This study examined the effect of novel objects on the behavior of five captive giant anteaters (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) from three zoos. We presented them with three novel objects (wood, soil mound, and plastic tube) and observed their behavior toward each object for five or seven days. We recorded their response behaviors and response time to the objects using continuous sampling and their behaviors (locomotion, exploration, resting, and others) using 1-min instantaneous sampling. In addition, we recorded stereotypic behavior during the mound and plastic tube experiments using 1-0 sampling. We found specific response behaviors for the mound (rubbing, digging, alert, and threat) and plastic tube (playing). Response time differed between objects (wood ≥ plastic tube ≥ soil mound). The first to third days yielded the highest response time, which decreased by > 70% on the fifth to seventh days after showing the novel objects. The novel objects did not affect the most common behaviors (locomotion and exploration). Although stereotypic behavior varied between individuals, on most days during the study period (soil mound: 78.8 ± 0.3%, plastic tube: 82.1 ± 0.2%) test animals had a lower rate of stereotypic behavior than the control day. Our study indicates that introducing novel objects to captive anteaters leads to increased behavioral diversity. The objects have the strongest effect on behavior within the first three days, but their influence can continue for up to a week, even if the anteaters do not directly interact with them.

　We assessed serum and fecal sex steroid hormone metabolites concentrations, change of vaginal smear, and rectal temperature measurements in a captive Hartmann's mountain zebra (Equus zebra hartmannae). After serum estradiol-17β concentration peaked, serum progesterone concentration increased. The serum progesterone concentration positively correlated (r = 0.80) with fecal progesterone metabolites concentration two days after blood sampling, indicating that fecal progesterone metabolites concentration reflected serum progesterone concentration well. The dynamics of fecal progesterone metabolites concentration in the zebra showed periodic increases and decreases throughout the year, confirming a mean estrous cycle of 23.1±2.3 days. Furthermore, the percentage of anuclear superficial cells in vaginal smears tended to increase in the non-luteal phase, when fecal progesterone metabolite concentrations were low, but the change was not significant. The rectal temperature showed an increase or decrease during the non-luteal phase, and an increase in the basal body temperature during the luteal phase, which is generally known in humans and other animals, was not confirmed.

　In the past decades, some infectious diseases have caused several mass-mortalities in pinnipeds and given a huge threat on conservation of pinnipeds and marine ecosystem. Although such a mass-mortality event has not been observed on the coast of Japan, several serologic investigations have shown the specific antibodies against five pathogens; influenza virus, morbillivirus, Brucella, Toxoplasma gondii, and Neospora caninum, in pinnipeds along the coast of Hokkaido. In this article, we review these serologic studies together with the recent topics on these infectious diseases. Because the interspecies transmission of these pathogens occurs through contacts or food chain, it is necessary to examine a larger range of mammals and relating animals such as birds, food animals and parasites in the connecting area between land and sea. Recent climate change has a potential to change the habitant ranges and behaviors of wild mammals, and resultantly increase the risk of interspecies transmission of the pathogens. It is important to continue the monitoring not only in pinnipeds but also in the expanded range of animals in Hokkaido.

　A young male Rough-legged Buzzard, Buteo lagopus, was found debilitated at Rausu, Hokkaido, Japan on 16 December, 2013 and died shortly after transport to the shelter. A post-mortem revealed emaciation, chest pressure ulceration, sternal fracture, and claw damage suggesting the malnutrition. Nematodes of Capillariidae gen. sp. and Porrocaecum sp., and cestode of Cyclophyllidea fam. gen. sp. were detected in the alimentary tract. Also chewing lice, Degeeriella fulva, were found on the body surface. This is the first record of D. fulva from B. lagopus in eastern Hokkaido, and the first record of Capillariidae gen. sp. and Cyclophyllidea fam. gen. sp. from B. lagopus in Japan.

　Concentration of immunoglobulin Y (IgY) in egg yolk as well as IgA and IgM in egg white were measured from captive and wild Japanese rock ptarmigan eggs using commercially available chicken Ig ELISA kits, in an effort to assess whether high mortality of chicks in captivity could be attributed to insufficient levels of these antibodies in eggs. Larger but non-significant differences in egg yolk IgY levels were observed between captive and wild specimens using the current methodology, with smaller non-significant differences detected for egg white IgA and IgM. Thus, the lack of maternal passive immunity in the form of egg antibodies might not be a contributing factor to newly hatched chicks’ resistance to opportunistic pathogens under captive conditions.

　Total 101 fecal samples were collected from the wild birds which were protected at Kochi Prefecture. These were examined by sugar floatation method. Consequently, 29.7％ of feces were parasitologically positive; 20.8% of Eimeria and/or Isospora type oocysts, and 8.9% of Capillarid or Ascarid spp. Transmitted stages of these parasites could survive in the environments for a while after being shedded in feces. These results suggested that in the past, these infected birds directly or indirectly contacted with feces contaminated with the parasites.

　Paracoccidioidomycosis ceti caused by Paracoccidioides cetii is a zoonotic chronic granulomatous dermatitis in cetaceans that have been reported worldwide, however cases by molecular biological confirmation are rare. We applied a sensitive molecular biological diagnostic tool for paracoccidioidomycosis ceti by combining polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) on two suspected cases showing clinical symptoms alone and lacked cytological findings of the characteristic fungal cells: A 9-year-old male Atlantic bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) born in a Japanese aquarium and a female false killer whale (Pseudorca crassidens) stranded on a Japanese coast, corresponding to the 16th and 17th cases of paracoccidioidomycosis ceti diagnosed by molecular biology. Additionally, this is the first report of paracoccidioidomycosis ceti in a false killer whale.

　We measured the serum activities of the bone-specific isoenzyme of alkaline phosphatase (ALP3) and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b (TRAP5b), as osteoblastic bone formation and osteoclastic bone resorption markers, respectively, in two zoo-managed Asian elephant calves during the 4-month period around weaning (2 months before and after weaning). The serum ALP3 and TRAP5b levels decreased after weaning; the levels were significantly higher in the pre-than post-weaning period. These results suggest that osteoblastic bone formation and osteoclastic bone resorption slowed after weaning. Breast milk feeding of Asian elephants may play a significant role in osteoblastic and osteoclastic bone metabolism during the growth period.

　The excretion of tapeworm strobilla from the anus of a common bottlenose dolphin caught off the Kii Peninsula was observed. Based on the arrangement of the reproductive organs, it was assumed to belong to the genus Diphyllobothrium Cobbold, 1858 (the family Diphyllobothriidae). In addition, molecular diagnosis based on the mitochondrial COX-1, the ribosomal ITS1, and 18S rRNA gene was performed. As a result of the morphological observation and molecular analyses, the species was identified as Diphyllobothrium stemmacephalum. This is the first report of the detection of Diphyllobothrium stemmacephalum in a bottlenose dolphin in Japan.

　This study investigated the viable bacteria count (VBC) and the coliform bacteria count (CBC) on the surface of 7 kinds of feed as well as the carcasses of 5 Japanese wild boar and 5 Yakushima deer in a zoo in Japan and then compared the counts between the feed and the carcasses. The carcasses of these animals are fed to carnivores for environmental enrichment in the zoo. The VBC on the 7 kinds of feed was 1.96–5.72 log cfu/cm2. Three of the 7 kinds of feed were positive for coliform bacteria. For the 5 Japanese wild boar carcasses, the VBC on the breast was 1.52–4.70 log cfu/cm2 and that on the circumference of the anus ranged from 1.79 to more than 6.00 log cfu/cm2. Six of the 10 samples from Japanese wild boar carcasses were positive for coliform bacteria. For the Yakushima deer carcasses, the VBC on the breast was 0.20–2.08 log cfu/cm2 and that on the circumference of the anus was 1.41–3.46 log cfu/cm2. Four of the 10 samples from Yakushima deer carcasses were positive for coliform bacteria. The results suggest that the carcasses and the feed in the zoo had nearly the same bacteria counts.