SRY Gene Sequence Analysis of the Long-tailed Goral (Naemorhedus caudatus)

안상진,김훈,이영한,추은영,김종택,이성진 강원대학교 동물생명과학연구소 2023 동물자원연구 Vol.34 No.1

The long-tailed goral (Naemorhedus caudatus) is classified as 'vulnerable' by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and has been designated an endangered species requiring conservation and management in Korea. The sex determination region of the Y (SRY) gene is a useful marker for the study of paternal lineages; however, the SRY gene of the goral has not yet been sequenced. In this study, the nucleotide sequence of the SRY gene of long-tailed gorals was determined based on the sequence of the SRY gene of goats (Capra hircus). The obtained sequences were aligned with those of other species in the Bovidae family. The long-tailed goral SRY gene comprised 720 base pairs, and its nucleotide and protein sequences were identical to those of goats, sheep (Ovis aries), and cattle (Bos taurus) by 96%, 97%, and 93%, respectively. The results of phylogenetic insights obtained from this study constitute important references for genetic diversity and pedigrees studies of male long-tailed gorals and closely related species.

우리나라 서울 도심권에서 멸종위기종 산양 출현에 대한 분자적 증거

김혜리,이재봉,정상민,김태욱,손장익,윤정주,한상현 한국동물유전육종학회 2023 한국동물유전육종학회지 Vol.7 No.3

The study examined the habitation and the number of long-tailed gorals by molecular identification, sexing discrimination, and identity tests on feces and hair samples estimated to be endangered long-tailed goral in Mt. Yongmasan, Mt. Achasan and Mt. Inwangsan near Seoul metropolitan city. Mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (COI) gene sequences showed that the DNA samples from the three mountains were those of long-tailed goral (Naemorhedus caudatus). The molecular sexing results showed that there were a female and a male in Mt. Yongmasan, a male in Mt. Achasan, but no informative results for Mt. Inwangsan. The identity test results indicated that the males of Mt. Yongmasan and Mt. Achasan were the same male, estimating the shift of this male from Mt. Yongmasan to Mt. Achasan. In addition, the goral of Mt. Inwangsan had a different COI sequence from those of Mt. Yongmasan and Mt. Achasan estimated to be this male with a different maternal lineage. Our present findings provide molecular evidence that at least three gorals have been inhabiting or continuously visiting the mountainous areas of Seoul metropolitan city, suggesting that a management system may be necessary for protecting this natural habitat of endangered long-tailed goral.

Radiographic Evaluation of Vertebral Heart Scale and Caudal Vena Cava Size Useful for Diagnosing Cardiac Diseases in Endangered Long-Tailed Goral (Naemorhedus caudatus)

Sangjin Ahn,Woojin Shin,Yujin Han,Sohwon Bae,Chea-Un Cho,Sooyoung Choi,김종택 한국임상수의학회 2023 한국임상수의학회지 Vol.40 No.2

Although various imaging evaluation methods have been developed and utilized, thoracic radiography remains essential and is the top priority for diagnosing and managing cardiac diseases. Thoracic radiographic measurements associated with the vertebral heart scale (VHS) and caudal vena cava (CVC) can objectively diagnose cardiac disease in many animals. In particular, VHS measurement is primarily used to evaluate the dimensions of the heart size on thoracic radiographs and can measure cardiomegaly more objectively. Additionally, the value of the CVC compared with the aorta (Ao) and the length of vertebrae (VL) can be used as valuable parameters in right congestive heart failure. To describe the CVC/Ao and CVC/VL ratios in 10 long-tailed gorals (Naemorhedus caudatus) without subjective radiographic evidence of cardiac diseases. The VHS, CVC, Ao, and VL of gorals were measured in the right lateral (RL) view of the thoracic radiographs. In the RL view of 10 gorals, the VHS was 9.31 ± 0.55 vertebrae (v), the CVC/Ao ratio was 0.84 ± 0.13, and the CVC/VL ratio was 0.67 ± 0.09. Additionally, the thoracic morphology of gorals was determined to be intermediate (thoracic depth-to-width ratio, 1.04 ± 0.09, 0.75-1.25). This study confirmed that VHS was significantly correlated with CVC and Ao, and measuring and comparing each value would help diagnose cardiac diseases in gorals. The radiographic measurements in this study will allow veterinarians to diagnose several cardiac diseases in gorals.

Species and Sex Identification of the Korean Goral (Nemorhaedus caudatus) by Molecular Analysis of Non-invasive Samples

김백준,이윤선,안정화,박한찬,Hideo Okumura,이항,민미숙 한국분자세포생물학회 2008 Molecules and cells Vol.26 No.3

Korean long-tailed goral (Nemorhaedus caudatus) is one of the most endangered species in South Korea. However, detailed species distribution and sex ratio data on the elusive goral are still lacking due to difficulty of identification of the species and sex in the field. The primary aim of this study was to develop an economical PCR-RFLP method to identify species using invasive or non-invasive samples from five Korean ungulates: goral (N. caudatus), roe deer (Capreolus pygargus), feral goat (Capra hircus), water deer (Hydropotes inermis) and musk deer (Moschus moschiferus). The secondary aim was to find more efficient molecular sexing techniques that may be applied to invasive or non-invasive samples of ungulate species. We successfully utilized PCR-RFLP of partial mitochondrial cytochrome b gene (376 bp) for species identification, and sex-specific amplification of ZFX/Y and AMELX/Y genes for sexing. Three species (goral, goat and water deer) showed distinctive band patterns by using three restriction enzymes (XbaI, StuI or SspI). Three different sexing primer sets (LGL331/335 for ZFX/Y gene; SE47/48 or SE47/53 for AMELX/Y gene) produced sex-specific band patterns in goral, goat and roe deer. Our results suggest that the molecular analyses of non-invasive samples might provide us with potential tools for the further genetic and ecological study of Korean goral and related species.

Ruminal impaction with an indigestible foreign body in long-tailed goral (Naemorhedus caudatus)

Sangjin Ahn,Woojin Shin,Yujin Han,Sohwon Bae,Chea-Un Cho,Sooyoung Choi,Yeonsu Oh,Jong-Taek Kim 한국동물위생학회 2023 韓國家畜衛生學會誌 Vol.46 No.2

A 6-year-old female long-tailed goral (Naemorhedus caudatus , goral) was admitted to the Gangwon wildlife medical rescue center due to severe starvation and hypothermia. The goral displayed clinical signs of severe weight loss, dehydration, lethargy, regurgitation, hypothermia, and bloating, with blood tests showing a decrease in albumin, calcium, glucose, and sodium. Supportive care was given through heating, oxygen supply, and fluid therapy, but the goral’s condition worsened, and the goral died three days after admission. Radiographic and computed tomography scans revealed the presence of an indigestible foreign body (IFB) in the rumen, which was confirmed during the necropsy. The cause of goral’s death was identified as chronic rumen impaction caused by the IFB (a ball of string), with other pathological findings including bloating, the presence of serous ascites, and congestion of digestive organs. Blood biochemical changes, clinical signs, and veterinary medical imaging diagnosis can be helpful in diagnosing ruminal impaction. This case report can provide valuable information for the diagnosis and treatment of ruminal impaction caused by IFB in endangered gorals, which may include rumenotomy or other surgical procedures.

Morphometric analyses of non-invasive fecal samples of the Korean long-tailed goral (Naemorhedus caudatus) for species and age identification

김백준,최태영,박그림,이항,이재민,최성훈 한국통합생물학회 2018 Animal cells and systems Vol.22 No.1

The Korean long-tailed goral (Naemorhedus caudatus) is at risk of population decline due to habitat loss and fragmentation. Therefore, it is essential to ascertain its presence and/or the identity of individuals of the goral using non-invasive fecal samples for its conservation and management. In this study, we examined the morphology of fecal samples to provide the baseline data that can be used to distinguish species and age of goral individuals. We detected a significant difference in the length-to-width ratios of feces among the five ungulate species found in Korea. Also, we detected a significant difference in the length-to-width ratios of feces of gorals depending on the age groups. To assess the accuracy of species and age identification based on the fecal morphology, we conducted a series of blind comparison between the mean length-towidth ratios of the fecal pellets and the reference mean ratio values of the fecal pellets. Using 20 fecal pellets, our results showed 73%–86% probability of correct identification of the three species (gorals, goats, and roe deer), and 83%–90% probability of correct identification of >5 year-old goral individuals. The use of fecal morphometric analyses will be useful for the studies of Korean ungulate species, particularly the endangered gorals.

Morphometric analyses of non-invasive fecal samples of the Korean long-tailed goral (Naemorhedus caudatus) for species and age identification

Kim, Baek-Jun,Choi, Tae-Young,Park, Grimm,Lee, Hang,Lee, Jae Min,Choi, Sunghoon 한국통합생물학회 2018 Animal cells and systems Vol.22 No.1

The Korean long-tailed goral (Naemorhedus caudatus) is at risk of population decline due to habitat loss and fragmentation. Therefore, it is essential to ascertain its presence and/or the identity of individuals of the goral using non-invasive fecal samples for its conservation and management. In this study, we examined the morphology of fecal samples to provide the baseline data that can be used to distinguish species and age of goral individuals. We detected a significant difference in the length-to-width ratios of feces among the five ungulate species found in Korea. Also, we detected a significant difference in the length-to-width ratios of feces of gorals depending on the age groups. To assess the accuracy of species and age identification based on the fecal morphology, we conducted a series of blind comparison between the mean length-towidth ratios of the fecal pellets and the reference mean ratio values of the fecal pellets. Using 20 fecal pellets, our results showed 73%-86% probability of correct identification of the three species (gorals, goats, and roe deer), and 83%-90% probability of correct identification of >5 year-old goral individuals. The use of fecal morphometric analyses will be useful for the studies of Korean ungulate species, particularly the endangered gorals.

Microsatellite Markers for Non-Invasive Examination of Individual Identity, Genetic Variation, and Population Differentiation in Two Populations of Korean Long-Tailed Goral (Naemorhedus caudatus)

Kim, Baek-Jun National Institute of Ecology 2022 국립생태원회보(PNIE) Vol.3 No.4

Natural habitats of the Korean long-tailed goral (Naemorhedus caudatus) have been fragmented by anthropogenic activities in South Korea in the last decades. Here, the individual identity, genetic variation, and population differentiation of the endangered species were examined via the multiple-tube approach using a non-invasive genotyping method. The average number of alleles was 3.16 alleles/locus for the total population. The Yanggu population (1.66) showed relatively lower average number of alleles than the Inje population (3.67). Of the total 19 alleles, only seven (36.8%) alleles were shared by the two populations. Using five polymorphic out of six loci, four and six different goral individuals from the captive Yanggu (n=24) and the wild Inje (n=28) population were identified, respectively. The allele distribution was not identical between the two populations (Fisher's exact test: P<0.01). A considerably low migration rate was detected between the two populations (no. of migrants after correction for size=0.294). Additionally, the F statistics results indicated significant population differentiation between them, however, quite low (F_ST=0.327, P<0.01). The posterior probabilities indicated that the two populations originated from a single panmictic population (P=0.959) and the assignment test results designated all individuals to both populations with nearly equal likelihood. These could be resulted from moderate population differentiation between the populations. No significant evidence supported recent population bottleneck in the total Korean goral population. This study could provide us with useful population genetic information for conservation and management of the endangered species.

Camera Trapping of Long-Tailed Goral (Naemorhedus caudatus) in BaekAm and Geumjong Mountains, South Korea

Hee Bok Park,Chang Wook Han,Sungwon Hong 강원대학교 산림과학연구소 2018 Journal of Forest Science Vol.34 No.1

The long-tailed goral (Naemorhedus caudatus) has slowly recolonized habitats in South Korea. Because it is necessary to know the status of groups in recolonized areas, we determined detection frequencies and group sizes using camera trapping, a non-invasive monitoring method. In Uljin, a far southern goral habitat in South Korea, we used a Moultrie 5.0 camera and mineral block as bait during the breeding season in BaekAm Mountain (148 days, 18 May to 11 October) and Geumjong Mountain (63 days, 18 May to 18 July) in 2010. Totally, 155 images were captured in BaekAm Mountain, whereas four images were captured in Geumjong Mountain. The species was most frequently detected at sunrise (05:00-08:00) and sunset (18:00-20:00). Through population structure evaluation, we identified at least 11 individuals, including one solitary mature male, four females, four kids, and two solitary subadults in BaekAm Mountain. However, in Geumjong Mountain, we identified only two individuals (female with kid). Monitoring efficiency in the recolonized area differed depending on population density and habitat conditions. Because we could evaluate the population structure, and behavioral patterns in the study sites, monitoring using camera traps could be applied for the recolonized habitats in South Korea.

Camera Trapping of Long-Tailed Goral (Naemorhedus caudatus) in BaekAm and Geumjong Mountains, South Korea

Park, Hee Bok,Han, Chang Wook,Hong, Sungwon Institute of Forest Science 2018 Journal of Forest Science Vol.34 No.1

The long-tailed goral (Naemorhedus caudatus) has slowly recolonized habitats in South Korea. Because it is necessary to know the status of groups in recolonized areas, we determined detection frequencies and group sizes using camera trapping, a non-invasive monitoring method. In Uljin, a far southern goral habitat in South Korea, we used a Moultrie 5.0 camera and mineral block as bait during the breeding season in BaekAm Mountain (148 days, 18 May to 11 October) and Geumjong Mountain (63 days, 18 May to 18 July) in 2010. Totally, 155 images were captured in BaekAm Mountain, whereas four images were captured in Geumjong Mountain. The species was most frequently detected at sunrise (05:00-08:00) and sunset (18:00-20:00). Through population structure evaluation, we identified at least 11 individuals, including one solitary mature male, four females, four kids, and two solitary subadults in BaekAm Mountain. However, in Geumjong Mountain, we identified only two individuals (female with kid). Monitoring efficiency in the recolonized area differed depending on population density and habitat conditions. Because we could evaluate the population structure, and behavioral patterns in the study sites, monitoring using camera traps could be applied for the recolonized habitats in South Korea.