Ammotragus Research Articles

Further studies on caprine and ovine mycoplasmas related to Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides.

Nine caprine and ovine mycoplasma strains, said to be indistinguishable serologically from Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides (the causative organism of contagious bovine pleuropneumonia; CBPP) were examined in mice by (1) a mycoplasmaemia test, and (2) a cross-protection test. Of the nine strains, two from goats belonged to a small colony (SC) type; four caprine and three ovine strains belonged to a large colony (LC) type.The two SC strains - like a single SC strain examined in an earlier study - were indistinguishable from genuine M. mycoides subsp. mycoides as isolated from CBPP. They produced mycoplasmaemia readily. In a cross-protection test, the two SC strains and a CBPP strain immunized completely against each other.Of the seven LC strains, six - like six LC strains examined in an earlier study - were easily distinguished from genuine M. mycoides subsp. mycoides; except for one that was not tested, all were shown to lack the ability to produce mycoplasmaemia readily. In cross-protection tests all six strains immunized partially but not completely against a CBPP strain.The seventh LC strain (Mankefår 2833) was exceptional: it produced mycoplasmaemia readily, resembling the SC strains in this respect. Like other LC strains, in cross-protection tests it protected only partially against a CBPP strain. Strain Mankefår 2833 was isolated in ca. 1965 by Brack from a Barbary sheep (Ammotragus lervia) in a German zoo.The ability of Mankefår 2833 to produce mycoplasmaemia enabled it to be used as a challenge strain in cross-protection tests. For the purpose of such tests the collection of nine mycoplasma strains referred to above was augmented with six LC strains from an earlier study. Partial but not complete protection against Mankefår 2833 was produced by two caprine SC strains, one CBPP strain, and nine LC strains. Three further LC strains gave protection that may have been as strong as that produced by the homologous strain, but confirmatory experiments are needed. A strain of M. mycoides subsp. capri gave no protection against Mankefår 2833.

Wildlife in northern Darfur, Sudan: A review of its distribution and status in the recent past and at present

The literature in both published and unpublished government sources on wildlife in Northern Darfur is reviewed mainly relating to the first half of the 20th century. The area concerned covers some 250,000 km 2 ranging in habitat type from desert to broadleaved deciduous woodland and there are records relating to at least 31 different species of larger mammals. Of these only six were seen in aerial surveys carried out in late 1976 although a small number of others still survive. Four species of principal international concern are the scimitar-horned oryx, the addax, the barbary sheep and the addra or dama gazelle: of these only very small numbers of addax and dama gazelle certainly still occur. A table provides information on the oryx and addax from primary sources, both published and unpublished. The reduction in the number of species, the presumed reduction in total numbers of animals and restrictions in range are attributed as much to the indirect effects of increasing human and domestic livestock populations as to hunting pressure, except in the case of carnivores which were systematically exterminated in the 1940s and early 1950s.

Blood groups and evolutionary relationships among domestic Sheep (Ovis aries), domestic Goat (Capra hircus), Aoudad (Ammotragus lervia) and european Mouflon (Ovis musimon)

Blood groups and evolutionary relationships among domestic Sheep (Ovis aries), domestic Goat (Capra hircus), Aoudad (Ammotragus lervia) and european Mouflon (Ovis musimon)

Blood groups and evolutionary relationships among domestic Sheep (Ovis aries), domestic Goat (Capra hircus), Aoudad (Ammotragus lervia) and european Mouflon (Ovis musimon)

Blood groups and evolutionary relationships among domestic Sheep (Ovis aries), domestic Goat (Capra hircus), Aoudad (Ammotragus lervia) and european Mouflon (Ovis musimon)

Ectoparasites of sympatric Barbary sheep and mule deer in the Texas Panhandle, USA.

Eleven Barbary Sheep, Ammotragus lervia , and 12 Mule Deer, Odocoileus hemionus , harvested during the fall, 1977, from wild populations in Palo Duro Canyon, Texas were examined for ectoparasites. The winter tick, Dermacentor albipictus ; the spinose ear tick, Otobius megnini ; the louse Bovicola neglecta ; and an undescribed species of louse, Bovicola sp., were recovered from Barbary Sheep. Mule Deer harbored D. albipictus and nasal bots of the Cephenemyia prattilapicata group. Both host species harbored few ectoparasite species, the levels of infestations were low, and the proportion of host ungulates harboring anyone of the ectoparasites was small. The ability of Barbary Sheep to undergo pronounced range extensions and long-distance movements mayprovide a means of broad dispersal for these parasites. Additionally, the occurrence of these wild ungulates in the same range as domestic livestockprovides an excellent reservoir potential for certain of these ectoparasites, especially the ticks.

SEROLOGICAL STUDIES ON SYMPATRIC BARBARY SHEEP AND MULE DEER FROM PALO DURO CANYON, TEXAS

Sera were collected from 12 Barbary sheet (Ammotragus lervia) and 11 mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) occupying sympatric ranges in Palo Duro Canyon, Texas. These were tested for leptospirosis, brucellosis, bovine virus diarrhea, anaplasmosis, vesicular stomatitis, bluetongue (BT), epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD), infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR), and coccidioidomycosis. Serologic reactors were found to IBR in 3 Barbery sheep, BT in 6 Barbary sheep and 6 mule deer and EHD in 3 Barbary sheep and 4 mule deer. Possible ramifications of evidence for these diseases in wild herbivore populations in this area are discussed.

Conservation of nucleolus organizer regions during evolution in sheep, goat, cattle and aoudad.

There are ten nucleolus organizer regions (NORs) in domestic sheep (Ovis aries L.). cattle (Bos taurus L.), goat (Capra hircus L.) and aoudad (Ammotragus lervia Blyth) and these are located terminally on chromosomes with homologous (G-banding patterns. The similarity in number of nucleolus organizer regions in these species may indicate that their ribosomal DNA regions are infrequently involved in exchange events which could lead to different numbers of active nucleolus organizer regions. Other possible explanations of the conservation of number of nucleolus organizer regions in these species are discussed. The homology of NOR location in these species supports the idea that the Bovidae karyotype tends to be fairly stable apart from changes due to centric fusion events.

The biting louse genusWerneckiella(Phthiraptera: Trichodectidae) ectoparasitic on the horse family Equidae (Mammalia: Perissodactyla)

Summary The genus Werneckiella, parasitic on horses, asses and zebras (Perissodactyla: Equidae) and the barbary sheep (Artiodactyla: Caprinae) is described fully for the first time. Six species are described, including one new species, zebrae from Hartmann Mountain Zebra, and ocellata, a species of hitherto uncertain validity; three new synonyms and three new combinations are recognized. A species key is provided and there is a host-parasite discussion.

Origines de la domestication en Afrique du Nord et au Sahara

The problem of the origins of animal domestication in North Africa is considered here in relation to the development of industrial cultures producing ceramics and usually qualified as neolithic. The author does not believe in a preneolithic domestication of the maned moufflon (Ammotragus lervia) by the Capsians. These are two cases, not of domestication, but rather of selective hunting. In the Sahara-Sudanese neolithic period, the domestication of oxen, probably preceded by that of sheep and goats, is amply illustrated by cave art which reveals a well-developed pastoral society, similar to that of the Fulani. A transhumance between the plains (to-day the erg of Admer and the Tenere of Teffassesset) and the highlands of Tassili n'Ajjer is suggested by the stylistic unity of animal sculpture in hard rock — idols which the shepherds probably carried with them the length of their travels and which one finds in the two aforementioned regions. In the northern Sahara and on the Saharian Atlas (neolithic in the Capsian tradition) the domestic animal that one finds most often in the oldest paintings is the ram of the race Ovis longipes. It is often depicted in religious scènes (ram with sphère). A scene of capture and taming of a Bos primigenius (Tiout) and the appearance of cows with developed udders lend support to the theory of ancient domestication of horned animals. Stock farming during the Mediterranean neolithic period (Tell and the coast) is less well documented because of the absence of ancient cave paintings ; nevertheless, sheep, goats and pigs are very frequently found in the most ancient neolithic sites.

Ammotragus lervia: barbary sheep or barbary goat?

1. 1. Thirty blood proteins from one aoudad Ammotragus lervia, 15 goats, Capra hircus, and 302 sheep, Ovis aries, have been examined by electrophoresis in acrylamide and starch gel. 2. 2. Ammotragus has 5 distinctly sheep-like biochemical characters, 5 goat-like characters, 7 characters in common with both sheep and goat, and 10 unique characters. 3. 3. Several protein markers differ in electrophoretic mobility in this set of three species and, thus, are potentially useful in further studies: transferrin, minor serum proteins observed in acrylamide gradient gels, slow α 2-macroglobulin, caeruloplasmin, serum glucosidase, “malic enzyme”, 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase, erythrocyte NADH diaphorases I and II, glucose-phosphate isomerase and superoxide dismutase. 4. 4. Among ovicaprines, serum aryl-esterase and cholinesterase display variability in substrate specificity than in electrophoretic mobility. Ammotragus serum cholinesterase may be more primitive than either sheep or goat cholinesterase in that it is more active on butyrylthiocholine and on α-naphthyl acetate.

Relationships between wild sheep and goats and the aoudad (Caprini) studied by immunodiffusion

1. 1. Sera from 6 species of sheep ( Ovis), 2 species of goats ( Capra), and the aoudad ( Ammotragus lervia) were compared by an immunological technique adapted for computer analysis, using nine antisera representing all genera. 2. 2. The serum proteins were virtually indistinguishable at the intrageneric level. 3. 3. The three genera representing the tribe Caprini were clearly differentiated by their proteins although antigenetic differences among them are strikingly less than morphological, behavioral, and karyotypic differences. 4. 4. Antigenic affinities demonstrate a closer relationship between Ovis and Capra than between either of these and Ammotragus.

Genetic variation in the purine nucleoside phosphorylase activity of sheep red cells.

The purine nucleoside phosphorylase (NP) activity of sheep red cells was determined by starch gel electrophoresis and by a spectrophotometric assay technique. Some sheep had high activity (NP-high type) and some had low or zero activity (NP-low type). The enzyme deficiency is apparently confined to the red cell since other tissues from NP-low type animals had activities similar to those from NP-high type individuals. Family data indicated that NP activity is controlled by a pair of autosomal allelic genes, designated NPH and NPL. Sheep heterozygous for the NP genes had lower enzymic activities than homozygous high-type individuals. The frequency of NP types in different breeds of sheep was determined. Barbary and Mouflon sheep had activities similar to NP-high type domestic sheep; goats had high enzyme activities but their NP had a slower electrophoretic mobility than that of sheep.

Rosette formation with sheep erythrocytes--a possible T-cell marker in the pig.

A proportion of pig lymphocytes form rosettes with sheep erythrocytes. Factors affecting their demonstration have been investigated, and a standard technique defined. Rosette-forming lymphocytes lacked surface immunoglobulin detected by immunofluorescence and formation of rosettes was not inhibited by anti-immunoglobulin or anti-PLA sera, but was by anti-thymus serum. Of 18 species' erythrocytes tested only sheep, Barbary sheep and Mouflon erythrocytes formed rosettes in similar percentages. Fetal sheep erythrocytes formed no rosettes at 6o days of gestation and developed adult levels by term. Rosettes were formed by the majority of thymus cells, by only few bone marrow cells and by intermediate proportions of cells in other lymphoid tissues correlating with the probable order of T cell content. In pig fetuses, thymus contained postnatal levels of rosette-forming cells by 69 days, when such cells were not detected in other tissues. These data support the contention that SRBC rosettes are formed by T lymphocytes.

Hemoglobin types in Barbary sheep (Ammotragus lervia Pallas, 1777); absence of a betaC production in a homozygous beta C(na) animal during severe anemia.

SummaryHemoglobin polymorphism in the Barbary sheep is reviewed. Electrophoretic, chromatographic, and limited structural analyses have demonstrated that during blood-loss anemia Hb-B of this animal species is replaced by another type, termed Hb-C, whereas a Hb-C like variant, termed Hb-C(na) and present in certain nonanemic Barbary sheep, cannot be replaced when the animal is made severely anemic. Possible genetic mechanisms responsible for these phenomena are discussed.The authors thank Mr. Jerry Collins and his staff for technical assistance, Mr. Ralph S. Yohe for his interest in this study, and Dr. Mary Jo Harris for helpful discussions.

Food Habits of an Aoudad Sheep, Ammotragus lervia (Bovidae), in the Edwards Plateau of Texas

Observations on selection of food items by a tame aoudad (Ammo- tragus lervia) while feeding in three habitat conditions were recorded. Forbs as a category ranked first in order of preference, grass second, and browse third although individual plant species would deviate from this generalization. Food consumption in the exclosure reflected forage preferences as influenced by habitat potential since this pasture represented an above average habitat condition. Forage consumption in the other two pastures reflected preference as influenced by availability controlled by animal use. Aoudad sheep have been successfully established on rangelands in New Mexico and Texas. New Mexico reportedly had 1,275 in 1959 (Ogren, 1965) located primarily in the Canadian River basin. Texas had approximately 1,300 in 1966 (Ramsey, 1969) located on at least 40 ranches over the state. In Texas, the Palo Duro Canyon in the pan- handle and the Edwards Plateau in the central region contain the largest numbers. Since these animals were introduced in important domestic livestock and native big game areas, knowledge of food habits was needed to determine the degree of competition between the aoudad and other large herbivores. Ogren (1962) analyzed 95 rumen-content samples from aoudads inhabiting cliffs and side-canyons of the Canadian River gorge in New Mexico. The combined yearly average of all samples collected in all seasons was 50% browse, 40% grass, and 10% forbs by volume. Of the 79 different plants identified, two species, mountainmahogany (Cercocarpus breviflorus) and wavy leaf oak (Quercus undulata), accounted for half the food volume.

Production of hemoglobin C in the Moufflon (Ovis musimon Pallas, 1811) and the Barbary sheep (Ammotragus lervia Pallas, 1777) during experimental anemia: amino acid composition of tryptic peptides from the beta B and bet C chains.

A hemoglobin βC chain has been detected in anemic Moufflon and in anemic Barbary sheep. Results of limited structural studies suggest that these βC chains are closely related to the βC chains which are produced in the domestic sheep and goat during experimental anemia and rather different from the βC chain of certain nonanemic Barbary sheep. The structural variability among the β chains of some nonanemic Caprini species is greater than that observed for the βC chains of the same animals.

Partial Immunity in Sheep Induced by Haemonchus sp. Isolates from Pronghorn Antelope: Effect of Age of Sheep Host and Chemical Abbreviation of Infections

Domestic lambs were less susceptible to isolates of Haemonchus sp. from pronghorn antelope than to an homologous strain of the parasite. These isolates were evaluated as immunizing agents. In controlled experiments with worm-free lambs, antelope strains stimulated an immune response comparable to that of the homologous strain. Increasing the size of the immunizing inoculum did not increase the degree of the response. Because of the practical disadvantage of using a live vaccine, of the immunizing infections was investigated. An appreciable protection was demonstrated following of immunizing infections with phenothiazine at 34 to 37 days but not at 21 days. In experiments involving immunizing infections of 34 days duration, 5to 6-month-old lambs developed a greater degree of protection than did 2to 3-month-old lambs. These results suggest that heterologous strains and should be investigated further as aids in controlling haemonchosis of ruminants. For several years, efforts have been under way in this laboratory to measure the adaptability to domestic sheep of strains of Haemonchus sp. originating in wild ruminants. This line of work was pursued in the hope that some of the wild ruminant strains might be less pathogenic to domestic sheep but at the same time would impart to the host animal some degree of protection against subsequent infections with homologous strains. In 1958, Allen et al. reported in abstract that under controlled laboratory conditions and using pure infections, domestic lambs were significantly less susceptible to Haemonchus sp. from bighorn (Ovis canadensis mexicana), and Barbary sheep (Ammotragus lervia), than to an homologous strain. The results of this work were reported in detail in 1964 (Samson et al.). In 1961, Allen and Samson reported in abstract that vaccination with a strain of Haemonchus sp. from pronghorn antelope protected lambs under laboratory conditions against challenge with an homologous strain. We were unable to demonstrate such protection under field conditions (unpublished data), possibly because of Received for publication 13 November 1969. This work was carried out in cooperation with the New Mexico State University, Agricultural Experiment Station, and was a contribution to the Western Regional Project W-35-Nematode Parasites of Ruminants. * Journal article 351, Agricultural Experiment Station, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, New Mexico 88001. the contribution of the patent immunizing infections to the overall worm populations on pasture. Subsequently, our efforts were directed toward improvements in these immunization procedures. This report gives data concerning the comparative susceptibility of lambs to antelope and sheep strains of Haemonchus sp., the use and timing of abbreviations of immunizing infections, and the relation of age of lambs to their capability of developing resistance to the parasite. The use of of immunizing infections in the veterinary field was suggested by Soulsby (1961) and is based on the fact, as demonstrated by Soulsby and others, that molting larvae produce functional antigens. The reasoning is that after the larvae have gone through the molting process, producing antigens which have been utilized in antibody production, the removal of the immunizing infections by means should not alter the resistant state of the animal. Some experiences with this procedure have been reported by Christie et al. (1964a, b) and Christie and Brambell (1966). The term chemical abbreviation was used in the former publication and the authors attributed it to Campbell (1963). Manton et al. (1962) demonstrated the importance of age of lambs in immunity to Haemonchus contortus, older lambs being more responsive than young. That age is important has been confirmed by Urquhart et al. (1966a, b).

INTRASPECIFIC COMBAT AND THE EVOLUTION OF THE CAPRINI

Among the animals belonging to the mammalian tribe Caprini (sheep and goats), intraspecific conflict between males often takes the form of violent head-to-head butting. This paper correlates differences in fighting behavior among the various genera with the relative development of the neck muscles in each. Fighting style and horn shape are analyzed with reference to the production of torques about the occiput which, if unopposed, would cause violent and injurious rotation of the head. Areas of muscle insertion on the skull were used as the major indicators of muscle size, but dissections were also performed. Further studies of both musculature and behavior are desirable to clarify details which remain obscure. The tribe Caprini is composed of five genera: Hernitragus, tahr; Capra, goats, ibexes; Amnmotragus, Barbary sheep; Pseudois, blue sheep; and Ovis, true sheep-mouflons, argalis, and bighorn. All of these animals possess large, massive horns which are used to deal and receive blows of considerable force. In contrast, their ancestors are believed to have resembled the living Rupicaprini (Pilgrim, 1939; 1947), light-limbed creatures with small horns, quite aptly referred to as goatantelope (McCann, 1956). Rupicaprini are not adapted to withstand, nor do they engage in, the furious head-on collisions of male caprines. Instead, horn-locking and head-to-head pushing occur, along with some body-butting (Couturier, 1938; Geist, 1964; 1966b). Such behavior is considered to be ancestral to the patterns observed in the Caprini (Geist, 1966b). Evolution in the latter group has thus involved alteration of both behavior and morphology, and

Studies of haemoglobin types in barbary sheep (Ammotragus lervia)

1. Two haemoglobin types, haemoglobins Amm-C and Amm-B, were observed in five Barbary sheep (Ammotragus lervia). One animal was homozygous for haemoglobin Amm-C, a second was homozygous for haemoglobin Amm-B, and three were heterozygous for both. 2. Amino acid analyses of the globin from haemoglobin Amm-B showed that this type was related to, but not identical with, haemoglobin B of the domestic sheep. 3. The beta-chain of haemoglobin Amm-C was found to be composed of 141 amino acid residues. Its amino acid composition differed from that of the beta(C)-chain of the anaemic domestic sheep in at least 14 residues. The Amm-beta(C)-chain contained one isoleucyl residue. 4. The amino acid compositions of tryptic peptides T-1, T-2, T-13 and T-14 of the Amm-beta(C)-chain were similar to those of the sheep beta(C)-chain. Peptides T-3, T-4, T-6, T-7, T-8, T-11 and T-15 were the same as the corresponding peptides of the sheep beta(A)- and beta(C)-chains. Peptide T-5 and to a smaller extent peptide T-9 resembled the corresponding peptides of the sheep beta(A)-chain, and peptide T-10 was identical with peptide gammaT-10 of sheep haemoglobin F. Peptide T-12 was not recovered. 5. The results of these investigations were interpreted as being indicative that the structural Amm-beta(C)-gene is closely related to the beta(C)-gene of sheep, from which through domestication the present domestic sheep originated.

Comparative Pathogenicity in Ovis aries of Homologous and Heterologous Strains of Haemonchus (Nematoda: Trichostrongylidae) from Domestic and Wild Sheep

Comparative Pathogenicity in Ovis aries of Homologous and Heterologous Strains of Haemonchus (Nematoda: Trichostrongylidae) from Domestic and Wild Sheep