Felidae) have been published since the late 19th century. These reports generally describe the findings in words, show drawings of the dissection, and usually include some masses of muscles, but often neglect to provide muscle maps showing the precise location of bony origins and insertions. Although these early reports can be highly useful, the absence of visual depictions of muscle attachment sites makes it difficult to compare muscle origins and insertions in living taxa and especially to reconstruct muscle attachments in fossil taxa. Recently, more muscle maps have been published in the primary literature, but those for large cats are still limited. Here, we describe the muscular anatomy of the forelimb of the tiger (Panthera tigris), and compare muscle origins, insertions, and relative muscle masses to other felids to identify differences that may reflect functional adaptations. Our results reiterate the conservative nature of felid anatomy across body sizes and behavioral categories. We find that pantherines have relatively smaller shoulder muscle masses, and relatively larger muscles of the caudal brachium, pronators, and supinators than felines. The muscular anatomy of the tiger shows several modifications that may reflect an adaptation to terrestrial locomotion and a preference for large prey. These include in general a relatively large m. supraspinatus (shoulder flexion), an expanded origin for m. triceps brachii caput longum, and relatively large m. triceps brachii caput laterale (elbow extension), as well as relatively large mm. brachioradialis, abductor digiti I longus, and abductor digiti V. Muscle groups that are well developed in scansorial taxa are not well developed in the tiger, including muscles of the cranial compartment of the brachium and antebrachium, and m. anconeus. Overall, the musculature of the tiger strongly resembles that of the lion (Panthera leo), another large-bodied terrestrial large-prey specialist.

Felis catus Linnaeus, 1758 Domestic cat—Kucing Felicola subrostratus (Burmeister, 1838) Heterodoxus spiniger (Enderlein, 1909), Published as part of Kazim, Abdul-Rahman, Houssaini, Jamal, Tappe, Dennis & Heo, Chong-Chin, 2023, An annotated checklist of the chewing lice (Phthiraptera: Ischnocera, Amblycera Rhynchophthirina) from domestic and wild mammals in Malaysia, pp. 40-60 in Zootaxa 5263 (1) on page 55, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5263.1.2, http://zenodo.org/record/7797797, {"references":["Linnaeus, C. (1758) Systema Naturae per regna tria naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. Volume 1. 10 th Edition. Laurentii Salvii, Holmiae, iv + 824 pp. https: // doi. org / 10.5962 / bhl. title. 542","Burmeister, H. (1838) Mallophaga. In: Handbuch der Entomologie. Enslin, Berlin, 2 (1), 418 - 443.","Enderlein, G. (1909) Anopluren (Siphunculaten) und Mallophagen. In: Schultze, L. (Ed.) Zoologisch und Anthropologische Ergebnisse einer Forschungreise in Sudafrika 2 (2). Denkschriften der medizinisch-naturwissenschaftlichen Gessellschaft, 14, 79 - 81, pl. 8."]}

Anellovirus infections are highly prevalent in mammals, however, prior to this study only a handful of anellovirus genomes had been identified in members of the Felidae family. Here we characterise anelloviruses in pumas (Puma concolor), bobcats (Lynx rufus), Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis), caracals (Caracal caracal) and domestic cats (Felis catus). The complete anellovirus genomes (n = 220) recovered from 149 individuals were diverse. ORF1 protein sequence similarity network analysis coupled with phylogenetic analysis, revealed two distinct clusters that are populated by felid-derived anellovirus sequences, a pattern mirroring that observed for the porcine anelloviruses. Of the two-felid dominant anellovirus groups, one includes sequences from bobcats, pumas, domestic cats and an ocelot, and the other includes sequences from caracals, Canada lynx, domestic cats and pumas. Coinfections of diverse anelloviruses appear to be common among the felids. Evidence of recombination, both within and between felid-specific anellovirus groups, supports a long coevolution history between host and virus. ispartof: VIROLOGY vol:562 pages:176-189 ispartof: location:United States status: published

Oocyst shedding in domestic and wild felids is a critical yet understudied topic in Toxoplasma gondii ecology and epidemiology that shapes human and animal disease burden. We synthesized published literature dating from the discovery of felids as the definitive hosts of T. gondii in the 1960s through March 2021 to examine shedding prevalence, oocyst genotypes, and risk factors for shedding. Oocyst shedding prevalence in many geographic regions exceeded the commonly accepted 1% reported for domestic cats; crude prevalence from cross-sectional field studies of domestic cat shedding ranged from 0% in Australia to 18.8% in Africa, with greater variation in reports of oocyst shedding in free-ranging, wild felids. Shedding in wild felid species has primarily been described in captive animals, with attempted detection of oocyst shedding reported in at least 31 species. Differences in lifestyle and diet play an important role in explaining shedding variation between free-ranging unowned domestic cats, owned domestic cats, and wild felids. Additional risk factors for shedding include the route of infection, diet, age, and immune status of the host. It is widely reported that cats only shed oocysts after initial infection with T. gondii, but experimental studies have shown that repeat oocyst shedding can occur. Factors associated with repeat shedding are common amongst free-ranging felids (domestic and wild), which are more likely to eat infected prey, be exposed to diverse T. gondii genotypes, and have coinfections with other parasites. Repeat shedding events could play a significant yet currently ignored role in shaping environmental oocyst loading with implications for human and animal exposure. Oocyst presence in the environment is closely linked to climate variables such as temperature and precipitation, so in quantifying risk of exposure, it is important to consider the burden of T. gondii oocysts that can accumulate over time in diverse environmental matrices and sites, as well as the spatial heterogeneity of free-ranging cat populations. Key directions for future research include investigating oocyst shedding in under-sampled regions, genotyping of oocysts detected in feces, and longitudinal studies of oocyst shedding in free-ranging felids. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

OBJECTIVES Report of prevalence and type of ocular disease in a captive population of nondomestic felids. METHODS Medical records of 202 cats from 1993 to 2018 were reviewed. Species, age at diagnosis, sex, ocular examination abnormalities, systemic/physical examination abnormalities, type of examination (visual, sedated, or anesthetized), ocular structures affected, other diagnostics, therapy, and resolution of ocular disease were recorded. RESULTS A total of 202 nondomestic felids including 18 different species (bobcat, caracal, cougar, Fishing cat, Geoffroy's cat, jaguar, jungle cat, leopard, leopard cat, liger, lion, lynx, ocelot, Sand cat, Savannah cat, serval, snow leopard, and tiger) from a rescue facility were evaluated. Forty-six ocular lesions were diagnosed in 33 (16.3%) cats from 8 different species (bobcat, caracal, cougar, leopard, lion, ocelot, serval, and tiger) with a mean age of 16 ± 5.9 years at time of diagnosis. Ocular lesions included corneal disease (37%) (ulcerations, perforations, keratitis, corneal scars), cataracts (23.9%), hyphema (8.7%), lens luxation (6.5%), retinal detachment (6.5%), uveitis (4.3%), conjunctival disease (4.3%), retinal degeneration (2.1%), glaucoma (2.1%), and optic neuritis (2.1%). Therapies included medical (topical antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, serum, etc.) and/or surgical management (enucleation, intracapsular lens extraction, corneoconjunctival transposition, and corneal burr debridement). CONCLUSIONS To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of the prevalence of ocular disease in a population of captive nondomestic felids. It is difficult to diagnose and treat ocular disease in nondomestic cats due to challenges related to handling, diagnostics, and therapeutics in nondomestic species. Ocular disease seen in this population is similar to that found in domestic cat populations.

The Puma lineage within the family Felidae consists of 3 species that last shared a common ancestor around 4.9 million years ago. Whole-genome sequences of 2 species from the lineage were previously reported: the cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) and the mountain lion (Puma concolor). The present report describes a whole-genome assembly of the remaining species, the jaguarundi (Puma yagouaroundi). We sequenced the genome of a male jaguarundi with 10X Genomics linked reads and assembled the whole-genome sequence. The assembled genome contains a series of scaffolds that reach the length of chromosome arms and is similar in scaffold contiguity to the genome assemblies of cheetah and puma, with a contig N50 = 100.2 kbp and a scaffold N50 = 49.27 Mbp. We assessed the assembled sequence of the jaguarundi genome using BUSCO, aligned reads of the sequenced individual and another published female jaguarundi to the assembled genome, annotated protein-coding genes, repeats, genomic variants and their effects with respect to the protein-coding genes, and analyzed differences of the 2 jaguarundis from the reference mitochondrial genome. The jaguarundi genome assembly and its annotation were compared in quality, variants, and features to the previously reported genome assemblies of puma and cheetah. Computational analyzes used in the study were implemented in transparent and reproducible way to allow their further reuse and modification.

Endometrial hyperplasia (EH) is a pathologic condition of the uterus with increased endometrial gland to stroma ratio compared to normal cyclic uterine proliferation. In domestic animals, EH often involves cystic distension of proliferating endometrial glands and may be concurrent with pyometra. In large captive nondomestic felids, an association between EH and pyometra is common; however, detailed species differences between the histological uterine findings in lions (

How sabertoothed felids have evolved their iconic morphology remains unclear because of the patchy fossil record of early machairodontines. Batallones localities in the Madrid region (Spain) have the potential to clarify this as two sites have yielded hundreds of fossils of the early machairodontines Promegantereon ogygia and Machairodus aphanistus. Previous analyses suggested that these two sites are not contemporaneous and a morphological drift between cavities was described for these two species; characterizing intraspecific variability is thus important to better understand the evolution of machairodontines. To tackle this issue, we modelled 62 felid mandibles in 3D using a laser scanner. We applied 3D geometric morphometrics (3D GM) and linear morphometrics on these models to test for differences in populations and to better characterize the mor-phology of early machairodontines. Both linear measurements and 3D data reveal an absence of morphological changes in mandible shape between the two sites. Batallones machairodontines are closer to felines than to other, more derived machai-rodontines in mandibular morphology, suggesting the existence of rapid shift in the mandibular shape between primitive and derived members of the clade. Our analysis did not reveal any allometric relationship between the overall shape of the mandible when studied with 3D GM and body size. Finally, we reveal a previously overlooked diversity in felid mandibular condyles, with machairodontines having much larger and medially inclined condyles., NC is supported by a grant of Fonds de la Recherche Scientifique F.R.S.–FNRS (FRIA grant number FC 36251). VF is supported by a grant of Fonds de la Recherche Scientifique F.R.S.–FNRS (MIS F.4511.19). This study is part of the research projects CGL2015-68333-P (MINECO/FEDER, UE) and 201730I085 (CSIC). JM and MJS are members of the Research Group CSIC 641538 (Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales-CSIC, Madrid, Spain); also, MJS is a member of the Research Group FOCONTUR (Fundación Conjunto Paleontológico de Teruel-Dinópolis).

Feline lymphoma, one of the most important malignant tumors in domestic cats, is also increasingly diagnosed in non-domestic felines, most notably, African lions (Panthera leo). The gold standard for the diagnosis of lymphoma is histopathological evaluation. As an additional tool, the PCR for antigen receptor gene rearrangement (PARR) has been established. To support the diagnosis on a molecular level, the PCR-based clonality assay is designed to distinguish between reactive and neoplastic lymphocyte populations. In general, PARR primers are used to target complete immunoglobulin heavy chain V-D-J (IGH-VDJ) and T-cell receptor gamma V-J (TRG-VJ) chain gene rearrangements. In this study, we validated the primer sets used in routine diagnostics of domestic cats for the application in non-domestic felines. Clonality testing was used in 41 non-domestic feline species and the results were interpreted in the light of their clinical history and their pathology. In total, clonality could be detected in 8 non-domestic felines (19.4%), including 3 lymphoma cases confirmed by histopathology. These results confirmed the successful application of domestic feline-specific PARR primers in non-domestic feline species. Diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of the clonality assay were 100% and 88%, respectively. Finally, the overall diagnostic accuracy was 89%.

Identifying factors that create and maintain a hybrid zone is of great interest to ecology, evolution and, more recently, conservation biology. Here, we investigated the role of environmental features in shaping the spatial dynamics of a hybrid zone between the southern tigrina, Leopardus guttulus, and Geoffroy's cat, L. geoffroyi, testing for exogenous selection as the main force acting on its maintenance. These Neotropical felid species are mainly allopatric, with a restricted area of sympatry in the ecotone between the Atlantic Forest and Pampa biomes. As both biomes have experienced high rates of anthropogenic habitat alteration, we also analysed the influence of habitat conversion on the hybrid zone structure. To do this, we used 13 microsatellite loci to identify potential hybrids and generated ecological niche models for them and their parental species. We compared the influence of variables on parental species and hybrid occurrence and calculated the amount of niche overlap among them. Parental species showed different habitat requirements and predicted co-occurrence was restricted to the forest-grassland mosaic of the ecotone. However, hybrids were found beyond this area, mainly in the range of L. geoffroyi. Hybrids demonstrated higher tolerance to habitat alteration than parental types, with a probability of occurrence that was positively related with mosaics of cropland areas and remnants of natural vegetation. These results indicate that exogenous selection alone does not drive the dynamics of the hybrid zone, and that habitat conversion influences its structure, potentially favouring hybrids over parental species.

The Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) is a medium-sized felid, with a tendency to hunt for prey larger than itself. We studied the lynx hindlimb musculoskeletal anatomy in order to determine possible anatomical adaptations to hunting large prey. In our previous work, we had found characters of both large and small felids in the lynx forelimb. The crouched limbs, typical of all felids, increase the energy demands for the antigravity muscles during locomotion. As a powerful pounce is required for the smaller felid to bring down large prey, strong hindquarters may be needed. We hypothesized that the muscle attachments are more mechanically advantageous and muscles heavier in the lynx as compared to other felids to compensate for the energy requirements. In support of this, we found unique patterns in the hindlimb musculature of the lynx. Insertion of the m. gluteus medius was large with a short moment arm around the hip joint, providing mechanical disadvantage, but rapid movement. The musculus vastus medialis was relatively heavier than in other felids emphasizing the role of the m. quadriceps femoris as a powerful stifle extensor. The extensor muscles support the crouched hind limbs, which is crucial when tackling large prey, and they are also responsible for the swift powerful pounce brought by extending the hindlimbs. However, we cannot rule out the possibility the characters are shared with other Lynx spp. or they are adaptations to other aspects of the locomotor strategy in the Eurasian lynx.

In addition to including one of the most popular companion animals, species from the cat family Felidae serve as a powerful system for genetic analysis of inherited and infectious disease, as well as for the study of phenotypic evolution and speciation. Previous diploid-based genome assemblies for the domestic cat have served as the primary reference for genomic studies within the cat family. However, these versions suffered from poor resolution of complex and highly repetitive regions, with substantial amounts of unplaced sequence that is polymorphic or copy number variable. We sequenced the genome of a female F1 Bengal hybrid cat, the offspring of a domestic cat (Felis catus) x Asian leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis) cross, with PacBio long sequence reads and used Illumina sequence reads from the parents to phase >99.9% of the reads into the 2 species’ haplotypes. De novo assembly of the phased reads produced highly continuous haploid genome assemblies for the domestic cat and Asian leopard cat, with contig N50 statistics exceeding 83 Mb for both genomes. Whole-genome alignments reveal the Felis and Prionailurus genomes are colinear, and the cytogenetic differences between the homologous F1 and E4 chromosomes represent a case of centromere repositioning in the absence of a chromosomal inversion. Both assemblies offer significant improvements over the previous domestic cat reference genome, with a 100% increase in contiguity and the capture of the vast majority of chromosome arms in 1 or 2 large contigs. We further demonstrated that comparably accurate F1 haplotype phasing can be achieved with members of the same species when one or both parents of the trio are not available. These novel genome resources will empower studies of feline precision medicine, adaptation, and speciation.

Jaguar, Panthera onca (Linnaeus, 1758), is a paramount predator that contributes to ecosystem balance but rarely inhabits small conserved areas. We report a new record of a Jaguar in Brasilia National Park that was photographed while monitoring the Giant Anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla Linnaeus, 1758) population using camera traps. This Jaguar record is critical in documenting the presence of this species in highly human-inhabited and urbanized areas. Our new record also contributes to the understanding of the current distribution of remaining individuals and confirms the importance of large-scale protected areas in providing habitat for species, such as jaguars, that have large ranges.

Feline herpesvirus type 1 (FHV-1) is a common causative agent of domestic cats’ rhinotracheitis in domestic cats, and it increasingly threatens wild felids worldwide. The endangered snow leopard (Panthera uncia) belongs to the family Felidae, and it is the top predator on the Tibetan Plateau. Here we report the identification and isolation of FHV-1 from three dead captive snow leopards that presented with sneezing and rhinorrhea. To explore the relationship between FHV-1 and their deaths, organs and nasal swabs were collected for histopathology, viral isolation and sequence analysis. The results revealed that all three snow leopards were infected with FHV-1. The first animal died primarily of cerebral infarction and secondary non-suppurative meningoencephalitis that was probably caused by FHV-1. The second animal died mainly of renal failure accompanied by interstitial pneumonia caused by FHV-1. The cause of death for the third animal was likely related to the concurrent reactivation of a latent FHV-1 infection. The gD and gE gene sequence alignment of the isolated FHV-1 isolate strain revealed that the virus likely originated from a domestic cat. It was found that FHV-1 infection can cause different lesions in snow leopards than in domestic cats and is associated with high risk of disease in wild felids. This suggests that there should be increased focus on protecting wild felids against FHV-1 infections originating from domestic cats.

LONGCHUANSMILUS GEN. NOV. Z o o b a n k r e g i s t r a t i o n: u r n: l s i d: z o o b a n k. org:act: 5EDA893F-E63F-4F0D-A6A7-A815CF116C01 Diagnosis: See diagnosis of the type species L. xingyongi. Etymology: The genus is named after the Longchuan River, which runs across the Yuanmou Basin, and Greek σµίλη, dagger.

TRIBE MACHAIRODONTINI GILL, 1872 Remarks: Most recent authors use Homotheriini to refer to the scimitar-toothed cat, including, e.g. Amphimachairodus, Homotherium, Lokotunjailurus Werdelin, 2003 Xenosmilus Martin et al., 2000, and sometimes Machairodus Kaup, 1833 (Turner & Antón, 1997; Werdelin et al., 2010). When Machairodus is included in this tribe, which is adopted here, the correct tribe name should then be Machairodontini Gill, 1872. In addition to the abovementioned genera, and the new genus described below, some smaller-sized species, e.g. derived species of Paramachaerodus like P. maximiliani McKenna & Bell, 1997, have a potential affinity to this tribe., Published as part of Jiangzuo, Qigao, Li, Shijie, Fu, Jiao, Duan, Shiqi Wang Xueping Ji Mei & Che, Decai, 2022, Fossil Felidae (Carnivora: Mammalia) from the Yuanmou hominid site, southern China (Late Miocene) and its significance in the living environment of the fossil ape, pp. 1156-1174 in Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 196 on page 1158, DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlab116, http://zenodo.org/record/7323717, {"references":["Werdelin L. 2003. Mio-Pliocene Carnivora from Lothagam, Kenya. In: Leakey MG, Harris, JD, eds. Lothagam: the dawn of humanity in eastern Africa. New York: Columbia University Press, 261 - 328.","Kaup JJ. 1833. Description d'ossements fossiles des Mammiferes inconnus jusqu'a present, qui se trouvent au Museum Grand-Ducal de Darmstadt. Carnassiers Fossiles. J. G. Heyer, libraire-editeur. Archiv fur Mineralogie 5: 150 - 158.","Turner A, Anton M. 1997. The big cats and their fossil relatives: an illustrated guide to their evolution and natural history. New York: Columbia University Press.","Werdelin L, Yamaguchi N, Johnson WE, O'Brien SJ. 2010. Phylogeny and evolution of cats (Felidae). In: Macdonald DW, Loveridge AJ, eds. Biology and conservation of wild felids. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 59 - 82."]}

Jiangzuo, Qigao, Li, Shijie, Fu, Jiao, Duan, Shiqi Wang Xueping Ji Mei, Che, Decai (2022): Fossil Felidae (Carnivora: Mammalia) from the Yuanmou hominid site, southern China (Late Miocene) and its significance in the living environment of the fossil ape. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 196: 1156-1174, DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlab116, URL: https://doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlab116

TRIBE METAILURINI Remarks: Our concept of Metailurini is largely similar to that used by Turner & Antón (1997) and Werdelin et al. (2010), only that we found most species of Paramachaerodus similar to Metailurus, and these two genera are likely to be closely related. Paramachaerodus does not show a closer affinity to Smilodontini than Metailurus does. The two derived species of Paramachaerodus have serrated canines and V-shaped incisors, and are unlikely to be ancestral to Smilodontini. Their positions are in need of further investigation., Published as part of Jiangzuo, Qigao, Li, Shijie, Fu, Jiao, Duan, Shiqi Wang Xueping Ji Mei & Che, Decai, 2022, Fossil Felidae (Carnivora: Mammalia) from the Yuanmou hominid site, southern China (Late Miocene) and its significance in the living environment of the fossil ape, pp. 1156-1174 in Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 196 on page 1163, DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlab116, http://zenodo.org/record/7323717, {"references":["Turner A, Anton M. 1997. The big cats and their fossil relatives: an illustrated guide to their evolution and natural history. New York: Columbia University Press.","Werdelin L, Yamaguchi N, Johnson WE, O'Brien SJ. 2010. Phylogeny and evolution of cats (Felidae). In: Macdonald DW, Loveridge AJ, eds. Biology and conservation of wild felids. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 59 - 82."]}

Partin Felis sp.1 Zong, 1997: 86. Material: PDYV2524.2, an isolated P4, from Locality 8801, Xiaohe. Description The isolate P4 PDYV2524.2 is smaller but more robust than that of Longchuansmilus xingyongi and PDYV2524.1. There is no distinct buccal concavity. The parastyle is small, with a tiny and indistinct preparastyle located slightly lingual to the parastyle. The protocone is located at the level between the parastyle and the paracone. It is only slightly reduced in size, larger than the corresponding one in Longchuansmilus xingyongi. SUBFAMILY FELINAE FISCHER, 1817 FELINAE GEN. & SP. INDET. (FIG. 3; TABLE 1) Material: RV2006020 (PDYV929), an isolated upper canine, from Locality 9904, Leilao; RV2006021 (PDYV375), an isolated lower canine, from Locality 9904, Leilao; RV2006022 (PDYV936), an isolated p4, from Locality 9803, Xiaohe; no catalogue number, an isolated p4; PDYV2575, an isolated m1; PDYV2526, an isolated m1, from Locality 9001, Xiaohe. Description Both upper and lower canines are conical, and both have a distinct buccal groove, but no lingual groove. The two p4s were similar to those of aff. Yoshi sp. but considerably smaller. The dental crown is slightly higher and the tooth is more slender. The accessory cuspids are generally smaller. The posterior cingulid is distinctly lower and not cusplike. The m1 is stouter. The talonid is smaller and also not distinguished from the protoconid. The buccal border is smoothly convex., Published as part of Jiangzuo, Qigao, Li, Shijie, Fu, Jiao, Duan, Shiqi Wang Xueping Ji Mei & Che, Decai, 2022, Fossil Felidae (Carnivora: Mammalia) from the Yuanmou hominid site, southern China (Late Miocene) and its significance in the living environment of the fossil ape, pp. 1156-1174 in Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 196 on page 1164, DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlab116, http://zenodo.org/record/7323717, {"references":["Zong GF. 1997. 5.3. 4 Carnivora. In: He ZQ, ed. Yuanmou Hominoid Fauna. Kunming: Yunnan Science and Technology Press, 69 - 88."]}

AFF. YOSHI SP. (FIG. 3; TABLES 1, 2) Partim Felis sp.1 Zong, 1997: 86. Felis sp.2 Zong, 1997: 87. Metailurus parvulus Qi, 2006: 175. Material: PDYV 2522.2, a fragmented upper canine, from Locality 8603, Zhupeng; YMV335, a broken upper canine, from Locality 8603, Zhupeng; PDYV2524.1, an isolated P4; RV2006023, an isolated p4; RV2006047 (PDYV328), an isolated p4, from Locality 9803, Xiaohe; PDYV2522.3, an isolated p4, from Locality 8704, Xiaohe; RV2006049, an isolated m1 (PDYV316), from Locality9803, Xiaohe; PDYV2525, one complete and one broken m1, from Locality 8801, Xiaohe. Description The fragmented upper canine PDYV2522.2 has a clear ridge on its anterior and posterior sides, but no serration is present. The broken canine YMV335 is similar. Even though partially reconstructed, it seems that the crown of the canine is high. The P4 PDYV2524.1 is elongated and slender. There is no preparastyle. The protocone is more anteriorly located, behind the level of the parastyle/paracone notch. Longchuansmilus xingyongi 0.50585.9012.340.15 The three p4s have similar morphology. There is no buccal or lingual concavity. The anterior and posterior accessory cuspids are similar in size, and the posterior cingulid is only slightly cusp-like. The two m1s are elongated, with a talonid not distinguished from the protoconid. The teeth are trapezium-shaped, with a nearly straight buccal border. The lingual border is concave between the paraconid and protoconid. The widest part of the tooth lies at the level between the paraconid and the protoconid. The broken m1 seems to be wider, and has a smoother buccal border, but no further information can be discussed. MACHAIRODONTINAE GEN. & SP. INDET. (FIG. 3; TABLE 2), Published as part of Jiangzuo, Qigao, Li, Shijie, Fu, Jiao, Duan, Shiqi Wang Xueping Ji Mei & Che, Decai, 2022, Fossil Felidae (Carnivora: Mammalia) from the Yuanmou hominid site, southern China (Late Miocene) and its significance in the living environment of the fossil ape, pp. 1156-1174 in Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 196 on pages 1163-1164, DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlab116, http://zenodo.org/record/7323717, {"references":["Zong GF. 1997. 5.3. 4 Carnivora. In: He ZQ, ed. Yuanmou Hominoid Fauna. Kunming: Yunnan Science and Technology Press, 69 - 88."]}

LONGCHUANSMILUS XINGYONGI SP. NOV. (FIGS 3, 4; TABLE 2) Z o o b a n k r e g i s t r a t i o n: u r n: l s i d: z o o b a n k. org:act: AE047000-2CEB-4B18-9339-38B7AC13C139 Machairodus cf. maximiliani sp. Zong, 1997: 88. Holotype: YMV87001, a crushed partial cranium, lacking the zygomatic arch, with the poorly preserved basicranial part, from Locality 8603, Zhupeng. Assigned material: RV2006045 (PDYV1853), a broken upper canine, without tip, from Locality 9907, Leilao; RV2006045 (PDYV702), a broken upper canine, with only the tip, probably from Locality 9803, Xiaohe; PDYV2522.1, an isolated P3, probably from Locality 8801, Xiaohe. Etymology: The species name is given in honour of Xingyong Zhang, who has contributed greatly to the discovery and study of the fossils at the Yuanmou hominid site. Type locality: Yuanmou. Diagnosis: Medium-sized machairodontine of large jaguar size. Forehead not distinctly wider than rostrum, but frontal sinus well developed. Incisor moderate in size, not procumbent; canine narrow, with clear serration; no P2; P3 reduced in size, with distinct anterior accessory cusp; P4 with distinct preparastyle and moderately reduced protocone. Differential diagnosis: Differs from Machairodus by its smaller size, I2 with V-shaped posterior accessory cusp, more reduced P3 and P4 protocones; differs from Amphimachairodus by its distinctly smaller size, smaller and less procumbent incisor, more reduced P3; differs from Lokotunjailurus by smaller size, absence of P2, slightly larger P3, less elongated P4 with larger protocone; differs from Homotherium / Xenosmilus by its smaller size, distinctly smaller and much less procumbent incisor, larger P3 and P4 protocones, stronger P4 parastyle; differs from Paramachaerodus and Metailurus by its larger size, presence of distinct canine serration, smaller P3 and distinctly stronger P4 preparastyle and smaller protocone. Description The cranium is nearly complete, but unfortunately laterally crushed and somewhat deformed. The zygomatic arch is missing and poorly reconstructed by plaster. The posterior part of the sagittal crest is broken (so the total length of the skull cannot be established) and the basicranial part is poorly preserved. The cranium seems to have an angle in its dorsal profile, at the level of the anterior part of the braincase. In dorsal view, it can be seen that the rostrum has no postcanine constriction. No information on nasal shape and its boundary can be extracted due to poor preservation. The postorbital process of the frontal is small but distinct. The forehead is not widened, only slightly wider than the rostrum. It can be seen that the frontal sinus is well developed, expanding the postorbital constriction. The temporal ridges from both sides unite with the sagittal crest at the level between the postorbital constriction and the braincase. The sagittal crest is well developed. In lateral view, the mastoid process is largely broken, but judging from the remaining part, the mastoid process is significantly enlarged. There is nearly no trait that can be seen in the ventral view due to breakage. The bony choana extends significantly posterior to the tooth row. The glenoid fossa does not seem to elevate above the basicranial region. The incisor row is only slightly procumbent. The medial incisor is slightly enlarged. Judging from the facet, the posterior accessory cusps are V-shaped and ridge-like. The I3 is slightly enlarged, without an accessory cusp. The canine is narrow, with clear serration seen in the posterior side. (The situation in the anterior side is invisible) There is no P2. The P3 is reduced in size. It has a distinct anterior accessory cusp, located slightly medial to the main cusp. The lingual part of the tooth cannot be clearly seen due to poor preservation. The buccal border is concave between the main cusp and the posterior cingulum. The P4 has a narrow blade. The parastyle part is clearly elongated. Even though the tooth is heavily worn, it can be seen that the preparastyle is large and seems to be in line with the parastyle. The metacone is also elongated. The protocone is reduced in size. It is located at the level between the parastyle and paracone. There were two isolated canine fragments and one P3 that most likely belongs to this species. Both canine fragments have clear serrations on their edges. The P3 is in good preservation; it is nearly the same size as that of YMV87001 and has a similar tooth outline. The anterior accessory cusp is more lingually located than in the case of YMV87001. The postero-lingual convexity is distinct. The posterior cingulum has a distinct cusp. A single premolar RV2006046, which seems to be a p3, has a unique morphology. Weak serration can be seen in the tooth, a typical trait of Machairodontini, and seems to be too small for Amphimachairodus, which we tentatively assign to Longchuansmilus.

Toxoplasmosis is a zoonotic disease caused by the ubiquitous coccidia Toxoplasma gondii. Rodents play an important role in maintaining its life cycle, as they are one of the main diet sources for felids (wild and domestic), the unique definitive hosts. However, reports of toxoplasmosis in porcupines (Order Rodentia) are uncommon, with gaps concerning its pathophysiology. South America is the continent with the greatest genetic diversity of rodents and T. gondii. A free-ranging hairy dwarf porcupine was admitted to a wildlife rescue centre with a history of trauma. During rehabilitation, the animal presented neurological symptoms (sporadic episodes of hind limbs paresis) and died 5 months later. The main findings during necropsy were brain congestion and severe incisor overgrowth associated with maxillary perforation. The histopathological exam showed moderate encephalitis, with variable-sized round cysts, positive for PAS stain and immunohistochemistry for T. gondii. Additionally, two cysts were observed in the medulla of the adrenal gland. Molecular techniques were performed to characterize the parasite load by qPCR (Cq = 30) and the genotype by PCR-RFLP with 11 markers, which revealed a potential new genotype. This case adds to the body of knowledge in comparative pathology of Neotropical Rodentia and reports a new potential genotype circulating in South America.

We conducted an exploratory serological survey to evaluate the exposure of Bornean wild carnivores to several viruses common to domestic felids, at interface areas between protected forest and industrial agriculture in the Kinabatangan floodplain (Sabah, Malaysia). Blood samples, collected from wild carnivores (n = 21) and domestic cats (n = 27), were tested for antibodies against feline coronavirus (FCoV), feline panleukopenia virus (FPLV), feline herpesvirus (FHV) and feline calicivirus (FCV), using commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test kits. Anti-FCoV antibodies were detected in most species, including one flat-headed cat (Prionailurus planiceps, [1/2]), leopard cats (Prionailurus bengalensis, [2/5]), Malay civets (Viverra tangalunga, [2/11]) and domestic cats (Felis catus, [2/27]). Anti-FCV antibodies were present in all domestic cats and one flat-headed cat, while anti-FPLV antibodies were identified in Sunda clouded leopards (Neofelis diardi, [2/2]), domestic cats [12/27] and Malay civets [2/11]. Anti-FHV antibodies were only detected in domestic cats [2/27]. Our findings indicate pathogen transmission risk between domestic and wild carnivore populations at the domestic animal–wildlife interface, emphasizing the concern for wildlife conservation for several endangered wild carnivores living in the area. Special consideration should be given to species that benefit from their association with humans and have the potential to carry pathogens between forest and plantations (e.g., Malay civets and leopard cats). Risk reduction strategies should be incorporated and supported as part of conservation actions in human-dominated landscapes.

Odontogenic lesions are well described in domestic cats, but published literature describing these lesions in nondomestic felids is limited. This study reports oral lesions in 109 captive, non-domestic felids. Ten cases of odontogenic lesions were diagnosed, including 9 with fibromatous epulis of periodontal ligament origin (FEPLO) and one odontogenic cyst in a cougar. FEPLO was common in lions. FEPLO did not recur after surgical removal in any of the 3 cases for which follow-up information was available. Increased occurrences of oral papillomas in snow leopards and eosinophilic granulomas in tigers were identified, which is consistent with the reported literature. With the exception of oral papillomas in snow leopards and FEPLO in lions, the spectrum of oral lesions in nondomestic felids was similar to what is reported in domestic cats, with squamous cell carcinoma being the most common oral malignancy, and stomatitis/gingivitis/glossitis accounting for approximately one third of all cases. Rare diagnoses with one case each included hemangioma, fibrosarcoma, melanoma, cleft palate, and glossal amyloidosis.

Members of the family Felidae suffer from a wide range of dental, oral and maxillofacial conditions that can cause significant morbidity and mortality. Although many dental, oral and maxillofacial anomalies of the domestic cat (Felis catus) also occur in wild felines, we could find no investigations of these conditions in servals (Leptailurus serval). The objective of this study was to describe the dental, oral and maxillofacial pathology of a wild serval population in South Africa. Detailed extraoral and intraoral examinations and full-mouth dental radiographs on 30 wild servals revealed 14 different dental conditions but no other oral or maxillofacial pathology.

The genus Bartonella comprises emerging bacteria that affect humans and other mammals worldwide. Felids represent an important reservoir for several Bartonella species. Domestic cats are the main reservoir of Bartonella henselae, the agent of cat scratch disease (CSD). It can be transmitted directly by scratches and bites from infected cats and via cat fleas. This study aims to investigate the circulation of Bartonella spp. in free-ranging Neotropical wild felids from Southern Brazil using serological and molecular methods. In this study, 53 live-trapped free-ranging wild felids were sampled, 39 Leopardus geoffroyi and 14 Leopardus wiedii, from five municipalities in the Rio Grande, do Sul state, southern Brazil. All captured animals were clinically healthy. Two blood samples of L. geoffroyi were positive, by PCR, for the presence of B. henselae DNA. Conversely, none of L. wiedii blood samples were positive when tested using PCR. Indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) showed that 28% of serum samples of wild felids were reactive (seropositive) for B. henselae by immunofluorescence, with titers ranging from 64 to 256. The results presented here provide the first evidence of a Bartonella-enzootic cycle involving L. geoffroyi and L. wiedii, which may account for the spillover of the emerging zoonotic pathogen B. henselae for the indigenous fauna in Southern Brazil.

Conservation strategies in natural habitats as well as in breeding centers are necessary for maintaining and reinforcing viable populations of wild felids. Among the fundamental knowledge that is required for conservation breeding, a solid understanding of reproductive biology is critical for improving natural breeding and enhance genetic diversity. Additionally, it offers the opportunity to develop assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) in threatened and endangered species. Conservation breeding and reproductive biotechnologies of wild felids have advanced in the past decade. It has been clearly shown that female felids have species and individual patterns of reproductive cycles and respond differently to exogenous hormones. In males, several species still have poor semen quality often due to the loss of genetic diversity in small populations. To overcome the challenges of natural breeding (incompatibility between individuals or suboptimal environment) and mitigate inbreeding, artificial insemination, embryo production and embryo transfer have been further developed in 24 wild cat species. Major factors limiting ART success are inconsistent responses to ovarian stimulation, variable quality of gametes and embryos, and preparation of recipient females. Additional approaches including stem cell technologies have been explored for future medical applications. However, there still is a critical need for better knowledge of feline reproductive biology and improvement of ARTs efficiency to increase the genetic diversity and create sustainable populations of wild felids.

The present study examines cortical neuronal morphology in the African lion (Panthera leo leo), African leopard (Panthera pardus pardus), and cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus jubatus). Tissue samples were removed from prefrontal, primary motor, and primary visual cortices and investigated with a Golgi stain and computer-assisted morphometry to provide somatodendritic measures of 652 neurons. Although neurons in the African lion were insufficiently impregnated for accurate quantitative dendritic measurements, descriptions of neuronal morphologies were still possible. Qualitatively, the range of spiny and aspiny neurons across the three species was similar to those observed in other felids, with typical pyramidal neurons being the most prominent neuronal type. Quantitatively, somatodendritic measures of typical pyramidal neurons in the cheetah were generally larger than in the African leopard, despite similar brain sizes. A MARsplines analysis of dendritic measures correctly differentiated 87.4% of complete typical pyramidal neurons between the African leopard and cheetah. In addition, unbiased stereology was used to compare the soma size of typical pyramidal neurons (n = 2,238) across all three cortical regions and gigantopyramidal neurons (n = 1,189) in primary motor and primary visual cortices. Both morphological and stereological analyses indicated that primary motor gigantopyramidal neurons were exceptionally large across all three felids compared to other carnivores, possibly due to specializations related to the felid musculoskeletal systems. The large size of these neurons in the cheetah which, unlike lions and leopards, does not belong to the Panthera genus, suggests that exceptionally enlarged primary motor gigantopyramidal neurons evolved independently in these felid species.

Sperm cryopreservation offers many benefits to wild felids conservation programs. However, the implementation of these programs is limited by the different responses of each species to the cryopreservation protocols and extenders used, requiring the formulation of species-specific protocols. For this purpose, semen samples from 6 margays (Leopardus wiedii) were submitted to 2 cryopreservation protocols: 1) manual freezing (cooling rate of - 0.33 °C/min at 5 °C/180 min and freezing rate with two steps - 9 °C/min for 2 min and -19.1 °C/min for 2 min) and 2) automatic freezing machine (cooling rate of - 0.25 °C/min at 5 °C/120 min and freezing rate with one step -20 °C/min for 8.3 min) using 2 commercial extenders, an egg yolk-based (Test Yolk Buffer; TYB) and an egg yolk-free extender (AndroMed; MED). Post-thawed sperm quality was assessed at 3 time points (immediately after thawing and 1 and 2 h post-thawed) by sperm motility index (SMI), plasma membrane and acrosomal integrity, and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP). Regarding SMI, TYB yielded superior results (29.4 ± 3.5%) compared to MED (11.2 ± 2.8%; p 0.002) immediately after thawing until 2 h after thawing (TYB 3.9 ± 1.7% and MED 0.0 ± 0.0%; p 0.05). Furthermore, the automated freezing method provided higher motility compared to the manual freezing procedure immediately post-thaw (25.08 ± 3.66% and 15.78 ± 3.29%, respectively) and 1 h post-thaw (13.71 ± 2.56% and 6.03 ± 1.97%, respectively; p 0.05). The percentage of intact acrosomes and plasma membranes and the percentage of sperm with high MMP were superior for TYB when compared to MED regardless of cryopreservation protocol (p 0.05). Conversely, the interaction between cryopreservation protocols and extenders was observed for MMP where TYB exhibits better results compared to MED (p 0.05) in both procedures, but it was higher in automated procedures. For MED, no changes were found in MMP between procedures. Considering only TYB, samples showed higher MMP when submitted to an automated procedure (p 0.05). In conclusion, the slow cooling rates with shorter time of exposure to glycerol contributed to minimize cryodamage in the Margays' sperm. Moreover, results indicated that association between TYB and automatic freezing machine ensured the minimal quality of spermatozoa after thawing required for further use in in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).

Epigenetic mechanisms may provide a novel prospective of bobcat (Lynx rufus) adaptation to habitat loss/fragmentation. Previous research has focused on bobcat behavior and genetics, but epigenetics has not been studied in bobcat. The aim of this study was to determine the quantity of global DNA methylation in the liver of 30 bobcats. DNA was extracted from liver samples obtained from the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department. The percent of global DNA methylation was quantified and calculated using the MethylFlashTM Methylated DNA 5-mC Quantification Kit from Epigentek (Farmingdale, NY, USA). Age, sex, and carcass weight data were collected at sampling and analyzed with percent of global DNA methylation. Global DNA methylation was found to range from 0.46% to 2.76%. Age ranged from

The pathologic and immunohistochemical findings associated with infections due to canine distemper virus (CDV) are described in the cougar (Puma concolor), margay (Leopardus wiedii) and jaguarundi (Herpailurus yagouaroundi) from Southern Brazil. Tissue sections of the neotropical felids (n = 3) that died at the Bela Vista Sanctuary, Paraná, Southern Brazil were routinely processed for histopathology to identify possible histopathologic patterns associated with infections due to CDV. Selected formalin-fixed paraffin embedded tissue sections of the lungs and urinary bladder were used in immunohistochemical assays designed to identify the antigens of CDV. The main histopathologic patterns identified were interstitial pneumonia in the margay and jaguarundi, while ballooning degeneration of the transitional epithelium of the urinary bladder was observed in the cougar. Positive immunoreactivity to antigens of CDV was identified within intralesional sections of the lungs of the two wild felids with interstitial pneumonia and in the degenerated urothelium of the cougar. These findings indicate that these neotropical cats were infected by a viral infectious disease pathogen common to the domestic dog and add to the few documented descriptions of CDV-induced infections in wildlife from Brazil.

The fossil record of lynxes provides clear evidence of a large range across the North Hemisphere during the Pliocene and Pleistocene. However, their origin, systematics and evolutionary relationships are still fraught with difficulties and controversy. Here we report a complete hemimandible of a medium-sized felid from the Early Pleistocene (MN17, middle Villafranchian, 2.05 Ma) site of La Puebla de Valverde (Teruel, Spain). Based on comparative and multivariate analyses of the lower dentition of 458 individuals of medium-sized Lynx, Caracal and Leptailurus, we confidently ascribe the remains to Lynx aff. issiodorensis. Although the dental proportions are somewhat different from those of the Eurasian L. issiodorensis (smaller canines and more elongated p4/m1), Lynx aff. issiodorensis shows affinities with the Issoire lynx from the contemporaneous site of Saint Vallier (France), sharing a similar morphology of the mandible, reduced canines, and long m1. We further test the hypothesis that examines the presence of the African/Asian Caracal in the European Plio/Pleistocene for C. depereti and C. issiodorensis, and discard the attribution of L. issiodorensis into Caracal. This mandible extends the record of the genus and contributes to update our understanding of the Lynx lineage and its variability within the European fossil record.

Altres ajuts: CERCA Programme/Generalitat de Catalunya During 2011, an international team of scientists successfully obtained for the first-time paleoDNA data from different samples of Lynx remains from the Iberian Peninsula. These results showed that these remains belonged to the species Lynx pardinus, which is, at present, one of the most critically endangered felids. One of the remains sampled in the aforementioned study comes from a small chasm called Avenc del Marge del Moro in the Garraf Massif, with an estimated absolute chronology of 21 ka. Further morphological studies reinforced the last evidence, corroborating the presence of Lynx pardinus from the Early to Late Pleistocene in Southern Europe. Here, we provide for the first time a detailed description of the lynx remains from Avenc del Marge del Moro, which consist of a remarkably complete fossil cranium, as well as several dentognathic and postcranial remains. In the light of the evidence reported the last 10 years for fossil L. pardinus and its past distribution throughout southern France and the Iberian and Italian Peninsulas, we further suggest a formal change of the vernacular name of this species to 'Mediterranean lynx'. This also provides novel insight for future reintroduction opportunities of this species alongside the north Mediterranean coast in order to enhance its survival possibilities in wild ecosystems.

application/pdf, The milk oligosaccharides were studied for two species of the Carnivora: the American black bear (Ursus americanus, family Ursidae, Caniformia), and the cheetah, (Acinonyx jubatus, family Felidae, Feliformia). Lactose was the most dominant saccharide in cheetah milk, while this was a minor saccharide and milk oligosaccharides predominated over lactose in American black bear milk. The structures of 8 neutral saccharides from American black bear milk were found to be Gal(β1–4)Glc (lactose), Fuc(α1–2)Gal(β1–4)Glc (2′-fucosyllactose), Gal(α1–3)Gal(β1–4)Glc (isoglobotriose), Gal(α1–3)[Fuc(α1–2)]Gal(β1–4)Glc (B-tetrasaccharide), Gal(α1–3)[Fuc(α1–2)]Gal(β1–4)[Fuc(α1–3)]Glc (B-pentasaccharide), Fuc(α1–2)Gal(β1–4)[Fuc(α1–3)]GlcNAc(β1–3)Gal(β1–4)Glc (difucosyl lacto-N-neotetraose), Gal(α1–3)Gal(β1–4)[Fuc(α1–3)]GlcNAc(β1–3)Gal(β1–4)Glc (monogalactosyl monofucosyl lacto-N-neotetraose) and Gal(α1–3)Gal(β1–4)GlcNAc(β1–3)Gal(β1–4)Glc (Galili pentasaccharide). Structures of 5 acidic saccharides were also identified in black bear milk: Neu5Ac(α2–3)Gal(β1–4)Glc (3′-sialyllactose), Neu5Ac(α2–6)Gal(β1–4)GlcNAc(β1–3)[Fuc(α1–2)Gal(β1–4)GlcNAc(β1–6)]Gal(β1–4)Glc (monosialyl monofucosyl lacto-N-neohexaose), Neu5Ac(α2–6)Gal(β1–4)GlcNAc(β1–3)[Gal(α1–3)Gal(β1–4)GlcNAc(β1–6)]Gal(β1–4)Glc (monosialyl monogalactosyl lacto-N-neohexaose), Neu5Ac(α2–6)Gal(β1–4)GlcNAc(β1–3){Gal(α1–3)Gal(β1–4)[Fuc(α1–3)]GlcNAc(β1–6)}Gal(β1–4)Glc (monosialyl monogalactosyl monofucosyl lacto-N-neohexaose), and Neu5Ac(α2–6)Gal(β1–4)GlcNAc(β1–3){Gal(α1–3)[Fuc(α1–2)]Gal(β1–4)[Fuc(α1–3)]GlcNAc(β1–6)}Gal(β1–4)Glc (monosialyl monogalactosyl difucosyl lacto-N-neohexaose). A notable feature of some of these milk oligosaccharides is the presence of B-antigen (Gal(α1–3)[Fuc(α1–2)]Gal), α-Gal epitope (Gal(α1–3)Gal(β1–4)Glc(NAc)) and Lewis x (Gal(β1–4)[Fuc(α1–3)]GlcNAc) structures within oligosaccharides. By comparison to American black bear milk, cheetah milk had a much smaller array of oligosaccharides. Two cheetah milks contained Gal(α1–3)Gal(β1–4)Glc (isoglobotriose), while another cheetah milk did not, but contained Gal(β1–6)Gal(β1–4)Glc (6′-galactosyllactose) and Gal(β1–3)Gal(β1–4)Glc (3′-galactosyllactose). Two cheetah milks contained Gal(β1–4)GlcNAc(β1–3)[Gal(β1–4)GlcNAc(β1–6)]Gal(β1–4)Glc (lacto-N-neohexaose), and one cheetah milk contained Gal(β1–4)Glc-3’-O-sulfate. Neu5Ac(α2–8)Neu5Ac(α2–3)Gal(β1–4)Glc (disialyllactose) was the only sialyl oligosaccharide identified in cheetah milk. The heterogeneity of milk oligosaccharides was found between both species with respect of the presence/absence of B-antigen and Lewis x. The variety of milk oligosaccharides was much greater in the American black bear than in the cheetah. The ratio of milk oligosaccharides-to-lactose was lower in cheetah (1:1–1:2) than American black bear (21:1) which is likely a reflection of the requirement for a dietary supply of N-acetyl neuraminic acid (sialic acid), in altricial ursids compared to more precocial felids, given the role of these oligosaccharides in the synthesis of brain gangliosides and the polysialic chains on neural cell adhesion. © 2019, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.

Purpose Brucellosis is a zoonotic disease of great public health importance. In wild animals, Brucella abortus is one of the most diagnosed species, mainly in enzootic environments where domestic animals share the same environment. B. abortus is common in environments shared by cattle, wild, and domestic animals. This study aimed to detect the presence of B. abortus DNA in free-ranging and captivity felids at Mato Grosso State, Brazil. Method Polymerase chain reaction, based on the genetic element IS711, was performed in blood samples collected from 23 free-ranging and captive felids. The species represented include Leopardus colocolo, Leopardus pardalis, Leopardus wiedii, Panthera onca, Puma concolor, and Puma yagouaroundi. Results DNA amplification of B. abortus was observed in only one captive P. concolor (4.34%). Conclusion The detection of this pathogen in captive animals using molecular tools demonstrates the importance of monitoring, as it raises concerns about the possibility of transmission between humans and wild and domestic animals, especially in regions of vast biodiversity, such as in the State of Mato Grosso, Brazil.

Background The population of wild felids is large and stable in Romania with many carnivore habitats being protected. Felids can be infected with a wide variety of cardio-pulmonary nematodes and can act as reservoirs of infection for domestic cats. The aim of this study was to evaluate the distribution and species diversity of cardio-pulmonary nematodes in wild felids from Romania. Methods A total of 54 wild felids (7 Lynx lynx and 47 Felis silvestris) were legally collected from different locations in Romania and analysed by complete parasitological necropsy. The entire respiratory tract was longitudinally opened and checked for the presence of nematodes. Detected nematodes were collected and morphologically identified to species level. Results Two Eurasian lynxes and 29 European wildcats were positive for cardio-pulmonary nematodes. Eurasian lynxes were infected with two species of cardio-pulmonary nematodes, Eucoleus aerophilus and Troglostrongylus brevior, while in wildcats the dominant parasite was E. aerophilus (34.0%) followed by Angiostrongylus chabaudi (23.4%) and T. brevior (14.9%). Dirofilaria immitis and Aelurostrongylus abstrusus were each detected in two wildcats (4.3%). Conclusions The present study expanded the epidemiological knowledge on felid cardiopulmonary nematodes in Romania. We confirmed the presence of A. abstrusus in wildcats and a patent infection with T. brevior in Eurasian lynx. Graphical Abstract

BackgroundHepatozoonosis is a common tick-borne illness reported from all over the world. The infection has been well documented in dogs and cats, and has also been identified in wild canids and felids. India is home to many canid species; however, the incidence of Hepatozoonosis in wild canids is rarely reported. A wide variety of protocols have been discussed for the clinical management of the infection in companion animals; however, the suitability of treatment protocols in wild canids is understudied. The current case report highlights the clinical management of Hepatozoonosis in an Indian jackal and molecular investigation to provide vital insights into the epidemiology of the disease.Case PresentationA paraplegic Indian jackal was rescued from Melghat Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra, India. The animal had extensive decubital ulcers on the left pin bone and could not walk; however, the animal was active and dragged the hindlimb during locomotion. The vital parameters, blood and serum investigations were normal. Post physiotherapy, massage and infrared therapy, the animal could walk but started knuckling, resulting in injuries. Eight weeks into rehabilitation, the animal had a steep fall in haemoglobin concentration, platelet count, weight loss and was diagnosed with Hepatozoonosis. Considering the altered vital parameters, the jackal was rationally treated with Doxycyclin @ 20 mg/Kg O.D. (Once Daily) for 45 days along with supportive therapy. The jackal recovered after the treatment and led a normal life.ConclusionMono-drug regime using Doxycycline was effective in the alleviation ofH.canisinfection in jackal. The drug was effective in alleviating the clinical presentation without alteration of vital parameters. The molecular investigation provided qualitative inputs in understanding the epidemiology ofHepatozoonin wild canids.

Toxoplasma gondii is a cyst-forming apicomplexan parasite of virtually all warm-blooded species, with all true cats (Felidae) as definitive hosts. It is the etiologic agent of toxoplasmosis, a disease causing substantial public health burden worldwide. Few intercontinental clonal lineages represent the large majority of isolates worldwide. Little is known about the evolutionary forces driving the success of these lineages, the timing and the mechanisms of their global dispersal. In this study, we analyse a set of 156 genomes and we provide estimates of T. gondii mutation rate and generation time. We elucidate how the evolution of T. gondii populations is intimately linked to the major events that have punctuated the recent history of cats. We show that a unique haplotype, whose length represents only 0.16% of the whole T. gondii genome, is common to all intercontinental lineages and hybrid populations derived from these lineages. This haplotype has accompanied wildcats (Felis silvestris) during their emergence from the wild to domestic settlements, their dispersal in the Old World, and their expansion in the last five centuries to the Americas. The selection of this haplotype is most parsimoniously explained by its role in sexual reproduction of T. gondii in domestic cats.

The assisted reproduction techniques are an essential part of endangered species conservation programs. All wild felids are threatened with extinction, and the domestic cat is a good and easily available model for research on wild felids. The procedures used in cats and wild felids include artificial insemination, oocytes collection from female and sperm collection from male, in vitro maturation of oocytes, in vitro fertilization by IVF and ICSI, embryo culture, embryo transfer, cryopreservation of gametes and embryos. The effectiveness of individual procedures in cats and wild felids is often much lower than in humans, livestock or laboratory animals, but the success achieved so far confirms the need for further research.Procedury wspomaganego rozrodu (ART) są istotną częścią programów ratowania ginących gatunków. Wszystkie gatunki dzikich kotowatych są zagrożone wyginięciem, a kot domowy jest dobrym i łatwo dostępnym modelem do badań nad kotowatymi. Do procedur ART stosowanych u kota i dzikich kotowatych należą sztuczne unasienianie, dojrzewanie i zapłodnienie oocytów in vitro metodą IVF i ICSI, hodowla zarodków, przenoszenie zarodków, kriokonserwacja nasienia, oocytów i zarodków. Skuteczność poszczególnych procedur u kotów i kotowatych jest często dużo niższa niż w przypadku człowieka, zwierząt gospodarskich lub laboratoryjnych, ale dotychczasowe sukcesy potwierdzają potrzebę prowadzenia dalszych badań.

BACKGROUND Toxoplasma gondii is a apicomplexan parasite of virtually all warm-blooded species. All true cats (Felidae) can act as definitive hosts for this parasite by shedding resistant oocysts into the environment. However, the patterns of oocysts shedding are only partially understood in domestic cats and largely unknown in wild felids. OBJECTIVES We carried out molecular analysis of 82 faecal samples from wild felids collected in the Serra dos Órgãos National Park (Parnaso), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. METHODS We screened samples for T. gondii DNA using a quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) targeting the 529bp DNA fragment. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-positive samples were genotyped using 15 microsatellite markers. RESULTS Only one faecal sample from a Puma yagouaroundi was PCR-positive [cycle threshold (Ct) = 26.88]. This sample was contaminated by a T. gondii strain of BrIII lineage, a common lineage in domestic animals from Brazil. MAIN CONCLUSIONS This first report of T. gondii in faeces of wild South American felids in their natural environment indicates infrequent oocyst shedding and suggests a role of acquired immunity in limiting re-excretion as in domestic cats. The presence of a domestic strain of T. gondii in a faecal sample from a wild felid at very low concentrations (not detected by microscopy) is consistent with the hypothesis of host-parasite co-adaptations limiting the circulation of T. gondii strains between domestic and wild environments.

Prey remains found in carnivore scats provide generalised dietary profiles of sampled populations. The profile may be biased if individual diets differ and some individuals are over- or under-represented in the sample. Quantifying individual contributions allows us to recognise these potential biases and better interpret generalised profiles. Knowing the dietary differences or similarity between individuals can help us to understand selection pressures and identify drivers of distribution and abundance. Using the results of individual faecal genotyping, we re-interpreted our previously-published generalised dietary profile of an elusive, neotropical felid, the jaguar (Panthera onca; Foster et al. (2010)). We quantified individual sample sizes, assessed whether the generalised profile was influenced by the inclusion of scats originating from the same individual and prey carcass (pseudo-replication), and quantified the distribution of prey species among individuals. From an original sample of 322 jaguar scats from a high-density jaguar population in Belize, we identified 206 prey items (individual prey animals) in 176 independent scats representing 32 jaguars (26 males, 3 females, 3 unknown sex). The influence of pseudo-replication in the original dietary profile was minimal. The majority of scats (94%) came from male jaguars. Eight males accounted for two-thirds of the prey items, while 24 jaguars each contributed Dasypus noveminctus), other vertebrates ≤10kg, and ungulates, primarily peccaries (Tayassu pecari and Pecari tajacu). We noted prey switching between wild and domestic ungulates for individuals spanning protected forests and farmland. This first scat-based study exploring individual variation in jaguar diet highlights the importance of armadillos and peccaries for male jaguars in Belize, the need for research on their roles in supporting high-density jaguar populations, and the need for more data on female diet from across the jaguar range.