clove and Body-Weight

Psidium guajava L. leaves are used to treat diabetes in South African folkloric medicine and in other parts of the world. Psidium x durbanensis Baijnath & Ramcharun ined. (PD) is a natural sterile hybrid and congener of Psidium guajava that is expected to share the medicinal properties of the genus Psidium and is widely distributed in South Africa.. This study investigates the antioxidant, antidiabetic effects, and mechanisms of action of hydro-methanolic leaf extracts of PD on streptozotocin-induced diabetes in rats.. Phytochemical constituents of hydro-methanolic extract of PD were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Male Wistar rats 250-300 g body weight (BW) were rendered diabetic after a single intraperitoneal injection with streptozotocin, 45 mg/kg BW. The diabetic rats were treated with hydro-methanolic (20:80 v/v) leaf extracts of PD (400 mg/kg/BW) or subcutaneous injections of regular insulin (2.0U/kg/BW, bid) for 56 days. The body weights of the animals were recorded daily. Fasting blood glucose, glucose tolerance tests, and insulin resistance index were measured. The effects of the extracts on total superoxide dismutase, catalase, and reduced glutathione activities, histopathology, and gene expression of insulin receptor substrate 1 and glucose transporter 4 were determined in the liver, pancreas, and gastrocnemius muscles of the rats.. In the acute toxicity studies, there were no signs of toxicity observed for PD up to 2000 mg/kg BW doses. Diabetic animals showed significant weight loss, elevated and reduced fasting blood glucose and insulin, respectively, impaired glucose tolerance and diminished antioxidant enzymes' activities compared to controls. Treatment with PD hydro-methanolic leaf extracts improved body weight, glucose tolerance, insulin resistance, and antioxidant enzymes but not plasma insulin in diabetic animals compared to controls, respectively. GC-MS analysis identified organic acids, alcohols, vitamins, terpenoids, and esters in the extracts. Treatment with PD improved glucose uptake by stimulating mRNA expression of GLUT 4 in gastrocnemius muscles of diabetic animals compared to the untreated control and also restored histological aberrations in the pancreas and liver of diabetic rats compared with the untreated control rats.. Collectively, the present study suggests that treatment with PD leaf extracts significantly ameliorated diabetes symptoms and oxidative stress in rats, and these effects may be linked to the bioactive phytoconstituents present in the plant. This study further suggests that PD improves insulin resistance by increasing glucose uptake in gastrocnemius muscles in an insulin-independent manner.

Topics: Animals; Antioxidants; Blood Glucose; Body Weight; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental; Hypoglycemic Agents; Insulin; Insulin Resistance; Myrtaceae; Plant Extracts; Psidium; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Streptozocin

1,8-Cineole, limonene and α-terpineol are the major terpenes present in Callistemon citrinus. This study reports for the first time that terpenes attenuate the oxidative stress in rats fed with high-fat-sucrose diet (HFSD) via antioxidant and anti-inflammatory mechanisms. Thirty-six male Wistar rats were divided into six groups (n = 6). Control (fed standard food, HFSD (fed with 41.7% fat and 16.6% sucrose), HFSD + 1,8-cineole (0.88 mg/kg body weight), limonene (0.43 mg/kg body weight), α-terpineol (0.32 mg/kg body weight) and a mixture of the three terpenes, given daily by gavage for 15 weeks. Morphometric and biochemical parameters were taken. Paraoxonase (PON1), reduced glutathione (GSH), lipid peroxidation products malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydroxyalkenals (HNE), advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) and pro-inflammatory cytokines were measured in liver homogenates. All terpenes showed a remarkable reduction in weight gain, fat deposition, serum glucose and, triacylglycerol levels. However, terpenes presented different effects on the hepatic cell and the oxidative biomarkers. Conversely, the three terpenes and the mixture showed the same positive effect on the tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα), interleukin-6 (IL-6), leptin and adiponectin levels. Finally, 1,8-cineole, limonene and α-terpineol demonstrate significant anti-inflammatory effects and differential effects on the oxidative stress, suggesting the importance of these terpenes in Callistemon citrinus activities.

Topics: Animals; Antioxidants; Body Weight; Diet, High-Fat; Eucalyptol; Limonene; Liver; Male; Myrtaceae; Oxidative Stress; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Sucrose; Terpenes

The nocturnal mouse and dwarf lemurs from Madagascar are known to express heterothermy. Whereas dwarf lemurs (Cheirogaleus) are obligate hibernators, mouse lemurs (Microcebus) can express a great range of heterothermic responses, including daily torpor, prolonged torpor or hibernation, depending on the species, population or individual. Although there is indirect evidence of heterothermy in a handful of mouse lemur species, direct physiological confirmation is currently limited to four: Microcebus berthae(dry forest), M. ravelobensis(dry forest), M. griseorufus(spiny forest), M. murinus(dry forest/littoral forest). We studied Goodman's mouse lemurs (M. lehilahytsara) at the high-altitude rain forest of Tsinjoarivo, central-eastern Madagascar. We captured a total of 45 mouse lemurs during pre- and post-torpor seasons. We recorded body mass and measured tail base circumference, which was used as proxy for fattening. Moreover, using telemetry, we obtained sporadic skin temperature data from a mouse lemur female between March and June. From June 9 to 16, we performed more intensive data sampling and thereby confirmed the expression of prolonged torpor in this female, when skin temperatures consistently displayed values below 25°C for more than 24 h. We documented 3 torpor bouts, 2 of which were interrupted by naturally occurring arousals. Torpor bout duration ranged from approximately 47 to maximally about 69 h. We found similarities between the Goodman's mouse lemur torpor profile and those known from other species, including the fact that only a portion of any mouse lemur population deposits fat stores and undergoes torpor in a given year. The variable expression of heterothermy in Goodman's mouse lemurs contrasts with obligatory hibernation displayed by two sympatric species of dwarf lemurs, suggesting cheirogaleids use a range of metabolic strategies to cope with seasonality and cold environments.

Topics: Adipose Tissue; Altitude; Animals; Body Weight; Cheirogaleidae; Female; Madagascar; Male; Torpor

Topics: Animals; Blood Glucose; Body Weight; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Diet, High-Fat; Ficus; Hypoglycemic Agents; Lipid Metabolism; Lipid Peroxidation; Lipids; Myrtaceae; Oxidative Stress; Plant Extracts; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Streptozocin; Superoxide Dismutase

Callistemon citrinus (Curtis) Skeels is a shrub native of Australia. In spite of containing an important number of bioactive compounds (1,8-cineole, limonene and α-terpineol) recognized as a potential chemotherapeutic agents, it is only used as an ornamental plant in Mexico. This study investigated the chemopreventive effect of C. citrinus leaves extract on 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH)-induced colon carcinogenesis in rats.. Twenty-four rats were divided into 3 groups of eight rats. Group 1 served as negative control, groups 2 and 3 were given subcutaneous injections of DMH (65 mg/kg b.w.) twice a week the first 2 weeks, and then one the third week. In addition, group 3 was administrated with leaves extracts (250 mg/kg b.w., orally daily) during the 22 weeks of the experiment. Animals were killed and the presence of colon tumors and aberrant crypt foci (ACF) were scored for number and distribution pattern along the colon. The activity of two-phase II enzymes quinone reductase (QR) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) was determined in the liver and three segments of the colon: proximal, middle and distal.. The results show that rats feed with C. citrinus leaves extract significantly reduced the size of tumors, the number of ACF and the crypt multiplicity. Additionally, C. citrinus leaves extract increased or maintained the activity of QR and GST in the different tissues as compared with DHM-treated group (p > 0.05).. This study demonstrates that Callistemon citrinus extract could have a chemopreventive effect against colon carcinogenesis.

Topics: 1,2-Dimethylhydrazine; Aberrant Crypt Foci; Animals; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; Body Weight; Carcinogens; Colonic Neoplasms; Disease Models, Animal; Male; Myrtaceae; Plant Extracts; Random Allocation; Rats; Rats, Wistar

Madagascar is known for its hypervariable climate with periodic droughts and cyclones, but little is known of the impact of such events on lemur physiology. We examined the effects of sequential weather periods, drought, normal, cyclone and post-cyclone, on hair cortisol concentrations (HCC) and body weight in wild ring-tailed lemurs, Lemur catta (n = 185), at the Bezà Mahafaly Special Reserve in southwestern Madagascar. Data were modeled and analyzed by sex, age, and troop. Given the ecological consequences of extreme climatic perturbations, we hypothesized that drought and cyclone would significantly impact lemur HCC. Among adults, drought was associated with higher HCC than other periods and the lowest HCC was associated with the post-cyclone period. Adult females had greater variation in HCC during drought and males had greater variation during cyclone and Post-cyclone periods, suggesting sexes were differentially affected in terms of how individuals responded to extreme weather events. Low HCC in the post-cyclone period followed a 12-month period of reduced availability of primary and fallback food resources. Based on the known extreme and chronic nutritional stress during this time, our results indicate hypocortisolism in the animals included in our analysis. Higher HCC in sub-adults during the cyclone also suggests that immature lemurs may experience extreme weather events differently than adults. Body weight, used as a gauge for environmental stress, was lowest during the post-cyclone for sub-adults, young adults, and adults. Body weight did not differ by sex among adults across any of the weather events. Overall, ring-tailed lemur's HCC appear to be more immediately impacted by drought, or stressors associated with that specific weather event, and influenced by the long-term impact of cyclones on resource availability evidenced by data from the post-cyclone period.

Topics: Age Factors; Animals; Body Weight; Cyclonic Storms; Diet; Droughts; Female; Hair; Hydrocortisone; Lemur; Madagascar; Male

Child malnutrition, a leading cause of death and disability worldwide, is particularly severe in Madagascar, where 47% of children under 5 years are stunted (low height-for-age) and 8% are wasted (low weight-for-height). Widespread poverty and a weak health system have hindered attempts to implement life-saving malnutrition interventions in Madagascar during critical periods for growth faltering.. This study aimed to shed light on the most important factors associated with child malnutrition, both acute and chronic, and the timing of growth faltering, in Ifanadiana, a rural district of Madagascar.. We analyzed data from a 2014 district-representative cluster household survey, which had information on 1175 children ages 6 months to 5 years. We studied the effect of child health, birth history, maternal and paternal health and education, and household wealth and sanitation on child nutritional status. Variables associated with stunting and wasting were modeled separately in multivariate logistic regressions. Growth faltering was modeled by age range. All analyses were survey-adjusted.. Stunting was associated with increasing child age (OR = 1.03 (95%CI 1.02-1.04) for each additional month), very small birth size (OR = 2.32 (1.24-4.32)), low maternal weight (OR = 0.94 (0.91-0.97) for each kilogram, kg) and height (OR = 0.95 (0.92-0.99) for each centimeter), and low paternal height (OR = 0.95 (0.92-0.98)). Wasting was associated with younger child age (OR = 0.98 (0.97-0.99)), very small birth size (OR = 2.48 (1.23-4.99)), and low maternal BMI (OR = 0.84 (0.75-0.94) for each kg/m. Intergenerational transmission of growth faltering and early life exposures may be important determinants of malnutrition in Ifanadiana. Timing of growth faltering, in the first 1000 days, is similar to international populations; however, child growth does not recover to the median.

Topics: Body Height; Body Weight; Child Health; Child Nutrition Disorders; Child, Preschool; Female; Growth; Humans; Infant; Logistic Models; Madagascar; Male; Nutritional Status; Poverty; Rural Population; Sanitation; Socioeconomic Factors

Hantavirus infection is a zoonotic disease that is associated with hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome and cardiopulmonary syndrome in human. Anjozorobe virus, a representative virus of Thailand orthohantavirus (THAIV), was recently discovered from rodents in Anjozorobe-Angavo forest in Madagascar. To assess the circulation of hantavirus at the national level, we carried out a survey of small terrestrial mammals from representative regions of the island and identified environmental factors associated with hantavirus infection. As we were ultimately interested in the potential for human exposure, we focused our research in the peridomestic area.. Sampling was achieved in twenty districts of Madagascar, with a rural and urban zone in each district. Animals were trapped from a range of habitats and examined for hantavirus RNA by nested RT-PCR. We also investigated the relationship between hantavirus infection probability in rats and possible risk factors by using Generalized Linear Mixed Models.. Overall, 1242 specimens from seven species were collected (Rattus rattus, Rattus norvegicus, Mus musculus, Suncus murinus, Setifer setosus, Tenrec ecaudatus, Hemicentetes semispinosus). Overall, 12.4% (111/897) of Rattus rattus and 1.6% (2/125) of Mus musculus were tested positive for THAIV. Rats captured within houses were less likely to be infected than rats captured in other habitats, whilst rats from sites characterized by high precipitation and relatively low seasonality were more likely to be infected than those from other areas. Older animals were more likely to be infected, with infection probability showing a strong increase with weight.. We report widespread distribution of THAIV in the peridomestic rats of Madagascar, with highest prevalence for those living in humid areas. Although the potential risk of infection to human may also be widespread, our results provide a first indication of specific zone with high transmission. Gathered data will be helpful to implement policies for control and prevention of human risk infection.

Topics: Age Factors; Animals; Animals, Wild; Body Weight; Disease Reservoirs; Epidemiological Monitoring; Eulipotyphla; Female; Hantavirus Infections; Humans; Humidity; Madagascar; Male; Mice; Orthohantavirus; Phylogeny; Phylogeography; Rats; Risk Factors; Rodent Diseases

Sauropod dinosaurs exhibit the largest ontogenetic size range among terrestrial vertebrates, but a dearth of very young individuals has hindered understanding of the beginning of their growth trajectory. A new specimen of Rapetosaurus krausei sheds light on early life in the smallest stage of one of the largest dinosaurs. Bones record rapid growth rates and hatching lines, indicating that this individual weighed ~3.4 kilograms at hatching. Just several weeks later, when it likely succumbed to starvation in a drought-stressed ecosystem, it had reached a mass of ~40 kilograms and was ~35 centimeters tall at the hip. Unexpectedly, Rapetosaurus limb bones grew isometrically throughout their development. Cortical remodeling, limb isometry, and thin calcified hypertrophic metaphyseal cartilages indicate an active, precocial growth strategy.

Topics: Animals; Body Weight; Bone and Bones; Bone Development; Calcification, Physiologic; Cartilage; Dinosaurs; Droughts; Ecosystem; Extremities; Madagascar; Starvation

In some primate lineages, polymorphisms in the X-linked M/LWS opsin gene have produced intraspecific variation in color vision. In these species, heterozygous females exhibit trichromacy, while males and homozygous females exhibit dichromacy. The evolutionary persistence of these polymorphisms suggests that balancing selection maintains color vision variation, possibly through a 'trichromat advantage' in detecting yellow/orange/red foods against foliage. We identified genetic evidence of polymorphic trichromacy in a population of Verreaux's sifaka (Propithecus verreauxi) at Kirindy Mitea National Park in Madagascar, and explored effects of color vision on reproductive success and feeding behavior using nine years of morphological, demographic, and feeding data. We found that trichromats and dichromats residing in social groups with trichromats exhibit higher body mass indices than individuals in dichromat-only groups. Additionally, individuals in a trichromat social group devoted significantly more time to fruit feeding and had longer fruit feeding bouts than individuals in dichromat-only groups. We hypothesize that, due to small, cohesive sifaka social groups, a trichromat advantage in detecting productive fruit patches during the energetically stressful dry season also benefits dichromats in a trichromat's group. Our results offer the first support for the 'mutual benefit of association' hypothesis regarding the maintenance of polymorphic trichromacy in primates.

Topics: Animals; Biological Evolution; Body Weight; Color Vision; Cone Opsins; Feeding Behavior; Female; Gene Expression; Genotype; Heterozygote; Homozygote; Humans; Madagascar; Male; Parks, Recreational; Polymorphism, Genetic; Seasons; Strepsirhini

This study provides first insights into the energetics of the Nesomyinae, a subfamily of rodents endemic to Madagascar. The ancestral nesomyine colonized Madagascar from Africa ca. 30-15 mya at the onset of Oligocene global cooling. We tested the hypothesis that, contrary to what might be expected from Island Biogeography theory, post-colonization character displacement of thermoregulatory traits was constrained by phylogenetic inertia through climate adaptation. The study was conducted in the Parc National d'Ankarafantsika, Madagascar. We measured the basal metabolic rate (BMR) and body temperature (T b) patterns of naturally warm-acclimated, freshly captured adult long-tailed big-footed mice Macrotarsomys ingens (67.4 g). The mean ± SD BMR of M. ingens was 0.298 ± 0.032 Watts (n = 12), 31.7 % lower than that predicted by a phylogenetically independent allometric equation. Body mass was correlated with BMR. The lower critical limit of thermoneutrality (T lc) was 30.7°C. The mean ± SD T b = 36.1 ± 0.8°C (n = 12) compared well with the mean T b values for myomorph rodents from the Afrotropical zone, but was lower than those of the Neotropical and Palearctic zones. M. ingens became pathologically hypothermic when exposed to ambient temperatures lower than 18°C. The soil temperature at depths of 250 mm and deeper did not decrease below 22°C throughout the austral winter. The thermoregulatory data for M. ingens did not differ from those that characterize mainland Afrotropical rodents. However, BMR and T b were lower than those of Holarctic rodents. Thus, contrary to expectations of Island Biogeography theory that rapid character displacement often occurs in morphological and behavioural traits when mammals colonize islands, M. ingens displayed climate-related physiological traits indicative of phylogenetic inertia. Presumably the tropical conditions that prevailed on Madagascar at the time of colonisation differed very little from those of the African mainland, and hence there was no strong driving force for change. Unlike small tenrecs and lemurs that radiated on Madagascar prior to the Oligocene, traits associated with an insular existence, such as daily torpor and hibernation, were not evident in M. ingens.

Topics: Adaptation, Biological; Animals; Basal Metabolism; Biological Evolution; Body Temperature; Body Temperature Regulation; Body Weight; Climate; Madagascar; Oxygen Consumption; Phylogeny; Regression Analysis; Rodentia; Species Specificity; Temperature

Edge effects are an inevitable and important consequence of forest loss and fragmentation. These effects include changes in species biology and biogeography. Here we examine variations in body mass and morphometrics for 2 sympatric species of mouse lemurs (Microcebus murinus and M. ravelobensis) between edge and interior habitats in the dry deciduous forest at Ankarafantsika National Park. Between May and August 2012, we conducted mark-recapture experiments on mouse lemurs trapped along edge and interior forest transects within continuous forest adjacent to a large savannah. Of the 34 M. murinus captured during our study, 82% (n = 28) were trapped in interior habitats. Conversely, 72% (n = 47) of M. ravelobensis were captured in edge habitats. We found that mean body mass of M. murinus and M. ravelobensis did not differ between edge and interior habitats. However, female M. ravelobensis weighed significantly more in edge habitats (56.09 ± 1.74 g) than in interior habitats (48.14 ± 4.44 g). Our study provides some of the first evidence of sex differences in edge responses for a primate species.

Topics: Animals; Body Weight; Cheirogaleidae; Ecosystem; Female; Madagascar; Male; Sex Characteristics; Species Specificity; Sympatry

Studies of primate life history variation are constrained by the fact that all large-bodied extant primates are haplorhines. However, large-bodied strepsirrhines recently existed. If we can extract life history information from their skeletons, these species can contribute to our understanding of primate life history variation. This is particularly important in light of new critiques of the classic "fast-slow continuum" as a descriptor of variation in life history profiles across mammals in general. We use established dental histological methods to estimate gestation length and age at weaning for five extinct lemur species. On the basis of these estimates, we reconstruct minimum interbirth intervals and maximum reproductive rates. We utilize principal components analysis to create a multivariate "life history space" that captures the relationships among reproductive parameters and brain and body size in extinct and extant lemurs. Our data show that, whereas large-bodied extinct lemurs can be described as "slow" in some fashion, they also varied greatly in their life history profiles. Those with relatively large brains also weaned their offspring late and had long interbirth intervals. These were not the largest of extinct lemurs. Thus, we distinguish size-related life history variation from variation that linked more strongly to ecological factors. Because all lemur species larger than 10 kg, regardless of life history profile, succumbed to extinction after humans arrived in Madagascar, we argue that large body size increased the probability of extinction independently of reproductive rate. We also provide some evidence that, among lemurs, brain size predicts reproductive rate better than body size.

Topics: Animals; Birth Intervals; Body Weight; Bone and Bones; Brain; Fossils; Gestational Age; Madagascar; Molar; Multivariate Analysis; Organ Size; Paleontology; Phylogeny; Principal Component Analysis; Strepsirhini; Weaning

Much research has focused on identifying traits that can act as useful indicators of how habitat loss affects the extinction risk of species, and the results are mixed. We developed 2 simple, rapid-assessment models of the susceptibility of species to habitat loss. We based both on an index of range size, but one also incorporated an index of body mass and the other an index combining habitat and dietary specialization. We applied the models to samples of birds (Accipitridae and Bucerotidae) and to the lemurs of Madagascar and compared the models' classifications of risk with the IUCN's global threat status of each species. The model derived from ecological attributes was much more robust than the one derived from body mass. Ecological attributes identified threatened birds and lemurs with an average of 80% accuracy and endangered and critically endangered species with 100% accuracy and identified some species not currently listed as threatened that almost certainly warrant conservation consideration. Appropriate analysis of even fairly crude biological information can help raise early-warning flags to the relative susceptibilities of species to habitat loss and thus provide a useful and rapid technique for highlighting potential species-level conservation issues. Advantages of this approach to classifying risk include flexibility in the specialization parameters used as well as its applicability at a range of spatial scales.

Topics: Animals; Birds; Body Weight; Conservation of Natural Resources; Demography; Ecosystem; Extinction, Biological; Lemur; Madagascar; Models, Theoretical; Risk Assessment; Species Specificity

Health and nutritional assessments of wildlife are important management tools and can provide a means to evaluate ecosystem health. Such examinations were performed on 37 white-fronted brown lemurs (Eulemur fulvus albifrons) from four sites in Madagascar. Comparison of health parameters between sites revealed statistically significant differences in body weight, body temperature, respiratory rate, hematology parameters (white cell count, hematocrit, segmented neutrophil count, and lymphocyte count), serum chemistry parameters (aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, serum alkaline phosphatase, total protein, albumin, phosphorus, calcium, sodium, chloride, and creatinine phosphokinase), and nutrition parameters (copper, zinc, ferritin, retinol, tocopherol, and 25-hydroxycholecalciferol). Two of 10 lemurs tested were positive for toxoplasmosis; none of 10 were positive for Cryptosporidium or Giardia. Enteric bacteria and endo- and ectoparasites were typical. Statistically different values in hematology and chemistry values probably do not reflect clinically significant differences, whereas nutrition parameter differences are likely related to season, soil, and forage availability.

Topics: Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Animal Welfare; Animals; Animals, Wild; Blood Chemical Analysis; Body Temperature; Body Weight; Conservation of Natural Resources; Female; Hematologic Tests; Lemur; Madagascar; Male; Nutritional Requirements; Reference Values; Respiration; Seasons; Species Specificity

In 1999, we measured the body mass of 101 wild ring-tailed lemurs (Lemur catta) inhabiting the Berenty Reserve, Madagascar. In addition, we counted the number of ticks [Haemaphysalis (Rhipistoma) lemuris Hoogstraal, 1953] infesting their facial skin and external auditory meatuses. For both males and females, the body mass appeared to increase until the age of 3 years. With the apparent exception of infants, there were no sexual differences in body mass. Within a group, higher-ranked adult males tended to be heavier than lower-ranked males. In contrast, there was no consistent correlation between the body mass of females and their ranks. Among the study groups, there was a small difference in body mass and significant difference in the number of ticks infesting the facial skin and external auditory meatuses. In particular, lemurs of a group who inhabited an area of gallery forest in the study area exhibited the smallest values of body mass and were severely infested with ticks. Such group variations were not consistently correlated with the reproductive parameters of the study groups. In three groups moderately infested with ticks, ticks infested adult males and subadults more heavily than adult females, juveniles, and infants.

Topics: Age Factors; Animals; Body Weight; Female; Hierarchy, Social; Lemur; Madagascar; Male; Monkey Diseases; Sex Factors; Tick Infestations

Previous studies investigating the association between an infant and child feeding index (ICFI) and length-for-age were based on a cross-sectional design and on the assumption that data collected with brief recalls could provide information about more enduring processes.. The objectives were to test the stability of the individual ICFI values over time and to investigate how they relate to length-for-age z score (LAZ) and weight-for-length z score (WLZ) at the end of the study.. This prospective cohort study included 363 children aged 6-17 mo who were visited 3 times over 6 mo. A cross-sectional ICFI (CS-ICFI) was constructed for each visit by using data on feeding practices and data from quantitative 24-h recalls. A longitudinal ICFI (L-ICFI) was constructed with use of the 3 CS-ICFIs. The stability of the CS-ICFI was assessed by using the variance of the repeatability coefficient (s(2)r).. Stability of the CS-ICFI was shown by the value of 0.704 (95% CI: 0.625, 0.805) of the s(2)r, which differed significantly from 1 (P < 0.0001). There was no significant association between the CS-ICFIs and LAZ or WLZ at visit 3. In contrast, when moving from low to high L-ICFI, there was a highly significant 0.5 z score difference in mean LAZ at visit 3 (P = 0.0008). The L-ICFI was not associated with WLZ.. The ICFI constructed by using data collected with brief recalls can provide information about feeding in the long term. However, the absence of association with LAZ suggests a lack of precision that can be reduced by using an ICFI based on repeated measurements.

Topics: Body Height; Body Weight; Bottle Feeding; Breast Feeding; Cohort Studies; Feeding Behavior; Female; Growth; Humans; Infant; Infant Food; Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Madagascar; Male; Maternal Age; Nutrition Assessment; Nutritional Status; Prospective Studies; Sensitivity and Specificity; Socioeconomic Factors; Time Factors; Urban Population

Forest fragmentation is thought to threaten primate populations, yet the mechanisms by which this occurs remain largely unknown. However, fragmentation is known to cause dietary shifts in several primate species, and links between food resource distribution and within-group spatial dynamics are well documented. Thus, fragmentation has the potential to indirectly affect spatial dynamics, and these changes may present additional stresses to fragmented populations. I present the results from a 12-month study of Propithecus diadema at Tsinjoarivo, eastern Madagascar, including two groups in fragments and two in continuous forest. Instantaneous data on activity and spatial position were collected during all-day focal animal follows. Fragment groups had much lower cohesion, being more likely to have no neighbor within 5 and 10 m. For continuous forest groups, cohesion was highest in the rainy season (when food patches are large) and lowest in winter (when the animals rely on small-crowned mistletoes), and the chance of having no neighbor within 5 m was positively correlated with mistletoe consumption. Thus their decreased cohesion in fragment groups is inferred to result from their increased reliance on mistletoes and other small resources, which causes them to spread out among multiple patches. This scenario is consistent with the reduced body mass of subordinate individuals (males and immatures) in fragments, and suggests the occurrence of steeper within-group fitness gradients. Further research is necessary to determine whether these patterns apply to other primates; however, since fragmentation tends to cause the loss of the largest trees, many primates in fragments may lose their largest food resources and undergo similar behavioral shifts.

Topics: Analysis of Variance; Animals; Body Weight; Diet; Ecosystem; Female; Madagascar; Male; Observation; Seasons; Social Behavior; Strepsirhini; Trees

Mammals that live in seasonal environments may adjust their reproductive cycles to cope with fluctuations in food availability. Because lemurs in Madagascar experience highly seasonal variation in food availability, we examined the effects of fluctuating food availability on body condition and reproduction in one of the larger living species, Verreaux's sifaka (Propithecus verreauxi verreauxi), in the Kirindy Forest of western Madagascar. Seven years of demographic data were combined with an intensive study of 25 individuals over the course of 18 months. In contrast to other populations of Verreaux's sifaka, females were found to have greater body mass than males. Both male and female sifaka exhibited significant losses of body mass and fat during the dry season. Females were more likely to give birth and successfully wean an infant when they had higher body mass during the mating season. They mated during the periods of high and declining food availability, gave birth during the lean season, and then timed mid/late lactation with the period of increasing food availability. Thus, we conclude that sifaka follow the "classic" reproductive strategy (sensu van Schaik and van Noordwijk [Journal of Zoology (London) 206:533-549, 1985]).

Topics: Adiposity; Animals; Body Composition; Body Weight; Diet; Ecosystem; Feeding Behavior; Female; Madagascar; Male; Reproduction; Seasons; Sexual Behavior, Animal; Strepsirhini; Time Factors

Safe sleeping sites may be a limited resource crucial for survival. In order to investigate their potential significance for social organization in nocturnal primates, we analyzed the spatial distribution of daily sleeping sites, their characteristics, their usage, and sleeping group compositions in the nocturnal Milne Edwards' sportive lemur during a 6-month field study in the dry deciduous forest of northwestern Madagascar. Sexes did not differ either in body size or in body mass. Sleeping sites were used almost exclusively by adult male-female pairs. Individuals showed a high sleeping-site fidelity limited to 2-3 different sleeping sites in close vicinity during the whole study period. Most females showed a higher fidelity to one distinct sleeping site than their male partners. Sleeping groups consisted of one adult male and one adult female and remained stable in composition over the whole study period. Exclusive pair-specific usage of sleeping sites suggests sleeping site related territoriality of male-female pairs, perhaps influenced by inter- and intrasexual resource competition. Results give first insights into the distribution patterns and social organization of this species. They imply dispersed monogamy for the Milne Edwards' sportive lemur, with sleeping sites as a potentially restricted and defendable resource.

Topics: Animals; Body Weight; Female; Housing, Animal; Lemuridae; Madagascar; Male; Pair Bond; Sex Factors; Sleep; Social Behavior

This study aims to evaluate the prevalence and density of haemoparasites in wild malagasy bats. Among the 440 bats, belonging to 14 species sampled in 5 localities in different bio-climatic zones of the island, 93 (21%) showed at least 1 haemoparasite with, by order of frequency, Haemoproteidae (15.7% of 440 bats), microfilariae (7.0%) and Trypanosoma (0.7%). Among these 93 bats, 92 (99%) belonged to the family Vespertilionidae. Four bat species, all endemic to the Madagascar region (Madagascar and Comoros), were found to harbour parasites: Miniopterus manavi with Haemoproteidae (38% of 129 individuals), microfilariae (23%) and Trypanosoma (2%); Myotis goudoti with Haemoproteidae (24% of 68 individuals) and microfilariae (1%); Miniopterus gleni with Haemoproteidae (23% of 13 individuals); and Triaenops furculus with Haemoproteidae (4% of 28 individuals). The sex of bats was not linked to parasite prevalence. Within Miniopterus manavi, those individuals with greater weight also had a higher prevalence of microfilariae; and within the individuals harbouring microfilariae the greatest weights corresponded to the highest density of microfilariae. Ten bat species (with 202 individuals examined) were negative for any haemoparasite. This study is the first to provide evidence of haemoparasites in Malagasy bats; it provides interesting insights, especially concerning the parasite distribution per bat species and families, the pathogenicity of this type of parasitism and the parasite transmission by arthropod vectors.

Topics: Altitude; Animals; Arthropod Vectors; Body Weight; Chiroptera; Climate; Endemic Diseases; Female; Filariasis; Humans; Madagascar; Male; Microfilariae; Parasitic Diseases, Animal; Population Density; Population Surveillance; Prevalence; Sex Distribution; Trypanosomiasis

This study aims to evaluate the prevalence and density of haemoparasites in native Malagasy birds. Among the 387 birds, belonging to 43 species sampled at six localities in different bio-climatic zones of the island, 139 (35.9%) showed at least 1 hemoparasite with, by order of frequency, Plasmodium and/or Haemoproteus (19.9%), microfilariae (13.7% of 387 birds), Leucocytozoon (11.1%) and Trypanosoma (1.0%). An analysis to further elucidate these observations took into account the interaction of different environmental variables (altitude, season, site of collection) or aspects of the birds (age, weight, sex). There is evidence that some parasites preferentially infect some bird species or families. The largest male birds harboured the highest prevalences and densities of haemoparasite, regardless of species. These findings extend knowledge of bird/blood parasite relationships of Malagasy birds and provide interesting insights, especially concerning the pathogenicity of this type of parasitism and the parasite transmission by insect vectors.

Topics: Age Distribution; Altitude; Animals; Animals, Wild; Bird Diseases; Body Weight; Climate; Helminthiasis, Animal; Madagascar; Malaria; Male; Parasitic Diseases, Animal; Population Surveillance; Prevalence; Seasons; Sex Distribution; Trypanosomiasis

Knowledge of the social organization of lemurs is still limited for most species. Where there is sufficient information, it has been shown that lemur social organization differs in essential points from that of other primates. In the field study reported here, demographic structure and life-history processes were investigated in order to characterize the social organization of the Alaotran gentle lemur (Hapalemur griseus alaotrensis). Data were obtained through captures and observations. Alaotran gentle lemurs were found in small groups of up to nine individuals. Although most groups contained just one breeding female, a substantial proportion of groups (35%) had two breeding females. Therefore, Alaotran gentle lemurs cannot be classed as being organized in monogamous family groups. An extended birth season was found, and groups with two breeding females had significantly higher breeding output per adult than groups with a single adult female. Limited data suggest that females emigrate from their natal group while still subadult, whereas males can stay in the natal group until they are fully grown and disperse as adults. Variability in group composition, significantly higher reproductive output per adult in groups with two breeding females, and delayed dispersal of males suggest that Alaotran gentle lemurs pursue a resource-defense mating strategy, rather than a female-defense mating strategy. The suggestion that extant social lemurs may have evolved from a monogamous system, could explain the differences between lemur social systems and those of other primates.

Topics: Animals; Behavior, Animal; Body Weight; Female; Lemur; Madagascar; Male; Population Dynamics; Seasons; Sexual Behavior; Social Behavior

Thermoregulation, energetics and patterns of torpor in the pygmy mouse lemur, Microcebus myoxinus, were investigated under natural conditions of photoperiod and temperature in the Kirindy/CFPF Forest in western Madagascar. M. myoxinus entered torpor spontaneously during the cool dry season. Torpor only occurred on a daily basis and torpor bout duration was on average 9.6 h, and ranged from 4.6 h to 19.2 h. Metabolic rates during torpor were reduced to about 86% of the normothermic value. Minimum body temperature during daily torpor was 6.8 degrees C at an ambient temperature of 6.3 degrees C. Entry into torpor occurred randomly between 2000 and 0620 hours, whereas arousals from torpor were clustered around 1300 hours within a narrow time window of less than 4 h. Arousal from torpor was a two-step process with a first passive climb of body temperature to a mean of 27 degrees C, carried by the daily increase of ambient temperature when oxygen consumption remained more or less constant, followed by a second active increase of oxygen consumption to further raise the body temperature to normothermic values. In conclusion, daily body temperature rhythms in M. myoxinus further reduce the energetic costs of daily torpor seen in other species: they extend to unusually low body temperatures and consequently low metabolic rates in torpor, and they employ passive warming to reduce the energetic costs of arousal. Thus, these energy-conserving adaptations may represent an important energetic aid to the pygmy mouse lemur and help to promote their individual fitness.

Topics: Animals; Arousal; Basal Metabolism; Body Temperature; Body Weight; Circadian Rhythm; Female; Lemur; Madagascar; Male; Oxygen Consumption; Rest; Seasons; Sleep

Renal US was prospectively performed in 124 madagascan children less than 1 year of age. Patients were examined in the prone position and maximum kidney length was measured in the longitudinal plane. These measurements and the height and weight of our patient population were compared to published tables. Kidney length and height and weight of our patient population were inferior to the previously published reference data and the growth curve of kidneys steeper than normative standards (p < 0.001). Because of the important variability in US measurement of kidney length it is not possible to definitely conclude that length and growth curve of kidneys in madagascan children are statistically different from those of the published normative standards.

Topics: Age Factors; Anthropometry; Body Height; Body Weight; Female; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Kidney; Madagascar; Male; Observer Variation; Prone Position; Prospective Studies; Regression Analysis; Reproducibility of Results; Sex Factors; Ultrasonography

Body weight is an important attribute of any animal and influences its biology in many ways. In the case of the fat-tailed dwarf lemur (Cheirogaleus medius), this is of special interest because animals of this species store fat to survive extended torpor phases during the austral winter and, as a result, show extreme seasonal variation in body weight. In this paper, I present field data from a 20-month study at the Forestry Station of Ampijoroa in northwestern Madagascar on body weights of repeatedly trapped individuals combined with trapping results to investigate the general biology and notably the social life of C. medius. The most remarkable physical characteristic of wild C. medius is a dramatic weight-loss in males in September following emergence from torpor. Trapping results showed that adult males emerge from torpor earlier than females and offspring, even though food is still scarce. Early emergence from torpor puts males at an energetic disadvantage and confers no advantage in terms of access to females. Observation data from nightly follows indicate that males patrol their home range, probably to guarantee its integrity for the coming active season and to secure the food supply for their families. The high energetic costs of this strategy is argued to represent a form of paternal investment. Body weight data of repeatedly captured individuals showed that they may reach adult size and sexual maturity at 2 years of age but are not socially mature before the age of 3 years. The data presented may serve as a guide for keeping C. medius at a suitable weight in captivity.

Topics: Animals; Body Weight; Cheirogaleidae; Female; Madagascar; Male; Paternal Behavior; Sexual Behavior, Animal; Social Behavior

To compare the effectiveness of treating malnourished children in different centers, the authors believe there is a need to have a simple method of adjusting mortality rates so that differences in the nutritional status of the children are taken into account. The authors compared different anthropometric indices based on weight and height to predict the risk of death among severely malnourished children. Anthropometric data from 1,047 children who survived were compared with those of 147 children who died during treatment in therapeutic feeding centers set up in African countries in 1993. The optimal ratio of weight to height determined by logistic regression was weight (kg)/height (m)1.74 (95% confidence interval of beta estimate 1.65-1.84). The receiver operating curves (sensitivity vs. specificity) showed that the body mass index (weight (kg)/height (m)2), optimal ratio of weight to height, and weight/height index expressed as the percentage of the median of the National Center for Health Statistics' standard were equivalent and superior to the weight/height index expressed as the z score of the National Center for Health Statistics' standard to predict death. As the optimal ratio of weight to height is easier to calculate than the weight/height index expressed as the percentage of the median or z score and does not depend upon either standards or tables, the optimal ratio of weight to height could be conveniently used to adjust mortality rates for nutritional status in therapeutic feeding centers.. The development of a simple anthropometric index closely related to child survival prognosis could enhance the treatment of severely malnourished children at therapeutic feeding centers in Africa. This study examined whether simple ratios of weight to powers of height could be used to adjust the observed mortality rates for differences in the anthropometric state of 1194 children 6-59 months of age admitted to 9 feeding centers in Sierra Leone, Rwanda, and Madagascar. 147 of these children died during treatment. The optimal ratio of weight to height determined by logistic regression was weight (kg)/height (m). The receiver operating curves showed that the body mass index (weight (kg)/height (m)2), optimal ratio of weight to height, and weight/height index expressed as the percentage of the median of the US National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) standard were equivalent and superior to the weight/height index expressed as the z score of the NCHS standard to predict death. Edema was a significant risk factor for death (odds ratio, 3.8; 95% confidence interval, 2.2-6.6). The optimal ratio of weight to height can be computed on a pocket calculator and does not require reference to standards or tables, making it appropriate for conditions in the feeding centers.

Topics: Body Height; Body Mass Index; Body Weight; Child Nutrition Disorders; Child, Preschool; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Infant; Logistic Models; Madagascar; Nutrition Assessment; Prognosis; Risk Factors; Rwanda; Sensitivity and Specificity; Sierra Leone

Male Madagascar hissing cockroaches, Gromphadorhina portentosa, engage in agonistic contests with other males and produce audible sounds or 'hisses' during these interactions. Hisses are used to maintain, rather than to establish, social relationships among males. The agonistic hisses of males are variable and could be used as signals to communicate size or competitive ability of an individual. In this study we examined how size influences male-male competition, as well as the genetic variation and covariation of male body size and components of the agonistic hiss. We found that male size affected the outcome of agonistic interactions between pairs of males: a male that dominated in a pair was significantly larger than the male that was subordinate. However, we found no differences in the hisses produced by dominant and subordinate males after controlling for male weight. We estimated heritabilities, evolvability and genetic correlations for male size and characteristics of the hiss from a full-sib analysis of brothers. The patterns of heritabilities and evolvabilities were very similar. The heritabilities of both male weight and duration of the hiss were significantly greater than zero. There was a significant positive genetic correlation between duration of the agonistic hiss and male weight, and a significant negative genetic correlation between hiss duration and the beginning dominant frequency. There was also a positive phenotypic correlation and a negative environmental correlation between male weight and hiss duration. Thus, hiss duration can signal the present influence of the environment on male size, whereas information from hiss duration and beginning dominant frequency can signal the male's ability to transmit genetic influence for size.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Topics: Animals; Body Constitution; Body Weight; Cockroaches; Female; Madagascar; Male; Phenotype; Sexual Behavior, Animal; Vocalization, Animal

Topics: Animals; Animals, Laboratory; Animals, Newborn; Body Constitution; Body Weight; Female; Lemur; Madagascar; Male; Pregnancy; Sex Characteristics

Limb, trunk, and body weight measurements were obtained for growth series of Milne-Edwards's diademed sifaka, Propithecus diadema edwardsi, and the golden-crowned sifaka, Propithecus tattersalli. Similar measures were obtained also for primarily adults of two subspecies of the western sifaka: Propithecus verreauxi coquereli, Coquerel's sifaka, and Propithecus verreauxi verreauxi, Verreaux's sifaka. Ontogenetic series for the larger-bodied P. d. edwardsi and the smaller-bodied P. tattersalli were compared to evaluate whether species-level differences in body proportions result from the differential extension of common patterns of relative growth. In bivariate plots, both subspecies of P. verreauxi were included to examine whether these taxa also lie along a growth trajectory common to all sifakas. Analyses of the data indicate that postcranial proportions for sifakas are ontogenetically scaled, much as demonstrated previously with cranial dimensions for all three species (Ravosa, 1992). As such, P. d. edwardsi apparently develops larger overall size primarily by growing at a faster rate, but not for a longer duration of time, than P. tattersalli and P. verreauxi; this is similar to results based on cranial data. A consideration of Malagasy lemur ecology suggests that regional differences in forage quality and resource availability have strongly influenced the evolutionary development of body-size variation in sifakas. On one hand, the rainforest environment of P. d. edwardsi imposes greater selective pressures for larger body size than the dry-forest environment of P. tattersalli and P. v. coquereli, or the semi-arid climate of P. v. verreauxi. On the other hand, as progressively smaller-bodied adult sifakas are located in the east, west, and northwest, this apparently supports suggestions that adult body size is set by dry-season constraints on food quality and distribution (i.e., smaller taxa are located in more seasonal habitats such as the west and northeast). Moreover, the fact that body-size differentiation occurs primarily via differences in growth rate is also due apparently to differences in resource seasonality (and juvenile mortality risk in turn) between the eastern rainforest and the more temperate northeast and west. Most scaling coefficients for both arm and leg growth range from slight negative allometry to slight positive allometry. Given the low intermembral index for sifakas, which is also an adaptation for propulsive hindlimb-dominated

Topics: Adaptation, Biological; Analysis of Variance; Animals; Arm; Body Constitution; Body Height; Body Weight; Diet; Ecology; Female; Least-Squares Analysis; Leg; Madagascar; Male; Regression Analysis; Seasons; Sex Characteristics; Strepsirhini; Tropical Climate

These primates can tell us a great deal about our own evolutionary past. But many species are already extinct, and the habitats of those that remain are shrinking fast.

Topics: Animals; Behavior, Animal; Biological Evolution; Body Weight; Brain; Climate; Environment; Lemur; Madagascar; Paleontology; Population Density; Primates; Smell; Vision, Ocular

Topics: Animals; Body Weight; Female; Karyotyping; Madagascar; Male; Strepsirhini; Vocalization, Animal

Topics: Adolescent; Animals; Biomphalaria; Body Weight; Child; Child, Preschool; Disease Vectors; Female; Fluorescent Antibody Technique; Humans; Madagascar; Male; Nitroquinolines; Oxamniquine; Parasite Egg Count; Schistosomiasis

Topics: Agriculture; Animals; Body Weight; Breeding; Cattle; Crosses, Genetic; Female; Madagascar; Male; Meat; Selection, Genetic

Topics: Animal Feed; Animals; Body Weight; Cattle; Fascioliasis; Madagascar; Male; Statistics as Topic; Tuberculosis, Bovine

Topics: Age Factors; Animals; Body Weight; Castration; Cattle; Madagascar; Male

Topics: Animal Feed; Animals; Body Weight; Breeding; Cattle; Madagascar; Tuberculosis, Bovine

Topics: Animal Feed; Animals; Body Weight; Breeding; Cattle; Madagascar; Meat; Selection, Genetic

Topics: Animal Feed; Animals; Body Weight; Breeding; Cattle; Madagascar; Selection, Genetic

Topics: Animals; Body Weight; Culicidae; Humans; Madagascar; Malaria; Malaria, Vivax