Pangolin Research Articles

Molecular detection of a novel Ancylostoma sp. by whole mtDNA sequence from pangolin Manis javanica

BackgroundAncylostoma species are hematophagous parasites that cause chronic hemorrhage in various animals and humans. Pangolins, also known as scaly anteaters, are mammals that live in soil environments where they are readily exposed to soil-borne parasitic nematodes. However, only a limited number of helminth species have been identified in this animal host so far.MethodsAncylostoma sp. was isolated from a wild pangolin, and the complete mitochondrial (mt) genome of Ancylostoma sp. was obtained by Illumina sequencing of total genomic DNA.ResultsThe circular complete mt genome that was assembled had a total length of 13,757 bp and comprised 12 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer ribosomal RNAs, two ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs), two non-coding regions and one AT-rich region, but lacked the gene coding for ATPase subunit 8 (atp8). The overall AT content of the mt genome of Ancylostoma sp. was 76%, which is similar to that of other nematodes. The PCGs used two start codons (ATT and TTG) and three stop codons (TAA, TAG, and T). The nucleotide identity of the 12 PCGs ranged from 83.1% to 89.7% and had the highest sequence identity with Ancylostoma caninum among species in the Ancylostomatidae family. Also, the pangolin-derived Ancylostoma sp. lacked repeat sequences in the non-coding regions and in the unique sequence of the short non-coding regions, which differentiated it from other Ancylostoma species. In addition, phylogenetic analyses of 18S rRNA and mtDNA sequences revealed that the Ancylostoma sp. was positioned in a separate branch in the subfamily Ancylostomatinae along with other Ancylostoma species.ConclusionsThe Ancylostoma sp. isolated from a pangolin in this study was identified as a possible new Ancylostoma species. The identification of this Ancylostoma sp. from pangolin enriches our knowledge of the species in the Ancylostomatidae family and provides information that will lead to a better understanding of the taxonomy, diagnostics, and biology of hookworms.Graphical

Effects of Chronic Stress on the Fecal Microbiome of Malayan Pangolins (Manis javanica) Rescued from the Illegal Wildlife Trade.

Pangolins (scaly anteaters, Pholidota) are among those mammals that are most affected by the international, illegal wildlife trade. Recently, wildlife rescue centers in China became dedicated to rehabilitate confiscated pangolins and prepare them for reintroduction to the wild. Chronic stress is thought to be the main reason for a disturbed microbiota community and a higher mortality rate of pangolin in captivity. In this study, we compared the cortisol levels and the fecal microbiome of Malayan pangolin (Manis javanica) born and reared in captivity (PCB; n = 7) with those rescued from the wildlife trade (PCT; n = 16). Results show that the level of cortisol in PCT was significantly lower than that observed in PCB. There were also significant differences in the composition of the fecal microflora between the two groups, and the diversity of intestinal microbiota was higher in PCB than in PCT. At the phylum level, the bacteria with significant difference between the two groups included Firmicutes and Bacteroides. At the genus level, bacteria such as Bacteroides, Parabacterides, and Clostridium showed significant differences between the two groups. This study proves that chronic stress has a considerable effect on the diversity and composition of fecal microbiota in Malayan pangolin.

Pangolins in peril get a hand from human neighbours

Pangolins in peril get a hand from human neighbours

Socio-ecological challenges to Indian Pangolin in Pakistan: A review

Indian Pangolin (Manis crassicaudata) also called as thick-tailed pangolin and scaly anteater, native to the Indian subcontinent is an endangered mammalian species (Manidae; Mammalia). The pangolin inhabits areas with prey i.e. a termite (Odontotermes obesus) and two black ants (Camponotus confucii and Camponotus compressus). We reviewed the published research work carried on Indian pangolin to identify the reasons for the decline in its population in Pakistan. We identified that only a few studies have been conducted on the biology, diversity, ecology, and potential threats to M. crassicaudata in Pakistan. However, some data is available on websites of organizations working on the conservation of animals, personal communications, newspaper articles and reports. Its populations have been reported from forests, grasslands, sub-mountainous landscapes, and degraded habitats. Pangolins are under serious threat in Pakistan due to their massive killing for illegal wildlife trade, medicinal and cultural values. Pangolin population is facing declining trend in its population in Northern Punjab and Azad Kashmir (personal communications) due to habitat degradation and deforestation and hunting for fun. Conservation of Indian pangolin needs social awareness through electronic and print media. It is suggested that the curriculum of science at primary and secondary levels should contain introduction of Critically Endangered (CR), Endangered (EN) and Vulnerable (VU) species like Indian Pangolin (Endangered). We suggest to explore the population dynamics of Indian Pangolin in relation to distribution patterns, feeding preferences, prey availability, habitat suitability and threats. Keywords: Ants, Feeding Preference, Habitat Suitability, Pangolin, Termites http://dx.doi.org/10.19045/bspab.2020.90236

Yeni Koronavirüsün (Covid-19) Moleküler Yapısı ve Genomik Karakterizasyonu

SARS-CoV-2, transmitted from person to person and associated with the outbreak of atypical pneumonia, first emerged in Wuhan, China. Although bats, SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV are the primary reservoirs for COVID-19, it turns out that SARS-CoV may have been transmitted from the civet in China, MERS-CoV from camels in the Middle East, and COVID-19 from the bat to humans via the pangolin (scaly anteater). SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 are coronaviruses belonging to the Coronaviridae family and Betacoronavirus genus, which cause epidemiological outbreaks, are enveloped viruses with approximately 32 Kb long positive sense, ssRNA, and play a role in the pathogenesis of proinflammatory responses with high mortality rates associated with infection. The 2019-nCoV genome has 89% nucleotide identity with bat SARS-like CoVZXC21 and 82% with human SARS-CoV. ACE2 is the receptor of this severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus. The aim of this review is to reveal the molecular structure and genetic features of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and the clinical effects of the disease, which causes COVID-19 acute respiratory disease, and to compare it to SARS and MERS. Clarifying the specific molecular details of COVID-19 will guide researchers to the discovery of its treatment. Thus, the development of the molecular genetic methods for COVID-19 will increase our control measures against the virus in the future.

Development and characterization of 20 polymorphic microsatellite markers for the white-bellied pangolin Phataginus tricuspis (Mammalia, Pholidota).

Pangolins, or scaly anteaters, have recently been flagshiped as one of the most illegally traded mammals, and as a corollary, as potential intermediate hosts at the origin of the COVID-19 pandemic. In order to improve the traceability of their trade, we developed 20 polymorphic microsatellite loci for the white-bellied pangolin (Phataginus tricuspis), the species most frequently found on African bushmeat markets. We genotyped 24 white-bellied pangolins from the Douala market, Cameroon, originating from the Ebo forest c. 75 km north-east of Douala. The number of alleles per locus ranged from 4 to 12 (mean = 6.95), and mean observed and expected heterozygosities were 0.592 (0.208–0.875) and 0.671 (0.469–0.836), respectively. Genetic diversity was higher than that cross-estimated from microsatellite loci developed for other species of pangolins. Two loci deviated from Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium and two loci showed linkage disequilibrium. Genetic variance (PCoA) was increased with the addition of 13 pangolins of unknown origin, possibly suggesting that the Douala market is fed from differentiated source populations of white-bellied pangolins. Each of the 37 individuals had a unique multilocus genotype. The unbiased probability of identity (uPI) and the probability of identity among siblings (PIsibs) were both very low (uPI = 8.443 e−21; PIsibs = 1.011 e−07). Only five microsatellite loci were needed to reach the conservative value of PIsibs < 0.01, overall indicating a powerful discriminating power of our combined loci. These 20 newly developed microsatellite loci might prove useful in tracing the local-to-global trade of the white-bellied pangolin, and will hopefully contribute to the DNA-assisted implementation of future conservation strategies at reasonable costs.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1007/s11033-020-05511-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

The visualisation of fingermarks on Pangolin scales using gelatine lifters

Recent media reports document the plight of the Pangolin and its current position as “the most trafficked mammal in the world”. They are described by some as scaly anteaters as all species are covered in hard keratinous tissue in the form of overlapping scales acting as a “flexible dermal armour”. It is estimated that between 2011 and 2013, 117,000–234,000 pangolins were slaughtered, but the seizures may only represent as little as 10% of the true volume of pangolins being illegally traded. In this paper, methods to visualise fingermarks on Pangolin scales using gelatine lifters is presented. The gelatine lifters provide an easy to use, inexpensive but effective method to help wildlife crime rangers across Africa and Asia to disrupt the trafficking. The gelatine lifting process visualised marks producing clear ridge detail on 52% of the Pangolin scales examined, with a further 30% showing the impression of a finger with limited ridge detail. The paper builds on an initial sociotechnical approach to establishing requirement, then it focuses on the methods and outcomes relating to lifting fingermarks off Pangolin scales using gelatine lifters, providing an evaluation of its use in practice.

Is It Scaly Anteater or Bat A Real Origin of The 2019-Novel CoV: A Probable Hypothesis?

Today, the emerging of the new coronavirus 2019nCoV possesses a global health problem and little is known about its origin. In the current investigation, an evolutionary and molecular epidemiological analysis have provided of this new emerged virus. The phylogenetic trees for animal coronaviruses with the novel coronavirus-2019 have been created using a number of available complete protein sequences of envelope (E), membrane (M), nucleocapsid (N) and spike (S) proteins. The phylogenetic trees analysis illustrated that 2019nCoV in all four proteins are very closely related with coronaviruses isolated from Pangolin (scaly anteater) and Bat-SARS-like-coronavirses because all of them are clustered in the same clade. Whereas, the 2019nCoV is less closely related to coronavirses isolated from Rousettus bat (fruit bat) and MERS coronaviruses isolated from camel because they are gathered in the same clade only in two of the four studied proteins, nucleocapsid (N) and spike (S). In the conclusion, the new 2019nCoV is more likely to be originated from Bat-SARS-like-coronaviruses or/and coronavirus isolated from Pangolin after adaptation and evolution in the human hosts. Because of the number of infected cases to date indicates a very quick human-to-human transmission. Thus, necessitates a very rapid active surveillance using accurate method to find the original host where the 2019nCoV emerged. This will help in further understanding and creating a better approach to control the spread of SARS-CoV-2 outbreak.

Did pangolins help spread SARS-CoV-2?

Since the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, was first detected late last year, researchers have been trying to understand how the virus passed to humans in the first place. Although bats are thought to be the origin of the virus, bat coronaviruses differ from SARS-CoV-2 in some key ways. In particular, the spike proteins, which bind to receptors on the surface of cells to gain access, are different in the two viruses. Authorities in China quickly shut down a market linked to the outbreak. Closing the market prevented researchers from examining the animals sold there for coronaviruses. So a team led by Yan-Ling Hu of Guangxi Medical University and Yi Guan of the University of Hong Kong turned to a small number of pangolins—also called scaly anteaters—seized in antismuggling raids in 2017 and 2018. The team found that coronavirus RNA isolated from those pangolins encodes spike proteins that are closely related to

The Emergence of COVID-19: A Multispecies Story

Origin stories about COVID-19 have circulated widely. An exotic animal market, deep in the enigmatic East, spawned a new pandemic virus. Multiple species of bat and little scaly anteaters called pa...

History and Origin of Coronaviruses

Objective: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) also known as COVID-19 or severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a viral infection caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, emerged first in Wuhan, China, and spread all over the world. The World Health Organization on January 30, 2020, officially declared the COVID-19 epidemic as a public health emergency of international concern. There is speculation as to the origin of the infection and the objective of this narrative review is to scan the available literature to create a cohesive review. Methodology: This review article is based on a literature search of PubMed, Google, and Google Scholar using the keywords “ Corona virus,” “COVID-19,” “COVID” “Origins,” “Review,” and “classification.” Articles providing new information were selected. Results: The coronavirus which has caused a pandemic has a genomic structure which closely resembles that of a bat coronavirus. The region that binds angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), i.e., the region of the spike proteins, resembles a coronavirus found in the pangolin (a scaly anteater found in the Chinese market and used in Chinese medicine). It is possible that the coronavirus was existing initially in its natural hosts, the bat, or pangolin. It is likely that the spike proteins mutated to bind to molecules similar to the human ACE2 protein therefore allowing it to infect humans. Another possibility is that it jumped species from bat to human and then became capable of causing pathogenic disease. The mutations in the receptor-binding domain portion of the spike protein and its distinct backbone, rules out laboratory manipulation as a potential origin for SARS-CoV-2. It is not certain if the necessary mutations for causing the pandemic occurred before or after SARS-CoV-2 made the jump to humans. Conclusions: The current corona pandemic is due to the SARS-CoV-2 and there is evidence that it has spread to humans from bats. Pangolins, civet cats may be reservoirs for the virus, but as of now, there is no evidence of a laboratory origin of the virus. It is not clear whether the virus jumped species recently or was preexisting in humans and became pathogenic because of a recent mutation.

COVID Implications in Dentistry – A Questionnaire Survey

Introduction: COVID-19 is a zoonotic virus that originated in bats and pangolins and was later transmitted to humans The infection began in Wuhan City, Hubei Province in China and was initially diagnosed as an acute respiratory syndrome of unknown origin The virus has been known to spread via infected droplets, aerosols, and direct contact making it an efficient pathogen All healthcare workers, especially dentists [since they come in contact with infected aerosol on a daily basis] are at a higher risk of infection with COVID This study is to check the awareness of the condition among dentists and dental students and to see the effect this disease has bought on dentistry The aim of this study is to discuss the implications of COVID in dentistry Materials and Methods: The study was carried out in a self-administered questionnaire format The questionnaire was created on an online platform called Survey Planet and distributed to dental students and private practitioners The questionnaire consisted of knowledge about COVID and steps on taking extra precautions while seeing patients The data was collected and compiled in SPSS Results: Based on the tabulated data, it was seen that most dentists had good knowledge about their practice 89% agreed that dentists are at a higher risk for COVID 60 8% said that COVID spreads through infected aerosols 57 1% said that they would deny treatment to a patient if they suspect them to be infected with COVID-19 76 9% feel anxious while treating patients and 82 4% are aware of the authorities to call if they come across a patient suspected with COVID-19 Conclusion: It is important for dentists to use proper PPE equipment like masks, face shields, and gowns Procedures that involve the production of aerosols should be avoided until necessary Moreover, proper sanitization should be done after completing a procedure and the chair should be disinfected with disinfectants to minimize the chances of the spread of the pathogen via aerosols Based on the results it is seen the dentists are very anxious when it comes to treating patients during the pandemic However, they are well aware of the dangers of this disease and are taking precautions to keep themselves and their patients safe © IJCRR

Can animals like bats, pangolins, and ticks would be considered as long-term reservoirs of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2

In December 2019, there was an outbreak of pneumonia with an unknown cause in Wuhan, Hubei province, China. Within less than 3–4 months, the virus has spread to more than 200 countries. The virus rapidly transmitted from different places of the world with various cultural traditions. Thereby, the question is remained to be resolved about the main intermediate carrier of diseases in different animals. Studied showed that severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was originated from horseshoe bats, but its intermediate hosts are still largely unknown. Therefore, the possibility of horseshoe bat infection by ticks is high during the flight between plants or when resting in these places. Female ticks can either feed on horseshoe bat blood for 5–7 days before shedding or can form large aggregations by laying several thousand eggs in the right places or on them. Once they feed on horseshoe bat blood containing SARS-CoV-2, they can transfer the infection to the next generations without the need to reuse infections from the reservoir host. With all the potential features that this creature has, it is mandatory to investigate the presence or absences of SARS-CoV-2, especially when we know that ticks co-exist with that horseshoe bats. These factors highlight the importance of studying the viral epidemiology in the tick population. Thereby, based on the wide distribution of ticks and their co-existence with horseshoe bat, we suggest further studies on ticks that might act as one of the main intermediate hosts in different animals.

Section One - What is a Pangolin?

Section One - What is a Pangolin?

Expression Profile of the Digestive Enzymes of Manis javanica Reveals Its Adaptation to Diet Specialization

The expression of animal digestive enzymes reflects important dietary adaptations. The pangolin, also known as scaly anteater, is a specialized myrmecophage that consumes mainly ants and termites, but its digestive enzymes have not been fully investigated. Therefore, in this study, we used shotgun proteomic analysis to examine the protein components of the saliva and intestinal juice of a Sunda pangolin (Manis javanica) that died shortly after being rescued. The intestinal juice contained greater variety of digestive enzymes, including α-amylase, maltase-glucoamylase, α,α-trehalase, sucrase-isomaltase, pepsin A, trypsin, pancreatic endopeptidase E, carboxypeptidase A1, carboxypeptidase B, dipeptidyl-peptidase 4, and pancreatic triacylglycerol lipase. The digestive enzymes identified in the saliva were maltase-glucoamylase and trypsin, and chitinase which was also found in the intestinal juice. Compared with other animals, the Sunda pangolin has less intestinal protease diversity and lacks key digestive enzymes, such as chymotrypsin and pancreatic elastase. The expression profile of the digestive enzymes of the Sunda pangolin reveals animal’s adaptation to a diet consisting mainly of ants and termites. Our results will facilitate the preparation of artificial food for rescued pangolins and for those in captivity for conservation breeding efforts.

Pangolins in Trouble

Pangolins in Trouble

Penguins, Pineapples and Pangolins: First Encounters with the Exotic

Penguins, Pineapples and Pangolins: First Encounters with the Exotic

Exotic origins: the emblematic biogeographies of early modern scaly mammals

Exotic natural objects brought to Europe in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries were mutable and malleable things. They were constructed and assimilated into European world-views in a reciprocal process of change as they moved around early modern Europe. In particular, the provenance of natural objects and the associated rich symbolic resonances were central to their natural histories. The distinctions between Orient and Occident had divided the world since antiquity and were given a range of new senses in this period. The location of these two ‘Indies’, and their relationship to one another, were neither static nor always geographically defined. This article focuses on two rich examples of this natural historical construction in relation to images of the Indies: the Old World pangolin, or scaly anteater, and its New World counterpart, the armadillo. Initially, pangolins were understood as East Indian ‘scaly lizards’, armadillos as West Indian. But from the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries, their geographical identities and symbolic associations were entangled as these creatures came to embody colonial anxieties and resonances. The ‘India’ of the scaly lizard became the ‘Indies’ of the scaled mammals, both East and West. Examining the reception and treatment of examples such as these in European cabinets and natural histories, offers new insights into European relationships with regions of the world seen as distant and wonderfully bountiful.

THE PANGOLIN

Many thousands of intricately ornamented, volcanic stone monuments, candi, dot the landscape of Central Java. These spiritual ‘cosmic mountains’, commissioned by Hindu and Buddhist patrons between the 8th and 9th centuries, are mostly forgotten ‘memoryscapes’, built environments that represent the past glories of early Java. The 9th-century Candi Loro Jonggrang (of Prambanan village) is a powerful testament to its period and patrons yet present-day visitors know very little about the meaning of this site. Investigation and interpretation of specific details of this intricately ornamented complex, however, reveal cultural memories – some that still have cogent meaning despite forgotten connections. This article considers one specific cultural memento: the presence of the pangolin, a scaly anteater, at the Candi Loro Jonggrang. Animals are particularly effective receptacles of communal memories and this article aims to tease out why the pangolin was given prominence in the temple site and how it encoded spiritual, political, and economic concepts.

The Tiger and the Pangolin: Nature, Culture, and Conservation in China. By Chris Coggins. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press, 2002. xi + 330 pp. Illustrations, maps, notes, bibliography, index. $55.00

<i>The Tiger and the Pangolin: Nature, Culture, and Conservation in China.</i> By Chris Coggins. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press, 2002. xi + 330 pp. Illustrations, maps, notes, bibliography, index. $55.00