Age-Related Characteristics of Coyote Canines

High Prevalence of Antibodies against Canine Parvovirus and Canine Distemper Virus among Coyotes and Foxes from Pennsylvania: Implications for the Intersection of Companion Animals and Wildlife

“…The serological analyses conducted as part of this study were performed under USDA Special Use Scientific Study Permit 48548 and a Pennsylvania State University Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC)-approved protocol (201900871). The collection sites, collection year, sex, species, developmental stage (juvenile, 1 yr; subadult, 1 to 2 yr; and adult, >3 yr) as determined by dentition ( 16 ) and serologic status (scored as + or – for Abs to each virus) of each sample assessed are provided in Table S1. Serum samples were screened using a commercially available colorimetric-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit (TiterCHEK CDV-CPV; Zoetis) per the manufacturer’s protocol.…”

Sentinel-based Surveillance of Coyotes to Detect Bovine Tuberculosis, Michigan

“…Because multiple captures could occur on the fi nal day of trapping, we occasionally collected >10 coyotes/township. We killed trapped coyotes with a 0.22-caliber gunshot to the brain, determined their age on the basis of tooth wear and eruption (20), and performed necropsy examinations on them within an hour of death to minimize autolysis. Tissues containing visible lesions as well as the parotid, mandibular, retropharyngeal, bronchial, mediastinal, and mesenteric lymph nodes were collected and submitted in formalin for histologic examination and fresh for mycobacterial culture.…”

Use of cementum annuli and eye-lens weight for aging coyotes

“…Linhart and Knowlton () reported that the first annulus likely forms at 20–23 months of age. Nellis et al () indicated the first annulus became visible at 20 months. Our findings were consistent with Allen and Kohn (), who observed that juveniles lacked an annulus, but yearlings had one that was “easily visible.” G. Matson (Matson's Laboratory, personal communication) indicated that the first annulus is formed during the first winter of life.…”

“…Nellis et al () acknowledged that the annuli technique provided the most accurate results for estimating age of adult coyotes, but suggested that because of difficulties in interpreting layering in the cementum of young animals, only teeth from animals >2 years old, as determined by socket tightness and drop of C1, should be aged using CAA. However, based on our findings, this suggestion may be unwarranted.…”

“…They concluded that the cementum layers accurately estimates age, but the lack of known‐aged animals that were <2 years old in their sample made it difficult for them to establish the age at which the first cementum layer was formed. Nellis et al () also noted some shortcomings in aging young coyotes using CAA.…”