<b><i>Background:</i></b> The glomerular filtration rate (GFR), as the benchmark of renal function, has been widely used in clinical practice and basic medical research. Currently, most researchers still rely on endogenous markers, such as plasma creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, and cystatin C, to evaluate renal function in laboratory animals. While inexpensive and simple to use, methods based on endogenous markers are often inaccurate and susceptible to several internal physiological factors. Thus, it is necessary to establish a method to precisely assess the GFR, especially when detecting early changes in GFR during acute kidney injury, and hyperfiltration usually caused by pregnancy or diabetic nephropathy. In addition, laboratory animals have higher tolerance for invasive procedures than humans, allowing novel technologies to be applied on them for GFR monitoring. In recent years, significant progress has been made in developing new methods to assess GFR in animals. However, no publication has reviewed these techniques. <b><i>Summary:</i></b> This article summarized the majority of methods used to assess the GFR in animals in recent decades and discussed their working principles, workflows, advantages, and limitations, providing a wealth of reference and information for researchers interested in studying the kidney function in animals and developing techniques to monitor the GFR.

Feline herpesvirus type 1 (FHV-1) is a common causative agent of domestic cats’ rhinotracheitis in domestic cats, and it increasingly threatens wild felids worldwide. The endangered snow leopard (Panthera uncia) belongs to the family Felidae, and it is the top predator on the Tibetan Plateau. Here we report the identification and isolation of FHV-1 from three dead captive snow leopards that presented with sneezing and rhinorrhea. To explore the relationship between FHV-1 and their deaths, organs and nasal swabs were collected for histopathology, viral isolation and sequence analysis. The results revealed that all three snow leopards were infected with FHV-1. The first animal died primarily of cerebral infarction and secondary non-suppurative meningoencephalitis that was probably caused by FHV-1. The second animal died mainly of renal failure accompanied by interstitial pneumonia caused by FHV-1. The cause of death for the third animal was likely related to the concurrent reactivation of a latent FHV-1 infection. The gD and gE gene sequence alignment of the isolated FHV-1 isolate strain revealed that the virus likely originated from a domestic cat. It was found that FHV-1 infection can cause different lesions in snow leopards than in domestic cats and is associated with high risk of disease in wild felids. This suggests that there should be increased focus on protecting wild felids against FHV-1 infections originating from domestic cats.

Feline herpesvirus type 1 (FHV-1) is a common causative agent of domestic cats rhinotracheitis and gradually threatens the wild felid worldwide. The endangered snow leopard belongs to the family Felidae and is also the top predator on the Tibetan Plateau. Herein, FHV-1 was identified and isolated from three dead snow leopards with symptom of sneezing and rhinorrhea. To explore the relationship between FHV-1 and their death, histopathology and molecular biology was performed. The organs and nasal swabs were collected for examinations of histopathology, the nucleic acid of the pathogen, viral isolation, and sequence analysis. The results reveal that all three snow leopards were infected with FHV-1. The first case primarily died of old cerebral infarction and secondary non-suppurative meningoencephalitis probably caused by FHV-1. The second case mainly died of renal failure accompanied by interstitial pneumonia caused by FHV-1. The third case was doubted to be related to the reactivation of latency of FHV-1. The gD and gE gene sequence alignment of the FHV-1 isolate strain revealed that the isolated strain originated from a domestic cat. Therefore, FHV-1 infection can cause different lesions of snow leopards and shows a high risk for the wild felid. We should focus more on protecting felid against threatening of FHV-1 infection originating from domestic cats.

Sarcoptic mange, a disease caused by the burrowing mite Sarcoptes scabiei, is globally endemic and an emerging threat to wildlife. Although many studies have shown that wildlife diseases play key roles in biodiversity conservation, knowledge about sarcoptic mange is still insufficient. In this study, we aim to improve the understanding of the impacts of sarcoptic mange on wildlife populations, the mechanisms involved in its eco‐epidemiology and the associated risks to public and ecosystem health by investigating mass death events in gorals and serows in the Qinling Mountains. We conducted interviews with practitioners and local people in the central Qinling Mountains. From the same locations, we collected 24 cutaneous samples from various animals and surveillance data from infrared cameras. Pathological, parasitological and microbiological examinations of the samples were performed. Mite‐induced cutaneous lesions, mites and eggs were observed in samples from dead gorals and one dead serow but not in other species. Molecular analysis confirmed the mites to be S. scabiei and shared the same cox 1 genotype. The data obtained from the interviews and infrared cameras indicated that the death of wildlife was related to sarcoptic mange infection and that there had been a decrease in the goral population since the outbreak of the disease. We confirmed that sarcoptic mange was the major cause of the mass death events and may have spread from the western to eastern Qinling Mountains. Based on our findings, we propose several protection strategies to help preserve biodiversity in the Qinling Mountains.

Sarcoptic mange, a disease caused by the burrowing mite Sarcoptes scabiei, is globally endemic and an emerging threat to wildlife. Although many studies have shown that wildlife diseases play key roles in biodiversity conservation, knowledge about sarcoptic mange is still insufficient. In this study, we aim to improve the understanding of the impacts of sarcoptic mange on wildlife populations, the mechanisms involved in its ecoepidemiology, and the associated risks to public and ecosystem health by investigating mass death events in gorals and serows in the Qinling Mountains. We conducted interviews with practitioners and local people in the central Qinling Mountains. From the same locations, we collected 24 cutaneous samples from various animals and surveillance data from infrared cameras. Pathological, parasitological and microbiological examinations of the samples were performed. Mite-induced cutaneous lesions, mites and eggs were observed in samples from dead gorals and one dead serow, but not in other species. Molecular analysis confirmed the mites to be S. scabiei that originated from rabbits. The data obtained from the interviews and infrared cameras indicated that the death of wildlife was related to sarcoptic mange infection and that there had been a decrease in the goral population since the outbreak of the disease. We confirmed that sarcoptic mange was the major cause of the mass death events and may have spread from the western to eastern Qinling Mountains. Based on our findings, we propose several protection strategies to help preserve biodiversity in the Qinling Mountains.