Musk Deer Research Articles

Regional and seasonal effects on the gastrointestinal parasitism of captive forest musk deer

Parasite infections can cause adverse effects on health, survival and welfare of forest musk deer. However, few studies have quantified the parasite infection status and evaluated the parasite temporal dynamics and differences between breeding centers for captive forest musk deer. The purpose of this study was to assess seasonal and regional effects on the parasite prevalence, shedding capacity, diversity, aggregation and infracommunity to establish baseline data on captive forest musk deer. The McMaster technique was applied to count parasite eggs or oocysts in 990 fecal samples collected at three breeding centers located in Qinling Mountains and Tibetan Plateau during spring, summer, and winter. Five gastrointestinal parasite groups were found in musk deer, and Eimeria spp. were dominant (mean oocysts per gram=1273.7±256.3). A positive correlation between Eimeria spp. and Strongyloides spp. (r=0.336, p<0.001) based on shedding capacity data was found, as well as a negative correlation between Eimeria spp. and Moniezia spp. (r=−0.375, p=0.003). Both seasonal and regional differences in diversity, prevalence, shedding capacity, aggregation and infracommunity were observed for five parasite groups. The low level of aggregation and high shedding capacity of Eimeria spp. and Strongyloides spp. might reflect the contaminated environment, and indicate that host-parasite relationships are unstable. The high degree of aggregation of Trichuris spp., Ascaris spp., and Moniezia spp. also suggests that some individual hosts had less ability to resist pathogens and greater transmission potential than others. These conclusions suggest that a focus on disease control strategies could improve the health of forest musk deer in captivity.

Comparative Analysis of the Gut Microbiota Composition between Captive and Wild Forest Musk Deer.

The large and complex gut microbiota in animals has profound effects on feed utilization and metabolism. Currently, gastrointestinal diseases due to dysregulated gut microbiota are considered important factors that limit growth of the captive forest musk deer population. Compared with captive forest musk deer, wild forest musk deer have a wider feeding range with no dietary limitations, and their gut microbiota are in a relatively natural state. However, no reports have compared the gut microbiota between wild and captive forest musk deer. To gain insight into the composition of gut microbiota in forest musk deer under different food-source conditions, we employed high-throughput 16S rRNA sequencing technology to investigate differences in the gut microbiota occurring between captive and wild forest musk deer. Both captive and wild forest musk deer showed similar microbiota at the phylum level, which consisted mainly of Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes, although significant differences were found in their relative abundances between both groups. α-Diversity results showed that no significant differences occurred in the microbiota between both groups, while β-diversity results showed that significant differences did occur in their microbiota compositions. In summary, our results provide important information for improving feed preparation for captive forest musk deer and implementing projects where captive forest musk deer are released into the wild.

X Chromosome Evolution in Cetartiodactyla.

The phenomenon of a remarkable conservation of the X chromosome in eutherian mammals has been first described by Susumu Ohno in 1964. A notable exception is the cetartiodactyl X chromosome, which varies widely in morphology and G-banding pattern between species. It is hypothesized that this sex chromosome has undergone multiple rearrangements that changed the centromere position and the order of syntenic segments over the last 80 million years of Cetartiodactyla speciation. To investigate its evolution we have selected 26 evolutionarily conserved bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) clones from the cattle CHORI-240 library evenly distributed along the cattle X chromosome. High-resolution BAC maps of the X chromosome on a representative range of cetartiodactyl species from different branches: pig (Suidae), alpaca (Camelidae), gray whale (Cetacea), hippopotamus (Hippopotamidae), Java mouse-deer (Tragulidae), pronghorn (Antilocapridae), Siberian musk deer (Moschidae), and giraffe (Giraffidae) were obtained by fluorescent in situ hybridization. To trace the X chromosome evolution during fast radiation in specious families, we performed mapping in several cervids (moose, Siberian roe deer, fallow deer, and Pere David’s deer) and bovid (muskox, goat, sheep, sable antelope, and cattle) species. We have identified three major conserved synteny blocks and rearrangements in different cetartiodactyl lineages and found that the recently described phenomenon of the evolutionary new centromere emergence has taken place in the X chromosome evolution of Cetartiodactyla at least five times. We propose the structure of the putative ancestral cetartiodactyl X chromosome by reconstructing the order of syntenic segments and centromere position for key groups.

The complete mitochondrial genome sequence of a wild forest musk deer (Moschus berezovskii)

Forest musk deer (FMD) is an endangered species, and its population size has dropped dramatically. In this study, we determined the complete mitochondrial genome of a FMD. The genome was 16,353 bp long, and contained 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, two ribosomal RNA genes, and one control region. Most PCGs were distributed on the heavy strand except ND6 and eight tRNA genes, which were encoded on the light strand. The nucleotide composition was asymmetric, with an overall A+T content of 62.1%. Comparison with one previously described mitochondrial genome revealed 94.4% sequence homology and 1128 nucleotide mutation sites, which represents a substantial difference. A phylogenetic tree based on Cytb genes of eight closely related musk deer species showed that our sample clustered with two FMD subspecies from Yunnan, China. These results provide novel molecular information that can potentially be used for genetic diversity conservation of this species.

Molecular characterization of Moniezia sichuanensis in captive musk deer (Moschus berezovskii).

The musk deer (Moschus berezovskii) is an economically important species from which musk is extracted and used in perfumes and medicines. Cestodes (parasitic flatworms) of the genus Moniezia are important parasites that infect this endangered species and can cause high mortality in young deer. In 1982, Moniezia (S.) sichuanensis sp. nov. was described from a specimen obtained from wild musk deer. The new species was distinct from the other described species of Moniezia by the sawtooth-shaped interproglottidal glands, the thick vagina and the absence of a cirrus spine. In the present study, 12 cestodes collected from musk deer were examined morphologically and confirmed to be M. sichuanensis. Molecular characterization was performed by amplifying and comparing the internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1) and 5.8S rRNA gene (ITS1-5.8S) of ribosomal DNA with available sequences from other Moniezia species. The amplified sequences ranged from 761 to 764 bp and similarity ranged from 98.7-100%, compared to 67.8-92.4% with other Moniezia spp. Construction of a phylogenetic tree using the neighbour-joining method indicated that all 12 ITS1-5.8S sequences formed a single clade, confirming M. sichuanensis as a separate species. This study provides novel molecular insight into M. sichuanensis that could prove useful for future diagnosis and control of monieziasis in musk deer.

Dietary composition, breadth, and overlap between seasonally sympatric Himalayan musk deer and livestock: Conservation implications

Livestock in high altitudes of Nepal and elsewhere, frequently and freely, use potential habitat of native wildlife for foraging. Such intrusion of ecologically similar domestic species is supposed to negatively impact the resident wildlife via ‘perceived’ and/or ‘real’ competitive interactions. Hence, assessment of dietary composition and overlap between herbivores is crucial to gain insight into the potential impacts via resource exploitation by foraging livestock. Also, evaluation of dietary composition of resident wildlife across seasons is important to decipher their seasonal resource needs. Within this context, microhistological technique, that makes use of fecal pellet for identification of plant species through comparison with reference slides of plant materials in the area, was used to assess dietary composition, breadth, and overlap between seasonally sympatric Himalayan musk deer and livestock in Nepal Himalaya. Musk deer and livestock were found to have significantly different dietary consumption and that partition was contributed by different species; meaning different plant species were associated to the diets of these two groups. Of notable, however, was a considerable ‘number’ of species (i.e., species richness) shared in diets by musk deer and livestock raising a concern of unchecked number of livestock with a potential to exploit and reduce the availability of shared plant species with musk deer. Also, seasonal dietary composition of musk deer significantly varied, with increased dietary breadth in winter, suggesting a potential for intraspecific competition for forage in winter because of limited availability of resources mediated by retarded growth and harsh conditions.

Anthropogenic influences on the distribution of a Vulnerable coniferous forest specialist: habitat selection by the Siberian musk deerMoschus moschiferus

AbstractThe Siberian musk deerMoschus moschiferus, categorized as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, is a small ungulate associated with coniferous forests of East Asia. In Russia the species is hunted both legally and illegally for the commercially valuable musk gland in males. Steep population declines recorded in recent decades have been generally attributed to intensive illegal hunting, but the decline has coincided with increased logging activity and the concomitant expansion of logging roads. We conducted an occupancy analysis in Primorskii Krai, Russia, to elucidate the relative importance of environmental, ecological and anthropogenic features associated with the presence of musk deer. The top model contained covariates related to the abundance of bearded lichenUsneaspp., the distance to a main road and the distance to logging sites, suggesting that both intensive hunting of musk deer (associated with greater accessibility via roads) and logging of habitat are influencing the occurrence of this species. We propose several management actions to limit the negative influence of logging and logging roads on musk deer in Russia, including encouraging logging companies to set aside high conservation value forests (to retain intact forests) and to close logging roads post-harvest (to reduce access by poachers).

Modeling and mapping the current and future climatic-niche of endangered Himalayan musk deer

Identification of geographical space enveloped by suitable climatic conditions (i.e., climatic niche) that support species survival over space and time is crucial in conservation biogeography. Numerous algorithms (e.g., Maxent, GARP) with increasing accuracy have been devised and are being employed to overcome the challenges of forecasting climatic niche of species with incomplete information. The current study was conducted to map the distribution of current and future climatic niche of endangered Himalayan musk deer, a species endemic to Asia. Maxent and GARP modeling algorithms were individually employed to forecast current and future climatic niche of the species using randomly collected occurrence records of the species and bioclimatic variables with 30″ resolution from ‘WorldClim’ datasets. Both the modeling processes performed optimally with regard to AUC and TSS values and forecasted an increase/expansion of climatically-suitable geographical space in the future. A final climatic niche distribution map was produced by combining the binary maps generated from each of the processes to produce a relatively realistic and potentially accurate distribution of climatic niche of the species over space and time. Conservation of forecasted suitable geographical space is recommended and future survey efforts for potentially unexplored populations of the species in the forecasted suitable area are suggested.

Genome sequence of lung pathogenic Escherichia coli O78, a chimeric strain isolated from pneumonia forest musk deer

Pneumonia is one of the major diseases of forest musk deer (FMD) that affects the survival of musk deer breeding farms. Lung pathogenic Escherichia coli (LPEC) strains were found to be one of the principal bacterial pathogens, and O78 was found to be the dominant serotype and the most poisonous, thus it was selected as further study. Here we have finished the LPEC O78 genome sequence, genomic comparative analysis and genome annotation. In the genome of LPEC O78, genes encoded major virulence factors (VFs) of urinary tract infection (UTI) and neonatal meningitis-causing E. coli (NMEC) were detected. The phylogenetic analysis indicated that LPEC O78 belongs to the D group of E. coli and clustered with human uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC) UMNO26. Orthologous analysis showed that LPEC O78 was close to UMNO26 in evolutionary relationships, the results were consistent with phylogenetic analysis. Additionally, analysis of the specific genes using COG, GO and Swiss-Prot databases revealed specific functions in the LPEC O78, some of these differences might reflect the pathogenicity of LPEC O78. It was the first time that LPEC from FMD was sequenced, through the virulence gene analysis, an example of a genome of chimeric pathogenic properties was found. The results were in favor of the possibility that strain of animal origin LPEC O78 was dangerous for public health and consequently constitute a zoonotic risk. Moreover, the functions study of specific genes will facilitate understand the pathogenicity of LPEC O78, and aid in the development of control measures.

Comparative Analysis of the Gut Microbial Communities in Forest and Alpine Musk Deer Using High-Throughput Sequencing.

The gut ecosystem is characterized by dynamic and reciprocal interactions between the host and bacteria. Although characterizing microbiota for herbivores has become recognized as important tool for gauging species health, no study to date has investigated the bacterial communities and evaluated the age-related bacterial dynamics of musk deer. Moreover, gastrointestinal diseases have been hypothesized to be a limiting factor of population growth in captive musk deer. Here, high-throughput sequencing of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene was used to profile the fecal bacterial communities in juvenile and adult alpine and forest musk deer. The two musk deer species harbored similar bacterial communities at the phylum level, whereas the key genera for the two species were distinct. The bacterial communities were dominated by Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes, with the bacterial diversity being higher in forest musk deer. The Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes ratio also increased from juvenile to adult, while the bacterial diversity, within-group and between-group similarity, all increased with age. This work serves as the first sequence-based analysis of variation in bacterial communities within and between musk deer species, and demonstrates how the gut microbial community dynamics vary among closely related species and shift with age. As gastrointestinal diseases have been observed in captive populations, this study provides valuable data that might benefit captive management and future reintroduction programs.

Musk gland seasonal development and musk secretion are regulated by the testis in muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus)

BackgroundThe muskrat is a seasonal breeder. Males secrete musk to attract females during the breeding season. The testosterone binding to the androgen receptor (AR) in musk glands of muskrat may play an important role conducting the musk secretion process.MethodsThe musk gland, testis and blood samples of musk rats are collected in both breeding and non-breeding seasons. Some part of the samples are kept in liquid nitrogen for transcriptome analysis and Western blotting test. Some part of the samples are kept in 70% alcohol for histology experiment, blood samples are kept at −20 °C for the serum testosterone measurement experiment.ResultsThis study demonstrates that the quantity of secreted musk, the volume of the musk glands, the diameter of the gland cells and AR expression are all higher during the breeding season than at other times (p < 0.01). StAR, P450scc and 3β-HSD expression in the Leydig cells of the testis were also higher during this season, as was serum testosterone. AR was also observed in the gland cells of two other musk-secreting animals, the musk deer and small Indian civet, in their musk glands. These results suggest that the testes and musk glands co-develop seasonally.ConclusionThe musk glands’ seasonal development and musk secretion are regulated by the testes, and testosterone plays an important role in the seasonal development of musk glands.

Variability of nonmetric traits of musk deer Moschus moschiferus L. (Moschidae, Cetartiodactyla) craniums

Variation in 15 phenotypic traits is investigated in 349 craniums of seven geographic populations. Differences between geographic populations are ascertained, and phenotypic peculiarities of the subspecies are determined by principal component analysis and cluster analysis using the measure of the contribution to variability of populations and of subspecies similarity. Variations in populations of the Siberian and Himalayan subspecies in nonmetric characters are established. Differences between the craniums from populations are shown to be manifested to a greater degree than between the craniums of subspecies. The analysis of nonmetric characters showed the lack of a rare phene as a diagnostic feature of the musk deer.

Where are they? Where will they be? In pursuit of current and future whereabouts of endangered Himalayan musk deer

Conservation and management of environmentally suitable areas, that support survival and persistence of species, are keys to protect wildlife in their natural habitat. Populations of Himalayan musk deer Moschus leucogaster, an endemic species in Asia, are listed as endangered in the IUCN red list, requiring immediate conservation actions before their extinction in the wild. In order to model and map the current and future (under projected climate change settings) climatically-suitable area for the species, Maxent modeling technique, that requires presence-only records, was employed. As predictors, we extracted 19 bioclimatic variables from ‘WorldClim’ database with a ∼1km spatial resolution and used 10 uncorrelated bioclimatic variables as inputs. As indicated by a high area under ROC curve (AUC) value (>0.9), Maxent well performed and predicted climatically-suitable habitat for the species along the Hindukush Himalaya, where the species is known to occur. Annual mean temperature appeared to most influence the distribution of potential habitat for the species. An expansion of species’ habitat was noticed in the Indian and Tibetan part of species range, suggesting a potential future effect of climate change on the species distribution. The findings of this study could assist wildlife managers in devising conservation plans for the current and future conservation of the species in the context of climate change. This is the first study to model and map the current and future distribution of the species in its range.

迁地保育林麝体况及影响因素

PDF HTML阅读 XML下载 导出引用 引用提醒 迁地保育林麝体况及影响因素 DOI: 10.5846/stxb201510062008 作者: 作者单位: 四川养麝研究所,四川养麝研究所,四川养麝研究所,四川养麝研究所,四川养麝研究所,中国人民大学环境学院,中国人民大学环境学院,中国人民大学环境学院 作者简介: 通讯作者: 中图分类号: 基金项目: 四川省科技成果转化项目（11010110）；国家自然科学基金项目（31170364）；中国人民大学科学研究基金项目（中央高校基本科研业务费专项资金）（15XNLQ02）；中国人民大学“统筹支持一流大学和一流学科建设专项”项目；国家科技支撑计划（2013BAC09B02-6） Studies on body condition scoring and influencing factors in captive forest musk deer Author: Affiliation: Sichuan Institute of Musk Deer Breedin,,,,,,,Renmin University of China Fund Project: 摘要 | 图/表 | 访问统计 | 参考文献 | 相似文献 | 引证文献 | 资源附件 | 文章评论 摘要:通过建立基于外貌性状的量化性体况评分标准，于2012年7-10月间对四川马尔康麝场的586头圈养林麝（雌麝299头，雄麝287头）进行了体况评分，并分析了相关变量对林麝体况得分的效应，结果表明：马尔康麝场圈养林麝的体况评分均值为3.49（±0.02，n=586），大部分林麝（59.56%，n=349）的体况评分高于均值。雌麝体况评分均值（3.50±0.02，n=299）略高于雄麝（3.49±0.03，n=287）（P > 0.05），成体麝体况评分（3.59±0.02，n=291）极显著地高于老龄林麝（3.38±0.09，n=27）和亚成林麝（3.35±0.03，n=184）（P < 0.01）。林麝的体况得分与其年龄相关不显著（r=0.07，P > 0.05），但亚成体及成体麝的体况评分与其年龄间的相关极显著（亚成体r=0.19，P < 0.01；成体r=-0.16，P < 0.01），而老龄麝体况评分与其年龄略呈负相关（r=-0.23，P > 0.05）。S模型y=e1.2811-0.0885/a（R2=0.051，df=500，F=26.74，P < 0.01）可近似拟合林麝体况得分和年龄的关系。此外，马尔康麝场泥地基底的改装圈舍中的林麝体况（3.52±0.03，n=197）显著优于原装青砖圈舍林麝评分（3.47±0.02，n=389）（P < 0.05）。 Abstract:The forest musk deer (Moschus berezovskii) has been endangered owing to the habitat loss and musk exploitation, and musk deer farming has become an effective measure to conserve wild populations and provide medicinal musk sustainably. In musk deer farming, the health condition of captive individuals will be closely related to the reproduction and the musk production. In this study, the body condition of captive forest musk deer (299 females and 287 males) in the Maerkang musk deer farm (MMF) was surveyed during July and October 2012, using the quantified criteria system. Furthermore, the potential effects of certain influencing factors were analyzed. The results showed that, the average body score of captive forest musk deer was 3.49 (±0.02, n=586), and most of individuals (59.56%, n=349) scored higher than the average. The body condition of all females (3.50±0.02) was better than that of all males (3.49±0.03), but the difference was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). The body condition of adults (4-9 years old) (3.59±0.02, n=291) was significantly better than that of older deer (older than 10 years) (3.38±0.09, n=27) and sub-adults (2-3 years old) (3.35±0.03, n=184; P < 0.01). No significant correlation was found between musk deer's body condition and age (r=0.07, P > 0.05), but the body condition scores of the adults and sub-adults were highly significantly correlated with the animals' age (sub-adults:r=0.19, P < 0.01; adults:r=-0.16, P < 0.01); moreover, a significant negative correlation was observed between old individuals' and their age (r=-0.23, P > 0.05). The S model y=e1.2811-0.0885/a (R2=0.051, df=500, F=26.74, P < 0.01) fitted the relationship between the score of captive deer and its age. Furthermore, the body condition score of musk deer in the enclosures with earth-ground was higher than those in the enclosures with brick-ground. 参考文献 相似文献 引证文献

CITES 분류에 의한 사향(麝香)의 기원 동물 분류 및 특성에 대한 고찰

CITES 분류에 의한 사향(麝香)의 기원 동물 분류 및 특성에 대한 고찰

Gastro Intestinal Parasites of Musk Deer (Moschus Chryso-Gaster Hodgson, 1839) in Langtang National Park, Nepal

This study was carried out to determine the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites of musk deer in Langtang National Park, Nepal. A total of 9 fecal samples were collected systematically and analyzed using standard procedures during May-June, 2014. Overall 7 species of parasites including 4 nematodes, 1 cestode, 1 trematode and 1 protozoan parasite were recorded. Prevalence of Ascaris sp. was high (88.89%) followed by Eimeria sp. (77.78%), Trichuris sp. (66.67%), Strongyloides sp. (55.56%), Moniezia sp. (44.44%), Strongyle (44.44%) and Paramphistomum sp. (44.44%). Most of the samples had heavy parasitic infestation and multiple parasites were also observed in same individual. The high parasitic prevalence might have adverse health impact on musk deer. The possibility of cross-transmission of parasites between livestock and wildlife in Langtang National Park should be studied in future.Journal of Institute of Science and TechnologyVol. 21, No. 1, 2016, Page: 71-75

Adam’s Nose, and the Making of Humankind

Stoddart, M. 2015. Adam’s Nose, and the Making of Humankind. World Scientific Publishing Co., Inc., Hackensack, New York, xxii + 258 pp. ISBN: 9781783265183, price (soft cover), $28. This book tells the story of the central role played by the sense of smell in the evolution of Homo sapiens . Consider the following: Do you feel comfortable with your natural body odor? Children do, but most adults do not. Huge batteries of apocrine scent glands, active after puberty and mainly concentrated in hairy axillary parts of our body, emit fatty acids and some steroids that, with the help of the millions of bacteria living on our skin, envelope us with what may be called our “olfactory signature.” Perhaps the above question even prompted you to unconsciously sniff your armpit! In general, we tend to consider our natural body odor as rather unpleasant and spend much time, energy, and money washing it away. Indeed, we do not want to smell as humans, but the very ancient and extended use of perfumes shows that we do not want to be odorless either. And what are perfumes anyway, but fragrances derived from sexual scent glands of mammals—such as musk deer, civet cats, and beavers—and from plants such as frankincense ( Boswellia spp.) that mimic those fragrances? Mate choice and the advertisement of the female’s reproductive status are controlled in most species by the sense of smell, our oldest sense, which appeared long before vision and hearing in animal evolution. … Universite catholique de Louvain, Earth and Life Institute, Biodiversity Research Centre, Carnoy, Croix du Sud 4-5 Bte L7.07.05, 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium; e-mail: eric.leboulenge{at}uclouvain.be.

Carnivores’ diversity and conflicts with humans in Musk Deer National Park, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan

Pakistan’s northern expanses have rich diversity of mammalian carnivores, but majority of them are either threatened or endangered due to habitat degradation and conflict with humans. This study was conducted between May and June 2014 with the aim of determining the diversity of mammalian carnivores and their conflict with humans in Musk Deer National Park (MDNP), Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). Forty motion-triggered cameras (Reconyx™) were installed in different watersheds of MDNP to determine carnivore species diversity. A human-carnivore conflict study was conducted through semi-structured questionnaires where 149 respondents were randomly selected from 18 villages in the park. A total of nine carnivore species were documented, namely snow leopard (Panthera uncia), common leopard (Panthera pardus), leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis), brown bear (Ursus arctos), Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetinus), grey wolf (Canis lupus), red fox (Vulpes vulpes), stone marten (Martes foina), and yellow-throated marten (Martes flavigula). During the past year, a total of 817 livestock were lost to disease and carnivore predation. Carnivores were held responsible for 276 livestock losses which translated into an annual economic loss of USD 28,145 (USD 189 per household). Both Asiatic black bear and brown bear also damaged maize and potato crops causing economic losses of USD 16,330 (USD 110 per household). Depredation of livestock was greatly affected by four factors: prey type, season of depredation, location of depredation, and livestock guarding practices. Based on the responses, the people of Folwai village showed the most negative perception towards carnivores. Majority of the respondents declared grey wolf, brown bear, and Asiatic black bear to be the most dangerous carnivores in the park. Our results showed that MDNP has rich diversity of carnivores but their survival in the park is in danger due to conflict with humans over excessive livestock depredations and crop raiding. Active livestock guarding practices can reduce carnivore attacks. Educating local people, vaccinating their livestock, and compensating affected families can greatly reduce negative perceptions.

CHARACTERIZATION OF VIRULENCE GENES AND ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE OF LUNG PATHOGENIC ESCHERICHIA COLI ISOLATES IN FOREST MUSK DEER (MOSCHUS BEREZOVSKII).

This study investigated genotypic diversity, 26 virulence genes, and antimicrobial susceptibility of lung pathogenic Escherichia coli (LPEC) isolated from forest musk deer. Associations between virulence factors (VFs) and phylogenetic group, between antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and phylogenetic group, and between AMR and VFs were subsequently assessed. The results showed 30 LPEC isolated were grouped into seven different clusters (A, B, C, D, E, F, and G). The detection rates of crl (90%), kpsMT II (76.67%), mat (76.67%), and ompA (80%) were over 75%. The most frequent types of resistance were to amoxicillin (100%), sulfafurazole (100%), ampicillin (96.67%), and tetracycline (96.67%), with 93.33% (n = 28) of isolates resistant to more than eight types of drugs. There were significant relationships between resistance to cefalotin and the presence of iucD(a) (P < 0.001), papC (P = 0.032), and kpsMT II (P = 0.028); between resistance to chloromycetin and the presence of irp2 (P = 0.004) and vat (P = 0.047); between resistance to nalidixic acid and the presence of crl (P = 0.002) and iucD(a) (P = 0.004); and between resistance to ampicillin/sulbactam and the presence of vat (P = 0.013). These results indicated there could be some association between resistance and VFs, and there is a great need for the prudent use of antimicrobial agents in LPEC.

Molecular polymorphism of MHC-DRB gene and genetic diversity analysis of captive forest musk deer (Moschus berezovskii)

The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) is one of the most important elements in immune system for nearly all vertebrates, and is thought to be essential for an organism to recognize foreign molecules. In this study, we investigated the MHC variation in 51 forest musk deer (Moschus berezovskii) collected from three captive populations in Sichuan Province, China. Seventeen haplotypes were isolated from the 51 samples. A total of 51 mutation sites were identified and yielded a nucleotide diversity of 0.056. These haplotype sequences possessed 83 putative amino acid sites, including 24 PBR sites (peptide binding region) and 59 non-PBR sites. Out of 24 PBR sites, 15 codons showed variation (0.625), while 12 codons showed variation (0.203) in 59 non-PBR sites. Non-synonymous substitutions primarily occurred in PBR, with analyses suggesting that the Mobe-DRB gene had undergone strong positive selection during their evolution. Compared with that of some other endangered species, the forest musk deer had relatively high level of MHC diversity. Our results suggested that the MHC diversity characteristic of captive forest musk deer populations might be not responsible for their high morbidity of abscess disease.