Yuli Sulistya Fitriana

Endogenous Gibbon Ape Leukemia Virus Identified in a Rodent (Melomys burtoni subsp.) from Wallacea (Indonesia)

ABSTRACT Gibbon ape leukemia virus (GALV) and koala retrovirus (KoRV) most likely originated from a cross-species transmission of an ancestral retrovirus into koalas and gibbons via one or more intermediate as-yet-unknown hosts. A virus highly similar to GALV has been identified in an Australian native rodent (Melomys burtoni) after extensive screening of Australian wildlife. GALV-like viruses have also been discovered in several Southeast Asian species, although screening has not been extensive and viruses discovered to date are only distantly related to GALV. We therefore screened 26 Southeast Asian rodent species for KoRV- and GALV-like sequences, using hybridization capture and high-throughput sequencing, in the attempt to identify potential GALV and KoRV hosts. Only the individuals belonging to a newly discovered subspecies of Melomys burtoni from Indonesia were positive, yielding an endogenous provirus very closely related to a strain of GALV. The sequence of the critical receptor domain for GALV infection in the Indonesian M. burtoni subsp. was consistent with the susceptibility of the species to GALV infection. The second record of a GALV in M. burtoni provides further evidence that M. burtoni, and potentially other lineages within the widespread subfamily Murinae, may play a role in the spread of GALV-like viruses. The discovery of a GALV in the most western part of the Australo-Papuan distribution of M. burtoni, specifically in a transitional zone between Asia and Australia (Wallacea), may be relevant to the cross-species transmission to gibbons in Southeast Asia and broadens the known distribution of GALVs in wild rodents. IMPORTANCE Gibbon ape leukemia virus (GALV) and the koala retrovirus (KoRV) are very closely related, yet their hosts neither are closely related nor overlap geographically. Direct cross-species infection between koalas and gibbons is unlikely. Therefore, GALV and KoRV may have arisen via a cross-species transfer from an intermediate host whose range overlaps those of both gibbons and koalas. Using hybridization capture and high-throughput sequencing, we have screened a wide range of rodent candidate hosts from Southeast Asia for KoRV- and GALV-like sequences. Only a Melomys burtoni subspecies from Wallacea (Indonesia) was positive for GALV. We report the genome sequence of this newly identified GALV, the critical domain for infection of its potential cellular receptor, and its phylogenetic relationships with the other previously characterized GALVs. We hypothesize that Melomys burtoni, and potentially related lineages with an Australo-Papuan distribution, may have played a key role in cross-species transmission to other taxa.

Syphacia (Syphacia) Semiadii N. SP. (Nematoda: Oxyuridae) from Halmaheramys Bokimekot Fabre et al., 2013 (Rodentia: Muridae) on Halmahera Island, Indonesia and A Key to The Species Present in Sulawesi and The Australian Bioregion

Abstract Syphacia (Syphacia) semiadii n. sp.is described from Halmaheramys bokimekot Fabre et al., 2013, an endemic murine of Halmahera Island, Maluku, Indonesia. Among the New Guinea/Australian congeners, S. (S.) semiadii n. sp. most closely resembles S. (S.) mamelonitenuis and S. (S.) longaecauda in having a circular cephalic plate without dorsoventral constriction laterally and lacking lateral alae in both sexes. However, this species differs from S. (S.) mamelonitenuis, which has a shorter tail in both sexes and larger eggs, and from S. (S.) longaecauda, which has a longer tail in both sexes. to aid identification, we also provide a dichotomous key to the species of Syphacia in Sulawesi and the Australian bioregion.

A new species of Halmaheramys (Rodentia: Muridae) from Bisa and Obi Islands (North Maluku Province, Indonesia)

We describe a new species of murine rodent from a skull collected on Bisa Island and 3 specimens from Obi Island, North Maluku Province, Indonesia. Molecular and morphological data indicate a close relationship with Halmaheramys bokimekot (Fabre et al. 2013). The new species is characterized by its combination of large size; short tail with large scales; spiny, coarse, dark dorsal pelage with long black guard hairs; and a dark gray ventral pelage that contrasts slightly with the dorsum. The Bisa specimen displays unusual zygomatic arch morphology, which may be a disease-related deformity, or potentially a sexually dimorphic trait. The new species shares several external and cranio-mandibular features with its sister species from Halmahera that differ from those of Rattus species, including a spiny pelt, deep palatine sulci, a high rostrum and relatively flat dorsal profile, short incisive foramina, short palatal bridge, and molars with simple occlusal patterns. Although certain morphological characteristics of the new taxon suggest an affinity with the taxonomically diverse and geographically widespread Rattus, in other respects it clearly fits into the Wallacean clade containing Bunomys, Paruromys, and Taeromys, as indicated by molecular phylogenetic analyses. Along with the recent discovery of Halmaheramys, recognition of this new species from Bisa and Obi Islands underscores the north Moluccan regions high endemism, conservation importance, and the urgent need for a better inventory of its biodiversity.

New record of Melomys burtoni (Mammalia, Rodentia, Murinae) from Halmahera (North Moluccas, Indonesia): a review of Moluccan Melomys

Abstract Mosaic-tailed rodents of the genus Melomys belong to the Australasian old endemic murine radiation and exhibit a rat-like morphology with arboreal or scansorial specializations. Here we report a new population of Melomys burtoni from the island of Halmahera (in the North Moluccas, Indonesia). Our molecular phylogenetic results highlight close relationships and recent evolutionary divergences among M. burtoni from Halmahera and the Australo-Papuan taxa M. burtoni and M. lutillus and other Moluccan taxa, including M. paveli. Multivariate as well as geometric morphometric analyses of cranial, and dental features support the recognition of M. burtoni from Halmahera as a slightly distinctive insular population, preventing us from elevating it as a new taxa. This population is recorded from lowland secondary forest and forest edge habitats in south-central Halmahera. As with other Moluccan endemic murines, colonization by an Australo-Papuan ancestor and subsequent isolation is the probable mode of diversification for M. burtoni in Halmahera. The discovery of Melomys in Halmahera fills a previously puzzling gap in knowledge of the murine fauna of the Moluccas and the biogeography of the Wallacean region.

Daytime behavior of Pteropus vampyrus in a natural habitat: the driver of viral transmission

Flying foxes, the genus Pteropus, are considered viral reservoirs. Their colonial nature and long flight capability enhance their ability to spread viruses quickly. To understand how the viral transmission occurs between flying foxes and other animals, we investigated daytime behavior of the large flying fox (Pteropus vampyrus) in the Leuweung Sancang conservation area, Indonesia, by using instantaneous scan sampling and all-occurrence focal sampling. The data were obtained from 0700 to 1700 hr, during May 11–25, 2016. Almost half of the flying foxes (46.9 ± 10.6% of all recorded bats) were awake and showed various levels of activity during daytime. The potential behaviors driving disease transmission, such as self-grooming, mating/courtship and aggression, peaked in the early morning. Males were more active and spent more time on sexual activities than females. There was no significant difference in time spent for negative social behaviors between sexes. Positive social behaviors, especially maternal cares, were performed only by females. Sexual activities and negative/positive social behaviors enable fluid exchange between bats and thus facilitate intraspecies transmission. Conflicts for living space between the flying foxes and the ebony leaf monkey (Trachypithecus auratus) were observed, and this caused daily roosting shifts of flying foxes. The ecological interactions between bats and other wildlife increase the risk of interspecies infection. This study provides the details of the flying fox’s behavior and its interaction with other wildlife in South-East Asia that may help explain how pathogen spillover occurs in the wild.

The generic status of Rattus annandalei (Bonhote, 1903) (Rodentia, Murinae) and its evolutionary implications

The taxonomic position of Annandales rat, Rattus annandalei (Bonhote, 1903), has been uncertain given its mix of Rattus-like and Sundamys-like morphological features. Annandales rat and all described species in Sundamys (the lowland S. muelleri, and the montane S. maxi and S. infraluteus) are endemic to Sundaland, a center of diversification and endemism for their tribe, the Rattini. Using mitochondrial genomes and 3 nuclear markers (rag1, rbp3, ghr), we provide the 1st phylogenetic framework for Sundamys. We find that R. annandalei is nested within Sundamys, and that the 4 species likely diverged during the Pleistocene. We move R. annandalei to Sundamys and provide an emended diagnosis for Sundamys. Using geometric morphometric analyses of skulls and mandibles, we identify morphological differences between lowland and highland species of Sundamys that may be associated with adaptations to distinct diets.

Syphacia (Syphacia) maxomyos sp. n. (Nematoda: Oxyuridae) from Maxomys spp. (Rodentia: Muridae) from Sulawesi and Sumatra, Indonesia

The present report describes Syphacia (Syphacia) maxomyos sp. n. (Nematoda: Oxyuridae) from two species of spiny rats, Maxomys musschenbroekii from Sulawesi and M. whiteheadi from Sumatra. It is characterized by a cephalic plate extending laterally with dorsoventral constriction and stumpy eggs with an operculum rim reaching pole. It is readily distinguishable by the former feature from all of hitherto known representatives of this genus in Indonesia, but it resembles parasites in Murini and Hydromyni rodents in continental Asia and Sahul. This is the first Syphacia species distributed in both the Sunda Shelf and Sulawesi with the exception of Syphacia muris, a cosmopolitan pinworm found in rodents of the of genus Rattus. It is surmised that S. maxomyos is specific to Maxomys and that it was introduced to Sulawesi by dispersal of some Maxomys from the Sunda Shelf.

Aplikasi Kajian DNA Molekuler dan Fenotipik Pada Program Pelepasliaran Burung Kakatua

There are six species of cockatoos in Indonesia which are well known as exotic, smart, and they can be trained in a variety of attractions. Thus, many people want to keep those birds as pets. All of pets which have been kept by community should be evaluated from various aspects before being reintroduced to their natural habitat. The examination of sex and species of illegal cocktoos play as a key role for the reintroduction programme. Theobjective of this study was to evaluate the reliability and effectivity of evaluation technique of morphometric and molecular for reintroduction programme of cockatoos. We used the COI gene sequences from 68individuals of cockatoos from pet communities in and around Jakarta and four sequences from GenBank. The phylogenetic analysis used the neighbor-joining method, in which the genetic distance matrix calculations with Kimura 2-parameter models that are implemented on a pairwise distance calculation in the MEGA program version 6:05. The result of the genetic variation of the cockatoo species which shows intraspecific divergence was Cacatua alba (n=4)= 0%, C. galerita (Australia n=9)= 0.6%, C. galerita (Indonesia n=53)= 0.3%, C .goffiniana (n=3)= 0%, C. moluccensis (n=7)= 0.1%, and C. sulphurea (n=2)= 0.3%, with a range of 0-0.6%. The results indicate that the average of intraspecific of COI in the cockatoos community was 0.25±0.055%, and interspecific divergences ranged from 3.1 to 11.6%. The phylogenetic tree shows the monophyletic clade of cockatoo species in Indonesia. In addition, DNA barcode analysis and molecular sexing could correct the error and doubts the result of five individual species identification and two individual sexing identification of C.galerita by morphological identification. The results of morphological examanation base on body weight, body length and head-bill length of C. galerita triton were not significantly different (P?0,5). Finally, 19 individuals C. galerita triton and two individuals P. aterrimus were reintroduced to their natural habitat.