Please read the abstract (Uittreksel) in the section, 00front of this document. See also 10summary / Dissertation (MSc (Zoology))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Zoology and Entomology / MSc / unrestricted

The last 50 years was characterized by a dramatic decrease in free-roaming cheetah populations and consequently the cheetah now appears on the IUCN Red List for Threatened Species. In order to save cheetahs from extinction, a number of projects were launched to breed cheetahs in captivity. Captive cheetahs, however, receive fundamentally different diets than their free-roaming counterparts, which necessitates feed supplementation to fulfill their unique dietary needs. The Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre (HESC) is one such project aiming to breed captive cheetahs. At the HESC, a number of juvenile cubs were diagnosed with a form of relaxed carpal joints, namely metacarpal deformity of the front legs. Literature suggests that the condition is due to a magnesium deficiency, which is a consequence of an unbalanced diet. Supplementing magnesium to the diet of cheetahs can, however, affect the urinary system negatively: such as the formation of urolithiasis. V The aim of this study was to determine whether dietary magnesium supplementation in the diets of captive cheetahs will remedy metacarpal deformity and also to investigate the influence of magnesium supplementation on the formation of urolithiasis. The study was divided into two phases. Phase 1 was conducted to determine the influence of dietary magnesium supplementation on metacarpal deformity, identified in juvenile cheetahs at the HESC. To determine the degree of deformity, a leg deformity scoring system was developed. On a scale from 1-3, the cheetahs were scored twice to determine the Flexed Deformity Score (FDS) and Rotational Deformity Score (RDS) values before and after dietary magnesium supplementation. Phase 2 was conducted to determine the influence of magnesium supplementation on different physiological parameters that have an influence on the formation of urolithiasis. Phase 2 was divided into three periods. During each period, the cheetahs received a different diet. During period C, the experimental period, the cheetahs were divided into two groups. One group received a meat-only diet, whereas the other group received a meat-Mg diet. At the end of each of the three periods, blood- and urine samples were collected and analyzed to determine the concentration of minerals in the cheetah’s blood plasma and urine. Based on the FDS and RDS scores, a 25.5% response rate to dietary magnesium supplementation on rotational deformities was found, whereas a 60.8% response rate on flexural deformation was found. It is thus concluded that dietary supplementation of magnesium in juvenile cheetahs that experience metacarpal deformities, will remedy the deformity. By analyzing the changes of different blood- and urine parameters in the cheetahs it was observed that dietary magnesium supplementation do influence the formation of urolithiasis. The physiological state of the cheetahs can influence these parameters. The results obtained from the study can be utilized by nutritionists, veterinarians and institutions to enhance the health of captive cheetahs. Copyright / Dissertation (MSc(Agric))--University of Pretoria, 2012. / Animal and Wildlife Sciences / unrestricted

The conservation benefits of animals in captivity are limited to education and genetic preservation. However, where species or sub-species are critically endangered, the release of captive bred animals into the wild can be used as a strategy to supplement existing populations or to form new founder populations. Cheetahs Acinonyx jubatus born in captivity have no prior experience of survival in wild circumstances. Captive bred cheetahs are currently the greatest source of individuals. This project worked in conjunction with IUCN reintroduction guidelines and pre-existing recommendations in an attempt to develop an ideal methodology of reintroducing captive bred cheetah into the wild. Three captive bred cheetahs, one female and two males, were reintroduced onto Makulu Makete Wildlife Reserve, a predator proofed reserve in the Limpopo province of South Africa, as part of an experimental rehabilitation project. The cheetahs had to lose their homing instinct, be habituated to researchers, become accustomed to eating venison, chewing skin, infrequent large meals and strength development within the three months spent in the enclosures. The cheetahs were habituated to the field researchers on foot and to research vehicles for ease of monitoring. A soft release methodology was used to ease the cheetahs into the environment. Upon release they were tracked twice daily to observe behavior and interaction with their environment. The duration of the project was 20 months which includes enclosure time. The establishment of a home range indicated that the resource need of the cheetahs was satisfied. Eight habitat types were identified in the study area and all cheetahs encompassed part of each in their home range. Though the hunting instinct was present in all the cheetahs, the appropriate hunting techniques and prey selection had to be learned overtime. There was no difference between what was stalked and what was caught. From the observed kills, prey weight ranged from small <40 kg to medium <160 kg. This weight range is comparable to wild cheetahs that select prey within the same range. Each cheetah hunted every four to five days and consumed three to five kilograms of meat per day. Nine prey species were identified, two of which were not detected during direct observations. In the collection of scat, the trained dog found approximately a scat per hour while each direct observation by the researchers took approximately 10 hours. These captive bred cheetahs had to learn how to hunt and how to select appropriate prey thus addressing learned behavior versus instinct. Given the frequency and intensity of injuries sustained and the extensive human influence in the form of veterinary treatment, the reintroduction was not a success. However the techniques developed and modified are relevant for future endeavors‟. / Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2011. / Animal and Wildlife Sciences / unrestricted

Objectives: The aims of this study was to investigate the RC microbiota in CCF canine teeth in the domestic dogs (Canis familiaris) and cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus), identify the possible factors related to the presence of aerobic or anaerobic bacteria and evaluate and evaluate antibiotic susceptibility of bacteria isolated. Animals: Thirty nine animals suffering from CCF of their canine teeth were included in this study, of which 20 were dogs and 19 were cheetahs. Procedures: Evaluation of the oral cavity of animals while under general anaesthesia was performed and those without necrotic pulps or those that had received antibiotic therapy in the previous two weeks were excluded. Microbial samples were taken from 63 RC of which 27 were from dogs and 36 were from cheetahs. Strict anaerobic and aerobic techniques were used in parallel for plating, incubation and identification of the bacteria isolated in this manner. In an attempt to evaluate the sensitivity of the culture media and anaerobic technique used, additional samples were collected after the samples for bacterial isolation had been taken from the last eight pulps. These comprised those from six cheetahs and two dogs and were analysed using culture techniques and an initial screening with the 16S rRNA-specific PCR. Results: • Dogs: A total of 49 cultivable isolates were recovered belonging to 19 different bacterial species and 13 different genera. Individual RC yielded a maximum of four bacterial species. Of the bacterial isolates, 4.08 % were strict anaerobes, being represented by Clostridium acetobulitycum (2.04 %) and Prevotella melalinogenica (2.04 % ). The incidence of aerobic bacteria and facultative anaerobic bacteria in this study were 18.36 % and 77.56 %respectively of all the bacterial isolates. Of these Pasteurella multocida ( 10.20 % ), Corynebacterium spp. (10.20 %), Moraxella spp. (8.17 %), Bacillus spp. (6.12 %), Aeromonas salmonicida (6.12 %), Escherichia coli (6.12 %) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (6.12 %) were the bacteria most frequently isolated. In summary, the RC microflora was found to be predominantly Gram negative facultative anaerobic microorganisms. The antibiotic agents that showed the highest efficacy in vitro against the different bacteria isolates were Enrofloxacin (85.21 % ), Gentamicin (92.39 %), Chloramphenicol (89.13 %). • Cheetahs: A total of 59 cultivable isolates, belonging to 19 different microbial species and 13 different genera were recovered from 36 RC sampled. Thirty-two (54.49 %) of the cultivable isolates were Gram positive while 27 (45.71 %) were Gram negative. Individual root canals each yielded a maximum of six species. Four RC had no cultivable bacteria. The bacterial micro flora recovered from the RC of the animals showed a higher number of facultative anaerobes (62.72 % of all the bacterial isolates). Aerobic isolates were 28.81 %, and strict anaerobes 8.47 % of all the isolates. The latter species comprised Clostridium sordelli (5.08 % ), and Clostridium septicum (3.38 % ). The species with the highest isolation frequency were Bacillus spp. (22.13 %), Pasteurella multocida (10.16 %), Corynebacterium spp. (8.47 %), Enterococcus spp. (8.47 %), Moraxella spp. (8.47 %) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (5.25 %). In summary, the bacteria isolated from the RC were Gram positive facultative anaerobic bacteria. The antibiotics, which showed the highest efficacy in vitro against the different bacteria isolates, were Enrofloxacin (91.96 %), Gentamicin (86.37 %) and Orbifloxacin (86.28 %). • Nucleic Acid-Base detection: In dogs, Gram negative and Gram positive bacterial species were equally represented. Anaerobic bacterial species predominated at 83.3 % (5/6) of the species detected. On the other hand, in cheetahs, the bacterial species isolated by the PCR method showed a prevalence of anaerobic bacteria (60.8 %, 14/23), while facultative anaerobes were isolated in 30.2 % (7 /23) of cases and aerobic bacteria in 8.6 % (2/23). Conclusions and Clinical Relevance: This study has indicated that the microbial flora in any single infected RC is much more diverse than it has been shown using cultural techniques alone and can contain potentially uncultivable bacterial species. Some of these species may represent potentially new phylotypes, which may be involved in endodontic infections and ultimatelyin periradicular periodontitis, and should therefore be considered in any future studies involved in defining endodontic pathogens. Copyright / Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2012. / Companion Animal Clinical Studies / restricted