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Giangaspero, A.; Traversa, D.; Otranto, D. |
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Title |
[Ecology of Thelazia spp. in cattle and their vectors in Italy] |
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Journal Article |
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Year |
2004 |
Publication |
Parassitologia |
Abbreviated Journal |
Parassitologia |
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Volume |
46 |
Issue |
1-2 |
Pages |
257-259 |
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Keywords |
Animals; Cattle/parasitology; Cattle Diseases/epidemiology/*parasitology/transmission; Disease Transmission, Horizontal; Dog Diseases/epidemiology/parasitology/transmission; Dogs/parasitology; Ecosystem; Eye Infections, Parasitic/epidemiology/transmission/*veterinary; Horse Diseases/epidemiology/parasitology/transmission; Horses/parasitology; Humans; Insect Vectors/*parasitology; Italy/epidemiology; Muscidae/*parasitology; Species Specificity; Spirurida Infections/epidemiology/transmission/*veterinary; Thelazioidea/classification/*isolation & purification |
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Abstract |
The genus Thelazia (Spirurida, Thelaziidae) includes a cosmopolitan group of eyeworm spirurids responsible for ocular infections in domestic and wild animals and transmitted by different species of muscids. Bovine thelaziosis is caused by Thelazia rhodesi Desmarest 1828, Thelazia gulosa Railliet & Henry 1910, and Thelazia skrjabini Erschow 1928, which occur in many countries; T. gulosa and T. skrjabini have been reported mainly in the New World, while T. rhodesi is particularly common in the Old World. In Italy, T. rhodesi was reported in southern regions a long time ago and, recently, T. gulosa and T. skrjabini have been identified in autochthonous cattle first in Apulia and then in Sardinia. Thirteen species of Musca are listed as intermediate hosts of eyeworms, but only Musca autumnalis and Musca larvipara have been demonstrated to act as vectors of Thelazia in the ex-URSS, North America, ex-Czechoslovakia and more recently in Sweden. In Italy, after the reports of T. gulosa and T. skrjabini in southern regions, the intermediate hosts of bovine eyeworms were initially only suspected as the predominant secretophagous Muscidae collected from the periocular region of cattle with thelaziosis were the face flies, M. autumnalis and M. larvipara, followed by Musca osiris, Musca tempestiva and Musca domestica. The well-known constraints in the identification of immature eyeworms to species by fly dissection and also the time-consuming techniques used constitute important obstacles to epidemiological field studies (i.e. vector identification and/or role, prevalence and pattern of infection in flies, etc.). Molecular studies have recently permitted to further investigations into this area. A PCR-RFLP analysis of the ribosomal ITS-1 sequence was developed to differentiate the 3 species of Thelazia (i.e. T. gulosa, T. rhodesi and T. skrjabini) found in Italy, then a molecular epidemiological survey has recently been carried out in field conditions throughout five seasons of fly activity and has identified the role of M. autumnalis, M. larvipara, M. osiris and M. domestica as vectors of T. gulosa and of M. autumnalis and M. larvipara of T. rhodesi. Moreover, M. osiris was described, for the first time, to act as a vector of T. gulosa and M. larvipara of T. gulosa and T. rhodesi. The mean prevalence in the fly population examined was found to be 2.86%. The molecular techniques have opened new perspectives for further research on the ecology and epidemiology not only of Thelazia in cattle but also of other autochthonous species of Thelazia which have been also recorded in Italy, such as Thelazia callipaeda, which is responsible for human and canid ocular infection and Thelazia lacrymalis, the horse eyeworm whose epidemiological molecular studies are in progress. |
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Dipartimento PR.I.M.E., Universita degli Studi di Foggia |
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Italian |
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Original Title |
Ecologia di Thelazia spp. e dei vettori in Italia |
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0048-2951 |
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PMID:15305729 |
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Equine Behaviour @ team @ |
Serial  |
2633 |
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Dumont, B.; Boissy, A.; Achard, C.; Sibbald, A.M.; Erhard, H.W. |
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Title |
Consistency of animal order in spontaneous group movements allows the measurement of leadership in a group of grazing heifers |
Type |
Journal Article |
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Year |
2005 |
Publication |
Applied Animal Behaviour Science |
Abbreviated Journal |
Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. |
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Volume |
95 |
Issue |
1-2 |
Pages |
55-66 |
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Keywords |
Cattle; Grazing; Leadership; Movement order; Walking |
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Abstract |
The term `leadership' has been used in several different senses, resulting in very different ways of identifying leaders and apparently inconsistent conclusions on how leadership is determined in herbivores. We therefore propose the following definitions: (i) a leader is the individual that is consistently the one who initiates long-distance, spontaneous group movements toward a new feeding site and (ii) long-distance spontaneous group movements are movements which happen when an animal changes activity and location and is immediately followed by a similar change in activity and location by other members of the group. Using these definitions, we tested for consistency of movement order across time and situation within a group of fifteen 2-year-old heifers. We found that the same individual was recorded as the very first animal in 48% of movements toward a new feeding site and could therefore be identified as the `leader'. We also showed that movement order when the animals entered an experimental plot, or progressed slowly through the field during a grazing bout, did not produce the same result. This method, which enables us to identify leaders in groups of animals at pasture, should improve our knowledge of how leadership is determined in grazing herbivores. |
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Equine Behaviour @ team @ room B 3.029 |
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2027 |
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Author |
Sarova, R.; Spinka, M.; Panama, J.L.A. |
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Title |
Synchronization and leadership in switches between resting and activity in a beef cattle herd--A case study |
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Journal Article |
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Year |
2007 |
Publication |
Applied Animal Behaviour Science |
Abbreviated Journal |
Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. |
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Volume |
108 |
Issue |
3-4 |
Pages |
327-331 |
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Keywords |
Beef cattle; Activity synchronization; Leadership; Dominance |
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Abstract |
The mechanisms of activity synchronization in group living ungulates are not well understood. In a case study on herd of 15 Gasconne beef cows with calves observed during a total of 25 summer daylight periods in 2004 and 2005, we examined whether cows similar to each other in body weight or in reproductive status were more synchronized and whether the timing of activity switches were determined by specific leading animals. We calculated the synchronization of all possible pairs of cows in the herd and tested the effects of similarity in body weight and in reproductive status (lactating versus non-lactating) on synchronization in the pair. Further, we assessed whether any specific individuals, and especially the dominant cows, were more able, through their own activity switch, to incite another cow to follow shortly with her switch in activity. We found that body weight differences had a negative influence on pair synchronization (GLMM, F1,65 = 6.79; p < 0.05), but reproductive status did not affect the synchronization. Cows' individual identity explained only a small proportion (<2%) of variability in intervals between switches of subsequent cows. Furthermore, dominance status of an individual cow did not correlate with mean interval between her activity switches and activity switches of the next cow (lying down: Spearman correlation, rs = -0.16, n = 14, p > 0.10; standing up: Spearman correlation, rs = -0.38, n = 14, p > 0.10), indicating that there were no leading animals initiating switches in activity in our herd. |
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2025 |
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Author |
Kobayashi, K.; Jackowiak, H.; Frackowiak, H.; Yoshimura, K.; Kumakura, M.; Kobayashi, K. |
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Title |
Comparative morphological study on the tongue and lingual papillae of horses (Perissodactyla) and selected ruminantia (Artiodactyla) |
Type |
Journal Article |
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Year |
2005 |
Publication |
Italian Journal of Anatomy and Embryology = Archivio Italiano di Anatomia ed Embriologia |
Abbreviated Journal |
Ital J Anat Embryol |
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Volume |
110 |
Issue |
2 Suppl 1 |
Pages |
55-63 |
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Keywords |
Animals; Artiodactyla/*anatomy & histology/physiology; Cattle; Connective Tissue/physiology/ultrastructure; Feeding Behavior/physiology; Goats/anatomy & histology/physiology; Horses/anatomy & histology/physiology; Mastication/physiology; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; Perissodactyla/*anatomy & histology/physiology; Tongue/physiology/*ultrastructure |
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Abstract |
A common characteristic of horses, Rocky Mountain goats, and cattle is that they all have a well developed lingual prominence on the dorsal surface of the posterior area of the tongue. Foliate papillae were found in the horse studied but not in the goat or in cattle. The horse filiform papillae had a long and slender external form with a thin and slender CTC, while in the goat and cattle the external form consisted of a large thick main process and the CTC consisted of a bundle of numerous rod-shaped protrusions. The special papilla found on the lingual prominence resembled larger filiform-like papillae in the horses; however, in the goat and cattle it was a very thick and large tongue like papillae. The horses had two large vallate papillae, while the goat and cattle had 15 or more vallate papillae at the posterior area of the lingual prominence. This suggests that the fine structure of horse tongues may display a more primitive pattern than that present in goats and cattle. |
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Address |
Department of Anatomy, School of Dentistry at Niigata, The Nippon Dental University, Niigata, Japan. kobayashi@ngt.ndu.ac.jp |
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English |
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1122-6714 |
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Notes |
PMID:16101021 |
Approved |
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Call Number |
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Serial |
1887 |
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Author |
Papakostas, Y.G.; Daras, M.D.; Liappas, I.A.; Markianos, M. |
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Title |
Horse madness (hippomania) and hippophobia |
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Journal Article |
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Year |
2005 |
Publication |
History of Psychiatry |
Abbreviated Journal |
Hist Psychiatry |
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Volume |
16 |
Issue |
Pt 4 (no 64) |
Pages |
467-471 |
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Keywords |
Ancient Lands; Animals; Cattle; History, Ancient; Horse Diseases/*history; Horses; Humans; *Mythology |
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Abstract |
Anthropophagic horses have been described in classical mythology. From a current perspective, two such instances are worth mentioning and describing: Glaucus of Potniae, King of Efyra, and Diomedes, King of Thrace, who were both devoured by their horses. In both cases, the horses' extreme aggression and their subsequent anthropophagic behaviour were attributed to their madness (hippomania) induced by the custom of feeding them with flesh. The current problem of 'mad cow' disease (bovine spongiform encephalopathy) is apparently related to a similar feed pattern. Aggressive behaviour in horses can be triggered by both biological and psychological factors. In the cases cited here, it is rather unlikely that the former were the cause. On the other hand, the multiple abuses imposed on the horses, coupled with people's fantasies and largely unconscious fears (hippophobia), may possibly explain these mythological descriptions of 'horse-monsters'. |
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Athens University Medical School |
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English |
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0957-154X |
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Notes |
PMID:16482685 |
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no |
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Call Number |
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Serial |
1876 |
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Author |
Permyakov, S.E.; Khokhlova, T.I.; Nazipova, A.A.; Zhadan, A.P.; Morozova-Roche, L.A.; Permyakov, E.A. |
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Title |
Calcium-binding and temperature induced transitions in equine lysozyme: new insights from the pCa-temperature “phase diagrams” |
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Journal Article |
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Year |
2006 |
Publication |
Proteins |
Abbreviated Journal |
Proteins |
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Volume |
65 |
Issue |
4 |
Pages |
984-998 |
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Keywords |
Animals; Apoproteins/chemistry/metabolism; Binding Sites; Calcium/chemistry/*metabolism; Cattle; Edetic Acid/metabolism; Horses/metabolism; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Lactalbumin/chemistry/metabolism; Muramidase/*chemistry/*metabolism; Protein Denaturation; Spectrometry, Fluorescence; *Temperature; Thermodynamics; Tryptophan/chemistry/metabolism |
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Abstract |
The most universal approach to the studies of metal binding properties of single-site metal binding proteins, i.e., construction of a “phase diagram” in coordinates of free metal ion concentration-temperature, has been applied to equine lysozyme (EQL). EQL has one relatively strong calcium binding site and shows two thermal transitions, but only one of them is Ca(2+)-dependent. It has been found that the Ca(2+)-dependent behavior of the low temperature thermal transition (I) of EQL can be adequately described based upon the simplest four-states scheme of metal- and temperature-induced structural changes in a protein. All thermodynamic parameters of this scheme were determined experimentally and used for construction of the EQL phase diagram in the pCa-temperature space. Comparison of the phase diagram with that for alpha-lactalbumin (alpha-LA), a close homologue of lysozyme, allows visualization of the differences in thermodynamic behavior of the two proteins. The thermal stability of apo-EQL (transition I) closely resembles that for apo-alpha-LA (mid-temperature 25 degrees C), while the thermal stabilities of their Ca(2+)-bound forms are almost indistinguishable. The native state of EQL has three orders of magnitude lower affinity for Ca(2+) in comparison with alpha-LA while its thermally unfolded state (after the I transition) has about one order lower (K = 15M(-1)) affinity for calcium. Circular dichroism studies of the apo-lysozyme state after the first thermal transition show that it shares common features with the molten globule state of alpha-LA. |
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Address |
Institute for Biological Instrumentation of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushchino, Moscow region 142290, Russia |
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English |
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ISSN |
1097-0134 |
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Notes |
PMID:17022083 |
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1858 |
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Author |
Krcmar, S.; Mikuska, A.; Merdic, E. |
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Title |
Response of Tabanidae (Diptera) to different natural attractants |
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Journal Article |
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Year |
2006 |
Publication |
Journal of Vector Ecology : Journal of the Society for Vector Ecology |
Abbreviated Journal |
J Vector Ecol |
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Volume |
31 |
Issue |
2 |
Pages |
262-265 |
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Keywords |
Animals; Appetitive Behavior/*physiology; Cattle/urine; Diptera/*physiology; Female; Horses/urine; Insect Control/methods; Sheep/urine; Swine/urine; Urine/*physiology |
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Abstract |
The response of female tabanids to natural attractants was studied in the Monjoros Forest along the Nature Park Kopacki rit in eastern Croatia. Tabanids were caught in canopy traps baited with either aged cow, horse, sheep, or pig urine and also in unbaited traps. Tabanids were collected in a significantly higher numbers in traps baited with natural attractants compared to unbaited traps. The number of females of Tabanus bromius, Tabanus maculicornis, Tabanus tergestinus, and Hybomitra bimaculata collected from canopy traps baited with cow urine and traps baited with other natural attractants differed significantly. Females of Haematopota pluvialis were also collected more frequently in canopy traps baited with aged cow urine than in those with aged horse urine, but this difference was not significant. However, the number of females of Haematopota pluvialis collected from canopy traps baited with other natural attractants (sheep and pig urine) differed significantly when compared with aged cow urine baited traps. Canopy traps baited with aged cow urine collected significantly more Tabanus sudeticus than did traps baited with aged pig urine. Finally, the aged cow urine baited canopy traps collected 51 times more tabanids than unbaited traps, while aged horse, aged sheep, and aged pig urine baited traps collected 36, 30, and 22 times as many tabanids, respectively, than unbaited traps. |
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Department of Biology, JJ Strossmayer University, Lj. Gaja 6, HR-31000 Osijek, Croatia |
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1081-1710 |
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PMID:17249343 |
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1836 |
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Author |
Ulloa, A.; Gonzalez-Ceron, L.; Rodriguez, M.H. |
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Title |
Host selection and gonotrophic cycle length of Anopheles punctimacula in southern Mexico |
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Journal Article |
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Year |
2006 |
Publication |
Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association |
Abbreviated Journal |
J Am Mosq Control Assoc |
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Volume |
22 |
Issue |
4 |
Pages |
648-653 |
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Keywords |
Animals; Anopheles/*physiology; Appetitive Behavior/*physiology; Cattle; Female; Horses; Humans; Insect Vectors/*physiology; Malaria/transmission; Mexico; Oviparity/*physiology; Seasons; Time Factors; Vitellogenesis/physiology |
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Abstract |
The host preference, survival rates, and length of the gonotrophic cycle of Anopheles punctimacula was investigated in southern Mexico. Mosquitoes were collected in 15-day separate experiments during the rainy and dry seasons. Daily changes in the parous-nulliparous ratio were recorded and the gonotrophic cycle length was estimated by a time series analysis. Anopheles punctimacula was most abundant during the dry season and preferred animals to humans. The daily survival rate in mosquitoes collected in animal traps was 0.96 (parity rate = 0.86; gonotrophic cycle = 4 days). The length of gonotrophic cycle of 4 days was estimated on the base of a high correlation coefficient value appearing every 4 days. The minimum time estimated for developing mature eggs after blood feeding was 72 h. The proportion of mosquitoes living enough to transmit Plasmodium vivax malaria during the dry season was 0.35. |
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Address |
Centro de Investigacion de Paludismo, Instituto Nacional de Salud Publica, Apartado Postal 537, Tapachula, Chiapas 30700, Mexico |
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8756-971X |
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Notes |
PMID:17304932 |
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1830 |
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Author |
Scheibe, K.M.; Gromann, C. |
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Application testing of a new three-dimensional acceleration measuring system with wireless data transfer (WAS) for behavior analysis |
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Year |
2006 |
Publication |
Behavior research methods |
Abbreviated Journal |
Behav Res Methods |
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Volume |
38 |
Issue |
3 |
Pages |
427-433 |
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Keywords |
Acceleration; Animals; *Behavior, Animal; Cattle; Cattle Diseases/*diagnosis; Computer Communication Networks/*instrumentation; Forelimb/physiopathology; Fractals; Hindlimb/physiopathology; Horse Diseases/*diagnosis; Horses; Imaging, Three-Dimensional/instrumentation/methods/veterinary; Lameness, Animal/*diagnosis; Monitoring, Ambulatory/instrumentation/*methods; Motor Activity; Movement; Pattern Recognition, Automated/methods |
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Abstract |
A wireless acceleration measurement system was applied to free-moving cows and horses. Sensors were available as a collar and a flat box for measuring leg or trunk movements. Results were transmitted simultaneously by radio or stored in an 8-MB internal memory. As analytical procedures, frequency distributions with standard deviations, spectral analyses, and fractal analyses were applied. Bymeans of the collar sensor, basic behavior patterns (standing, grazing, walking, ruminating, drinking, and hay uptake) could be identified in cows. Lameness could be detected in cows and horses by means of the leg sensor. The portion of basic and harmonic spectral components was reduced; the fractal dimension was reduced. The system can be used for the detection and analysis of even small movements of free-moving humans or animals over several hours. It is convenient for the analysis of basic behaviors, emotional reactions, or events causing flight or fright or for comparing different housing elements, such as floors or fences. |
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Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany. kscheibe@izw-berlin.de |
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English |
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1554-351X |
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Notes |
PMID:17186752 |
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Call Number |
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Serial |
1775 |
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Author |
Rybarczyk, P.; Rushen, J.; de Passille, A.M. |
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Title |
Recognition of people by dairy calves using colour of clothing |
Type |
Journal Article |
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Year |
2003 |
Publication |
Applied Animal Behaviour Science |
Abbreviated Journal |
Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. |
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Volume |
81 |
Issue |
4 |
Pages |
307-319 |
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Keywords |
Cattle handling; Discrimination; Human-animal relationships; Colour cues; Y-maze |
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Abstract |
We examined whether very young dairy calves are able to discriminate between two people, and whether they use the colour of clothing or other indices to do so. During the familiarisation phase, one person (the familiar rewarder), who always wore the same colour clothes, gave milk, spoke gently and patted the calves in their individual pen for 6 days each week. During the test phase, the calf had to make a choice in an Y-maze placed in front of the gate of its stall. When the calves chose the familiar rewarder, they received 200 ml of milk as reinforcement. When they made the incorrect choice, they received nothing and were returned to their stall. On each test day, the calves made eight choices. The criterion of success was that the calf made at least six correct choices in eight trials on each of two consecutive test days (P<0.021 by the binomial law). The first experiment was carried out with fourteen 1-week-old male and female Holstein calves to see if calves could approach a person, who changed position in the maze, in order to obtain a feed reward. The familiar rewarder wore the same clothes as during the period of familiarisation and was in one arm of the Y-maze. The other arm was empty and the position of the familiar rewarder in the maze was randomised. Eleven of the 14 calves reached the criterion for success, after only three tests. The second experiment, carried out with five 2-week-old calves, examined whether the calves can differentiate the familiar rewarder (wearing the same clothing as during the period of familiarisation) from another person (the non-rewarder) wearing clothes of a different colour. The criterion of success was reached by all five calves. The third experiment was carried out with seven 2-week-old calves. It examined whether the calves can differentiate the familiar rewarder and the non-rewarder, when the two people are wearing clothes of the same colour (i.e. the same colour worn by the familiar rewarder during the phase of familiarisation). None of the calves were able to reach the criterion of success within a limited number of four test days. Often, calves would always choose the same arm of the maze. The fourth experiment was carried out on six 1-month-old calves. It was similar to experiment 3 with the difference that the familiar rewarder and the non-rewarder both wore the same colour clothes, but which were not the same colour as worn during the phase of familiarisation. Only one calf achieved the criterion of success within two test days. Results demonstrated that colour cues help very young calves to discriminate between two people, when these people wear different colour clothing. Some calves may be able to use other indicators than the colour of clothing. The Y-maze method is an promising way of examining calves' abilities to recognise people. |
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