Biology subjects

Cebe, N.

Publications and source records attributed to Cebe, N..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2025

Likely circulation of a coronavirus in roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) populations suggested by SARS-CoV-2 serological investigation in France

The risk of viral transmissions from domestic/wild animals to humans is a major public health concern. Humans can also transmit viruses back to domestic and wild animals, acting as reservoir for virus maintenance and sources of epidemic diseases re-emergence. The SARS-CoV-2, causing COVID-19, likely originated from wildlife and has been evidenced to transmit from humans to captive, domestic and wild animals. White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) show high SARS-CoV-2 prevalence following human contamination, suggesting they could act as an emerging virus reservoir. We completed recent research on European cervid species by investigating whether SARS-CoV-2 had emerged in longitudinally-monitored European roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) populations in direct contact with humans in France. We performed indirect tests (serological ELISAs and seroneutralization) on sera collected before and after the virus emergence in humans, and direct RT-PCR tests on nasal swabs collected in 2022. We also investigated the virus exposure and prevalence in three other cervid species. ELISA tests were positive for 2.20% of sera, pre- and post-pandemic, but seroneutralization and PCR tests were negative. Although one population showed increased seroprevalence post-2020, results suggest that SARS-CoV-2 has not emerged in those populations, and that ELISA cross-reaction with one or several unidentified circulating coronaviruses is possible.

immunology↗

bioRxiv2023

Using accelerometers to infer behaviour of cryptic species in the wild

Accelerometery is revolutionising the field of behavioural ecology through its capacity to detect the fine-scale movements of animals resulting from their behaviour. Because it is often difficult to infer the behaviour of wildlife on a continuous basis, particularly for cryptic species, accelerometers potentially provide powerful tools for remote monitoring of their behavioural responses to the environment. The goal of this study was to provide a detailed, calibrated methodology, including practical guidelines, to infer the behaviour of free-ranging animals from acceleration data. This approach can be employed to reliably infer the time budget of species that are difficult to observe in certain environments or at certain times of the day. To this end, we trained several behavioural classification algorithms with accelerometer data obtained on captive roe deer, then validated these algorithms with data obtained on free-ranging roe deer, and finally predicted the time-budgets of a substantial sample of unobserved free-ranging roe deer in a human-dominated landscape. The best classification algorithm was the Random Forest which predicted five behavioural classes with a high overall level of accuracy ({approx} 90%). Except for grooming (34-38%), we were able to predict the behaviour of free-ranging roe deer over the course of a day with high accuracy, in particular, foraging head down, running, walking and immobile (68-94%). Applied to free-ranging individuals, the classification allowed us to estimate, for example, that roe deer spent about twice as much time foraging head-down, walking or running during dawn and dusk than during daylight or night-time. By integrating step by step calibration and validation of accelerometer data prior to application in the wild, our approach is transferable to other free-ranging animals for predicting key behaviours in cryptic species.

animal behavior and cognition↗

bioRxiv2021

Co-variation between glucocorticoids, behaviour and immunity supports the pace-of-life syndrome hypothesis: an experimental approach

The biomedical literature has consistently highlighted that long-term elevation of glucocorticoids might impair immune functions. In wild animals, patterns are less clear. Here, we re-explored the stress-immunity relationship considering the potential effects of behavioural profiles. Thirteen captive roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) were monitored over an eight-week period encompassing two capture events. We assessed how changes in baseline faecal cortisol metabolite (FCM) concentrations following a standardised capture protocol and vaccination affected changes in thirteen immune parameters of the innate and adaptive immunity, and whether behavioural profiles were linked to changes in baseline FCM levels and immune parameters. We found that individuals showing an increase in baseline FCM levels also exhibited an increase in immunity and were characterised by more reactive behavioural profiles (low activity levels, docility to manipulation and neophilia). Our results suggest that immunity of large mammals may be influenced by glucocorticoids, but also behavioural profiles, as it is predicted by the pace-of-life syndrome hypothesis. Our results highlight the need to consider co-variations between behaviour, immunity and glucocorticoids in order to improve our understanding of the among-individual variability in the stress-immunity relationships observed in wildlife, as they may be underpinned by different life-history strategies.

evolutionary biology↗