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At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed2002

An exceptional case of historical outbreeding in African sable antelope populations.

Empirical investigations of intraspecific outbreeding and subsequent introgressive hybridization in natural populations are rare, particularly among conspecific populations of large mammals. Using mitochondrial DNA data [partial control region (496 basepairs - bp) and cytochrome b gene (343 bp) sequences analysed from 95 individuals representing 17 sampling locations scattered through the African miombo (Brachystegia) woodland ecosystem] and phylogeographical statistical procedures (gene genealogy, nested cladistic and admixture proportion analyses), we (i) give a detailed dissection of the geographical genetic structure of Hippotragus niger; (ii) infer the processes and events potentially involved in the population history; and (iii) trace extensive introgressive hybridization in the species. The present-day sable antelope population shows a tripartite pattern of genetic subdivision representing West Tanzanian, Kenya/East Tanzanian and Southern Africa locations. Nested clade analysis revealed that past allopatric fragmentation, caused probably by habitat discontinuities associated with the East African Rift Valley system, together with intermediary episodic long-distance colonization and restricted, recurrent gene flow have played an predominant role in shaping the extent of maternal genetic diversity (10.4%) and population structure. An extensive (average rate of admixture = 20.0%), but geographically circumscribed and unidirectional hybridization event in the past was inferred, resulting in an extreme (the highest discovered so far in mammals) intraspecific difference of 18.2% among morphologically monotypic sable antelopes from West Tanzania. The results are used to provide an evolutionary framework within which taxonomic implications and conservation decisions can be evaluated.

Africa South of the Sahara↗
PubMed2004

Population genetics of the roan antelope (Hippotragus equinus) with suggestions for conservation.

The roan antelope (Hippotragus equinus) is the second largest African antelope, distributed throughout the continent in sub-Saharan savannah habitat. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region sequencing (401 bp, n = 137) and microsatellite genotyping (eight loci, n = 137) were used to quantify the genetic variability within and among 18 populations of this species. The within-population diversity was low to moderate with an average mtDNA nucleotide diversity of 1.9% and average expected heterozygosity with the microsatellites of 46%, but significant differences were found among populations with both the mtDNA and microsatellite data. Different levels of genetic resolution were found using the two marker sets, but both lent strong support for the separation of West African populations (samples from Benin, Senegal and Ghana) from the remainder of the populations studied across the African continent. Mismatch distribution analyses revealed possible past refugia for roan in the west and east of Africa. The West African populations could be recognized together as an evolutionarily significant unit (ESU), referable to the subspecies H. e. koba. Samples from the rest of the continent constituted a geographically more diverse assemblage with genetic associations not strictly corresponding to the other recognized subspecies.

Africa↗
PubMed1995

Absence of geographic chromosomal variation in the roan and sable antelope and the cytogenetics of a naturally occurring hybrid.

The determination of geographic chromosomal variation in rare or endangered species, or those of special management concern, is important, since geographically defined cytotypes can negatively influence breeding programs involving founders drawn from widely divergent localities. We cytogenetically analyzed specimens of the roan (Hippotragus equinus) and sable antelope (H. niger) collected from widely divergent localities throughout their respective ranges. Each species was characterized by a diploid number of 60 and an invariant karyotype. In contrast to the absence of intraspecific variation, however, the two species differ with respect to centromeric constitutive heterochromatin and numbers of nucleolar organizer regions. These cytogenetic landmarks were subsequently used to verify an anecdotal account of a naturally occurring roan x sable hybrid. The data show that, despite their markedly distinct phenotypes, the roan and sable antelope are nonetheless sufficiently similar genetically to produce viable offspring. Hybridization, although a rare event between these species, is probably partly promoted by behavioral differences which are not always sufficient to prevent mating between them.

Africa↗
PubMed1996

Chromosomal evolution in duiker antelope (Cephalophinae: Bovidae): karyotype comparisons, fluorescence in situ hybridization, and rampant X chromosome variation.

Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and conventional banding techniques were used to identify patterns of similarity among the genomes of six species of antelope, subfamily Cephalophinae. The G-banded euchromatic portions of the autosomes were invariable in all species; however, significant modifications of the X chromosomes were detected. Two of the taxa, Cephalophus maxwellii and C. monticola, were characterized by acrocentric X's, while X chromosome morphology varied from submetacentric to metacentric in the remaining species (C. dorsalis, C. natalensis, Sylvicapra grimmia, and C. silvicultor). The short arm of the X was heterochromatic in each species. Total genomic DNAs from these antelope were used as hybridization probes against Cephalophus metaphase chromosomes and resulted in robust fluorescence in the pericentromeric region of each autosome and in the heterochromatic short arm of the X chromosome, indicating complimentarity of DNA sequences in these regions. Conversely, chromosome painting involving genomic DNAs derived from the subfamilies Alcelaphinae (Pygargus dorcas) and Neotraginae (Oreotragus oreotragus) showed a marked absence of hybridization at these sites. Additionally, X chromosome comparisons between the Cephalophinae and Bovinae (represented by Bos taurus) revealed two euchromatic pericentric inversions which had occurred since their common ancestry. There is good G-band homoeology between the inverted cattle chromosome region Xq12 --> q34 and most of the proximal portion of Xq in duikers, as well as between the distal third of the duiker Xq and the cattle Xp. The latter rearrangement was further confirmed by in situ hybridization using a probe containing an insert spanning bands p12 to p14 of the cattle X chromosome.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Rabbit oocyte cytoplasm supports development of nuclear transfer embryos derived from the somatic cells of the camel and Tibetan antelope.

This study was designed to examine the ability of rabbit metaphase II oocyte cytoplasm to support the development of interspecies nuclear transfer embryos reconstructed using donor nuclei from different species. Skin fibroblast cells from a camel and Tibetan antelope were used as donor nuclei. As a first step, we investigated the efficiency of different activation protocols by comparing the parthenogenetic development of rabbit oocytes. The protocol that yielded the highest blastocyst rate was used to activate the reconstructed embryos in nuclear transfer experiments. In addition, the effect of donor cell serum starvation on the development of the reconstructed embryo was also examined. More than half of the karyoplast-cytoplast couplets could be fused, and about one third of the reconstructed embryos were capable of completing first cleavage, regardless of the species of donor nuclei. Some of the cleaving reconstructed embryos were even capable of progressing further and developing to the blastocyst stage (1.4-8.7% for the Tibetan antelope and 0-7.5% for the camel, respectively). Our results suggest that the mechanisms regulating early embryo development may be conserved among mammalian species and some factors existing in rabbit oocyte cytoplasm for somatic nucleus reprogramming and dedifferentiation may not be species-specific. Rabbit oocyte cytoplasm can reprogram donor nuclei regardless of the origin of the nucleus and support in vitro development to an advanced stage.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Paratuberculosis in saiga antelope (Saiga tatarica) and experimental transmission to domestic sheep.

Mycobacterium paratuberculosis was isolated in low numbers from the small intestine and associated mesenteric lymph nodes of a saiga antelope (Saiga tatarica) using routine culture techniques in spite of histologic evidence of high numbers of acid-fast bacteria in these tissues. Two newborn domestic sheep were fed the ground intestinal tissue containing acid-fast bacteria and the progression of the experimental disease was followed by fecal culture, immunodiffusion (AGID) and lymphocyte stimulation (LST) tests. One experimentally infected sheep developed progressive clinical illness 1 yr postinoculation. Few M. paratuberculosis were isolated from feces or tissues although an extensive granulomatous mycobacterial enteritis, lymphadenitis and lymphangitis were observed containing large numbers of typical acid-fast organisms. No clinical illness was observed in the second inoculated sheep after 18 mo of observation, although infection was demonstrated at necropsy. Both sheep developed AGID and LST reactions indicative of paratuberculosis. This study demonstrated that a difficult to culture isolate of M. paratuberculosis was responsible for paratuberculosis in captive wild ruminants and was transmissible to domestic sheep. Diagnosis of paratuberculosis in four of eight of the imported saiga antelope and in eleven of their 18 offspring indicates the importance of this disease in management of captive wild ruminants and the ease with which this organism can be transmitted.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

[Pharmacognostical identification of antelope horn(Cornu Saigae Tataricae) and its adulterants].

OBJECTIVE: To provide appropriate information and scientific basis for identifying antelope horn (Saiga tatarica) contained in traditional Chinese patent medicines, and formulate relevant quality criteria through experiments. METHOD: Conducting comparative identification of macroscopic and microscopic characteristics of antelope horn(Saige tatarica) and its adulterants (Procapra gutturosa, Pantholops hodgsoni, Ovis ammon and Capra hircus) and giving a comparative table and an indented key to the main characteristics. RESULT AND CONCLUSION: There are remarkable differences between the authentic product and adulterants in both macroscopic and microscopic characteristics.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

[Study on mitochondrial DNA genetic diversity of Tibetan antelope].

With noninvasive DNA genotyping technology, we investigated genetic diversity of Tibetan antelope by analyzing mitochondrial DNA variationìthose samples are collected from Hoh Xil National Nature Reserve, Qinghai province, China. A total of 444-446 bp of the mitochondrial control region was sequenced form 10 individuals. The results showed that A% + T%(61.8%) was higher than C%+G% (38.2%) obviously. Ten haplotypes were identified in the 10 samples. The result showed 48 polymorphic sites after comparisons of the 10 haplotype samples, among them, including 44 transitions, 1 transversion, 1 insertion and 2 deletions. The average genetic distance of haplotypes is 0.031. The haplotypic diversity is 1.000. The nucleotide diversity is 0.0296. The average number of nucleotide differences is 13.127. It showed that the Tibetan antelope population has high variation in mitochondrial D-loop sequence.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

An outbreak of babesiosis in imported sable antelope (Hippotragus niger).

A complete necropsy performed on 2 sable antelope (Hippotragus niger), revealed lesions concomitant with a massive haemolytic crisis. These included widespread oedema and anaemia of the carcass, severe oedema of the lungs, petechiae and echymoses of the epicardium, a moderate splenomegaly and a severe haemoglobinuria. The histopathological lesions included a moderate alveolar oedema, the presence of haemosiderin in the spleen and lymph nodes, and mild degenerative changes of the renal tubular epithelium. Peripheral blood and brain smears contained numerous parasitised red blood cells. The parasites were round or oval in shape containing a single or double area of purple-staining chromatin along a portion of the margin of the organism. It was identified as Babesia irvinesmithi Martinaglia, 1936, which is unique to sable. Seven sable antelope were subsequently treated with imidocarb diproprionate at a dose of 1.2 mg kg-1. No adverse side-effects have been noted in these animals.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Babesia, Theileria and Anaplasma spp. infecting sable antelope, Hippotragus niger (Harris, 1838), in southern Africa.

Some observations are recorded on blood parasites of sable antelopes. Blood smears of 124 of these antelopes from South Africa and Zimbabwe were examined and 7 were found to be positive for a Babesia sp., identified as Babesia irvinesmithi Martinaglia 1936. A total of 70 of the smears were positive for theilerial piroplasms, while 1 smear had macroschizonts (with cytomeres) and microschizonts of a Theileria (= Cytauxzoon) sp. One blood smear was positive for an Anaplasma sp. Attempts to isolate the Babesia sp. by subinoculating blood from sable to splenectomized and intact sable and splenectomized cattle were unsuccessful. Attempts to infect sable with Babesia bovis and Babesia bigemina were likewise unsuccessful. Theilerial piroplasms reached high levels in a splenectomized sable but could not be transmitted with blood to cattle. The Anaplasma sp. was found to be infective for sheep but not for cattle.

Anaplasma↗
PubMed1980

The control of parasites in antelope in small gama reserves.

The most important parasites of antelope in small game reserves are ixodid ticks, the larvae of oestrid flies and nematodes. Methods of control based on the seasonal prevalence of these parasites are suggested. Adult ticks can be controlled during summer by the introduction of cattle which are dipped or sprayed with an acaricide at 5-day intervals. The larvae of oestrid flies can be controlled by the capture during winter of all alcelaphine antelope and their oral treatment with a larvicide, while the addition of an anthelmintic to feed supplement blocks during winter can be used to control nematodes.

Animal Population Groups↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Antelopes of China].

A brief characterization of the distribution and ecology of six species of Chinese antelopes (Przewalski's gazelle, saiga, Tibetan antelope, four subspecies of Persian gazelle, Mongolian gazelle, and Tibetan zeren)is made, with special reference to the state of their population and protection in situ.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Comparative histology of antelope placentomes.

The histological structure of ruminant (family: Bovidae) placentomes in eight antelope species was compared to that of domestic cattle and sheep. The chorioallantoic villi differed in degree of branching, surface corrugation, and complexity of utero-placental junction. All species had the epitheliochorial type of placenta, with the epithelial lining of maternal caruncular crypts varying between cellular and syncytial types. Uganda kob (Kobus kob, Reduncinae) and common duiker (Sylvicapra grimmia, Cephalophinae) had the simplest structures with minimal villous branching, round to polygonal villous cross-sections, and cellular crypt lining. Common eland (Taurotragus oryx, Tragelaphinae) and greater kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros, Tragelaphinae) had moderate villous branching, polygonal to mildly corrugated villous cross-sections, and cellular crypt lining with slight signs of syncytium. Wildebeest (gnu, Connochaetes gnou, Alcelaphinae) and sable antelope (Hippotragus niger, Hippotraginae) had moderate villous branching with corrugated surface and almost completely syncytial crypt lining. Steenbok (Raphicerus campestris, Neotraginae) and impala (Aepyceros melampus, Aepycerotinae) had the most complicated branching of villi and corrugation, and their crypt lining was clearly syncytial. Cattle (Bos taurus) and sheep (Ovis aries) had villous branching and corrugation similar to impala, and their crypt lining resembled that of eland and impala, respectively.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1999

Health evaluation of a pronghorn antelope population in Oregon.

During 1996 and 1997, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service conducted a study to determine the cause(s) of population decline and low survival of pronghorn antelope (Antilocapra americana) fawns on Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge (HMNAR) located in southeastern Oregon (USA). As part of that study, blood, fecal, and tissue samples from 104 neonatal fawns, 40 adult does, and nine adult male pronghorns were collected to conduct a health evaluation of the population. Physiological parameters related to nutrition and/or disease were studied. No abnormalities were found in the complete blood cell counts of adults (n = 40) or fawns (n = 44 to 67). Serum total protein and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels were lower compared to other pronghorn populations. Does had mean BUN values significantly lower (P < 0.001) in December 1996 than March 1997. Serum copper (Cu) levels in does (range 0.39 to 0.74 ppm) were considered marginal when compared to domestic animals and other wild ungulates. Fawns had low (0.28 ppm) Cu levels at birth and reached the does' marginal values in about 3 days. Whole blood, serum and liver selenium (Se) levels were considered marginal to low in most segments of the pronghorn population. However, serum levels of vitamin E (range 1.98 to 3.27 microg/ml), as determined from the does captured in March, were apparently sufficient to offset any signs of Se deficiency. No clinical signs of Cu or Se deficiency were observed. Fifty-five of 87 dead fawns were necropsied. Trauma, due to predation by coyotes (Canis latrans), accounted for 62% of the mortality during mid-May to mid-July of each year. Other causes included predation by golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) (4%), dystocia (2%), septicemic pasteurellosis (4%), starvation (5%), and unknown (23%). Adult females were tested for serum neutralizing antibodies to Brucella spp. (n = 20, negative), Leptospira interrogans (n = 20, negative), bluetongue virus (n = 20, 35% positive), epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus (n = 20, 30% positive), respiratory syncytial virus (n = 18, negative), parainfluenza virus type 3 (n = 18, 67% positive), infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (n = 18, negative), and bovine viral diarrhea (n = 18, negative). Considering the parameters examined, we found no apparent predisposing factors to mortality including those killed by coyotes, but some nutritional parameters suggest that pronghorns on HMNAR exist on a diet low in protein and Se and marginal in Cu. The effect these factors have on the population is not known.

Age Factors↗
PubMed2001

Retrieval of four adaptive lineages in duiker antelope: evidence from mitochondrial DNA sequences and fluorescence in situ hybridization.

Independent molecular markers (mitochondrial DNA sequences from two genes and fluorescence in situ hybridization with satellite DNA sequences as hybridization probes) were employed to investigate phylogenetic relationships among duiker antelope. When analyzed singly or taken together, the molecular and cytogenetic data allowed for the delimitation of four adaptive groups: the conservative dwarfs which are basal, a savanna specialist which groups apart from the forest duikers, the giant duikers, and the red duikers. Within the latter, a further subdivision comprising an east African and a west African red duiker clade is evident. The placement of the endangered zebra duiker and Aders' duiker remains problematic. Several of the nomenclatural divisions in current use are questioned by our results. These include the recognition of Philantomba as genus name for the blue and Maxwell's duiker and that Harvey's duiker be relegated to a subspecies of the Natal red duiker. We place our results in a biogeographic context and argue that duiker speciation has been driven predominantly by habitat fragmentation which probably led to the disruption of gene flow between geographic populations.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Sequence analysis of the PrP protein from two species of antelope susceptible to transmissible spongiform encephalopathy.

The sequence of the coding regions of the PrP genes of the Arabian oryx and greater kudu have been determined and compared with the related sheep and bovine PrP gene sequences. The oryx gene sequence was found to be very closely related to that of the sheep, encoding just one amino acid difference. The greater kudu gene sequence was found to be more closely related to the bovine, encoding four amino acid differences. The possible influence that the gene sequences have on the transmission of spongiform encephalopathy to these antelope species is discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1977

The incidence of tuberculosis in Lechwe (marsh antelope).

Of the 238 specimens of tissue collected from 70 lechwe (marsh antelope) 79 yielded M. bovis, 1 yielded a mixed growth of M. bovis and an 'atypical' mycobacterium and 6 yielded 'atypical' mycobacteria; the 'atypical' mycobacteria were probably contaminants. Of the 63 lechwe killed as a 1 in 10 random sample from four herds, M. bovis was obtained from 21 animals, indicating that 33% of wild lechwe are infected with tuberculosis.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Basic haematological values in antelopes--IV. A comparison and concluding remarks.

Comparison of mean erythrocyte counts, mean haematocrit values, mean haemoglobin content and mean corpuscular volume of the red cell is presented for 21 species of antelopes (four species being excluded because of the small number of animals investigated). A direct relationship of haematocrit values and haemoglobin content and an inverse relationship of red cell counts and mean corpuscular volume of the erythrocytes were noted. The significance of an increased total surface area for oxygen exchange is discussed and values obtained in the red blood picture are compared with those of domesticated animals (cattle, goat and sheep) taken from the literature. Mean leukocyte counts were found to be in the human range with the exception of two species, but significantly lower than in domesticated artiodactylids. Problems in assessing the general health, the age, the effect of diet and of environment in captivity are discussed. Problems of methodology, especially of blood sampling, are given comparing results in manually restrained and in sedated animals.

Animals↗