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Ovariectomy is the best method to control the density of wild ungulate populations. The present study aimed to compare two surgical approaches of ovariectomy, via the flank and midventral, in mouflons under field conditions. A total of 20 female mouflons were enrolled in the study. The animals were divided randomly into two equal groups; group F animals were gonadectomized via the flank approach, while group L animals were sterilized via the linea alba access. The parameters evaluated were duration of surgery, duration of anesthesia, recovery time, intraoperative and postoperative complications, intraoperative nociception, and pain during the postoperative period. There were no intraoperative and postoperative complications. The evaluated parameters showed a very similar trend in both groups. Both techniques were found to be effiective and safe in execution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Wildlife represents an increasingly important source of pathogens of medical and veterinary importance. Surveillance in wildlife offers an insight on current epidemiological status of selected pathogens and help to prevent spillovers to humans and livestock. Material and methods: Our study included 312 wild ruminants belonging to five species: Roe deer (n = 134), red deer (n = 113), Alpine chamois (n = 53), European mouflon (n = 10) and Alpine ibex (n = 2). Seven pathogens that may have profound effect on human/livestock health and economic viability of the farms were tested using serological methods. Results: Antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii, Neospora caninum, Coxiella burnetii, Brucella spp., Chlamydophila abortus, Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) and Mycobacterium bovis were detected in 34.62% (108/312), 0.96% (3/312), 2.24% (7/312), 0, 0.96% (3/312), 0, 0.64% (2/312) of animals tested, respectively. Because of low prevalences, risk factors were assessed only for T. gondii. Sex (female>male) and species (roe deer>red deer, roe deer>Alpine chamois) were significantly associated with the T. gondii positive outcome, while age was not. Discussion: Adult males had the lowest T. gondii prevalence which offers future research opportunities. The lower seroprevalence of most investigated pathogens suggests game meat, if properly cooked, as being relatively safe for human consumption. This is the first study investigating the seroprevalence and associated risk factors of selected pathogens in wild ruminants in Slovenia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Scent rolling, a behaviour observed in large carnivores like wolves, involves lowering the chin and neck towards a scent, then rubbing the head, neck, shoulders, and back into it. Despite its prevalence, the exact reason for this behaviour remains unknown. In this study, captive wolves at Osijek Zoo responded differently to various odours presented during olfactory enrichment. In the first year, odours like curry, rosemary, and deer/mouflon and rat faeces garnered the highest interest in scented objects and scent-rolling behaviour. In the second year, llama faeces and deer/mouflon faeces elicited longer interest, while others, like guinea pig faeces and oregano, prompted less interest. During the second part of this study, it was observed that only females exhibited scent-rolling behaviour, indicating their higher level of engagement with the scents. Scent rolling did not occur in response to certain odours, suggesting the existence of selective preferences. Sheep's wool prompted the longest scent-rolling sessions. Differences in behaviour between enrichment sessions were not significant; however, mornings generally elicited greater interest in odours. Despite various theories proposing alternative explanations for scent rolling in wolves, it seems to be triggered by novel odours. Scent rolling, a behaviour observed in various large carnivores like wolves, entails the animal lowering its chin and neck towards a scent, followed by rubbing the head, neck, shoulders, and back into it. This behaviour is prevalent among wolves exposed to diverse scents, though its exact purpose remains uncertain. In this study, captive wolves at Osijek Zoo responded differently to odours during olfactory enrichment sessions. In the initial year of this study, the highest level of interest, evidenced by both the frequency of responses and scent-rolling behaviour, was noted when the wolves encountered odours such as curry and rosemary, along with deer/mouflon and rat faeces. While certain odours, such as llama faeces and deer/mouflon faeces, garnered longer durations of interest in the second year of study, others, like guinea pig faeces and oregano, elicited shorter responses. Female wolves demonstrated a higher level of engagement with scents compared with males, particularly through scent rolling behaviour, which was exclusively observed in females during the second year of this study. Interestingly, certain odours did not trigger scent rolling, suggesting selective preferences. On the other hand, sheep's wool induced the longest duration of scent rolling, and a lack of significant differences in behaviour was observed between morning and afternoon sessions. Despite the existence of multiple hypotheses put forward to explain the causation of scent rolling in wolves, it seems to be elicited by unfamiliar odours. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hybridization between wild animals and feral individuals from closely related domestic species can occur when they share the same habitat. Such events are generally regarded as a threat to the genetic integrity and survival of established wild populations. The aim of this study is to confirm a hybridization between European mouflon and feral sheep on the Adriatic island Dugi Otok, where a group of individuals phenotypically indicative of a possible introgression was photographed. Using an ovine medium-density SNP array genotypes, we provided genetic evidence of recent gene admixture between the two species. The ADMIXTURE analysis suggests that two hybrid individuals had 82.2% and 94.1% of their ancestry attributable to feral sheep, respectively, with the rest of the mouflon in origin. NEWHYBRIDS analysis estimated the combined probabilities for the putative hybrid individuals belonging to one of the hybrid classes at 87.0% and 90.1%, respectively. The main phenotypic differences in the hybrids were observed in the shape of the horns, a stronger horn circumference than in the mouflon and weaker than for the sheep, pronounced horn rings, a shorter tail, and intermediate color. We therefore recommend constant monitoring of the purity of the mouflon population to maintain its genetic integrity. In addition, all feral sheep should be removed from the wild, and released sheep raised in semi-wild conditions should be better controlled. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The animals held captive in zoos often face health and well-being issues. Parasitic infections can lead to health problems in wildlife animals by affecting their gastrointestinal tract. Therefore, the present study aimed to identify and evaluate the population of the various Gastrointestinal (GIT) parasites of wild animals enclosed in different zoological gardens in Pakistan. The fresh fecal samples (n = 960) of 20 captive wildlife animals were collected from Marghzar Zoo, Islamabad (n = 340), Ayub National Park, Rawalpindi (n = 221), Lohi Bher Wildlife Park, Rawalpindi (n = 296), and Bansra Galli Wildlife Park, Rawalpindi (n = 103). The samples were obtained from wildlife mammals, including urial (n = 95), blue bull (n = 106), chinkara gazelle (n = 77), zebra (n = 77), hog deer (n = 75), spotted deer (n = 43), blackbuck (n = 58), barking deer (n = 52), red deer (n = 104), yak (n = 44), grey goral (n = 40), lion (n = 37), mouflon sheep (n = 46), red fox (n = 12), bear (n = 37), grey wolf (n = 12), jackal (n = 12), vervet monkey (n = 12), rhesus monkey (n = 12), and langoor (n = 12). Various methods, such as direct smear examination, standard sedimentation, and floatation techniques were applied to detect and identify the endoparasites in the fecal sample. The detailed routine parasitological analysis identified approximately 52 endoparasites in the fecal samples, including Haemonchus contortus, Eimeria bovis, Ostertagia curcumcincta, Strongyloides papillosus, Strogylus equinus, Oxyuris equi, Chabertia ovina, Protostrongylus, and Trichostrongylus vitrines. The obtained results indicated that Lohi Bher Wildlife Park (46.35%) had a higher prevalence of GIT parasites, compared to Marghzar Zoo (33.23%), Bansra Galli Wildlife Park (33.02%), and Ayub National Park (19.45%). The study reports mild to moderate parasitic infection in captive wild animals and that could affect the survivability of the animals in captivity. The findings of the study can be used to formulate a proper health protocol and sanitation management in captive wild animals to control parasitic infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Once widespread in their homelands, the Anatolian mouflon (Ovis gmelini anatolica) and the Cyprian mouflon (Ovis gmelini ophion) were driven to near extinction during the 20th century and are currently listed as endangered populations by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. While the exact origins of these lineages remain unclear, they have been suggested to be close relatives of domestic sheep or remnants of proto-domestic sheep. Here, we study whole genome sequences of n = 5 Anatolian mouflons and n = 10 Cyprian mouflons in terms of population history and diversity, comparing them with eight other extant sheep lineages. We find reciprocal genetic affinity between Anatolian and Cyprian mouflons and domestic sheep, higher than all other studied wild sheep genomes, including the Iranian mouflon (O. gmelini). Studying diversity indices, we detect a considerable load of short runs of homozygosity blocks (<2 Mb) in both Anatolian and Cyprian mouflons, reflecting small effective population size (N e). Meanwhile, N e and mutation load estimates are lower in Cyprian compared with Anatolian mouflons, suggesting the purging of recessive deleterious variants in Cyprian sheep under a small long-term N e, possibly attributable to founder effects, island isolation, introgression from domestic lineages, or differences in their bottleneck dynamics. Expanding our analyses to worldwide wild and feral Ovis genomes, we observe varying viability metrics among different lineages and a limited consistency between viability metrics and International Union for Conservation of Nature conservation status. Factors such as recent inbreeding, introgression, and unique population dynamics may have contributed to the observed disparities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main goal of the current study was to investigate the molecular systematics and host–vector interactions of sandfly species (Phlebotomus spp.) in Iran. Sandflies were collected using CDC light traps, sticky traps, and BG-Sentinel traps at seven trapping sites in Iran during 2019 and 2020. The source of blood meals was identified using primer pairs specific to either the 16S rRNA or the mitochondrial cytochrome b (cytb) genes. A total of 736 blood-fed female sandflies were collected. Six species of the genus Phlebotomus (Ph.) and four species of the genus Sergentomyia (Se.) were identified using molecular identification techniques. The most abundant sandfly species were Ph. papatasi (38.45 %) and Se. sintoni (36.28 %). Blood meal analysis identified 19 different host species, specifically, 15 mammalian and four bird species. The most common blood meal sources were Rattus norvegicus , followed by Homo sapiens , Bos primigenius f. taurus , Ovis orientalis f. aries , Meriones persicus , Gallus gallus f. domestica , Rhombomys opimus , and Canis lupus; other host species had incidences of less than 5 %. We observed that Ph. major complex and Se. sintoni had mostly mammalophilic blood-feeding behavior, while Ph. papatasi and Ph. sergenti had mostly anthropophilic and ornithophilic blood-feeding preferences, respectively. The current results confirmed cytb is a suitable gene for regular species level identification, and that phylogenetic analyses of cytb allowed for clear demarcation of sandfly species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The European mouflon (Ovis aries musimon) is a non-domesticated and highly adaptable species. It is a descendant of the primitive domestic sheep (Ovis aries), with native populations inhabiting Sardinia and Corsica since the Neolithic age. In the 1950s, as a consequence of intense hunting and poaching, some animals were relocated to nearby islands (Giglio Island and others) as a conservation strategy to avoid extinction risks. Since then, this isolated way of life has served as a "time capsule" in which the Ovis aries musimon has maintained ancestral genetic traits no longer detectable in the current native Sardinian population. Our study findings report the application, in field conditions, of short- and long-term storage techniques of immature cumulus–oocyte complexes (COCs) which were then transported to the laboratory for in vitro maturation (IVM) and assessment of nuclear and cytoplasmic maturation. Both techniques mentioned above can be used for oocyte storage and in vitro culture. However, it is still necessary to optimize them, particularly when used in taxonomically related and endangered wild species for the preservation of ancestral genetic traits and to address the risk of extinction of native populations. Reproductive biotechnologies can be used as a supporting tool, through gamete conservation and in vitro embryo production, in the preservation of invaluable and irreplaceable animal genetic resources. In the present study, immature mouflon cumulus–oocyte complexes (COCs) collected from ovariectomized female ovaries underwent short- or long-term conservation (24 h maintained in Earle's/Hank's (EH) medium or vitrification) under field conditions and afterwards transported to the laboratory where they were cultured for in vitro maturation (IVM) and assessed for oocyte meiotic competence and bioenergetic–oxidative status. Utilization of both storage techniques led to COC morphology preservation, as well as cumulus expansion and oocyte meiotic resumption after the IVM procedure. Quantitative bioenergetic–oxidative parameters were reduced in vitrified oocytes compared with EH ones. Immature COC storage needs to be optimized in both domesticated and non-domesticated sheep as a part of the strategy to avoid the loss of valuable genotypes of these animal species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Cryptosporidium is an intestinal zoonotic protozoan parasite that infects domesticated and wild animals. There are no reports on the prevalence and molecular characterisation of Cryptosporidium in the endemic Cyprus mouflon. The mouflon is strictly protected by national and international legislation. Its main distribution is Paphos State Forest and surrounding areas, where it may share the same water sources as free-ranging domestic goats. Therefore, the present study aimed to determine the prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. and genotypes in mouflon and free-ranging goats within the mouflon range. Methods: Faecal samples of 70 mouflons and 34 free-ranging goats were screened for Cryptosporidium by PCR amplification and sequencing. Results: Only one sample (1/70) belonging to a mouflon was PCR positive for Cryptosporidium. Based on sequencing of the 18S rRNA locus, this species was identified as Cryptosporidium parvum (C. parvum). No positive sample was detected in the free-ranging goats (0/34). Conclusion: This is the first report on the molecular identification of this Cryptosporidium species in a Cyprus mouflon. The results indicate that the prevalence of Cryptosporidium in Cyprus mouflon is low. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ovariectomy is the best method to control the density of wild ungulate populations. The present study aimed to compare two surgical approaches of ovariectomy, via the flank and midventral, in mouflons under field conditions. A total of 20 female mouflons were enrolled in the study. The animals were divided randomly into two equal groups; group F animals were gonadectomized via the flank approach, while group L animals were sterilized via the linea alba access. The parameters evaluated were duration of surgery, duration of anesthesia, recovery time, intraoperative and postoperative complications, intraoperative nociception, and pain during the postoperative period. There were no intraoperative and postoperative complications. The evaluated parameters showed a very similar trend in both groups. Both techniques were found to be effective and safe in execution.

Brucellosis is a sanitary and economically relevant disease affecting humans, livestock, and wildlife. Ticks have been suggested as vectors, long-term carriers, and amplifiers of Brucella. In this study, ticks from wildlife ungulate hosts living in hunting reserves of a central region of Spain were collected during a 6-year period, pooled, and screened for Brucella spp. by PCR. Aiming to correlate Brucella spp. DNA presence in ticks with Brucella spp. infections in wildlife ungulate hosts, liver samples from deceased wildlife ungulates coming from the hunting reserves showing a positive result for Brucella in ticks were tested using a commercial ELISA. In total, 229 tick pools from wild boar (Sus scrofa, n = 176; 76.8%, 95% CI 70.9%–81.8%), red deer (Cervus elaphus, n = 40; 17.4%, 95% CI 13.1%–22.9%), mouflon (Ovis orientalis musimon, n = 7; 3.06%, 95% CI 1.49%–6.17%), and fallow deer (Dama dama, n = 6; 2.62%, 95% CI 1.21%–5.60%) were analyzed. PCR results showed that 3.93% (95% CI 2.08%–7.30%) tick pools (9/229) from 16.6% hunting reserves (7/41) screened yielded a positive PCR result for Brucella. All positive ticks were Dermacentor (Dermacentor marginatus or Dermacentor reticulatus) collected from wild boar. Ticks collected from wild boars were positive to Brucella in a relative percentage of 5.10% (95% CI = 1.61–11.4) in 2018 and of 7.59% (95% CI = 2.79–15.6) in 2021 (6-year prevalence of 5.17%, 9/176). ELISA showed positive results in three wild boars coming from two out of seven hunting reserves (28.5%) with a positive PCR for Brucella in ticks. To conclude, Brucella spp. DNA can be detected in Dermacentor ticks parasitizing wild boars living in hunting reserves harboring Brucella spp.-seropositive wild boars. This study provides evidence that the contribution of arthropod vectors should be considered in the epidemiology of brucellosis in wildlife. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The domestication of animals started around 12,000 years ago in the Near East region. This "endless process" is characterized by the gradual accumulation of changes that progressively marked the genetic, phenotypic and physiological differences between wild and domesticated species. The main distinctive phenotypic characteristics are not all directly attributable to the human-mediated selection of more productive traits. In the last decades, two main hypotheses have been proposed to clarify the emergence of such a set of phenotypic traits across a variety of domestic species. The first hypothesis relates the phenotype of the domesticated species to an altered thyroid hormone-based signaling, whereas the second one relates it to changes in the neural crest cells induced by selection of animals for tameness. These two hypotheses are not necessarily mutually exclusive since they may have contributed differently to the process over time and space. The adaptation model induced by domestication can be adopted to clarify some aspects (that are still controversial and debated) of the long-term evolutionary process leading from the wild Neolithic mouflon to the current domestic sheep. Indeed, sheep are among the earliest animals to have been domesticated by humans, around 12,000 years ago, and since then, they have represented a crucial resource in human history. The aim of this review is to shed light on the molecular mechanisms and the specific genomic variants that underlie the phenotypic variability between sheep and mouflon. In this regard, we carried out a critical review of the most recent studies on the molecular mechanisms that are most accredited to be responsible for coat color and phenotype, tail size and presence of horns. We also highlight that, in such a complicate context, sheep/mouflon hybrids represent a powerful and innovative model for studying the mechanism by which the phenotypic traits related to the phenotypic responses to domestication are inherited. Knowledge of these mechanisms could have a significant impact on the selection of more productive breeds. In fact, as in a journey back in time of animal domestication, the genetic traits of today's domestic species are being progressively and deliberately shaped according to human needs, in a direction opposite to that followed during domestication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-invasive sampling methods, such as scat sampling, have facilitated genetic studies for conservation genetics researchers, however, the quality and quantity of extracted DNA have always been the main issues with these methods. In the current study, the genetic variation and population structure of wild sheep (Ovis gmelini) in Bamou National Park (Fars, Iran) were evaluated using the swabbing technique and eight microsatellites. The sampling method used showed high efficiency in genotyping individuals and can be considered for use with other species. Expected and observed heterozygosity ranged from 0.502 to 0.943 and 0.950 to 1.00, respectively, and the mean allele richness was 8.87, indicating considerable genetic variation in the population. In addition, inbreeding coefficient across all loci was 0.052. There was no evidence of a bottleneck in the population in the recent past. Despite the high level of genetic variation, the lack of gene flow between populations, and global threats such as climate change, highlight the necessity of implementing reintroduction programs to maintain the evolutionary potential of the species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relevance of hair sheep and their place in animal agriculture in the United States is expanding. Fueled by the exigency of sustainable agricultural practices, the integration of hair sheep to replace their wool breed counterparts is essential. Approximately 10% of all sheep globally are hair sheep but they are growing in numbers and production each year. Hair sheep breeds are widely diverse but share a common origin in tropical countries. Most of the prominent breeds were mindfully developed and crossed with wool breeds (namely, the Mouflon sheep) to improve the economically important traits of the animal. This genetic development has proven successful; hair sheep are considered highly advantageous in carcass quality, meat taste, litter size, and leather quality. Aside from those economically important traits, hair sheep are also advantageous in production traits, such as parasitic resistance, disease resistance, heat tolerance, sperm quality, and nutritional efficiency. These identified traits of hair sheep are highly desirable and contribute to the hair sheep’s positive reputation. However, hair sheep pose some disadvantages, such as an average or below average scrotal circumference, lower meat yield (although high in quality), meat with higher cholesterol than that of the wool breeds, and the lack of wool leaving the hair sheep susceptible to cold stress. These disadvantages can be mitigated with genetic selection and production techniques. The importance to further developing hair sheep is irrefutable. This review focuses on the fundamental and applied science of the most common hair sheep breeds and is expected to be useful for students, scientists, and producers of hair sheep. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Study was conducted on a sample consisting of 38 mouflon horns from hunting grounds in Serbia. The parameters that were analyzed (length of the left horn, length of the right horn, circumference of the horns, spread of the horns, color of the horns, ring and curvature) were measured according to the propositions adopted by the The International Council for Game and Wildlife. The aim of the paper was to determine the absolute and mean values of the length of the left horn and of the right horn, the circumference of the horns, span of the horns, annularity and curve of the horns, as well as the existence of mutual dependence between certain parameters of mouflon trophies. Using the method of descriptive statistics, the mean values of the length of the left and right horns were obtained. Results showed that the right horn was slightly more developed in the observed population. Namely, the mean value of the length of the right horn is larger, while the mean values of the circumference of the left and right are almost the same. The results of Pearson's correlation showed a statistically significant positive correlation between certain morphometric parameters of the horns, such as the length of the horns and the circumference of horn in the second and in the third third distance from the base. A positive correlation was also observed between curvature of horns and circumference in the first and second thirds, as well as between curvature of horns and horn span. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Irrespective of the fact that the European roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) occurs from the Mediterranean to north of the Arctic Circle and is one of the most abundant and widespread species, roe deer are fed in winter in Germany and Austria. Hunters justify the supplementary feeding with the argument that roe deer do not find sufficient high-quality food in our landscape and they would have to starve in winter. Aims: Our aim was to measure the quality and energy content of the browsed roe deer diet (in terms of metabolisable energy, ME) and the daily energy intake by roe deer. Methodology: Between 2017 and 2019, rumenreticula of 629 roe deer were collected from five extreme habitats in Bavaria. Samples were examined by standard methods of dietary analysis, such as in vitro ruminal fermentation, crude nutrient analysis and the analysis of neutral/acid detergent fibre and acid detergent lignin. In addition, data on body condition and age were collected for each roe deer. Key results: The diet consumed by roe deer has an energy density between 5.1 MJ/kg dry matter (DM) and 6.1 MJ/kg DM on average. Crude fibre contents in the diet varied between 20% and 38% DM. Roe deer compensate for lower energy densities in vegetation by consuming more diet. Across all habitats, adult consumed an annual mean of between 10.6 and 12.9 MJ ME/day. Conclusions: Roe deer find sufficient high-energy food in all landscape types. They consume and can utilise raw fibre to the same extent as do red deer or mouflon. Differences in energy density among habitats result from carbohydrate content and are compensated for by more food intake. Energy deficits in roe deer could not be detected in any habitat at any time. Implications: Roe deer do not need supplementary feeding in any habitat. Supplementary feeding leads to browsing damage because of the lack of raw fibre in the feed. Roe deer colonise all habitats between the Mediterranean and the Arctic Circle in Europe, yet, they are fed in winter to avoid starvation. Feeding roe deer leads to more roe deer and, due to unsuitable feed, to browsing of the forest and diseases in the deer. Our results showed that roe deer survive well in all habitats without feeding and establish a balance between the different nutrients and energy intake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As one of the earliest livestock, sheep (Ovis aries) were domesticated in the Fertile Crescent about 12,000--10,000 years ago and have a nearly worldwide distribution today. Most of our knowledge about the timing of their expansions stems from archaeological data but it is unclear how the genetic diversity of modern sheep fits with these dates. We used whole-genome sequencing data of 63 domestic breeds and their wild relatives, the Asiatic mouflon (O. gmelini, previously known as O. orientalis), to explore the demographic history of sheep. On the global scale, our analysis revealed geographic structuring among breeds with unidirectional recent gene flow from domestics into Asiatic mouflons. We then selected 4 representative breeds from Spain, Morocco, the United Kingdom, and Iran to build a comprehensive demographic model of the Western sheep expansion. We inferred a single domestication event around 11,000 years ago. The subsequent westward expansion is dated to approximately 7,000 years ago, later than the original Neolithic expansion of sheep and slightly predating the Secondary Product Revolution associated with wooly sheep. We see some signals of recent gene flow from an ancestral population into Southern European breeds which could reflect admixture with feral European mouflon. Furthermore, our results indicate that many breeds experienced a reduction of their effective population size during the last centuries, probably associated with modern breed development. Our study provides insights into the complex demographic history of Western Eurasian sheep, highlighting interactions between breeds and their wild counterparts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document, titled "The Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Behaviour of Mites," explores the often overlooked role of mites in ecosystems worldwide. The special issue includes studies on the coevolutionary relationships, taxonomic diversity, molecular biology, and ecological interactions of mites. The research sheds light on the host-parasite relationships, phylogeny, and host specificity of mites, as well as their evolutionary history and ecological interactions. Additionally, the document discusses the taxonomic revision of mite groups, the incorporation of molecular techniques into mite research, and ecological studies on mite behavior and adaptation. Overall, the research emphasizes the importance of interdisciplinary approaches in understanding the complexity of mites and their crucial roles within ecosystems. [Extracted from the article]

In theoretical biology, a prevailing hypothesis posits a profound interconnection between effective population size (Ne), genetic diversity, inbreeding, and genetic load. The domestication and improvement processes are believed to be pivotal in diminishing genetic diversity while elevating levels of inbreeding and increasing genetic load. In this study, we performed a whole genome analysis to quantity genetic diversity, inbreeding, and genetic load across seven wild Ovis species and five domesticated sheep breeds. Our research demonstrates that the genetic load and diversity of species in the genus Ovis have no discernible impact on recent Ne, and three species within the subgenus Pachyceros tend to carry a higher genetic load and lower genetic diversity patterns. The results coincide with these species' dramatic decline in population sizes within the subgenus Pachyceros ~80–250 thousand years ago. European mouflon presented with the lowest Ne, lower genetic diversity, and higher individual inbreeding coefficient but a lower genetic load (missense and LoF). This suggests that the small Ne of European mouflon could reduce harmful mutations compared to other species within the genus Ovis. We showed lower genetic diversity in domesticated sheep than in Asiatic mouflon, but counterintuitive patterns of genetic load, i.e., lower weak genetic load (missense mutation) and no significant difference in strong genetic load (LoF mutation) between domestic sheep and Asiatic mouflon. These findings reveal that the "cost of domestication" during domestication and improvement processes reduced genetic diversity and purified weak genetic load more efficiently than wild species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: In the epididymis, epithelial cells manage changes in the luminal environment for proper sperm maturation. Moreover, aquaglyceroporins, a subgroup of aquaporins (AQP), modulate the transport of water, glycerol and other small molecules in epithelial cells. Aims: We aim to characterise the lining epithelium, quantify its cell composition and immunolocalise the aquaglyceroporins AQP3, AQP7, AQP9 and AQP10 alongside the epididymal ductus of three wild ruminant species, and to determine if species-specific differences could be associated with cauda sperm cryoresistance variations. Methods: Epididymides from Iberian ibex (n = 5), mouflon (n = 5) and chamois (n = 6) were obtained. Cauda spermatozoa were collected and sperm parameters were analysed before and after freezing. Histology and immunohistochemistry of AQP3, 7, 9, 10 and T-CD3 were performed in the caput, corpus and cauda epididymal regions. Key results: This work first describes the lining epithelium in Iberian ibex, mouflon and chamois epididymis along the three anatomical regions, consisting of principal, basal, apical, clear and halo cells. However, the percentage of each cell type differed in ibex compared to mouflon and chamois. The positive T-CD3 immunolabeling of all the halo cells confirmed their T-lymphocyte nature. Aquaglyceroporin expression patterns were similar among species, except for differences in AQP7 and AQP10 immunolocalisation in ibex. Species-specific differences in epididymal sperm cryoresistance were confirmed. Conclusions: The epididymal epithelium of the three wild ruminants differ in their relative number of cell types and AQP immunolocalisation, which ultimately appears to affect cauda epidydimal spermatozoa cryoresistance. Implications: Our study provides information on the relevance of the quantitative composition and AQP pattern expression in epididymal lining epithelium on sperm cryoresistance. Illustrative photograph of aquaglyceroporin immunolabeling (AQP9 expression in corpus region of Iberian ibex epididymis) Illustrative photograph of aquaglyceroporin immunolabeling (AQP9 expression in corpus region of Iberian ibex epididymis) This work describes the lining epithelium and expression patterns of aquaglyceroporins (AQP3, AQP7, AQP9 and AQP10) in the Iberian ibex, mouflon and chamois epididymis. Species-specific differences in cauda epididymal sperm cryoresistance were confirmed. Differences among the three wild ruminant epididymides in the relative number of epithelial cell types and the immunolocalisation of AQP7 and AQP10 appear to affect the cryoresistance of cauda epididymal spermatozoa. Photograph by Carlos Martínez-Cáceres. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since 2001, high-mortality outbreaks of border disease (BD) have negatively affected populations of Pyrenean chamois (Rupicapra pyrenaica pyrenaica). Studies in the affected areas determined that sympatric wild ruminants did not seem to have an epidemiologic role in the circulation of border disease virus (BDV). However, the recent increase in European mouflon (Ovis aries musimon) densities might enhance the risk of pathogen transmission among chamois and mouflons. We conducted a serologic and virologic investigation of BDV in European mouflon from the Spanish Pyrenees, with the aim of determining potential changes in the role of this species in BDV epidemiology. From 2018 to 2022, we detected antibodies against BDV in 31/185 (16.7%) animals but did not detect BDV RNA in any spleen sample (0/65). These results indicate that BDV infection is occurring in these mouflon populations to a greater extent than previously described, which could shift the current understanding of BD epidemiology in the Pyrenees and cause an unpredictable effect on both chamois and mouflon populations. Further studies on the molecular identification of BDV in mouflon and chamois are required to better understand the contribution of mouflon in the epidemiology of BD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The aim of the study was to analyse the community of parasitic mites in mouflons Ovis aries musimon from the Polish population introduced from the Mediterranean area. It was important to determine whether these parasites were specific to or typical of the genus Ovis and whether foreign species had appeared with the mouflons that might pose a parasitological threat to the native fauna or, according to the theory of parasites lost, the introduction contributed to the loss of the original fauna of parasitic mites and the subsequent repopulation of the vacant microhabitats by species typical of local bovids, cervids, and other ungulates. Forty-one mouflons, obtained by hunting, were examined. Two species of mites were found, including Demodex musimonis sp. nov., previously unknown demodecid mites, probably specific to the mouflon. These discoveries were accompanied by the tick Ixodes ricinus, a parasite common in many parts of Europe with a wide host range, and Lipoptena cervi, a parasitic fly typical of ungulates. The new species represents the first finding of a skin mite of the family Demodecidae in wild representatives of the caprine Caprinae, and the present study is the first to examine the parasitic arthropods of the mouflon, including ectoparasites and skin mites. Demodex musimonis sp. nov. occurred asymptomatically in the mouflon, and as a specific species does not pose a threat to the native fauna. In contrast, the presence of I. ricinus clearly indicates a broadening of the reservoir for pathogens transmitted by epidemiologically significant ectoparasite species in Europe. A greater understanding of mite biodiversity and ecology can explain their preference for microhabitats within host bodies, i.e., as ecto-, meso-, and endoparasites. Similarly, learning about the patterns formed by mite communities in wild animals can shed light on the mechanisms of parasitosis development in their domesticated counterparts. Hence, the present study examined the acarofauna of the mouflon, introduced to Poland in the early 20th century from a region of endemic occurrence. Forty-one individuals were examined for the presence of ectoparasites between 2010 and 2013; later, skin fragments were analysed for the presence of skin mites. A new species of Demodecidae, Demodex musimonis sp. nov., was discovered in the skin of the pasterns of 14.6% mouflons, as well as the ectoparasitic tick Ixodes ricinus (prevalence 29.3%) and ungulate-typical fly Lipoptena cervi (34.1%). However, no mites typical for ovine Ovis (Psorergatidae, Psoroptidae) were noted, nor any colonisation of microhabitats by species from local ungulates, resulting from the loss of original parasites during the introduction. A comparison of the acarofauna of the mouflon and domestic sheep Ovis aries aries suggests that a mite community with a complex structure and the co-occurrence of different families may be formed. However, it is not known whether the acarofauna of domestic sheep is derived from wild ancestors or the process of domestication. Even so, the peculiar Demodecidae must have been part of the natural parasitofauna of wild sheep, of which only D. musimonis sp. nov. has been recognised so far. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Protozoan parasites are a well-known threat to human health, particularly for people working at or visiting zoos, and potentially cause zoonotic diseases in humans. Captive wildlife may be potential reservoirs for human infection with protozoan parasites. Therefore, focusing on zoonotic protozoan infections in zoo animals is critical. However, there is no report on this topic in the Qinghai- Tibetan Plateau region. In this study, a total of 167 and 103 fecal samples were collected from 12 animal species from Qinghai-Tibet Plateau Wildlife Park in winter and summer, respectively, to detection the prevalence of infections and subtype distribution with Entamoeba sp., Cryptosporidium sp., Giardia duodenalis, Enteromicrosporidia bieneusi sp., Blastocystis sp. by PCR assay. The results showed that a total of 21 fecal samples collected in winter, including from 2 white-lipped deer, 8 Sika deer, 6 blue sheep, 2 wolves and 3 bears, were positive for Entamoeba, with a 12.6% (21/167) positive rate. However, 4.9% (5/103) of animals in summer were positive for Entamoeba, including 1 snow leopard, 1 tiger, 1 Tibetan argali and 2 mouflon. Moreover, 1 white-lipped deer and 1 bear were found to be positive for Blastocystis sp., one zoonotic STs (ST10) was identified and found in white-lipped deer. We found no effect on season on Blastocystis sp. and Entamoeba sp. colonization. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first description of Blastocystis sp. and Entamoeba sp. infecting zoo animals in the plateau area. The findings provide the latest data on Entamoeba sp. and Blastocystis sp. in zoo animals in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mouflon (Ovis gmelini musimon) is an introduced ungulate in continental Europe. It has adapted well to its occupied habitats over the last 150 years. Its growing population has drawn increasing attention to its impact on autochthonous species, especially in endangered ecosystems. Its allochthonous character, habitat selection, and feeding led scientists to question the raison d'etre of mouflons. The mouflon's space use and foraging strategies highlighted some pressure elements it exerts on those habitats. Mouflon trampling damage may be behind the degradation of rare, endangered grasslands. We review studies to discuss the results and the limitations of exclusion experiments to evaluate the extent of mouflon-caused damage in the context of population density. We review the forest damage attributed to mouflons considering interspecies competition with other large herbivores such as red deer (Cervus elaphus) and chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra). Climate change makes the mouflon use its space differently when seeking shelter in southern habitats; consequently, the increased trampling and foraging pressures suggest new challenges in managing its impact. We review research results on these direct impacts of the species; however, the long-term effects on herbaceous plant communities, such as rock grasslands, are still unclear. This is true for the mouflon's influence under changing population dynamics. Our results intend to set directions for future research on long-term experiments with density impact, coexistence with red deer or chamois, and warming-climate-driven behavior change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contagious Ecthyma is an infectious disease of sheep and goats that causes dermatitis primarily on the lips, mouth and muzzle. In this article, we describe a case report of Contagious Ecthyma in a wild sheep (Ovis orientalis) in Fars province of Iran. One wild lamb was found in the border of Bamou National Park near human communities. The lamb died during the transfer to the rehabilitation center. Gross lesions were characterized by multifocal scabs, proliferative and crusty wart-like multiple lesions on the muzzle, nose, between the eyes, ears, neck and coronary band. Skin samples were taken from lesions and sent to the collaborator laboratory of Veterinary Organization for DNA extraction and analysis by PCR tests. Laboratory results confirmed Contagious Ecthyma (Orf) virus in the wild sheep. This is the first documented report of Orf in wild sheep from Bamou National Park. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Haemonchus contortus is an important parasite that causes disease that seriously endangers ruminant animals cattle, sheep, goat, and camel. Here, we compared the proeomics analysis of three adult Haemonchus contortus isolates from mouflons (Ovis ammon). A total of 1,299 adult worm proteins were identified, and 461 proteins were quantified, of which 82 (108), 83 (97), and 97 (86) significantly upregulated (downregulated) differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were detected among pairwise comparisons (1-vs.-3, 2-vs.-3, and 2-vs.-1). Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and bioinformatic analysis indicated that these DEPs are mainly concentrated in cellular composition, molecular function, biological function, and catabolism pathways. In addition, Gene Ontology (GO) classification and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses were carried out to screen the DEPs. The main biological processes involved were nucleotide, nucleotide phosphate, ribonucleotide, purine-containing compound, purine ribonucleotide, singleorganism, oxoacid, organic, carboxylic, oxoacid metabolic processes and singleorganism catabolic processes. The majority of KEGG pathways were found to be related to metabolic pathways, biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, biosynthesis of antibiotics, carbon metabolism, and microbial metabolism in diverse environments. Moreover, we also found differences in the expression of some important or novel regulatory proteases, such as serine hydroxymethyl transferase (SHMT), dihydrolipoyl dehydrogenase (DLD), and transket pyr domain-containing protein (TKPD). In summary, label-free proteomic analysis of adult H. contortus worms displayed significant differences in three different individual isolates, which helps to improve our understanding of the growth and metabolic mechanisms of H. contortus in different individuals and relative natural environments and provides novel drug targets for the treatment of parasitic diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The worldwide sheep population comprises more than 1000 breeds. Together, these exhibit a considerable morphological diversity, which has not been extensively investigated at the molecular level. Here, we analyze whole-genome sequencing individuals of 1,098 domestic sheep from 154 breeds, and 69 wild sheep from seven Ovis species. On average, we detected 6.8%, 1.0% and 0.2% introgressed sequence in domestic sheep originating from Iranian mouflon, urial and argali, respectively, with rare introgressions from other wild species. Interestingly, several introgressed haplotypes contributed to the morphological differentiations across sheep breeds, such as a RXFP2 haplotype from Iranian mouflon conferring the spiral horn trait, a MSRB3 haplotype from argali strongly associated with ear morphology, and a VPS13B haplotype probably originating from urial and mouflon possibly associated with facial traits. Our results reveal that introgression events from wild Ovis species contributed to the high rate of morphological differentiation in sheep breeds, but also to individual variation within breeds. We propose that long divergent haplotypes are a ubiquitous source of phenotypic variation that allows adaptation to a variable environment, and that these remain intact in the receiving population probably due to reduced recombination. Author summary: Introgression, introducing beneficial alleles from wild relatives, has been repeatedly proved to play important roles in adaptation to various environments during animal domestication and subsequent breeds formation. Several adaptive introgressions have been reported in domestic sheep, however, the systemic exploration is still lacking. Using a collection of more than 1000 individuals including 154 domestic breeds and seven wild relatives, we describe the genomic introgression spectrum across worldwide domestic sheep. Interestingly, we found several functional genes associated with morphological traits located in the introgressed regions. Besides, the frequency of highly divergent haplotypes in numerous introgressed regions are quite different among domestic breeds, indicating selection acted on these fragments. We speculated that the introgressed fragments contribute to the fast morphological differentiation of ~1,400 distinct domestic breeds. Deciphering the phenotypic variations in response to different introgressed haplotypes can reflect underlying breeding mechanisms. Overall, our work proves the important effect of introgression on sheep breeding, and shows how introgression, selection and recombination shape the genetic and phenotypic diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Often the overpopulation of wild animals can cause the destruction of the environment, for which the solutions are catches, culling, or birth control. Ovariectomy is a useful intervention for birth control. This report describes an innovative technique of gonadectomy, using a suitable anesthetic/analgesic protocol and an innovative device for the surgical ovariectomy, in the field conditions. This technique is simple to use, free of side effects, and can be used in a wildlife clinic. This report describes an innovative technique of ovariectomy useful for the birth control in the mouflon population. Thirteen female mouflons in reproductive age were submitted to ovariectomy via midline and left flank, using the AESCULAP CAIMAN® Seal and Cut device. The CAIMAN® was useful for clamping the ovary, stapling the vessels, and cutting in one stroke, thus reducing the surgery times. The day after the gonadectomy all animals were mobilized to another enclosure. In this study, no intraoperative and post-operative complications were observed, and all animals were gonadectomized without side effects. This study sets the guidelines for the surgical sterilization of mouflons in the field using anesthetic protocols and high-quality surgical procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ticks are major vectors of various pathogens of health importance, such as bacteria, viruses and parasites. The problems associated with ticks and vector-borne pathogens are increasing in mountain areas, particularly in connection with global climate change. We collected ticks (n = 2,081) from chamois and mouflon in 4 mountainous areas of France. We identified 6 tick species: Ixodes ricinus, Rhipicephalus bursa, Rh. sanguineus s.l., Haemaphysalis sulcata, H. punctata and Dermacentor marginatus. We observed a strong variation in tick species composition among the study sites, linked in particular to the climate of the sites. We then analysed 791 ticks for DNA of vector-borne pathogens: Babesia/Theileria spp., Borrelia burgdorferi s.l., Anaplasma phagocytophilum, A. marginale, A. ovis, and Rickettsia of the spotted fever group (SFG). Theileria ovis was detected only in Corsica in Rh. bursa. Babesia venatorum (2 sites), Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. (B. afzelii and B. garinii; 2 sites) and Anaplasma phagocytophilum (3 sites) were detected in I. ricinus. Anaplasma ovis was detected at one site in I. ricinus and Rh. sanguineus s.l. SFG Rickettsia were detected at all the study sites: R. monacensis and R. helvetica in I. ricinus at the 3 sites where this tick is present; R. massiliae in Rh. sanguineus s.l. (1 site); and R. hoogstraalii and Candidatus R. barbariae in Rh. bursa in Corsica. These results show that there is a risk of tick-borne diseases for humans and domestic and wild animals frequenting these mountain areas.

As one of the most successful domesticated animals in the Neolithic age, sheep gradually migrated all over the world with human activities. During the domestication process, remarkable changes have taken place in morphology, physiology, and behavior, resulting in different breeds with different characters via artificial and natural selection. However, the genetic background responsible for these phenotypic variations remains largely unclear. Here, we used whole genome resequencing technology to compare and analyze the genome differences between Asiatic mouflon wild sheep (Ovis orientalis) and Hu sheep (Ovis aries). A total of 755 genes were positively selected in the process of domestication and selection, and the genes related to sensory perception had directional evolution in the autosomal region, such as OPRL1, LEF1, TAS1R3, ATF6, VSX2, MYO1A, RDH5, and some novel genes. A missense mutation of c.T722C/p.M241T in exon 4 of RDH5 existing in sheep were found, and the T allele was completely fixed in Hu sheep. In addition, the mutation with the C allele reduced the retinol dehydrogenase activity encoding by RDH5, which can impair retinoic acid metabolism and further influenced the visual cycle. Overall, our results showed significant enrichment for positively selected genes involved in sensory perception development during sheep domestication; RDH5 and its variants may be related to the retinal degeneration in sheep. We infer that the wild sheep ancestors with weaker visual sensitivity were weeded out by humans, and the mutation was selective, swept by the dual pressures of natural and artificial selection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Determining the exact numbers of introduced or invasive species is generally complicated. The mouflon (Ovis aries musimon) has been bred in the territory of the present Czech Republic since the 18th century as a game. It is known from archival sources when and through which channels the species appeared in the Czech territory. Its population growth can be assessed based on hunting statistics, which cannot provide completely accurate numbers, but indicate the trends reliably. During the 20th century, however, the mouflon occurred increasingly in the wild. Data from hunting statistics indicate a massive increase in its population during the second half of the 20th century. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assessing the spatiotemporal behaviour of alien species is pivotal to designing effective management plans. Interspecific niche partitioning among ungulates is reported as a strategy to avoid direct interactions. The Mediterranean mouflon and wild boar are two ungulates introduced to Elba island for hunting and aesthetic purposes. We used intensive camera trapping to test whether species occupancy and temporal activity rhythms would vary in response to the presence or absence of the co-occurring species through multi-species occupancy modelling. Our findings report a lack of spatial and temporal segregation between the two species for the late spring–summer and late summer–autumn seasons. In contrast, results for the winter–early spring period suggest that spatial partitioning between wild boar and mouflon is present in areas with high artificial cover (e.g., paved roads). Animals may indeed exploit roads to move more rapidly in search of food; however, their occurrence in these areas seems to be influenced by the presence of the other species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

29205617 37 Zhang Y.T., Yao W., Chai M.J., Liu W.J., Liu Y., Liu Z.H., Weng X.G. Evaluation of porcine urine-derived cells as nuclei donor for somatic cell nuclear transfer. Despite the above-indicated abundant variety of SCNT-derived mammalian species, the effectiveness of SCNT-based cloning remains immensely or considerably low and oscillates between 0.1% and 5%, while estimating the outcomes of offspring born in relation to the total numbers of nuclear-transferred oocytes [[30]]. 17522075 24 Folch J., Cocero M.J., Chesné P., Alabart J.L., Domínguez V., Cognié Y., Roche A., Fernández-Arias A., Martí J.I., Sánchez P. First birth of an animal from an extinct subspecies (Capra pyrenaica pyrenaica) by cloning. Thus far, nearly 25 mammalian species have been cloned by intra- or interspecies somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). [Extracted from the article]

Simple Summary: Human activities often affect the access and supply of water to wildlife, e.g., via water pumping, spring diversion, dam construction, and fencing. For this reason, wildlife managers have been provisioning surface water to wildlife in arid/semi-arid ecosystems for decades, typically via the construction of artificial water points. In this study, camera traps were used to examine for the first time the Cyprus mouflon's (Ovis gmelini ophion) use of artificial water troughs in Pafos Forest—the stronghold of Cyprus' threatened and endemic wild sheep. The ten monitored water troughs are part of the larger grid installed by the Game and Fauna Service to provide water to the mouflon during the prolonged dry season. Mouflon drinking was positively related to temperature, visiting the water troughs significantly more during late morning and midday hours of warmer days. There was no evidence of mouflon temporally avoiding water troughs used by predators (red foxes, feral dogs) or during hunting days. The findings suggest that water provision can be an important management tool for mediating, partially at least, the impact of global warming on water-dependent species such as the Cyprus mouflon, and therefore, additional studies focused on improving water trough effectiveness (e.g., regarding their spatiotemporal deployment) are advised. For large herbivores inhabiting arid/semi-arid environments, water can be a limiting resource affecting their distribution and abundance for periods when water requirements are not met via forage. The Cyprus mouflon (Ovis gmelini ophion) is such a species, which is endemic to the mountain habitats of Cyprus. Recognizing water scarcity to be a major pressure to the mouflon, and with global warming projected to intensify hot and dry periods in the region, the Game and Fauna Service has been maintaining a network of locally designed watering troughs in Pafos Forest—the mouflon's stronghold—since 1997. This study describes the mouflon's use of the water troughs and examines whether visitation rates differed at the daily or weekly scale in response to environmental, climatic or anthropogenic parameters. Using camera traps, ten troughs were monitored from September 2017 to March 2018 (1,065 days; range 29–164 days per trough). Mouflon were detected at seven troughs (mean herd size 1.5 ± 1.2) during 373 independent detections (≥30 min interval between photographs), with visits peaking during late morning and midday hours. Generalized mixed-effect models showed mouflon visiting water troughs more frequently during hotter days, regardless of recent precipitation. Visits were also more frequent at water troughs located close to tar roads. Moreover, there was no evidence of mouflon avoiding water troughs used by predators (red foxes, feral dogs) at either daily or weekly scale, or during hunting days. The study supports the value of artificial water troughs for mediating, partially at least, the effects of climate change on mountain ungulates such as the Cyprus mouflon. Additional studies are proposed that will examine both mouflon drinking patterns across all seasons and ways of improving the effectiveness of the current water trough grid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development and expansion of road networks pose considerable threats to natural habitats and wildlife, fostering a landscape of fear. In addition to direct mortality caused by road collisions, road construction and maintenance often result in habitat fragmentation and loss, impeding animal movement and gene flow between populations. Mountain ungulates are already confined to fragmented habitat patches and roads can cause substantial disturbances to their critical ecological processes, such as dispersal and migration. In this study, we employed two key mountain ungulates, the wild goat (Capra aegagrus) and mouflon (Ovis gmelini), as functional models to examine how road networks impact the quantity and connectivity of natural habitats in southwestern Iran, where extensive road construction has led to significant landscape changes. We used the MaxEnt method to predict species distribution, the circuit theory to evaluate habitat connectivity, and the Spatial Road Disturbance Index (SPROADI) to assess road impacts. During the modeling process, we selected eleven important variables and employed a model parametrization strategy to identify the optimal configuration for the MaxEnt model. For SPROADI index we used three sub-indices, including traffic intensity, vicinity impact, and fragmentation grade. We then integrated the results of these analyses to identify areas with the most significant environmental impacts of roads on the coherency of the natural habitats. The findings indicate that suitable habitats for wild goats are widely distributed across the study area, while suitable habitats for mouflon are primarily concentrated in the northeastern region. Conservation gap analysis revealed that only 8% of wild goat habitats and 7% of mouflon habitats are covered by protected areas (PAs). The SPROADI map highlighted that 23% of the study area is negatively influenced by road networks. Moreover, 30.4% of highest-probability corridors for mouflon, and 25.7% for wild goat, were highly vulnerable to the impacts of roads. Our combined approach enabled us to quantitatively assess species-specific vulnerability to the impacts of heavy road networks. This study emphasizes the urgent need to address the negative effects of road networks on wildlife habitats and connectivity corridors. Our approach effectively identifies sensitive areas, which can help inform mitigation strategies and support more effective conservation planning in significantly transformed landscapes. • Roadscape can create a landscape of fear, which hinders landscape connectivity between fragmented populations. • Mountain ungulates are important to investigate the consequences of road networks. • Our integrated approach allowed to assess the impacts of roads in a highly transformed landscape. • Mouflon is more vulnerable to the impacts of heavy road networks compared to wild goat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this work was to determine slaughter performances and carcass characteristics at European Mouflon (Ovis orientalis musimon Lin.). Also, for studied characteristics were determined the differences between European Mouflon (Ovis orientalis musimon Lin.) and hybrids (F1) obtained by crossbreeding between European Mouflon (Ovis ammon musimon Pal.) and the Romanian sheep breed Tigaie, raised under identical conditions. First generation hybrids (F1) were obtained by crossbreeding between females of sheep breed Tigaie and males of mouflon (FT x MM). The studied characteristics were slaughter yield on hot and chilled carcass, the participation percentage of the cut parts from live weight and from the whole carcass structure. At the age of 90 days 10 lambs were sacrificed (5 mouflons and 5 hybrids FTxMM). For slaughter performances, superior values were obtained from the hybrid lambs. Thus, slaughter yield calculated had higher at FTxMM (P

The aim of this work was to determine differences between slaughter performances and carcass characteristics of first generation hybrids (F1) obtained by crossbreeding between European Mouflon (Ovis ammon musimon Pal.) and the Romanian sheep breed Tigaie. To assess the yield at slaughter and the participation percentage of the cut parts from the whole carcass structure, crossbreeding were made between females of sheep breed Tigaie and males of mouflon (FT x MM) and between mouflon females and males of sheep breed Tigaie (FMxMT). At the age of 60 days 14 lambs were sacrificed (7 hybrids FTxMM and 7 hybrids FMxMT). Slaughter yield calculated on hot and chilled carcasses had higher values at FMxMT (P

A greater understanding of mite biodiversity and ecology can explain their preference for microhabitats within host bodies, i.e., as ecto-, meso-, and endoparasites. Similarly, learning about the patterns formed by mite communities in wild animals can shed light on the mechanisms of parasitosis development in their domesticated counterparts. Hence, the present study examined the acarofauna of the mouflon, introduced to Poland in the early 20th century from a region of endemic occurrence. Forty-one individuals were examined for the presence of ectoparasites between 2010 and 2013; later, skin fragments were analysed for the presence of skin mites. A new species of Demodecidae, Demodex musimonis sp. nov., was discovered in the skin of the pasterns of 14.6% mouflons, as well as the ectoparasitic tick Ixodes ricinus (prevalence 29.3%) and ungulate-typical fly Lipoptena cervi (34.1%). However, no mites typical for ovine Ovis (Psorergatidae, Psoroptidae) were noted, nor any colonisation of microhabitats by species from local ungulates, resulting from the loss of original parasites during the introduction. A comparison of the acarofauna of the mouflon and domestic sheep Ovis aries aries suggests that a mite community with a complex structure and the co-occurrence of different families may be formed. However, it is not known whether the acarofauna of domestic sheep is derived from wild ancestors or the process of domestication. Even so, the peculiar Demodecidae must have been part of the natural parasitofauna of wild sheep, of which only D. musimonis sp. nov. has been recognised so far.

Connectivity among conservation areas helps to alleviate the negative impacts of habitat fragmentation. Mouflon (Ovis gmelini) as a near threatened species has an unclear habitat connectivity status among conservation areas in the west of Iran. This study was carried out on mouflon with the aim of modeling the habitat suitability and connectivity among core habitats in the west of Iran. An ensemble of three machine-learning models and a factorial least-cost path were used for identifying core habitats and corridors between them, respectively. Our results revealed that grassland density, elevation, slope and distance to roads were the most influential variables for predicting the occurrence of mouflon in the study area. Five core habitats were identified for mouflon in the study area, about 90% of which was covered by conservation areas. The core habitat in the north of the study area is the highest priority for conservation. Conservation areas in the northern and western parts of the study area had the best connectivity for mouflon. To prevent mouflon poaching, the protection of corridors among conservation areas should be considered. In addition, predicted corridors of connectivity modeling in areas crossed by roads, could be investigated for the conservation of mouflon by wildlife managers.

A wild male mouflon (Ovis musimon) was shot due to the observed weakness. Necropsy revealed consolidated lungs and traces of black pigment and fibrin on the liver. On the cut surface, a juvenile fl uke was found in the lungs, while traces of destroyed fl ukes’ migratory channels were found in the liver. F. magna infection in both, wild and domestic ruminants, causes three types of species-specific host-parasite interactions; definitive, dead-end and aberrant. mouflon are classifi ed as aberrant hosts and here we report unsuccessful migration of a juvenile fl uke that led to a severe pneumonia.

Background: Landscape anthropization and interaction between domestic and wild animals are the major contributing factors involved in the emergence of new pathogens in wild animals. Theileriosis is an emerging issue of wild ungulates, especially in the tropical and subtropical areas of the globe. Aims: The current study investigated the mouflon sheep for Theileria infection using molecular methods and hematological analysis. Methods: This study was conducted on a total of 103 captive wild mouflon sheep present in eight different recreational zoos, and wildlife parks in Punjab, Pakistan to investigate the genotypic prevalence of Theileria spp. by targeting 18S rRNA and molecular evidence for Theileria spillover between domestic and wild mouflon sheep by phylogenetic analysis. The association of assumed risk factors and the effect of Theileria spp. on various hematological parameters were also assessed. Results: The results depicted that Theileria spp. was prevalent in 8 (7.77%, CI 95%: 3.99-14.59%), and 11 (10.68%, CI 95%: 06.07-18.12%) animals based on microscopy, and PCR, respectively. The phylogenetic analysis of the 18S rRNA gene of Theileria spp. from mouflon revealed a close resemblance with T. annulata from domestic animals. The risk factor analysis revealed that tick infestation, enclosure hygiene, previous tick infestation history, and the presence of wooden logs in the enclosure were significantly (P<0.05) associated with the occurrence of Theileria spp. infection in the captive mouflon sheep of Pakistan. Furthermore, a significant reduction in blood parameters like PCV, RBCs count, Hb, and platelets was observed in Theileria-positive animals. Conclusion: This study is the first evidence at the molecular level to characterize the spillover of Theileria spp. between the captive wild mouflon sheep and domestic animals of Pakistan, and it will be useful in developing control strategies for emerging theileriosis in captive wild animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Keratin-associated protein's (KRTAPs) are the major constituent proteins of cashmere fibre and have been implicated to have an important effect on the quality traits of this commercially valuable fibre. The objective of the present study was to determine the molecular characteristics of KRTAP9.2 gene in Pashmina (Cashmere) goat, known as Changthangi breed in J and K, India and well known for its finest fiber quality. Methods: We have studied the KRTAP9.2 gene expression status in hair follicles at different fiber development stages viz Anagen (growth) and Telogen (rest) in Changthangi goats of Kashmir and Ladakh region by performing quantitative Real Time PCR from fresh skin biopsies using gene specific primers. Furthermore, KRTAP9.2 structural models were generated and validated using various Bioinformatic tools. Result: Phylogenetic studies reveal close relation of KRTAP9.2 gene with Pantholops hodgsonii KRTAP9.2 (XM-005964828.1) and Ovis aries musimon KRTAP9.9 (XM-012152535.1). In our study we predicted a total of 20 KRTAP9.2 protein structures by QUARK and LOMET server and 5 structures by RaptorX, moreover, the validity of predicted structures was checked by using different parameters like RMSD value, C-Score, TM-value and ramachandran values, all parameters suggested structure predicted by RaptorX as better in our case. Real time PCR results showed expression of KRTAP9.2 in Pashmina hair follicles with a higher expression at the Telogen stage as compared to the Anagen stage. Owing to the structural importance of KRTAPs, such studies are indispensable for deciphering the molecular mechanism of pashmina growth which in turn will improve production, quality and diversity of pashmina fiber. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Predation risk is known to affect the spatial use of prey species, imposing a trade-off between feeding requirements and predation avoidance. As a result, prey species can leave high-quality forage areas to use sub-optimal, but safer, habitat patches, defined as “refuge areas.” In this study, we describe changes in the spatial use of an introduced ungulate species, the Mediterranean mouflon Ovis aries musimon, following the recolonization (in 1996) of wolves Canis lupus into the Albergian Hunting Estate (Italian Western Alps). Since 1988, we monitored the mouflon population by spring counts from vantage points. We georeferenced all observations and recorded the size and structure of the spotted groups. Finally, we identified available refuges by selecting patches characterized by (i) the presence of rocks and (ii) high values of steepness and ruggedness. We found that mouflons significantly reduced the average distance from refuge areas over the years, with the yearly average distance from refuges being 56% lower after wolves recolonized the area (i.e., 93.8 ± 32.1 vs. 213.1 ± 40.9 m). The analysis of orographic parameters showed that mouflons used patches with higher values in elevation, slope, ruggedness, and a significant difference in all three parameters when comparing years pre and post wolf return. Both sexes were significantly affected, but ewes were particularly sensitive and selected patches closer to refuge areas (75.8 ± 30.3 m) than males (131.0 ± 53.6 m). Our results suggest that the presence of new predators can alter the distribution of an introduced species such as the Mediterranean mouflon, triggering the resurgence of anti-predation behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wildlife animals may be susceptible to multiple infectious agents of public health or veterinary relevance, thereby potentially forming a reservoir that bears the constant risk of re‐introduction into the human or livestock population. Here, we serologically investigated 493 wild ruminant samples collected in the 2021/2022 hunting season in Germany for the presence of antibodies against the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) and four viruses pathogenic to domestic ruminants, namely, the orthobunyavirus Schmallenberg virus (SBV), the reovirus bluetongue virus (BTV) and ruminant pestiviruses like bovine viral diarrhoea virus or border disease virus. The animal species comprised fallow deer, red deer, roe deer, mouflon and wisent. For coronavirus serology, additional 307 fallow, roe and red deer samples collected between 2017 and 2020 at three military training areas were included. While antibodies against SBV could be detected in about 13.6% of the samples collected in 2021/2022, only one fallow deer of unknown age tested positive for anti‐BTV antibodies, and all samples reacted negative for antibodies against ruminant pestiviruses. In an ELISA based on the receptor‐binding domain (RBD) of SARS‐CoV‐2, 25 out of 493 (5.1%) samples collected in autumn and winter 2021/2022 scored positive. This sero‐reactivity could not be confirmed by the highly specific virus neutralisation test, occurred also in 2017, 2018 and 2019, that is, prior to the human SARS‐CoV‐2 pandemic, and was likewise observed against the RBD of the related SARS‐CoV‐1. Therefore, the SARS‐CoV‐2 sero‐reactivity was most likely induced by another hitherto unknown deer virus belonging to the subgenus Sarbecovirus of betacoronaviruses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leptospirosis is an infectious zoonotic disease of special importance in tropical regions of the world and is closely related to climatic conditions. In Mexico, at least eight Leptospira serogroups are known to affect sheep, but little is known about their distribution. The aim was to analyse the spatial distribution of seroreactive sheep to eight serogroups of Leptospira spp. through ecological niche modelling from the state of Veracruz. We carried out a cross‐sectional, multistage, and stratified epidemiological study, sampling 405 sheep in different regions of the state (north, center, and south). The sera were analysed using the microscopic agglutination test (MAT) to identify seropositivity to eight Leptospira serogroups (Icterohaemorrhagiae, Pyrogenes, Grippotyphosa, Canicola, Pomona, Hardjo, Wolffi, and Tarassovi). Management variables in the sampled herds were evaluated through a survey among the producers, which was analysed using the chi‐squared test for cross‐tabulation. Geospatial modelling was conducted using MAXENT and 19 climatic variables, and validation was carried out using the area under the curve (AUC). No positive animals were found for Pomona in any area of Veracruz, and there was only one case of seroreactivity to Grippotyphosa. The total seroprevalence found was 53.83% (95% confidence interval [CI] 48.84–58.75). The main serogroup found was Sejroe (55.31%, 95% CI 50.32‐60.20%), followed by Canicola (8.64%, 95% CI 6.17‐11.92%), Icterohaemorrhagiae (4.69%, 95% CI 2.93‐7.36%), Tarassovi (3.95%, 95% CI 2.35‐6.47%), Pyrogenes (2.47%, 95% CI 1.26‐4.64%), Australis (0.99%, 95% CI 0.32‐2.69%), and Grippotyphosa (0.25%, 95% CI 0.01‐1.59%). The predictive model for Australis was not significant. Acceptable predictive models (AUC > 0.7‐0.8) were found for Canicola, Icterohaemorrhagiae, Pyrogenes, and Tarassovi, while for Sejroe, it was excellent (AUC > 0.85); consequently, the climatic variables that most contributed to the model were those related to precipitation. The potential distribution of Pyrogenes, Icterohaemorrhagiae, and Canicola was located to a greater extent in the three regions; Pyrogenes and Tarassovi were distributed mostly in the north and central regions, and Sejroe was mostly located in the center and south of the state. Ecological niche modelling could support epidemiological control and surveillance programs for affected sheep herds in the state of Veracruz. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The abundance of domesticated sheep varieties and phenotypes is largely the result of long-term natural and artificial selection. However, there is limited information regarding the genetic mechanisms underlying phenotypic variation induced by the domestication and improvement of sheep. In this study, to explore genomic diversity and selective regions at the genome level, we sequenced the genomes of 100 sheep across 10 breeds and combined these results with publicly available genomic data from 225 individuals, including improved breeds, Chinese indigenous breeds, African indigenous breeds, and their Asian mouflon ancestor. Based on population structure, the domesticated sheep formed a monophyletic group, while the Chinese indigenous sheep showed a clear geographical distribution trend. Comparative genomic analysis of domestication identified several selective signatures, including IFI44 and IFI44L genes and PANK2 and RNF24 genes, associated with immune response and visual function. Population genomic analysis of improvement demonstrated that candidate genes of selected regions were mainly associated with pigmentation, energy metabolism, and growth development. Furthermore, the IFI44 and IFI44L genes showed a common selection signature in the genomes of 30 domesticated sheep breeds. The IFI44 c. 54413058 C>G mutation was selected for genotyping and population genetic validation. Results showed that the IFI44 polymorphism was significantly associated with partial immune traits. Our findings identified the population genetic basis of domesticated sheep at the whole-genome level, providing theoretical insights into the molecular mechanism underlying breed characteristics and phenotypic changes during sheep domestication and improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of multidisciplinary approaches of investigation including biological, biogeographical, historical, morphological, and genetic analysis, can be useful in identifying and preserving biodiversity. The present study focuses on the characterisation and conservation of a mouflon population (Ovis gmelini musimon) from the Mediterranean island of Giglio. Here we provide the first molecular data on the Giglio population and compare it with mouflons from Sardinia, Elba, and Corsica using both nuclear and mitochondrial markers. Our results suggest that the Giglio mouflon harbours genetic variability likely of Sardinian origin but not represented in the current Sardinian mouflon diversity. Although not presenting the typical characteristics of an invasive alien species, the Giglio mouflon is being subjected to eradication through culling or trapping and surgical sterilization. The molecular evidence we report highlights that such actions are causing the irremediable loss of ancestral genetic variants of the genus Ovis. Finally, we highlight how a multidisciplinary approach is necessary to aid the conservation and management of the anthropochorous populations of Mediterranean mammals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]