This thesis investigated the epidemiology and control of Cysticercus ovis infection on Canadian sheep farms. Canadian slaughter data indicated an increase in sheep carcass condemnations due to C. ovis in 2007 and 2008. Trace-back of 237 carcasses condemned in Ontario, between 2009 and 2011, revealed they originated from 133 farms across Canada. A case-control study was performed (n=40 cases, 56 controls) to identify farm-level risk factors for carcass condemnations. Farm dogs scavenging deadstock (OR=4.04; 95% CI: 1.16–14.04) and failing to dispose of deadstock properly (OR=11.78; 95% CI: 2.93–47.40) were significantly associated with condemnations in multivariable analyses. A transmission model for Taenia ovis was created and control options were assessed. Model simulations predicted cestocide treatment of guardian dogs every fifth week, and proper deadstock disposal would reduce the risk of C. ovis infection in lambs.

Typescript (photocopy) / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 198-259) / xvi, 259 leaves : ill. ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / The role of gonadal steroids in the mating behaviour of rams was investigated in both entire rams and castrated rams (wethers) treated with different steroids. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Animal Sciences,1983

Typescript (photocopy) / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 198-259) / xvi, 259 leaves : ill. ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / The role of gonadal steroids in the mating behaviour of rams was investigated in both entire rams and castrated rams (wethers) treated with different steroids. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Animal Sciences,1983

Angl. resumé

S'appuyant sur l'exemple du mouflon méditerranéen Ovis gmelini musimon × Ovis sp. et sur plusieurs échelles spatio-temporelles, nous avions pour objectifs dans cette étude de mieux comprendre comment ces animaux modulent leurs comportements dans l'espace et/ou dans le temps face à l'hétérogénéité et la dynamique de leur environnement et de leurs propres besoins. Une revue du régime alimentaire du mouflon au sein de son aire de répartition mondiale nous a permis de vérifier l'importance des graminées chez cette espèce tout en révélant l'étendue des variations de son comportement alimentaire. Proposant une approche originale pour mesurer indirectement la qualité de son habitat, nous avons aussi évalué les conséquences de la répartition hétérogène de ces ressources alimentaires sur la masse corporelle des mâles de la population du massif du Caroux-Espinouse (Hérault). C'est à partir d'un suivi par colliers GPS dans cette population que nous avons ensuite mis en évidence une sélection de l'habitat nettement divergente entre les sexes au printemps et en été. Ce processus comportemental s'organise alors en une hiérarchie de décisions. Les choix des femelles sont d'abord largement dictés par les conditions qui devraient assurer la survie de leur progéniture, tandis que les mâles se concentrent sur les habitats offrant les meilleures conditions d'alimentation et une bonne protection thermique en été. A fine échelle, nos travaux montrent de nettes modulations de ces choix et des relations fortes entre comportements spatiaux et temporels chez ce ruminant, lui permettant de faire face au compromis nourriture/couverture. Nous nous sommes aussi intéressés de près à l'influence des activités humaines sur le comportement de cette espèce. Nous montrons que la chasse a des conséquences plus importantes que le tourisme, avec des réponses durant les périodes risquées mais aussi quand le risque est moindre à l'échelle journalière, et des effets y compris dans un espace protégé. Dans un contexte de changements globaux et de pressions anthropiques accrues, la mise en évidence de l'influence de l'hétérogénéité de l'habitat, du climat, des activités humaines et de leurs dynamiques respectives sur le comportement d'un grand herbivore devrait aider à mieux cerner les relations entre ces espèces et leurs habitats et à améliorer leur gestion. / Using Mediterranean mouflon Ovis gmelini musimon × Ovis sp. as a case study and based on several spatio-temporal scales, we aimed at better understanding how animals' choices change in space and/or time according to environmental heterogeneity and dynamics, and to own needs. A review on mouflon's diet across its range at the world level allowed us to confirm the importance of grass for this species, but also to reveal the wide variation in its foraging behaviour. Using an original approach allowing an indirect measure of habitat quality, we also evaluated the consequences of the heterogeneous distribution of foraging resources on the body mass of rams from the population of the Caroux-Espinouse massif (southern France). Based on data from a GPS monitoring in this population, we revealed sex-specific habitat selection during spring and summer. This behavioural process results from a hierarchy of decisions. Females' choices are mostly driven by the conditions that should ensure lamb survival, whereas males select the habitats providing the best foraging conditions and high thermal cover during summer. At fine scale, choices concurrently varied in space and time allowing this ruminant to cope with the food/cover trade-off. We also focused on the influence of human activities on the behaviour of this species. We showed that hunting had more marked consequences than tourism, with responses during both high and low-risk periods at the daily scale, and a spill-over effect in a protected area. In a context of global changes and increasing human pressures, revealing the influence of habitat heterogeneity, climate, human activities and of their relative dynamics on the behaviour of a large herbivore may help to better grasp the relationships between these species and their habitats and to improve their management.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:27:17Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2010-06-29Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:08:22Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 costa_lf_me_botfmvz.pdf: 594547 bytes, checksum: 7d609573704d70bd41e6633e86629767 (MD5) / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / O diagnóstico da infecção por Brucella ovis em ovinos usualmente é realizado por meio de exame clínico, testes sorológicos e bacteriologia. Devido às limitações apresentadas pelas técnicas, o diagnóstico é geralmente obtido mediante aplicação de duas ou mais técnicas para obtenção de um resultado conclusivo. A Reação em Cadeia pela Polimerase (PCR) tem sido utilizada como ferramenta diagnóstica aplicável, pois é sensível, pouco dispendiosa, rápida, simples de ser realizada e permite o diagnóstico específico do agente infectante. Neste trabalho foram realizados dois experimentos. No primeiro compararam-se os percentuais de positividade em duas técnicas de PCR padronizadas, sendo a primeira gênero-específica e a seguinte espécie-específica, em 191 amostras de sêmen e 214 de urina provenientes de ovinos inoculados experimentalmente com a cepa de B. ovis REO 198. Posteriormente, desenvolveu-se a nested PCR a partir do produto amplificado da reação espécie-específica, e o percentual de positividade obtido pela nested PCR foi comparado aos obtidos pelas PCRs gênero-específica e espécie-específica. Foi observada diferença significativa no percentual de positividade (P<0,05) entre PCR gênero-específica e PCR espécie-específica (24,08% e 15,18%, respectivamente) para amostras de sêmen de ovinos e concordância moderada entre os resultados destas técnicas (kappa de 0,623); para amostras de urina, não houve diferença significativa entre as positividades obtidas pela PCR gênero-específica e a espécie-específica (10,28% e 7,011%, respectivamente), e a concordância entre os resultados foi moderada (kappa de 0,6167). A nested PCR espécie-específica apresentou percentual de positividade significativamente maior (P<0,001) quando comparada às PCRs gênero-específica e espécie-específica em amostras de sêmen (53,93%) e de urina (49,07%)... / Diagnosis of Brucella ovis infection in rams is routinely performed by clinical examination, serology and bacteriology. Due to limitations presented by each technique, the diagnosis is usually made by two or more techniques to obtain a conclusive result. The Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) has been used as a diagnostic tool applicable because it is sensitive, inexpensive, rapid, simple to perform and allows the specific diagnosis of infectious agents. In this study, the positivity percentages of two techniques of PCR previous described, one genus-specific and other species-specific, were measured in 191 semen and 214 urine samples from sheep experimentally infected with strain of B. ovis REO 198. Then, a species-specific nested PCR was developed from amplified products of the species-specific PCR, and the percentage of positivity obtained by nested PCR was compared to those obtained by genus and species-specific PCRs. Significant difference was observed when comparing the percentage of positivity (P <0.05) between genus-specific and species-specific PCR (24.08% and 15.18%, respectively) in semen samples from sheep, and there was moderate agreement between the results of these techniques ( kappa 0.623). In urine, no significant difference between the percentages of positives samples obtained by genus and species-specific PCR was observed (10.28% and 7.011% respectively) and the concordance between the results was moderate (kappa 0.6167). The species-specific nested PCR showed significantly higher percentage of positivity (P <0.001) when compared to genus-specific and species-specific PCRs in semen (53.93%) and urine (49.07%). Thus, according to the results obtained in this experiment, the species-specific PCR showed the lower percentage of positivity when compared to genus-specific PCR, but the implementation of the species-specific nested PCR showed highly significant increase... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

This study is an extension of the author's previous thesis (Theorell 2013) and focus on the analysed tibia, the humerus and the proximal and distal part of the radius of sheep bones from Gotland and goat bones from City of Falun. Methods for bone elements assessed in this study are compiled and evaluated by Zeder and Lapham (2010). The bones were then geneticallyspecies identified and the results were compared. Seven of thirteen criteria for both sheep and goat reached 100% of correct identification.Best performing criteria were on humerus and distal radius for both sheep and goats. The results for the complete bone assessments divided for the species showed best performance ongoats. Worst performing bone is the tibia. High performing criteria were found on all thetypes of bones used in this study which can be used to distinguish between sheep and goats. / Föreliggande studie är en utökning av författarens tidigare magisteruppsats (Theorell 2013) och fokuserar på att analysera skenben, överarmsben samt proximal och distal del av strålbenet från fårben från Gotland och getben från Falun. Metoder för benslagen som används i denna studie har samlats och utvärderats av Zeder och Lapham (2010). Efter osteologisk analys har benen genetiskt artidentifierats och resultaten från bägge analyser har jämförts. Sju av tretton kriterier för både får och getter visade 100% korrekt bedömning. Kriterier med bäst resultat fanns på överarmsben och distalt på strålben. Sett till bedömning av komplett benslag skilt mellan får och getter visade att metoderna presterade bäst på getter. Sämst resultat uppvisades på skenbenet. Generellt uppvisade samtliga benslag kriterier som är möjliga att använda för att särskilja mellan får och getter.

Parapoxvirus ovis (PPVO) is known for its immunostimulatory capacities and has been successfully used to generate vector vaccines effective especially in non-permissive host species. Murine conventional and plasmacytoid dendritic cells (cDC and pDC) are able to recognize PPVO. The PPVO-sensing receptor on pDC is hitherto unknown. In this study we aimed to define the pattern recognition receptor responsible for the activation of murine pDC by inactivated and replication-competent PPVO. We show that PPVO-induced expression of type I and type III interferons, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and costimulatory CD86 by bone marrow-derived pDC but not cDC is blocked by chloroquine, an inhibitor of endosomal maturation. The activation of pDC is independent of viral replication and depends mainly on TLR9. Moreover, the use of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitor wortmannin or C-Jun-N-terminal kinase inhibitor SP600125 results in significant reduction of PPVO-induced pDC activation. Taken together, our data identify endosomal TLR9 as PPVO-sensing receptor in pDC.

nÃo hà / As raÃas de ovinos localmente adaptadas brasileiras, tambÃm conhecidas como nativas ou crioulas, descendem de animais trazidos durante o perÃodo colonial e, desde aquela Ãpoca, vÃm sendo submetidas a processos evolutivos sistemÃticos e nÃo sistemÃticos., o que resultou na formaÃÃo de genÃtipos altamente adaptados Ãs mais diversas condiÃÃes ambientais brasileiras. Embora estas raÃas nÃo possuam o mesmo potencial produtivo das raÃas exÃticas melhoradas, elas sÃo consideradas extremamente importantes devido Ãs relaÃÃes sociais e culturais que guardam com as populaÃÃes do campo. AlÃm disso, as raÃas localmente adaptadas possuem caracterÃsticas adaptativas importantÃssimas para a manutenÃÃo de sistemas produtivos tradicionais. A otimizaÃÃo da utilizaÃÃo dos recursos genÃticos naturalizados depende de um conhecimento profundo destas populaÃÃes e, portanto, a caracterizaÃÃo morfolÃgica, produtiva e molecular sÃo ferramentas imprescindÃveis para o sucesso da conservaÃÃo e utilizaÃÃo deste recurso genÃtico. Com base nisso, o objetivo desta tese foi aprofundar os estudos de caracterizaÃÃo molecular das principais raÃas de ovinos localmente adaptadas brasileiras: Crioula Lanada, Morada Nova e Santa InÃs. Assim, o capÃtulo I intitulado âIdentificaÃÃo de assinaturas de seleÃÃo em animais de produÃÃoâ consiste em uma revisÃo cujo objetivo à descrever os principais efeitos da seleÃÃo natural/artificial nos genomas das espÃcies de animais de produÃÃo, apresentar os principais mÃtodos de anÃlise de assinaturas de seleÃÃo e discutir os recentes avanÃos nesta Ãrea de estudo. Foram realizados dois estudos que resultaram nos capÃtulos II e III desta tese. O capÃtulo II, intitulado âIdentificaÃÃo de assinaturas de seleÃÃo em ovinos de raÃas localmente adaptadas brasileirasâ, teve como objetivo a identificaÃÃo e caracterizaÃÃo de regiÃes genÃmicas provÃveis de estar sob seleÃÃo nas trÃs principais raÃas brasileiras localmente adaptadas de ovinos e caracterizar estar regiÃes com a finalidade de identificar genes envolvidos com diferenÃas produtivas/adaptativas entre estas raÃas. A identificaÃÃo das regiÃes sujeitas à seleÃÃo foi feita com base em dois tipos de metodologia: diferenciaÃÃo entre populaÃÃes (FST) e desequilÃbrio de ligaÃÃo (iHS e Rsb). Foram identificados 78 genes candidatos envolvidos com funÃÃes como: resposta imune, desenvolvimento do sistema nervoso, percepÃÃo sensorial e desenvolvimento de pelos/lÃ. O capÃtulo III, intitulado: âIdentificaÃÃo de subestrutura de populaÃÃes em ovinos de raÃas localmente adaptadas brasileirasâ, teve como objetivos identificar e caracterizar a presenÃa de subestruturaÃÃo genÃtica dentro das trÃs principais raÃas brasileiras localmente adaptadas de ovinos. Foi observada, de uma forma geral, a presenÃa de diferenciaÃÃo genÃtica bastante considerÃvel ao comparar os rebanhos de cada raÃa analisada. AlÃm disso, tanto na raÃa Crioula Lanada quanto na raÃa Santa InÃs, pode ser observada a presenÃa de grupos bem distintos de indivÃduos, sugerindo a efetiva presenÃa de diferentes ecÃtipos/linhagens dentro destas raÃas. / The Brazilian locally adapted sheep breeds, also known as native and creole, are descendant from animals brought during the settlement period and, since then, are been subjected to evolutive (both systematic and non systematic) processes, what resulted in the formation of highly adapted genotypes to the diverse environmental Brazilian conditions. Although these breeds donât posses the same productive potential when compared with the exotic improved breeds, they are considered extremely important from a social and cultural point of view. Moreover, the locally adapted breeds are essential for the maintenance of traditional production systems. The optimization of the utilization of naturalized genetic resources depends on a deep knowledge of these populations, and then, the morphological, productive and molecular characterizations are essential to the success of conservation and utilization of these locally adapted genotypes. Therefore, the principal aim of this thesis was to deepen molecular the knowledge of the three main locally adapted Brazilian sheep breeds: Brazilian Creole, Morada Nova and Santa Ines. Thus, Chapter I entitled "Identification of selection signatures in livestock species" is a literature review that is proposed to describe the main effects of natural/artificial selection in the genomes of species of farm animals, present the main methods of signature selection analysis and discuss recent advances in this area of study. Two studies were conducted and resulted in the chapters II and III of this thesis. The chapter II, entitled âIdentification of selection signatures in brazilian locally adapted sheep breedsâ, aimed the identification and characterization of putative genomic regions that underwent selection and the identification of candidate genes related to productive/adaptative differences between these breeds. The identification of signatures of selection was performed through two approaches: population differentiation (FST) and linkage disequilibrium (iHS and Rsb). Seventy eight genes, related to functions as: immune response, nervous system development, sensorial perception and wool/hair development were identified. The chapter III, entitled âIdentification of population substructure in brazilian locally adapted sheep breedsâ, aimed the identification and characterization of of genetic substructure within the three main locally adapted Brazilian sheep breeds: Brazilian Creole, Morada Nova and Santa Ines. The level of genetic differentiation between herds of the same breeds was, in general, high. Both in the Brazilian Creole and in the Santa Ines breeds the presence of distinct groups on animals could be observed, what suggests the occurrence of different ecotypes/lineages within these breeds.

Les déplacements collectifs se manifestent souvent de façon spectaculaire et intriguent tant les amateurs de la nature que les chercheurs. Comment émergent ces formes spectaculaires et comment la cohésion des groupes est elle assurée ? Si de nombreux travaux ont été consacrés à l'identification des règles permettant la cohésion dans les groupes en mouvement, plus rares sont ceux consacrés aux transitions entre les états d'arrêt et de déplacement. Cette thèse traite des mécanismes comportementaux impliqués dans les prises de décisions collectives et la dynamique de transition de tels évènements chez le mouton Merinos (Ovis aries). Nous proposons de nouvelles hypothèses sur la modulation des interactions entre individus par des effets spatiaux dans des groupes de grande taille. Nous proposons un modèle spatio-temporel reproduisant nos résultats expérimentaux sur les départs, les déplacements collectifs et les arrêts de groupes de taille croissante et permettant d'explorer les décisions collectives dans des conditions nouvelles. Les résultats expérimentaux et théoriques per- mettent d'améliorer la compréhension des mécanismes individuels à l'origine des décision collectives permettant de maintenir ou non la cohésion des groupes. / Collective movements often involve very spectacular displays that fascinate nature lovers and researchers. How do such amazing patterns appear and how group cohesion can be maintained ? If many studies were carried out to decipher the rules underlying cohesion for groups in movement, there is a lack of works adressing the transitions involved in collective movements : departures and stops. This thesis adresses the behavioural mechanisms involved in the collective decision-making processes oc- curing in such transitions in Merino sheep (Ovis aries) groups. We propose some new kinds of spatial hypotheses that can account for the way interactions between individuals are locally modulated in large groups where individuals cannot have an access to the global information of all individuals. We developed a novel spatiotemporal model of sheep collective motion that reproduces the experimental observations and allows to explore the outcomes of collective decisions in various conditions. The experimental and theoretical results increase the understanding of the individual mechanisms that produce collective decisions allowing to maintain group cohesion.