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Martin Plath - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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seasonal variation in reproductive behaviour of bushbuck Tragelaphus scriptus pallas 1766 in an equatorial savannah ecosystem
African Journal of Ecology, 2009Co-Authors: Ann Apio, Martin Plath, Vincent B Muwanika, Torsten WronskiAbstract:While several authors suggest that bushbuck (Tragelaphus scriptus Pallas) from tropical areas with an approximately bimodal rainfall pattern breed throughout the year, there is also a report of seasonal breeding in this species. In this study, we provide indirect evidence of seasonality in reproduction by analysing behavioural data (e.g. rates of mixed-sex sightings) in a population of bushbuck inhabiting an equatorial savannah ecosystem in western Uganda. Observation rates of mixed-sex sightings were correlated with rainfall patterns. We suggest that peaks in reproductive behaviour following the wet season may be advantageous if calves are born during the next wet season, when fresh vegetation is available. Resume Alors que plusieurs auteurs suggerent que le bushbuck (Tragelaphus scriptus Pallas) des regions tropicales qui ont un regime de pluies a peu pres bimodal se reproduisent tout au long de l’annee, il y a aussi un rapport signalant une reproduction saisonniere chez cette espece. Dans la presente etude, nous apportons des preuves indirectes d’une saisonnalite de la reproduction par l’analyse des donnees comportementales (e.g. taux d’observations de sexes melanges) dans une population de bushbucks habitant dans un ecosysteme de savane equatoriale, dans l’ouest de l’Ouganda. Les taux d’observations de groupes melanges etaient lies aux chutes de pluies. Nous suggerons que les pics observes dans le comportement reproducteur en fonction de la saison des pluies peuvent etre benefiques si les jeunes naissent durant la saison des pluies suivante, lorsque la vegetation fraiche est abondante.
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Do ecotypes of bushbuck differ in grouping patterns?
acta ethologica, 2009Co-Authors: Torsten Wronski, Ann Apio, Martin Plath, Christiane AverbeckAbstract:Grouping patterns within the genus Tragelaphus suggest that species inhabiting open areas tend to live in larger groups, while species preferring dense habitats live solitarily or in small family groups. We asked if similar variation would be concealed in the within-species variation of bushbuck ( Tragelaphus scriptus ). Recent molecular phylogeographic analyses revealed several locally adapted forms of bushbuck in different ecoregions on the African continent. We compared group sizes of south-eastern bushbuck ( Tragelaphus sylvaticus ) among six different populations (“ecotypes”). To date, most data on the social organization of bushbuck have been collected from only one population in Queen Elizabeth National Park (QENP) in Uganda. This particular population, however, inhabits an unusual—comparatively open—habitat type, while bushbuck otherwise inhabit dense habitats, leaving doubt whether data collected in QENP are representative of the entire species. We, therefore, compared grouping patterns between ecotypes inhabiting rather open habitats (e.g., dianae and haywoodi ) and ecotypes occupying rather dense habitats (e.g., massaicus and ornatus ). In bachelor groups and in all-female (spinster) groups, single sightings were the most frequent “group type” in all populations examined. We detected no significant difference among ecotypes in relative frequencies of group size categories in the case of bachelor groups. Spinster group sizes were slightly (albeit significantly) smaller in QENP than in all other areas. Moreover, a comparison of two areas inside (low human pursuit) and outside Lake Mburo National Park (high hunting pressure) in Uganda revealed no significant difference in grouping patterns in response to human pursuit (as reported for impala [ Aepyceros melampus ] inhabiting the same area). Altogether, our results suggest that group sizes in bushbuck are not dependent on the habitat type they inhabit; neither does human nuisance have an impact on grouping patterns. Hence, an “almost solitary” lifestyle appears to be a characteristic of the entire taxon.
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absence of a dominance hierarchy confirms territorial organization in male bushbuck Tragelaphus scriptus pallas 1766
African Journal of Ecology, 2009Co-Authors: Torsten Wronski, Ann Apio, Martin PlathAbstract:It has been suggested that all species of spiral-horned antelopes (Tragelaphini) lack territoriality. Furthermore, some authors suggested that bushbuck (Tragelpahus scriptus) males form dominance hierarchies. In this study, we investigated the dominance relationships in two groups of free-ranging bushbuck males in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda. Adult males dominated young-adult bachelors and subadult males, but no distinct dominance relationships were found among adult males. Landau's index of linearity revealed no linear dominance hierarchy in the study populations. Our results support the idea that adult males are territorial, and overt aggression is directed almost exclusively towards bachelors that challenge territory holders.
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age dependent mating tactics in male bushbuck Tragelaphus scriptus
Behaviour, 2007Co-Authors: Ann Apio, Martin Plath, Ralph Tiedemann, Torsten WronskiAbstract:We investigated mating tactics in three social/age classes of male bushbuck ( Tragelaphus scriptus ), i.e., adult territorial males (>5 years), young-adult non-territorial males (3-5 years) and subadult males (1-3 years). Territorial males were found to associate more frequently with females than subadult males, but young-adult males did not significantly differ from territorial males. In all three classes of males, the spatial distribution of the males relative to that of the females (i.e., their home range overlap) predicted the rate of association between males and females (Cole's coefficient of association). Territorial males showed very high rates of premating behaviour compared with the other two social/age classes and frequently attempted to monopolise females; however, copulation rates did not significantly differ between adult territorial and young-adult non-territorial males. Agonistic behaviour was most frequently initiated by territorial males when approached by a young-adult male, whereas aggressive interactions between two territorial males were far less frequent. Our results indicate that two age-dependent mating tactics exist in male bushbuck, that of adult territorial males and a sneak-like tactic in young-adult males. Nevertheless, territorial males may have an advantage over non-territorial males, because they have more unhampered opportunities to monitor females via deposited excreta in localised defecation sites.
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activity patterns of bushbuck Tragelaphus scriptus in queen elizabeth national park
Behavioural Processes, 2006Co-Authors: Torsten Wronski, Ann Apio, Martin PlathAbstract:Activity patterns and time budgets of bushbuck (Tragelaphus scriptus) were studied in a free-ranging population in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda from August 2000 to January 2002. We investigated differences in activity patterns in relation to daytime, season, sun radiation, moonlight, age and sex. Bushbuck were found to show peak activities around sunrise and at dawn. No difference in the mean activity rates was found between the dry and wet season. Daytime activity was not predicted by differences in sun radiation, nor was nighttime activity predicted by the presence or absence of moonlight. We found the activity of adult territorial males to be strongly positively correlated with that of females, whereas the activity of young-adult non-territorial males was not significantly correlated with the activity of females. This suggests that young-adult males shift their peak activity to phases when adult territorial males are less active.
Torsten Wronski - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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seasonal variation in reproductive behaviour of bushbuck Tragelaphus scriptus pallas 1766 in an equatorial savannah ecosystem
African Journal of Ecology, 2009Co-Authors: Ann Apio, Martin Plath, Vincent B Muwanika, Torsten WronskiAbstract:While several authors suggest that bushbuck (Tragelaphus scriptus Pallas) from tropical areas with an approximately bimodal rainfall pattern breed throughout the year, there is also a report of seasonal breeding in this species. In this study, we provide indirect evidence of seasonality in reproduction by analysing behavioural data (e.g. rates of mixed-sex sightings) in a population of bushbuck inhabiting an equatorial savannah ecosystem in western Uganda. Observation rates of mixed-sex sightings were correlated with rainfall patterns. We suggest that peaks in reproductive behaviour following the wet season may be advantageous if calves are born during the next wet season, when fresh vegetation is available. Resume Alors que plusieurs auteurs suggerent que le bushbuck (Tragelaphus scriptus Pallas) des regions tropicales qui ont un regime de pluies a peu pres bimodal se reproduisent tout au long de l’annee, il y a aussi un rapport signalant une reproduction saisonniere chez cette espece. Dans la presente etude, nous apportons des preuves indirectes d’une saisonnalite de la reproduction par l’analyse des donnees comportementales (e.g. taux d’observations de sexes melanges) dans une population de bushbucks habitant dans un ecosysteme de savane equatoriale, dans l’ouest de l’Ouganda. Les taux d’observations de groupes melanges etaient lies aux chutes de pluies. Nous suggerons que les pics observes dans le comportement reproducteur en fonction de la saison des pluies peuvent etre benefiques si les jeunes naissent durant la saison des pluies suivante, lorsque la vegetation fraiche est abondante.
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Do ecotypes of bushbuck differ in grouping patterns?
acta ethologica, 2009Co-Authors: Torsten Wronski, Ann Apio, Martin Plath, Christiane AverbeckAbstract:Grouping patterns within the genus Tragelaphus suggest that species inhabiting open areas tend to live in larger groups, while species preferring dense habitats live solitarily or in small family groups. We asked if similar variation would be concealed in the within-species variation of bushbuck ( Tragelaphus scriptus ). Recent molecular phylogeographic analyses revealed several locally adapted forms of bushbuck in different ecoregions on the African continent. We compared group sizes of south-eastern bushbuck ( Tragelaphus sylvaticus ) among six different populations (“ecotypes”). To date, most data on the social organization of bushbuck have been collected from only one population in Queen Elizabeth National Park (QENP) in Uganda. This particular population, however, inhabits an unusual—comparatively open—habitat type, while bushbuck otherwise inhabit dense habitats, leaving doubt whether data collected in QENP are representative of the entire species. We, therefore, compared grouping patterns between ecotypes inhabiting rather open habitats (e.g., dianae and haywoodi ) and ecotypes occupying rather dense habitats (e.g., massaicus and ornatus ). In bachelor groups and in all-female (spinster) groups, single sightings were the most frequent “group type” in all populations examined. We detected no significant difference among ecotypes in relative frequencies of group size categories in the case of bachelor groups. Spinster group sizes were slightly (albeit significantly) smaller in QENP than in all other areas. Moreover, a comparison of two areas inside (low human pursuit) and outside Lake Mburo National Park (high hunting pressure) in Uganda revealed no significant difference in grouping patterns in response to human pursuit (as reported for impala [ Aepyceros melampus ] inhabiting the same area). Altogether, our results suggest that group sizes in bushbuck are not dependent on the habitat type they inhabit; neither does human nuisance have an impact on grouping patterns. Hence, an “almost solitary” lifestyle appears to be a characteristic of the entire taxon.
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absence of a dominance hierarchy confirms territorial organization in male bushbuck Tragelaphus scriptus pallas 1766
African Journal of Ecology, 2009Co-Authors: Torsten Wronski, Ann Apio, Martin PlathAbstract:It has been suggested that all species of spiral-horned antelopes (Tragelaphini) lack territoriality. Furthermore, some authors suggested that bushbuck (Tragelpahus scriptus) males form dominance hierarchies. In this study, we investigated the dominance relationships in two groups of free-ranging bushbuck males in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda. Adult males dominated young-adult bachelors and subadult males, but no distinct dominance relationships were found among adult males. Landau's index of linearity revealed no linear dominance hierarchy in the study populations. Our results support the idea that adult males are territorial, and overt aggression is directed almost exclusively towards bachelors that challenge territory holders.
-
age dependent mating tactics in male bushbuck Tragelaphus scriptus
Behaviour, 2007Co-Authors: Ann Apio, Martin Plath, Ralph Tiedemann, Torsten WronskiAbstract:We investigated mating tactics in three social/age classes of male bushbuck ( Tragelaphus scriptus ), i.e., adult territorial males (>5 years), young-adult non-territorial males (3-5 years) and subadult males (1-3 years). Territorial males were found to associate more frequently with females than subadult males, but young-adult males did not significantly differ from territorial males. In all three classes of males, the spatial distribution of the males relative to that of the females (i.e., their home range overlap) predicted the rate of association between males and females (Cole's coefficient of association). Territorial males showed very high rates of premating behaviour compared with the other two social/age classes and frequently attempted to monopolise females; however, copulation rates did not significantly differ between adult territorial and young-adult non-territorial males. Agonistic behaviour was most frequently initiated by territorial males when approached by a young-adult male, whereas aggressive interactions between two territorial males were far less frequent. Our results indicate that two age-dependent mating tactics exist in male bushbuck, that of adult territorial males and a sneak-like tactic in young-adult males. Nevertheless, territorial males may have an advantage over non-territorial males, because they have more unhampered opportunities to monitor females via deposited excreta in localised defecation sites.
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activity patterns of bushbuck Tragelaphus scriptus in queen elizabeth national park
Behavioural Processes, 2006Co-Authors: Torsten Wronski, Ann Apio, Martin PlathAbstract:Activity patterns and time budgets of bushbuck (Tragelaphus scriptus) were studied in a free-ranging population in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda from August 2000 to January 2002. We investigated differences in activity patterns in relation to daytime, season, sun radiation, moonlight, age and sex. Bushbuck were found to show peak activities around sunrise and at dawn. No difference in the mean activity rates was found between the dry and wet season. Daytime activity was not predicted by differences in sun radiation, nor was nighttime activity predicted by the presence or absence of moonlight. We found the activity of adult territorial males to be strongly positively correlated with that of females, whereas the activity of young-adult non-territorial males was not significantly correlated with the activity of females. This suggests that young-adult males shift their peak activity to phases when adult territorial males are less active.
Ann Apio - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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seasonal variation in reproductive behaviour of bushbuck Tragelaphus scriptus pallas 1766 in an equatorial savannah ecosystem
African Journal of Ecology, 2009Co-Authors: Ann Apio, Martin Plath, Vincent B Muwanika, Torsten WronskiAbstract:While several authors suggest that bushbuck (Tragelaphus scriptus Pallas) from tropical areas with an approximately bimodal rainfall pattern breed throughout the year, there is also a report of seasonal breeding in this species. In this study, we provide indirect evidence of seasonality in reproduction by analysing behavioural data (e.g. rates of mixed-sex sightings) in a population of bushbuck inhabiting an equatorial savannah ecosystem in western Uganda. Observation rates of mixed-sex sightings were correlated with rainfall patterns. We suggest that peaks in reproductive behaviour following the wet season may be advantageous if calves are born during the next wet season, when fresh vegetation is available. Resume Alors que plusieurs auteurs suggerent que le bushbuck (Tragelaphus scriptus Pallas) des regions tropicales qui ont un regime de pluies a peu pres bimodal se reproduisent tout au long de l’annee, il y a aussi un rapport signalant une reproduction saisonniere chez cette espece. Dans la presente etude, nous apportons des preuves indirectes d’une saisonnalite de la reproduction par l’analyse des donnees comportementales (e.g. taux d’observations de sexes melanges) dans une population de bushbucks habitant dans un ecosysteme de savane equatoriale, dans l’ouest de l’Ouganda. Les taux d’observations de groupes melanges etaient lies aux chutes de pluies. Nous suggerons que les pics observes dans le comportement reproducteur en fonction de la saison des pluies peuvent etre benefiques si les jeunes naissent durant la saison des pluies suivante, lorsque la vegetation fraiche est abondante.
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Do ecotypes of bushbuck differ in grouping patterns?
acta ethologica, 2009Co-Authors: Torsten Wronski, Ann Apio, Martin Plath, Christiane AverbeckAbstract:Grouping patterns within the genus Tragelaphus suggest that species inhabiting open areas tend to live in larger groups, while species preferring dense habitats live solitarily or in small family groups. We asked if similar variation would be concealed in the within-species variation of bushbuck ( Tragelaphus scriptus ). Recent molecular phylogeographic analyses revealed several locally adapted forms of bushbuck in different ecoregions on the African continent. We compared group sizes of south-eastern bushbuck ( Tragelaphus sylvaticus ) among six different populations (“ecotypes”). To date, most data on the social organization of bushbuck have been collected from only one population in Queen Elizabeth National Park (QENP) in Uganda. This particular population, however, inhabits an unusual—comparatively open—habitat type, while bushbuck otherwise inhabit dense habitats, leaving doubt whether data collected in QENP are representative of the entire species. We, therefore, compared grouping patterns between ecotypes inhabiting rather open habitats (e.g., dianae and haywoodi ) and ecotypes occupying rather dense habitats (e.g., massaicus and ornatus ). In bachelor groups and in all-female (spinster) groups, single sightings were the most frequent “group type” in all populations examined. We detected no significant difference among ecotypes in relative frequencies of group size categories in the case of bachelor groups. Spinster group sizes were slightly (albeit significantly) smaller in QENP than in all other areas. Moreover, a comparison of two areas inside (low human pursuit) and outside Lake Mburo National Park (high hunting pressure) in Uganda revealed no significant difference in grouping patterns in response to human pursuit (as reported for impala [ Aepyceros melampus ] inhabiting the same area). Altogether, our results suggest that group sizes in bushbuck are not dependent on the habitat type they inhabit; neither does human nuisance have an impact on grouping patterns. Hence, an “almost solitary” lifestyle appears to be a characteristic of the entire taxon.
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absence of a dominance hierarchy confirms territorial organization in male bushbuck Tragelaphus scriptus pallas 1766
African Journal of Ecology, 2009Co-Authors: Torsten Wronski, Ann Apio, Martin PlathAbstract:It has been suggested that all species of spiral-horned antelopes (Tragelaphini) lack territoriality. Furthermore, some authors suggested that bushbuck (Tragelpahus scriptus) males form dominance hierarchies. In this study, we investigated the dominance relationships in two groups of free-ranging bushbuck males in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda. Adult males dominated young-adult bachelors and subadult males, but no distinct dominance relationships were found among adult males. Landau's index of linearity revealed no linear dominance hierarchy in the study populations. Our results support the idea that adult males are territorial, and overt aggression is directed almost exclusively towards bachelors that challenge territory holders.
-
age dependent mating tactics in male bushbuck Tragelaphus scriptus
Behaviour, 2007Co-Authors: Ann Apio, Martin Plath, Ralph Tiedemann, Torsten WronskiAbstract:We investigated mating tactics in three social/age classes of male bushbuck ( Tragelaphus scriptus ), i.e., adult territorial males (>5 years), young-adult non-territorial males (3-5 years) and subadult males (1-3 years). Territorial males were found to associate more frequently with females than subadult males, but young-adult males did not significantly differ from territorial males. In all three classes of males, the spatial distribution of the males relative to that of the females (i.e., their home range overlap) predicted the rate of association between males and females (Cole's coefficient of association). Territorial males showed very high rates of premating behaviour compared with the other two social/age classes and frequently attempted to monopolise females; however, copulation rates did not significantly differ between adult territorial and young-adult non-territorial males. Agonistic behaviour was most frequently initiated by territorial males when approached by a young-adult male, whereas aggressive interactions between two territorial males were far less frequent. Our results indicate that two age-dependent mating tactics exist in male bushbuck, that of adult territorial males and a sneak-like tactic in young-adult males. Nevertheless, territorial males may have an advantage over non-territorial males, because they have more unhampered opportunities to monitor females via deposited excreta in localised defecation sites.
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activity patterns of bushbuck Tragelaphus scriptus in queen elizabeth national park
Behavioural Processes, 2006Co-Authors: Torsten Wronski, Ann Apio, Martin PlathAbstract:Activity patterns and time budgets of bushbuck (Tragelaphus scriptus) were studied in a free-ranging population in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda from August 2000 to January 2002. We investigated differences in activity patterns in relation to daytime, season, sun radiation, moonlight, age and sex. Bushbuck were found to show peak activities around sunrise and at dawn. No difference in the mean activity rates was found between the dry and wet season. Daytime activity was not predicted by differences in sun radiation, nor was nighttime activity predicted by the presence or absence of moonlight. We found the activity of adult territorial males to be strongly positively correlated with that of females, whereas the activity of young-adult non-territorial males was not significantly correlated with the activity of females. This suggests that young-adult males shift their peak activity to phases when adult territorial males are less active.
Faysal Bibi - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Tragelaphus nakuae evolutionary change biochronology and turnover in the african plio pleistocene
Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2011Co-Authors: Faysal BibiAbstract:Fossil Bovidae constitute one of the most significant proxy records for evolutionary and palaeoecological change in Africa. Tragelaphus nakuae is a regularly encountered antelope in the East African Plio-Pleistocene, and is a common component of hominin faunas. As previously understood, this species ranged for almost 2 million years, encompassed a large range of morphological variation, exhibited relative stasis in the face of environmental perturbations, and left no known living descendants. I here review and revise the fossil record of this tragelaphin bovid, finding that specimens older than ∼2.8 Mya and previously attributed to T. nakuae or a close form are in fact referable to a distinct, but ancestral, species. This new interpretation adds these fossil tragelaphins to the body of evidence supporting major faunal turnover occurring around 2.8 Mya in concert with global climatic change. I also document morphological changes that occur through the duration of T. nakuae, particularly after 2.3 Mya. These taxonomic revisions allow for refined biochronological estimates for several East African Plio-Pleistocene sites and specimen assemblages of uncertain age. A phylogenetic analysis suggests that the T. nakuae lineage is related to the extant bongo (Tragelaphus eurycerus), relating this living but enigmatic forest antelope to the fossil record. One resulting palaeoecological hypothesis is that the bongo's modern fragmented range represents the relicts of a much more widely distributed late Pliocene African forest belt. This study highlights the importance of specimen-based approaches for elucidating the pattern and timing of major evolutionary events. © 2011 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2011, 162, 699–711.
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Tragelaphus nakuae: evolutionary change, biochronology, and turnover in the African Plio‐Pleistocene
Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2011Co-Authors: Faysal BibiAbstract:Fossil Bovidae constitute one of the most significant proxy records for evolutionary and palaeoecological change in Africa. Tragelaphus nakuae is a regularly encountered antelope in the East African Plio-Pleistocene, and is a common component of hominin faunas. As previously understood, this species ranged for almost 2 million years, encompassed a large range of morphological variation, exhibited relative stasis in the face of environmental perturbations, and left no known living descendants. I here review and revise the fossil record of this tragelaphin bovid, finding that specimens older than ∼2.8 Mya and previously attributed to T. nakuae or a close form are in fact referable to a distinct, but ancestral, species. This new interpretation adds these fossil tragelaphins to the body of evidence supporting major faunal turnover occurring around 2.8 Mya in concert with global climatic change. I also document morphological changes that occur through the duration of T. nakuae, particularly after 2.3 Mya. These taxonomic revisions allow for refined biochronological estimates for several East African Plio-Pleistocene sites and specimen assemblages of uncertain age. A phylogenetic analysis suggests that the T. nakuae lineage is related to the extant bongo (Tragelaphus eurycerus), relating this living but enigmatic forest antelope to the fossil record. One resulting palaeoecological hypothesis is that the bongo's modern fragmented range represents the relicts of a much more widely distributed late Pliocene African forest belt. This study highlights the importance of specimen-based approaches for elucidating the pattern and timing of major evolutionary events. © 2011 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2011, 162, 699–711.
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Fossil Tragelaphini (Artiodactyla: Bovidae) from the Late Pliocene Hadar Formation, Afar Regional State, Ethiopia
Journal of Mammalian Evolution, 2011Co-Authors: Kaye E. Reed, Faysal BibiAbstract:The fossil tragelaphins from the late Pliocene of Hadar are described. These are Tragelaphus lockwoodi , new species, and Tragelaphus aff. T. nakuae . Tragelaphus lockwoodi bears long horns that define one complete spiral and that are mediolaterally compressed at the base. In these and other morphological characteristics it approaches the greater kudu, T. strepsiceros , and makes a good ancestral candidate for this living species. The Hadar T. aff. T. nakuae is similar to other specimens of this species from sites >2.8 Ma in East Africa and demonstrates well the major differences between the earlier and later representatives of this taxon. The sizes and morphological variation in the large Hadar T . aff. T. nakuae sample supports the idea that female individuals of this species were horned as is the case today in the elands and the bongo. Tragelaphus lockwoodi is present only in the lower beds of the Hadar Formation, and in small numbers, while T . aff. T. nakuae is recovered in relative abundance from throughout the ca. 3.4-ca. 2.9 Ma sequence.
G Schares - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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neospora caninum infection associated with stillbirths in captive antelopes Tragelaphus imberbis
Veterinary Parasitology, 2001Co-Authors: Martin Peters, P Wohlsein, A Knieriem, G ScharesAbstract:Neosporosis was diagnosed in full-term stillborn twin calves of captive antelopes (Tragelaphus imberbis) in a German zoo. In both calves a multifocal non-suppurative encephalitis was present and infection with Neospora (N.) caninum was confirmed by foetal serology and PCR. N. caninum-DNA was detected in brain, heart, lung, liver and spleen of a third full-term stillborn calf. Histopathological lesions were absent in this calf and antibodies against N. caninum were not detected in pleural fluid. Immunohistochemistry failed to demonstrate N. caninum antigen in all three calves.
