Dataset Information

SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Captive Hippos (Hippopotamus amphibius), Belgium.

ABSTRACT: Two adult female hippos in Zoo Antwerp who were naturally infected with SARS-CoV-2 showed nasal discharge for a few days. Virus was detected by immunocytochemistry and PCR in nasal swab samples and by PCR in faeces and pool water. Serology was also positive. No treatment was necessary.

SUBMITTER: Vercammen F

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9855072 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Captive Hippos (<i>Hippopotamus amphibius</i>), Belgium.

Vercammen Francis F Cay Brigitte B Gryseels Sophie S Balmelle Nadège N Joffrin Léa L Van Hoorde Koenraad K Verhaegen Bavo B Mathijs Elisabeth E Van Vredendaal Rianne R Dharmadhikari Tanmay T Chiers Koen K Van Olmen Tim J S TJS Agliani Gianfilippo G Van den Brand Judith M A JMA Leirs Herwig H

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI 20230116 2

Two adult female hippos in Zoo Antwerp who were naturally infected with SARS-CoV-2 showed nasal discharge for a few days. Virus was detected by immunocytochemistry and PCR in nasal swab samples and by PCR in faeces and pool water. Serology was also positive. No treatment was necessary. ...[more]

PMID: 36670856

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Project description:Among mammals, hippopotamids ('hippos') have been described as the species with the lowest chewing efficacy despite elaborate enamel folds on the occlusal surface or their cheek teeth, which was hypothesized to result from the lack of a grinding chewing motion. We investigated the chewing and dentition of the two extant hippo species, the common hippo (Hippopotamus amphibius) and the pygmy hippo (Choeropsis liberiensis), making (video) observations of live animals and gathering data on museum specimens (n = 86 H. amphibius and 26 C. liberiensis skulls). Hippos have a low degree of anisodonty (differences in width between maxillary and mandibular cheek teeth) and anisognathy (difference in width between the upper and the lower jaw), corresponding to a mainly orthal (up-and-down) chewing motion. The two hippo species differ slightly, but distinctively, in their anterior dental morphology and chewing mode. In both species, the canines do not completely prevent a lateral jaw movement but would, in theory, permit this movement until the mandibular canines get into contact with the maxillary protruding snout. This movement is only realized, to a small extent, in pygmy hippos, leaving distinct wear traces on their incisors and creating relatively wider wear facets on the maxillary canines. In common hippos, the interlocking upper and lower incisors prevent lateral jaw movement. Corresponding contact wear facets are evident on the medial aspect of the upper, and on the lateral aspect of the lower incisors-unless museal reconstructions mispositioned these teeth. If these facets are interpreted as an indication for a relic of a lateral jaw movement that was probably more prominent in hippo ancestors, i.e. if we assume that hippos evolved orthal chewing secondarily, several other characteristics of hippos can be explained, such as a low degree of hypsodonty (in the absence of distinct attrition due to a grinding chewing movement), a secondary loss of complexity in their enamel schmelzmuster, a secondary evolution of a wide mouth gape, a reduction in anisodonty compared to their ancestors, and the evolution of a bilaterally symmetrical ('trifoliate') enamel folding pattern on the molar occlusal surface from an ancestral bunoselenodont condition. As an underlying driving force, selection for intraspecific combat with canines and incisors, necessitating a wide gape and a rigid jaw, has been suggested.

Dataset Information

SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Captive Hippos (Hippopotamus amphibius), Belgium.

Publications

SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Captive Hippos (<i>Hippopotamus amphibius</i>), Belgium.

Similar Datasets

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