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Abstract Background In recent years, several giant pandas have suffered from testicular tumor, which has seriously affected giant panda health. However, the pathogenesis of testicular tumor in giant panda is still unclear. Studies have shown that miRNAs are involved in the occurrence and development of a variety of cancers. However, the effect of miRNAs on giant panda testicular tumor has been little studied. Therefore, this study explored the pathogenesis of giant panda testicular tumor through miRNA and mRNA sequencing, and screened out diagnostic markers of testicular tumor. Results Combined with phenotypic symptoms and pathological section results, three giant pandas were diagnosed with testicular tumor and divided into tumor group, and three other giant pandas were divided into normal group. A total of 29 differentially expressed miRNAs (DEmiRNAs) were screened by blood miRNA-seq, and 3149 target gene candidates were predicted. Functional enrichment analysis showed that the target genes were mainly involved in intermembrane lipid transfer and ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling. However, only 5 DEmiRNAs were screened by miRNA-seq of blood-derived exosomes and 364 target genes were predicted, which were mainly involved in antigen processing and presentation. In addition, 216 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were screened by RNA-seq, and functional enrichment analysis showed that tumor-specific DEGs significantly enriched to protein phosphorylation. Spearman correlation analysis of miRNA-mRNA showed that the expressions of miR-331-3p and PKIG were significantly positively correlated (spearman = 0.943, p

Abstract Titanium alloys represent the prevailing material employed in orthopedic implants, which are present in millions of patients worldwide. The prolonged presence of these implants in the human body has raised concerns about possible health effects. This study presents a comprehensive analysis of titanium implants and surrounding tissue samples obtained from patients who underwent revision surgery for therapeutic reasons. The surface of the implants exhibited nano-scale corrosion defects, and nanoparticles were deposited in adjacent samples. In addition, muscle in close proximity to the implant showed clear evidence of fibrotic proliferation, with titanium content in the muscle tissue increasing the closer it was to the implant. Transcriptomics analysis revealed SNAI2 upregulation and activation of PI3K/AKT signaling. In vivo rodent and zebrafish models validated that titanium implant or nanoparticles exposure provoked collagen deposition and disorganized muscle structure. Snai2 knockdown significantly reduced implant-associated fibrosis in both rodent and zebrafish models. Cellular experiments demonstrated that titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) induced fibrotic gene expression at sub-cytotoxic doses, whereas Snai2 knockdown significantly reduced TiO2 NPs-induced fibrotic gene expression. The in vivo and in vitro experiments collectively demonstrated that Snai2 plays a pivotal role in mediating titanium-induced fibrosis. Overall, these findings indicate a significant release of titanium nanoparticles from the implants into the surrounding tissues, resulting in muscular fibrosis, partially through Snai2-dependent signaling. Graphical Abstract

Escherichia coli (E. coli) plays an important ecological role, and is a useful bioindicator to recognize the evolution of resistance in human, animal and environment. Recently, extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBL) producing E.coli has posed a threat to public health. Generally, captive healthy giant pandas are not exposed to antibiotics; however, they still acquire antimicrobial resistant bacteria. In order to understand whether there is an exchange of resistance genes within the ecosystems of captive giant pandas, this study explored resistance characteristics of 330 commensal E. coli isolates from feces of giant pandas, the surroundings, and breeders. Isolates from different sources showed similar resistance phenotype, and ESBL/AmpC-producing isolates showed more profound resistance to antibiotics than non-ESBL/AmpC-producing isolates (P

Proper feeding and nutrition are vital for maintaining the health of giant pandas (GPs), yet the impact of dietary changes and gut microbiota on their nutrient utilization remains unclear. To address these uncertainties, we investigated nutrient intake and apparent digestibility, as well as gut microbiota composition across different age groups of giant pandas: sub-adults (SGPs), adults (AGPs), and geriatrics (GGPs). Our findings revealed notable shifts in dietary patterns from SGPs to GGPs. As they aged, significantly more bamboo shoots and less bamboo were consumed. Consequently, GGPs showed significantly reduced crude fiber (CF) intake and digestibility, while crude protein (CP) did not alter significantly. In addition, 16S rRNA microbial sequencing results showed that unidentified_Enterobacteriaceae and Streptococcus were the dominant genera among all age groups. The relative abundance of the genus Enterococcus in GGPs was significantly higher than that in SGPs and AGPs (p < 0.05). Overall, our results indicated the importance of bamboo shoots as a major source of protein in GGPs’ diet, which can effectively compensate for the certain nutritional loss caused by the reduction in bamboo intake. Age-related changes in bacterial abundance have an effect on specific nutrient apparent digestibility in the gut of GPs. The data presented in this study serve as a useful reference for nutritional management in different ages of GPs under healthy conditions.

Abstract Background The gut microbiota of the giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca), a global symbol of conservation, are believed to be involved in the host’s dietary switch to a fibrous bamboo diet. However, their exact roles are still largely unknown. Results In this study, we first comprehensively analyzed a large number of gut metagenomes giant pandas (n = 322), including 98 pandas sequenced in this study with deep sequencing (Illumina) and third-generation sequencing (nanopore). We reconstructed 408 metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs), and 148 of which (36.27%) were near complete. The most abundant MAG was classified as Streptococcus alactolyticus. A pairwise comparison of the metagenomes and meta-transcriptomes in 14 feces revealed genes involved in carbohydrate metabolism were lower, but those involved in protein metabolism were greater in abundance and expression in giant pandas compared to those in herbivores and omnivores. Of note, S. alactolyticus was positively correlated to the KEGG modules of essential amino-acid biosynthesis. After being isolated from pandas and gavaged to mice, S. alactolyticus significantly increased the relative abundance of essential amino acids in mice jejunum. Conclusions The study highlights the unique protein metabolic profiles in the giant panda’s gut microbiome. The findings suggest that S. alactolyticus is an important player in the gut microbiota that contributes to the giant panda’s dietary adaptation by more involvement in protein rather than carbohydrate metabolism. Video Abstract

Solar active regions (ARs) provide the required magnetic energy and the topology configuration for flares. Apart from conventional static magnetic parameters, the evolution of AR magnetic flux systems should have nonnegligible effects on magnetic energy store and the trigger mechanism of eruptions, which would promote the prediction for the flare using photospheric observations conveniently. Here we investigate 322 large (M- and X-class) flares from 2010 to 2019, almost the whole solar cycle 24. The flare occurrence rate is obviously higher in the developing phase, which should be due to the stronger shearing and complex configurations caused by affluent magnetic emergences. However, the probability of flare eruptions in decaying phases of ARs is obviously higher than that in the developing phase. The confined flares were in nearly equal counts to eruptive flares in developing phases, whereas the eruptive flares were half over confined flares in decaying phases. Yearly looking at flare eruption rates demonstrates the same conclusion. The relationship between sunspot group areas and confined/erupted flares also suggested that the strong field make constraints on the mass ejection, though it can contribute to flare productions. The flare indexes also show a similar trend. It is worth mentioning that all the X-class flares in the decaying phase were erupted, without the strong field constraint. The decaying of magnetic flux systems had facilitation effects on flare eruptions, which may be consequent on the splitting of magnetic flux systems.

Abstract Bamboo is the main food source of the giant panda. To increase bamboo intake in captive giant pandas, we studied factors affecting the bamboo intake. Fourteen healthy captive giant pandas in Dujiangyan Base of China Conservation and Research Center for The Giant Panda (“Dujiangyan Base” for short) were selected as research objects. A bamboo feeding experiment was conducted to study the effects of seasons, bamboo age, slope orientations where bamboo grows and felling-feeding time on bamboo intake of the giant panda. We found that the type of bamboo that captive giant pandas feed on was abundant in spring and summer, but relatively homogeneous in winter. With the increase of bamboo age, the intake of bamboo leaves decreased, while bamboo culms increased. The feed intake of 1-year-old bamboo leaves and 5-year-old bamboo culms reached the highest respectively. The slope orientation also affected the panda's bamboo intake, and the bamboo growing on sunny slopes or semi-sunny slopes was more favored by captive giant pandas. Moreover, the bamboo intake reached the highest when felling-feeding time was less than 24 h. In short, we confirmed that seasons, bamboo age, slope orientations and felling-feeding time were factors affecting bamboo intake for captive giant pandas. This study was expected to provide scientific guidance improving the feeding behavior management of captive giant pandas.

Iron overload-associated osteoporosis presents a significant challenge to bone health. This study examines the effects of arecoline (ACL), an alkaloid found in areca nut, on bone metabolism under iron overload conditions induced by ferric ammonium citrate (FAC) treatment. The results indicate that ACL mitigates the FAC-induced inhibition of osteogenesis in zebrafish larvae, as demonstrated by increased skeletal mineralization and upregulation of osteogenic genes. ACL attenuates FAC-mediated suppression of osteoblast differentiation and mineralization in MC3T3-E1 cells. RNA sequencing analysis suggests that the protective effects of ACL are related to the regulation of ferroptosis. We demonstrate that ACL inhibits ferroptosis, including oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation, mitochondrial damage, and cell death under FAC exposure. In this study, we have identified heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) as a critical mediator of ACL inhibiting ferroptosis and promoting osteogenesis, which was validated by HO-1 knockdown and knockout experiments. The study links ACL to HO-1 activation and ferroptosis regulation in the context of bone metabolism. These findings provide new insights into the mechanisms underlying the modulation of osteogenesis by ACL. Targeting the HO-1/ferroptosis axis is a promising therapeutic approach for treating iron overload-induced bone diseases.

Cobalt alloys have numerous applications, especially as critical components in orthopedic biomedical implants. However, recent investigations have revealed potential hazards associated with the release of nanoparticles from cobalt-based implants during implantation. This can lead to their accumulation and migration within the body, resulting in adverse reactions such as organ toxicity. Despite being a primary interface for cobalt nanoparticle (CoNP) exposure, skeletal muscle lacks comprehensive long-term impact studies. This study evaluated whether selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) could mitigate CoNP toxicity in muscle cells and zebrafish models. CoNPs dose-dependently reduced C2C12 viability while elevating reactive oxygen species (ROS) and apoptosis. However, low-dose SeNPs attenuated these adverse effects. CoNPs downregulated myogenic genes and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) expression in C2C12 cells; this effect was attenuated by SeNP cotreatment. Zebrafish studies confirmed CoNP toxicity, as it decreased locomotor performance while inducing muscle injury, ROS generation, malformations, and mortality. However, SeNPs alleviated these detrimental effects. Overall, SeNPs mitigated CoNP-mediated cytotoxicity in muscle cells and tissue through antioxidative and antiapoptotic mechanisms. This suggests that SeNP-coated implants could be developed to eliminate cobalt nanoparticle toxicity and enhance the safety of metallic implants.

Understanding coronal structure and dynamics can be facilitated by analyzing green-line emission, which enables the investigation of diverse coronal structures such as coronal loops, streamers, coronal holes, and various eruptions in the solar atmosphere. In this study, we investigated the spatiotemporal behaviors of green-line emissions in both low and high latitudes across nine solar cycles, ranging from Solar Cycle 17 to the current Solar Cycle 25, using the modified homogeneous data set. We employed methodologies such as cross correlation, power spectral density, and wavelet transform techniques for this analysis. We found distinct behaviors in green-line energy across various latitudinal distributions in the solar atmosphere. The trends observed at higher latitudes differ from those at lower latitudes. The emission behaviors show a close association with other solar phenomena like solar flares, sunspots, and coronal mass ejections throughout the solar cycles. The observed variations exhibit harmonic periods. The emission activity is significantly higher in the low latitudes, accounting for over 70% of the emissions, while the higher latitudes contribute less than 30%. The emissions exhibit asymmetric behavior between the northern and southern hemispheres, leading to a 44 yr cycle of solar hemispheric dominance shifts. Various factors, such as Alfvén waves, solar magnetic fields, sunspots, differential rotation, and reconnection events, influence the observed differences in behavior between lower and higher latitudes, suggesting the existence of potential underlying phenomena contributing to deviations in properties, intensity, temporal dynamics, and spatiotemporal lifetime.

Coronal mass ejections (CMEs) exhibit a wide range of quasiperiodic variations and are crucial for our understanding of the cyclical evolution of large-scale magnetic fields. However, the mid-term periodicities of different types of CMEs associated with different processes at the source location need to be clearly understood. Based on the CDAW catalog released by the Large Angle and Spectroscopic Coronagraph mission on the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory, we investigated the period of CMEs based on the speeds and accelerations using the continuous wavelet transformation method. Our results revealed that the distribution of CMEs over time is quite distinctly different for different speeds, and there are Rieger-type periods and quasi-biennial oscillations of the CMEs. The two types of periodic signals show significant differences in solar cycles 23 and 24. Furthermore, the periodicity patterns for the northern hemisphere differ from those in the southern hemisphere. The potential mechanisms and explanations of the results are also discussed.

Forecasting the amplitude and timing of the sunspot cycle is highly important for solar physics and space weather applications, but high-precision prediction of solar magnetic activity has remained an outstanding challenge. The Informer model, as the most advanced deep learning technique, is an ideal approach for predicting solar activity cycle. Using the whole-disk sunspot numbers (SSNs) between 1749 and 2023 and the hemispheric SSNs between 1992 and 2023, the amplitudes and timings of Solar Cycles 25 and 26 are predicted by the Informer model. The main results are the following: (1) the activity levels of Solar Cycles 25 and 26 continue being weak-moderate cycles with their strengths stronger than Solar Cycle 24, implying that the long-term solar variability is significantly modulated in length and magnitude by the Gleissberg century cycle; (2) the Gnevyshev peaks of Solar Cycles 25 and 26 are clearly observed with a higher value in the second peak, suggesting that the numbers of the large sunspot groups are greater compared to the small sunspot groups in these two cycles; and (3) during Solar Cycle 25, the activity level in the southern hemisphere is predicted to be stronger than that in the northern one, revealing significant asymmetry and asynchronization between the two hemispheres. Our analysis results show that solar cycle predictions can be made more accurate if performed separately for each hemisphere. Furthermore, Solar Cycles 25 and 26 are likely to be weak-moderate cycles, in agreement with the precursor-based and model-based prediction methods.

The hemispheric asymmetry of solar activity is one of the essential physical consequences of the interior dynamo process. However, the hemispheric distribution of halo coronal mass ejection (HCME) source locations has not been investigated in detail. Based on the HCME catalog identified from the Large Angle and Spectrometric Coronagraph Experiment on board the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory, we perform a hemispheric distribution analysis of the HCME source locations from 1996 April to 2022 June. The main results are as follows. (1) The HCME source locations are confined to the active region belt, and there is no “rush to the poles” phenomenon that is unique to large-scale magnetic activity. (2) The HCME source locations exhibit a general hemispheric asymmetry, and autoregressive moving-average model results show that the asymmetry of HCME source locations is significantly different from that of sunspot activity. (3) The hemispheric distribution of cycle 24 is different from that of cycle 23, potentially as a result of the heliospheric dynamic pressure having noticeably decreased after the polarity reversal of cycle 23. Our results contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the hemispheric asymmetry of energetic magnetic structures and give a new perspective on understanding the geoeffectiveness of HCMEs.

The temporal variations of solar rotation in the photosphere, chromosphere, and corona have been widely investigated, whereas the rotation of the solar transition region is rarely studied. Here, we perform a primary study about the long-term variation of the rotation in the transition region using Ly α irradiance from 1947 February 14 to 2023 February 20. Correlation techniques are used, and the main results are as follows. (1) The sidereal rotation period of the solar transition region varies between 22.24 and 31.49 days, and the mean sidereal rotation period is 25.50 days for the studied time interval 1947–2022. (2) The rotation period of the transition region exhibits a clear downward trend during 1947–2022, which might be caused by the reduced heliospheric pressure and the weaker solar global magnetic fields. (3) Significant periodic signal of the quasi-Schwabe cycle is found in the rotation periods of the transition region. (4) The cross-correlation between the rotation periods of the solar transition region and sunspot activity corroborates a strong correlation with the Schwabe cycle. Possible mechanisms responsible for these results are discussed.

The giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) is one of the most endangered species in the world. Climate change and susceptibility to disease are two of the greatest threats to this species. We performed a necropsy and histopathological exami- nation of the organs of an old panda and investigated the pathogenesis associated with death. Necropsy and histopathological observation revealed some typical age-related lesions, such as cataract, atherosclerosis, renal insufficiency and splenic atrophy. We also confirmed hepatic lesions associated with parasitic infection. Overall, our observations revealed that the predominant cause of mortality in this panda was multiple organ dysfunction (MOD). PATOLOŠKE UGOTOVITVE PRI SAMICI VELIKEGA PANDE – POROČILO O PRIMERU Izvleček: Veliki panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) je ena najbolj ogroženih vrst na svetu. Vrsto najbolj ogrožajo podnebne spre- membe in dovzetnost za bolezni. Opravili smo nekropsijo in histopatološki pregled organov starega pande ter raziskali patoge- nezo, povezano s smrtjo. Z nekropsijo in histopatološkim opazovanjem smo odkrili nekatere značilne starostne spremembe, kot so katarakta, ateroskleroza, ledvična insuficienca in atrofija vranice. Potrdili smo tudi jetrne spremembe, povezane s parazitsko okužbo. Naša opažanja so pokazala, da je bil prevladujoči vzrok smrti tega pande disfunkcija več organov (MOD). Ključne besede: star; veliki panda; disfunkcija več organov; patologija

Hypertension is one of the important causes of cardiovascular diseases, and the imbalance of vascular homeostasis caused by oxidative stress and endothelial inflammation occurs throughout hypertension pathogenesis. Therefore, inhibiting oxidative stress and endothelial inflammation is important for treating hypertension. Tianma Gouteng Decoction (TGD) is a Chinese herbal medicine that is commonly used to treat hypertension in China, and demonstrates clinically effective antihypertensive effects. However, its blood pressure reduction mechanism remains unclear. In this study, we further determined the antihypertensive effects of TGD and revealed its underlying mechanism. We established an AngII-induced hypertension mice model, which was treated with TGD for six weeks. We monitored blood pressure, heart rate, and body weight every week. After six weeks, we detected changes in the structure and function of the heart, the structure of blood vessels, and vasomotor factors. We also detected the expression of oxidative stress and inflammation-related genes. We found that TGD can significantly reduce blood pressure, improve cardiac structure and function, and reverse vascular remodeling, which could be due to the inhibition of oxidative stress and inflammation. We also found that the effect of inhibiting oxidative stress and inflammation could be related to the up-regulation of transcription factor EB (TFEB) expression by TGD. Therefore, we used AAV9 to knock down TFEB and observe the role of TFEB in TGD's antihypertensive and cardiovascular protection properties. We found that after TFEB knockdown, the protective effect of TGD on blood pressure and cardiovascular remodeling in AngII-induced hypertensive mice was inhibited, and that it was unable to inhibit oxidative stress and inflammation. Therefore, our study demonstrated for the first time that TGD could exert anti-oxidative stress and anti-inflammatory effects through TFEB and reverse the cardiovascular remodeling caused by hypertension.

Studying the interaction between solar flares and sunspot groups (SGs) is crucial for understanding and predicting solar activity. We examined the distribution, correlation, and flaring rates in the northern and southern hemispheres to reveal the relationship between different classes of soft X-ray (SXR) flares and different magnetic classifications of SGs. We discovered a significant north–south asymmetry in SXR flares and SG distribution over Solar Cycles (SC) 21–25. In the rising phase of SC24, the northern hemisphere’s activity is significantly excessive. In the declining phase of SC24, the southern hemisphere’s activity becomes significantly excessive. The total numbers of various SXR flares and SGs vary between the northern and southern hemispheres over the solar cycle. B-class flares are negatively correlated with all SGs at maximum but positively correlated at minimum. C-class flares correlate best with α and β SGs. M-class flares correlate best with β γ δ and β SGs. X-class flares correlate highest with β γ δ SGs. The flaring rate of each flare class is lowest for α SGs and highest for β γ δ SGs. The flaring rates are higher in the southern hemisphere than in the northern hemisphere. Our results demonstrate that solar flares originate from different sources of solar active regions; the high-energy flares tend to be caused by more complex magnetic fields.

Coronal mass ejections (CMEs) are energetic expulsions of organized magnetic features from the Sun. The study of CME quasiperiodicity helps establish a possible relationship between CMEs, solar flares, and geomagnetic disturbances. We used the angular width of CMEs as a criterion for classifying the CMEs in the study. Based on 25 yr of observational data, we systematically analyzed the quasiperiodic variations corresponding to the CME occurrence rate of different angular widths in the northern and southern hemispheres, using frequency and time–frequency analysis methods. There are various periods for CMEs of different angular widths: 9 months, 1.7 yr, and 3.3–4.3 yr. Compared with previous studies based on the occurrence rate of CMEs, we obtained the same periods of 1.2 (±0.01), 3.1 (±0.04), and ≈6.1 (±0.4) months, and 1.2 (±0.1) and 2.4 (±0.4) yr. We also found additional periods of all CMEs that appear only in one hemisphere or during a specific solar cycle. For example, 7.1 (±0.2) months and 4.1 (±0.2) yr in the northern hemisphere, 1 (±0.004) and 5.9 (±0.2) months and 1 (±0.1), 1.4 (±0.1), and 2.4 (±0.4) yr in the southern hemisphere, 6.1 (±0.4) months in solar cycle 23, and 6.1 (±0.4) months and 1.2 (±0.1) and 3.7 (±0.2) yr in solar cycle 24. The analysis shows that quasiperiodic variations of the CMEs are a link among oscillations in coronal magnetic activity, solar flare eruptions, and interplanetary space.

Baylisascaris schroederi is one of the main health risks threatening both wild and captive giant pandas. The administration of anthelmintics is a common method to effectively control B. schroederi infection, but there is a notable risk of anthelmintic resistance (AR) after long-term, constant use of anthelmintics. Four anthelmintics—pyrantel pamoate (PYR), mebendazole (MBZ), albendazole (ABZ), and ivermectin (IVM)—were each administered separately at intervals of 2 months to 22 enrolled giant pandas. The fecal egg count reduction (FECR) proportions were calculated by both the Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) Bayesian mathematical model and the arithmetic mean. AR was assessed based on the criteria recommended by the World Association for the Advancement of Veterinary Parasitology (WAAVP). The estimated prevalence of B. schroederi infection was 34.1%. After treatment with PYR, MBZ, ABZ, and IVM, it was determined that MBZ, ABZ, and IVM were efficacious against B. schroederi, while nematodes were suspected to be resistant to PYR according to the fecal egg count reduction (FECR) proportions.

A low reproductive rate coupled with human activities has endangered the giant panda, a species endemic to southwest China. Although giant pandas feed almost exclusively on bamboo, they retain carnivorous traits and suffer from carnivorous diseases. Additionally, their immune system is susceptible to aging, resulting in a reduced ability to respond to diseases. This study aimed to determine the genes and pathways expressed differentially with age in blood tissues. The differentially expressed genes in different age groups of giant pandas were identified by RNA-seq. The elderly giant pandas had many differentially expressed genes compared with the young group (3 years old), including 548 upregulated genes and 401 downregulated genes. Further, functional enrichment revealed that innate immune upregulation and adaptive immune downregulation were observed in the elderly giant pandas compared with the young giant pandas. Meanwhile, the immune genes in the elderly giant pandas changed considerably, including genes involved in innate immunity and adaptive immunity such as PLSCR1, CLEC7A, CCL5, CCR9, and EPAS1. Time series analysis found that giant pandas store glycogen by prioritizing fat metabolism at age 11, verifying changes in the immune system. The results reported in this study will provide a foundation for further research on disease prevention and the energy metabolism of giant pandas.

Haemaphysalis longicornis (Ixodida: Ixodidae) is a common blood-feeding ectoparasite of the giant panda and poses significant health burden to wild and captive populations. In the present study, the complete mitogenome of the giant panda tick H. longicornis was sequenced using Illumina sequencing technology. The entire mitogenome was 14,706 bp in length and encoded 37 genes including 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNAs and two ribosomal RNAs. Phylogeny showed that four isolates of H. longicornis, regardless of host origins or locations, clustered together and had a closer relationship with Haemaphysalis hystricis than other Haemaphysalis species among the subfamily Haemaphysalinae of Ixodidae. The cumulative mitochondrial DNA resources provide insights into genetic and phylogenetic studies of Haemaphysalis ticks.

The blood-sucking tick Haemaphysalis hystricis is a common ectoparasite of the giant panda and represents a significant threat to both wild and captive populations. Herein, the complete mitogenome of H. hystricis was sequenced using Illumina sequencing technology. The complete mitogenome sequence was 14,715 bp in size and encoded 37 genes including 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNAs, and two ribosomal RNAs. Phylogeny revealed that two isolates of H. hystricis, regardless of host origins and locations, grouped together and had a closer relationship with Haemaphysalis longicornis than other tick species among the genus Haemaphysalis. The cumulative mitochondrial DNA data provides novel resources for genetic and phylogenetic studies of Haemaphysalis ticks.

The tick Haemaphysalis flava (Acari, Ixodidae) is an obligatory blood-feeding ectoparasite of the giant panda and is also a vector for transmission of pathogenic microorganisms. In this study, the complete mitochondrial genome of this tick was sequenced through Illumina sequencing technology. The genome was 14,699 bp in length and encoded 37 genes including 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNAs and two ribosomal RNAs. Phylogeny revealed that three isolates of H. flava, regardless of host origins and locations, clustered together and formed a monophyletic relationship with Haemaphysalis japonica, supporting their species validity among the genus Haemaphysalis. These cumulative mitochondrial DNA data provides insights into phylogenetic studies among Haemaphysalis ticks.

Abstract Background Ovarian cancer is diagnosed clinically by detecting ovarian cancer-related factors and markers. Here, we report a case of giant panda ovarian tumor metastasis with a combination of clinical and histopathological diagnosis. Case presentation Histopathological studies revealed severe lesions and tumor cells in the ovaries, lungs, spleen, kidneys and perianal tissue. Immunohistochemistry staining showed that the ovarian cancer markers B7-H4, CA125, and HE4 were highly expressed in the lungs, kidneys, spleen, ovaries and perianal tissue. Tumor marker tests detected significantly high levels of AFP in serum. Conclusion Clinical biomarkers combined with histopathology can provide a more accurate diagnosis of ovarian cancer metastasis and identification of ovarian cancer types than either method alone. The giant panda’s death may be due to granulosa cell tumor and theca cell tumor metastasis causing multiple organ dysfunction or even failure.