Massey Research Online - Browsing by Author "Fuller A"

Browsing by Author "Fuller A"

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Capture and transport of white rhinoceroses (Ceratotherium simum) cause shifts in their fecal microbiota composition towards dysbiosis
(Oxford University Press and the Society for Experimental Biology, 2023-11-24) Pohlin F; Frei C; Meyer LCR; Roch F-F; Quijada NM; Conrady B; Neubauer V; Hofmeyr M; Cooper D; Stalder G; Wetzels SU; Fuller A
Translocations of Rhinocerotidae are commonly performed for conservation purposes but expose the animals to a variety of stressors (e.g. prolonged fasting, confinement, novel environment, etc.). Stress may change the composition of gut microbiota, which can impact animal health and welfare. White rhinoceroses in particular can develop anorexia, diarrhea and enterocolitis after translocation. The aim of this study was to investigate the associations of age, sex and translocation on the rhinoceros' fecal bacterial microbiota composition. fecal samples were collected from rhinoceroses at capture (n = 16) and after a >30-hour road transport (n = 7). DNA was isolated from these samples and submitted for 16S rRNA V3-V4 phylotyping. Alpha diversity indices of the rhinoceros' fecal microbiota composition of different age, sex and before and after transport were compared using non-parametric statistical tests and beta diversity indices using Permutational Multivariate Analysis Of Variance (PERMANOVA). Resulting P-values were alpha-corrected (Padj.). Alpha and beta diversity did not differ between rhinoceroses of different age and sex. However, there was a significant difference in beta diversity between fecal samples collected from adult animals at capture and after transport. The most abundant bacterial phyla in samples collected at capture were Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes (85.76%), represented by Lachnospiraceae, Ruminococcaceae and Prevotellaceae families. The phyla Proteobacteria (Padj. = 0.009) and Actinobacteria (Padj. = 0.012), amongst others, increased in relative abundance from capture to after transport encompassing potentially pathogenic bacterial families such as Enterobacteriaceae (Padj. = 0.018) and Pseudomonadaceae (Padj. = 0.022). Important commensals such as Spirochaetes (Padj. = 0.009), Fibrobacteres (Padj. = 0.018) and Lachnospiraceae (Padj. = 0.021) decreased in relative abundance. These results indicate that the stressors associated with capture and transport cause an imbalanced fecal microbiota composition in white rhinoceroses that may lead to potentially infectious intestinal disorders. This imbalance may result from recrudescence of normally innocuous pathogens, increased shedding of pathogens or increased vulnerability to new pathogens.
Chemical immobilisation of lions: weighing up drug effectiveness versus clinical effects
(Medpharm Publications on behalf of the South African Veterinary Association, 2023-06-01) Donaldson AC; Fuller A; Meyer LCR; Buss PE
Selection of an effective drug combination to immobilise African lions (Panthera leo) requires balancing immobilisation effectiveness with potential side effects. We compared the immobilisation effectiveness and changes to physiological variables induced by three drug combinations used for free-ranging African lions. The lions (12 animals per drug combination) were immobilised with tiletamine-zolazepam-medetomidine (TZM), ketamine-medetomidine (KM) or ketamine-butorphanol-medetomidine (KBM). Induction, immobilisation, and recovery were timed, evaluated using a scoring system, and physiological variables were monitored. The drugs used for immobilisation were antagonised with atipamezole and naltrexone. The quality of induction was rated as excellent for all drug combinations and induction times (mean ± SD) did not differ between the groups (10.54 ± 2.67 min for TZM, 10.49 ± 2.63 min for KM, and 11.11 ± 2.91 min for KBM). Immobilisation depth was similar over the immobilisation period in the TZM and KBM groups, and initially light, progressing to deeper in lions administered KM. Heart rate, respiratory rate and peripheral arterial haemoglobin saturation with oxygen were within the expected range for healthy, awake lions in all groups. All lions were severely hypertensive and hyperthermic throughout the immobilisation. Following antagonism of immobilising drugs, lions immobilised with KM and KBM recovered to walking sooner than those immobilised with TZM, at 15.29 ± 10.68 min, 10.88 ± 4.29 min and 29.73 ± 14.46 min, respectively. Only one lion in the KBM group exhibited ataxia during recovery compared to five and four lions in the TZM and KM groups, respectively. All three drug combinations provided smooth inductions and effective immobilisations but resulted in hypertension. KBM had an advantage of allowing for shorter, less ataxic recoveries.
Co-production and conservation physiology: outcomes, challenges and opportunities arising from reflections on diverse co-produced projects
(y Oxford University Press and the Society for Experimental Biology, 2025-07-18) Cooke SJ; Bett NN; Hinch SG; Adolph CB; Hasler CT; Howell BE; Schoen AN; Mullen EJ; Fangue NA; Todgham AE; Cheung MJ; Johnson RC; Olstad RS-T; Sisk M; Sisk CC; Franklin CE; Irwin RC; Irwin TR; Lewandrowski W; Tudor EP; Ajduk H; Tomlinson S; Stevens JC; Wilcox AAE; Giacinti JA; Provencher JF; Dupuis-Smith R; Dwyer-Samuel F; Saunders M; Meyer LCR; Buss P; Rummer JL; Bard B; Fuller A; Helmuth B
As a relatively nascent discipline, conservation physiology has struggled to deliver science that is relevant to decision-makers or directly useful to practitioners. A growing body of literature has revealed that co-produced research is more likely to generate knowledge that is not only relevant, but that is also embraced and actionable. Co-production broadly involves conducting research collaboratively, inclusively, and in a respectful and engaged manner - spanning all stages from identifying research needs to study design, data collection, interpretation and application. This approach aims to create actionable science and deliver meaningful benefits to all partners involved. Knowledge can be co-produced with practitioners/managers working for regulators or stewardship bodies, Indigenous communities and governments, industry (e.g. fishers, foresters, farmers) and other relevant actors. Using diverse case studies spanning issues, taxa and regions from around the globe, we explore examples of co-produced research related to conservation physiology. In doing so, we highlight benefits and challenges while also identifying lessons for others considering such an approach. Although co-production cannot guarantee the ultimate success of a project, for applied research (such as what conservation physiology purports to deliver), embracing co-production is increasingly regarded as the single-most important approach for generating actionable science to inform conservation. In that sense, the conservation physiology community would be more impactful and relevant if it became commonplace to embrace co-production as demonstrated by the case studies presented here.
Comparison of the cardiovascular effects of immobilization with three different drug combinations in free-ranging African lions
(Oxford University Press on behalf of The Society for Experimental Biology, 2023-01-12) Donaldson AC; Meyer LCR; Fuller A; Buss PE; Seebacher F
Thirty-six free-ranging lions (12 per group) were immobilized with tiletamine-zolazepam (Zoletil 0.6 mg/kg i.m.) plus medetomidine (0.036 mg/kg i.m.) (TZM), ketamine (3.0 mg/kg i.m.) plus medetomidine (0.036 mg/kg i.m.) (KM) or ketamine (1.2 mg/kg i.m.) plus butorphanol (0.24 mg/kg i.m.) plus medetomidine (0.036 mg/kg i.m.) (KBM). During immobilization cardiovascular variables were monitored at 5-minute intervals for a period of 30 minutes. Lions immobilized with all three drug combinations were severely hypertensive. Systolic arterial pressure was higher at initial sampling in lions immobilized with KM (237.3 ± 24.8 mmHg) than in those immobilized with TZM (221.0 ± 18.1 mmHg) or KBM (226.0 ± 20.6 mmHg) and decreased to 205.8 ± 19.4, 197.7 ± 23.7 and 196.3 ± 17.7 mmHg, respectively. Heart rates were within normal ranges for healthy, awake lions and decreased throughout the immobilization regardless of drug combination used. Lions immobilized with TZM had a higher occurrence (66%) of skipped heart beats than those immobilized with KBM (25%). The three drug combinations all caused negative cardiovascular effects, which were less when KBM was used, but adverse enough to warrant further investigations to determine if these effects can be reversed or prevented when these three combinations are used to immobilize free-living lions.
Conserving wildlife in a changing world: Understanding capture myopathy - A malignant outcome of stress during capture and translocation
(Oxford University Press on behalf of The Society for Experimental Biology, 2019-07-05) Breed D; Meyer LCR; Steyl JCA; Goddard A; Burroughs R; Kohn TA; Fuller A
The number of species that merit conservation interventions is increasing daily with ongoing habitat destruction, increased fragmentation and loss of population connectivity. Desertification and climate change reduce suitable conservation areas. Physiological stress is an inevitable part of the capture and translocation process of wild animals. Globally, capture myopathy - a malignant outcome of stress during capture operations - accounts for the highest number of deaths associated with wildlife translocation. These deaths may not only have considerable impacts on conservation efforts but also have direct and indirect financial implications. Such deaths usually are indicative of how well animal welfare was considered and addressed during a translocation exercise. Importantly, devastating consequences on the continued existence of threatened and endangered species succumbing to this known risk during capture and movement may result. Since first recorded in 1964 in Kenya, many cases of capture myopathy have been described, but the exact causes, pathophysiological mechanisms and treatment for this condition remain to be adequately studied and fully elucidated. Capture myopathy is a condition with marked morbidity and mortality that occur predominantly in wild animals around the globe. It arises from inflicted stress and physical exertion that would typically occur with prolonged or short intense pursuit, capture, restraint or transportation of wild animals. The condition carries a grave prognosis, and despite intensive extended and largely non-specific supportive treatment, the success rate is poor. Although not as common as in wildlife, domestic animals and humans are also affected by conditions with similar pathophysiology. This review aims to highlight the current state of knowledge related to the clinical and pathophysiological presentation, potential treatments, preventative measures and, importantly, the hypothetical causes and proposed pathomechanisms by comparing conditions found in domestic animals and humans. Future comparative strategies and research directions are proposed to help better understand the pathophysiology of capture myopathy.
Effects of three immobilizing drug combinations on ventilation, gas exchange and metabolism in free-living African lions (Panthera leo)
(Oxford University Press and the Society for Experimental Biology, 2023-08-10) Donaldson AC; Buss PE; Fuller A; Meyer LCR; Cooke SJ
Free-living lions (12 per group) were immobilized with tiletamine-zolazepam-medetomidine (TZM), ketamine-medetomidine (KM), or ketamine-butorphanol-medetomidine (KBM). During immobilization, respiratory, blood gas and acid-base variables were monitored for 30 minutes. Respiratory rates were within expected ranges and remained constant throughout the immobilizations. Ventilation increased in lions over the immobilization period from 27.2 ± 9.5 to 35.1 ± 25.4 L/min (TZM), 26.1 ± 14.3 to 28.4 ± 18.4 L/min (KM) and 23.2 ± 10.8 to 26.7 ± 14.2 L/min (KBM). Tidal volume increased over the immobilization period from 1800 ± 710 to 2380 ± 1930 mL/breath (TZM), 1580 ± 470 to 1640 ± 500 mL/breath (KM) and 1600 ± 730 to 1820 ± 880 mL/breath (KBM). Carbon dioxide production was initially lower in KBM (0.4 ± 0.2 L/min) than in TZM (0.5 ± 0.2 L/min) lions but increased over time in all groups. Oxygen consumption was 0.6 ± 0.2 L/min (TZM), 0.5 ± 0.2 L/min (KM) and 0.5 ± 0.2 L/min (KBM) and remained constant throughout the immobilization period. Initially the partial pressure of arterial oxygen was lower in KBM (74.0 ± 7.8 mmHg) than in TZM (78.5 ± 4.7 mmHg) lions, but increased to within expected range in all groups over time. The partial pressure of arterial carbon dioxide was higher throughout the immobilizations in KBM (34.5 ± 4.2 mmHg) than in TZM (32.6 ± 2.2 mmHg) and KM (32.6 ± 3.8 mmHg) lions. Alveolar-arterial gradients were initially elevated, but decreased over time for all groups, although in KM lions it remained elevated (26.9 ± 10.4 mmHg) above the expected normal. Overall, all three drug combinations caused minor respiratory and metabolic side-effects in the immobilized lions. However, initially hypoxaemia occurred as the drug combinations, and possibly the stress induced by the immobilization procedure, hinder alveoli oxygen gas exchange.
Increased Diurnal Activity Is Indicative of Energy Deficit in a Nocturnal Mammal, the Aardvark
(Frontiers Media S.A., 2020-07-07) Weyer NM; Fuller A; Haw AJ; Meyer LCR; Mitchell D; Picker M; Rey B; Hetem RS; Nowack J
Shifting activity to cooler times of day buffers animals from increased heat and aridity under climate change. Conversely, when resources are limited, some nocturnal species become more diurnal, reducing energetic costs of keeping warm at night. Aardvarks (Orycteropus afer) are nocturnal, obligate ant- and termite-eating mammals which may be threatened directly by increasing heat and aridity, or indirectly by the effects of climate change on their prey. We hypothesised that the minimum 24-h body temperature of aardvarks would decline during energy scarcity, and that aardvarks would extend their active phases to compensate for reduced resource availability, possibly resulting in increased diurnal activity when aardvarks were energetically compromised. To measure their thermoregulatory patterns and foraging activity, we implanted abdominal temperature and activity data loggers into 12 adult aardvarks and observed them for varying durations over 3 years in the Kalahari. Under non-drought conditions, aardvarks tightly controlled their 24-h body temperature rhythm (mean amplitude of the 24-h body temperature rhythm was 1.8 ± 0.3°C during summer and 2.1 ± 0.1°C during winter) and usually were nocturnal. During a summer drought, aardvarks relaxed the precision of body temperature regulation (mean 24-h amplitude 2.3 ± 0.4°C) and those that subsequently died shifted their activity to progressively earlier times of day in the weeks before their deaths. Throughout the subsequent winter, the aardvarks’ minimum 24-h body temperatures declined, causing exaggerated heterothermy (4.7 ± 1.3°C; absolute range 24.7 to 38.8°C), with one individual’s body temperature varying by 11.7°C within 8 h. When body temperatures were low, aardvarks often emerged from burrows during daytime, and occasionally returned before sunset, resulting in completely diurnal activity. Aardvarks also shortened their active periods by 25% during food scarcity, likely to avoid energetic costs incurred by foraging. Despite their physiological and behavioural flexibility, aardvarks were unable to compensate for reduced food availability. Seven study aardvarks and several others died, presumably from starvation. Our results do not bode well for aardvarks facing climate change, and for the many animal species dependent on aardvark burrows for refuge.
Social media as a tool to understand the distribution and ecology of elusive mammals
(Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Society of Mammalogists, 2024-02-01) Phakoago MV; Maloney SK; Kamerman PR; Meyer LCR; Weyer NM; Fuller A; Zollner P
Comparatively little is known about the distribution and ecology of Aardvark (Orycteropus afer) and Temminck's Ground Pangolin (Smutsia temminckii). Both are elusive species that are normally nocturnal, solitary, and fossorial. Formally collected records have been used to map the distribution of these species, and social media records provide a tool to gather information on their distribution and ecology. We obtained 680 photographs and videos of aardvarks and 790 of ground pangolins in southern Africa from publicly available posts on Facebook and Instagram (2010-2019). The images provide new insights into the distribution, activity, drinking, and predation - and confirm that aardvarks are more diurnally active when they are in poor body condition. Social media can provide useful supplementary information for understanding of elusive mammals. These "soft"data can be applied to other species.
Temminck pangolins relax the precision of body temperature regulation when resources are scarce in a semi-arid environment
(Oxford University Press and the Society for Experimental Biology, 2023-08-28) Panaino W; Parrini F; Kamerman PR; Hetem RS; Meyer LCR; Smith D; Van Dyk G; Fuller A; Tomlinson S
Climate change is impacting mammals both directly (for example, through increased heat) and indirectly (for example, through altered food resources). Understanding the physiological and behavioural responses of mammals in already hot and dry environments to fluctuations in the climate and food availability allows for a better understanding of how they will cope with a rapidly changing climate. We measured the body temperature of seven Temminck's pangolins (Smutsia temminckii) in the semi-arid Kalahari for periods of between 4 months and 2 years. Pangolins regulated body temperature within a narrow range (34-36°C) over the 24-h cycle when food (and hence water, obtained from their prey) was abundant. When food resources were scarce, body temperature was regulated less precisely, 24-h minimum body temperatures were lower and the pangolins became more diurnally active, particularly during winter when prey was least available. The shift toward diurnal activity exposed pangolins to higher environmental heat loads, resulting in higher 24-h maximum body temperatures. Biologging of body temperature to detect heterothermy, or estimating food abundance (using pitfall trapping to monitor ant and termite availability), therefore provide tools to assess the welfare of this elusive but threatened mammal. Although the physiological and behavioural responses of pangolins buffered them against food scarcity during our study, whether this flexibility will be sufficient to allow them to cope with further reductions in food availability likely with climate change is unknown.
Use of butorphanol and diprenorphine to counter respiratory impairment in the immobilised white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum)
(African Online Scientific Information Systems (Pty) Ltd t/a AOSIS, 2018-10-18) Meyer LCR; Fuller A; Hofmeyr M; Buss P; Miller M; Haw A
Opioid-induced immobilisation results in severe respiratory impairment in the white rhinoceros. It has therefore been attempted in the field to reverse this impairment with the use of opioid agonist-antagonists, such as nalorphine, nalbuphine, butorphanol and diprenorphine; however, the efficacy of some of these treatments has yet to be determined. The efficacy of butorphanol, either alone or in combination with diprenorphine both with and without oxygen insufflation, in alleviating opioid-induced respiratory impairment was evaluated. The study was performed in two parts: a boma trial and a field trial. Rhinoceroses were immobilised specifically for the study, according to a strict protocol to minimise confounding variables. A two-way analysis of variance was used to compare the physiological responses of the rhinoceroses to the different treatments and their effects over time. The intravenous administration of butorphanol (at 3.3 mg per mg etorphine) plus diprenorphine (at 0.4 mg per mg etorphine) did not offer any advantage over butorphanol (at 15 mg per mg etorphine) alone with regard to improving PaO2, PaCO2 and respiratory rates in etorphine-immobilised white rhinoceroses. Both butorphanol + diprenorphine + oxygen and butorphanol + oxygen, at the doses used, significantly improved the etorphine-induced hypoxaemia in both boma- and field-immobilised white rhinoceroses. Clinically acceptable oxygenation in field-immobilised white rhinoceroses can be achieved by using either treatment regimen, provided that it is combined with oxygen insufflation.

Browsing by Author "Fuller A"

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