A raiva é uma zoonose que afeta o sistema nervoso central, de evolução aguda e fatal, mantida em mamíferos e conhecida há milênios. Presente na América, Europa, África e Ásia, tem como agente etiológico o vírus da raiva (RABV), um vírus RNA neurotrópico, pertencente à ordem Mononegavirales, família Rhabdoviridae, gênero Lyssavirus., o qual é composto por quatorze espécies. Entre os Lyssavirus, o RABV é o mais amplamente distribuído mundialmente e tem maior importância epidemiológica dada sua associação com um maior número de casos de encefalite por Lyssavirus em humanos em relação às outras espécies. São admitidos dois ciclos de transmissão para a raiva, o ciclo urbano e o ciclo silvestre. O ciclo urbano ou terrestre tem o cão como principal reservatório e transmissor do vírus para outros cães, outros animais domésticos e para o homem, enquanto o ciclo silvestre ou aéreo é mantido por diferentes mamíferos silvestres e quirópteros. A origem comum dos dois ciclos do RABV á partir de um RABV ou Lyssavirus ancestral e a divergência adaptativa ocorrida desde então, causada pela adaptação de tal vírus em paisagens adaptativas tão variadas e distintas representadas pelas ordens Carnivora e Chiroptera, levaram ao surgimento das diversas linhagens encontradas nos ciclos terrestre e aéreo. Sendo assim, com o objetivo de se estudar as diferenças geradas nos RABV dos ciclos aéreo e terrestres devido a sua evolução em paralelo nestas duas ordens foram analisadas 159 sequências genômicas do RABV (59 do ciclo terrestre e 100 do ciclo aéreo), sendo que 21 destas sequências foram obtidas neste estudo e representam oito linhagens de RABV existentes no Brasil e cinco destas linhagens de RABV tiveram seus genomas sequenciados pela primeira vez. Foram analisados aspectos como as diferentes taxas de substituição de nucleotídeos por sítios (heterotaquia) entre os mesmos genes do RABV mantidos no ciclo aéreo e terrestre, análise do melhor gene para a realização de estudo filogenéticos confiáveis para o RABV, tempo de divergência entre os ciclos, padrões de variabilidade genética e vieses quanto ao uso preferencial de códons em cada ciclo. Como resultado, concluí-se que a divergência adaptativa ocorrida entre os dois ciclos do RABV fez com que alguns aspectos evolutivos de seu genoma apresentem padrões diferentes de acordo com o ciclo do RABV analisado. / Rabies is a zoonosis that affects the central nervous system, showing an acute and fatal evolution, occurring in mammals and known for millennia. Present in America, Europe, Africa and Asia, its etiological agent is Rabies virus (RABV), a neurotropic RNA virus in the order Mononegavirales, family Rhabdoviridae, genus Lyssavirus, composed by fourteen species. Amongst the lyssaviruses, RABV is the most widely spread worldwide and has a higher epidemiological importance due to its association to a higher number of cases of encephalitis. Two cycles are accepted for rabies transmission, the urban and the wild ones. In the urban (or terrestrial) cycle, dogs are the main reservoirs and transmitters of the virus to other dogs, other domestic animals and to humans, while in the wild (or aerial) cycle bats are the reservoirs. The common origin of both cycles from an ancestor RABV or lyssavirus and the adaptive divergence that occurred since then, caused by the adaptation of this ancestor virus to a wide range of adaptive landscapes represented by the orders Carnivora and Chiroptera led to the emergence of diverse RABV lineages currently found in the aerial and terrestrial cycles. Thus, aiming to study differences found in RABV lineages from the aerial and terrestrial cycles due to their parallel evolution in these two orders, 159 genomic sequences of RABV (59 from the terrestrial and 100 from the aerial cycles) were analyzed, being 21 of these sequences referent to eight lineages of RABV found in Brazil sequenced in this study and five of these eight lineages of RABV had their genomes sequenced for the first time The study included the per site nucleotide substitution rate differences (heterotachy) between the same genes RABV maintained in the aerial and terrestrial, survey of the most suitable gene for phylogenetic analysis, time of divergence between the two cycles, patterns of genetic variability and codon usage bias. As a conclusion, the adaptive divergence occurred between the two cycles caused some evolutionary aspects of RABV genome to show an intricate cycle-specific evolutionary pattern.

A raiva é uma zoonose que afeta o sistema nervoso central, de evolução aguda e fatal, mantida em mamíferos e conhecida há milênios. Presente na América, Europa, África e Ásia, tem como agente etiológico o vírus da raiva (RABV), um vírus RNA neurotrópico, pertencente à ordem Mononegavirales, família Rhabdoviridae, gênero Lyssavirus., o qual é composto por quatorze espécies. Entre os Lyssavirus, o RABV é o mais amplamente distribuído mundialmente e tem maior importância epidemiológica dada sua associação com um maior número de casos de encefalite por Lyssavirus em humanos em relação às outras espécies. São admitidos dois ciclos de transmissão para a raiva, o ciclo urbano e o ciclo silvestre. O ciclo urbano ou terrestre tem o cão como principal reservatório e transmissor do vírus para outros cães, outros animais domésticos e para o homem, enquanto o ciclo silvestre ou aéreo é mantido por diferentes mamíferos silvestres e quirópteros. A origem comum dos dois ciclos do RABV á partir de um RABV ou Lyssavirus ancestral e a divergência adaptativa ocorrida desde então, causada pela adaptação de tal vírus em paisagens adaptativas tão variadas e distintas representadas pelas ordens Carnivora e Chiroptera, levaram ao surgimento das diversas linhagens encontradas nos ciclos terrestre e aéreo. Sendo assim, com o objetivo de se estudar as diferenças geradas nos RABV dos ciclos aéreo e terrestres devido a sua evolução em paralelo nestas duas ordens foram analisadas 159 sequências genômicas do RABV (59 do ciclo terrestre e 100 do ciclo aéreo), sendo que 21 destas sequências foram obtidas neste estudo e representam oito linhagens de RABV existentes no Brasil e cinco destas linhagens de RABV tiveram seus genomas sequenciados pela primeira vez. Foram analisados aspectos como as diferentes taxas de substituição de nucleotídeos por sítios (heterotaquia) entre os mesmos genes do RABV mantidos no ciclo aéreo e terrestre, análise do melhor gene para a realização de estudo filogenéticos confiáveis para o RABV, tempo de divergência entre os ciclos, padrões de variabilidade genética e vieses quanto ao uso preferencial de códons em cada ciclo. Como resultado, concluí-se que a divergência adaptativa ocorrida entre os dois ciclos do RABV fez com que alguns aspectos evolutivos de seu genoma apresentem padrões diferentes de acordo com o ciclo do RABV analisado. / Rabies is a zoonosis that affects the central nervous system, showing an acute and fatal evolution, occurring in mammals and known for millennia. Present in America, Europe, Africa and Asia, its etiological agent is Rabies virus (RABV), a neurotropic RNA virus in the order Mononegavirales, family Rhabdoviridae, genus Lyssavirus, composed by fourteen species. Amongst the lyssaviruses, RABV is the most widely spread worldwide and has a higher epidemiological importance due to its association to a higher number of cases of encephalitis. Two cycles are accepted for rabies transmission, the urban and the wild ones. In the urban (or terrestrial) cycle, dogs are the main reservoirs and transmitters of the virus to other dogs, other domestic animals and to humans, while in the wild (or aerial) cycle bats are the reservoirs. The common origin of both cycles from an ancestor RABV or lyssavirus and the adaptive divergence that occurred since then, caused by the adaptation of this ancestor virus to a wide range of adaptive landscapes represented by the orders Carnivora and Chiroptera led to the emergence of diverse RABV lineages currently found in the aerial and terrestrial cycles. Thus, aiming to study differences found in RABV lineages from the aerial and terrestrial cycles due to their parallel evolution in these two orders, 159 genomic sequences of RABV (59 from the terrestrial and 100 from the aerial cycles) were analyzed, being 21 of these sequences referent to eight lineages of RABV found in Brazil sequenced in this study and five of these eight lineages of RABV had their genomes sequenced for the first time The study included the per site nucleotide substitution rate differences (heterotachy) between the same genes RABV maintained in the aerial and terrestrial, survey of the most suitable gene for phylogenetic analysis, time of divergence between the two cycles, patterns of genetic variability and codon usage bias. As a conclusion, the adaptive divergence occurred between the two cycles caused some evolutionary aspects of RABV genome to show an intricate cycle-specific evolutionary pattern.

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Orientador: Lucia Helena O'Dwyer de Oliveira / Banca: Tadeu Gomes de Oliveira / Banca: Paulo Eduardo Martins Ribolla / Banca: Alessandro Francisco Talamini do Amarante / Banca: Diego Peres Alonso / Resumo: O trabalho teve como objetivo investigar a ocorrência de Hepatozoon spp. em carnívoros neotropicais de vida livre no Brasil. Foram analisadas 158 amostras sanguíneas de Canidae, Procyonidae e Mephitidae presentes no Parque Nacional das Emas, em Goiás. Do total amostral, 75 foram obtidas de Chrysocyon brachyurus (lobo-guará), 65 de Cerdocyon thous (cachorro do mato), 10 de Conepatus semistriatus (jaratataca), 06 de Lycalopex vetulus (raposinha do campo) e dois de Nasua nasua (quati). O diagnóstico de Hepatozoon spp. foi feito através da Reação em Cadeia de Polimerase (PCR) após a extração de DNA. Do total analisado, 63,92% das amostras estavam parasitadas por Hepatozoon, sendo que deste total, 41,14% eram provenientes de C. brachyurus, 18,35% de C. thous, 3,79% de L. vetulus e 0,63% de N. nasua. A maioria da população de C. brachyurus (86,66%) apresentou-se infectada, assim como 44,61% dos exemplares de C. thous e 100% dos L. vetulus estudados. A caracterização molecular dos isolados obtidos foi feita após o sequenciamento e a análise filogenética. Essa última demonstrou que isolados sequenciados de C. thous e a maioria dos de C. Brachyurus apresentaram alta similaridade com Hepatozoon sp. isolado de C. thous no Espirito Santo e também com Hepatozoon americanum. O isolado de N. nasua apresentou similaridade com H. felis e os de L. vetulus com Hepatozoon canis em cão doméstico. A identificação molecular de Hepatozoon sp. em N. nasua e os relatos das infecções por este hematozoário em C. brachyurus e em L. vetulus de vida livre são inéditos no mundo / Abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence of Hepatozoon spp. in free ranging neotropical carnivores from Brazil. 158 blood samples were analyzed from Canidae, Procyonidae and Mephitidae from Emas National Park, in the State of Goias, Brazil. From the sampling total, 75 were obtained from Chrysocyon brachyurus (maned wolf), 65 from Cerdocyon thous (crab-eating dog), 10 from Conepatus semistriatus (striped hog-nosed skunk), 06 from Lycalopex vetulus (hoary fox) and two from Nasua nasua (South American coati). Hepatozoon spp. were diagnosed by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) after DNA was extracted. From the total analyzed, 63.92% samples were parasitized by Hepatozoon; and from the positive samples 41.14% were collected from C. brachyurus, 18.35% from C. thous, 3.79% from L. vetulus and 0.63% from N. nasua. The majority of C. brachyurus population (86.66%) was infected and also 44.61% of C. thous and 100% of L. vetulus studied. Molecular characterization of the isolates was performed after sequencing and phylogenetic analyses. These demonstrated that the isolates from C. thous and the majority of the ones from C. Brachyurus showed high similarity with Hepatozoon sp. from C. thous from the State of Espirito Santo and also with Hepatozoon americanum. The isolate of N. nasua showed similarity with H. felis; and the ones from L. vetulus with H. canis from domestic dog. The molecular identification of Hepatozoon sp. from N. nasua as well as the infection by this hematozoa in free ranging C. brachyurus and L. vetulus are novelties in the world / Doutor

Captive carnivores pose a challenge for conservationists and institutions alike, presenting many problems that range from diseases to poor welfare and unsuccessful breeding. Available databases of captive populations are rich sources of information that can help determine which factors can affect breeding success and the real potential of these populations in conservation programmes. Some species, such as tigers Panthera tigris, seem to preserve in captivity the same reproductive parameters seen in wild animals, making captive individuals extremely useful in the research of reproductive biology, that can be applied in evolutionary and physiological studies of the order Carnivora. Specific reproductive characteristics, mainly connected with the altriciality of the young, can make some species more prone to lose young in captivity than others, and these factors must be taken into consideration when developing ex situ conservation programmes. Infant mortality in captivity seems to be primarily caused by inadequate maternal behaviour, which can be connected to biological factors as well as to individual characteristics such as origin and rearing methods. Maternal infanticide, either passive or active, is also affected by biological and ecological characteristics of the species, and there may be an effect of the origin of the females, i.e. if they were wildcaught or captive-born. Housing conditions and individual history affect infant mortality, with females that suffered transfer between institutions exhibiting lower breeding success. Also, institutions with thriving research programmes presented higher infant mortality overall, independently of their latitude or management system, which can indicate an effect of human interference. Further research, both in the wild and in captivity, is needed to fully understand the factors affecting breeding success of captive carnivores.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-08-13T14:50:35Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2013-08-02Bitstream added on 2014-08-13T18:01:12Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 000735058_20140816.pdf: 115330 bytes, checksum: c7e25fd67eb0c46c76b07e5426255ce6 (MD5) / O trabalho teve como objetivo investigar a ocorrência de Hepatozoon spp. em carnívoros neotropicais de vida livre no Brasil. Foram analisadas 158 amostras sanguíneas de Canidae, Procyonidae e Mephitidae presentes no Parque Nacional das Emas, em Goiás. Do total amostral, 75 foram obtidas de Chrysocyon brachyurus (lobo-guará), 65 de Cerdocyon thous (cachorro do mato), 10 de Conepatus semistriatus (jaratataca), 06 de Lycalopex vetulus (raposinha do campo) e dois de Nasua nasua (quati). O diagnóstico de Hepatozoon spp. foi feito através da Reação em Cadeia de Polimerase (PCR) após a extração de DNA. Do total analisado, 63,92% das amostras estavam parasitadas por Hepatozoon, sendo que deste total, 41,14% eram provenientes de C. brachyurus, 18,35% de C. thous, 3,79% de L. vetulus e 0,63% de N. nasua. A maioria da população de C. brachyurus (86,66%) apresentou-se infectada, assim como 44,61% dos exemplares de C. thous e 100% dos L. vetulus estudados. A caracterização molecular dos isolados obtidos foi feita após o sequenciamento e a análise filogenética. Essa última demonstrou que isolados sequenciados de C. thous e a maioria dos de C. Brachyurus apresentaram alta similaridade com Hepatozoon sp. isolado de C. thous no Espirito Santo e também com Hepatozoon americanum. O isolado de N. nasua apresentou similaridade com H. felis e os de L. vetulus com Hepatozoon canis em cão doméstico. A identificação molecular de Hepatozoon sp. em N. nasua e os relatos das infecções por este hematozoário em C. brachyurus e em L. vetulus de vida livre são inéditos no mundo / The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence of Hepatozoon spp. in free ranging neotropical carnivores from Brazil. 158 blood samples were analyzed from Canidae, Procyonidae and Mephitidae from Emas National Park, in the State of Goias, Brazil. From the sampling total, 75 were obtained from Chrysocyon brachyurus (maned wolf), 65 from Cerdocyon thous (crab-eating dog), 10 from Conepatus semistriatus (striped hog-nosed skunk), 06 from Lycalopex vetulus (hoary fox) and two from Nasua nasua (South American coati). Hepatozoon spp. were diagnosed by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) after DNA was extracted. From the total analyzed, 63.92% samples were parasitized by Hepatozoon; and from the positive samples 41.14% were collected from C. brachyurus, 18.35% from C. thous, 3.79% from L. vetulus and 0.63% from N. nasua. The majority of C. brachyurus population (86.66%) was infected and also 44.61% of C. thous and 100% of L. vetulus studied. Molecular characterization of the isolates was performed after sequencing and phylogenetic analyses. These demonstrated that the isolates from C. thous and the majority of the ones from C. Brachyurus showed high similarity with Hepatozoon sp. from C. thous from the State of Espirito Santo and also with Hepatozoon americanum. The isolate of N. nasua showed similarity with H. felis; and the ones from L. vetulus with H. canis from domestic dog. The molecular identification of Hepatozoon sp. from N. nasua as well as the infection by this hematozoa in free ranging C. brachyurus and L. vetulus are novelties in the world

The thesis explores how the range sizes of carnivorans are shaped by geographic and evolutionary constraints. Employing modern spatial analyses and phylogenetic comparative methods, we illustrate that phylogenetically conserved climate tolerances delimit species? geographic constraints, which in turn shape the species? range size. Range size heritability patterns emerge as a consequence of this interplay between geographic and evolutionary constraints.

A recently discovered distal humerus shows that very large bodied amphicyonids existed in Pakistan in the Early Miocene. Movements on their elbow joint are interpreted to be very similar to those of modern bears. They had powerful front limbs, which were probably used to grasp the prey. Taxonomic affinities of the specimen are also discussed.

Common carnivore species in the Czech Republic, such as fox, badger, marten, or weasel have not been recently paid much attention. This mammalian group is not easy to monitor but with modern technologies animals can be observed almost undisturbed. I collected data using camera traps in the Polabí region in Central Bohemia, about 30 km from Prague. I placed 73 camera traps in four different habitats (wetland; alluvial forest; mixed forest; and scrub grassland). Each habitat was represented by 3-4 localities in a fragmented landscape, made up of seminatural habitats and human-used areas. Over 366 days of monitoring I recorded 8 carnivore species, one of them non-native (golden jackal). None of the allegedly common invasive species in the Czech Republic (raccoon dog, american mink, raccoon) were found. The habitats did not differ in number of observed species, which is probably due to a low number of species found and the small size of the study area. Habitat preferences and seasonal and circadian activity in my study area generally correspond to the findings of previous ecological studies, but the novel aspect of my research is the robust, statistically analysed results based on long-term quantitative data. One conclusion I consider important from the conservation point of view is that most of our carnivore...

Thesis (MTech (Nature Conservation))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2009 / Carnivore species globally are on the decline and population extinctions continue despite intensive conservation efforts. In Namibia, although 13.6 % of the country falls under the protection of national parks or game reserves, most of these protected areas are situated along the coastline and are desert habitat. The majority of Namibia's cheetah population (over 90 %), which is also the world's largest free-ranging population, occurs on privately owned farmland situated primarily in the north-central cattle-farming region of the country. Also occurring here are leopard, brown hyaena, caracal, and jackal and in some areas African wild dog, spotted hyaena and lion. Given the extensive nature of livestock and wildlife farming in Namibia, the low human density in rural areas and the persistence of wildlife outside protected areas, there is still considerable scope for carnivore conservation on the Namibian freehold farmlands, provided human-carnivore conflict can be managed. Great strides have been made in Namibia in developing strategies to address human carnivore conflict issues with formerly advantaged freehold farmers. However, since Namibia's independence in 1990, land reform has resulted in a new category of farmer entering the freehold farming sector, the emerging commercial farmer. No data has been gathered regarding emerging commercial farmers' attitudes and perceptions towards carnivores, the levels of camivore-conflict and livestock management practices in relation to livestock losses to carnivores.