Artificial feeding of partially engorged Amblyomma sculptum females through capillaries*

ABSTRACT. Abel I., Cunha N.C., Rangel C.P., Corrêa F.N. & Fonseca A.H. Artificial feeding of partially engorged Amblyomma sculptum females through capillaries. [Alimentação artificial de fêmeas parcialmente ingurgitadas de Amblyomma sculptum, por meio de tubos capilares]. Revista Brasileira de Medicina Veterinária, 38(supl. 3): 211-217, 2016. Departamento de Epidemiologia e Saúde Pública, Instituto de Veterinária, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, BR 465, km 7, Campus Seropédica 23897-970, Seropédica, RJ, Brazil. E-mail: [email protected] This study presents the standardization of an artificial feeding technique using capillaries and discusses its effects on biological parameters of partially engorged Amblyomma sculptum females. Partially engorged females were sorted for mean baseline weight (71.94 mg, group I; 167.58 mg, group II). Females were detached from rabbits after 7 days of feeding and then exposed to capillary tubes containing citrated bovine blood for 6, 12, and 24 h. Biological parameters were analyzed for each weight group, after each period. All ticks fed on this system took blood meal. Weights before and after artificial feeding were compared, and significant difference was observed. Mean weight gain for group I females artificially fed for 6, 12, and 24 h was 56.05, 86.75 and 192.89 mg, respectively. Weight gain in group II females fed for 6, 12 and 24 h was 133.73, 182.09 and 368.77 mg. Results indicate that capillary feeding may be used routinely in studies on pathogen transmission by A. sculptum females. The ideal initial weight range is discussed in terms of the kind of study design

Cross-sectional study of the frequency of helminths and protozoa in buffaloes in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

ABSTRACT. Da Silva J.B., Corrêa F.N., de Meireles G.S., Flausino W. & Fonseca A.H. [Cross-sectional study of the frequency of helminths and protozoa in buffaloes in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.] Estudo transversal da frequência de helmintos e protozoários em búfalos no estado do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. Revista Brasileira de Medicina Veterinária, 36(3):239-243, 2014. Departamento de Patologia Veterinária, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias, Universidade Estadual Paulista “Julio de Mesquita Filho”, Campus de Jaboticabal, Via de Acesso Prof. Paulo Donato Castellane s/n, Jaboticabal, SP 14884-900, Brasil. E-mail: [email protected] Buffaloes and cattle are affected by a large number of helminth and protozoan common to these hosts. Although studies related to prevalence, symptoms and intensity of helminth and protozoan infections of the gastrointestinal tract of cattle are vast, the same is not true for buffaloes, particularly in Latin America. Thus, through a cross-sectional study aimed to determine the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites in buffaloes in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The study included six mesoregions the state of Rio de Janeiro. The average data of faecal egg counts were compared using Kruskal-willis and the percentages of infective larvae form submitted to chi-square (χ2), both at 5% probability. Haemonchus spp., Trichostrongylus spp., Cooperia spp., Oesophagostomum spp., Bunostomum spp., Trichuris spp., Strongyloides papilosus, Toxocara vitulorum, Moniezia expansa and coccidia Eimeria spp. were observed by counting the eggs and oocysts in the feces. Although there have been anemic animals, mean corpuscular volume, hematocrit, total plasma protein and fibrinogen levels remained within the normal range. We observed an inverse correlation between counting helminth eggs in feces and hematocrit (r = -0 75.2, P <0.05). Although the six mesoregions the state of Rio de Janeiro have different climatic conditions, it was observed that, regardless of the region, the animals showed parasitized by nematodes, cestodes and protozoa

Freqüência de anticorpos contra Borrelia burgdorferi em cães na região metropolitana do Rio de Janeiro

Borreliose de Lyme é uma zoonose cosmopolita causada pelo espiroquetídeo Borrelia burgdorferi e tem como vetores carrapatos ixodídeos. Esta espiroqueta acomete diversas espécies de animais domésticos e silvestres, sendo o cão um importante reservatório no ambiente domiciliar. O quadro clínico da doença envolve as articulações, além de causar alterações em vários sistemas do organismo. Foram analisados 143 soros de cães provenientes dos municípios de Seropédica, Itaguaí e do Rio de Janeiro, Estado do Rio de Janeiro, quanto à ocorrência de anticorpos contra B. burgdorferi latu sensu, através de teste de ELISA indireto. Foram encontrados 48,25% de animais soropositivos, sendo 41,9% em Seropédica, 4,9% em Itaguaí e 1,4% no Rio de Janeiro. Os títulos variaram de 1:400 a 1:6400. Cães com menos de um ano apresentaram menor índice de títulos positivos, sendo a diferença significativa. Entre machos e fêmeas, não houve diferença significativa entre os títulos positivos. O resultado encontrado deve servir como alerta para ocorrência de Borrelia sp nas regiões estudadas, considerando a importância da borreliose de Lyme como zoonose emergente

Detecção de anticorpos anti-Borrelia burgdorferi em búfalos (Bubalus bubalis) no estado do Pará, Brasil

This study aimed to investigate the frequency of homologous antibodies of IgG class against Borrelia burgdorferi in buffaloes in the state of Pará, Brazil. Blood serum samples from 491 buffaloes were analyzed by means of the indirect ELISA test, using crude antigen produced from a cultivar of the North American strain G39/40 of B. burgdorferi. There were 412 positive samples (83.91%), and there was no statistically significant difference in the proportions of positive animals between the 81.69% (232/284) originating from Marajó Island and the 86.96% (180/207) from the continental area of the state of Pará. In all the municipalities studied, the frequency of positive findings of antibodies against B. burgdorferi among the animals ranged from 63.6% to 92.9%. The high numbers of seropositive animals can be explained by the frequent presence of the tick Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus, and by the possible existence of spirochetes of the genus Borrelia infecting buffaloes in the region studied, although specific studies are needed to confirm this relationship. These factors suggest that a cross-reaction exists between the North American strain G39/40 of B. burgdorferi, which is used as an antigenic substrate, and the species of Borrelia spp. that possibly infects buffaloes in the state of Pará.Este estudo teve como objetivo investigar a frequência de anticorpos homólogos da classe IgG contra Borrelia burgdorferi em búfalos do estado do Pará. Amostras de soro de 491 búfalos foram analisadas por meio do teste ELISA indireto, utilizando antígeno bruto produzido a partir do cultivo da cepa norte americana G39/40 de B. burgdorferi. Foram encontrados 412 soros positivos (83,91%), não havendo diferença estatística significativa entre os 81,69% (232/284) animais positivos provenientes da Ilha de Marajó e os 86,96% (180/207) da base continental do estado do Pará. Em todos os municípios estudados os animais apresentaram frequência de anticorpos contra B. burgdorferi, com positividade variando de 63,6% a 92,9%. O alto número de soropositivos pode ser explicado pela frequente presença do carrapato Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus e pela possível existência de espiroquetas do gênero Borrelia infectando búfalo na região estudada, embora novos estudos sejam necessários para a confirmação desta relação. Estes fatos sugerem reação cruzada entre a cepa americana G39/40 de B. burgdorferi utilizada como substrato antigênico e a espécie de Borrelia spp. que possivelmente infecta bubalinos no estado do Pará

NEOTROPICAL ALIEN MAMMALS: a data set of occurrence and abundance of alien mammals in the Neotropics

Biological invasion is one of the main threats to native biodiversity. For a species to become invasive, it must be voluntarily or involuntarily introduced by humans into a nonnative habitat. Mammals were among first taxa to be introduced worldwide for game, meat, and labor, yet the number of species introduced in the Neotropics remains unknown. In this data set, we make available occurrence and abundance data on mammal species that (1) transposed a geographical barrier and (2) were voluntarily or involuntarily introduced by humans into the Neotropics. Our data set is composed of 73,738 historical and current georeferenced records on alien mammal species of which around 96% correspond to occurrence data on 77 species belonging to eight orders and 26 families. Data cover 26 continental countries in the Neotropics, ranging from Mexico and its frontier regions (southern Florida and coastal-central Florida in the southeast United States) to Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, and Uruguay, and the 13 countries of Caribbean islands. Our data set also includes neotropical species (e.g., Callithrix sp., Myocastor coypus, Nasua nasua) considered alien in particular areas of Neotropics. The most numerous species in terms of records are from Bos sp. (n = 37,782), Sus scrofa (n = 6,730), and Canis familiaris (n = 10,084); 17 species were represented by only one record (e.g., Syncerus caffer, Cervus timorensis, Cervus unicolor, Canis latrans). Primates have the highest number of species in the data set (n = 20 species), partly because of uncertainties regarding taxonomic identification of the genera Callithrix, which includes the species Callithrix aurita, Callithrix flaviceps, Callithrix geoffroyi, Callithrix jacchus, Callithrix kuhlii, Callithrix penicillata, and their hybrids. This unique data set will be a valuable source of information on invasion risk assessments, biodiversity redistribution and conservation-related research. There are no copyright restrictions. Please cite this data paper when using the data in publications. We also request that researchers and teachers inform us on how they are using the data

NEOTROPICAL CARNIVORES: a data set on carnivore distribution in the Neotropics

Mammalian carnivores are considered a key group in maintaining ecological health and can indicate potential ecological integrity in landscapes where they occur. Carnivores also hold high conservation value and their habitat requirements can guide management and conservation plans. The order Carnivora has 84 species from 8 families in the Neotropical region: Canidae; Felidae; Mephitidae; Mustelidae; Otariidae; Phocidae; Procyonidae; and Ursidae. Herein, we include published and unpublished data on native terrestrial Neotropical carnivores (Canidae; Felidae; Mephitidae; Mustelidae; Procyonidae; and Ursidae). NEOTROPICAL CARNIVORES is a publicly available data set that includes 99,605 data entries from 35,511 unique georeferenced coordinates. Detection/non-detection and quantitative data were obtained from 1818 to 2018 by researchers, governmental agencies, non-governmental organizations, and private consultants. Data were collected using several methods including camera trapping, museum collections, roadkill, line transect, and opportunistic records. Literature (peer-reviewed and grey literature) from Portuguese, Spanish and English were incorporated in this compilation. Most of the data set consists of detection data entries (n = 79,343; 79.7%) but also includes non-detection data (n = 20,262; 20.3%). Of those, 43.3% also include count data (n = 43,151). The information available in NEOTROPICAL CARNIVORES will contribute to macroecological, ecological, and conservation questions in multiple spatio-temporal perspectives. As carnivores play key roles in trophic interactions, a better understanding of their distribution and habitat requirements are essential to establish conservation management plans and safeguard the future ecological health of Neotropical ecosystems. Our data paper, combined with other large-scale data sets, has great potential to clarify species distribution and related ecological processes within the Neotropics. There are no copyright restrictions and no restriction for using data from this data paper, as long as the data paper is cited as the source of the information used. We also request that users inform us of how they intend to use the data