Raccoon Dog Nyctereutes Procyonoides Research Articles

Rare canine parasites survive in the wild fox population

Members of the canid family – e.g. domestic dog Canis familiaris, wolf Canis lupus, red fox Vulpes vulpes and raccoon dog Nyctereutes procyonoides – share a wealth of parasite species. Nowadays, the diversity of the parasitic fauna of domestic dogs is reduced by antiparasitic medications and disposal of faeces, but a thriving population of wild foxes can host even rare parasite species. Finnish Food Safety Authority Evira, Fish and Wildlife Health Research Unit, examines approx. 250 fox carcasses for zoonoses every year. Some rarely seen canine endoparasites were observed in the winter 2007-2008. In January 2008, one of the first Finnish domestic cases of Spirocerca sp. infection was observed in a fox hunted from North Lapland fjeld area in Utsjoki (69° N 27°E). The previous one reported was imported from Tanzania [1]. A 30 x 15 mm granuloma containing two large, red, coiled nematodes was formed on the curvatura major of the stomach. The fox was a male individual in good condition. In a 1.5 year-old female fox from Pyhtaa, Southeast Finland, a solitary female individual of French heartworm Angiostrongylus vasorum was lodged in the right ventricle, in the opening of the pulmonary artery. The existence of this parasite in Finland is very inadequately known, but it is spreading in Europe, e.g. in Denmark [2]. A massive liver fluke Metorchis albidus infection was observed in an aged (6.5 yrs) female fox from Virolahti, Southeast Finland. The flukes had caused a severe cholangitis. Although Metorchis is a very occasionally seen parasite in Finland, it is regarded as common in Germany [3]. In addition to these isolated cases, a small survey of the occurrence of the bladder hairworm Capillaria plica was conducted in February 2008. Scrapings of urinary bladder wall were taken from 44 foxes from North Lapland and 7 of them (16%) were positive for eggs or worms. In a Danish study, about 80 % of foxes examined were found infected with this parasite [2]. All four parasite species mentioned above have at least one intermediate or paratenic host which may facilitate their persistence in the nature. It is interesting to notice that a similar amount of raccoon dogs are also examined and comparable findings to the abovementioned have not been made. The raccoon dog often harbours higher Trichinella infection densities than the red fox does, and this has been speculated to be caused by some innate or acquired cause of immunoincompetence (unpublished). Therefore, raccoon dogs might be expected to harbour occasional parasite infections even more commonly than foxes.

Carnivores (Mammalia: Carnivora) in South China: a status review with notes on the commercial trade

1 Evidence from the literature, interviews, market surveys, general rapid field surveys and camera trapping was reviewed to infer the regional status of 33 recorded carnivores in South China (Guangxi, Guangdong, Hainan, Hong Kong and Macau). 2 The carnivore fauna in South China is among the most depleted for any continental area in the world. 3 The tiger Panthera tigris, leopard Panthera pardus, grey wolf Canis lupus and binturong Arctictis binturong are probably extirpated. 4 The dhole Cuon alpinus, Asiatic golden cat Catopuma temmincki and clouded leopard Neofelis nebulosa are at great risk of regional extirpation, as are the more ecologically adaptable red fox Vulpes vulpes, raccoon dog Nyctereutes procyonoides, Asian badger Meles leucurus, Eurasian otter Lutra lutra, Oriental small-clawed otter Aonyx cinereus and large Indian civet Viverra zibetha. 5 Though more widely reported, the Asiatic black bear Ursus thibetanus, yellow-throated marten Martes flavigula, hog badger Arctonyx collaris and Siberian weasel Mustela sibirica are at regional risk. 6 The status of the Burmese ferret-badger Melogale personata, stripe-backed weasel Mustela strigidorsa, smooth-coated otter Lutrogale perspicillata, large-spotted civet Viverra megaspila and Owston's palm civet Chrotogale owstoni is uncertain due to inadequate information. 7 Five carnivore species – the Chinese ferret-badger Melogale moschata, masked palm civet Paguma larvata, yellow-bellied weasel Mustela kathiah, small Indian civet Viverricula indica and leopard cat Prionailurus bengalensis– are relatively secure (though not common) in the region, along with the Asian palm civet Paradoxurus hermaphroditus and the Javan mongoose Herpestes javanicus in some areas, while the spotted linsang Prionodon pardicolor and crab-eating mongoose Herpestes urva may have been under-reported. 8 The main threats have been habitat destruction and unsustainable exploitation. Only in Hong Kong, where enforcement of protection legislation has been stronger, are the surviving carnivore species easily encountered. 9 Improved enforcement and monitoring are essential to retaining the remainder of South China's carnivores. Support could be boosted by conservation education and better research.

Habitat preferences of the native badger and the invasive raccoon dog in southern Finland

We compared the habitat preferences of the alien raccoon dog Nyctereutes procyonoides (Gray, 1834) and the native badger Meles meles (Linnaeus, 1758) in two areas (Ruissalo and Tuulos) in southern Finland by radio-tracking the animals during summer from 2005 to 2008. We assumed that the habitat preferences of these two medium-sized carnivores differ to some extent (ie they are able to share the resources), because they have been sympatric for more than 50 years in southern Finland and populations of both species have increased during that period. The results indicated that the habitat preferences of these species are indeed different: raccoon dogs favoured meadows, gardens and open woodlands with tall and abundant undergrowth, whereas badgers favoured both pine forests and deciduous and mixed forests with thick canopy but sparse undergrowth. However, fields were favoured by both species in one study area (Tuulos). The results show that although both species are flexible in their habitat use and share some habitat preferences, the most favoured habitats differ between the species.

10.1007/s11184-008-2010-8

The functioning of two foci of helminth diseases caused by trematodes Apophallus muehlingi and Rossicotrema donicum has been studied in the Volga Delta. The origin of these foci is related to the expansion of species ranges of Lithoglyphus snails, intermediate hosts of trematodes. Introduced mammal species, the raccoon dog Nyctereutes procyonoides and American mink Mustela vision, are involved in the circulation of the invasion.

Dietary Overlap Among Two Introduced and One Native Sympatric Carnivore Species, the Raccoon, the Masked Palm Civet, and the Raccoon Dog, in Chiba Prefecture, Japan

To assess the degree of competition for food items between non-natives and natives, dietary overlap among three carnivore species living sympatrically in the area of Isumi City, southeastern Chiba Prefecture, central Japan, was analyzed by examining the gut contents of 221 animals collected from spring through summer 2006. The animals comprised two introduced species, the raccoon Procyon lotor and the masked palm civet Paguma larvata, and a native species, the raccoon dog Nyctereutes procyonoides. All three species were found to eat berries and seeds, amphibians and arthropods. The raccoons ate more crustaceans, the masked palm civets ate more mollusks, and the raccoon dogs ate more human meal scraps than the other two species. The food diversity of raccoons was lowest in both spring and summer. The dietary overlap was highest between raccoon dogs and masked palm civets. The degree of dietary overlap among the three species increased from spring to summer. These results suggest that overlap of food items is high and the degree of food resource segregation is low among the three species.

Are Changes in Predatory Species Composition and Breeding Performance Responsible for the Decline of CootsFulica atrain Milicz Ponds Reserve (SW Poland)?

Abstract. Both native and non-native predators should strongly affect resident fauna. Nevertheless, because of a lack of defensive mechanisms in potential prey, the influence of non-native predators should have longer-lasting and more deleterious repercussions. The breeding ecology of the Coot was studied in the Milicz Ponds reserve and compared with data from 20 years earlier. In the meantime, non-native, mammalian predators (American Mink Mustela vison, Raccoon Dog Nyctereutes procyonoides and Raccoon Procyon lotor) turned up in this area, while the numbers of Hooded Crow Corvus cornix, the main predator of Coot nests, decreased. Compared with 1980–1982, the number of Coots in 2002–2003 dropped by more than half and mean clutch size decreased. Breeding success and the number of hatchlings per pair remained unchanged; in the 1980s, however, Coots renested more frequently, there was greater nesting synchrony and breeding seasons were demonstrably shorter. Moreover, although predation still remained the ma...

Predicting animal performance through climatic and plant phenology variables: The case of an omnivore hibernating species in Finland

Annual variation in the environment is expected to influence individual performance, e.g. measured as body condition, such as body mass or fat deposition, through its direct or indirect effects on food abundance and availability. Such environmental variation is traditionally measured by climatic observation, but recently, measures of environmental phenology obtained from satellite images have been successfully used. We examined the performance of climatic and plant phenology variables in explaining body condition of an invasive omnivore species: the raccoon dog Nyctereutes procyonoides. We collected data on fat deposition of juveniles in southern Finland from the end of June to the beginning of November. A four-parametric logistic model was fitted separately for each province to the data by non-linear regression procedure and the residuals were compared to the expected average as measure of individual performance. These values were then analysed with respect to the environmental variables. Climatic variables describing spring conditions performed better than plant phenology variables in explaining the variation in fat deposition. Harsh spring conditions negatively affected the amount of fat deposed during the growing season. Plant phenology variables, effective in explaining life history traits in herbivores, might not reflect variation in food abundance and quality for omnivore species. We propose that in Europe raccoon dogs will benefit from climate warming, because of a longer growing season, but increased spring precipitation in the form of snow at higher latitudes might compensate for the effect of greater primary productivity and outline the border of their expansion towards harsher environments.

Spatial organisation and intra‐specific relationship of the raccoon dog Nyctereutes procyonoides in Central Europe

AbstractDuring October 1999 ‐ October 2003, we monitored 26 adult raccoon dogs Nyctereutes procyonoides using radio‐telemetry in an area of Germany which has been occupied by this invasive alien species since the early 1990s. No adult animals dispersed from the area during the study period and home ranges tended to be used for several years, probably for life. The average annual home‐range size, calculated using 95% fixed kernel, was 382.2 ha±297.4 SD for females (N=30 seasonal home ranges) and 352.4 ha±313.3 for males (N=32 seasonal home ranges). Paired raccoon dogs had home ranges of similar size (P=0.203), with pairs sharing the same area all year round (P<0.001). Raccoon dogs occupied large core areas (85% kernel) covering 81.2% of their home ranges. The home ranges were at their smallest during the mating season. The slightly larger size of home ranges in winter suggests that, due to the temperate climate, raccoon dogs do not hibernate in Germany. Males and females formed a long‐term (probably lifelong) pair bond. Same‐sex neighbours ignored each other and even adjacent males/females showed neither preference nor avoidance. Thus, based on the results of home‐range overlap analysis and interaction estimations, it can be assumed that the raccoon dog in Central Europe is monogamous without exclusive territories.

Optimal radio-tracking strategy — The best results with the least effort?

We tested the need to radio-track nocturnal mammals, such as raccoon dogsNyctereutes procyonoides (Gray, 1834) and badgersMeles meles (Linnaeus, 1758), throughout the night for reliable estimates of home range size and habitat selection. We also tested the possibility to reduce the tracking effort by decreasing the number of tracking-nights. The results indicated that the locations collected before midnight gave good estimates of home range sizes but those collected after midnight or by reducing the number of tracking-nights resulted in smaller home ranges than those estimated using the total data. Thus, if one aims to estimate only the home range size, locations before midnight would be adequate. Locations of raccoon dogs taken only before or after midnight did not reveal all habitats, which were favoured on the basis of the total data. Although locations of badgers before midnight seemed to give correct results of habitat selection, we recommend radio-tracking also badgers at least few times through the night, because their core areas shifted during the night. In the case of badgers, but not of raccoon dogs, we obtained correct results of habitat selection by reducing the tracking effort by decreasing the number of tracking-nights.

Genetic variability and linkage of selected microsatellite markers in the Chinese raccoon dog (<i>Nyctereutes procyonoides procyonoides</i>)

Abstract. The aim of the recent study was to analyze the variability and linkage study of selected microsatellite markers of the Chinese raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides procyonoides) bred in Poland. In general, 3 generations of animals maintained at the Polish breeding farm, were under observation. For this project, the variability of 20 canine microsatellite loci was examined in the raccoon dog. The number of alleles, frequencies, and the statistics that express polymorphism, the position of markers, the distance between them as well as the linkage analysis among the analyzed loci were determined. Altogether, there were 74 alleles identified. Three of the microsatellites studied displayed a monomorphic allele. The total number of other alleles per locus varied from 2 to 6. An average allele number of polymorphic loci was 4.4 alleles per one locus. An average PIC value was 0.49. The linkage analysis concerned 17 polymorphic markers. Five linkage groups were identified, ranging in size from 36.3 to 120.7 cM. The largest linkage groups contained 5 markers each, and the smallest – 2 markers. The sex-averaged linkage groups comprised 17 markers. The total coverage was 380.3 cM, with intervals between markers ranging from 6.7 to 43.5 cM; the average distance between markers was 31.69 cM. Two of the linkage groups exceeded 100 cM in length. The construction of the genetic map of the Chinese raccoon dog, is the first step to identify the genes with a major effect (quantitative trait loci, QTL), which as a result can be beneficial in breeding work undertaken on breeding farms.

Detection of Spotted Fever and Typhus Group Rickettsial Infection in Wild Raccoon Dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides koreensis) in Chonbuk Province, Korea

Both the spotted fever and the typhus group rickettsioses are potential emerging arthropod-borne infectious disease complexes in Korea. Wild raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides koreensis) sheltered at the Korean Society for the Protection of Wild Animals, Chonbuk Branch, Korea, were sampled for the presence of spotted fever and typhus group rickettsial pathogens. Thirty-six serum samples of wild raccoon dogs were examined by an indirect fluorescent antibody test using type-specific YH strain Rickettsia japonica (spotted fever group rickettsia) and Wilmington strain Rickettsia typhi (typhus group rickettsia). The prevalence of sera that were seropositive was 30.5% (11/36) for the spotted fever group and 41.6% (15/36) for the typhus group. Five samples were seropositive for both antigens. This study is first to demonstrate rickettsial antibodies in wild raccoon dogs, and it provides seroepidemiologic evidence of the endemic presence of rickettsial agents in Korea.

Ranging and parental care of the raccoon dogNyctereutes procyonoides during pup rearing

Three pairs of raccoon dogsNyctereutes procyonoides (Gray, 1834) were observed by continuous radio-tracking (one 24-h session, once a week) during the first six weeks after parturition. Males spent noticeably more time (40.5% ±11.7 SD) alone with the pups than females (16.4% ±8.5 SD). Females had noticeably larger home ranges (95% kernel: 98.24 ha ±51.71 SD) than males (14.73 ha ±8.16 SD) and moved much longer daily distances (7368 m ±2015 SD) than males (4094 m ±2886 SD) in six weeks postpartum. The raccoon dogs left the breeding den in the 6th week after the birth of the pups.In situ video observation showed that the male carried prey to the den to provide the female and the litter with food. A clear division of labour took place among parents during the period in which the pups were nursed: males guarded the litter in the den or in close vicinity of it, while the females foraged to satisfy their increased energy requirements.

Genesis of epizootics involving introduced species of helminths, mammals, and mollusks

The functioning of two foci of helminth diseases caused by trematodes Apophallus muehlingi and Rossicotrema donicum has been studied in the Volga Delta. The origin of these foci is related to the expansion of species ranges of Lithoglyphus snails, intermediate hosts of trematodes. Introduced mammal species, the raccoon dog Nyctereutes procyonoides and American mink Mustela vision, are involved in the circulation of the invasion.

Seasonal and annual variation in the diet of the raccoon dogNyctereutes procyonoides in northern Belarus: the role of habitat type and family group

To study variation in the diet of the raccoon dogNyctereutes procyonoides Gray, 1834 in northern Belarus, 3299 scats were sampled from 18 localities differing in habitat quality. In one of the 18 localities, the dietary study was conducted for nine years. The data obtained was analysed according to seasonality, between-year difference, family specificity and habitat influence. In northern Belarus, the raccoon dog was found to be a generalist predator with omnivorous and opportunistic feeding habits. Their diet was highly variable, but a common trait was specialization on carrion in winter and on berries in late summer. Beside carrion and berries, the other seasonally important food items were frogs, insects, plant matter, mammals, and birds. The diet varied between seasons and habitats. In the warm season, habitat factors, such as type of soil (clay or sand), proportion of lakes and open grassy marshes, seemingly determine the food supply for raccoon dogs, and thereby influence the diet of individuals. The obtained results on dietary variation of raccoon dogs can be used in detailed analysis of the impact of this introduced species on native fauna and its role in functioning of vertebrate communities.

Dispersal of the alien raccoon dog Nyctereutes procyonoides in Southern Brandenburg, Germany

The raccoon dog Nyctereutes procyonoides, an East Asian canid species, was introduced into the European part of the former USSR since 1928. Within 50 years (1935–1984), it colonised a territory of 1.4 million km2 in Europe. A telemetry study took place in Southern Brandenburg in a 60 km2 sized study area with a typical mosaic structured East German agricultural landscape. For catching raccoon dogs, 20 trap boxes were set there in an area of 46 km2, and between February 2001 and July 2004, 15 (5 males, 10 females) adult and 46 (25 males, 21 females) juvenile raccoon dogs were eartagged and adults additionally fitted with radio collars (Biotrack, 150–151 MHz). Data on dispersal behaviour was collected by the relocation points of 11 juveniles (6 males, 5 females). Four juvenile males dispersed even more than 40 km from their trapping places. Additionally, dispersal of two adult males could be documented. This behaviour probably indicates that the German raccoon dog population still is in a process of colonising. This canid’s ability for colonising spacious and distant areas during comparative short periods of time and its preference for habitats with richness of water possibly make this species to be an important vector of fox tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis—a very dangerous zoonosis.

Experimental Infection of Dirofilaria immitis in Raccoon Dogs

Canine heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis) is a nematode that naturally parasitizes in the pulmonary arteries and the right ventricle of domestic dogs (Canis familiaris) as final hosts. Japanese raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides viverrinus) also are known to be susceptible to infection by the parasite. However, prevalence of this infection among free-ranging raccoon dogs is low and so is the worm burden. To examine the susceptibility of the raccoon dog to D. immitis infection, 3 raccoon dogs and 2 beagles were inoculated 4 times with 25 third-stage larvae (L3s) of D. immitis at 3-wk intervals. Worms were recovered from 2 raccoon dogs and both domestic dogs. The average percentage of recovery (2.3%) of the raccoon dogs was almost 10 times lower (24.5%) than that of the domestic dogs, but there was no significant difference in the body length of worms recovered from 2 types of hosts. To examine microfilaremia, 2 raccoon dogs were infected with 100 L3s. Microfilaremia was observed for 180 days postinoculation (PI) but disappeared at about 300 days PI. The raccoon dog was mildly susceptible to infection with D. immitis, but surviving worms developed and matured normally.

Seasonal Rhythms of Body Temperature in the Free‐Ranging Raccoon Dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides) with Special Emphasis on Winter Sleep

The raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides) is the only canid with passive overwintering in areas with cold winters, but the depth and rhythmicity of wintertime hypothermia in the wild raccoon dog are unknown. To study the seasonal rhythms of body temperature (Tb), seven free‐ranging animals were captured and implanted with intra‐abdominal Tb loggers and radio‐tracked during years 2004–2006. The average size of the home ranges was 306±26 ha, and the average 24 h Tb was 38.0±<0.01°C during the snow‐free period (May–November). The highest and lowest Tb were usually recorded around midnight (21∶00–02∶00 h) and between 05∶00–11∶00 h, respectively, and the range of the 24 h oscillations was 1.2±0.01°C. The animals lost approximately 43±6% of body mass in winter (December–April), when the average size of the home ranges was 372±108 ha. During the 2–9‐wk periods of passivity in January–March, the average 24 h Tb decreased by 1.4–2.1°C compared to the snow‐free period. The raccoon dogs were hypothermic for 5 h in the morning (06∶00–11∶00 h), whereas the highest Tb values were recorded between 16∶00–23∶00 h. The range of the 24 h oscillations increased by approximately 0.6°C, and the rhythmicity was more pronounced than in the snow‐free period. The ambient temperature and depth of snow cover were important determinants of the seasonal Tb rhythms. The overwintering strategy of the raccoon dog resembled the patterns of winter sleep in bears and badgers, but the wintertime passivity of the species was more intermittent and the decrease in the Tb less pronounced.

Home ranges and densities of medium-sized carnivores in south-east Finland, with special reference to rabies spread

Home ranges and densities of medium-sized carnivores were studied in south-east Finland by radio tracking. The species studied included potential vectors of rabies: the raccoon dogNyctereutes procyonoides (Gray, 1834), red foxVulpes vulpes (Linnaeus, 1758), European badgerMeles meles (Linnaeus, 1758) and domestic catFelis silvestris catus (Schreber, 1777). Home ranges of badgers were largest (mean 14.7 km2) and those of cats smallest (1.5 km2). Home ranges overlapped largely, both within and between species. Most home ranges were larger and population densities lower in south-east Finland compared with those in Western Europe. The pooled density of medium-sized carnivores with overlapping home ranges was, however, high, which may indicate a high risk of a rabies epizootic in this multi-host community. Rabies might also spread rapidly to new areas, because of the large home ranges and, consequently, long dispersal distances.

Effects of Phytosterols on the Endocrinology and Metabolism of the Female Raccoon Dog ( Nyctereutes Procyonoides )

Phytosterols (PS) are the analogues of animal cholesterol in various plants. # -Sitosterol is a PS used in margarines and natural remedies to lower elevated serum cholesterol levels. PS enter the ecosystem via pulp mill effluents. The study investigated the endocrine and metabolic effects of PS on the female raccoon dog ( Nyctereutes procyonoides ), a canid omnivore. Eight female animals were exposed perorally to 8 mg PS/kg/d for 4 wk with 8 animals in the control group. In the PS-treated females, there was a transitory decrease in the plasma estradiol concentrations with an increase in the plasma follicle-stimulating hormone levels. The plasma triiodothyronine concentrations were higher in the PS group. Serum lipid concentrations decreased in PS-treated and control animals. This probably represents a seasonal adaptation. Most of the cholesterol in raccoon dog serum was high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, unlike that in humans but similar to some other carnivores. Liver and kidney ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase activities were lower in the PS treated females. Data indicate that raccoon dogs may not be a sentinel species for PS effects.

Distribution of Badger (Meles Meles), Fox (Vulpes Vulpes) and Raccoon Dog (Nyctereutes Procyonoides) Burrows in Different Habitats and Soil Types of Lithuania

Distribution of badger (Meles meles), fox (Vulpes vulpes) and raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides) burrows in different habitats and soil types of Lithuania was investigated after surveying 371 pre-selected 1×1-km squares. Analysis of burrow distribution within habitats and soils was made applying digitised habitat data. Statistical data were analysed applying a generalised linear model with Poisson distribution and a logarithmic link function. Badger setts were found in 10, raccoon dog burrows in 11 and fox earths in 15 habitat types. The tendencies were similar for all the three species. Burrowing mammals avoided open or wet places and preferred to dwell in burrows that had been dug out in habitats providing cover. Badgers avoided digging setts in sandy soils but showed tendency to dig setts in sandy loam. Foxes liked to dwell in burrows dug out in soils of very high permeability. Raccoon dogs showed a tendency to avoid burrows dug out in soil of very low permeability.