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Feline herpesvirus type 1 (FHV-1) is endemic in captive cheetahs and sporadically causes devastating disease. Modified live vaccines (MLV), intended for use in domestic cats, are used in some captive cheetah populations and have been anecdotally linked to disease in certain subpopulations. Ten FHV-1 isolates from ten captive cheetahs and one isolate from an MLV used to inoculate four of the host animals were analyzed. Viral DNA was extracted for full-genome sequencing by Illumina MiSeq with viral genomes then used for phylogenomic and recombinational analyses. The FHV-1 shed by vaccinated cheetahs were almost identical to the MLV, with few variants among viral genomes. Eight cheetah FHV-1 isolates and the MLV were grouped in a clade along with FHV-1 isolates from domestic cats in the USA. The remaining two cheetah FHV-1 isolates (unknown host vaccine status) were not associated with a clade. The likely ancestral origin of these two isolates involves recombination events between Australian domestic cat and cheetah FHV-1 isolates. Collectively, these data suggest that the MLV is capable of causing clinical disease and viral shedding in some cheetahs and represents evidence of interspecies transmission of virus between domestic and wild cats.

Body size correlates with various biological attributes. Hence, its evolution has attracted considerable attention. The family Felidae (Mammalia: Carnivora) has extensive variation in body size among extant species, with a few species being strikingly larger. The body size of extremely large species compared with phylogenetically related species may have evolved through directional selection toward increased size in a particular lineage, although lineage-specific directional selection has not been explicitly incorporated into standard models of body size evolution on a phylogeny. We used simulation-based likelihood and approximate Bayesian computation to examine the effect of lineage-specific directional selection on body mass evolution in extant felids. Our analyses revealed the occurrence of lineage-specific directional selection that favors larger body mass in the genus Panthera (lion, Panthera leo; jaguar, Panthera onca; leopard, Panthera pardus; tiger, Panthera tigris; and snow leopard, Panthera uncia), as well as in the cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) and puma (Puma concolor). Lineage-specific directional selection was not detected in the clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa), which, along with the genus Panthera, diverged early from all other extant felids. The cheetah, puma, and jaguarundi (Puma yagouarondi) compose a monophyletic group in which body size may have decreased during the evolution of the jaguarundi, although our analyses revealed no lineage-specific directional selection for smaller sizes in the species. Directional selection for increased body size shown herein seems to be associated with a lifestyle dependent on relatively large prey. This selection may be accelerated by the features of solitary hunters in felids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A mandible fragment of Acinonyx pardinensis (Croizet et Jobert, 1828) is described from the Early Pleistocene locality in the Taurida cave (Crimea, Late Villafranchian, about 1.8-1.5 Ma). This is the first discovery of the genus Acinonyx in the Pleistocene of Crimea. Along with other felids, such as Homotherium, Megantereon, Panthera, Lynx, and Puma, cheetahs were typical representatives of the Late Villafranchian faunas of Eurasia. In the Taurida locality, Acinonyx pardinensis is co-occurred with Homotherium crenatidens, Megantereon adroveri, and Lynx issiodorensis., (© 2024. Pleiades Publishing, Ltd.)

OBJECTIVE To determine the incidence of and risk factors for clinical feline herpesvirus (FHV) infection in zoo-housed cheetahs and determine whether dam infection was associated with offspring infection. DESIGN Retrospective cohort study. ANIMALS 144 cheetah cubs born in 6 zoos from 1988 through 2007. PROCEDURES Data were extracted from the health records of cheetahs and their dams to identify incident cases of clinical FHV infection and estimate incidence from birth to 18 months of age. Univariate and multivariable Cox proportional hazards models, controlling for correlations among cheetahs with the same dam, were used to identify risk factors for incident FHV infection. RESULTS Cumulative incidence of FHV infection in cheetah cubs was 35% (50/144). No significant association between dam and offspring infection was identified in any model. Factors identified as significant through multivariable analysis varied by age group. For cheetahs up to 3 months of age, the most important predictor of FHV infection was having a dam that had received a preparturition FHV vaccine regimen that included a modified-live virus vaccine versus a dam that had received no preparturition vaccine. Other risk factors included being from a small litter, being born to a primiparous dam, and male sex. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE This study provided the first population-level characterization of the incidence of and risk factors for FHV infection in cheetahs, and findings confirmed the importance of this disease. Recognition that clinical FHV infection in the dam was not a significant predictor of disease in cubs and identification of other significant factors have implications for disease management.

Bartonellae are blood- and vector-borne Gram-negative bacteria, recognized as emerging pathogens. Whole-blood samples were collected from 58 free-ranging lions (Panthera leo) in South Africa and 17 cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) from Namibia. Blood samples were also collected from 11 cheetahs (more than once for some of them) at the San Diego Wildlife Safari Park. Bacteria were isolated from the blood of three (5%) lions, one (6%) Namibian cheetah and eight (73%) cheetahs from California. The lion Bartonella isolates were identified as B. henselae (two isolates) and B. koehlerae subsp. koehlerae. The Namibian cheetah strain was close but distinct from isolates from North American wild felids and clustered between B. henselae and B. koehlerae. It should be considered as a new subspecies of B. koehlerae. All the Californian semi-captive cheetah isolates were different from B. henselae or B. koehlerae subsp. koehlerae and from the Namibian cheetah isolate. They were also distinct from the strains isolated from Californian mountain lions (Felis concolor) and clustered with strains of B. koehlerae subsp. bothieri isolated from free-ranging bobcats (Lynx rufus) in California. Therefore, it is likely that these captive cheetahs became infected by an indigenous strain for which bobcats are the natural reservoir.

Cefovecin is a third‐generation cephalosporin with potential value for use in exotic felids due to its long duration of action. A sparse sampling protocol was implemented with 18 zoo‐housed cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) to evaluate the pharmacokinetics of cefovecin (Convenia®) after a single 8 mg/kg intramuscular injection. Blood was collected serially for 15 days following administration, and plasma cefovecin concentrations were determined using high‐pressure liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection. Pharmacokinetic parameters were estimated using population pharmacokinetic methods and non‐linear mixed effects modeling (NLME). Cefovecin was well tolerated by all cats, with no adverse effects observed. Peak plasma cefovecin concentration was 84.75 µg/ml, with a mean residence time of 207.9 h and an elimination half‐life of 144.1 h (6.00 days). Plasma concentrations of cefovecin were maintained >7 µg/ml in all individuals for the entire study duration (15 days). These concentrations are lower, and the half‐life slightly shorter, than the values reported for domestic cats. Cefovecin was highly protein‐bound (approximately 99.9%) in cheetah plasma, which is nearly identical to domestic cats. These results indicate that cefovecin is potentially useful as a long‐acting antibiotic in cheetahs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In January 2019, four cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) kept at a Japanese zoo intermittently showed respiratory signs following the incidence of seasonal influenza in animal caregivers. Respiratory materials (saliva, sputum and food tray swabs) were non‐invasively collected from the four cheetahs. Although we were unable to isolate the virus, the NP gene of influenza A virus was detected in three of the cheetahs but not in the fourth cheetah that had nearly recovered. From a food tray swab which tested weakly positive by a commercial influenza detection kit, we were able to obtain the whole‐genome sequence of the influenza A virus. Analysis of the genome, A/cheetah/Kanagawa/2/2019(H1N1), revealed that the virus was closely related to influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses isolated from humans in Japan in the 2018–2019 winter. Production of haemagglutinin inhibition (HI) antibodies (64–128 HI) against an A(H1N1)pdm09 virus in plasma samples confirmed infection of all four cheetahs. The animals continued to produce antibodies for at least 314 days after disease onset. These findings strongly suggest that reverse zoonotic transmission of A(H1N1)pdm09 virus occurred from human to cheetah and subsequently from cheetah to cheetah in the zoo. We also show that specimens can be safely and non‐invasively collected from non‐domesticated animals and used to investigate respiratory infectious diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based upon previous clinical experience with domestic cats ( Felis catus ), the ability to assess ABC blood types and blood (in-)compatibilities of nondomestic felids, and adequately consider and plan for blood transfusions, may be important. Although nondomestic felids appear to have an ABC blood group system similar to domestic cats, typing with point-of-care kits and by CMAH genotyping for domestic cats have not been reported. In this study, 162 blood samples from 18 different nondomestic felid species (cheetah [ Acinonyx jubatus , n = 42], lion [ Panthera leo , n = 33], tiger [ Panthera tigris , n = 23], Canada lynx [ Lynx canadensis , n = 11], snow leopard [ Uncia uncia , n = 10], puma [ Puma concolor , n = 7], clouded leopard [ Neofelis nebulosa , n = 6], serval [ Leptailurus serval , n = 5], jaguar [ Panthera onca , n = 5], fishing cat [ Prionailurus viverrinus , n = 4], Pallas cat [ Felis manul , n = 3], bobcat [ Lynx rufus , n = 3], ocelot [ Leopardus pardalis , n = 3], black footed cat [ Felis nigripes , n = 2], leopard [ Panthera pardus , n = 2], African wildcat [ Felis lybica , n = 1], caracal [ Caracal caracal , n = 1], and sand cat [ Felis margarita , n = 1]) were ABC blood typed by laboratory and point-of-care tests, genotyped for four known CMAH variants for type B and type C ( AB ) phenotypes, and crossmatched with one another and domestic type A cats. Traditional tube typing identified blood type A ( n = 106), type B ( n = 8), type C ( n = 43), and no discernible ABC type ( n = 4). Several discrepancies were found between point-of-care and traditional typing test results. None of the tested felids possessed the four CMAH variants responsible for type B and C ( AB ) in domestic cats. Crossmatch incompatibilities (≥2+ agglutination) were identified within and between nondomestic felid species and beyond ABC incompatibilities. Of 26 crossmatches performed between domestic cats and various nondomestic felids, only 7 (27%) were compatible. In conclusion, point-of-care typing kits and CMAH genotyping, successfully used in domestic cats, may not identify the correct ABC blood type in nondomestic felids. Prior crossmatching is recommended to increase the likelihood of compatible transfusions between any nondomestic felids.

Two captive cheetahs from a zoo in Japan died of a severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome–like illness. Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus, an endemic tickborne phlebovirus, was detected systemically with secretion of infectious viruses into the saliva. These cases highlight the risk for exposure of captive animals to endemic arthropodborne pathogens.

Toxoplasma gondii causes lifelong infection in most definitive and intermediate hosts. Clinical cases of toxoplasmosis in captive cheetahs have been reported. However, there are few reports of viable T. gondii strains isolated from cheetahs. Here, T. gondii infection was investigated using molecular and serological assays in cheetahs from China. Modified agglutination test (MAT) (cut-off: 1:25) indicated that all six examined cheetahs (n = 6) showed T. gondii antibodies. Toxoplasma gondii DNA was detected in three out of five cheetahs. Two viable T. gondii strains were isolated from the striated muscles of two cheetahs using mice bioassay. They were designated as TgCheetahCHn1 and TgCheetahCHn2. Genetic characterization of DNA derived from tachyzoites was performed using RFLP-PCR of 10 markers. Toxoplasma gondii TgCheetahCHn1 is ToxoDB PCR-RFLP genotype #319, and the alleles of ROP18/ROP5 types were 3/7. TgCheetahCHn2 is ToxoDB genotype #9, and the alleles of ROP18/ROP5 were 3/6. The average survival time of TgCheetahCHn1-infected Swiss mice was 22 ± 1 days (n = 23), and the mice did not have detectable T. gondii-specific antibodies until 117 ± 30 days post-inoculation (n = 8), therefore, TgCheetahCHn1 had intermediate virulence. TgCheetahCHn2 was avirulent for Swiss mice. Few brain tissue cysts (0-50) were observed in the mice inoculated with TgCheetahCHn1 or TgCheetahCHn2. The results provide direct evidence of cheetah as intermediate host of T. gondii., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Abstract: Ruiz-Alias, SA, Ñancupil-Andrade, AA, Pérez-Castilla, A, and García-Pinillos, F. Can we predict long-duration running power output? Validity of the critical power, power law, and logarithmic models. J Strength Cond Res 38(2): 306-310, 2024-Predicting long-distance running performance has always been a challenge for athletes and practitioners. To ease this task, different empirical models have been proposed to model the drop of the running work rate with the increase of time. Therefore, this study aims to determine the validity of different models (i.e., CP, power law, and Peronnet) to predict long-duration running power output (i.e., 30 and 60 minutes). In a 4-week training period, 15 highly trained athletes performed 7-time trials (i.e., 3, 4, 5, 10, 20, 30, and 60 minutes) in a randomized order. Then, their power-duration curves (PDCs) were defined through the work-time critical power model (CP work ), power-1/time (CP 1/time ), 2-parameter hyperbolic (CP 2hyp ), 3-parameter hyperbolic (CP 3hyp ), the undisclosed Stryd (CP stryd ), and Golden Cheetah (CP cheetah ) proprietary models, and the power law and Peronnet models using the 3 to 20 minutes time trials. These ones were extrapolated to the 30- and 60-minute power output and compared with the actual performance. The CP 2hyp , CP 3hyp , CP stryd , and CP cheetah provided valid 30- and 60-minute power output estimations (≤2.6%). The CP work and CP 1/time presented a large predicting error for 30 minutes (≥4.4%), which increased for 60 minutes (≥8.1%). The power law and Peronnet models progressively increased their predicting error at the longest duration (30 minutes: ≤-1.6%; 60 minutes: ≤-6.6%), which was conditioned by the endurance capability of the athletes. Therefore, athletes and practitioners are encouraged to applicate the aforementioned valid models to their PDC to estimate the 30-minute and 60-minute power output., (Copyright © 2023 National Strength and Conditioning Association.)

A relationship exists between mechanical loading and bone morphology. Although studies show a relationship between trabecular bone morphology and locomotor strategy in mammals, none of them have studied trabecular bone morphology in felid species occupying disparate and overlapping habitats. We investigate trabecular bone volume fraction (BVF) in the femoral and humeral heads, and distal tibia of four felid species (mountain lions, jaguars, cheetahs, and leopards) to identify whether there is a relationship between BVF and locomotor behavior. This study's goals are to identify whether felid species with high daily travel distance or large home range size have greater BVF compared with those with small daily travel distance or home range size, and whether BVF is correlated among the three elements of the fore and hindlimb studied. We quantified BVF in micro- and peripheral computed tomography images and found no significant differences across species in the femoral and humeral head (p > 0.05). However, in the distal tibia, results showed that leopards, mountain lions, and cheetahs have significantly greater (p < 0.05) BVF than jaguars. Despite differences in home range size and daily travel distance, the proximal elements did not reflect differences in BVF; however, the distal-most element did, suggesting decreased loading among jaguars. These findings suggest that the observed pattern of trabecular bone morphology is potentially due to the diversity in locomotor strategy of the forelimb. Additionally, these results imply that neither home range size nor daily travel distance are clear indicators of activity levels. A cautious approach is warranted in studying how loading influences trabecular morphology., (© 2023 American Association for Anatomy.)

This study aimed (i) to compare the critical power (CP) and work capacity over CP (W´) values reported by the different CP models available in current analysis software packages (Golden Cheetah and Stryd platform), (ii) to locate the CP values in the power-duration curve (PDC), and (iii) to determine the influence of the CP model used on the W´ balance. Fifteen trained athletes performed four time trials (i. e., 3, 5, 10, 20 minutes) to define their PDC through different CP models: work-time (CP work ), power-1/time (CP 1/time ), Morton hyperbolic (CP hyp ), Stryd platform (CP stryd ), and Bioenergetic Golden Cheetah (CP Cheetah ). Three additional time trials were performed: two to locate the CP values in the PDC (30 and 60 minutes), and one to test the validity of the W' balance model (4 minutes). Significant differences (p<0.001) were reported between models for the estimated parameters (CP, W´). CP cheetah was associated with the power output developed between 10 to 20 minutes, CP 1/time , CP stryd CP work and CP hyp . The W´ reported by the three-parameter CP models overestimated the actual 4 minutes time to exhaustion, with CP work (0.48 [- 0.19 to 1.16] minutes); and CP 1/time (0.40 [- 0.13 to 0.94] minutes) being the only valid models (p≥0.240)., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest., (Thieme. All rights reserved.)

Shifts in species' interactions are implicated as an important proximate cause underpinning climate-change-related extinction. However, there is little empirical evidence on the pathways through which climate conditions, such as ambient temperature, impact community dynamics. The timing of activities is a widespread behavioural adaptation to environmental variability, and temporal partitioning is a key mechanism that facilitates coexistence, especially within large carnivore communities. We investigated temperature impacts on community dynamics through its influence on the diel activity of, and temporal partitioning amongst, four sympatric species of African large carnivores: lions ( Panthera leo ), leopards ( Panthera pardus ), cheetahs ( Acinonyx jubatus ) and African wild dogs ( Lycaon pictus ). Activity of all species was shaped by a combination of light availability and temperature, with most species becoming more nocturnal and decreasing activity levels with increasing temperatures. A nocturnal shift was most pronounced in cheetahs, the most diurnal species during median temperatures. This shift increased temporal overlap between cheetahs and other carnivore species by up to 15.92%, highlighting the importance of considering the responses of interacting sympatric species when inferring climate impacts on ecosystems. Our study provides evidence that temperature can significantly affect temporal partitioning within a carnivore guild by generating asymmetrical behavioural responses amongst functionally similar species.

Herein, we describe the management of nasopharyngitis caused by Schizophyllum commune infection in a captive cheetah. Computed tomography revealed a nodule in the nasal cavity and pharynx, and an endoscopic biopsy was performed. As a result, the nodule was surgically resected because of a suspected carcinoma. However, the surgical specimen was histologically re-evaluated and a fungal granuloma was diagnosed. Sequence analysis of DNA from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded samples revealed S. commune infection. The cheetah was administered fluconazole orally for 73 days. However, the drug was ineffective and itraconazole was administered for 14 days. Symptoms such as nasal discharge and sneezing have completely resolved for 4 years.

Background: Q fever and toxoplasmosis are economically important zoonoses as they cause considerable losses in livestock (cattle, sheep and goats) and wildlife (antelopes, giraffes, lions, and cheetahs) through reproductive disorders such as abortions and stillbirths. Q fever and toxoplasmosis testing in South Africa is conducted by the Agricultural Research Council-Onderstepoort Veterinary Research (ARC-OVR). However, both zoonoses are understudied and not monitored in South Africa as they are not considered controlled or notifiable diseases in the Animal Disease Act 35 of 1984. A retrospective study was conducted on Q fever (2007-2009) and toxoplasmosis (2007-2017) using diagnostic laboratory data at the ARC-OVR. Also, we report on sporadic abortion and stillbirth cases in livestock from diagnostic tissue samples submitted for Coxiella burnetii polymerase chain reaction (PCR) detection at the ARC-OVR., Results: During 2007 to 2009, 766 animal samples were tested for C. burnetii antibodies and seropositivity was 0.9% (95%CI: 0.3-1.7) with sheep (1.9%; 95%CI: 0.6-4.4) having the highest seropositivity followed by cattle (0.7%; 95%CI: 0.09-2.6), while all goats (0.0%; 95%CI: 0.0-4.2) and wildlife (0.0%; 95%CI: 0.0-2.5) tested were negative. From 2007 to 2017, 567 sera were tested for T. gondii antibodies; overall seropositivity was 12.2% (95%CI: 9.6-15). Wildlife had highest seropositivity to T. gondii antibodies (13.9%; 95%CI: 9.0-19.7) followed by goats (12.9%; 95%CI: 9.2-17.4) and sheep (12.3%; 95%CI: 5.1-23.8) while seropositivity in cattle was 2.4% (95%CI: 0.06-12.9). Of 11 animals tested by C. burnetii PCR detection (2021-2022), 10 (91.0%) were positive. The amplicon sequences showed similarity to Coxiella burnetii strain 54T1 transposase gene partial coding sequence., Conclusions: We have confirmed the occurrence of the causative agents of Q fever and toxoplasmosis in livestock and wildlife in South Africa, with data limitations. These zoonoses remain of importance with limited information about them in South Africa. This study provides baseline information for future studies on Q fever and toxoplasmosis in South African livestock and wildlife, as well other African countries. Due to limited data collection experienced in this study, it is recommended that improvements in data collection samples tested should include associated factors such as sex, age, and breed of the animals., (© 2023. BioMed Central Ltd., part of Springer Nature.)

We document and evaluate the use of metapopulation management to conserve a declining population of 217 cheetahs in 40 subpopulations. Metapopulation management resembles a natural metapopulation, but dispersal success, demographic rescue effects and genetic viability are enhanced by moving suitable individuals to selected habitat fragments. Unfortunately, history and results of metapopulation management are rarely published. Cheetahs, extirpated from 85% of South Africa, were reintroduced from Namibian and South African ranches into fenced reserves. During 1965-2009 343 cheetahs were reintroduced, yet reserves held only 289 in 2009. Then translocations of free-roaming cheetahs were halted, and numbers dropped to 217 on 40 reserves by 2012. A metapopulation project was launched, and key conservation problems indentified from interviews and records. Thirty-five percent of reserves had no breeding cheetahs, 13% were inbreeding, fence quality was erratic, 3% of cheetahs were sold into captivity annually, and 28% of cheetah mortalities were anthropogenic. Lions accounted for 31% of mortality, perhaps elevated by lion-inexperienced cheetahs and high lion densities. These problems were addressed, and cheetahs were translocated between reserves. Although the median reserve size was only 125 km2 holding four cheetahs, and 80% of reserves were privately owned, in 6 years the metapopulation grew by 51% to 328 cheetahs on 51 reserves, while genetic diversity was managed and monitored. Thus, using metapopulation management, low density species and associated key processes, including carnivory or mega-herbivory, can be conserved in relatively small reserves in regions with dense human populations precluding  natural gene flow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studying the motion of cheetahs - especially in the wild - is a technically challenging endeavour that pushes the limits of field biomechanics methodology. Consequently, it provides an interesting example of the scientific symbiosis that exists between experimental biology and the technological disciplines that support it. This article uses cheetah motion research as a basis to review the past, present and likely future of field biomechanics. Although the focus is on a specific animal, the methods and challenges discussed are broadly relevant to the study of terrestrial locomotion. We also highlight the external factors contributing to the evolution of this technology, including recent advancements in machine learning, and the influx of interest in cheetah biomechanics from the legged robotics community., Competing Interests: Competing interests The authors declare no competing or financial interests., (© 2023. Published by The Company of Biologists Ltd.)

Understanding key ecological adaptations, such as foraging, when a predator is almost extinct is complex. Nonetheless, that information is vital for the recovery of the persisting individuals. Therefore, reviewing historical, ethnobiological and recent records can assist in exploring the species behavioral ecology. We applied this approach to Asiatic cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus venaticus), which once roamed most west and central Asian countries but now is confined to a few dozens in Iran, at historical (pre-1970) and recent (post-1970) scales. We addressed a widely popular perception that Asiatic cheetahs were subjected to prey shifts from gazelles (Gazella spp.) in open plains areas to urial (Ovis vignei) in mountains because of gazelle populations declines due to anthropogenic influences. We also quantified recent prey choice of Asiatic cheetahs and their behavioral plasticity in foraging different prey species types. Although ethnobiological and historical records suggested that gazelle species were the main prey for cheetahs across their Asian range. However, urial were also commonly reported to be hunted by cheetahs across their historical Asian range, showing that the predation on mountain ungulates is not an emerging hunting behavior in Asiatic cheetahs. We found spatiotemporal plasticity in recent hunting behavior of cheetahs with selective predation on adult urial males. There was temporal overlap in hunting times for plains dwelling versus mountain ungulates, albeit with some minor differences with morning mostly for gazelles while the predation on mountain ungulates was predominantly post-midday. We provided three management implications for the recovery and restoration of cheetahs in Asia. Our work highlighted the importance of historical studies in informing the behavioral ecology of rare species., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2023 Farhadinia et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Background: Cluster randomised controlled trials (cRCT) present challenges regarding risks of bias and chance imbalances by arm. This paper reports strategies to minimise and monitor biases and imbalances in the ChEETAh cRCT., Methods: ChEETAh was an international cRCT (hospitals as clusters) evaluating whether changing sterile gloves and instruments prior to abdominal wound closure reduces surgical site infection at 30 days postoperative. ChEETAh planned to recruit 12,800 consecutive patients from 64 hospitals in seven low-middle income countries. Eight strategies to minimise and monitor bias were pre-specified: (1) minimum of 4 hospitals per country; (2) pre-randomisation identification of units of exposure (operating theatres, lists, teams or sessions) within clusters; (3) minimisation of randomisation by country and hospital type; (4) site training delivered after randomisation; (5) dedicated 'warm-up week' to train teams; (6) trial specific sticker and patient register to monitor consecutive patient identification; (7) monitoring characteristics of patients and units of exposure; and (8) low-burden outcome-assessment., Results: This analysis includes 10,686 patients from 70 clusters. The results aligned to the eight strategies were (1) 6 out of 7 countries included ≥ 4 hospitals; (2) 87.1% (61/70) of hospitals maintained their planned operating theatres (82% [27/33] and 92% [34/37] in the intervention and control arms); (3) minimisation maintained balance of key factors in both arms; (4) post-randomisation training was conducted for all hospitals; (5) the 'warm-up week' was conducted at all sites, and feedback used to refine processes; (6) the sticker and trial register were maintained, with an overall inclusion of 98.1% (10,686/10,894) of eligible patients; (7) monitoring allowed swift identification of problems in patient inclusion and key patient characteristics were reported: malignancy (20.3% intervention vs 12.6% control), midline incisions (68.4% vs 58.9%) and elective surgery (52.4% vs 42.6%); and (8) 0.4% (41/9187) of patients refused consent for outcome assessment., Conclusion: cRCTs in surgery have several potential sources of bias that include varying units of exposure and the need for consecutive inclusion of all eligible patients across complex settings. We report a system that monitored and minimised the risks of bias and imbalances by arm, with important lessons for future cRCTs within hospitals., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Systemic AA-amyloidosis is a protein-misfolding disease characterized by fibril deposition of serum amyloid-A protein (SAA) in several organs in humans and many animal species. Fibril deposits originate from abnormally high serum levels of SAA during chronic inflammation. A high prevalence of AA-amyloidosis has been reported in captive cheetahs and a horizontal transmission has been proposed. In domestic cats, AA-amyloidosis has been mainly described in predisposed breeds but only rarely reported in domestic short-hair cats. Aims of the study were to determine AA-amyloidosis prevalence in dead shelter cats. Liver, kidney, spleen and bile were collected at death in cats from 3 shelters. AA-amyloidosis was scored. Shedding of amyloid fibrils was investigated with western blot in bile and scored. Descriptive statistics were calculated. In the three shelters investigated, prevalence of AA-amyloidosis was 57.1% (16/28 cats), 73.0% (19/26) and 52.0% (13/25), respectively. In 72.9% of cats (35 in total) three organs were affected concurrently. Histopathology and immunofluorescence of post-mortem extracted deposits identified SAA as the major protein source. The duration of stay in the shelters was positively associated with a histological score of AA-amyloidosis (B = 0.026, CI95% = 0.007-0.046; p = 0.010). AA-amyloidosis was very frequent in shelter cats. Presence of SAA fragments in bile secretions raises the possibility of fecal-oral transmission of the disease. In conclusion, AA-amyloidosis was very frequent in shelter cats and those staying longer had more deposits. The cat may represent a natural model of AA-amyloidosis., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2023 Ferri et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Smaller predators may overcome body size restrictions on their prey base by selecting for juveniles of larger prey species. However, traditional prey selection models ignore demographic classes within prey species. We refined these models for two predators with contrasting body sizes and hunting strategies, by including seasonal consumption and availability of prey demographic classes. We predicted that cheetahs would select for smaller neonate and juvenile prey especially of larger species, while lions would select for larger, adult prey. We further predicted seasonal diet shifts in cheetah, but not lion. We recorded species-specific demographic class prey use (kills) via direct observation and GPS cluster of cheetahs and lions fitted with GPS collars. Species-specific demographic class prey availability was estimated from monthly driven transects, and species-specific demographic class prey preferences were estimated. The availability of prey demographic classes varied seasonally. Cheetahs preferred neonates, juveniles, and sub-adults during the wet season, but adults and juveniles during the dry season. Lions preferred adult prey irrespective of season, with sub-adults, juveniles, and neonates killed relative to their abundance. This confirms that traditional prey preference models do not adequately account for demographic-specific prey preference. This is particularly important for smaller predators, like cheetahs, that focus on smaller prey but can expand their prey base by killing juveniles of larger species. For these smaller predators, prey availability will vary strongly seasonally, making them more vulnerable to processes that influence prey reproduction, like global change., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Protective antibody titers against core vaccines have not been standardized for cheetahs ( Acinonyx jubatus ) under human care. Vaccine-induced disease has been suspected after administration of modified live virus vaccine (MLVV), but it has not been confirmed as the causative agent. MLVV and killed virus vaccines (KVV) elicit humoral response in cheetahs; however, the use of both vaccines for initial immunization in cheetah cubs <6 months old within the same population has not been reported. The current case series describes viral disease presentation in two cheetah litters after using both vaccines and presents results for serum neutralization titers against feline calicivirus (FCV) and feline herpesvirus-1 (FHV-1) and hemagglutination inhibition titers against feline panleukopenia virus (FPV). For Litter 1, MLVV was administered at 6 and 9 wk old. On week 11, one male developed ocular, oral, and dermal lesions. Viral isolation recovered FCV. Because of suspected vaccine-induced FCV, KVV was administered on weeks 13 and 16. Litter 2 was vaccinated with KVV via the same vaccination schedule. Fifty-three days after the last booster, two cubs presented with ocular, respiratory, and oral clinical signs; both were PCR positive for FHV-1. Serology reported a better anamnestic response and protective titers against FCV and FPV with the protocol used with Litter 1. In Litter 2, FCV and FHV-1 titer measurement failed in three of four cubs, limiting comparison of titers between litters. In spite of limited measurements, absence of a statistical evaluation, and presence of infection, serology showed a better humoral response when MLVV was used.

Livestock predation by big cats, i.e., lion ( Panthera leo ), tiger ( Panthera tigris ), leopard ( Panthera pardus ), jaguar ( Panthera onca ), snow leopard ( Panthera uncia ), puma ( Puma concolor ), and cheetah ( Acinonyx jubatus ), creates conflicts with humans which challenge biodiversity conservation and rural development. Deficiency of wild prey biomass is often described as a driver of such conflicts, but the question “at which level of prey density and biomass do big cats begin to kill livestock?” still remains unanswered. We applied logistic regression to meta-data compiled from recent peer-reviewed scientific publications and show that cattle predation is high when prey biomass is < 812.41 ± 1.26 kg/km 2 , whereas sheep and goat predation is high at < 544.57 ± 1.19 kg/km 2 , regardless of sizes of study areas and species, body masses, and population densities of big cats. Through mapping cases with known prey biomass and case-specific comparison of actual vs. threshold-predicted livestock predation we confirm the reliability of these thresholds in predicting livestock predation by big cats. The map also demonstrates that some protected areas of India, Nepal lowlands, and South Africa contain sufficient prey that makes big cats less likely to kill livestock, but in other sampled areas prey biomass is not high enough and the probabilities of livestock predation are moderate to high. We suggest that these thresholds represent important landmarks for predicting human–felid conflicts, identifying conflict hotspots, and setting priorities for targeted conservation actions. It is essential to maintain and restore wild prey to forestall local extinctions of big cats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]