15 research outputs found
Ecologia e conservação de felinos no pantanal do Brasil
Doutoramento em Biologia Aplicada - Ecologia, Biodiversidade e Gestão de EcossistemasHabitat conversion and environmental degradation have reached alarming levels in the Pantanal, endangering all its biodiversity. This scenario is complicated by the fact that the biome relies on only a few protected areas, which combined do not exceed 10% of the territory. Felids, as predators, play a vital role in the maintenance of this ecosystem, but require large areas, have low population densities and, typically, are very sensitive to environmental disturbances. Amolar Mountain Ridge is considered an area of extreme importance and high priority for conservation within the biome. There are four species of felids in this region: the jaguar (Panthera onca), the puma (Puma concolor), the ocelot (Leopardus pardalis), and jaguarundi (Puma yagouaroundi). However, little is known about the ecology of these species in this region or the magnitude of interaction between the communities living around the protected areas and the animals. The goal of this study was to increase our knowledge about these felids and understand how people interact with them in order to contribute to their conservation in the network of parks within Amolar. Camera trapping surveys were carried out in two areas of the network, covering approximately 83,000 hectares, in order to identify the species of mammals occurring in the region, those that may be potential prey for the felids, and to obtain basic ecological data about both felids and prey. In addition, we conducted surveys in three riverside schools in order to assess the knowledge, perceptions and attitudes of schoolchildren regarding the four focal felids, and surveys among the adult population to assess their perceptions and attitudes towards the jaguar. We recorded a total of 33 species of mammals from both study areas. The large cats were cathemeral, reflecting the temporal activity of larger prey, whereas the ocelot was nocturnal, mirroring the activity of smaller prey. Jaguar occupancy was influenced by prey abundance, while puma occupancy was influenced by patch density in drier dense forest. Jaguars and pumas may be competitors over temporal and spatial scales, while no resource overlap was found for ocelots. Overall, both adults and children tended to have negative perceptions about the cats, which were related to the fear of being attacked. To increase awareness about the species and to maximize the effectiveness of protective measures in the network of reserves, it is recommended to develop and implement an Environmental Educational Program in the medium- to long-term in order to minimize the fear of these felids and to counsel locals on the role of felids in the maintenance of the Pantanal’s biodiversity.A rápida conversão dos habitats e a degradação ambiental têm atingido números alarmantes no Pantanal colocando em risco toda a sua biodiversidade. Soma-se a esse cenário o fato do bioma contar com poucas unidades de conservação, que juntas não ultrapassam 10% do território. Os felinos, como predadores, desempenham um papel vital para o bom funcionamento dos ecossistemas, entretanto são espécies que necessitam de grandes áreas, possuem baixas densidades populacionas e, geralmente são demasiadamente sensíveis à perturbação ambiental. No Pantanal, assim como em outros locais, esses animais ainda são alvos da caça predatória em resposta aos prejuízos causados pela predação dos rebanhos ou criações. A Serra do Amolar é considerada uma área de extrema importância e de alta prioridade para a conservação dentro do bioma. Nessa região estão presentes quatro espécies de felinos: a onça-pintada (Panthera onca), a onça-parda (Puma concolor), a jaguatirica (Leopardus pardalis), e o jaguarundi (Puma yagouaroundi). Porém, pouco se sabe sobre a ecologia dessas espécies nessa região tão afetada pelas inundações e secas características do Pantanal, e sobre a interação entre as comunidades que vivem no entorno das áreas protegidas e esses animais. O objetivo geral desse estudo foi aumentar o conhecimento sobre os felinos e entender como as pessoas interagem com os mesmos, a fim de contribuir para a conservação na Serra do Amolar. Foram realizadas campanhas de armadilhagem fotográfica em duas áreas do Amolar abrangendo cerca de 83.000 hectares, a fim de identificar as espécies de mamíferos que ocorrem na região, e que podem ser potenciais presas dos felinos, e estudar a relação espaço-temporal entre eles e suas potenciais presas. Realizamos inquéritos em três escolas ribeirinhas para avaliar o conhecimento e as percepções de alunos do ensino fundamental com relação às quatro espécies focais; e inquéritos com a população adulta para avaliar as percepções e atitudes com relação à onça-pintada. Registramos 33 espécies de mamíferos em ambas as áreas de estudo. Observamos que os grandes felinos são catemerais refletindo a atividade temporal com presas de grande porte, enquanto a jaguatirica, de hábitos noturnos, sobrepoe sua atividade às presas menores. A ocupação da onça-pintada é influenciada pela abundância de presas, enquanto que a da onça-parda é influenciada pela densidade das manchas em áreas de mata seca fechada. Onças-pintadas e pardas podem ser potenciais competidores em escala temporal e espacial, enquanto as jaguatiricas tendem a usar recursos de maneira diferenciada. Adultos e crianças tendem a ter percepções negativas quanto aos felinos, que estão relacionadas ao medo de ataques. Além de aumentar o conhecimento científico a cerca das espécies e investir na proteção das áreas, são necessárias ações de educação ambiental a fim de minimizar a relação de medo e conscientizar a comunidade ribeirinha sobre a importância dessas espécies para a manutenção da biodiversidade pantaneira
Serosurvey of Smooth Brucella, Leptospira spp. and Toxoplasma gondii in Free-Ranging Jaguars (Panthera onca) and Domestic Animals from Brazil.
This study investigated the exposure of jaguar populations and domestic animals to smooth Brucella, Leptospira spp. and Toxoplasma gondii in the Cerrado, Pantanal and Amazon biomes of Brazil. Between February 2000 and January 2010, serum samples from 31 jaguars (Panthera onca), 1,245 cattle (Bos taurus), 168 domestic dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) and 29 domestic cats (Felis catus) were collected and analysed by rose bengal test for smooth Brucella, microscopic agglutination test for Leptospira spp. and modified agglutination test for T. gondii. Cattle populations from all sites (9.88%) were exposed to smooth Brucella, but only one jaguar from Cerrado was exposed to this agent. Jaguars captured in the Cerrado (60.0%) and in the Pantanal (45.5%) were seropositive for different serovars of Leptospira spp., cattle (72.18%) and domestic dogs (13.1%) from the three sites and one domestic cat from Pantanal were also seropositive for the agent. The most prevalent serotype of Leptospira spp. identified in jaguars from the Cerrado (Grippotyphosa) and the Pantanal (Pomona) biomes were distinct from those found in the domestic animals sampled. Jaguars (100%), domestic dogs (38.28%) and domestic cats (82.76%) from the three areas were exposed to T. gondii. Our results show that brucellosis and leptospirosis could have been transmitted to jaguars by domestic animals; and jaguars probably play an important role in the maintenance of T. gondii in nature
Correction: Outcomes of Trypanosoma cruzi and Trypanosoma evansi infections on health of Southern coati (Nasua nasua), crab-eating fox (Cerdocyon thous), and ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) in the Brazilian Pantanal.
[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0201357.]
Outcomes of Trypanosoma cruzi and Trypanosoma evansi infections on health of Southern coati (Nasua nasua), crab-eating fox (Cerdocyon thous), and ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) in the Brazilian Pantanal.
The occurrence of Trypanosoma spp. in wild carnivore populations has been intensively investigated during the last decades. However, the impact of these parasites on the health of free-living infected animals has been largely neglected. The Pantanal biome is the world's largest seasonal wetland, harboring a great diversity of species and habitats. This includes 174 species of mammals, of which 20 belong to the order Carnivora. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of Trypanosoma evansi and Trypanosoma cruzi infections and coinfections on the health of the most abundant carnivores in the Pantanal: coati (Nasua nasua), crab-eating fox (Cerdocyon thous), and ocelot (Leopardus pardalis). We captured 39 coatis, 48 crab-eating foxes, and 19 ocelots. Diagnostic tests showed T. cruzi infection in 7 crab-eating foxes and 5 coatis. Additionally, 7 crab-eating foxes, 10 coatis, and 12 ocelots were positive for T. evansi. We observed coinfections in 9 crab-eating foxes, 8 coatis, and 2 ocelots. This is the first report of T. evansi and T. cruzi infection on the health of free-living ocelots and crab-eating foxes. We showed that single T. evansi or T. cruzi infection, as well as coinfection, caused some degree of anemia in all animals, as well as an indirect negative effect on body condition in coatis and crab-eating foxes via anemia indicators and immune investment, respectively. Furthermore, the vigorous immune investment observed in sampled coatis, crab-eating foxes and ocelots infected by T. evansi, T. cruzi and coinfected can be highly harmful to their health. Overall, our results indicate that single and combined infection with T. evansi and T. cruzi represent a severe risk to the health of wild carnivores in the Pantanal region
Molecular detection of piroplasmids in synanthropic rodents, marsupials, and associated ticks from Brazil, with phylogenetic inference of a putative novel Babesia sp. from white-eared opossum (Didelphis albiventris)
The order Piroplasmida encompasses tick-borne pathogens of veterinary and medical importance positioned in two main families: Babesiidae and Theileriidae. Even though previous studies carried out in Brazil recorded the occurrence of piroplasmid species circulating in small mammals, 18S RNA gene sequences were only partially sequenced, preventing the assessment of their phylogenetic positioning. The current study aimed to detect and characterize, using morphological, molecular, and bioinformatic approaches, piroplasmids from wild mammals and associated ticks sampled in Central-Western Brazil. Out of 67 Didelphis albiventris sampled, 22 (16.4%) were positive for piroplasmids by PCR. In contrast, none of the 48 small rodents and 14 capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) was PCR-positive. Four Amblyomma dubitatum ticks—one from Rattus rattus, one from H. hydrochaeris, and two from D. albiventris—out of 114 Amblyomma spp. DNA samples were positive for piroplasmids by PCR. The phylogenetic inference performed using the near-complete 18S rRNA gene positioned the putative novel piroplasmid species detected in D. albiventris and associated A. dubitatum ticks near to Babesia sensu lato clade (Western group—cluster III) and distant from the Australian marsupial-associated piroplasms. Phylogenetic inferences based on two additional molecular markers, namely hsp-70 and cox-1, supported the near-complete 18S rRNA gene phylogenetic inference. Finally, the partial 18S rRNA gene sequences detected in ticks from rodents (R. rattus and H. hydrochaeris) showed 97.2–99.4% identity with the Piroplasmida previously detected in a capybara from Brazil, raising evidence that a still uncharacterized piroplasmid species has been identified in the capybara, the largest rodent species from South America
Results for smooth <i>Brucella</i> by study area and species samples between February 2000 and January 2010.
<p>Results for smooth <i>Brucella</i> by study area and species samples between February 2000 and January 2010.</p
Results for <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> and variation of antibodies titer found, by study areas and species sampled between February 2000 and January 2010.
<p><sup>a</sup>Examined.</p><p><sup>b</sup>Positive.</p><p><sup>c</sup>Variation of antibodies titer</p><p>Using as cut off for jaguars, titer = 25, for cattle, 64 and for dogs and cats, 16.</p
Parameters estimated by logistic regression testing the effect of the sampled species (coeficient β<sub>1</sub>) and study site (coeficient β<sub>2</sub>) for the diagnosis of <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i>.
<p><sup>a</sup>Model not identified for jaguars.</p><p>Using as reference category for species: cattle, and for study site: Emas National Park.<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0143816#t006fn001" target="_blank"><sup>a</sup></a></p
Locations obtained through radiotelemetry of jaguars tested seropositive and seronegative for <i>Leptospira</i> spp. and rural properties with cattle/dog/cat tested seropositive for <i>Leptospira</i> spp. in the region of Pantanal.
<p>Locations obtained through radiotelemetry of jaguars tested seropositive and seronegative for <i>Leptospira</i> spp. and rural properties with cattle/dog/cat tested seropositive for <i>Leptospira</i> spp. in the region of Pantanal.</p
Results of serologic tests for <i>Leptospira</i> spp. and most prevalent serovar, by study areas and species sampled between February 2000 and January 2010.
<p><sup>a</sup>Examined</p><p><sup>b</sup>Most prevalent serovar</p><p>Results of serologic tests for <i>Leptospira</i> spp. and most prevalent serovar, by study areas and species sampled between February 2000 and January 2010.</p