Temporal niche partitioning among sympatric wild and domestic ungulates between warm and cold seasons.

The coexistence of sympatric species with similar ecological niches has been a central issue in ecology. Clarifying the daily activity patterns of sympatric wild ungulates can help understand their temporal niche differentiation and the mechanisms of coexistence, providing information for their conservation. The Baotianman National Nature Reserve in northern China is rich in wild ungulates, but little is known about the daily activity patterns of wild ungulates in the area, making it difficult to develop effective conservation strategies. We studied five representative wild ungulates (i.e. forest musk deer, Chinese goral, Reeve's muntjac, Siberian roe deer, and wild boar) of the region using camera-trapping data, focusing on the seasonal daily activity patterns and effects of seasonal grazing of domestic sheep, to reveal their coexistence based on temporal ecological niche differentiation. Comparative analyses of the seasonal daily activity showed that forest musk deer exhibited a single-peak activity in the warm season. Other ungulates exhibited multipeak activity. All five ungulates differed significantly in daily activity patterns. Notably, wild boar and Reeve's muntjac showed high overlap coefficients between the cold and warm seasons. In both cold and warm seasons, the five wild ungulates and domestic sheep displayed low overlap in their daily activity rhythms potentially indicating temporal ecological niche differentiation. The results suggest that temporal isolation might be a strategy for wild ungulates to avoid domestic sheep and reduce interspecific competition, and that temporal ecological niche differentiation potentially promoted the coexistence among the studied sympatric ungulates. This understanding may provide new insights for the development of targeted conservation strategies.

Deer activity levels and patterns vary along gradients of food availability and anthropogenic development.

Animal activity reflects behavioral decisions that depend upon environmental context. Prior studies typically estimated activity distributions within few areas, which has limited quantitative assessment of activity changes across environmental gradients. We examined relationships between two response variables, activity level (fraction of each day spent active) and pattern (distribution of activity across a diel cycle) of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), with four predictors-deer density, anthropogenic development, and food availability from woody twigs and agriculture. We estimated activity levels and patterns with cameras in 48 different 10.36-km2 landscapes across three larger regions. Activity levels increased with greater building density, likely due to heightened anthropogenic disturbance, but did not vary with food availability. In contrast, activity patterns responded to an interaction between twigs and agriculture, consistent with a functional response in habitat use. When agricultural land was limited, greater woody twig density was associated with reduced activity during night and evening. When agricultural land was plentiful, greater woody twig density was associated with more pronounced activity during night and evening. The region with the highest activity level also experienced the most deer-vehicle collisions. We highlight how studies of spatial variation in activity expand ecological insights on context-dependent constraints that affect wildlife behavior.

Safety of deer antler extract in children: A 12-week randomized controlled clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Deer antlers have been used as strong tonifying medicine in Asian countries, especially for the growth and development of children in pediatrics of Korean medicine. The safety of deer antler in adults cannot be applied directly to children because of their physiological characteristics. To accumulate reliable data on the safety of deer antler in pediatric populations, well-designed clinical studies are required. METHODS: This research is a 12-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial evaluating the safety of deer antler extract (DAE) in children. The DAE group received an intervention containing 1586 mg of DAE, whereas the control group received a placebo for 12 weeks. The safety was assessed by monitoring adverse drug reactions (ADRs) and laboratory test results. RESULTS: One hundred participants were included in the safety analysis. Three and 2 participants in the DAE and control groups, respectively, reported ADRs. There was no significant difference in incidence between the 2 groups. ADRs are categorized into gastrointestinal and skin-related symptoms. No serious ADR was observed throughout the study. The laboratory test results were within or outside the normal range at clinically insignificant levels. CONCLUSION: The research discovered that the DAE is safe in terms of ADRs and laboratory parameters under the conditions studied. Further studies are required to accumulate safety data about DAE dosage adjustment and potential interactions with other medicines.

De novo transcriptome assembly database for 100 tissues from each of seven species of domestic herbivore.

Domesticated herbivores are an important agricultural resource that play a critical role in global food security, particularly as they can adapt to varied environments, including marginal lands. An understanding of the molecular basis of their biology would contribute to better management and sustainable production. Thus, we conducted transcriptome sequencing of 100 to 105 tissues from two females of each of seven species of herbivore (cattle, sheep, goats, sika deer, horses, donkeys, and rabbits) including two breeds of sheep. The quality of raw and trimmed reads was assessed in terms of base quality, GC content, duplication sequence rate, overrepresented k-mers, and quality score distribution with FastQC. The high-quality filtered RNA-seq raw reads were deposited in a public database which provides approximately 54 billion high-quality paired-end sequencing reads in total, with an average mapping rate of ~93.92%. Transcriptome databases represent valuable resources that can be used to study patterns of gene expression, and pathways that are related to key biological processes, including important economic traits in herbivores.

Detection of small ruminant Lentivirus proviral DNA in red deer from Poland.

Small ruminant lentiviruses (SRLVs) are widespread and infect goats and sheep. Several reports also suggest that SRLVs can infect wild ruminants. The presence of specific antibodies against SRLVs has been identified in wild ruminants from Poland, but no studies have been conducted to detect proviral DNA of SRLVs in these animals. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine samples from Polish wild ruminants to determine whether these animals can serve as reservoirs of SRLVs under natural conditions. A total of 314 samples were tested from red deer (n = 255), roe deer (n = 52) and fallow deer (n = 7) using nested real-time PCR. DNA from positive real-time PCR samples was subsequently used to amplify a CA fragment (625 bp) of the gag gene, a 1.2 kb fragment of the pol gene and an LTR-gag fragment. Three samples (0.95%) were positive according to nested real-time PCR using primers and probe specific for CAEV (SRLV group B). All the samples were negative for the primers and probe specific for MVV (SRLV A group). Only SRLV LTR-gag sequences were obtained from two red deer. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that these sequences were more closely related to CAEV than to MVV. Our results revealed that deer can carry SRLV proviral sequences and therefore may play a role in the epidemiology of SRLVs. To our knowledge, this is the first study describing SRLV sequences from red deer.

Identification and epidemiological study of an uncultured flavivirus from ticks using viral metagenomics and pseudoinfectious viral particles.

During their blood-feeding process, ticks are known to transmit various viruses to vertebrates, including humans. Recent viral metagenomic analyses using next-generation sequencing (NGS) have revealed that blood-feeding arthropods like ticks harbor a large diversity of viruses. However, many of these viruses have not been isolated or cultured, and their basic characteristics remain unknown. This study aimed to present the identification of a difficult-to-culture virus in ticks using NGS and to understand its epidemic dynamics using molecular biology techniques. During routine tick-borne virus surveillance in Japan, an unknown flaviviral sequence was detected via virome analysis of host-questing ticks. Similar viral sequences have been detected in the sera of sika deer and wild boars in Japan, and this virus was tentatively named the Saruyama virus (SAYAV). Because SAYAV did not propagate in any cultured cells tested, single-round infectious virus particles (SRIP) were generated based on its structural protein gene sequence utilizing a yellow fever virus-based replicon system to understand its nationwide endemic status. Seroepidemiological studies using SRIP as antigens have demonstrated the presence of neutralizing antibodies against SAYAV in sika deer and wild boar captured at several locations in Japan, suggesting that SAYAV is endemic throughout Japan. Phylogenetic analyses have revealed that SAYAV forms a sister clade with the Orthoflavivirus genus, which includes important mosquito- and tick-borne pathogenic viruses. This shows that SAYAV evolved into a lineage independent of the known orthoflaviviruses. This study demonstrates a unique approach for understanding the epidemiology of uncultured viruses by combining viral metagenomics and pseudoinfectious viral particles.

Tabanus chrysurus is a potential biological vector of Trypanosoma (Megatrypanum) theileri in Japan.

Several species of horse flies (Diptera: Tabanidae) are known as vectors of Trypanosoma (Megatrypanum) theileri and T. theileri-like trypanosomes; these host-parasite relationships were established based on the developmental stages of these parasites discovered in the hindgut of horse flies. T. theileri and T. theileri-like trypanosomes have been detected in cattle and wild deer in Japan; however, the vector horse fly species remains unidentified. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to identify the potential horse fly species serving as vectors of T. theileri in Japan. A total of 176 horse flies were collected between June to September 2020 and 2021 in Tokachi, Hokkaido, Japan. The T. theileri infection in the captured horse flies was determined by PCR and microscopic analyses of their midgut and hindgut. Additionally, the trypanosome, microscopically detected in a horse fly, was molecularly characterized and phylogenetically analyzed using 18S rRNA and partial cathepsin L-like protein gene (CATL) sequence of the trypanosome. The microscopy and PCR analyses revealed 0.57% and 35.8% prevalence of T. theileri in horse flies, respectively. Epimastigote stages of T. theileri, adhered to the hindgut epithelial cells of Tabanus chrysurus via flagella or actively moving in the lumen of the gut, were detected. Phylogenetic analysis revealed the connection of isolated trypanosomes with T. theileri in the TthI clade. These results suggest that Ta. chrysurus is a potential vector of T. theileri.

Calicophoron daubneyi (Paramphistomidae) in deer of the Sumava National Park, Czech Republic - Consequence of prevalent rumen fluke infection in cattle.

A substantial parallel increase in prevalence and geographical spread of the rumen fluke, Calicophoron daubneyi, in livestock in western and central Europe has been recognized in the recent past. In the course of the examination of rectum feces of 471 red deer (Cervus elaphus) and one sika deer (Cervus nippon) from the Fascioloides magna endemic Sumava National Park in the years 2021 and 2022, rumen fluke eggs were detected in four red deer (0.8%) and the sika deer and identified as eggs of C. daubneyi by molecular analysis. Subsequent examination of rectal fecal samples of 247 beef cattle from 22 herds of 14 farms located in or nearby the national park revealed rumen fluke eggs in 53 samples (21.5%) originating from 16 herds of 11 farms, molecularly identified as C. daubneyi eggs as well. One C. daubneyi egg positive red deer and three C. daubneyi egg positive cattle samples also contained fasciolid eggs, respectively, which were detected in 9.5% or 3.6% of the total samples from red deer or cattle, respectively. Results of this investigation reveal the first finding of C. daubneyi in sika deer worldwide and in red deer in mainland Europe and add to the growing number of reports on C. daubneyi in livestock in Europe. Considering that the ratio of cattle excreting rumen fluke eggs exceeded that of deer substantially, it can reasonably be assumed that the C. daubneyi infections in deer are a consequence of the prevalent infection in cattle, illustrating a pathogen spillover event from livestock into wildlife.

A review of chronic wasting disease (CWD) spread, surveillance, and control in the United States captive cervid industry.

Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a fatal prion disease of the family Cervidae that circulates in both wild and captive cervid populations. This disease threatens the health and economic viability of the captive cervid industry, which raises cervids in contained spaces for purposes such as hunting and breeding. Given the high transmissibility and long incubation period of CWD, the introduction and propagation of the infectious prion protein within and between captive cervid farms could be devastating to individual facilities and to the industry as a whole. Despite this risk, there does not yet exist a literature review that summarizes the scientific knowledge, to date, about CWD spread, surveillance, or control measures. Our review, which focused on peer reviewed, primary research conducted in the United States, sought to address this need by searching Google Scholar, Scopus, and Web of Science with a five-term keyword string containing terms related to the (1) location, (2) species affected, (3) disease, (4) captive cervid industry, and (5) topic of focus. Between the three databases, there were 190 articles that were selected for further examination. Those articles were then read to determine if they were about CWD spread, surveillance, and/or control in captive cervid facilities. The 22 articles that met these inclusion criteria were evaluated in detail and discussed, with recommendations for future collaborative work between captive cervid owners, government agencies, and researchers. This work will help to address, inform, and mitigate the rising problem of CWD spread and establishment.

Study of Processing Conditions during Enzymatic Hydrolysis of Deer By-Product Tallow for Targeted Changes at the Molecular Level and Properties of Modified Fats.

In most cases, the unused by-products of venison, including deer tallow, are disposed of in rendering plants. Deer tallow contains essential fatty acids and can be used to prepare products for everyday food and advanced applications. This work aimed to process deer tallow into hydrolyzed products using microbial lipases. A Taguchi design with three process factors at three levels was used to optimize the processing: amount of water (8, 16, 24%), amount of enzyme (2, 4, 6%), and reaction time (2, 4, 6 h). The conversion of the tallow to hydrolyzed products was expressed by the degree of hydrolysis. The oxidative stability of the prepared products was determined by the peroxide value and the free fatty acids by the acid value; further, color change, textural properties (hardness, spreadability, stickiness, and adhesiveness), and changes at the molecular level were observed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The degree of hydrolysis was 11.8-49.6%; the peroxide value ranged from 12.3 to 29.5 µval/g, and the color change of the samples expressed by the change in the total color difference (∆E*) was 1.9-13.5. The conditions of enzymatic hydrolysis strongly influenced the textural properties: hardness 25-50 N, spreadability 20-40 N/s, and stickiness < 0.06 N. FTIR showed that there are changes at the molecular level manifested by a decrease in ester bonds. Enzymatically hydrolyzed deer tallow is suitable for preparing cosmetics and pharmaceutical matrices.

RT-QuIC detection of chronic wasting disease prion in platelet samples of white-tailed deer.

BACKGROUND: Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a prion disease of captive and free-ranging cervids. Currently, a definitive diagnosis of CWD relies on immunohistochemistry detection of PrPSc in the obex and retropharyngeal lymph node (RPLN) of the affected cervids. For high-throughput screening of CWD in wild cervids, RPLN samples are tested by ELISA followed by IHC confirmation of positive results. Recently, real-time quacking-induced conversion (RT-QuIC) has been used to detect CWD positivity in various types of samples. To develop a blood RT-QuIC assay suitable for CWD diagnosis, this study evaluated the assay sensitivity and specificity with and without ASR1-based preanalytical enrichment and NaI as the main ionic component in assay buffer. RESULTS: A total of 23 platelet samples derived from CWD-positive deer (ELISA + /IHC +) and 30 platelet samples from CWD-negative (ELISA-) deer were tested. The diagnostic sensitivity was 43.48% (NaCl), 65.22% (NaI), 60.87% (NaCl-ASR1) or 82.61% (NaI-ASR1). The diagnostic specificity was 96.67% (NaCl), 100% (NaI), 100% (NaCl-ASR1), or 96.67% (NaI-ASR1). The probability of detecting CWD prion in platelet samples derived from CWD-positive deer was 0.924 (95% CRI: 0.714, 0.989) under NaI-ASR1 experimental condition and 0.530 (95% CRI: 0.156, 0.890) under NaCl alone condition. The rate of amyloid formation (RFA) was greatest under the NaI-ASR1 condition at 10-2 (0.01491, 95% CRI: 0.00675, 0.03384) and 10-3 (0.00629, 95% CRI: 0.00283, 0.01410) sample dilution levels. CONCLUSIONS: Incorporation of ASR1-based preanalytical enrichment and NaI as the main ionic component significantly improved the sensitivity of CWD RT-QuIC on deer platelet samples. Blood test by the improved RT-QuIC assay may be used for antemortem and postmortem diagnosis of CWD.

iSCNT embryo culture system for restoration of Cervus nippon hortulorum, presumed to be sika deer in the Korean Peninsula.

Sika deer inhabiting South Korea became extinct when the last individual was captured on Jeju Island in Korea in 1920 owing to the Japanese seawater relief business, but it is believed that the same subspecies (Cervus nippon hortulorum) inhabits North Korea and the Russian Primorskaya state. In our study, mt-DNA was used to analyze the genetic resources of sika deer in the vicinity of the Korean Peninsula to restore the extinct species of continental deer on the Korean Peninsula. In addition, iSCNT was performed using cells to analyze the potential for restoration of extinct species. The somatic cells of sika deer came from tissues of individuals presumed to be Korean Peninsula sika deer inhabiting the neighboring areas of the Primorskaya state and North Korea. After sequencing 5 deer samples through mt-DNA isolation and PCR, BLAST analysis showed high matching rates for Cervus nippon hortulorum. This shows that the sika deer found near the Russian Primorsky Territory, inhabiting the region adjacent to the Korean Peninsula, can be classified as a subspecies of Cervus nippon hortulorum. The method for producing cloned embryos for species restoration confirmed that iSCNT-embryos developed smoothly when using porcine oocytes. In addition, the stimulation of endometrial cells and progesterone in the IVC system expanded the blastocyst cavity and enabled stable development of energy metabolism and morphological changes in the blastocyst. Our results confirmed that the individual presumed to be a continental deer in the Korean Peninsula had the same genotype as Cervus nippon hortulorum, and securing the individual's cell-line could restore the species through replication and produce a stable iSCNT embryo.

Maslinic acid supplementation prevents di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate-induced apoptosis via PRDX6 in peritubular myoid cells of Chinese forest musk deer.

Chinese forest musk deer (FMD), an endangered species, have exhibited low reproductive rates even in captivity due to stress conditions. Investigation revealed the presence of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), an environmental endocrine disruptor, in the serum and skin of captive FMDs. Feeding FMDs with maslinic acid (MA) has been observed to alleviate the stress response and improve reproductive rates, although the precise molecular mechanisms remain unclear. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying the alleviation of DEHP-induced oxidative stress and cell apoptosis in primary peritubular myoid cells (PMCs) through MA intake. Primary PMCs were isolated and exposed to DEHP in vitro. The results demonstrated that DEHP significantly suppressed antioxidant levels and promoted cell apoptosis in primary PMCs. Moreover, interfering with the expression of PRDX6 was found to induce excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and cell apoptosis in primary PMCs. Supplementation with MA significantly upregulated the expression of PRDX6, thereby attenuating DEHP-induced oxidative stress and cell apoptosis in primary PMCs. These findings provide a theoretical foundation for mitigating stress levels and enhancing reproductive capacity of in captive FMDs.

Habitat alteration or climate: What drives the densities of an invading ungulate?

Anthropogenic habitat alteration and climate change are two well-known contributors to biodiversity loss through changes to species distribution and abundance; yet, disentangling the effects of these two factors is often hindered by their inherent confound across both space and time. We leveraged a contrast in habitat alteration associated with the jurisdictional boundary between two Canadian provinces to evaluate the relative effects of spatial variation in habitat alteration and climate on white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) densities. White-tailed deer are an invading ungulate across much of North America, whose expansion into Canada's boreal forest is implicated in the decline of boreal caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou), a species listed as Threatened in Canada. We estimated white-tailed deer densities using 300 remote cameras across 12 replicated 50 km2 landscapes over 5 years. White-tailed deer densities were significantly lower in areas where winter severity was higher. For example, predicted deer densities declined from 1.83 to 0.35 deer/km2 when winter severity increased from the lowest value to the median value. There was a tendency for densities to increase with increasing habitat alteration; however, the magnitude of this effect was approximately half that of climate. Our findings suggest that climate is the primary driver of white-tailed deer populations; however, understanding the mechanisms underpinning this relationship requires further study of over-winter survival and fecundity. Long-term monitoring at the invasion front is needed to evaluate the drivers of abundance over time, particularly given the unpredictability of climate change and increasing prevalence of extreme weather events.

[Identification of Cervi Cornu (Cervus elaphus) and its formula granules based on PCR-RFLP].

Cervi Cornu is the ossified antler, or the base antler that falls off in the spring of the following year after the pilose antler is sawn off from Cervus elaphus or C. nippon, as a precious traditional Chinese medicine, has been recognized for its medicinal value and widely used in clinical practice. However, the origins of Cervi Cornu are miscellaneous, and Cervi Cornu is even mixed with adulterants in the market. Currently, there is a shortage of ways to identify Cervi Cornu and no standard to control the quality of Cervi Cornu. So it is valuable to develop a way to effectively identify Cervi Cornu from the adulterants. In this study, the differences in the mitochondrial barcode cytochrome b(Cytb) gene sequences of C. elaphus, C. nippon and their related species were compared and the specific single nucleotide polymorphism(SNP) sites on the Cytb sequences of Cervi Cornu were screened out. According to the screened SNPs, Cervi Cornu-specific primers dishmy-F and dishmy-R were designed. The PCR system was established and optimized, and the tolerance and feasibility of Taq polymerases and PCR systems affecting the repeatability of the PCR method were investigated. The amplification products of C. elaphus and C. nippon were digested using the restriction enzyme MseⅠ. The results showed that after electrophoresis of the product from PCR with the annealing temperature of 56 ℃ and 35 cycles, a single specific band at about 100 bp was observed for C. elaphus samples, and the product of C. elaphus samples was 60 bp shorter than that of C. nippon samples. There was no band for adulterants from other similar species such as Alces alces, Rangifer tarandus, Odocoileus virginianus, O. hemionus, Cap-reolus pygargus, Przewalskium albirostis and negative controls. The polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism(PCR-RFLP) method established in this study can quickly and accurately identify Cervi Cornu originated from C. elaphus in crude drugs, standard decoctions, and formula granules, and distinguish the origins of Cervi Cornu products, i.e., C. nippon and similar species. This study can be a reference for other studies on the quality standard of other formula granules of traditional Chinese medicines.

Assessing current visual tooth wear age estimation methods for Rangifer tarandus using a known age sample from Canada.

Age estimation is crucial for investigating animal populations in the past and present. Visual examination of tooth wear and eruption is one of the most common ageing methods in zooarchaeology, wildlife management, palaeontology, and veterinary research. Such approaches are particularly advantageous because they are non-destructive, can be completed using photographs, and do not require specialized training. Several tooth wear and eruption methods have been developed for Rangifer tarandus, a widely distributed and long-utilized species in the North. This paper evaluates the practicality and effectiveness of three existing visual tooth wear and eruption methods for this species using a large known-age sample from several caribou populations in northern Canada (Bluenose East, Bluenose West, Dolphin-Union, Qamanirjuaq, and Beverly herds). These methods are evaluated based on: (1) the amount of error and bias between estimated and actual ages, (2) suitable and interpretable results, (3) user-friendly and unambiguous procedures, and (4) which teeth and visual features of those teeth are used to record wear and eruption status. This study finds that the three evaluated methods all have variable errors and biases, and two show extensive biases when applied to older individuals. Demographic data is simpler to generate and more flexible to report when methods allow age to be estimated as a continuous or discrete variable, rather than as age ranges. The dentition samples used by two of the previously developed methods impact their applicability to other populations of Rangifer. In one existing method, individuals were unavailable from some age ranges leaving gaps when assigning ages. For another Rangifer-ageing method, the population utilized was too distinct in morphology or diet to be used with the Canadian caribou analyzed here. Additional refinement of tooth wear and eruption ageing methods will benefit zooarchaeological research on reindeer and caribou remains.

Prion forensics: a multidisciplinary approach to investigate CWD at an illegal deer carcass disposal site.

Infectious prions are resistant to degradation and remain infectious in the environment for several years. Chronic wasting disease (CWD) has been detected in cervids inhabiting North America, the Nordic countries, and South Korea. CWD-prion spread is partially attributed to carcass transport and disposal. We employed a forensic approach to investigate an illegal carcass dump site connected with a CWD-positive herd. We integrated anatomic, genetic, and prion amplification methods to discover CWD-positive remains from six white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and, using microsatellite markers, confirmed a portion originated from the CWD-infected herd. This approach provides a foundation for future studies of carcass prion transmission risk.

Cervids as Sentinels for Rickettsia spp. in Portugal.

Cervids are highly exposed to ticks, however, their role in the life cycle of these rickettsiae has not been fully elucidated. Given the expanding distribution and growing population of deer species in Portugal, coupled with their direct and indirect interactions with humans during hunting, it becomes crucial to explore their role as sentinels and potential reservoirs of Rickettsia. The present investigation aimed to detect and evaluate exposure to Rickettsia in free-living deer from Portugal. Blood samples (n = 77) were collected from hunted game animals (red deer and fallow deer) from different areas throughout Portugal (Idanha-a-Nova, Monte Fidalgo, Montalvão and Arraiolos) and sera were tested by immunofluorescence assay, to detect antibodies. Additionally, blood DNA samples were screened for SFGR by nested-polymerase chain reaction targeting a fragment of the outer membrane protein B (ompB) gene, as well as for Anaplasma and Ehrlichia spp. targeting the 16S rRNA gene. Thirty-five per cent (25 deer and two fallow deer) tested positive (sera with a titer ≥1:64) for IgG antibodies against Rickettsia conorii. No rickettsial DNA was detected by PCR for the ompB gene, and all DNA samples tested negative for Anaplasma and Ehrlichia. As far as we know, this study is the first screening of cervid species in Portugal for Rickettsia antibodies. The findings suggest that these animals serve as useful sentinel indicators for the circulation of rickettsiae, offering a complementary perspective to studies focused on ticks. The increasing numbers of hunted deer in Portugal and the potential zoonotic features of Rickettsia spp. highlight the importance of continued surveillance directed at tick-borne diseases, especially those involving wild animals.

Characteristics of wild moose (Alces alces) vocalizations.

Moose are a popular species with recreationists but understudied acoustically. We used publicly available videos to characterize and quantify the vocalizations of moose in New Hampshire separated by age/sex class. We found significant differences in peak frequency, center frequency, bandwidth, and duration across the groups. Our results provide quantification of wild moose vocalizations across age/sex classes, which is a key step for passive acoustic detection of this species and highlights public videos as a potential resource for bioacoustics research of hard-to-capture and understudied species.