Distinct mtDNA lineages in free‐ranging <i>Ammotragus</i>(aoudad) from the United States indicate multiple introductions from northern Africa

Wright, Emily A; Wiedmeier, Rachael C; Roberts, E.; Pipkin, David R.; Hernández, Froylán; Bayouth, Joseph P; Conway, Warren C.; Bradley, Robert D.

doi:10.1002/ece3.8849

Cited by 7 publications

(9 citation statements)

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“…The first well‐documented translocation of aoudad into Texas, specifically into Palo Duro Canyon in the Panhandle region, included 44 individuals from 1957‐1958 (Jackson 1964, Simpson et al 1978, Simpson and Krysl 1981). Currently, population sizes are now estimated to be >30,000 statewide with the greatest concentration of individuals in the Trans‐Pecos followed by the Edwards Plateau and Panhandle Ecoregions (Wright et al 2022). This large number of individuals is concerning, as several studies (Hampy et al 1979, Candela et al 2009, Uranga and Valdez 2011, Hernández 2021, Wiedmeier 2021) outlined potential disease risks with aoudad as host reservoirs for several viral and bacterial diseases and parasites, such as epizootic hemorrhagic fever, bluetongue, pneumonia, and others (Mori et al 2017).…”

Section: Figurementioning

confidence: 99%

“…T A B L E 2 The number of polymorphic sites (s), number of haplotypes (h), haplotype diversity (H d ), and nucleotide diversity (π) calculated for the multi-locus sequence typing (MLST) dataset of Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae sequences from Rocky Mountain (O. canadensis canadensis) and Mexican desert bighorn sheep (O. c. mexicana) in New Mexico and Texas, USA, respectively, and aoudad (Ammotragus lervia lervia) in Texas, USA circa 2018-2020. Subspecific designations for desert bighorn sheep and aoudad are based onWright et al (2022),Wright (2023),Wright andBradley (2023), andWright et al (2024). Not applicable is abbreviated to NA when only 1 individual is included in analyses.…”

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confidence: 99%

“…Aoudad are considered members of Old World Caprinae and subspecific variation has been reported in populations in New Mexico(Wright et al 2022). Perhaps, different subspecies of aoudad(Wright et al 2022(Wright et al , 2024Wright and Bradley 2023) possess different strains of M. ovipneumoniae, or collectively, possess different strains of M. ovipneumoniae similar to domestic sheep and goats…”

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Multi‐locus sequence typing indicates multiple strains of Mycoplasma in desert bighorn sheep and aoudad in Texas

Wright,

Brugette,

Buckert

et al. 2024

J Wildl Manag

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Epizootic events of pneumonia, presumably caused by Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae, in bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) have been observed in the western United States and Canada. Until recently, it was thought that populations of Mexican (O. c. mexicana) and Nelson's (O. c. nelsoni) desert bighorn sheep in Texas, USA, had not been exposed to Mycoplasma. Evidence of disease and potential population decline from outbreaks of M. ovipneumoniae are now known from several populations across the Trans‐Pecos Ecoregion with documented instances of pneumonia and bluetongue in desert bighorn sheep from the Van Horn Mountains and Black Gap Wildlife Management Area. These disease events, especially those in 2019–2021, may be a result of increasing populations of aoudad (Ammotragus lervia), an introduced and invasive ungulate, in the region. With large population sizes and similar movement patterns as desert bighorn sheep, aoudad potentially are the reservoirs for bacterial and viral diseases, such as pneumonia and bluetongue, and are possibly contributing to the decline of desert bighorn sheep. Herein, we optimized the multi‐locus sequence typing (MLST) with modifications in the Taq polymerase and annealing temperatures to determine the genetic identity of Mycoplasma strains or species within the nasal passages of desert bighorn sheep and aoudad in the Trans‐Pecos Ecoregion of Texas. Four loci (small ribosomal unit, 16S; 16S‐23S intergenic spacer region, IGS; RNA polymerase B, rpoB; gyrase B, gyrB) were characterized using MLST. Based on results from the modified MLST technique, we identified 9 desert bighorn sheep and 5 aoudad with M. ovipneumoniae, 9 aoudad with bacterial sequences genetically similar to M. conjunctivae, and 10 aoudad with bacterial sequences genetically similar M. hyopneumoniae. Of these, 9 aoudad possessed bacterial sequences genetically similar to both M. conjunctivae and M. hyopneumoniae. Among the 4 diagnostic loci, genetic divergence of M. ovipneumoniae ranged from 0.00–0.90% among desert bighorn sheep and aoudad. Future sampling efforts of seemingly asymptomatic aoudad, and asymptomatic, visibly sick, or deceased desert bighorn sheep, are important to monitor the spread of disease in desert bighorn sheep populations across mountain ranges in western Texas. It is imperative that aoudad removal plans are implemented to reduce and eliminate current infections and putative transmission of M. ovipneumoniae, prevent future disease outbreaks of pneumonia, and ultimately conserve desert bighorn sheep for future generations.

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Section: Figurementioning

confidence: 99%

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Multi‐locus sequence typing indicates multiple strains of Mycoplasma in desert bighorn sheep and aoudad in Texas

Wright,

Brugette,

Buckert

et al. 2024

J Wildl Manag

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“…Analyses of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and one nuclear gene (Wright et al, 2022) in samples representing the feral populations in the southwestern United States and captive individuals at Fossil Rim Wildlife Center (FRWC) suggest the FRWC animals were either A. l. blainei or A. l. sahariensis , whereas a later study (Wright et al, in review) used thousands of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) to determine that the blainei subspecies is possibly a unique subspecies or species of Ammotragus , as suggested by Wright et al (2022). According to the studbook, the five samples from FRWC represented A. l. blainei (Kordofan aoudad) and a “generic” or unreferenced subspecies of aoudad (M. Shea, FRWC, personal communication).…”

Section: Case Studiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Losing the forest for the tree? On the wisdom of subpopulation management

Powell

2023

Zoo Biology

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Animal habitats are changing around the world in many ways, presenting challenges to the survival of species. Zoo animal populations are also challenged by small population sizes and limited genetic diversity. Some ex situ populations are managed as subpopulations based on presumed subspecies or geographic locality and related concerns over genetic purity or taxonomic integrity. However, these decisions can accelerate the loss of genetic diversity and increase the likelihood of population extinction. Here I challenge the wisdom of subpopulation management, pointing out significant concerns in the literature with delineation of species, subspecies, and evolutionarily significant units. I also review literature demonstrating the value of gene flow for preserving adaptive potential, the often‐misunderstood role of hybridization in evolution, and the likely overstated concerns about outbreeding depression, and preservation of local adaptations. I argue that the most effective way to manage animal populations for the long term be they in human care, in the wild, or if a captive population is being managed for reintroduction, is to manage for maximum genetic diversity rather than managing subpopulations focusing on taxonomic integrity, genetic purity, or geographic locale because selection in the future, rather than the past, will determine what genotypes and phenotypes are the most fit. Several case studies are presented to challenge the wisdom of subpopulation management and stimulate thinking about the preservation of genomes rather than species, subspecies, or lineages because those units evolved in habitats that are likely very different from those habitats today and in the future.

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“…Aoudad (Ammotragus lervia) is a native species to north Africa (Cassinello 2015 andWright 2022). It has six known subspecies according to their geographical distribution and morphological differences: A. lervia lervia (Atlas Aoudad), A. lervia ornate (Egyptian Aoudad), A. lervia sahariensis (Saharan Aoudad), A. lervia blainei (Kordofan Aoudad), A. lervia angusi (Aïr Aoudad), and A. lervia fassini (Libyan Aoudad) (Ansell 1972;Šprem et al 2020;Derouiche et al 2020).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of Season, Sex, and Age on Hematological Constituents in Healthy Egyptian Aoudad (Ammotragus lervia) in Giza Zoo, Egypt

2022

Int J Vet Sci

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Egyptian aoudad (Ammotragus lervia) is a native antelope in Egypt and is listed as vulnerable according to the IUCN-Red List of threatened species. Little previous research data about the normal hematology of Aoudad are available. Therefore, this study was carried out to determine the normal blood constituents in healthy Egyptian Aoudad kept in Giza Zoo under the effect of season, sex, and age. One hundred and forty animals were used in this study and divided according to seasons into 35 animals in each season, according to sex into 60 females, 45 males, and 35 males in rutting season, and according to age into 50 young and 90 adult animals. The results showed a significant increase (P<0.05) of erythrocytes and hemoglobin in winter. Males in the rutting season showed significantly (P<0.05) higher levels of erythrocytes (14.34±0.58x106cells/mm3) than non-rutting males (12.26±0.38x106cells/mm3) and females (11.96±0.36x106cells/mm3). The influence of age was clear in erythrocyte count, which increased significantly (P<0.05) in young Aoudads. To conclude, this study shows the significant effect of seasons, sex, and age on the blood constituents of Aoudad that should be taken into consideration during the interpretation of laboratory results in healthy and diseased cases.

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Distinct mtDNA lineages in free‐ranging Ammotragus(aoudad) from the United States indicate multiple introductions from northern Africa

Abstract: This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Cited by 7 publications

References 101 publications

Multi‐locus sequence typing indicates multiple strains of Mycoplasma in desert bighorn sheep and aoudad in Texas

Multi‐locus sequence typing indicates multiple strains of Mycoplasma in desert bighorn sheep and aoudad in Texas

Losing the forest for the tree? On the wisdom of subpopulation management

Effect of Season, Sex, and Age on Hematological Constituents in Healthy Egyptian Aoudad (Ammotragus lervia) in Giza Zoo, Egypt

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