Seasonal Moulting in Adult Male Raccoon Dog (<i>Nyctereutes procyonoides</i>)

Xiao, Yongjun

doi:10.1080/09064709509415850

Cited by 3 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 9 publications

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“…With this in mind, we included raccoon dog hairs as a dietary component only when the volume of hairs in a stomach was >20 ml, which we consider unlikely to result from grooming. Moreover, the time of intensive moulting does not coincide with our study period [24] .…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 63%

An Invasive Vector of Zoonotic Disease Sustained by Anthropogenic Resources: The Raccoon Dog in Northern Europe

et al. 2014

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The raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides) is an introduced species in Europe with a continually expanding range. Since the species is capable of affecting local ecosystems and is a vector for a number of severe zoonotic diseases, it is important to understand its food habits. Raccoon dog diet was studied in Estonia by examining the contents of 223 stomach samples collected during the coldest period of the year, August to March, in 2010–2012. The most frequently consumed food categories were anthropogenic plants (e.g. cereals, fruits; FO = 56.1%) and carrion (e.g. carcasses of artiodactyls and carnivores; FO = 48.4%). Carrion was also the only food category that was consumed significantly more frequently by raccoon dogs exhibiting symptoms of sarcoptic mange than by uninfected animals. Small mammals, which represent intermediate hosts for the zoonotic tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis, were more commonly recorded in samples also containing anthropogenic plants than expected by chance. Comparison of raccoon dog and red fox (Vulpes vulpes) diet in Estonia revealed higher overlap than found elsewhere in Europe, with ‘carrion’ and ‘anthropogenic plants’ making up the bulk of both species’ diet; however, raccoon dogs were more omnivorous than red foxes. Our results suggest that while the use of most food categories reflects the phenology of natural food sources, ‘anthropogenic plants’ and ‘carrion’ provide an essential resource for raccoon dogs during the coldest period of the year, with the latter resource especially important for individuals infected with sarcoptic mange. Since both of these food categories and small mammals are often found at supplementary feeding sites for wild boar (Sus scrofa), this game management practice may facilitate high densities of mesocarnivores and promote the spread of some severe zoonotic diseases, including alveolar echinococcosis, trichinellosis, rabies and sarcoptic mange.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 63%

An Invasive Vector of Zoonotic Disease Sustained by Anthropogenic Resources: The Raccoon Dog in Northern Europe

et al. 2014

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Seasonal reproductive endocrine profile of the raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides)—effects of melatonin and food deprivation

et al. 2003

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The raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides, Canidae, Carnivora) is a middle-sized omnivore with excessive autumnal fattening and winter sleep. We studied adaptations of the species to boreal climate and photoperiod by following the plasma reproductive and thyroid hormone concentrations of farm-bred raccoon dogs (n=32) for 12 months. On August 16, 2000, and February 8, 2001, half of the raccoon dogs received continuous-release melatonin implants (the MEL group). The other half was sham-operated (the SHAM group). Between November 27, 2000, and January 25, 2001, half of the animals of both groups were fasted. The plasma testosterone concentrations of the MEL males peaked in February, a month earlier than in the SHAM males. Autumnal melatonin treatment also advanced the gestation period reflected by the plasma progesterone concentrations by seven weeks. Food deprivation in winter seems to accentuate the sex steroid response during the mating as the fasted males had higher testosterone concentrations than the fed males in February and March.

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Effects of melatonin implants on winter fur growth and testicular recrudescence in adult male raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides)

Xiao¹,

Forsberg²,

Laitinen³

et al. 1996

Journal of Pineal Research

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The effects of melatonin implants were investigated on winter fur growth, monitored by counting growing and mature hairs per bundle and testicular recrudescence, judged by testis width, score count of spermatogenesis, and serum testosterone in the adult male raccoon dogs. Melatonin administration in July highly elevated melatonin concentrations in serum and urine and induced an earlier decrease in prolactin secretion (August in the treated group vs September in the control group), winter fur growth (July-beginning of November in the treated group vs. August-end of November in the control group) and testicular recrudescence (October in the treated group vs. November in the control group). In the control animals, urinary excretion of melatonin between 1500-0900 hr increased during autumn followed by a rapid fall in winter. The increase from July (1.8 +/- 0.4 ng) to August (3.9 +/- 0.5 ng) and the subsequent unchanged levels until October coincided with the period of winter fur growth. The further increase in November (6.5 +/- 1.2 ng) coincided with the significant elevation in both testis width and score count of spermatogenesis. These results suggest a role of the increase in endogenous melatonin secretion during autumn in the growth of winter fur and testicular recrudescence in this species under natural conditions. Relatively high serum concentrations of prolactin were shown in two animals, one in the control group and another in the treated group. However, the parameters for testis and winter fur growth in the two cases were similar to those in the remainder of the animals. Thereby, the role of prolactin in the winter fur growth and the initiation of testicular recrudescence, if it is truly involved, is manifested through its decreasing secretion rather than the actual blood concentrations.

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Seasonal Moulting in Adult Male Raccoon Dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides)

Cited by 3 publications

References 9 publications

An Invasive Vector of Zoonotic Disease Sustained by Anthropogenic Resources: The Raccoon Dog in Northern Europe

An Invasive Vector of Zoonotic Disease Sustained by Anthropogenic Resources: The Raccoon Dog in Northern Europe

Seasonal reproductive endocrine profile of the raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides)—effects of melatonin and food deprivation

Effects of melatonin implants on winter fur growth and testicular recrudescence in adult male raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides)

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