Comparative mitogenome phylogeography of two anteater genera (Tamandua and Myrmecophaga;Myrmecophagidae, Xenarthra): Evidence of discrepant evolutionary traits

The species within Xenarthra(sloths,anteaters,and armadillos)are quintessential South American mammals.Of the three groups,Vermilingua(anteaters)contains the fewest extant and paleontological species.Here,we sampled and sequenced the entire mitochondrial genomes(mitogenomes)of two Tamandua species(Tamandua tetradactyla and T.mexicana)(n=74)from Central and South America,as well as Myrmecophaga tridactyla(n=41)from South America.Within Tamandua,we detected three different haplogroups.The oldest(THI)contained many specimens with the T.tetradactyla morphotype(but also several with the T.mexicana morphotype)and originated in southeastern South America(currently Uruguay)before moving towards northern South America,where the THII haplogroup originated.THII primarily contained specimens with the T.mexicana morphotype(but also several with the T.tetradactyla morphotype)and was distributed in Central America,Colombia,and Ecuador.THI and THII yielded a genetic distance of 4%.THII originated in either northern South America or“in situ”in Central America with haplogroup THIII,which consisted of~50%T.mexicana and 50%T.tetradactyla phenotypes.THIII was mostly located in the same areas as THII,i.e.,Central America,Ecuador,and Colombia,though mainly in the latter.The three haplogroups overlapped in Colombia and Ecuador.Thus,T.tetradactyla and T.mexicana were not reciprocally monophyletic.For this reason,we considered that a unique species of Tamandua likely exists,i.e.,T.tetradactyla.In contrast to Tamandua,M.tridactyla did not show different morphotypes throughout its geographical range in the Neotropics.However,two very divergent genetic haplogroups(MHI and MHII),with a genetic distance of~10%,were detected.The basal haplogroup,MHI,originated in northwestern South America,whereas the more geographically derived haplogroup,MHII,overlapped with MHI,but also expanded into central and southern South America.Thus,Tamandua migrated from south to north whereas Myrmecophaga migrated from north to south.Our results also showed that temporal mitochondrial diversification for Tamandua began during the Late Pliocene and Upper Pleistocene,but for Myrmecophaga began during the Late Miocene.Furthermore,both taxa showed elevated levels of mitochondrial genetic diversity.Tamandua showed more evidence of female population expansion than Myrmecophaga.Tamandua experienced population expansion~0.6–0.17 million years ago(Mya),whereas Myrmecophaga showed possible population expansion~0.3–0.2 Mya.However,both taxa experienced a conspicuous female decline in the last 10000–20000 years.Our results also showed little spatial genetic structure for both taxa.However,several analyses revealed higher spatial structure in Tamandua than in Myrmecophaga.Therefore,Tamandua and Myrmecophaga were not subjected to the same biogeographical,geological,or climatological events in shaping their genetic structures.

一例大食蚁兽感染艾美耳球虫的报道

在对北京动物园从南非引进的大食蚁兽进行检疫时发现粪便中有大量球虫卵囊,经鉴定为艾美耳球虫Eimeriaescomeli(Rastegaieff,1930)Levine and Becker,1933。从大食蚁兽新排出的粪便中收集卵囊并进行分离培养,卵囊经28℃孵化8 d可完全孢子化。卵囊多为椭圆形或亚球形,卵囊壁粗糙,呈棕黄色,无卵膜孔。卵囊的大小为长20.9±2.59μm,宽18.7±2.25μm,形状指数为1.1±0.07。卵囊壁厚度为1.1±0.18μm,分两层,外层厚,棕黄色的卵囊壁有放射状条纹,内层膜较薄,并且松散。卵囊内常有残体。孢子囊呈长卵圆形,轻微不对称,有斯氏体。大小为5.5～10.8μm×3.4～5.6μm,平均8.68μm×4.21μm。子孢子长形,平行排列,头尾相对。

一例大食蚁兽贫血的诊治及分析

2017年天津市动物园首次引进大食蚁兽(Myrmecophaga tridactyla),雌、雄各1只,并于2018年7月16日产下1只雌性幼仔。在哺乳期间,雌兽面部出现丘疹状水泡,嗜睡,活动时快速徘徊,显现烦躁状态,四肢明显无力,食欲不佳,易呕吐,反复出血性肠炎。2019年9月,雌兽食量降至健康时的1/3,体重降至35 kg,减少15 kg。血生化检查显示,血氨与治疗后对比异常升高,丙氨酸氨基转移酶升高,红细胞、血红蛋白、血细胞比容偏低。血涂片瑞氏染色可见薄型红血球、卡波德环状小体和偏心红血球。根据实验室检查结果,初步诊断为营养性巨幼细胞贫血合并缺铁性贫血。治疗原则为保肝护肝,补充叶酸、维生素B_(12)和多种矿物质,降低饲料动物性蛋白质含量,调理胃肠道菌群。经过为期1年的治疗调理,该食蚁兽食欲、活动良好,体重增加至45 kg,各项指标趋于正常。