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Paramyxoviruses are important pathogens affecting various animals, including mammals and humans. Parainfluenza virus 5 (PIV5)--a member of the family Paramyxoviridae--is a major threat to the health of mammals and humans. However, studies on terrestrial wild animals infected with PIV5 are scanty. In this study, we utilized reverse transcription PCR to detect PIV5 infection in the visceral organ tissues of a Siberian tiger (Panthera tigris ssp. altaica) with vomiting, diarrhea, and dyspnea before its death. A novel PIV5 (named SR strain) with a slowly progressive cytopathic effect was isolated in Vero cells and validated using a transmission electron microscope. Full-length sequencing and analysis revealed that the whole genome of the PIV5 SR strain contained 15,246 nucleotides (nt) and seven non-overlapping genes (3'-N-V/P-M-F-SHHN-L-5') encoding eight proteins. Phylogenetic analysis of three PIV5 strains identified in the same zoo confirmed that PIV5 strains SR and ZJQ-221 shared the closest genetic relationship as they were clustered in the same branch, while the recently found Siberian tiger strain SZ2 kept a certain distance and formed a relatively unique branch. Furthermore, mutations of nt and amino acids (aa) between strains ZJQ-221, SR, and SZ2 were identified. In summary, we report the identification and genomic characterization of a novel PIV5 strain SR isolated in a Siberian tiger, which may help future research on interspecific transmission mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aim: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is one of the most common causes of mortality in wild nondomestic felidae. The molecular mechanism regulating renal fibrosis in nephropathy is not fully understood especially in the felidae. This study aimed to elucidate senescence marker protein 30 (SMP30) expression patterns and its relationship with epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) by immunostaining in two necropsied Siberian tigers (Panthera tigris altaica) with CKD. Materials and Methods: Two kidney samples from male Siberian tigers were fixed and tissue sections were stained for histopathological assay. Results: In CKD, renal tubular epithelial cells lost their tubular structures surrounded by severe interstitial fibrosis and were detached from the basement membrane. These damaged cells resembled the morphology of mesenchymal cells and showed much lower SMP30 expression compared with intact tubular epithelial cells. These cells also expressed vimentin, which is specifically expressed by mesenchymal cells, and through double staining, it was observed that vimentin was expressed in the tubular epithelial cells where SMP30 was not expressed. In addition, double-positive expression of pan-cytokeratin (pan-CK) and vimentin was found in damaged epithelial cells with mesenchymal features. Conclusion: We demonstrated possible evidence to understand the role of SMP30 as a new pivotal factor and the possibility of decreased SMP30 as a potential indicator of EMT at the end stage of CKD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: A fatal feline panleukopenia virus (FPV) infection occurred in endangered Siberian tigers living in a zoo in the Republic of Korea. Genetic and phylogenetic analyses revealed that the infection was caused by the cross-species transmission of cat-derived FPV prevalent in Korea. The vaccinated tigers were infected with FPV most likely due to insufficient protective immunity or vaccine failure triggered by maternal-derived antibody interference. Therefore, improved biosecurity and vaccination guidelines are required to save the lives of endangered wild carnivores from fatal FPV infection. The data presented in this study will help us expand our knowledge of the molecular epidemiology of FPV in Korea and establish an effective control plan to prevent future FPV infections in captive wild carnivores. Feline panleukopenia virus (FPV), a member of the species Protoparvovirus carnivoran1, is one of the most fatal pathogens of domestic and wild carnivores. The virus endemically infects domestic carnivores worldwide and its cross-species transmission threatens endangered wild carnivores, including Siberian tigers. In this study, a fatal FPV infection in endangered Siberian tigers was investigated to trace the origin of the virus and elucidate the reason behind FPV's infection of the vaccinated tigers. Our genetic characterization and phylogenetic analysis revealed that the virus detected in the infected tigers, designated as the KTPV-2305 strain, was closely related to FPV strains circulating in Korean cats, suggesting that it might have been transmitted from stray cats wandering around the zoo. Compared with the prototype FPV reference strains, the KTPV-2305 strain carried three distinct amino acid (aa) mutations in the VP2 protein sequence (I101T, I232V, and L562V) in this study. These three mutations are commonly found in most global FPV strains, including Korean strains, indicating that these mutations are common evolutionary characteristics of currently circulating global FPVs. The reason why the vaccinated tigers were infected with FPV was most likely the insufficient protective immunity of the affected tigress or vaccine failure triggered by the interference of maternal-derived antibodies in the affected tiger cubs. These findings suggest that improved vaccination guidelines are urgently needed to save the lives of wild carnivores from this fatal virus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epididymal sperm cryopreservation provides a potential method for preserving genetic material from males of endangered species. This pilot study was conducted to develop a freezing method for tiger epididymal sperm. We evaluated post-thaw sperm condition using testes with intact epididymides obtained from a Siberian tiger (Panthera tigris altaica) after castration. The epididymis was chopped in Tyrode's albumin-lactate-pyruvate 1x and incubated at 5% CO2, 95% air for 10 min. The Percoll separation density gradient method was used for selective recovery of motile spermatozoa after sperm collection using a cell strainer. The spermatozoa were diluted with modified Norwegian extender supplemented with 20 mM trehalose (extender 1) and subsequent extender 2 (extender 1 with 10% glycerol) and frozen using LN2 vapor. After thawing at 37℃ for 25 s, Isolate® solution was used for more effective recovery of live sperm. Sperm motility (computerized assisted sperm analysis, CASA), viability (SYBR-14 and Propidium Iodide) and acrosome integrity (Pisum sativum agglutinin with FITC) were evaluated. The motility of tiger epididymal spermatozoa was 40.1 ± 2.0%, and progressively motile sperm comprised 32.7 ± 2.3%. Viability was 56.3 ± 1.6% and acrosome integrity was 62.3 ± 4.4%. Cryopreservation of tiger epididymal sperm using a modified Norwegian extender and density gradient method could be effective to obtain functional spermatozoa for future assisted reproductive practices in endangered species.

Feline panleukopenia virus (FPV), a member of the species Protoparvovirus carnivoran1, is one of the most fatal pathogens of domestic and wild carnivores. The virus endemically infects domestic carnivores worldwide and its cross-species transmission threatens endangered wild carnivores, including Siberian tigers. In this study, a fatal FPV infection in endangered Siberian tigers was investigated to trace the origin of the virus and elucidate the reason behind FPV’s infection of the vaccinated tigers. Our genetic characterization and phylogenetic analysis revealed that the virus detected in the infected tigers, designated as the KTPV-2305 strain, was closely related to FPV strains circulating in Korean cats, suggesting that it might have been transmitted from stray cats wandering around the zoo. Compared with the prototype FPV reference strains, the KTPV-2305 strain carried three distinct amino acid (aa) mutations in the VP2 protein sequence (I101T, I232V, and L562V) in this study. These three mutations are commonly found in most global FPV strains, including Korean strains, indicating that these mutations are common evolutionary characteristics of currently circulating global FPVs. The reason why the vaccinated tigers were infected with FPV was most likely the insufficient protective immunity of the affected tigress or vaccine failure triggered by the interference of maternal-derived antibodies in the affected tiger cubs. These findings suggest that improved vaccination guidelines are urgently needed to save the lives of wild carnivores from this fatal virus.

In this article, a new metaheuristic algorithm called Siberian Tiger Optimization (STO) is designed to deal with optimization applications. The fundamental inspiration of STO is the imitation of the natural behavior of the Siberian tiger during hunting and fighting. First, the whole design of STO and its mathematical model’s two phases are explained. Then, the efficiency of the proposed STO approach in optimization tasks is evaluated on sets of various standard benchmark functions from the CEC 2017 test suite. In addition, the CEC 2011 test suite and four engineering design problems are employed to analyze the ability of STO to handle real-world applications. Finally, the quality of the optimization results obtained from the proposed STO approach is compared with the performance of twelve well-known metaheuristic algorithms. The simulation results show that STO, with its high power in exploration and exploitation and creating a balance between them, has provided better results than competitor algorithms and has superior performance in handling optimization applications.

A 15-year-old male white Siberian tiger (Panthera tigris altaica) was evaluated for an elevated, ulcerated, cutaneous mass on the right flank. The mass was removed by excisional biopsy and submitted for histopathology. Based on distinct histological features of intracytoplasmic globular material and positive immunohistochemical staining for Melan-A and vimentin, an amelanotic signet-ring melanoma was diagnosed. While in domestic cats this neoplasm is associated with malignancy and a short survival time, the tiger had no local recurrence or related clinical disease approximately 4 years post surgery. Cutaneous melanocytic tumours are rare in big cats, and the findings in this case suggest that amelanotic signet-ring melanoma is not as malignant as its counterpart in domestic cats. Cutaneous amelanotic signet-ring melanoma in a Siberian tiger. Neoplastic cells have abundant eosinophilic globular, inclusion-like cytoplasm (signet-ring appearence), eccentric round to oval nuclei with finely stippled chromatin and prominet central round 'owl's eye' nucleoli. (Bars, 50 μm, respectively). [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Being a global pollutant, mercury can originate from both natural as well as anthropogenic sources. Coastal marine atmospheric fog is considered a potential source of ocean-derived monomethylmercury (MMHg) to coastal terrestrial ecosystems. However, the ratio between mercury appearing through natural processes and that from the results of human activity is unclear. We assumed that the total mercury content in the fur of tigers would differ depending on the distance from the sea. Here we show that the average mercury content in tigers from the coast (0.435 ± 0.062 mg kg−1) is significantly different from tigers from the inland area (0.239 ± 0.075 mg kg−1), (p = 0.02). We found that the content of mercury in the fur of tigers is largely dependent of natural processes rather than human activity. We assume that the levels of mercury in coastal ecosystems in the south of the Russian Far East reflect the position of the region relative to the deep faults of the East Pacific Platform. Obtained data indicate that environmental risks associated with mercury pollution currently exist, but do not pose a serious threat to Siberian tigers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paramyxoviruses are important pathogens affecting various animals, including mammals and humans. Parainfluenza virus 5 (PIV5)-a member of the family Paramyxoviridae -is a major threat to the health of mammals and humans. However, studies on terrestrial wild animals infected with PIV5 are scanty. In this study, we utilized reverse transcription PCR to detect PIV5 infection in the visceral organ tissues of a Siberian tiger ( Panthera tigris ssp. altaica ) with vomiting, diarrhea, and dyspnea before its death. A novel PIV5 (named SR strain) with a slowly progressive cytopathic effect was isolated in Vero cells and validated using a transmission electron microscope. Full-length sequencing and analysis revealed that the whole genome of the PIV5 SR strain contained 15,246 nucleotides (nt) and seven non-overlapping genes (3'-N-V/P-M-F-SH-HN-L-5') encoding eight proteins. Phylogenetic analysis of three PIV5 strains identified in the same zoo confirmed that PIV5 strains SR and ZJQ-221 shared the closest genetic relationship as they were clustered in the same branch, while the recently found Siberian tiger strain SZ2 kept a certain distance and formed a relatively unique branch. Furthermore, mutations of nt and amino acids (aa) between strains ZJQ-221, SR, and SZ2 were identified. In summary, we report the identification and genomic characterization of a novel PIV5 strain SR isolated in a Siberian tiger, which may help future research on interspecific transmission mechanisms., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Zhou, Chen, Wang, Lv, Shan, Li, Wu, Du, Fan, Liu, Shi, Cao, Zhai and Chen.)

The turbulent history of one of the most important natural preserves of Russia, surrounding the Bikin River, sometimes called Russia's Amazon, is related by one of the park's founders. This Indigenous narrator interweaves the story of his people, the Udegé, together with their relationship to the sacred Bikin taiga lands, and to issues of leadership on many levels. The case is significant because it features one of the few large Indigenous territories that have been saved from development (timber, gold, road building) by continuously scheming outsiders, and for its depiction of the importance of Indigenous solidarity combined with guarantees of flexible traditional land use (hunting, trapping, fishing). Russian ecology activists and international allies in the battle for the park played key roles, as did the presence on Bikin territories of the charismatic largest cat in the world, the Siberian tiger. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/aim: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is one of the most common causes of mortality in wild non-domestic felidae. The molecular mechanism regulating renal fibrosis in nephropathy is not fully understood especially in the felidae. This study aimed to elucidate senescence marker protein 30 (SMP30) expression patterns and its relationship with epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) by immunostaining in two necropsied Siberian tigers (Panthera tigris altaica) with CKD., Materials and Methods: Two kidney samples from male Siberian tigers were fixed and tissue sections were stained for histopathological assay., Results: In CKD, renal tubular epithelial cells lost their tubular structures surrounded by severe interstitial fibrosis and were detached from the basement membrane. These damaged cells resembled the morphology of mesenchymal cells and showed much lower SMP30 expression compared with intact tubular epithelial cells. These cells also expressed vimentin, which is specifically expressed by mesenchymal cells, and through double staining, it was observed that vimentin was expressed in the tubular epithelial cells where SMP30 was not expressed. In addition, double-positive expression of pan-cytokeratin (pan-CK) and vimentin was found in damaged epithelial cells with mesenchymal features., Conclusion: We demonstrated possible evidence to understand the role of SMP30 as a new pivotal factor and the possibility of decreased SMP30 as a potential indicator of EMT at the end stage of CKD., (Copyright © 2024, International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. George J. Delinasios), All rights reserved.)

Population dispersal and migration often indicate an expanded habitat and reduced inbreeding probability, and to some extend reflects improvement in the condition of the population. The Amur tiger population in the northern region of the Changbai mountain in China mostly distributes along the Sino–Russian border, next to the population in southwest Primorye in Russia. The successful dispersal westward and transboundary movement are crucial for the persistence of the Amur tiger in this area. This study explored the spatial dispersal of the population, transboundary migration, and the genetic condition of the Amur tiger population within the northern Changbai mountain in China, using occurrence data and fecal samples. Our results from 2003 to 2016 showed that the Amur tiger population in this area was spreading westward at a speed of 12.83 ± 4.41 km every three years. Genetic diversity of the Amur tiger populations in southwest Primorye was slightly different than the population in our study area, and the potential individual migration rate between these two populations was shown to be about 13.04%. Furthermore, the relationships between genetic distances and spatial distances indicated the existence of serious limitations to the dispersal of the Amur tiger in China. This study provided important information about spatial dispersal, transboundary migration, and the genetic diversity of Amur tigers in China, showed the urgent need for Amur tiger habitat restoration, and suggested some important conservation measures, such as corridor construction to eliminate dispersal barriers and joint international conservation to promote trans‐boundary movement. Amur tiger population within China were obviously spreading westward at the speed of 12.83 ± 4.41 km every three years from 2003 to 2016. However, genetic analysis confirmed that there was serious limited dispersal by examining the relationships of genetic distances to spatial distances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The daily activities of animals are influenced by various factors, including their physiological adaptations and preferred habitat distributions, as well as prey availability and human disturbances. For felids, the main drivers of activity patterns appear to be prey availability and anthropogenic disturbances, as suggested by previous studies. In this study, we explore a set of variables that influence the activity patterns of Amur tigers (Panthera tigris altaica) in Jilin and Heilongjiang Provinces in north‐east China near south‐western Primorsky Krai, Russia. This area is currently the only occupied tiger habitat in China. Prey availability (e.g. wild boar, sika deer and roe deer), human disturbances (e.g. human activity, distance to human settlements and intense forest livestock grazing), and habitat structure were analysed. Our results revealed crepuscular and nocturnal activity of Amur tigers. Although the temporal overlaps between the tigers and their prey species were high, the spatial overlap indices were low. Although the presence of tigers decreased near human settlements, tigers showed a preference for walking along roads. Tigers also avoided high‐elevation coniferous and mixed hardwood forests. Overall, our results indicated that (1) tigers spatially and temporally avoided human disturbances and tigers respond behaviourally to human disturbances and (2) human disturbances may determine the activity of Amur tigers in north‐east China. In the future, to address conflicts between tigers and local humans and to improve tiger conservation, conservation planning should incorporate the spatio‐temporal activity patterns of tigers and humans. The daily activities of animals are influenced by various factors, including their physiological adaptations and preferred habitat distributions, as well as prey availability and human disturbances. For felids, the main drivers of activity patterns appear to be prey availability and anthropogenic disturbances. In this study, we explore a set of variables that influence the activity patterns of Amur tigers in north‐east China. Our results revealed crepuscular and nocturnal activity of Amur tigers and the temporal overlaps between the tigers and their prey species were high. The presence of tigers decreased near human settlements and increased on roads. Overall, our results indicated that tigers spatially and temporally avoided human disturbances and human disturbances may determine the activity of Amur tigers in north‐east China. In the future, to address conflicts between tigers and local humans and to improve tiger conservation, conservation planning should incorporate the spatio‐temporal activity patterns of tigers and humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Amur tigers showed innate preferential responses to the stimuli of native prey. • Amur tigers showed the most innate preference for the preferred native prey. • The innate olfactory preference for native prey was negatively correlated with age. • The innate preference for native prey was correlated with personality traits. Abstract Prey recognition is vital for predation and the survival of carnivores. In theory, carnivores recognize prey by instinct or learning. However, the instinct hypothesis has little support. In addition, it remains unknown if prey recognition capability correlates with personality. Here, we test if Amur (or Siberian) tigers (Panthera tigris altaica), an endangered species, instinctually recognize their native prey. By studying both captive and prey-naive Amur tigers, we found that they preferentially responded to the images, sounds and faeces of native prey over those of non-native prey. Further, they showed the strongest preference for images and sounds of the wild boar, the most preferred native prey of wild Amur tigers. The innate olfactory, not visual and auditory, preference for native prey had a significant negative correlation with tiger age. Furthermore, we found that innate prey recognition capability was significantly correlated with the personality traits of tigers. In general, this study indicated that Amur tigers recognize native prey instinctually and this instinct could be identified by personality assessment, providing a potential method to preliminarily screen tiger individuals with keen prey recognition instinct for breeding and wild training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Ingredients in breast milk can help establish a healthy community of microorganisms in the infant gut, but no research exists regarding the effects of goat milk feeding and breast feeding on the gut microbiome of the Amur tiger, which is one of the most endangered species in the world. Methods In this study, we used whole-metagenome shotgun sequencing to analyze the effects of two different feeding patterns, goat milk feeding and breast feeding, on the composition and functional structures of gut microbiota in Amur tiger cubs. Results Goat milk-fed cubs have fewer beneficial bacteria and more pathogenic bacteria and a higher microbial diversity in their gut than breastfed cubs. A total of 15 genera showed statistically significant differences; the relative abundances of Streptomyces scabiei , Streptomyces avermitilis and Streptomyces davawensis were significantly decreased, whereas those of Niabella soli , Aeromonas media and Brochothrix thermosphacta were significantly increased in the goat milk-fed group compared with those in the breastfed group. At the functional level, carbohydrate metabolism, translation and replication and repair decreased, and amino acid metabolism, membrane transport and metabolism of cofactors and vitamins increased in the gut microbiota of goat milk-fed cubs compared with breastfed cubs. Conclusion Our results indicate for the first time that the different milk feeding patterns of goat milk feeding and breast feeding can change the composition and functional structures of gut microbiota in Amur tiger cubs and that breastfed tiger cubs and goat milk-fed tiger cubs have distinct microbiotas in their guts. Highlights • First time to use metagenomic analyze the effects of different milk feeding patterns on gut microbiome of Amur tiger cubs. • Goat milk feeding and breast feeding can change the composition and functional structures of gut microbiota in Amur tiger. • Breastfed Amur tiger cubs and goat milk-fed Amur tiger cubs have distinct microbiotas in their guts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A small, isolated Amur tiger population ranges across the southwest Primorskii Krai region in Russia and Hunchun region in China. Many individuals, with “dual nationality,” cross the border frequently. Formulating effective conservation strategies requires a clear understanding of tiger food requirements in both countries. While the diets of tigers ranging in Russia is clearly understood, little is known of the tigers' feeding habits in China.. We used scat analysis combined with data on the abundance of 4 prey species to examine Amur tiger diet and prey preferences in Hunchun. We examined 53 tiger scat samples from 2011 to 2016 and found that tigers preyed on 12 species (11 species in winter), 4 of which were domestic animals with 33.58% biomass contribution; this was the first record of Amur tigers eating lynx in this area. Tigers showed a strong preference for wild boar (Jacobs index: +0.849), which were also the most frequently consumed prey, and a strong avoidance of roe deer (Jacobs index: −0.693). On the Russian side, domestic animals (just dog) were rarely found in tiger scat, and tigers did not show strong avoidance of roe deer, but of sika deer. We also found red deer footprints during winter surveys and that tigers ate red deer on the Chinese side, while there was no record of red deer feeding on the Russian side. Reducing or eliminating human disturbance, such as grazing, is essential to recovering tiger prey and habitat in this area and the Sino‐Russian joint ungulate annual survey is indispensable for prey estimates of this small, isolated Amur tiger population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: There have been few reports on the diversity and prevalence of parasitic fauna of the endangered Siberian tiger, which inhabits the territory of the Russian Far East. The present review attempts to summarize the information about the parasitic fauna of wild Siberian tigers, which includes 15 helminths and 3 protozoan species. The most prevalent parasitic species was found to be Toxocara cati, followed by Toxascaris leonina. Another commonly recorded Platyhelminth species is Paragonimus westermani, which causes a lethal infection of the lung parenchyma in Siberian tigers. However, the information about infections by this fluke in the Siberian tigers is scarce, although P. westermani infections pose a serious health hazard to tiger populations. The nematodes Aelurostrongylus abstrusus and Thominx aerophilus are found in Siberian tigers with an occurrence rate of 2.3% and 19%, respectively. The information on the parasitic infestations of captive populations of Siberian tigers is also presented along with the sources of infection and hazards for the wild tiger populations in their natural environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lead (Pb2+) is a poisonous heavy metal that causes many pathophysiological effects in living systems. Its toxicological effects are well known as it causes apoptosis of several cell types and tissues. This study aimed to determine the criteria required for early diagnosis of Pb2+poisoning in the Siberian tiger using a tiger population in China, to identify a safety Pb2+concentration threshold, and to provide suggestions for preventing Pb2+poisoning in Siberian tigers. We investigated the apoptotic effects of Pb2+(0, 32, 64, and 125 μM) for 12–48 h on Siberian tiger fibroblastsin vitro. Typical apoptotic effects were observed after Pb2+exposure. Pb2+strongly blocked DNA synthesis in the G0/G1 phase and induced cell apoptosis in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Intracellular free calcium (Ca2+) levels, reactive oxygen species levels, and efflux of extracellular Ca2+were increased. The mitochondrial membrane potential was lowered. Caspase-3, -8, and -9 activities were increased when fibroblasts were treated with 32, 64, and 125 μM Pb2+. The gene expression levels of Bax, caspase-3, -8, Fas, and p53 were increased, while that of Bcl-2 was decreased. Calcium homeostasis and mitochondrial function were disturbed. Ca2+efflux, oxidative damage, activation of caspases, and regulation of Bax, Bcl-2, caspase-3, -8, Fas, and p53 gene expression played an important role in the apoptotic effects. The disorder of intracellular homeostasis was the trigger for apoptosis in Siberian tiger fibroblasts. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

A neutered male Siberian tiger ( Panthera tigris altaica) presented with paraplegia of 5 days' duration. Thoracolumbar magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a focal, linear T2-W hyperintense intramedullary lesion at the level of T10-11 as well as reduced size of the nucleus pulposus of the T10-11 intervertebral disc. The animal was humanely euthanatized as a result of the severity of clinical signs and the poor prognosis. Gross necropsy revealed a dark red, firm focus on the spinal cord at the level of the T11 nerve roots. Histopathology revealed liquefactive necrosis of the ventral spinal cord at the level of T9-11, with hemorrhage and vascular changes within the cord and associated meninges. Fibrovascular tissue with hemorrhage, fibrin, and fragments of cartilage consistent with nucleus pulposus material was identified extradurally at this level. The findings were consistent with acute noncompressive nucleus pulposus extrusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methods of analysis of the results got from satellite tracking of large terrestrial mammals differ in the level of their integration with additional geographic data. The reliable fine-scale cartographic basis for assessing specific wildlife habitats can be developed through the interpretation of multispectral remote sensing data and extrapolation of the results to the entire estimated species range. Topographic maps were ordinated according to classified features using self-organizing maps (Kohonen's SOM). The satellite image of the Ussuriiskyi Nature Reserve area was interpreted for the analysis of movement conditions for seven wild Amur tigers (Panthera tigris altaica) equipped with GPS collars. 225 SOM classes for cartographic visualization are sufficient for the detailed mapping of all natural complexes that were identified as a result of interpretation. During snow-free periods, tigers preferred deciduous and shrub associations at lower elevations, as well as mixed forests in the valleys of streams that are adjacent to sparse forests and shrub watershed in the mountain ranges; during heavy snow periods, the animals preferred the entire range of plant communities in different relief types, except for open sites in meadows and abandoned fields at foothills. The border zones of different biotopes were typically used by the tigers during all seasons. Amur tigers preferred coniferous forests for long-term movements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interferon has a broad-spectrum of antiviral effects and represents an ideal choice for the development of antiviral drugs. Nonetheless, information about alpha interferon (IFN-α) is vacant in Amur tiger ( Panthera tigris altaica ), an endangered species and indigenous to northeast Asia. Herein, 11 PtIFN-αs genes, which encoded proteins of 164–165 amino acids, were amplified. Afterwards, expression and purification were conducted in Escherichia coli . In physicochemical analysis, PtIFN-αs were shown to be highly sensitive to trypsin and remained stable despite changes in pH and temperature. In feline kidney cells (F81)/vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV)/canine distemper virus (CDV)/avian influenza virus (AIV) systems, PtIFN-αs were demonstrated to have distinct antiviral activities, some of them (PtIFN-α and PtIFN-α9) inhibited viral transcription levels more effectively than the other subtypes including Felis catus IFN-α, an effective therapeutic agent used for viral infections clinically. Additionally, PtIFN-α and PtIFN-α9 can up-regulate the transcription and expression of p53, a tumor suppressor factor, which could promote apoptosis of virus-infected cells. In conclusion, we cloned and expressed 11 subtypes of PtIFN-α for the first time. Furthermore, PtIFN-α and PtIFN-α9 were likely to be more efficient against both chronic viral infections and neoplastic diseases that affect the Amur tiger population. It will be of significant importance for further studies to protect this endangered species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 2- to 4-year-old uncastrated male Siberian tiger (Panthera tigris altica) bred in a local wild animal park presented with generalized clinical signs including abdominal pain, fever, lethargy, and anorexia, along with subcutaneous nodules along the trunk. The patient subsequently died of chronic, progressive dyspnea despite 45 days of antibiotic treatment. At necropsy, mesenteric fat inflammation and multiple subcutaneous, peritoneal, and intraabdominal nodules were observed. The lungs demonstrated congestion and heavy coagulation, and necrotic foci were observed on the cut surface. Histopathologically, the nodules were identified as granulomatous fatty tissue with numerous lymphocytes, infiltration with lipid-laden macrophages, and fibrosis. These changes were also noted in the lung. The etiology of this condition remains undetermined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) libraries are extremely valuable for the genome-wide genetic dissection of complex organisms. The Siberian tiger, one of the most well-known wild primitive carnivores in China, is an endangered animal. In order to promote research on its genome, a high-redundancy BAC library of the Siberian tiger was constructed and characterized. The library is divided into two sub-libraries prepared from blood cells and two sub-libraries prepared from fibroblasts. This BAC library contains 153,600 individually archived clones; for PCR-based screening of the library, BACs were placed into 40 superpools of 10 × 384-deep well microplates. The average insert size of BAC clones was estimated to be 116.5 kb, representing approximately 6.46 genome equivalents of the haploid genome and affording a 98.86% statistical probability of obtaining at least one clone containing a unique DNA sequence. Screening the library with 19 microsatellite markers and a SRY sequence revealed that each of these markers were present in the library; the average number of positive clones per marker was 6.74 (range 2 to 12), consistent with 6.46 coverage of the tiger genome. Additionally, we identified 72 microsatellite markers that could potentially be used as genetic markers. This BAC library will serve as a valuable resource for physical mapping, comparative genomic study and large-scale genome sequencing in the tiger.

The Amur tiger (Panthera tigris altaica) is an endangered tiger subspecies. An adult zoo-bred female was found collapsed, and died despite supportive treatment. Hematology and biochemistry showed pancytopenia and hyperglobulinemia, and serum protein electrophoresis revealed a monoclonal band in the ß-globulin region. Necropsy demonstrated hemoabdomen, multifocal lytic bone marrow lesions, splenomegaly, and hemorrhagic hepatic nodules, with left medial lobe rupture. There were mutifocal hemorrhages in the subcutis, lung, epicardium, and intestinal mucosa. Histopathology demonstrated plasmacytoid cells infiltrating the bone marrow, liver and spleen, and circulating within blood vessels. On immunohistochemistry, cell infiltrates of the three tissues were positive for λ light chains, bone marrow infiltrates were positive for MUM-1 and bone marrow and spleen infiltrates were positive for CD20. These findings indicate that this animal died of hemoabdomen subsequent to multiple myeloma. This is the first time this disease has been reported in a tiger. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports that generalizations play a powerful role in guiding our inferences concerning property possession, despite their relatively weak acceptance conditions. It mentions that social psychologists have argued that we view certain social kinds as essentialized in much the way we view animal kinds. It states that the capacity to essentialize is a ubiquitous feature of human psychology.

The role of the Siberian musk deer in the diets of the Amur tiger, brown bear, and Asian black bear has been studied in the Sikhote-Alin State Biosphere Reserve in 1992 to 2016. Information has been collected from 763 tiger feeding sites, and the contents of tiger feces have been analyzed. Radiotelemetry has been used to evaluate tiger-musk deer relationships. The musk deer accounted for 0.26% of all animal species found to be eaten by the tiger. Musk deer remains in feces of the tiger, brown bear, and Asian black bear occurred with frequencies of 1.3, 0.2, and 0.3%, respectively. A case of musk deer avoiding the presence of brown bear is described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiple human disturbances influence the vegetation, ungulates and Amur tigers ( Panthera tigris altaica ) in Hunchun Nature Reserve (HNR) in northeastern China. In order to understand the influence and relative contribution of human disturbance on Amur tigers, prey and vegetation, we conducted the transect lines and plot surveys of human disturbance inside HNR from August to October 2013. We used generalized additive models, generalized liner models and structural equation models to explore the effects of human disturbance on vegetation, prey and Amur tigers. We then used hierarchical partitioning models to quantify the contribution of four main kinds of human disturbance. Our results suggest that all three models indicate that human disturbance can directly and indirectly affect prey and Amur tigers via the Bottom Up chains. Among the human disturbances, grazing activity and ginseng land encroachment impacted vegetation more than roads did; for prey, secondary roads had the greatest impact. Grazing activity, secondary roads and primary roads were the main factors disturbing Amur tigers. The generalized additive model had a stronger detection ability for disturbance prediction than generalized liner and structural equation models. The generalized additive model detected more complex nonlinear interaction relationships between predator and prey or predator, prey and habitat factors. Reducing or eliminating specific types of disturbance will be essential to recover Amur tiger populations and their habitats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Siberian tiger, Panthera tigris altaica, is an endangered species, and much more work is needed to protect this species, which is still vulnerable to extinction. Conservation efforts may be supported by the genetic assessment of wild populations, for which highly specific microsatellite markers are required. However, only a limited amount of genetic sequence data is available for this species. To identify the genes involved in the lung transcriptome and to develop additional simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers for the Siberian tiger, we used high-throughput RNA-Seq to characterize the Siberian tiger transcriptome in lung tissue (designated 'PTA-lung') and a pooled tissue sample (designated 'PTA'). Approximately 47.5 % (33,187/69,836) of the lung transcriptome was annotated in four public databases (Nr, Swiss-Prot, KEGG, and COG). The annotated genes formed a potential pool for gene identification in the tiger. An analysis of the genes differentially expressed in the PTA lung, and PTA samples revealed that the tiger may have suffered a series of diseases before death. In total, 1062 non-redundant SSRs were identified in the Siberian tiger transcriptome. Forty-three primer pairs were randomly selected for amplification reactions, and 26 of the 43 pairs were also used to evaluate the levels of genetic polymorphism. Fourteen primer pairs (32.56 %) amplified products that were polymorphic in size in P. tigris altaica. In conclusion, the transcriptome sequences will provide a valuable genomic resource for genetic research, and these new SSR markers comprise a reasonable number of loci for the genetic analysis of wild and captive populations of P. tigris altaica. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A clinical case of co-infection with Trichophyton menthagrophytes and Microsporum canis in a Siberian tiger (Panthera tigris altaic?) is described. Clinical and laboratory mycological examinations were carried out. Two dermatophytic species were isolated from hairs, crusts and swab samples from different parts of the cage. A systemic oral therapy with itraconazole (Sporanox, Janssen) at a dose of 10 mg/kg with food was initiated and body surface was treated with 0.2% enilconazole solution (Imaverol, Janssen). The skin lesions of the tiger healed after the treatments, but recurred a month later. We recommended a thourough disinfection of the cage area inhabited by tigers and inventory in it. The therapeutic protocol was repeated. Clinical signs disappeared. Information about disease recurrence was obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large cat species were historically abundant in Korea; however, most vanished during the 20th century. We examined the causes of this demise and diagnosed the feasibiity of felid restoration in modern Korea. "Pest" control during the Japanese Invasion (1910-1945) eradicated Panthera tigris (Siberian tiger), and Panthera pardus (Amur leopard). Lynx lynx (Eurasian lynx) never inhabited South Korea and were rare in North Korea. Prionailurus bengalensis (leopard cat) was profuse, but habitat loss, road kills, rodenticides, and competition w ith feral house cats relegated the species to rarity. Despite the extirpation of P. tigris and P. pardus on the Korean Peninsula, the South Korean Government listed all felids as "Endangered" and initiated the development of recovery plans. The North Korean Government followed but did not list P. bengalensis. We suggest that misdirected methods and plans for the restoration of felids were applied to an inappropriate species, L. lynx. For big felid restoration, we suggest three options. The first option for pre-restoration in North Korea includes two reserves adjacent to habitats of tigers and leopards in Russia and China. The second option includes two reserves in South Korea. The second option, primarily for P. pardus restoration, has more potential for success than the restoration of P. tigris. The third option delays restoration of the big cats and allocates revenues and governmental policy toward the survival of P. bengalensis. This option is a pragmatic choice w ith a greater probability of success, instead of focusing efforts on extirpated tigers and leopards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Feline calicivirus (FCV) is a virus that causes respiratory disease in cats. In this study, the FCV TIG-1 was isolated from Siberian tiger feces collected in 2014 in Heilongjiang Province, China. Phylogenetic analysis among TIG-1 and other FCVs showed that TIG-1 does not share the same lineage with other FCV isolates from Heilongjiang or other regions in China but is located in the same cluster with the FCV strain Urbana, which was isolated from the United States. The growth kinetics in vitro and the pathogenicity in cats between TIG-1 and the domestic cat-origin FCV strain F9 (vaccine strain) and strain 2280 were compared. We found that the growth kinetics of strains TIG-1 and 2280 were faster than that of strain F9 from 12 h to 36 h post-infection, indicating that strains TIG-1 and 2280 produce infectious virions and reach peak yields earlier. Challenge experiments in cats showed that TIG-1 grew faster than the other two strains in the lungs of cats and that TIG-1 is a virulent FCV with 100% morbidity and lethality. In addition, the histopathological results showed that the virulent TIG-1 strain directly led to severe lung tissue damage and indirectly led to intestinal damage. The results presented here show that a tiger-origin FCV exhibits high virulence in cats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Siberian tiger is endangered and is listed by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature; the captive environment is utilized to maintain Siberian tiger numbers. Little information regarding the prevalence of parasites in Siberian tigers is available. A total of 277 fecal samples of Siberian tigers were analyzed in this study. The microscopic analysis indicated the presence of ascarid eggs of Toxascaris leonina and Toxocara cati . The ascarid infection rate was 67.5% in Siberian tigers. The internal transcribed spacer-1 (ITS-1) phylogenetic analysis indicated that T. leonina belonged to Toxascaris and that Toxo. cati belonged to Toxocara . The infestation rate and intensity of T. leonina were higher than those of Toxo. cati . One-way analysis of variance showed that the presence of T. leonina was significantly associated with age ( P < 0.05). Temperature changes also influenced T. leonina and Toxo. cati infestation, and a rise in temperature caused an increase in the number of T. leonina and Toxo. cati eggs. This study provides a better understanding of ascarid infestation among the captive Siberian tigers and is helpful for the prevention of the spread of infectious parasitic diseases among other tigers in the zoo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]