The classification of the family Felidae (cats) is problematical due to the conservative nature of their morphology. Some workers classify the family into as many as 20 genera (Ewer, 1973) while others divide it into three genera (Walker et al., 1964). Such studies have largely been based on morphological and behavioural characters. Recently, molecular studies, namely, protein albumin immunological distances (Collier and O'Brien, 1985) and protein electrophoresis (Randi and Ragni, 1991) have been used to try and resolve the problems underlying this family. To complement the previous studies, in the present study we use mitochondrial (mt) DNA to construct a· phylogeny of eight members of the southern African Felidae namely, African wild cat, Felis lybica; domestic cat, Felis catus; caracal, Caracal caracal; European wild cat, Felis sylvestris; leopard, Panthera pardus; lion, Panthera leo; and cheetah, Acynonyx jubatus. Mitochondrial DNA (mt DNA) was utilized instead of nuclear DNA since it accumulates point mutations at a rate which is 5 to 10 times as fast as the nuclear DNA and is therefore particularly useful for studying more closely related organisms between sub-species, species and genera. Its apparent potential to be used as a tool for constructing genealogical trees and time scales makes it a method of choice in evolutionary studies. We used the restriction mapping approach to generate data for phylogenetic analysis. Restriction mapping was utilized since it gives good resolution at the species and genus level and evolutionary estimates derived from this method are considered more accurate than those obtained by methods such as the restriction fragment size comparison. We have also attempted to develop the methodology for sequencing part of the cytochrome b region of mt DNA following polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification. Both cladistic and distance approaches were used for phylogenetic construction. This study will be both of academic value and may have relevance to practical conservation management since these molecular approaches help to identify or confirm specific status especially with respect to the relationship between the domestic cat and the African and the European wild cats. Furthermore, such approaches can be used at the intraspecific level to address problems in biogeography and population genetics. Our results are in concordance with the previously determined morphological studies and albumin immunological distance studies. The restriction maps for the African wild cat and the domestic cat are identical, emphasizing their close relationship and the African origin of the domestic cat. The European wild cat showed a slight variation with the African wild cat or the domestic cat with four different restriction sites and a sequence divergence of 0.9. This suggests that the common ancestral mt DNA of these cats existed about 450 000 years ago. The lion and the leopard are monophyletic in both cladistic and distance approaches. The precise placement of caracal has yet to be resolved but it is deeply rooted in the phylogenetic analysis which would be more consistent with a separate generic status of the latter species rather than its inclusion within either Felis or Panthera. The distance analyses are consistent with the placement of the cheetah as the most distantly related species amongst the eight Felid species examined.

Feline herpesviruses are endemic in free-ranging lions in South Africa. Serological surveillance among free-living felids revealed high levels of exposure to the virus. However, clinical disease in wild felids following FHV-1 infection has been only described in captive populations and reported to be similar to that in the domestic cat. To expand the epidemiological understanding of feline herpesviruses in felids and for disease control, three strains of FHV-1 isolated from a domestic cat (Felis catus) a cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) and an African wild cat (Felis silvestris) have been compared to determine their relatedness. A region of the herpesvirus DNA polymerase gene was amplified in a nested PCR with consensus degenerate primers to confirm the identity of the isolates. The genetic relatedness were investigated by comparing patterns of genomic DNA cleaved with restriction enzymes SalI and KpnI and the DNA fingerprints generated by different RAPD primers. For antigenic relationships, a panel of nine monoclonal antibodies prepared against a vaccine strain used against domestic cats were tested in a microneutralization assay. In addition, the phenotypic characteristics of the isolates were also compared by their ability to produce plaques in CrFK monolayer cell cultures. With restriction enzyme analysis, it was not possible to make a comparison due to lack of digestion of the genomic DNA of the domestic cat isolate. However, the RAPD-PCR revealed that isolates were closely related but distinct from each other. Only two monoclonal antibodies reacted with the wild isolates; an effect similar to a toxic effect on cell was observed with the domestic isolate. No significant differences of plaque production were observed among the trains. This study provides evidence of a closer evolutionary relationship between the three isolates. The results of the relationships based on the genetic and phenotypic characterization agreed well and both indicated that the viruses from the domestic and wild felids are different but have a high degree of similarity. Copyright / Dissertation (MSc (Veterinary Tropical Diseases))--University of Pretoria, 2009. / Veterinary Tropical Diseases / unrestricted

Orientador: Margarete Teresa Gottardo de Almeida / Resumo: A esporotricose é uma micose de distribuição mundial, decorrente da implantação traumática do fungo Sporothrix. Atualmente, é considerada uma zoonose emergente, de impactos à saúde pública, sendo os gatos os principais animais afetados e associados à transmissão aos humanos. O estudo objetivou identificar casos de esporotricose em gatos no município de São José do Rio Preto/SP, com identificação da espécie circulante, além de analisar os fatores clínicos e epidemiológicos, e de suscetibilidade aos antifúngicos. Amostras de secreções e/ou biópsias de animais com lesões e sintomas da doença foram analisadas por técnicas micológicas, fenotípicas e moleculares de identificação do fungo. O método de microdiluição em caldo foi utilizado para identificar o perfil de suscetibilidade aos antifúngicos. Os aspectos clínicos e epidemiológicos foram avaliados com base em informações contidas nas fichas de investigação. No período estudado, foram coletadas 245 amostras de gatos sintomáticos à esporotricose, sendo o fungo Sporothrix isolado em 189 (77, 2%) amostras. Na análise fenotípica, para todos os isolados, foi encontrado padrão morfofisiológico compatível com a espécie S. brasiliensis, sendo esse achado confirmado por técnica molecular. Na análise de suscetibilidade aos antifúngicos, em geral, a terbinafina foi o fármaco com melhor desempenho de atividade antifúngica, seguido pelo cetoconazol e itraconazol. A população de felinos domésticos analisada era composta, em sua maioria, por ... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Sporotrichosis is a worldwide mycosis, resulting from the traumatic implantation of the fungus Sporothrix. It is currently considered an emerging zoonosis with public health impact, and cats are the main animals affected and associated with transmission to humans. The aim of this study was to assess the cases of feline sporotrichosis in São José do Rio Preto, Brazil, to identify the circulating species, to analyze clinical and epidemiological factors, and evaluate the susceptibility to antifungal drugs. Secretion and/or biopsies samples from animals with lesions and sporotrichosis symptoms were analyzed by mycological procedures, and the isolates were identified by phenotypic and molecular techniques. The broth microdilution method was used to identify the antifungal susceptibility profiles. Clinical and epidemiological aspects were evaluated based on information contained in the research sheets. During the studied period, 245 samples of cats symptomatics of sporotrichosis were collected, and Sporothrix was isolated in 189 (77.2%) samples. According to the phenotypic analysis, all isolates exhibited the morphophysiological pattern of S. brasiliensis, this finding was confirmed by molecular technique. Regarding the antifungal susceptibility testing, terbinafine was, in general, the antifungal which exhibited the best activity, followed by ketoconazole and itraconazole. The domestic feline population analyzed was mostly male (180; 73.5%), adults (236; 96.3%), street (131; 53.5%... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

The perceptions of dogs and cats as held by children were studied in six areas of interest. The subjects were twenty-one males and twenty-one females ranging in age from 3 years 3 months t o 5 years 0 months selected from the Utah State University Nursery School. Responses to six areas of interest: identification, sex characteristics, love and affection, cornparionship , and therapeutic value, were elicited during interviews using a color picture of a mature German Shepard and mature Siamese cat as visual stimuli. A telephone interview with one parent of the subject was made to assess pet contact of the subject. Little difference was found between males and females and their perceptions of the animals. Females, however, were found to be more aware of sibling relationships of the animals than were the males, and were, in general, more verbally responsive. Little difference in perception was found between the older three and four year old subjects. A significant difference was found between the age groups in relation to the animals being friends and playmates with the older subjects stating that the animals could be their friends and playmates more often than the younger subjects. Those subjects who were assessed as having high pet contact were found in general to be less responsive than those with low pet contact. The types of responses given by those subjects with high, medium, or low pet contact, not controlling for sex or age , were found not to differ significantly. However, those with high pet contact i 2 the area of sex characteristics evidenced a lesser degree of knowledge about from where the babies of the animals came. In general the findings gave support to the conclusions of other authors t hat a dog as a pet may be perceived as a therapeu tic device.

No description available.

During recent years of schizophrenia research, many etiologies have been emphasized, some of them implicating infectious and autoimmune diseases. Many different infectious agents have been examined, but the root seems to stem from the secondary autoimmune deregulation, which can be caused by different infectious agents. Among the effects that autoimmune deregulation has on the body, one prominent effect is on the brain, resulting in either severe or mild encephalitis. The mild encephalitis that has been implicated as one of the causes of schizophrenia-spectrum disorders has been associated with different pathogens, many of which can be transmitted by the household cat. Thus in the present research we have used the schizotypy personality construct model as an analog for schizophrenia spectrum disorders, and the relationship between current schizotypy and childhood household cat interactions were examined. An online questionnaire was completed by 356 undergraduate students and assessed the current schizotypy using the Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire Brief Revised (SPQ-BR), as well as questions about cat ownership and cat bites (puncturing skin) prior to age 13. While no significant relationship was found between childhood cat ownership and current schizotypy, individuals endorsing a cat bite prior to age 13 (N = 66) reported a significantly higher level of current overall schizotypy, which was largely driven by the Disorganized factor of the SPQ-BR.. This relationship should be explored further by examining the antibodies and sera of individuals with the schizophrenia spectrum disorder.

A survey of the endoparasites of 100 stray cats in central Utah was conducted. Each cat was euthanized, and the entire alimentary tract, gall bladder, bile duct, heart, respiratory and excretory systems were excised and examined for endoparasites. Fecal samples were examined by a sugar flotation technique. Parasites identified and number of cats infected were: Isospora felis 5; I. rivolta, 4; Dipylidium caninum, 1; Hydatigera taeniaformis, 10; Toxocara mystax, 43; and Physaloptera sp., 2. One ectoparasite, Cheyletiella parasitivorax, was identified in the feces of 4 cats. Dipylidium caninum and T. mystax are known to cause accidental infection in humans and could represent potential public health hazards in Utah.

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No description available.

No description available.