The role of zoos and their contribution to the education for the conservation of biodiversity

Los museos, jardines botánicos, parques naturales y zoológicos, constituyen un escenario educativo novedoso. En la actualidad son concebidos como un complemento de las instituciones educativas tradicionales al generar un espacio de aprendizaje que involucra a docentes, alumnos y a la sociedad en general. En este trabajo se brindan propuestas generadas en el ámbito de un parque zoológico referentes a la conservación de la biodiversidad y las diferentes estrategias tendientes a abordar esta problemática. Se detallan actividades de extensión, divulgación y participación activa de la comunidad. Educadores de zoológicos y docentes comparten experiencias y conocimientos surgidos en el ámbito mismo de la actividad conservacionista.Museums, botanical gardens, natural parks and zoos constituted a new educative scenario. Nowadays, they are conceived as a complement of the traditional educative institutions since they generate a learning space that involves teachers, students and the society in general. Proposals generated at a zoological park concerning to biodiversity conservation and the different strategies to deal with this problem are given in this paper. Activities of extension, divulgation and active participation of the community are detailed here. Educators of zoos and teachers share experiences and knowledge emerged in the scope of the conservationist activity.Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Muse

The role of zoos and their contribution to the education for the conservation of biodiversity

Los museos, jardines botánicos, parques naturales y zoológicos, constituyen un escenario educativo novedoso. En la actualidad son concebidos como un complemento de las instituciones educativas tradicionales al generar un espacio de aprendizaje que involucra a docentes, alumnos y a la sociedad en general. En este trabajo se brindan propuestas generadas en el ámbito de un parque zoológico referentes a la conservación de la biodiversidad y las diferentes estrategias tendientes a abordar esta problemática. Se detallan actividades de extensión, divulgación y participación activa de la comunidad. Educadores de zoológicos y docentes comparten experiencias y conocimientos surgidos en el ámbito mismo de la actividad conservacionista.Museums, botanical gardens, natural parks and zoos constituted a new educative scenario. Nowadays, they are conceived as a complement of the traditional educative institutions since they generate a learning space that involves teachers, students and the society in general. Proposals generated at a zoological park concerning to biodiversity conservation and the different strategies to deal with this problem are given in this paper. Activities of extension, divulgation and active participation of the community are detailed here. Educators of zoos and teachers share experiences and knowledge emerged in the scope of the conservationist activity.Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Muse

Mycobacteriosis in captive Chaco chachalaca (Ortalis canicollis)

La micobacteriosis es una enfermedad infecciosa crónica, generalmente de presentación sistémica, que afecta a un gran número de especies de vertebrados. En aves mascotas y de zoológico las infecciones producidas principalmente por microorganismos pertenecientes al Complejo Mycobacterium avium y de la especie Mycobacterium genavense son una causa importante de morbilidad y mortalidad. Describimos dos casos de micobacteriosis en un macho y una hembra de charata (Ortalis canicollis) mantenidas en cautiverio en un zoológico de Argentina. En cortes histológicos de hígado, bazo, pulmón e intestino de ambos ejemplares se observaron granulomas los cuales evidenciaron la presencia de bacilos ácido-alcohol resistentes teñidos con Ziëhl-Neelsen. A partir de muestras de hígado del ejemplar macho inoculadas en medio de Stonebrink se obtuvieron colonias que fueron caracterizadas como Mycobacterium avium subsp. avium por medio del análisis de secuencia del gen ARNr16S. La micobacteriosis en aves silvestres cautivas no solo reviste importancia como un problema de salud pública, sino que también es una potencial amenaza para especies en peligro de extinción o raras que se encuentran en programas de conservación ex situ. En base a lo conocido por los autores esta sería la primera descripción de infección por Mycobacterium avium subsp. avium en charatas.Mycobacteriosis is a chronic infectious disease, usually of systemic presentation, that affects a large number of vertebrate species. In pet and zoo birds, infections mainly caused by microorganisms belonging to the Mycobacterium avium Complex and the Mycobacterium genavense species are an important cause of morbidity and mortality. We describe two cases of mycobacteriosis in a male and a female of Chaco chachalaca (Ortalis canicollis) held in captivity at Argentinian zoo. Histological results of sections of the liver, spleen, lung and intestine of both specimens, reveals granulomas, showing the presence of resistant acid-alcohol bacilli stained with Ziëhl-Neelsen. Colonies that were characterized as Mycobacterium avium subsp. avium were obtained from liver samples of the male specimen inoculated in Stonebrink medium by means of sequence analysis of the RNA16S gene. Mycobacteriosis in captive wild birds is not only important as a public health problem that is also a potential threat to endangered or rare species found in ex situ conservation programs. Based on what is known by the authors, this would be the first description of Mycobacterium avium subsp. avium in Chaco chachalaca.Facultad de Ciencias Veterinaria

Mycobacteriosis in captive Chaco chachalaca (Ortalis canicollis)

La micobacteriosis es una enfermedad infecciosa crónica, generalmente de presentación sistémica, que afecta a un gran número de especies de vertebrados. En aves mascotas y de zoológico las infecciones producidas principalmente por microorganismos pertenecientes al Complejo Mycobacterium avium y de la especie Mycobacterium genavense son una causa importante de morbilidad y mortalidad. Describimos dos casos de micobacteriosis en un macho y una hembra de charata (Ortalis canicollis) mantenidas en cautiverio en un zoológico de Argentina. En cortes histológicos de hígado, bazo, pulmón e intestino de ambos ejemplares se observaron granulomas los cuales evidenciaron la presencia de bacilos ácido-alcohol resistentes teñidos con Ziëhl-Neelsen. A partir de muestras de hígado del ejemplar macho inoculadas en medio de Stonebrink se obtuvieron colonias que fueron caracterizadas como Mycobacterium avium subsp. avium por medio del análisis de secuencia del gen ARNr16S. La micobacteriosis en aves silvestres cautivas no solo reviste importancia como un problema de salud pública, sino que también es una potencial amenaza para especies en peligro de extinción o raras que se encuentran en programas de conservación ex situ. En base a lo conocido por los autores esta sería la primera descripción de infección por Mycobacterium avium subsp. avium en charatas.Mycobacteriosis is a chronic infectious disease, usually of systemic presentation, that affects a large number of vertebrate species. In pet and zoo birds, infections mainly caused by microorganisms belonging to the Mycobacterium avium Complex and the Mycobacterium genavense species are an important cause of morbidity and mortality. We describe two cases of mycobacteriosis in a male and a female of Chaco chachalaca (Ortalis canicollis) held in captivity at Argentinian zoo. Histological results of sections of the liver, spleen, lung and intestine of both specimens, reveals granulomas, showing the presence of resistant acid-alcohol bacilli stained with Ziëhl-Neelsen. Colonies that were characterized as Mycobacterium avium subsp. avium were obtained from liver samples of the male specimen inoculated in Stonebrink medium by means of sequence analysis of the RNA16S gene. Mycobacteriosis in captive wild birds is not only important as a public health problem that is also a potential threat to endangered or rare species found in ex situ conservation programs. Based on what is known by the authors, this would be the first description of Mycobacterium avium subsp. avium in Chaco chachalaca.Facultad de Ciencias Veterinaria

Salmonella enterica sv. Enterica and Salmonella enterica sv. Diarizonae isolated from ophidia at La Plata Zoological Park, Argentina

La salmonelosis es reconocida por ser una de las más importantes causas de problemas de Salud Pública a nivel mundial. En el presente estudio, Salmonella fue aislada de 12 de 30 (40%) muestras de hisopados cloacales de víboras. Se encontraron un total de ocho diferentes serovares de Salmonella. Los aislamientos correspondieron al género Salmonella, especie enterica, subespecie enterica (42%, Salmonella Newport, Saintpaul y Carrau) y Salmonella enterica diarizonae (58%, IIIb 17:-:-, IIIb 48:i:z. IIIb 38:z:- y IIIb 65:k:z). Todos los aislamientos fueron susceptibles a los antimicrobianos utilizados: ampicilina, cefalotina, cloranfenicol, gentamicina, estreptomicina, sulfametoxazol-trimetoprima, tetraciclina, ciprofloxacina, norfloxacina, nitrofurantoína, fosfomicina y polimixina. Las víboras pueden ser una fuente de salmonelosis para los humanos. Existen pocos estudios sobre Salmonella realizados en víboras en parques zoológicos en Latinoamérica. Este es el primer informe sobre este tipo de relevamiento realizado en víboras de zoológico en la República Argentina.Salmonellosis is known to be one of the most important causes of public health problems worldwide. In the present study, Salmonella was isolated from 12 of 30 (40%) fecal swabs of snakes. A total of eight different Salmonella serovars were found. The isolates belonged to genus Salmonella, species enterica, subspecies enterica (42%, Salmonella Newport, Saintpaul and Carrau) and Salmonella enterica diarizonae (58%, IIIb 17:-:-, IIIb 48:i:z, IIIb 65:-:-, IIIb 38:Z:- and IIIb 65:k:z). All isolates were sensitives to the antimicrobials tested: ampicillin, cefalotin, chloramphenicol, gentamicin, streptomycin, trimethroprim-sulphamethoxazole, tetracycline, ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin, nitrofurantoin, fosfomycin and polimixin. Snakes can be a source of human salmonellosis. There are few Salmonella studies from snakes performed in zoological parks in Latin America. This is the first report about this type of survey perfomed in snakes of a zoological garden in the Argentine Republic.Facultad de Ciencias Veterinaria

Salmonella enterica sv. Enterica and Salmonella enterica sv. Diarizonae isolated from ophidia at La Plata Zoological Park, Argentina

La salmonelosis es reconocida por ser una de las más importantes causas de problemas de Salud Pública a nivel mundial. En el presente estudio, Salmonella fue aislada de 12 de 30 (40%) muestras de hisopados cloacales de víboras. Se encontraron un total de ocho diferentes serovares de Salmonella. Los aislamientos correspondieron al género Salmonella, especie enterica, subespecie enterica (42%, Salmonella Newport, Saintpaul y Carrau) y Salmonella enterica diarizonae (58%, IIIb 17:-:-, IIIb 48:i:z. IIIb 38:z:- y IIIb 65:k:z). Todos los aislamientos fueron susceptibles a los antimicrobianos utilizados: ampicilina, cefalotina, cloranfenicol, gentamicina, estreptomicina, sulfametoxazol-trimetoprima, tetraciclina, ciprofloxacina, norfloxacina, nitrofurantoína, fosfomicina y polimixina. Las víboras pueden ser una fuente de salmonelosis para los humanos. Existen pocos estudios sobre Salmonella realizados en víboras en parques zoológicos en Latinoamérica. Este es el primer informe sobre este tipo de relevamiento realizado en víboras de zoológico en la República Argentina.Salmonellosis is known to be one of the most important causes of public health problems worldwide. In the present study, Salmonella was isolated from 12 of 30 (40%) fecal swabs of snakes. A total of eight different Salmonella serovars were found. The isolates belonged to genus Salmonella, species enterica, subspecies enterica (42%, Salmonella Newport, Saintpaul and Carrau) and Salmonella enterica diarizonae (58%, IIIb 17:-:-, IIIb 48:i:z, IIIb 65:-:-, IIIb 38:Z:- and IIIb 65:k:z). All isolates were sensitives to the antimicrobials tested: ampicillin, cefalotin, chloramphenicol, gentamicin, streptomycin, trimethroprim-sulphamethoxazole, tetracycline, ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin, nitrofurantoin, fosfomycin and polimixin. Snakes can be a source of human salmonellosis. There are few Salmonella studies from snakes performed in zoological parks in Latin America. This is the first report about this type of survey perfomed in snakes of a zoological garden in the Argentine Republic.Facultad de Ciencias Veterinaria

Relative risk estimation for Mycoplasma synoviae in backyard chickens in Paraguay

Poultry production is a growing industry in Paraguay, in southern South America. The insufficient farm management methods frequently applied in backyard chickens make them a possible reservoir for economically important diseases such as Mycoplasma synoviae that can influence commercial poultry operations. There are no former studies on a survey of Mycoplasma synoviae among backyard chickens in Paraguay. The objectives of this study were: (1) to observe the seroprevalence of MS in backyard chickens in Paraguay and (2) to generate maps for the estimated Relative Risk (RR) for MS in the study chickens, in place of using the observed seroprevalence. Paraguay is divided into 17 departments. A department-stratified random sampling was arranged and conducted. The required total sample size of 1537 from a chicken population of 17 million was sufficient to produce a 95% confidence interval with a desired precision of ±2.5% when the estimated seroprevalence was 50%. Sera were examined using a commercial indirect ELISA. The overall observed seroprevalence was 53%. The resulting maps for the estimated RR for Mycoplasma synoviae in the study chickens at department level were drawn. Departments with notably high or low disease risks were confirmed. Different types of epidemiological parameters can be calculated to take account of probable risk factors. Therefore, additional detailed investigations into those risk factors relating to Mycoplasma synoviae occurrence with respect to spatially epidemiological dissimilarities would be of interest.Universidad Nacional de La Plat

Spontaneous Skin Tumor in a Companion Dwarf Rabbit

Background: Scarce reports have been published worldwide on primary skin tumours in pet rabbits. Trichoblastoma is a rare benign neoplasm of animals and humans derived from or reduplicating the primitive germ of embryonic follicular development; it was previously classified as a basal cell tumor, meanwhile its malignant counterpart is referred to as malignant trichoblastoma or trichoblastic carcinoma. Neoplasms of domestic animals that once were lumped into the broad histologic diagnosis of basal cell tumors have since been split into distinct entities, dependent on evidence of differentiation, although a cytologic diagnosis of basal cell tumor continues to be used indistinctly to represent the large, heterogeneous group of epidermal, trichofollicular, and adnexal skin tumors with basal cell characteristics. Hereby, it is described the morphological and immunohistochemical findings of a case of spontaneous malignant trichoblastoma on a domestic companion rabbit from South America. Case: A 4-year-old, male black dwarf rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) was brought to the Veterinary College when appeared with a sudden appearance of a grayish nodular subcutaneous mass measuring 3.0 x 2.0 cm and located on left tarsal zone, during march 2014. A case of malignant trichoblastoma with a predominance of trabecular architecture was diagnosed based on morphologic and microscopic results. Fine-needle aspiration, histopathology and immunohistochemistry were performed on the ulcerated mass. The mass was sectioned and stained with hematoxylin and eosin (HE), periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) and Masson trichrome stain. Replicate serial sections from the paraffin-embedded tissue blocks were immunostained for cytokeratin (AE1/AE3), smooth muscle actin, polyclonal nestin, desmin and myoglobin, using commercial kits. Mayer’s hematoxylin solution was used as a counterstain. Negative controls were produced by substituting the primary antibody with 5% bovine serum albumin in phosphate buffered saline. To assess mitotic activity, mitoses count in 10 randomly selected high-power fields was done. Diagnoses was made in accordance with the recommendations for the histological classification of tumors of domestic animals. After surgical excision, the animal remains healthy. Discussion: Epithelial nonviral skin neoplasms are uncommon in rabbits and have been cited in sporadic case reports or few case series including basal cell tumors and squamous cell carcinomas. All these cases emphasized the need for cytologic criteria and nomenclature on rabbit tumors that better reflect potential variation in tissue differentiation. As a consequence, based on limited current knowledge, the practitioner is left to make decisions for diagnostics and therapeutics in these cases based upon current recommendations for other companion animals with adjustments for lagomorph physiology. This tumor, though variable in size (0.2 to 10 cm in diameter) in domestic animals (i.e., older dogs and cats), it most often appears as a solitary, well-circumscribed hairless mass in the skin, and occasionally ulcerated. The pathological data, that included tumor location, gross appearance, tumor size, growth pattern, cellular atypia, mitosis and immunohistochemistry studies, led to the malignant trichoblastoma diagnosis and these features concurred to those described in the literature. Increasing number of sporadic or induced tumors may be expected in pet rabbits in the veterinary clinic, as these animals have a high consideration among the people, and also they live longer (natural life span range: 5-10 years) than wild or farmed rabbits.Facultad de Ciencias VeterinariasComisión de Investigaciones Científicas de la provincia de Buenos AiresConsejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnica

Unusual gross presentation of sarcocystis-like pectoral muscle lymphoma attributed to Marek’s disease in a backyard chicken

Marekʼs disease–induced lymphomas of skeletal muscle are rarely reported in chickens. Three mixed-breed, adult backyard chickens, which belonged to a flock with a previous history of anorexia, depression, ruffled feathers, whitish diarrhea, weight loss and death, were submitted for postmortem examination and diagnostic testing. Grossly, 2 birds had moderate pectoral atrophy, whereas the remaining chicken had numerous white, rice-grain sized foci distributed throughout the pectoral musculature. Severe proventricular wall thickening was observed in all 3 chickens and moderate intestinal Ascaridia spp. parasitism was diagnosed in 2 of the birds. Microscopically, the peripheral nerves, cerebrum, proventriculus, and pectoral musculature were severely infiltrated by mononuclear pleomorphic cells. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues from all 3 chickens were polymerase chain reaction positive for Marekʼs disease virus. A diagnosis of Marekʼs disease was based on the combined necropsy, histopathology, and polymerase chain reaction findings. This article describes the unusual gross presentation of rice-grain sized and shaped lymphomas in the pectoral musculature of chickens caused by Marekʼs disease.Facultad de Ciencias Veterinaria

Salmonella enterica in South American sea lions (Otaria byronia) from the north coast of San Matías Gulf (Patagonia, Argentina)

There is little information about the diseases that can affect the Argentine populations of pinnipeds. Salmonellosis has been described in marine mammals of different regions of the world. The aim of this study was to detect the presence of Salmonella enterica in pinnipeds that inhabit the marine littoral zone of Río Negro province (Argentina) during the breeding season, the serovars circulation and the antimicrobial susceptibility.Trabajo publicado en Cagliada, Maria del Pilar Lilia y Galosi, Cecilia Mónica (comps.). I Congreso de Microbiología Veterinaria. Libro de resúmenes. La Plata: Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, 2021.Facultad de Ciencias Veterinaria