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PubMed2001

Y chromosome haplotyping in Scandinavian wolves (Canis lupus) based on microsatellite markers.

The analysis of mitochondrial DNA sequences has for a long time been the most extensively used genetic tool for phylogenetic, phylogeographic and population genetic studies. Since this approach only considers female lineages, it tends to give a biased picture of the population history. The use of protein polymorphisms and microsatellites has helped to obtain a more unbiased view, but complementing population genetic studies with Y chromosome markers could clarify the role of each sex in natural processes. In this study we analysed genetic variability at four microsatellite loci on the canid Y chromosome. With these four microsatellites we constructed haplotypes and used them to study the genetic status of the Scandinavian wolf population, a population that now contains 60-70 animals but was thought to have been extinct in the 1970s. In a sample of 100 male wolves from northern Europe we found 17 different Y chromosome haplotypes. Only two of these were found in the current Scandinavian population. This indicates that there should have been at least two males involved in the founding of the Scandinavian wolf population after the bottleneck in the 1970s. The two Scandinavian Y chromosome haplotypes were not found elsewhere in northern Europe, which indicates low male gene flow between Scandinavia and the neighbouring countries.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Population size estimation in Yellowstone wolves with error-prone noninvasive microsatellite genotypes.

Determining population sizes can be difficult, but is essential for conservation. By counting distinct microsatellite genotypes, DNA from noninvasive samples (hair, faeces) allows estimation of population size. Problems arise because genotypes from noninvasive samples are error-prone, but genotyping errors can be reduced by multiple polymerase chain reaction (PCR). For faecal genotypes from wolves in Yellowstone National Park, error rates varied substantially among samples, often above the 'worst-case threshold' suggested by simulation. Consequently, a substantial proportion of multilocus genotypes held one or more errors, despite multiple PCR. These genotyping errors created several genotypes per individual and caused overestimation (up to 5.5-fold) of population size. We propose a 'matching approach' to eliminate this overestimation bias.

Alleles↗
PubMed1999

Inbreeding and relatedness in Scandinavian grey wolves Canis lupus.

Management of small and threatened populations may require detailed knowledge about the genetic status of individuals and the genetic relatedness between individuals. I show here that individual heterozygosity at a set of 29 microsatellite loci correlates closely to the degree of inbreeding in a captive grey wolf population. Microsatellite allele sharing similarly correlates closely to known relatedness between pairs of individuals. Genotyping the same markers in a small (60-70 individuals) natural population of grey wolves in Sweden, low individual heterozygosities and high values of allele sharing between some animals were found. Since inbreeding depression has been documented in a captive grey wolf population of Scandinavian origin, the results point out an additional risk for the small Swedish wild population.

Alleles↗
PubMed2006

Selection for heterozygosity gives hope to a wild population of inbred wolves.

Recent analyses have questioned the usefulness of heterozygosity estimates as measures of the inbreeding coefficient (f), a finding that may have dramatic consequences for the management of endangered populations. We confirm that f and heterozygosity is poorly correlated in a wild and highly inbred wolf population. Yet, our data show that for each level of f, it was the most heterozygous wolves that established themselves as breeders, a selection process that seems to have decelerated the loss of heterozygosity in the population despite a steady increase of f. The markers contributing to the positive relationship between heterozygosity and breeding success were found to be located on different chromosomes, but there was a substantial amount of linkage disequilibrium in the population, indicating that the markers are reflecting heterozygosity over relatively wide genomic regions. Following our results we recommend that management programs of endangered populations include estimates of both f and heterozygosity, as they may contribute with complementary information about population viability.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Survey of necropsy results in captive red wolves (Canis rufus), 1992-1996.

Through the Red Wolf Species Survival Plan, the captive red wolf (Canis rufus) population was developed with the intent of reestablishing wild populations. One part of the plan was a survey for diseases that might occur as a result of population homogeneity or that might impede breeding success and reintroduction. For this survey, complete necropsies and histopathologic analyses were performed on 62 red wolves from 1992 to 1996. Major causes of 22 neonatal deaths were parental trauma, parasitic pneumonia, and septicemia. Common neonatal lesions included pododermatitis and systemic ascariasis. Cardiovascular anomalies and systemic parasitism were found in two juveniles. Causes of death in the 38 adults included conspecific trauma, neoplasia, or gastrointestinal diseases such as necrotizing enteritis, intestinal perforation, and gastric volvulus. Lymphosarcoma represented 50% of the fatal neoplasms. Three adults died from cardiovascular failure or hyperthermia during handling, and several adults were euthanized for suspected genetic diseases. Overall, the captive population had few significant health problems, but population fitness might be improved by continued removal of potentially deleterious genes from the breeding population and by modifying the husbandry of neonates and adults.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1997

Occurrence of rabies in wolves of Alaska.

We describe a rabies epizootic in northwest Alaska (USA) during 1989 and 1990 which resulted in mortality to several different wolf (Canis lupus) packs. Four radio-collared wolves were confirmed to have rabies while evidence for seven others was strongly suggestive but not confirmed. The wolf population declined during the rabies epizootic; thus rabies may have been a significant limiting factor.

Age Distribution↗
PubMed1997

Detection of canine parvovirus in wolves from Italy.

One hundred fifteen samples of wolf (Canis lupus) feces were collected during 1994 to 1995 from four free-living populations of the north central Apennines Mountains, Italy. The samples were tested for canine parvovirus by antigen-capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), hemagglutination, and virus isolation. Four of these samples were positive by virus isolation as confirmed by electron microscopy. All positive samples were from Casentino Park in Tuscany. This is the first definitive observation of canine parvovirus in wolves from Europe.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Trichinella sp. in wolves from interior Alaska.

Tongue samples were collected from 148 wolf (Canis lupus) carcasses during 1993 and 1994 near Fairbanks (Alaska, USA). A standard peptic digestion procedure was used to detect Trichinella sp. larvae. Larvae were found in 54 of 148 (36%) samples. There was no significant difference in sex-specific prevalence. Prevalence was significantly related to age. There was no relationship between the number of larvae/g of host tissue and the age or sex of the host. Trichinella spp. infection may cause illness in individual wolves. However, there was no indication the parasite had any impact on the population.

Age Distribution↗
PubMed2001

Serologic survey for canine coronavirus in wolves from Alaska.

Wolves (Canis lupus) were captured in three areas of Interior Alaska (USA). Four hundred twenty-five sera were tested for evidence of exposure to canine coronavirus by means of an indirect fluorescent antibody procedure. Serum antibody prevalence averaged 70% (167/240) during the spring collection period and 25% (46/185) during the autumn collection period. Prevalence was 0% (0/42) in the autumn pup cohort (age 4-5 mo), and 60% (58/97) in the spring pup cohort (age 9-10 mo). Prevalence was lowest in the Eastern Interior study area. A statistical model indicates that prevalence increased slightly each year in all three study areas. These results indicate that transmission occurs primarily during the winter months, antibody decay is quite rapid, and reexposure during the summer is rare.

Alaska↗
PubMed2004

Serologic survey for selected disease agents in wolves (Canis lupus) from Alaska and the Yukon Territory, 1984-2000.

Wolves (Canis lupus) were captured in several geographic areas of Alaska (USA) and the Yukon Territory (Canada) during 1984-2000. Blood was collected from 1,122 animals. Sera were tested for antibodies against infectious canine hepatitis virus (ICH), canine distemper virus (CDV), canine parvovirus (CPV), Francisella tularensis, and serovars of Leptospira interrogans. Antibody prevalence for ICH was >84% for all areas. Area-specific prevalences of antibodies ranged from 12% to 70% for CPV, from 0% to 41% for CDV, and from 4% to 21% for F. tularensis. There was no evidence of CDV exposure at the two southernmost locations in Alaska. Prevalence of antibodies for ICH increased slightly during the 16-yr course of the survey. There was essentially no evidence of exposure to L. interrogans. Prevalences of antibodies for both CPV and CDV were age-specific, with higher values in the adult cohort compared with the pup cohort. There were no sex-specific differences in prevalence of antibodies for any of the five disease agents.

Alaska↗
PubMed2005

Intestinal macro- and microparasites of wolves (Canis lupus L.) from north-eastern Poland recovered by coprological study.

Wolf scats collected during ecological studies in Mazury lake district in NE Poland were analysed for intestinal micro- and macroparasites. Five nematode species were identified: Ancylostoma caninum (Ercolani, 1859), Uncinaria stenocephala (Railliet, 1884), Trichuris vulpis (Froelich, 1789), Toxocara canis (Werner, 1782) and Toxascaris leonina (von Linstow, 1902). Among cestode species there were identified infections with Dipylidium caninum (Linnaeus, 1785). The overall helminth prevalence was 63.5 % and average intensity was 15.4 +/- 8.0 eggs /1g of sample. The most prevalent parasite was T. vulpis (38.5 %) and the most abundant infections were by T. canis. Almost 55 % of samples (28/51) were positive for C. parvum oocysts and 46.7 % (14/30) for Giardia spp. cysts. The pack factor affected the distribution of some of macro- and microparasites. The identified parasite fauna of wolves in Mazury lake district consists of several micro- and macroparasites of interest for public health.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

PCBs and PCTs in wolves (Canis lupus, L) in Galicia (N.W. Spain).

Levels of PCBs and PCTs (the Aroclor1260 and Aroclor5460 congeners, respectively) in viscera of wolves of Galicia (N.W. Spain) were determined by capillary GC with electron-capture detection. Mean PCB levels ranged from 0.13 mg/kg of dry tissue in kidney to 3.70 mg/kg in liver. PCTs were detected only in suprarenal capsule, their mean level being 3.77 mg/kg.

Aging↗
PubMed1986

Effect of anosmia on reproduction in male and female wolves (Canis lupus).

Anosmia was produced in two female and three male wolves by transection of the olfactory peduncle and was confirmed by their inability to detect meat, urine, feces, anal-gland secretions, and fish emulsion. All operated animals continued to investigate the environment with their noses, to interact normally with other pack members, and to feed at levels which maintained presurgical body weights. No effect was found on reproductive physiology (females: estradiol or progesterone concentrations, ovulation, pregnancy or parturition; males: testosterone, testicular recrudescence or sperm numbers, motility or maturation). One anosmic female became dominant and although she urine-marked with a flexed leg, the rate was lower than typical for dominant females and perhaps contributed to her failure to pair-bond with the dominant male. One anosmic male raised-leg-urinated while competing for pack dominance and when kenneled away from other males. Precopulatory, copulatory, and maternal behavior were observed for one anosmic female and appeared normal. However, neither male that was sexually naive before surgery showed interest in proestrous or estrous females. The possibility that secondary degeneration of brain regions mediating sexual behavior was responsible for the failure of these males to respond was not supported. Not only was the lack of male sexual response the only serious deficit following transection, but the male which was sexually experienced prior to surgery did copulate successfully during his second postoperative breeding season despite continued anosmia. Chemosensory priming from female urine during the protracted proestrous phase, as well as urinary and vaginal odors during estrus, appear to be critical for induction of full sexual potency in sexually naive males. The importance of urine and vaginal secretions in the sexual response of experienced males is uncertain.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Dosimetry of 210Po in humans, caribou, and wolves in northern Canada.

Effective doses from 210Po intake with caribou meat were determined for human residents in Baker Lake and Snowdrift in the Northwest Territories of Canada and compared to doses calculated from reported 210Po tissue activities in Alaskan and British residents (Hill 1966; Blanchard and Moore 1971). Effective doses were calculated to separate body tissues, using ICRP 60 human weighting factors and the ICRP 30 metabolic model for 210Po. Baker Lake and Alaskan effective doses were similar at 0.4 mSv y-1 and slightly higher than Snowdrift doses (0.3 mSv y-1). Alaskan tissue activities indicated higher effective doses to liver, bone surfaces and red marrow and lower doses to spleen than the 210Po metabolic model (ICRP 1979a) predicts. Effective doses to Baker Lake and Snowdrift caribou and wolves, calculated from tissue activities, ranged from 7-20 mSv y-1, using human weighting factors for comparison to human doses only. Effective doses to northern Canadians and wildlife were, respectively, 7-11% and 1.8-5 times an estimated human background of 4 mSv y-1 from all sources.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Nurses who run with the wolves: the power and caring dialectic revisited.

The dialectic of power and caring is illustrated through examples of nurses' experiences reported in a recent study of public health nursing. Examples of caring at each level of the dialectic are provided and implications for nurses and their practice discussed. Nurses whose practice was typically one of empowered caring "ran with the wolves," that is, they demonstrated a connection with their nursing legacy that gave them strength and creativity to imagine transformative possibilities.

Empathy↗
PubMed1995

An acoustic basis for maternal recognition in timber wolves (Canis lupus)?

An in-den recording system was used to monitor the vocalizations and behavior of adult wolves tending to a litter of pups during the first five postnatal weeks. Two female adults, one of them the mother, tended to the pups on nonoverlapping schedules. The distributions of the fundamental frequencies of the adults' squeak vocalizations were largely nonoverlapping, suggesting that this feature may be available as an acoustic cue to individual recognition. Squeaks emitted outside the den, and which were associated with pup exit responses, had fundamental frequencies wholly within the range of the mother's, raising the possibility that the pups used this as a cue for maternal recognition.

Acoustics↗
PubMed1978

Oral papillomatosis in coyotes (Canis latrans) and wolves (Canis lupus) of Alberta.

Twelve cases of oral papillomatosis were detected in wild carnivores of Alberta, ten in coyotes (Canis latrans) and two in wolves (Canis lupus). Lesions ranged from mild with a few small papillomas to severe with much of the surface of the lips, tongue and buccal cavity covered with papillomas. Three of five coyotes with severe papillomatosis were in obvious poor health. The gross and histologic lesions are described and the significance of this disease in wild carnivores is discussed.

Alberta↗