Mars as a "natural laboratory" for studying surface activity on a range of planetary bodies

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Health profile of free-ranging jaguars (Panthera onca) in Pantanal, Mato Grosso do Sul State - Brazil

Poucos são os estudos acerca da saúde de onças-pintadas em vida livre. Visando obter melhores parâmetros para avaliação clínica desta espécie ameaçada de extinção, foram realizados exame clínico, hemograma, perfil bioquímico e acompanhamento de 10 onças-pintadas da região de Corumbá, no Pantanal do Mato Grosso do Sul. Além disso, buscando obter informações sobre o possível papel da espécie como suscetível, hospedeira ou sentinela de patógenos de importância em saúde pública e animal, amostras destas 10 onças foram testadas através de métodos sorológicos para verificar contato com vírus rábico, Rickettsia spp. e Ehrlichia canis. As amostras das onças e os carrapatos que as parasitavam no momento das capturas foram testados por reação em cadeia pela polimerase para a família Anaplasmataceae e os gêneros Rickettsia, Borrelia, Coxiella, Hepatozoon e Babesia. Este é o primeiro estudo a relatar os valores de hemograma e perfil bioquímico de uma população de onças-pintadas de vida livre. Dois animais, assintomáticos, apresentaram baixo título sorológico para o vírus da raiva, sugerindo contato da espécie com este patógeno. Todas as onças capturadas foram consideradas soropositivas para Rickettsia spp., e Rickettsia parkeri foi sequenciada a partir de um Amblyomma triste que estava parasitando um dos animais. Foi descoberta uma possível nova espécie do gênero Ehrlichia através do sequenciamento de DNA obtido de um Amblyomma triste e um Amblyomma cajenense que estavam parasitando onças. Quatro onças-pintadas foram consideradas soropositivas para Ehrlichia canis, possivelmente uma reação cruzada com esta outra espécie. Todas as onças-pintadas avaliadas neste estudo apresentaram DNA de Cytauxzoon sp., com 98% de similaridade a C. felis, em amostras sanguíneas. Todas as onças avaliadas neste estudo apresentaram DNA de Hepatozoon sp., com 98% de similaridade a H. felis, em amostras sanguíneas. As onças apresentavam boas condições de saúde geral.Few studies have been conducted to investigate the health of free-ranging jaguars. In order to obtain better parameters for clinical evaluation of this endangered species, clinical exams, hemogram, biochemical tests and ecological monitoring were done for 10 jaguars in the Pantanal region - Corumbá City, Mato Grosso do Sul State. This project also evaluated the possible role of this species as susceptible, host or sentinel for pathogens of public and/or animal health importance, testing samples from these animals by serological methods to rabies virus, Rickettsia spp. and Ehrlichia canis. All samples and all ticks collected from the jaguars were also tested by polymerase chain reaction to the Anaplasmataceae family and the genera Rickettsia, Borrelia, Coxiella, Hepatozoon and Babesia. This is the first report of hemograms and biochemical profile of a free-ranging jaguar population. Two asymptomatic animals presented low seropositivity for rabies virus, suggesting contact with this pathogen. All jaguars were considered seropositive for Rickettsia spp., and Rickettsia parkeri was sequenced from an Amblyomma triste that was parasitizing one of the animals. A possible new species of the genus Ehrlichia has been identified by DNA sequencing obtained from an Amblyomma triste and an Amblyomma cajenense that were parasitizing jaguars. Four jaguars were considered seropositive for Ehrlichia canis, possibly a cross-reaction with this other species. All jaguars evaluated in this study presented DNA fragments of Cytauxzoon sp., 98% similarity to C. felis in blood samples. In addition, all jaguars presented DNA fragments of Hepatozoon sp., 98% similarity to H. felis in blood samples. In general, these jaguars presented good health

Health assessment of ocelots (Leopardus pardalis) from Rio Doce State Park, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Felinos selvagens são importantes reguladores de ecossistema, porém estes animais vem sofrendo uma série de ameaças, entre as quais estão as doenças, o que vem tornando imprescindível o monitoramento da saúde de populações selvagens para compreender a relação natural entre hospedeiros e parasitas e, além disso, para identificar, prevenir e manejar potenciais patógenos e fatores ambientais que possam representar uma ameaça à saúde destes animais. A partir de dados obtidos de nove jaguatiricas saudáveis e três doentes capturadas no Parque Estadual do Rio Doce nos anos de 2012 e 2013, proponho em um dos artigos apresentados nesta tese que, para obter dados mais robustos sobre a saúde de carnívoros neotropicais, sejam avaliados dados clínicos, hematológicos e bioquímicos de animais capturados. Entretanto, para que os animais possam ser avaliados, a captura dos mesmos é imprescindível. Baseada nos resultados e dificuldades obtidos com a captura das jaguatiricas, proponho, no primeiro artigo aqui apresentado, que os métodos de captura de carnívoros neotropicais sejam avaliados e comparados, buscando atender os seguintes critérios: (i) alta eficiência de captura; (ii) alta seletividade; (iii) baixa taxa de lesões; (iv) alta adequabilidade da imobilização; e (v) baixo custo.Despite the fact that wild felids are considered important ecosystem regulators, these animals have been facing many threats, including diseases. Therefore, the monitoring of wild populations health is crucial to understand the natural relationship between hosts and parasites and, moreover, to identify, prevent and manage potential pathogens and environmental factors that may threat these felids´ health. Based on results from nine healthy ocelots and three ill ocelots captured at Rio Doce State Park in 2012 and 2013, I propose in one of the articles presented in this thesis that, to obtain consistent data on Neotropical carnivores health, the animals should be evaluated through clinical, hematological and serum chemistry data. From the difficulties and results found when capturing the ocelots, I propose, in the first article, that capture methods targeting Neotropical carnivores should be evaluated and compared, aiming the following criteria: (i) High capture efficiency; (ii) High selectivity; (iii) Low injury rate; (iv) High immobilization suitability (safe for the animal, suitable to time to procedures, fast recovery and predictable effects); and (v) Low costs

Tungiasis in a free-ranging jaguar (Panthera onca) population in Brazil

Tungiasis is an ectoparasitic disease caused by fleas of the genus Tunga. The disease is reported to occur mostly in human populations. In wildlife, however, the occurrence and impact of this disease remains uncertain. We captured and examined 12 free-ranging jaguars for the presence of Tunga penetrans in the Pantanal region of Mato Grosso do Sul state, Brazil. Tungiasis prevalence was 100% in the population; lesions were confined to the jaguar's paws. T. penetrans was identified based on the characteristics of the embedded fleas and the morphological identification of a collected free-living flea. The intensity and stage of infestation varied between individual animals. However, in general, all captured jaguars were in good health. The 100% prevalence of tungiasis may be related to the fact that all captures were performed during the dry season. Their high ecological requirements for space make jaguars potential disseminators of T. penetrans in the Pantanal region. Because cattle ranching and ecotourism are the main economic activities in the Pantanal, further studies should evaluate the risks of tungiasis to human and animal health. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of tungiasis in jaguars.FAPESPFAPESP [08/02573-0, 07/00976-7

Differential detectability of rodents and birds in scats of ocelots, Leopardus pardalis (Mammalia: Felidae)

Scat analysis is a valuable tool for the description and quantification of mammal diets. However, estimating the number of prey eaten using prey remains found in feces is difficult mainly due to differential digestibility of prey. In this context, we performed feeding trials with captive ocelots, Leopardus pardalis (Linnaeus, 1785), to evaluate the time needed until complete elimination in feces of different prey such as rodents and birds. Rodents took up to five days and birds two days until complete elimination. Our results are consistent in showing that elimination time differs for different prey and some prey may take a long time to be expelled, inducing errors in dietary studies