Understanding Historical Demographic Processes to Inform Contemporary Conservation of an Arid zone Specialist: The Yellow-Footed Rock-Wallaby.

Little genetic research has been undertaken on mammals across the vast expanse of the arid biome in Australia, despite continuing species decline and need for conservation management. Here, we evaluate the contemporary and historical genetic connectivity of the yellow-footed rock-wallaby, Petrogalexanthopusxanthopus, a threatened macropodid which inhabits rocky outcrops across the disconnected mountain range systems of the southern arid biome. We use 17 microsatellite loci together with mitochondrial control region data to determine the genetic diversity of populations and the evolutionary processes shaping contemporary population dynamics on which to base conservation recommendations. Our results indicate the highly fragmented populations have reduced diversity and limited contemporary gene flow, with most populations having been through population bottlenecks. Despite limited contemporary gene flow, the phylogeographic relationships of the mitochondrial control region indicate a lack of structure and suggests greater historical connectivity. This is an emerging outcome for mammals across this arid region. On the basis of our results, we recommend augmentation of populations of P. x.xanthopus, mixing populations from disjunct mountain range systems to reduce the chance of continued diversity loss and inbreeding depression, and therefore maximize the potential for populations to adapt and survive into the future.

SERUM BIOCHEMISTRY OF FREE-RANGING SOUTHERN HAIRY-NOSED WOMBATS (LASIORHINUS LATIFRONS).

Listed as near-threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the southern hairy-nosed wombat (SHNW, Lasiorhinus latifrons) faces threats such as drought, habitat degradation and loss, disease, and persecution because of competition with agriculture. To assist with evaluation of wombat health, this study reports serum biochemical reference intervals (RIs) for wild-caught SHNW from South Australia established from 126 apparently healthy SHNW using a Beckman Coulter AU480® Automated Chemistry Analyzer using RefVal Advisor. Partitioning of RIs for male and female wombats and for the two methods of sampling was performed as appropriate, and additional significant differences (P < 0.05) in biochemical profiles were identified across age class and season examined. A number of differences were observed between male and female wombats, most notably higher creatinine, urea, and sodium in females. Subadult and juvenile wombats had significantly lower total protein, globulin, and ALT activity, and significantly higher ALP activity than adults. Wombats sampled in winter and spring had significantly higher total protein, albumin, potassium, bicarbonate, and enzyme activities (ALP, ALT, AST, GGT, GLDH, lipase), and significantly lower glucose and creatinine when compared to individuals sampled in summer and autumn. Differences in CK activity and anion gap observed between the two methods of sampling likely reflect delay and handling of animals between capture and blood collection. The serum biochemical RIs documented here are considered representative of a population of healthy SHNW, providing a tool for health assessment and monitoring of SHNW health in South Australia and elsewhere.

Evaluation of medetomidine-ketamine and medetomidine-ketamine-butorphanol for the field anesthesia of free-ranging dromedary camels (Camelus dromedarius) in Australia.

Abstract We report the clinical course and physiologic and anesthetic data for a case series of 76 free-ranging dromedary camels (Camelus dromedarius) chemically restrained, by remote injection from a helicopter, in the rangelands of Western Australia and South Australia, 2008-11, to attach satellite-tracking collars. Fifty-five camels were successfully anesthetized using medetomidine-ketamine (MK, n=27) and medetomidine-ketamine-butorphanol (MKB, n=28); the induction of anesthesia in 21 animals was considered unsuccessful. To produce reliable anesthesia for MK, medetomidine was administered at 0.22 mg/kg (± SD=0.05) and ketamine at 2.54 mg/kg (± 0.56), and for MKB, medetomidine was administered at 0.12 mg/kg (± 0.05), ketamine at 2.3 mg/kg (± 0.39), and butorphanol at 0.05 mg/kg (± 0.02). Median time-to-recumbency for MKB (8.5 min) was 2.5 min shorter than for MK (11 min) (P=0.13). For MK, the reversal atipamezole was administered at 0.24 mg/kg (± 0.10), and for MKB, atipamezole was administered at 0.23 mg/kg (± 0.13) and naltrexone at 0.17 mg/kg (± 0.16). Median time-to-recovery was 1 min shorter for MK (5 min) than MKB (6 min; P=0.02). Physiologic parameters during recumbency were not clinically different between the two regimes. Both regimes were suitable to safely anesthetize free-ranging camels; however, further investigation is required to find the safest, most consistent, and logistically practical combination.

Field immobilization of feral 'Judas' donkeys (Equus asinus) by remote injection of medetomidine and ketamine and antagonism with atipamezole.

The Judas technique is a method used for landscape control of feral donkeys (Equus asinus) in northern Australia. Central to the success of any Judas program is the safe, efficient, and humane attachment of the telemetry device. For feral donkeys, this involves the use of field immobilization. We examine the replacement of the current chemical capture agent, succinylcholine, with contemporary immobilization agents to achieve positive animal welfare outcomes. A combination of medetomidine and ketamine delivered by remote injection from a helicopter was used to capture 14 free-ranging feral donkeys for the fitting of telemetry collars in Western Australia in November 2010. Dose rates of 0.14 mg/kg medetomidine and 4.1 mg/kg ketamine were appropriate to immobilize animals in 9 min (± SD = 3). Mean recovery time (total time in recumbency) was 21 min (± 14). All animals recovered uneventfully after being administered atipamezole, a specific antagonist of medetomidine, intramuscularly at 0.35 mg/kg. Physiologic parameters were recorded during recumbency, with environment-related hyperthermia being the only abnormality recognized. No significant complications were encountered, and this drug combination represents an efficient approach to capturing wild donkeys. This new method allows a rapid, safe, cost-effective approach to the immobilization of feral donkeys for use as Judas animals. This drug combination will replace the relatively inhumane succinylcholine for the field immobilization of feral donkeys.

Pentoxifylline improves hemoglobin levels in patients with erythropoietin-resistant anemia in renal failure.

It was hypothesized that pentoxifylline might improve the response to recombinant human erythropoietin (rh-Epo) in anemic renal failure patients. Sixteen patients with ESRD and rh-Epo-resistant anemia, defined by a hemoglobin of <10.7 g/dl for 6 mo before treatment and a rh-Epo dose of > or =12,000 IU/wk, were recruited. They were treated with oral pentoxifylline 400 mg o.d. for 4 mo. Ex vivo T cell generation of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) from the patients was assessed before treatment and 6 to 8 wk after therapy. A total of 12 of 16 patients completed the study. Before therapy, the 12 patients' mean hemoglobin concentration was 9.5 +/- 0.9 g/dl. After 4 mo of pentoxifylline treatment, the mean hemoglobin concentration increased to 11.7 +/- 1.0 g/dl (P = 0.0001). Baseline ex vivo T cell expression of TNF-alpha decreased from 58% +/- 11% to 31% +/- 23% (P = 0.0007) after therapy. Likewise, IFN-gamma expression decreased from 31% +/- 10% to 13% +/- 10% (P = 0.0002). Pentoxifylline therapy may significantly improve the hemoglobin response in patients with previously rh-Epo-resistant anemia in renal failure. This may occur due to inhibition of proinflammatory cytokine production, which could interfere with the effectiveness of rh-Epo.

Increased expression of erythropoiesis inhibiting cytokines (IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, IL-10, and IL-13) by T cells in patients exhibiting a poor response to erythropoietin therapy.

Resistance to recombinant human erythropoietin occurs in a small but important proportion of hemodialysis patients. This may be due to increased immune activation because pro-inflammatory cytokines inhibit erythropoiesis in vitro. Using FACScan flow cytometry, the proportion of PMA/ionomycin-stimulated T cells expressing cytokines ex vivo was compared in 18 poor responders to erythropoietin, 14 good responders to erythropoietin, and 14 normal controls. CD4(+) T cells from poor responders expressed more interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma; 19 +/- 6%) compared with good responders (11 +/- 6%, P < 0.001) and controls (12 +/- 6%, P < 0.01). Similarly, CD4+ T cells from poor responders expressed more tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha; poor responders: 51 +/- 19% versus good responders: 27 +/- 15% [P < 0.01] and controls: 30 +/- 19% [P < 0.01]). CD4+ expression of IL-10 was also enhanced (poor responders: 1.6 +/- 1.1% versus good responders: 0.7 +/- 0.6% [P < 0.05] and controls: 0.5 +/- 0.2% [P < 0.01]). Likewise, CD4+ expression of interleukin-13 (IL-13) was increased (poor responders: 4.4 +/- 4.2% versus good responders: 1.6 +/- 1.7% [P < 0.05] and controls: 1.6 +/- 1.5% [P < 0.05]). CD8+ T cells from poor responders also showed enhanced expression of cytokines. For IFN-gamma, poor responder expression was 48 +/- 20% compared with 31 +/- 17% (P < 0.05) for good responders and 23 +/- 15% (P < 0.01) for controls. TNF-alpha expression for poor responders was 41 +/- 21% versus 25 +/- 14% for good responders (P < 0.05) and 21 +/- 15% for controls (P < 0.01). IL-10 expression for poor responders was 2.0 +/- 1.2% (good responders: 0.7 +/- 0.6% [P < 0.01]; controls: 0.5 +/- 0.2% [P < 0.001]). These data indicate that T cells from poor responders are in an enhanced activation state possibly as a result of chronic inflammation. In the absence of any other cause (such as iron deficiency), the overproduction of cytokines may account for hyporesponsiveness to erythropoietic therapy in patients with renal failure.