Indigenous Dogs Research Articles

Molecular evidence of Rickettsia felis infection in dogs from northern territory, Australia

The prevalence of spotted fever group rickettsial infection in dogs from a remote indigenous community in the Northern Territory (NT) was determined using molecular tools. Blood samples collected from 130 dogs in the community of Maningrida were subjected to a spotted fever group (SFG)-specific PCR targeting the ompB gene followed by a Rickettsia felis-specific PCR targeting the gltA gene of R. felis. Rickettsia felis ompB and gltA genes were amplified from the blood of 3 dogs. This study is the first report of R. felis infection in indigenous community dogs in NT.

Preparation of Selenium/Zinc-Enriched Probiotics and Their Effect on Blood Selenium and Zinc Concentrations, Antioxidant Capacities, and Intestinal Microflora in Canine

The aim of this study was to prepare Se/Zn-enriched probiotics and investigate their effect on blood Se and Zn concentrations, blood antioxidant capacities, and intestinal microflora in canine. The preparation was performed in a single-factor experiment. The optimal culture conditions were as follows: the initial concentrations of Se(4+) and Zn(2+) were 5 and 150µg/ml, respectively; the inoculation volume was 5%; and the liquid volume of the medium was 50ml in a 250-ml flask. The medium was then cultured at 32°C for 36h. The biomass of the final product was 26.83g/l, organic Se concentration was 173.35µg/g, organic Zn concentration was 4.38mg/g, Candida utilis biomass was 8.69lg colony-forming units (CFU)/ml, and Lactobacillus biomass was 9.61lg CFU/ml. In vivo, 20 indigenous dogs were randomly assigned to two dietary treatment groups for a 35-day study and fed a basal diet or a diet supplemented with 2.0g of Se/Zn-enriched probiotics. Blood and fecal samples were collected on days 0, 15, and 30 of the experiment. Compared with the control group, the blood Se concentration; the blood Zn concentration; the activities of glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and total antioxidant capacity in the blood; and the amount of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium in the feces increased in the supplemented group during the period of supplementation (P < 0.01), while malondialdehyde level in the blood and the amounts of Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus, and Enterococcus in the feces decreased in the supplemented group (P < 0.01).

Dog genome evolution: A strategy to segregate biogeographic effects from human selection

The article of Boyko et al. (1) supports the general biological rules underlying evolution: barriers to gene flow will result in genetic drift. In contrast to wild animals, in dog populations this is modified by human selection. The weighted center of the principle component analysis explaining 38% of the variance (figure 4 in ref. 1) indicates that dogs of northern Namibia and Egypt (>5,000 km apart) show little genetic difference consistent with a continuous gene flow across the African continent. In contrast, the Middle Eastern Salukis and the Afghan hounds (from Afghanistan) differ more substantially from Western indigenous African dogs of Egypt (only 2,500 km apart, or half the distance between Namibia and Egypt). This difference underscores that biogeographic distance is distorted by other factors such as barriers to gene flow and human selection. The case of the Basenji highlights this discrepancy even better: Basenjis come from the Congo basin and one would expect them to be genetically somewhere between Ugandan and northern Namibian village dogs—the Congo basin being situated slightly off but somewhat between Uganda and Namibia. The great genetic differences of the Basenji from these village dogs suggest that other factors such as breeding preferences in the countries of origin or a small Western breeding stock from which the samples were taken has perhaps distorted biogeographic differences. Controlling for this aspect would require a direct comparison between local village dogs and breeds originating from the same areas. Existing data suggest that both segregation [Sloughis and North African village dogs (2)] as well as some intermixing [Salukis with Akbash (3)] will be found between Western dog breeds and other local dogs in the country of origin. More such comparisons of internationally recognized* indigenous African breeds such as Aidi, Azawakh, Basenji, and Sloughi with biogeographically overlapping village dogs would complement this study and would reveal the influence of biogeographic differences and human selection better than comparing with breeds originating outside of Africa (e.g., Afghan Hound, Pharaoh Hound, Saluki).

Complex population structure in African village dogs and its implications for inferring dog domestication history

High genetic diversity of East Asian village dogs has recently been used to argue for an East Asian origin of the domestic dog. However, global village dog genetic diversity and the extent to which semiferal village dogs represent distinct, indigenous populations instead of admixtures of various dog breeds has not been quantified. Understanding these issues is critical to properly reconstructing the timing, number, and locations of dog domestication. To address these questions, we sampled 318 village dogs from 7 regions in Egypt, Uganda, and Namibia, measuring genetic diversity >680 bp of the mitochondrial D-loop, 300 SNPs, and 89 microsatellite markers. We also analyzed breed dogs, including putatively African breeds (Afghan hounds, Basenjis, Pharaoh hounds, Rhodesian ridgebacks, and Salukis), Puerto Rican street dogs, and mixed breed dogs from the United States. Village dogs from most African regions appear genetically distinct from non-native breed and mixed-breed dogs, although some individuals cluster genetically with Puerto Rican dogs or United States breed mixes instead of with neighboring village dogs. Thus, African village dogs are a mosaic of indigenous dogs descended from early migrants to Africa, and non-native, breed-admixed individuals. Among putatively African breeds, Pharaoh hounds, and Rhodesian ridgebacks clustered with non-native rather than indigenous African dogs, suggesting they have predominantly non-African origins. Surprisingly, we find similar mtDNA haplotype diversity in African and East Asian village dogs, potentially calling into question the hypothesis of an East Asian origin for dog domestication.

A Review of the Relationship between Indigenous Australians, Dingoes (Canis dingo) and Domestic Dogs (Canis familiaris)

ABSTRACTCanids form a large part of Indigenous Australian life and mythology, an association first developed with the dingo, and later with the domestic dog. The relationship between canids and Indigenous Australians is intricate, but unique in that these peoples never domesticated the wild dingo. Neither were dingoes and dogs seen as a source of food nor in many cases considered practical hunting assistants, yet they were highly prized. Apart from featuring heavily in Indigenous Australian spirituality (The Dreaming), advantages of camp dingoes and dogs include them being protectors or guardians, “bed warmers,” and companions. However, these benefits were weighed against the many associated social and economic costs incurred such as disruption to camp life and religious ceremony, burden on camp food supply and storage, and potential source of disease. This review explores the relationship between Indigenous Australians, dingoes and dogs, and attempts to explain why dingoes, and later dogs, were kept, yet not domesticated. By bringing together the many disparate observations made by early anthropologists, insight into traditional human–canid relationships may be gleaned.

Rabies postexposure prophylaxis, Marseille, France, 1994-2005.

The administration of human rabies postexposure prophylaxis near Marseille (southern France) has changed since the eradication of terrestrial mammal rabies in 2001. Most injuries were associated with indigenous dogs; rabies vaccine was overprescribed. We suggest that the World Health Organization guidelines be adapted for countries free of terrestrial mammal rabies.

Leucocyte Response In Nigerian Indigenous Dogs With Surgically Induced Radial Nerve Paralysis

Surgical stress is known to cause varied leucocyte responses (Kim and Sakamoto, 2006). The anaesthetic agent used may also modify intra or post surgical leucocyte response e.g. propofol producing a dose-dependent inhibition of phagocytosis in vitro (Heine et al., 2000). Surgery constitute a form of traumatic stress, which varies with the duration and invasiveness of the procedure undertaken (Plunkett, 2001). This stressful condition alters the body\'s homeostasis which is further aggravated by the release of adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) in the body (Guyton and Hall, 1996). Radial nerve damage and subsequent repair is a major surgical procedure that is not commonly reported in dogs and its effect on leucocyte response has not been documented. The radial nerve resection was primarily undertaken to evaluate various management protocols, with the aim to adapting them for clinical management of radial nerve damage in dogs. In this report, we present the total and differential leucocyte response in Nigerian Indigenous dogs with radial nerve resection. Major surgeries, such as cardiopulmonary and coronary artery bypass are known to trigger an inflammatory response, leading to the activation of leucocytes, platelets and endothelial cells (Asimakopoulos and Taylor, 1998; Asimakopoulos et al., 2000; Ngaage, 2003).Major surgeries reportedly also produce PMNL (neutrophil) dysfunction (Wakefield et al., 1993). In surgical stress, massive neutrophil and monocyte trafficking into tissues (surgical sites) have been documented (Viswanathan and Dhabhar, 2005; Zaldivar et al., 2006) and is thought to occur as a result of direct response of the neutrophils to the effect of tumour necrosis factor-&#945; (TNF-&#945;) produced during inflammation/ healing (Viswanathan and Dhabhar, 2005). Platelet activating factor (PAF) and CD18 have also been reported to mediate neutrophil infiltration into tissues (surgical sites) (Beyer et al., 1998), while monocyte trafficking into tissues is believed to be mediated by the combined effects of TNF-&#945; and lymphotactin (LTN). Keywords: Leucocyte response, Mongrel dogs, Radial nerve, ParalysisNigerian Veterinary Journal Vol. 27 (3) 2006 pp. 91-95

COMPARISON OF LIDOCAINE-DISTILLED WATER AND LIDOCAINE- MGSO4 MIXTURE IN EPIDURAL ANESTHESIA OF DOG

Objective- To compare the lidocaine-MgSO4 combination with lidocaine-Distilled water inthe epidural of indigenous awake dogs.Design- Prospective experimental study.Animals- Five young (12±2 months) female indigenous dogs weighting (10.74 ± 0.44 kg).Procedures- Epidural anesthesia was produced in all dogs with 2% lidocaine (1ml/4.5 kgbody weight) with 1 ml distilled water and two weeks later repeated by lidocaine (1ml/4.5kg) with 1 ml of 10% MgSO4. Time to recumbency, onset time, duration of analgesia andcranial spread of analgesia and standing time were recorded. Heart rate, Respiratory rateand body temperature were recorded at 0 minute prior to epidural administration of eachtreatment as a base line values and at 5, 10, 15, 30, 60 and 75 minutes afterwards. Statisticalanalysis included paired student t-test and ANOVA (Spss, soft ware of windows). p<0.05was considered as significant level.Results- Significant difference (p<0.05) was noted for onset of analgesia betweenLidocaine-Distilled water (2.04 ± 0.14 min) and Lidocaine-MgSO4 (4.70 ± 0.20 min).Lidocaine-MgSO4 produced analgesia of significantly longer duration (185 ± 5.13 min)than that of Lidocaine - Distilled water (49 ± 4.5 min). Lidocaine-Distilled water producedrecumbency at 1.48 ± 0.106 min after epidural administration but Lidocaine-MgSO4 didnot produce any recumbency throughout the study. Time to standing after epidural injectionof Lidocaine-Distilled water was 49.8 ± 1.56 min.Conclusion and clinical relevance The combination of Lidocaine-MgSO4 producedanalgesia longer than Lidocaine-Distilled water. Long lasting obstetrical and surgicalprocedures could commence relatively soon after epidural injection of Lidocaine-MgSO4and could be completed without re-administration of anesthetic agent.

Dog leucocyte antigen class II diversity and relationships among indigenous dogs of the island nations of Indonesia (Bali), Australia and New Guinea

The genetic polymorphism at the dog leucocyte antigen (DLA) class II loci DQA1, DQB1 and DRB1 was studied in a large genetically diverse population of feral and wild-type dogs from the large island nations of Indonesia (Bali), Australia and New Guinea (Bali street dog, dingo and New Guinea singing dog, respectively). Sequence-based typing (SBT) of the hypervariable region of DLA-DRB1, -DQA1 and -DQB1 alleles was used to determine genetic diversity. No new DQA1 alleles were recognized among the three dog populations, but five novel DLA-DRB1 and 2 novel DLA-DQB1 allele sequences were detected. Additional unknown alleles were postulated to exist in Bali street dogs, as indicated by the large percentage of individuals (15%-33%) that had indeterminate DRB1, DQA1 and DQB1 alleles by SBT. All three groups of dogs possessed alleles that were relatively uncommon in conventional purebreds. The New Guinea singing dog and dingo shared alleles that were not present in the Bali street dogs. These findings suggested that the dingo was more closely related to indigenous dogs from New Guinea. Feral dog populations, in particular large ones such as that of Bali, show genetic diversity that existed prior to phenotypic selection for breeds originating from their respective regions. This diversity needs to be identified and maintained in the face of progressive Westernization. These populations deserve further study as potential model populations for the evolution of major histocompatibility complex alleles, for the study of canine genetic diversity, for the development of dog breeds and for studies on the comigration of ancestral human and dog populations.

Canine filariosis caused by Dirofilaria immitis in Mozambique: a small survey based on the identification of microfilariae.

Dirofilaria immitis was diagnosed in 4 of 13 indigenous dogs from the Province of Zambézia, Mozambique, by acid phosphatase staining of microfilariae. The finding reconfirms the occurrence of the parasite in Mozambique after 3 decades and emphasises the need for extensive surveys. Additionally, in 1 of the infected dogs, microfilariae of Dipetalonema reconditum were detected, which is the 1st record of this parasite in Mozambique.

Epidemiology of human rabies in the United States, 1980 to 1996.

To summarize the epidemiologic, diagnostic, and clinical features of the 32 laboratory-confirmed cases of human rabies diagnosed in the United States from 1980 to 1996. Data were obtained from case reports of human rabies submitted to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention by state or local health authorities. All cases of human rabies reported in the United States from 1980 to 1996 in which infection with rabies virus was confirmed by laboratory studies. Patients were reviewed for demographic characteristics, exposure history, rabies prophylaxis, clinical presentation, treatment, clinical course, diagnostic laboratory tests, identification of rabies virus variants, and the number of medical personnel or family members who required postexposure prophylaxis after coming in contact with an exposed person. 32 cases of human rabies were reported from 20 states. Patients ranged in age from 4 to 82 years and were predominantly male (63%). Most patients (25 of 32) had no definite history of an animal bite or other event associated with rabies virus transmission. Of the 32 cases, 17 (53%) were associated with rabies virus variants found in insectivorous bats, 12 (38%) with variants found in domestic dogs outside the United States, 2 (6%) with variants found in indigenous domestic dogs, and 1 (3%) with a variant found in indigenous skunks. Among the 7 patients with a definite exposure history, 6 cases were attributable to dog bites received in foreign countries and 1 was attributable to a bat bite received in the United States. In 12 of the 32 patients (38%), rabies was not clinically suspected and was diagnosed after death. In the remaining 20 cases (63%), the diagnosis of rabies was considered before death and samples were obtained specifically for laboratory confirmation a median of 7 days (range, 3 to 17 days) after the onset of clinical signs. Of the clinical differences between patients in whom rabies was diagnosed before death and those in whom it was diagnosed after death, the presence of hydrophobia or aerophobia was significantly associated with antemortem diagnosis (odds ratio, 11.0 [95% CI, 1.05 to 273.34]). The median number of medical personnel or familial contacts of the patients who received postexposure prophylaxis was 54 per patient (range, 4 to 179). None of the 32 patients with rabies received postexposure prophylaxis before the onset of clinical disease. In the United States, human rabies is rare but probably underdiagnosed. Rabies should be included in the differential diagnosis of any case of acute, rapidly progressing encephalitis, even if the patient does not recall being bitten by an animal. In addition to situations involving an animal bite, a scratch from an animal, or contact of mucous membranes with infectious saliva, postexposure prophylaxis should be considered if the history indicates that a bat was physically present, even if the person is unable to reliably report contact that could have resulted in a bite. Such a situation may arise when a bat bite causes an insignificant wound or the circumstances do not allow recognition of contact, such as when a bat is found in the room of a sleeping person or near a previously unattended child.

Human rabies in the United States, 1960 to 1979: epidemiology, diagnosis, and prevention.

Thirty-eight cases of human rabies occurred in the United States and its territories from 1960 to 1979. The major source of exposure to rabies has changed from indigenous dogs and cats in the 1940s and 1950s to wild carnivores and bats (11 of the 27 cases with known exposures); unusual exposures (3 cases) and exposures in a foreign country (7 cases) have also become more important. No exposure could be identified for 6 of the 38 cases. Two patients received optimal prophylaxis, 14 suboptimal, and 22 no prophylaxis after exposure. Some cases might have been prevented by an increased awareness of the risks and treatment for exposure to rabies, and use of the new rabies vaccines. The diagnosis was often made late in the clinical course including after death in 8 cases. This delay, in part, resulted from the diversity in the clinical presentation. Rabies should be considered in any case of encephalitis or myelitis. Laboratory confirmation of the diagnosis was often delayed. Testing for serum antibodies was the most reliable test in unvaccinated patients, and isolation of virus was the test most likely to be positive early in the illness.

Study of Japanese encephalitis virus in Chiangmia Valley, Thailand. V. Animal infections.

Johnsen, D. O., R. Edelman, R. A. Grossman, D. Muangman, J. Pomsdhit and D. J. Gould (SEATO Medical Research Laboratory. Bangkok, Thailand). Study of Japanese encephalitis virus in Chiangmai Valley, Thailand. V. Animal infections. Am J Epidemiol 100: 57–68, 1974.—In this study, we examined the temporal nature of animal infections and sought to determine which animal species play an important role in the transmission of Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) in the Chiangmai Valley. Sera were collected from a sample of domestic mammals and fowl residing in four study villages before the start of the 1970 Japanese encephalitis epidemic and three times during the epidemic year. Antibody-free pigs, placed in each village as sentinels, were bled every month from April 1970 until June 1971. Tree sparrows and bats were also trapped and bled in the villages. Attempts to isolate JEV from domestic and wild animal specimens were unsuccessful. Census data revealed that the turnover rate in one year for pigs was much higher than for other domestic mammals. JEV transmission to sentinel pigs was detected in each of the 14 consecutive months, except for two months of the cool-dry season; transmission rapidly increased with the start of the seasonal rains. The prevalence of JEV antibody (HAI) was high in dogs, bovines and indigenous pigs, but, except for a small group of horses, the geometric mean titer was much higher in pigs than in other mammals. Antibody to Tembusu virus, rather than to JEV, was prevalent in high titer in domestic fowl. Paired serum samples collected from indigenous pigs, bovines and dogs confirmed that primary JEV infections occurred during the human epidemic in these species; animals with prior JEV antibodies were not infected. Only a small percentage of tree sparrow and bat sera neutralized JEV. One pig infected with JEV under laboratory conditions developed a viremia of high titer and long duration. Buffalo and cattle, on the other hand, failed to develop detectable viremia and had a poor HAI antibody response following exposure to JEV-infected Culex tritaeniorhynchus and repeated inoculations of JEV. One of three dogs developed low level viremia after being bitten by JEV-infected mosquitoes. The serologic responses of these experimentally infected animals mimic the serologic patterns observed in domestic animals in the field. All of these results together suggest that pigs are important in the epidemiology of JEV in the Chiangmai Valley; the role of other domestic mammals is less certain. A pig-mosquito-man transmission sequence may be sufficient to account for human infections that occur throughout the year.

NESTING AND BREEDING ECOLOGY OF MARINE TURTLE IN ST. MARTIN'S CORAL ISLAND, BANGLADESH

Observations on nesting and breeding ecology of three species of marine turtle were made in St. Martin's Island, Bangladesh. The egg laying period was found to be in winter season between October and March. The peak breeding period was in December and January. The mean diameter of the nests of Olive ridley turtle, Lepidochelys olivacea was 27.42 ± 5.2 cm. Green turtle, Chelonia mydas 25.67 ± 1.53 cm and Loggerheaded turtle, Caretta caretta 27.65 ± 1.52 cm. The mean depth of nest of L. olivacea was 49.17 ± 5.61 cm, C. mydas 51 ± 2.65 cm and C. caretta 54.33 ± 1.53 cm. Mean clutch size of L. olivacea was 115.6 ± 16.7 eggs, C. mydas 112.15 ± 11.52 eggs and C. caretta 122 ± 18.62 eggs. The mean weight of eggs of L. olivacea was 31.63 ± 1.83. C. mydas 32.71 ± 1.26 and C, caretta 32.45 ± 3.75, Mean incubation period of L. olivacea was 63.9 ± 3.5 days, C. mydas 61.85 ± 2.57 days and C. caretta 61.5 ± 1.29 days. The mean hatching success of L. olivacea was 81.14%, C. mydas was 80.11%, and C. caretta 84.43%. The mean weight of hatchlings of L. olivacea was 14.7 ± 0.58g, C. mydas 15.4 ± 0.78 g and C. caretta 16.20 ± 0.3 5 g. Loss of nesting ground by the local people and visitors and poaching of eggs and injured of mother turtles by the dogs was the main problems for breeding of turtles on this island. Construction of embankments for control of erosion, destruction of nests by indigenous dogs and monitor lizards should be protected. Immediate conservation measures are warranted to save the breeding of turtles on this island.&#x0D; &#x0D; Key words: Nesting, breeding, ecology, marine turtles, conservation.&#x0D; &#x0D; Ecoprint Vo.11(1) 2004.

A Survey of the Parasites of Native Dogs in Southern Malawi with Remarks on their Medical and Veterinary Importance

The indigenous dogs of Malawi form a fairly homogeneous group. The general type is a smooth-haired, medium-sized, terrier dog in many ways not unlike the Basenji of the Belgian Congo. Consequently it may be assumed that the local breed of dog has, generally speaking, had very little contact with exotic breeds and that it is quite possible the parasitic populations which it supports are also truly indigenous. A unique opportunity of exploring this unknown terrain presented itself when, as a result of an outbreak of rabies, it was decided to thin out the unvaccinated dog population as a veterinary control measure.