Inquérito sorológico da Toxoplasmose em quatis (Nasua nasua) do Parque Ecológico do Tietê, São Paulo, SP, Brasil

Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite that causes toxoplasmosis in humans, domestic animals and wild animals. Although there is serological evidence of T. gondii infection in wild animals, little is known about the role of wildlife in the epidemiological chain of this parasite. The South American coati (Nasua nasua) is an omnivorous species capable of adaptation to different environments. It can be found throughout Brazil, and in anthropized environments it can come into close contact with domestic animals. The present study found occurrences of T. gondii antibodies in South American coatis living in the Tietê Ecological Park, in the municipality of São Paulo, Brazil, through the modified agglutination test (MAT). In total, 99 samples were obtained and 70.70% (n = 70) were positive for anti-T. gondii antibodies, with titers that ranged from 50 to 3200. The data from this study indicate that South American coatis are exposed to this parasite. Toxoplasma gondii é um protozoário parasita intracelular obrigatório que causa a toxoplasmose em humanos, animais domésticos e selvagens. Apesar das evidências sorológicas da infecção por T. gondii em animais selvagens, pouco se sabe sobre o papel da vida selvagem na cadeia epidemiológica deste parasito. Os quatis (Nasua nasua) são uma espécie onívora capaz de se adaptar em diferentes ambientes. Eles são encontrados em todo território brasileiro, e em ambientes antropizados podem apresentar um contato próximo com animais domésticos. O presente estudo verificou a ocorrência de anticorpos anti-T. gondii em quatis habitantes do Parque Ecológico do Tietê, São Paulo, Brasil, pelo Teste de Aglutinação Modificada (MAT). No total, 99 amostras foram obtidas das quais 70,70% (n = 70) foram positivas para anticorpos anti-T. gondii, com títulos de anticorpos que variaram de 50 a 3200. Os dados obtidos neste estudo indicam que quatis sul-americanos são expostos a este parasito

Bactérias gram-negativas em cardeais (Paroaria coronata e Paroaria dominicana) apreendidos do tráfico de animais silvestres

Anualmente o tráfico de animais silvestres retira milhões de aves da natureza. Os cardeais (Paroaria coronata) e cardeais-do-nordeste (Paroaria dominicana) estão incluídos entre as espécies de aves mais traficadas. A microbiota cloacal de passeriformes de vida livre é composta principalmente por bacilos e cocos gram-positivos, já os bacilos gram-negativos predominam em aves de cativeiro. Em situações de estresse e baixa de imunidade as bactérias gram-negativas podem causar infecções oportunistas. O presente trabalho identificou bactérias da microbiota da cloaca de 49 espécimes de P. coronata e P. dominicana apreendidas do tráfico de animais silvestres em São Paulo (SP). Foram isoladas treze espécies de bactérias gram-negativas, incluindo Salmonella spp. e Pseudomonas aeruginosa. A maior frequência de ocorrência foi de Escherichia coli, identificada em 42/49 (85,7%) das amostras fecais. Dentre os isolados de E. coli, 21/42 pertenciam aos grupos filogenéticos B2 e D, relacionados a estirpes patogênicas que causam doença extraintestinal em humanos. Klebsiella pneumoniae foi isolada em 28/49 (57,1%) das amostras. Esses resultados reforçam que as condições estressantes a que esses animais são submetidos em situações de tráfico, incluindo o contato com humanos, podem favorecer a colonização da microbiota cloacal das aves por patógenos, o que representa um risco para a sua reintrodução na natureza considerando-se o possível contato com humanos e outros animais.Illegal wildlife trade removes millions of birds from nature every year. Among the most trafficked species of birds are red-crested cardinals (Paroaria coronata) and red-cowled cardinals (Paroaria dominicana). The cloacal microbiota of free-living passerines consists mainly of gram-positive bacilli and cocci, and gram-negative bacilli predominate in captive birds. Under stress and low immunity, gram-negative species may cause opportunistic infections. This study identified bacteria from cloacal microbiota of 49 specimens of P. coronata and P. dominicana seized from illegal wildlife trade in São Paulo (SP). In this study, 13 species of gram-negative bacteria, including Salmonella spp. and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were isolated. An increased occurrence of Escherichia coli was identified in 42/49 (85.7 %) of fecal samples. Among the E. coli strains, 21/42 belonging to the phylogenetic groups B2 and D, were related to extraintestinal pathogenic strains causing disease in humans. Klebsiella pneumoniae were isolated in 28/49 (57.1 %) samples. These results reinforce the fact that stressful conditions of illegal trade can favor the colonization of cloacal microbiota of these birds by pathogens, which represents a risk for their reintroduction into the wild, including the transmission of diseases to humans and other animals

Serological survey of Toxoplamosis in South American coatis (Nasua nasua) in Tietê Ecological Park, São Paulo, SP, Brazil

Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite that causes toxoplasmosis in humans, domestic animals and wild animals. Although there is serological evidence of T. gondii infection in wild animals, little is known about the role of wildlife in the epidemiological chain of this parasite. The South American coati (Nasua nasua) is an omnivorous species capable of adaptation to different environments. It can be found throughout Brazil, and in anthropized environments it can come into close contact with domestic animals. The present study found occurrences of T. gondii antibodies in South American coatis living in the Tietê Ecological Park, in the municipality of São Paulo, Brazil, through the modified agglutination test (MAT). In total, 99 samples were obtained and 70.70% (n = 70) were positive for anti-T. gondii antibodies, with titers that ranged from 50 to 3200. The data from this study indicate that South American coatis are exposed to this parasite

Sexual Dimorphism in Red-Eared Sliders (Trachemys scripta elegans) from the Wild Animal Triage Center of the Tiete Ecological Park, São Paulo, Brazil

Background: Trachemys scripta elegans is an aquatic turtle native to North America and distributed geographically from the eastern United States to northeastern Mexico. In Brazil, it is an exotic and invasive species and the most illegally traded pet animal. When these turtles grow and they cease to be attractive as pets, they are released clandestinely in lakes, ponds, rivers, and other bodies of water, where they threaten biodiversity and native populations. The present study aimed to characterize specimens of T. s. elegans from the Centro de Triagem de Animais Silvestres do Parque Ecológico do Tiete by analyzing body biometrics, sexual dimorphism, and structure of specimens for sex ratio and size classes.Materials, Methods & Results: Trachemys scripta elegans turtles (39 females and 30 males) were anesthetized, euthanized and frozen. After being thawed, the turtles were sexed according to measurements on secondary sex characters such as claw length (CWL) of the third finger of the right forearm and length of the tail from the tip to the beginning of the cloacal opening (postcloacal tail length, PTL); subsequently, sex was confirmed through dissection. Subsequently, body mass (BM, g) and maximum carapace length (MCL, cm), maximum carapace width (MCW, cm), maximum plastron length (MPL, cm), maximum plastron width (MPW) and shell height (HGT, cm, measured laterally until obtaining the greatest value) were evaluated and the sexual dimorphism index (SDI) was also calculated. All analyses were performed using SAS v. 9.4 software. The results indicate a sex ratio of 1.3 females per male. The identification of males by secondary sex characteristics was performed using only claw length (CWL), which was related to sex and not to maximum carapace length (MCL). The most discriminatory variables were CWL in males and body mass (BM) in females. With the exception of CWL, the sexual dimorphism index (SDI) values all favored females and varied from 1.21 to 2.49, with the greatest value for BM and the lowest value for postcloacal tail length (PTL). Males exhibited a unimodal tendency at a classification interval of 15.0 cm MCL, and females exhibited a bimodal tendency at 21.0- and 22.0 cm MCL. Sexual maturity was identified at 12.0 cm MCL in males and at 12.5 cm MCL in females. The rate of CWL growth in males was higher at the beginning of sexual maturity and subsequently decreased, whereas in females, the rate of CWL escalated after 19.0 cm MCL. In both sexes, principal component 1 (PC1) was composed of the variables related to size and BM, and principal component 2 (PC2) and principal component 3 (PC3) were composed of variables related to secondary sex characteristics (CWL and PTL).Discussion: In members of the genus Trachemys, several secondary sex characteristics can be used to differentiate between the sexes, however, in the present study, recognition of males was performed only by claw length, as it was confirmed by the discriminate analysis and the principal components analysis (PCA) which showed that CWL was the variable that was most discriminatory in males (approximately 76.0%), followed by BM (approximately 50%) in females. The results reinforcing the claim that the degree of development of secondary sex characteristics varies between species as well as between distinct populations of the same species and establish that even under unnatural habitat, sexual dimorphism of size in favor of females is maintained for variables related to mass and size

Comportamento de bugio-ruivo (Alouatta guariba clamitans, Cabrera, 1940) sob cuidados humanos com aplicação de enriquecimento ambiental

Medidas de enriquecimento ambiental são necessárias para propiciar modificações no recinto que o deixem mais dinâmico e estimulante, visando comportamentos dos indivíduos mais semelhantes aos apresentados pela espécie em vida livre. O objetivo deste trabalho foi analisar o comportamento de bugios-ruivos, por meio da aplicação de enriquecimentos ambientais dos tipos alimentar, cognitivo e sensorial. Foram observados os comportamentos de um grupo de bugios subadultos e um de bugios adultos por dez minutos antes da instalação do enriquecimento (pré-enriquecimento) e dez minutos após sua instalação (pós-enriquecimento), totalizando 10 horas de registros comportamentais. Os resultados mostram que as reações dos animais à aplicação do enriquecimento do tipo alimentar foram mais efetivas pelos dois grupos, obtendo-se maior sucesso, porém é importante mencionar que estudos com diversos tipos de enriquecimento ambiental são fundamentais, visto que por meio destes, é possível avaliar o bem-estar de cada indivíduo e determinar quais devem ser mais utilizados em função das principais necessidades individuais

A survey on gram-negative bacteria in saffron finches (Sicalis flaveola) from illegal wildlife trade in Brazil

Passerines such as canaries or finches are the most unlawfully captured species that are sent to wildlife centers in São Paulo, Brazil. Captured birds may have infection by opportunistic bacteria in stressful situations. This fact becomes relevant when seized passerine are reintroduced. The aim of this study was to evaluate the health state of finches from illegal wildlife trade using microbiological approaches. Microbiological samples were collected by cloacal and tracheal swabs of 100 birds, captured during 2012 and 2013. The results indicate high frequency of gram-negative bacteria in feces and oropharynx, especially from the Enterobacteriaceae family (97.5%). The most frequent genera were Escherichia coli (46.5%) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (10.4%). Enterobacter cloacae, Serratia liquefaciens, Serratia spp. Klebsiella oxytoca and Citrobacter freundii were isolated with lower frequency from asymptomatic birds. The presence of enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) and Shiga toxin-producing strain (STEC) confirm the zoonotic risks and public health concern.No Estado de São Paulo, Brasil, os pássaros como os canários-da-terra têm sido uma das espécies mais frequentemente resgatadas do tráfico illegal e enviadas aos centros de vida selvagem. Em situações de estresse estas aves podem ser acometidas por infecções causadas por bactérias oportunistas. Este fato é de grande importância quando é planejada da reintrodução das aves na natureza. O presente trabalho foi delineado para avaliar o estado de saúde de canários-da-terra resgatados do tráfico ilegal. Foram colhidas soabes da traqueia e da cloaca de 100 aves resgatadas durante os anos de 2012 e 2013. Os resultados obtidos revelaram alta frequência de bactérias gram-negativas nas fezes e no orofaringe dos animais, com maior frequência para os membros da família Enterobacteriaceae (97,5%). Os gêneros mais frequentes foram Escherichia coli (46,55) e Klebsiella pneumoniae (10,4%). Outros microorganismos incluindo Enterobacter cloacae, Serratia liquefaciens, Serratia spp, Klebsiella oxytoca e Citrobacter freundii também foram isolados em menor frequencia de aves assintomáticas. A presença de estirpes de Escherichia coli enteropagênicas (EPEC) e as produtoras da toxina de Shiga confirmam o risco de zoonose e a importância para saúde pública deste tipo de ave.

Ultrasonographic aspects and biometry of Striped owl`s eyes (Rhinoptynx clamator)

Objective To report the biometric values and ultrasonographic aspects of the normal eye of the Striped owl (Rhinoptynx clamator). Sample population Twenty-seven healthy, free-living, adult Striped owls from the Ecological Park of Tiete Veterinary Ambulatory (Sao Paulo, Brazil). Procedures Both eyes of all owls underwent B-mode ultrasonographic examination and biometry was performed for lens axial length (WL), depth of the anterior (AC) and vitreous (VC) chambers, axial length of the globe (LB) and the pecten oculi (LP) of both eyes, using a 12 MHz probe. The owls were manually restrained without sedation and the eyes were topically anesthetized. Results Biometric and statistical findings were as follows: in the left eye, the means and standard deviations were: LB = 23.76 +/- 0.92 mm, WL = 7.79 +/- 0.27 mm, AC = 4.27 +/- 0.47 mm, VC = 11.36 +/- 0.29 mm and LP = 5.69 +/- 0.50 mm; in the right eye, the values were: LB = 24.25 +/- 0.79 mm, WL = 8.03 +/- 0.40 mm, AC = 4.56 +/- 0.52 mm, VC = 11.40 +/- 0.25 mm, and LP = 5.68 +/- 0.41 mm. No significant differences were found between left and right eyes measurements of LB, WL, AC, VC, and LP dimensions. Conclusions Ocular ultrasound aspects and biometric values of the Striped owl are reported. The study`s results provide means for various ocular measurements. The ultrasound is an easy and safe exam to be performed in the Striped owl`s eyes.FAPESP Sao Paulo Research Foundation[2005/00698-1