scholarly journals First evidence of hybridization between golden jackal ( Canis aureus ) and domestic dog ( Canis familiaris ) as revealed by genetic markers

2015 ◽  
Vol 2 (12) ◽  
pp. 150450 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Galov ◽  
Elena Fabbri ◽  
Romolo Caniglia ◽  
Haidi Arbanasić ◽  
Silvana Lapalombella ◽  
...  

Interspecific hybridization is relatively frequent in nature and numerous cases of hybridization between wild canids and domestic dogs have been recorded. However, hybrids between golden jackals ( Canis aureus ) and other canids have not been described before. In this study, we combined the use of biparental (15 autosomal microsatellites and three major histocompatibility complex (MHC) loci) and uniparental (mtDNA control region and a Y-linked Zfy intron) genetic markers to assess the admixed origin of three wild-living canids showing anomalous phenotypic traits. Results indicated that these canids were hybrids between golden jackals and domestic dogs. One of them was a backcross to jackal and another one was a backcross to dog, confirming that golden jackal–domestic dog hybrids are fertile. The uniparental markers showed that the direction of hybridization, namely females of the wild species hybridizing with male domestic dogs, was common to most cases of canid hybridization. A melanistic 3bp-deletion at the K locus ( β -defensin CDB103 gene), that was absent in reference golden jackal samples, but was found in a backcross to jackal with anomalous black coat, suggested its introgression from dogs via hybridization. Moreover, we demonstrated that MHC sequences, although rarely used as markers of hybridization, can be also suitable for the identification of hybrids, as long as haplotypes are exclusive for the parental species.

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yellapu Srinivas ◽  
Yadvendradev Jhala

Species of Canis (Carnivora, Canidae) have similar morphology and distinguishing sympatric species is challenging. We present data on morphometry of skull, body and hair of three wild Canis species that occur in India, which include two wolves (Indian wolf, Canis lupus pallipes; and Himalayan wolf, Canis himalayensis) and the golden jackal (Canis aureus). A total of 20 cranial and six body measurements and microscopic characteristics of guard hair were analysed, using multivariate ordination to differentiate between species. Cranial measures of the Himalayan wolves were found to be the largest followed by Indian wolves and golden jackals. However, many measures overlapped amongst the three species. Two Principal Components each, for body measures and cranial measures, explained 86 and 91% of the variation in the data, respectively. These Components discriminated the two wolves from golden jackals, but could not distinguish between wolves. Hair medullary patterns were simple and wide type, whereas hair cuticular patterns showed crenate scale margins, near scale distance and irregular wavey scale patterns for all Canis taxa and were not useful to distinguish species. Data reported in this study further contribute to the existing global data on wild canids for a holistic understanding of the variation within the genus and show that distinguishing between all sympatric species from morphology alone may not be possible.


2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eli K. Rueness ◽  
Pål Trosvik ◽  
Anagaw Atickem ◽  
Claudio Sillero-Zubiri ◽  
Emiliano Trucchi

Here we present the first genomic data for the African wolf (Canis aureus lupaster) and conclusively demonstrate that it is a unique taxon and not a hybrid between other canids. These animals are commonly misclassified as golden jackals (Canis aureus) and have never been included in any large-scale studies of canid diversity and biogeography, or in investigations of the early stages of dog domestication. Applying massive Restriction Site Associated DNA (RAD) sequencing, 110481 polymorphic sites across the genome of 7 individuals of African wolf were aligned and compared with other wolf-like canids (golden jackal, Holarctic grey wolf, Ethiopian wolf, side-striped jackal and domestic dog). Analyses of this extensive sequence dataset (ca. 8.5Mb) show conclusively that the African wolves represent a distinct taxon more closely related to the Holarctic grey wolf than to the golden jackal. Our results strongly indicate that the distribution of the golden jackal needs to be re-evaluated and point towards alternative hypotheses for the evolution of the rare and endemic Ethiopian wolf (Canis simensis). Furthermore, the extension of the grey wolf phylogeny and distribution opens new possible scenarios for the timing and location of dog domestication.


2013 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 275-277 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Galov ◽  
Magda Sindičić ◽  
Tomislav Gomerčić ◽  
Haidi Arbanasić ◽  
Matea Baburić ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Maria Regina Lucas da Silva ◽  
Cláudio Roberto Scabelo Mattoso ◽  
Adson Costa ◽  
Mere Erika Saito ◽  
Lygia Tchaicka ◽  
...  

Abstract Rangelia vitalii is a haemoparasite that infects erythrocytes, white blood cells and the cytoplasm of endothelial cells of blood capillaries of canids in South America, and has been detected in both domestic dogs and sylvatic canids. Hepatozoon canis is a parasite that infects neutrophils and monocytes of many mammalian hosts. This study reports the infection of Lycalopex gymnocercus from Santa Catarina, Brazil, with R. vitalii and H. canis. The piroplasm was observed on both blood smears and molecular tests. Many large piroplasms were detected inside the erythrocytes, with round, oval, or teardrop-shaped organism, that occurred singly or in pairs. They had an abundant, pale blue cytoplasm and decentral dark red small nucleus. The animal was also infected with H. canis that was detected only by molecular tests. The majority of haematological and biochemistry parameters were within the reference values for domestic dog and wild canids.


Author(s):  
Ana Gabriela Jimenez

Synopsis Across Mammalia, body size and lifespan are positively correlated. However, in domestic dogs, the opposite is true: small dogs have longer lives compared with large dogs. Here, I present literature-based data on life-history traits that may affect dog lifespan, including adaptations at the whole-organism, and organ-level. Then, I compare those same traits to wild canids. Because oxidative stress is a byproduct of aerobic metabolism, I also present data on oxidative stress in dogs that suggests that small breed dogs accumulate significantly more circulating lipid peroxidation damage compared with large breed dogs, in opposition to lifespan predictions. Further, wild canids have increased antioxidant concentrations compared with domestic dogs, which may aid in explaining why wild canids have longer lifespans than similar-sized domestic dogs. At the cellular level, I describe mechanisms that differ across size classes of dogs, including increases in aerobic metabolism with age, and increases in glycolytic metabolic rates in large breed dogs across their lifespan. To address potential interventions to extend lifespan in domestic dogs, I describe experimental alterations to cellular architecture to test the “membrane pacemaker” hypotheses of metabolism and aging. This hypothesis suggests that increased lipid unsaturation and polyunsaturated fatty acids in cell membranes can increase cellular metabolic rates and oxidative damage, leading to potential decreased longevity. I also discuss cellular metabolic changes of primary fibroblast cells isolated from domestic dogs as they are treated with commercially available drugs that are linked to lifespan and health span expansion.


2021 ◽  
Vol 67 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Aldin Selimovic ◽  
Eva Maria Schöll ◽  
Larissa Bosseler ◽  
Jennifer Hatlauf

AbstractRecently confirmed expansion of golden jackals (Canis aureus) into countries without any previous records poses questions, one of them focusing on the species potential and possibly varying habitat use. In this study, we investigated the presence and distribution of golden jackals in northern Bosnia and Herzegovina, where knowledge about golden jackal distribution and habitat use is still scarce. We used bioacoustic stimulation as a non-invasive tool to gather data on golden jackal presence. Habitat structures potentially selected by the species were assessed at 92 calling stations and used as input for binary logistic regression models. Our study area covered approximately 1150 km2, and bioacoustic stimulation within this area resulted in an estimated minimum relative group density of 3.5 territorial groups per 100 km2. We found territorial groups at distances between 15 and 38 km southwards from the river Sava but always within a maximum range of 3 km to perennial watercourses. Habitat analysis identified shrub vegetation and pastures as structures with a significant effect on the presence of resident golden jackals. Probability that golden jackals answered at calling stations increased with increasing surface area covered with pastures and shrubs. Distances between golden jackal territories and the nearest human settlement were relatively small. Our results indicate that structures like transitional woodland-shrubs and pastures, together with other potential influencing factors like local agricultural practices, low hunting pressure, diverse natural and anthropogenic food sources, could have benefited the settlement of golden jackals in the northern lowlands of Bosnia and Herzegovina.


2013 ◽  
Vol 25 (8) ◽  
pp. 1142 ◽  
Author(s):  
Insung Hwang ◽  
Yeon Woo Jeong ◽  
Joung Joo Kim ◽  
Hyo Jeong Lee ◽  
Mina Kang ◽  
...  

Interspecies somatic cell nuclear transfer (iSCNT) is an emerging assisted reproductive technology (ART) for preserving Nature’s diversity. The scarcity of oocytes from some species makes utilisation of readily available oocytes inevitable. In the present study, we describe the successful cloning of coyotes (Canis latrans) through iSCNT using oocytes from domestic dogs (Canis lupus familiaris or dingo). Transfer of 320 interspecies-reconstructed embryos into 22 domestic dog recipients resulted in six pregnancies, from which eight viable offspring were delivered. Fusion rate and cloning efficiency during iSCNT cloning of coyotes were not significantly different from those observed during intraspecies cloning of domestic dogs. Using neonatal fibroblasts as donor cells significantly improved the cloning efficiency compared with cloning using adult fibroblast donor cells (P < 0.05). The use of domestic dog oocytes in the cloning of coyotes in the present study holds promise for cloning other endangered species in the Canidae family using similar techniques. However, there are still limitations of the iSCNT technology, as demonstrated by births of morphologically abnormal coyotes and the clones’ inheritance of maternal domestic dog mitochondrial DNA.


2021 ◽  
pp. 104063872110199
Author(s):  
Rafael B. Rosa ◽  
Matheus V. Bianchi ◽  
Paula R. Ribeiro ◽  
Fernando F. Argenta ◽  
Andréia Vielmo ◽  
...  

We characterized the immunohistochemical expression profiles of dysgerminomas from a 16-y-old maned wolf and 13 domestic dogs using the following biomarkers: Sal-like protein 4 (SALL4), octamer-binding transcription factor 3/4 (OCT3/4), placental alkaline phosphatase (PLAP), c-kit, and vimentin. The maned wolf had nonspecific and long-standing clinical signs of lethargy, anorexia, and weight loss, and was euthanized because of poor prognosis. At autopsy, the left ovary was effaced by a 12 × 8 × 6 cm mass, comprised of anaplastic cells with a mitotic count of 20 mitoses in 10 high power fields. Dysgerminomas from 7 of 13 domestic dogs had nuclear expression of SALL4. Dysgerminomas from the maned wolf and 2 domestic dogs had both nuclear and cytoplasmic expression of SALL4. Cytoplasmic expression of PLAP and OCT3/4 was present in dysgerminomas from the maned wolf and 3 (PLAP) or 4 (OCT3/4) domestic dogs. All dysgerminomas expressed vimentin. Membranous c-kit expression was rare in the dysgerminoma from the maned wolf, and variable in dysgerminomas from 4 domestic dogs. A dysgerminoma from a domestic dog had cytoplasmic expression of c-kit. SALL4 is a useful marker to confirm germ cell origin of dysgerminoma in canids.


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