Introduction Endocrine dysfunction associated with obesity is a daily challenge in equine ambulatory practice and obesity-related laminitis poses a significant threat to equine welfare in Australia (Figure 1). A recent pony club survey in Victoria found that 15% of horses and ponies had suffered from at least one episode of laminitis and more than half […]
Continue ReadingHere we document 47,381 individuals from 38 species, including 31 protected species sold between May 2017 and November 2019 in Wuhan’s markets. We note that no pangolins (or bats) were traded, supporting reformed opinion that pangolins were not likely the spillover host at the source of the current coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Continue ReadingThe construction of the Ellis Park wildlife sanctuary in Sumatra is progressing well following a positive response to donation call-outs. Victorian-based co-founder Lorinda Jane (also the founder of the Palm Oil Investigations watchdog/consultancy) said the funding is half-way there for the facility designed for animals too handicapped or traumatised to be returned to the wild.
Continue Reading
I recently came across a paper entitled, A loss-of-function mutation in RORB disrupts saltatorial locomotion in rabbits. What struck me was not saltorial locomotion (the hopping gait of rabbits and kangaroos) but the image of a rabbit walking on its forelimbs while the hindlimbs are lifted from the ground. I remembered seeing a photo of […]
Continue ReadingToxoplasma gondii is hypothesized to manipulate the behavior of warm-blooded hosts to promote trophic transmission into the parasite’s definitive feline hosts. A key prediction of this hypothesis is that T. gondii infections of non-feline hosts are associated with costly behavior toward T. gondii‘s definitive hosts; however, this effect has not been documented in any of […]
Continue Reading
