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The aims of study was to compare the glycerol concentration in Tris glucose egg yolk (TGEY)diluents on the quality of deer frozen semen. Semen was collected from 5 Timor deer usingelectroejaculator. Immediately after collection the semen was evaluated macroscopic andmicroscopically. After initial evaluation, the semen was divided into three tubes and extended with Trisegg yolk with three different glycerol concentrations, which were 10% (TGEY10); 12% (TGEY12) and14% (TGEY14). The sperm motility, viability, acrosome intact and membrane intact were evaluated inraw semen, after equilibration and after thawing. The results showed that there were no differences(p>0.05) on the sperm motility, viability as well as sperm acrosome intact. Sperm membrane intact inTGEY10 (52.50±5.89%) and TGEY14 (51.50±4.12 %) were higher (p

The aims of study was to compare the glycerol concentration in Tris glucose egg yolk (TGEY) diluents on the quality of deer frozen semen. Semen was collected from 5 Timor deer using electroejaculator. Immediately after collection the semen was evaluated macroscopic and microscopically. After initial evaluation, the semen was divided into three tubes and extended with Tris egg yolk with three different glycerol concentrations, which were 10% (TGEY10); 12% (TGEY12) and 14% (TGEY14). The sperm motility, viability, acrosome intact and membrane intact were evaluated in raw semen, after equilibration and after thawing. The results showed that there were no differences (p>0.05) on the sperm motility, viability as well as sperm acrosome intact. Sperm membrane intact in TGEY10 (52.50±5.89%) and TGEY14 (51.50±4.12 %) were higher (p

In order to improve Timor deer (Cervus timorensis) frozen semen quality, the influence of sugar and glycerol concentration on semen characteristics of sperm was investigated. The semen was collected from five sexually mature Timor deer using an electroejaculator. The semen was evaluated and divided into six equal tubes and diluted with Tris sucrose glycerol 10% (TSG10); Tris sucrose glycerol 12% (TSG12); Tris sucrose glycerol 14% (TSG14); Tris glucose glycerol 10% (TGG10); Tris glucose glycerol 12% (TGG12); and Tris glucose glycerol 14% (TGG14). The diluted semen was packed in 0.3 ml minitub straw, equilibrated at 5 oC for 4 hours and frozen on liquid nitrogen vapor for 10 minutes. The total of forward motility, viability, acrosome integrity and membrane integrity were assessed in fresh, after equilibration and after thawing. Results demonstrated that the percentage of sperm motility in TSG10 was higher (P

Research to study the synchronization technology to improve the reproductive of captive sambar deer (Rusa unicolor brookei) was conducted using 10 hinds and three stags aged 8 -10 years. Estrous induction was done using local intravaginal spon containing 450 mg Medroxy progesterone acetate (MPA), inserted the intravaginaly for 9 days. At 2 to 6 days post-sponge withdrawal, hinds were put together with stags in hard antler conditions. The results showed that retention rates of sponge reached 100% and no sign of irritation on the vagina. Two days post sponge withdrawal. Three hinds showed an estrous behavior and were mated, whereas four other hinds showed estrous behavior three days post sponge withdrawal. Overall 90% of hinds gave fawns at the end of pregnancy whit length of gestation 235,66 ± 3,60 days (SD). It can be concluded that synchronization using locally made sponge showed a positive response in sambar deer. (Animal Production 11(1): 23-27 (2009) Key Words: Sambar deer, Intravaginal spong, Oestrus synchronisation

Until 2002, the level of protein consumption from red meat origin by the Indonesian people was only 51.5% from the national target. The reasons for this condition were due to limited resources of domesticated animals and low income of many suburb people to buy red mead. One alternative in supplying the gap of protein consumption is by utilizing local prospective wildlife animals, such as deer. This species is widely distributed among the islands in Indonesia. In order to understand more on the quality of tropical rusa venison (Cervus timorensis), a study was conducted in Palu district, Southeast Sulawesi by collecting venison from hunters. The results showed there was no significant difference on cooking lost among the carcass parts (hind leg, front leg and saddle), with the range between 30.3 to 33.0%. There were also no significant differences on the gross energy, protein, ash, fat and phosphor values among the carcass parts. The contents of sodium , ferum and calcium were significantly different at p9.5% DM), compared to other groups (

Four female lesser mouse deer (Tragulus javanicus) were used in this study to observe their feed consumption and digestibility given alternative diets in captive. The results showed that 125g/head/day sweet potatoes supplementation in ration increased the consumption and digestibility of dry matter intake, ash, ether extract, and N-free extract. Supplementation of commercial concentrate in lesser mouse deer’s diet decreased the digestion of dry matter, ash, crude protein, and crude fiber. Animal Production 6(1): 17-22 (2004) Key Words: Digestibility, Consumption, Alternative Diets, Tragulus javanicus

A study on the effectiveness on estrous synchronization using CIDR-G in peranakan etawah (PE) goat was conducted. Twenty-eight multiporous PE goats were randomly allocated to two groups (A & B) and CIDR was inserted for 16 days. In group A CIDR was replaced at day eight and in group B CIDR was stayed intake until day 16. Estrous sign was detected using castrated teaser 20 hours post CIDR withdrawal and evaluated every four hours until the estrous sign was disappeared. At the same time of estrous detection, blood sample for progesterone assay, from five selected goats in each group was collected into heparins vacuum blood tube, collected via jugulars vein. From this study it was shown no significant differences in initial time of estrous sign between the groups (38.33 vs. 33.22 hours post CIDR withdrawal). Similarly there was no significant difference in the length of estrous between the groups (54.22 vs. 48.65 hours). The lowest mean progesterone hormone concentration (

Sambar deer (Cervus unicolor) is the heaviest in its body weight and widest in its distribution of tropical deer. A Report by East Kalimantan governor indicated that no less than 5,000 wild sambar deer were slaughtered annually. In 1990 a pilot project of sambar deer farm was established and still under its development. Up to the present there is no data available on the nutritional values of sambar venison. The objective of the study was to determine the nutritional quality of wild sambar venison. Samples were collected from three traditional markets. Whitin 10 hours after being hunted, meat was sampled in three sites, front leg, back leg and saddle. The result showed that pH values of hunted sambar venison ranged from 6.18-6.46, but there were no differences in cutting sites. The moisture content was over 74%. Crude Protein, ash, fat and cholesterol (%DM) were 88.84-90.24, 3.86-4.14, 2.9-3.8, 0.24-0.27, respectively. Amino acids, fatty acids and minerals values were within the average of domesticated animals meat values, thought some values in sambar show a better performance. (Animal Production 5(1): 35-41 (2003) Key words: Sambar , Deer, Cervus unicolor, Venison, Meat

Background: Early in the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, Sunda pangolins (Manis javanica) involved in the illegal wildlife trade in mainland China were identified as hosts of severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronaviruses (SARSr-CoVs). Although it is unconfirmed whether pangolins or other traded wildlife served as intermediate hosts for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the trafficking of pangolins presents a clear risk for transmission of viruses with zoonotic and epizootic potential regardless. We have investigated the origins of pangolin carcasses seized in Hong Kong and have evaluated their potential exposure to SARSr-CoVs, other coronaviruses, and paramyxoviruses, aiming to address a gap in our knowledge with regard to the role of wildlife trade in the maintenance and emergence of pathogens with zoonotic and epizootic potential., Results: Using a combination of virological and wildlife forensics tools, we investigated 89 Sunda pangolin carcasses seized by Hong Kong authorities during anti-smuggling operations in the territory conducted in 2013 (n = 1) and 2018 (n = 88). Swabs, organ tissues, blood, and other body fluids were collected during post-mortem examination. Two enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs), which employ a double-antigen sandwich format, were used to detect antibodies reactive against SARSr-CoVs. One individual was found to be seropositive with support from both methods, while five individuals exhibited a putatively seropositive result from one ELISA method. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) screening for coronavirus and paramyxovirus ribonucleic acid (RNA) did not yield any positives. Based on genomic data, the seropositive individual was determined to have likely originated from Java, while the putatively seropositive individuals were determined to have originated from populations in Borneo, Java, and Singapore/Sumatra., Conclusions: While the role of pangolins in the evolution and ecology of SARS-CoV-2 is uncertain, our results suggest susceptibility and potential exposure of pangolins to SARSr-CoVs, occurring naturally or associated with the illegal trafficking of these animals. Complex dynamics between natural populations, traded individuals, and pathogen susceptibility complicate conclusions about the role of pangolins, as well as other host species, in the ecology of SARSr-CoVs and potentially zoonotic viruses with risk of future emergence., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: Not applicable. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The global decline of terrestrial species is largely due to the degradation, loss and fragmentation of their habitats. The conversion of natural ecosystems for cropland, rangeland, forest products and human infrastructure are the primary causes of habitat deterioration. Due to the paucity of data on the past distribution of species and the scarcity of fine-scale habitat conversion maps, however, accurate assessment of the recent effects of habitat degradation, loss and fragmentation on the range of mammals has been near impossible. We aim to assess the proportions of available habitat within the lost and retained parts of mammals' distribution ranges, and to identify the drivers of habitat availability. We produced distribution maps for 475 terrestrial mammals for the range they occupied 50 years ago and compared them to current range maps. We then calculated the differences in the percentage of 'area of habitat' (habitat available to a species within its range) between the lost and retained range areas. Finally, we ran generalized linear mixed models to identify which variables were more influential in determining habitat availability in the lost and retained parts of the distribution ranges. We found that 59% of species had a lower proportion of available habitat in the lost range compared to the retained range, thus hypothesizing that habitat loss could have contributed to range declines. The most important factors negatively affecting habitat availability were the conversion of land to rangeland and high density of livestock. Significant intrinsic traits were those related to reproductive timing and output, habitat breadth and medium body size. Our findings emphasize the importance of implementing conservation strategies to mitigate the impacts caused by human activities on the habitats of mammals, and offer evidence indicating which species have the potential to reoccupy portions of their former range if other threats cease to occur., (© 2023 The Authors. Global Change Biology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Biodiversity knowledge is widely heterogeneous across the Earth's biomes. Some areas, due to their remoteness and difficult access, present large taxonomic knowledge gaps. Mostly located in the tropics, these areas have frequently experienced a fast development of anthropogenic activities during the last decades and are therefore of high conservation concerns. The biodiversity hotspots of Southeast Asia exemplify the stakes faced by tropical countries. While the hotspots of Sundaland (Java, Sumatra, Borneo) and Wallacea (Sulawesi, Moluccas) have long attracted the attention of biologists and conservationists alike, extensive parts of the Sahul area, in particular the island of New Guinea, have been much less explored biologically. Here, we describe the results of a DNA-based inventory of aquatic and terrestrial vertebrate communities, which was the objective of a multidisciplinary expedition to the Bird's Head Peninsula (West Papua, Indonesia) conducted between 17 October and 20 November 2014. This expedition resulted in the assembly of 1005 vertebrate DNA barcodes. Based on the use of multiple species-delimitation methods (GMYC, PTP, RESL, ABGD), 264 molecular operational taxonomic units (MOTUs) were delineated, among which 75 were unidentified and an additional 48 were considered cryptic. This study suggests that the diversity of vertebrates of the Bird's Head is severely underestimated and considerations on the evolutionary origin and taxonomic knowledge of these biotas are discussed., (© 2021 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via the original article.

Background: Pigs were domesticated independently in Eastern and Western Eurasia early during the agricultural revolution, and have since been transported and traded across the globe. Here, we present a worldwide survey on 60K genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data for 2093 pigs, including 1839 domestic pigs representing 122 local and commercial breeds, 215 wild boars, and 39 out-group suids, from Asia, Europe, America, Oceania and Africa. The aim of this study was to infer global patterns in pig domestication and diversity related to demography, migration, and selection., Results: A deep phylogeographic division reflects the dichotomy between early domestication centers. In the core Eastern and Western domestication regions, Chinese pigs show differentiation between breeds due to geographic isolation, whereas this is less pronounced in European pigs. The inferred European origin of pigs in the Americas, Africa, and Australia reflects European expansion during the sixteenth to nineteenth centuries. Human-mediated introgression, which is due, in particular, to importing Chinese pigs into the UK during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, played an important role in the formation of modern pig breeds. Inbreeding levels vary markedly between populations, from almost no runs of homozygosity (ROH) in a number of Asian wild boar populations, to up to 20% of the genome covered by ROH in a number of Southern European breeds. Commercial populations show moderate ROH statistics. For domesticated pigs and wild boars in Asia and Europe, we identified highly differentiated loci that include candidate genes related to muscle and body development, central nervous system, reproduction, and energy balance, which are putatively under artificial selection., Conclusions: Key events related to domestication, dispersal, and mixing of pigs from different regions are reflected in the 60K SNP data, including the globalization that has recently become full circle since Chinese pig breeders in the past decades started selecting Western breeds to improve local Chinese pigs. Furthermore, signatures of ongoing and past selection, acting at different times and on different genetic backgrounds, enhance our insight in the mechanism of domestication and selection. The global diversity statistics presented here highlight concerns for maintaining agrodiversity, but also provide a necessary framework for directing genetic conservation.

Unlabelled: Gibbon ape leukemia virus (GALV) and koala retrovirus (KoRV) most likely originated from a cross-species transmission of an ancestral retrovirus into koalas and gibbons via one or more intermediate as-yet-unknown hosts. A virus highly similar to GALV has been identified in an Australian native rodent (Melomys burtoni) after extensive screening of Australian wildlife. GALV-like viruses have also been discovered in several Southeast Asian species, although screening has not been extensive and viruses discovered to date are only distantly related to GALV. We therefore screened 26 Southeast Asian rodent species for KoRV- and GALV-like sequences, using hybridization capture and high-throughput sequencing, in the attempt to identify potential GALV and KoRV hosts. Only the individuals belonging to a newly discovered subspecies of Melomys burtoni from Indonesia were positive, yielding an endogenous provirus very closely related to a strain of GALV. The sequence of the critical receptor domain for GALV infection in the Indonesian M. burtoni subsp. was consistent with the susceptibility of the species to GALV infection. The second record of a GALV in M. burtoni provides further evidence that M. burtoni, and potentially other lineages within the widespread subfamily Murinae, may play a role in the spread of GALV-like viruses. The discovery of a GALV in the most western part of the Australo-Papuan distribution of M. burtoni, specifically in a transitional zone between Asia and Australia (Wallacea), may be relevant to the cross-species transmission to gibbons in Southeast Asia and broadens the known distribution of GALVs in wild rodents., Importance: Gibbon ape leukemia virus (GALV) and the koala retrovirus (KoRV) are very closely related, yet their hosts neither are closely related nor overlap geographically. Direct cross-species infection between koalas and gibbons is unlikely. Therefore, GALV and KoRV may have arisen via a cross-species transfer from an intermediate host whose range overlaps those of both gibbons and koalas. Using hybridization capture and high-throughput sequencing, we have screened a wide range of rodent candidate hosts from Southeast Asia for KoRV- and GALV-like sequences. Only a Melomys burtoni subspecies from Wallacea (Indonesia) was positive for GALV. We report the genome sequence of this newly identified GALV, the critical domain for infection of its potential cellular receptor, and its phylogenetic relationships with the other previously characterized GALVs. We hypothesize that Melomys burtoni, and potentially related lineages with an Australo-Papuan distribution, may have played a key role in cross-species transmission to other taxa., (Copyright © 2016, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.)

The Bawean warty pig (Sus blouchi) is an endemic pig species confined to the 192 km(2) large island of Bawean in the Java Sea, Indonesia. Due to a lack of quantitative ecological research, understanding of natural history and conservation requirements have so far been based solely on anecdotal information from interviews with local people and study of captive and museum specimens. In this study we provide the first assessment of population and habitat preferences for S. blouchi by using camera trapping. From the 4th of November 2014 to January 8th 2015, we placed camera traps at 100 locations in the forested protected areas on Bawean. In 690.31 camera days (16567.45 hours) we captured 92 independent videos showing S. blouchi. Variation in S. blouchi trapping rates with cumulative trap effort stabilized after 500 camera days. An important outcome is that, in contrast to the suggestion of previous assessments, only S. blouchi was detected and no S. scrofa was found, which excludes hybridization threats. We fitted a Random Encounter Model, which does not require the identification of individual animals, to our camera-trapping data and estimated 172-377 individuals to be present on the island. Activity patterns and habitat data indicate that S. blouchi is mainly nocturnal and prefers community forests and areas near forest borders. Next to this, we found a positive relationship between S. blouchi occupancy, distance to nearest border, litter depth and tree density in the highest ranking occupancy models. Although these relationships proved non-significant based on model averaging, their presence in the top ranking models suggests that these covariables do play a role in predicting S. blouchi occurrence on Bawean. The estimated amount of sites occupied reached 58%. Based on our results, especially the estimation of the population size and area of occupancy, we determine that the species is Endangered according to the IUCN/SSC Red List criteria.

Background: Elucidating the process of speciation requires an in-depth understanding of the evolutionary history of the species in question. Studies that rely upon a limited number of genetic loci do not always reveal actual evolutionary history, and often confuse inferences related to phylogeny and speciation. Whole-genome data, however, can overcome this issue by providing a nearly unbiased window into the patterns and processes of speciation. In order to reveal the complexity of the speciation process, we sequenced and analyzed the genomes of 10 wild pigs, representing morphologically or geographically well-defined species and subspecies of the genus Sus from insular and mainland Southeast Asia, and one African common warthog., Results: Our data highlight the importance of past cyclical climatic fluctuations in facilitating the dispersal and isolation of populations, thus leading to the diversification of suids in one of the most species-rich regions of the world. Moreover, admixture analyses revealed extensive, intra- and inter-specific gene-flow that explains previous conflicting results obtained from a limited number of loci. We show that these multiple episodes of gene-flow resulted from both natural and human-mediated dispersal., Conclusions: Our results demonstrate the importance of past climatic fluctuations and human mediated translocations in driving and complicating the process of speciation in island Southeast Asia. This case study demonstrates that genomics is a powerful tool to decipher the evolutionary history of a genus, and reveals the complexity of the process of speciation.

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

Seasonal onset of pubertal ovulation and incidence of luteal cyclicity was assessed from plasma progesterone profiles over 15 months for tame red deer (n = 7) and sambar deer (n = 7) hinds. Seasonal responses to photoperiod were determined from plasma prolactin profiles. All red deer attained puberty at 17-18 months of age in May-June and expressed 3-6 luteal cycles of length 20.0+/-10.4 days (mean+/-s.e.m.) over 52-102 days. Six sambar deer attained puberty at 7-19 months of age, between August and December. Duration of luteal cyclicity was variable. While one animal remained continuously cyclic for 13 months, most entered anoestrus between November and February. The mean length of the luteal cycle was 17.2+/-0.3 days. While red deer exhibited strongly seasonal patterns of prolactin secretion, sambar deer showed no such seasonal trends. The data collectively indicate that young sambar hinds at temperate latitudes exhibit loosely defined patterns of reproductive seasonality that are 4-6 months out of phase with those of red deer, although some individuals may be non-seasonal. Failure to express seasonal patterns of prolactin secretion indicates that sambar deer may not perceive photoperiodic cues to the same extent as do red deer.