Displaying publications 41 - 51 of 51 in total

Abstract:
Sort:
  1. Bornean orangutans: primary forest in Danum Valley and rehabilitation program on Orangutan Island
    Matsuzawa T
    Primates, 2019 11;60(6):477-483.
    PMID: 31679101 DOI: 10.1007/s10329-019-00771-8
    Matched MeSH terms: Pongo pygmaeus*
  2. Developmental changes in the endocrine stress response in orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus)
    Takeshita RSC, Mendonça RS, Bercovitch FB, Huffman MA
    J. Comp. Physiol. B, Biochem. Syst. Environ. Physiol., 2019 12;189(6):659-672.
    PMID: 31549180 DOI: 10.1007/s00360-019-01235-7
    Non-invasive measures of stress are crucial for captive and conservation management programs. The adrenal hormone dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEAS) has recently been adopted as a stress marker, but there is little investigation of its relationship to glucocorticoids (GC), well-known indicators of stress. This study examined the influence of age, reproductive state and environment on GC and DHEAS levels in orangutans, to test whether the GC/DHEAS ratio can provide an index of stress response in primates. We measured fecal GC (fGC) and fecal DHEAS (fDHEAS) concentrations in 7 captive orangutans from zoological parks in Japan and 22 wild orangutans from Danum Valley Conservation Area, Malaysia. We found that in a stressful condition (transportation), fDHEAS levels increased 2 days after the fGC response, which occurred 1 day after the stressor. One pregnant female had elevated levels of both hormones, and a higher fGC/fDHEAS ratio than baseline. Females in the first year of lactation had fGC levels and the fGC/fDHEAS ratio significantly higher than both baseline and females in the second and subsequent years of lactation. There was no effect of age on fGC levels, but the fGC/fDHEAS ratio was higher in infants than adults and adolescents. fDHEAS concentrations were lower in infants than juveniles, adolescents and adults, a phenomenon known as adrenarche, shared with humans and other great apes. We suggest that changes in DHEAS during orangutan life history are associated with changes in the dynamics of maintaining homeostasis that vary with age and reproductive state. The GC/DHEAS ratio index is useful to evaluate age-related abilities of responding to stressful challenges.
    Matched MeSH terms: Pongo pygmaeus/growth & development*; Pongo pygmaeus/physiology
  3. Fulltext Changes to Sabah's orangutan population in recent times: 2002-2017
    Simon D, Davies G, Ancrenaz M
    PLoS One, 2019;14(7):e0218819.
    PMID: 31314781 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0218819
    The Bornean orangutan is critically endangered and monitoring its population is needed to inform effective conservation management. In this paper, we present results of 2014-17 aerial nest surveys of the major orangutan populations in Sabah and compare them with baseline data produced during surveys conducted in 2002-03 using similar methods. Our results show three important points: a) by increasing the survey effort (estimated at 15-25% cover), sparsely scattered orangutan sub-populations not recorded in the previous aerial surveys were located and the accuracy of the nest count estimates is expected to improve; b) large populations in the interior forests of Sabah, occupying sustainably managed logged and unlogged forests, have been stable over 15 years and are of vital importance for the species' conservation; c) fragmented populations located in eastern Sabah, that are surrounded by extensive oil palm plantations, have declined at varying rates.
    Matched MeSH terms: Pongo pygmaeus/physiology*
  4. Fulltext Palmaris longus tendon absence in pre-clinical medical students of Universiti Malaysia Sabah
    Navin Ravi, Elvira Effie Juis, Michelle Maria Vincent, Rasyidah Shokri, Vinooshana R. Kannan, Izzudin Madin, et al.
    Borneo Journal of Medical Sciences, 2019;14(1):73-79.
    MyJurnal
    Palmaris longus (PL) tendon is regularly used in reconstructive surgeries as a donor tendon because it is observed as an accessory muscle and has little practical use to the human hands. It is only found in mammals. For example, the orangutan has PL but it is absent variable in the higher class of apes such as gorillas and chimpanzees. The absence of PL in humans appears to be hereditary, but the genetic transmission is unclear. The main objective of this study is to determine the prevalence of PL tendon absence in pre-clinical medical students of UMS and to compare the lack between gender and ethnic groups. By using standard Schaffer’s test, we examined the presence or absence of PL tendon among the first and second-year medical students of UMS. Four additional tests, Thompson’s test, Mishra’s test I, and II, Pushpakumar’s tests were used to determine whether PL present or not. A total of 134 volunteers were examined, and 91.8% were right-handed, and 8.2% were left-handed. The overall absence (bilateral and unilateral) of PL tendon was 23.9%, whereas unilateral absent was 17.9%, and bilateral absent was 6.0%. The high prevalence of absence of PL tendon among females 25.5% compared to males 20.0%. Chinese and Indian have a higher incidence of PL tendon absence followed by Kadazandusun and Malay. In this study, there were different figures for each ethnic group. The prevalence of absence of PL varies depending on the populations.
    Matched MeSH terms: Pongo
  5. Fulltext Characterization of Burkholderia pseudomallei from spontaneous melioidosis in a Bornean orangutan
    Testamenti VA, Surya M, Saepuloh U, Iskandriati D, Tandang MV, Kristina L, et al.
    Vet World, 2020 Nov;13(11):2459-2468.
    PMID: 33363342 DOI: 10.14202/vetworld.2020.2459-2468
    Background and Aim: Melioidosis is a potentially fatal disease affecting humans and a wide range of animal species; it is often underdiagnosed and underreported in veterinary medicine in Indonesia. This study aimed to characterize morphological and molecular features of Burkholderia pseudomallei, the causative agent of melioidosis which caused the death of a Bornean orangutan.

    Materials and Methods: Pulmonary abscess samples were cultured on several types of media, including Ashdown agar, Ashdown broth, and MacConkey agar. Type three secretion system orf 2 real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and latex agglutination tests were performed to identify the bacteria. Morphological characteristics were compared to all previously published morphotypes. Subsequently, the bacteria were characterized by multilocus sequence typing (MLST) and Yersinia-like flagellum/Burkholderia thailandensis-like flagellum and chemotaxis PCR. The results of the genotyping were afterward compared to all genotypes from Southeast Asia.

    Results: Multiple morphotypes of B. pseudomallei were perceived during the growth on Ashdown agar. Furthermore, it was identified by MLST that the Type I and Type II morphotypes observed in this study were clones of a single ST, ST54, which is predominantly found in humans and the environment in Malaysia and Thailand, although a very limited number of reports was published in association with animals. Moreover, the E-BURST analysis showed that the ST is grouped together with isolates from Southeast Asian countries, including Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, and Cambodia. ST54 was predicted to be the founding genotype of several STs from those regions.

    Conclusion: B. pseudomallei ST54 that caused the death of a Bornean orangutan has a distant genetic relationship with other STs which were previously reported in Indonesia, implying a vast genetic diversity in Indonesia that has not been discovered yet.

    Matched MeSH terms: Pongo pygmaeus
  6. Fulltext New Insights on the Evolution of the Sweet Taste Receptor of Primates Adapted to Harsh Environments
    Tamrin NAM, Zainudin R, Esa Y, Alias H, Isa MNM, Croft L, et al.
    Animals (Basel), 2020 Dec 10;10(12).
    PMID: 33321745 DOI: 10.3390/ani10122359
    Taste perception is an essential function that provides valuable dietary and sensory information, which is crucial for the survival of animals. Studies into the evolution of the sweet taste receptor gene (TAS1R2) are scarce, especially for Bornean endemic primates such as Nasalis larvatus (proboscis monkey), Pongo pygmaeus (Bornean orangutan), and Hylobates muelleri (Muller's Bornean gibbon). Primates are the perfect taxa to study as they are diverse dietary feeders, comprising specialist folivores, frugivores, gummivores, herbivores, and omnivores. We constructed phylogenetic trees of the TAS1R2 gene for 20 species of anthropoid primates using four different methods (neighbor-joining, maximum parsimony, maximum-likelihood, and Bayesian) and also established the time divergence of the phylogeny. The phylogeny successfully separated the primates into their taxonomic groups as well as by their dietary preferences. Of note, the reviewed time of divergence estimation for the primate speciation pattern in this study was more recent than the previously published estimates. It is believed that this difference may be due to environmental changes, such as food scarcity and climate change, during the late Miocene epoch, which forced primates to change their dietary preferences. These findings provide a starting point for further investigation.
    Matched MeSH terms: Pongo pygmaeus
  7. Fulltext Association of antimicrobial resistance and gut microbiota composition in human and non-human primates at an urban ecotourism site
    Chong CW, Alkatheeri AHS, Ali N, Tay ZH, Lee YL, Paramasivam SJ, et al.
    Gut Pathog, 2020;12:14.
    PMID: 32175011 DOI: 10.1186/s13099-020-00352-x
    Background: The rise of nature-based ecotourism in the past decade has introduced unprecedented challenges in managing the increasing interaction between humans and animals. The potential transmission of antibiotic resistant microbes between humans and non-human primate populations is a concern due to their genetic similarity. Malaysia is well known for hotspots of wildlife diversity where non-human primates like monkeys and orangutans have become popular tourist attractions. In this study, we assessed the prevalence of antimicrobial resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus species, and other Enterobacteriaceae in the faeces of human (HS) and two non-human primates (NHP) in Malaysia, the Long-tailed macaque (Macaca fascicularis, MF) and Silvered leaf monkey (Trachypithecus cristatus, TC). In addition, the faecal bacterial composition was profiled to evaluate the potential association between antibiotic resistant profiles and composition of gut microbiota.

    Results: We tested the isolated bacteria using a selection of antibiotics. The results showed that both the number of antibiotic resistant strains and resistance level were higher in humans than NHPs. Overall, the composition of gut microbiome and pattern of antibiotic resistance showed that there was higher similarity between MF and TC, the two NHPs, than with HS. In addition, samples with higher levels of antibiotic resistance showed lower bacterial richness. Homo sapiens had the lowest bacterial diversity and yet it had higher abundance of Bacteroides. In contrast, NHPs displayed higher bacterial richness and greater prevalence of Firmicutes such as Ruminococceae and Oscillospira.

    Conclusion: Higher antibiotic susceptibility in NHPs is likely related to low direct exposure to antibiotics. The lack of resistance may also suggest limited antimicrobial resistance transmission between humans and NHP. Nonetheless, continued monitoring over a long period will help mitigate the risk of anthropozoonosis and zooanthroponosis.

    Matched MeSH terms: Pongo
  8. Activity Budget and Postural Behaviors in Orangutans on Bukit Merah Orang Utan Island for Assessing Captive Great Ape Welfare
    Kamaluddin SN, Matsuda I, Md-Zain BM
    J Appl Anim Welf Sci, 2021 Apr 10.
    PMID: 33843367 DOI: 10.1080/10888705.2021.1910032
    Assessments of the welfare status of captive and semi-captive animals often compare how their expression of natural behaviors differs from that of free-ranging conspecifics. From December 2015-2016, we recorded and analyzed the activity budget and postural behaviors of three orangutans in Bukit Merah Orang Utan Island (BMOUI) to evaluate their welfare status. The orangutans' activity budget was dominated by resting (60%), feeding (13%), playing (14%), and moving (9%). Behavioral categories followed a similar trend: resting > feeding > moving > playing, except that the subadult male spent significantly more time playing than the two adults. The most predominant posture was sitting (47.0%), followed by pronograde standing (29.4%), lying (10.5%), and clinging (4.5%). Our results suggest that orangutans on BMOUI engage in less feeding but more resting, and show less postural diversity than free-ranging individuals. We propose that appropriate interventions to shift activity budgets, especially feeding vs. resting, and postural behaviors of captive orangutans toward those found in free-ranging orangutans might be beneficial for their welfare and survival.
    Matched MeSH terms: Pongo pygmaeus; Pongo
  9. Evaluating the contribution of a wildlife health capacity building program on orangutan conservation
    Unwin S, Commitante R, Moss A, Bridges E, Farmer KH, Jaya RL, et al.
    Am J Primatol, 2021 May 21.
    PMID: 34018623 DOI: 10.1002/ajp.23273
    One Health is increasingly being used as a tool in ecosystem protection. The Orangutan Veterinary Advisory Group (OVAG) is working to address One Health concerns in Pongo spp. (orangutan) welfare and conservation. Orangutans are vital contributors to the ecosystem health of their range areas. Strengthening national capacity is crucial to make a lasting difference in the currently bleak outlook for orangutan species survival. OVAG is a capacity strengthening and expertise network that brings together all those working with orangutans, in- and ex-situ, to share knowledge, skills, and to collectively learn. Using the One Health paradigm embedded to enhance professional development, the OVAG network is successfully supporting conservation outcomes and impact. As part of our adaptive management approach, and to assess individual and organizational change attributable to the capacity strengthening work of OVAG, we evaluated technical skill test data, program satisfaction data, and asked participants to complete a self-reflective survey. This pilot study of our work demonstrates statistically significant improvements in conservation medicine (t = 5.481, p 
    Matched MeSH terms: Pongo pygmaeus; Pongo
  10. Fulltext First Bornean orangutan sighting in Usun Apau National Park, Sarawak
    Ampeng A, Liam J, Simpson B, Traelholt C, Md Nor S, Abdan-Saleman MSB, et al.
    Biodivers Data J, 2021;9:e60753.
    PMID: 33531863 DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.9.e60753
    Wildlife surveys were conducted in Usun Apau National Park (UANP), Sarawak from Oct 2017 to Oct 2020. This was the first attempt to document fauna diversity in Usun Apau National Park on the UANP plateau at 1200-1400 m a.s.l. On 17 September 2020, 10 AM, we observed an orangutan individual, Pongo pygmaeus, over a period of one minute at Libut Camp UANP (E: 114039'.546, N: 2052'36.44) at 1,020 m a.s.l. We also recorded four nests and orangutan vocalisation twice. This observation is important for Bornean orangutan conservation as this was the first orangutan sighting in UANP and well outside the species distribution range for in Sarawak.
    Matched MeSH terms: Pongo pygmaeus; Pongo
  11. Fulltext Oxygen isotopes in orangutan teeth reveal recent and ancient climate variation
    Smith TM, Arora M, Austin C, Nunes Ávila J, Duval M, Lim TT, et al.
    Elife, 2024 Mar 08;12.
    PMID: 38457350 DOI: 10.7554/eLife.90217
    Studies of climate variation commonly rely on chemical and isotopic changes recorded in sequentially produced growth layers, such as in corals, shells, and tree rings, as well as in accretionary deposits-ice and sediment cores, and speleothems. Oxygen isotopic compositions (δ18O) of tooth enamel are a direct method of reconstructing environmental variation experienced by an individual animal. Here, we utilize long-forming orangutan dentitions (Pongo spp.) to probe recent and ancient rainfall trends on a weekly basis over ~3-11 years per individual. We first demonstrate the lack of any consistent isotopic enrichment effect during exclusive nursing, supporting the use of primate first molar teeth as environmental proxies. Comparisons of δ18O values (n=2016) in twelve molars from six modern Bornean and Sumatran orangutans reveal a high degree of overlap, with more consistent annual and bimodal rainfall patterns in the Sumatran individuals. Comparisons with fossil orangutan δ18O values (n=955 measurements from six molars) reveal similarities between modern and late Pleistocene fossil Sumatran individuals, but differences between modern and late Pleistocene/early Holocene Bornean orangutans. These suggest drier and more open environments with reduced monsoon intensity during this earlier period in northern Borneo, consistent with other Niah Caves studies and long-term speleothem δ18O records in the broader region. This approach can be extended to test hypotheses about the paleoenvironments that early humans encountered in southeast Asia.
    Matched MeSH terms: Pongo pygmaeus; Pongo abelii*
Related Terms
Filters
Contact Us

Please provide feedback to Administrator (afdal@afpm.org.my)

External Links