LOS ENDOPARÁSITOS COMO INDICADORES DE CALIDAD AMBIENTAL EN AVES SILVESTRES EN LA RESERVA BIOLÓGICA DE TINGUÁ, RÍO DE JANEIRO, BRASIL

Wild birds are hosts of a variety of parasites. Their migratory behavior increases the dispersion of parasites and consequently the occurrence of diseases in various locations around the world. To identify the parasitological fauna of wild birds in the Tinguá Biological Reserve in Rio de Janeiro state-Brazil, 43 birds belonging to the orders Passeriformes and Columbiformes were captured and stool samples collected. Four birds (9.3%) were positive for parasites. In the fecal samples, trematode eggs of the Tanaisia sp and oocysts of coccidia as Isospora sp were found. The low parasite prevalence in wild birds found in this study may be an environmental quality indicator,because the reserve is a preserved area that has little human interference. We emphasize also thatthe use of the technique of collecting stool samples with anal swabs was successful for diagnostic purposes.Aves silvestres são hospedeiras de uma diversidade de parasitos e o comportamento migratório aumenta a dispersão dos arasitos e consequentemente a ocorrência de enfermidades em diversas localidades do mundo. Com o objetivo de conhecer a fauna parasitológica de aves silvestres de uma Reserva Biológica do estado do Rio de Janeiro, 43 aves pertencentes às ordens Passeriformes e Columbiformes foram capturadas e amostras de fezes colhidas. A prevalência parasitária das aves capturadas foi de 9,3% (4/43). Foram encontrados nas amostras de fezes, ovos de trematódeo do gênero Tanaisia e oocistos de coccídeos pertencentes ao gênero Isospora.Abaixa prevalência parasitária em aves silvestres encontrada no presente estudo pode ser um indicador de qualidade ambiental, pois a reserva é uma área conservada que possui pouca interferência humana. Destacamos, também, que o uso da técnica de coleta das fezes através de swab anal, revelou-se eficaz para fins de diagnóstico

LEVANTAMENTO DE ENTEROPARASITOS EM MORCEGOS ATRAVÉS DE TÉCNICA DE CENTRÍFUGO FLUTUAÇÃO (MAMMALIA: CHIROPTERA) EM ÁREA DE FLORESTA TROPICAL

The frequency of intestinal parasites was established in 5 species of bats of the family Phyllostomidae captured in three different areas of study, located in the Village of Tinguá located in the far northeast of the city of Nova Iguaçu and the southern limits Tinguá Biological Reserve, in the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in April and July 2012. Each fecal sample was individually analyzed and processed by a modified centrifugal flotation procedure in sucrose solution. No eggs or cysts of endoparasites were detected in the 33 samples analyzed. This is the first study of the fauna endoparasites in bats using centrifugal flotation technique using only fecal samples. All surveys are based on necropsy of examined hosts.Verificou-se a frequência de enteroparasitos em morcegos pertencentes a cinco espécies da família Phyllostomidae capturados em três diferentes áreas de estudo, localizadas na Vila do Tinguá situada no extremo nordeste do Município de Nova Iguaçu e nos limites sul da Reserva Biológica do Tinguá, no Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil nos meses de abril e julho de 2012. Cada amostra fecal foi analisada individualmente e processada pela técnica de centrifugo-flutuação em solução de sacarose, com algumas modificações. Das 33 amostras analisadas não se observou ovos ou cistos de enteroparasitos. Este é o primeiro estudo para pesquisa da fauna enteroparasitária em morcegos utilizando a técnica de centrifugo-flutuação, que utiliza apenas as fezes e assegura a manutenção do hospedeiro na natureza, com o objetivo de ampliar o conhecimento para a região, uma vez que todos os levantamentos são baseados em coleta de material de necropsia

Ticks as potential vectors of Mycobacterium leprae: Use of tick cell lines to culture the bacilli and generate transgenic strains.

Leprosy is an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae and frequently resulting in irreversible deformities and disabilities. Ticks play an important role in infectious disease transmission due to their low host specificity, worldwide distribution, and the biological ability to support transovarial transmission of a wide spectrum of pathogens, including viruses, bacteria and protozoa. To investigate a possible role for ticks as vectors of leprosy, we assessed transovarial transmission of M. leprae in artificially-fed adult female Amblyomma sculptum ticks, and infection and growth of M. leprae in tick cell lines. Our results revealed M. leprae RNA and antigens persisting in the midgut and present in the ovaries of adult female A. sculptum at least 2 days after oral infection, and present in their progeny (eggs and larvae), which demonstrates the occurrence of transovarial transmission of this pathogen. Infected tick larvae were able to inoculate viable bacilli during blood-feeding on a rabbit. Moreover, following inoculation with M. leprae, the Ixodes scapularis embryo-derived tick cell line IDE8 supported a detectable increase in the number of bacilli for at least 20 days, presenting a doubling time of approximately 12 days. As far as we know, this is the first in vitro cellular system able to promote growth of M. leprae. Finally, we successfully transformed a clinical M. leprae isolate by inserting the reporter plasmid pCHERRY3; transformed bacteria infected and grew in IDE8 cells over a 2-month period. Taken together, our data not only support the hypothesis that ticks may have the potential to act as a reservoir and/or vector of leprosy, but also suggest the feasibility of technological development of tick cell lines as a tool for large-scale production of M. leprae bacteria, as well as describing for the first time a method for their transformation

Amblyomma auricularium (Acari: Ixodidae): underwater survival of the non-parasitic phase of feeding females

To determine the effects of immersion in water on the biological parameters of engorged females of the tick species Amblyomma auricularium, 60 females were distributed in six groups, each comprising 10 individuals. The control group – G1 (not immersed) was fixed dorsally in a Petri dish and incubated at 27 ± 1°C and 80% RH. The other groups were subjected to immersion periods of 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours, and the sixth group to continuous immersion. After the immersion period, the females were placed in Petri dishes to begin laying. Eggs were collected every 72 hours and kept in biological chambers. All the groups showed significant differences (p <0.05) during the pre-oviposition period. The laying period and the average weight of overall posture did not change. The egg incubation period also did not differ significantly, but the hatching rate in the group immersed for 96h showed a significant difference. Thus, immersion for up to 96 hours does not impair the survival of A. auricularium females, although it may delay egg laying and reduce the number of offspring

Survey at bat enteroparasites by centrifugal flotation technique (mammalia: chiroptera) in the tropical forest of Brazil

The frequency of intestinal parasites was established in 5 species of bats of the family Phyllostomidae captured in three different areas of study, located in the Village of Tinguá located in the far northeast of the city of Nova Iguaçu and the southern limits Tinguá Biological Reserve, in the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in April and July 2012. Each fecal sample was individually analyzed and processed by a modified centrifugal flotation procedure in sucrose solution. No eggs or cysts of endoparasites were detected in the 33 samples analyzed. This is the first study of the fauna endoparasites in bats using centrifugal flotation technique using only fecal samples. All surveys are based on necropsy of examined hosts.Verificou-se a frequência de enteroparasitos em morcegos pertencentes a cinco espécies da família Phyllostomidae capturados em três diferentes áreas de estudo, localizadas na Vila do Tinguá situada no extremo nordeste do Município de Nova Iguaçu e nos limites sul da Reserva Biológica do Tinguá, no Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil nos meses de abril e julho de 2012. Cada amostra fecal foi analisada individualmente e processada pela técnica de centrifugo-flutuação em solução de sacarose, com algumas modificações. Das 33 amostras analisadas não se observou ovos ou cistos de enteroparasitos. Este é o primeiro estudo para pesquisa da fauna enteroparasitária em morcegos utilizando a técnica de centrifugo-flutuação, que utiliza apenas as fezes e assegura a manutenção do hospedeiro na natureza, com o objetivo de ampliar o conhecimento para a região, uma vez que todos os levantamentos são baseados em coleta de material de necropsia

Detecção molecular de Ehrlichia canis e Babesia canis vogeli em Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato de carrapatos em Cuba

Os carrapatos (Acari: Ixodidae) são de importância médica e veterinária relevantes em todo o mundo por causa da variedade de agentes patogênicos que podem transmitir. No presente trabalho, foi realizada uma pesquisa para identificar Babesia spp. e Ehrlichia spp. em carrapatos coletados de cães de Cuba. Foram coletados 431 carrapatos de 378 cães, tendo sido identificados como pertencentes às espécies de Ripicephalus sanguineus sensu lato (s. 1). O DNA genômico foi extraído com protocolo usando fenol/clorofórmio. Os carrapatos foram organizados em “pools” e o DNA extraído foi testado pela reação em cadeia da polimerase (nPCR) para amplificar 398 pares de bases (pb) do DNA ribossômico 16S (rDNA) de Ehrlichia canis e PCR para amplificar aproximadamente 560 pb do DNA ribossômico 18S (rDNA). Dos 49 pools testados, 8,16% (n = 4/49) foram positivos para o E. canis por nPCR visando o gene do 16S rDNA e apenas um pool (n = 1/49; 2,04%) foi positivo para o gene 18S rDNA para Babesia canis. As quatro sequências obtidas para o fragmento de 16S rDNA foram idênticas entre si e resultaram em 100% de identidade com E. canis de diferentes países. A sequência obtida do gene do 18S rDNA para Babesia spp. apresentou semelhança de 100% com Babesia canis vogeli quando comparada às sequências depositadas no Genbank. Esta foi a primeira detecção molecular desses agentes no carrapato R. sanguineus s. l. em Cuba

Using plastic tips in artificial feeding of Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato (Acari: Ixodidae) females

Abstract This study evaluated the influence of the initial weight, feeding period and temperature on weight gain and biological parameters of the non-parasitic phase of partially engorged Rhipicephalus sanguineus females that were artificially fed using plastic tips as feeding devices. The device did not alter the oviposition of the females or any other parameters evaluated. Furthermore, it was observed that the temperature of the feeding the group did not affect the weight gain and biology of ticks. This device has great potential for the development of studies on bioagent transmission because it provides higher intake of blood by ixodid ticks

Use of plastic tips in artificial feeding of Dermacentor (Anocentor) nitens females Neumann, 1897 (Acari: Ixodidae)

The establishment of laboratory colonies of ticks is often hampered by their lack of adaptation to alternative hosts. The aim of this study was to artificially feed partially engorged Dermacentor (Anocentor) nitens females through plastic tips, and to identify what are the optimal conditions of application of this technique to get as much as possible close to the natural conditions. The technique of artificial feeding through plastic tips allowed the engorgement of D. nitens ticks to a final weight within the normal range for the species. (C) 2014 Published by Elsevier GmbH