Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41786621›Full record

ArticleThe Journal of heredity2026

A pseudochromosomal reference genome of the golden jackal, Canis aureus.

Sven Winter, René Meißner, Stefan Prost, Carola Greve, Charlotte Gerheim, Marine Arakelyan, Sargis A Aghayan, Astghik Ghazaryan, Jennifer Hatlauf, Pamela A Burger

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in The Journal of heredity, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Sven WinterResearch Institute of Wildlife Ecology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria.ORCID 0000-0002-1890-0977
René MeißnerResearch Institute of Wildlife Ecology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria.ORCID 0000-0003-2829-1607
Stefan ProstEcology and Genetics Research Unit, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.ORCID 0000-0002-6229-3596
Carola GreveDepartment of Terrestrial Zoology, Senckenberg Research Institute and Museum, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.ORCID 0000-0003-4993-1378
Charlotte GerheimDepartment of Terrestrial Zoology, Senckenberg Research Institute and Museum, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.ORCID 0009-0005-0763-4780
Marine ArakelyanResearch Institute of Biology, Yerevan State University, Yerevan, Armenia.ORCID 0000-0002-6334-5714
Sargis A AghayanLaboratory of Molecular Parasitology, Scientific Center of Zoology and Hydroecology, National Academy of Sciences of the Armenian State.ORCID 0000-0001-8516-2778
Astghik GhazaryanResearch Institute of Biology, Yerevan State University, Yerevan, Armenia.ORCID 0009-0005-2840-0019
Jennifer HatlaufDepartment of Ecosystem Management, Climate and Biodiversity, Institute of Wildlife Biology and Game Management, BOKU University, Vienna, Austria.ORCID 0000-0003-4665-6470
Pamela A BurgerResearch Institute of Wildlife Ecology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria.ORCID 0000-0002-6941-0257

Funding

Austrian Partnership Program for Higher Education and ResearchAustrian Science Fund I508-BAustria's Agency for Education and InternationalisationUniversity of Oulu and the Academy of Finland 336449
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The golden jackal (Canis aureus) is rapidly expanding its range in Europe, driven by climate and habitat changes, human influence, and changes in competition with wolves. Its ecological flexibility enables it to thrive in various habitats, including urban areas, raising concerns about its potential role in spreading zoonotic diseases. Jackals may act as reservoirs for pathogens such as Lyme disease and babesiosis, affecting wildlife, humans, and pets. Their close genetic relationship with domestic dogs also increases the risk of hybridization and host-jumping, complicating disease dynamics. To better understand their dispersal ability and host-pathogen dynamics, we present the first pseudochromosomal genome assembly of the golden jackal, generated using PacBio HiFi sequencing and reference-based scaffolding. The final assembly has a total length of 2.53 Gb in 325 scaffolds, with 98.41% of the sequence anchored to the expected 38+XY chromosomes. The assembly shows high contiguity, with scaffold and contig N50 values of 68.03 and 56.64 Mb, respectively. Annotation revealed 20,620 protein-coding genes, and repetitive elements account for 40.58% of the total assembly. This highly contiguous reference genome provides an essential resource for studying the genetic basis of the golden jackal's adaptation, ecological interactions, and potential as a zoonotic reservoir. It also supports efforts to monitor population expansion and its effects on ecosystems. By advancing our understanding of golden jackal genetics, this work enables future research on evolution, host-pathogen dynamics, and the broader consequences of wildlife dispersal in a rapidly changing environment.

Indexed as

GenomeJackalsAnimalsMolecular Sequence AnnotationSequence Analysis, DNACanidaeclimate changepathogen transmissionrange expansionwildlife–human interactionzoonoses

Identifiers

PMID41786621
PMCPMC13326417

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.