Frequency of rhabdiasid nematodes in wild Crotalus durissus terrificus (Serpentes, Viperidae) from Botucatu region, São Paulo State, Brazil

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the frequency of rhabdiasid nematodes in recently captured Crotalus durissus terrificus snakes from São Paulo State, Brazil. Fifty snakes (34 males and 16 females) were studied and each one was evaluated for the presence of that nematode at the moment of receipt at the Institution and after 90 days of quarantine inside individual cages. Tracheopulmonary washes were examined. Snakes that died during quarantine underwent necropsy and lung examination. Analysis of the results obtained at the two evaluation times (0 and 90 days), in addition to the data obtained during necropsies, showed that 44% (18 males and 4 females) of the C. d. terrificus snakes were naturally infected by rhabdiasid nematodes. These data demonstrate the parasitism level in natural conditions and are important for the sanitary handling of these reptiles in captivity.

Detecção de Escherichia coli e Salmonella spp. em microbiota intestinal de Psittaciformes em fase de reabilitação para soltura

Escherichia coli is a bacteria of the Enterobacteriacea family and it is part of the enterical microflora of mammals and of many species of birds. Salmonella spp. also belongs to the family Enterobacteriacea, it is responsible for human feed toxinfection outbreaks and usually isolated from domestic and wild birds. The present study analyzed the frequency of both agents in Psittaciformes in rehabilitation process for wildlife reintroduction. In 89 birds analyzed, 19% were infected with E. coli and 1,12% with Salmonella spp. It was carried out an analysis of the profile of antibiotic resistance in which was observed the efficiency of estreptomicin, tetraciclin, trimetoprim and gentamicin over the samples. The samples of E. coli were submitted to the Congo Red Binding test and to the Hemolisis test and 70,6% of positive samples for the first test and 53% for the second one were observed.

Anticorpos anti-Leptospira spp. em animais selvagens do zoológico municipal de Ribeirão Preto, Estado de São Paulo, Brasil

Leptospirosis may affect all domestic and wild animals as well as human beings. Some serological studies have shown the involvement of wild species in the epidemiology of the disease. Once captive wild animals are not much studied, especially in Brazil, the present study aimed to detect anti- Leptospira spp. antibodies in animals from Ribeirão Preto city zoo, in São Paulo state, Brazil. Blood samples were collected from captive birds, fish, reptiles and mammals, sinanthropics and free-living animals and also from employees between March and October, 2006. Four hundred and three blood samples were obtained, 388 animals' samples (110 reptiles, 143 birds, 110 mammals and 25 fish) and 15 humans'. The sera were analysed by Microscopic Agglutination Test using 22 serovars from pathological leptospiras and two from non-pathological serovars. Among the animal samples, 339 were from captive animals, and 49 from free-living ones, captured with traps inside the zoo. One hundred and three (103/388 = 26.5%) samples reacted to leptospirosis, ninety-two (92/339 = 27.1%) samples were from captive animals and eleven (11/49 = 22.4%) from free-living ones. All humans' samples were negative. Serological titles varied from 40 to 5.120, with predominance of titles between 40 and 80 and the most frequent serovars were Patoc, Andamana, Canicola, Icterohaemorrhagiae and Panama.

Pathological and molecular analysis of Turkey coronavirus replication in captive wild Turkey embryos (broad-breasted bronze breeder)

The degree of genetic and pathologic variation exhibited by a turkey Coronavirus (TCoV) strain was investigated after nine serial passages in 25-day-old turkey embryos obtained from wild broad-breasted bronze breeders. In spite of spleen, liver, kidneys, cloacal bursa and thymus have been collected and analysed, the main histopathological changes were only documented in the intestine sections. Microscopic lesions were characterized as mild enteritis, low degree of enterocyte vacuolization and detachment of the intestinal villous after five consecutive passages and were considered absent in the last passages. Genealogic analysis based on S1 and S2 DNA sequences suggested that Brazilian isolate might be considered as originated from TCoV strains circulating in the United States, as 100% identity with TCoV-Gl strain. Although S1 S2 sequences from each passage revealed no significant point mutations, and no correlation could be speculate between S2 nucleotide changes and pathologic features in infected embryos. This is the first demonstration of wild turkey embryos as a model for TCoV isolation and propagation.

Occurrence of Enneothrips flavens moulton and Stegasta bosquella (chambers) and its effects on agronomic traits of wild Arachis accessions

Some wild species of the genus Arachis have demonstrated potential for improvement of peanuts. This work was performed to evaluate the occurrence and symptoms of Enneothrips flavens and Stegasta bosquella and its effects on agronomic traits of wild Arachis accessions. Nine accessions of wild Arachis species and a commercial A. hypogaea variety were studied in a split plot statistical scheme with a completely randomized block design and four replications. The main plots consisted of plants sprayed or not sprayed for insect control, while the subplots comprised the peanut accessions. Accessions GKP10017 (A. cardenasii) and V7639 (A. kuhlmannii) showed the lowest percentages of leaflets with E. flavens and S. bosquella. Accessions V9912, V7639 and V8979 (all three A. kuhlmannii) and V13250 (A. kempff-mercadoi) showed the lowest responses to insecticide application among the various plant traits evaluated. These accessions are of interest for further studies to identify mechanisms of resistance, to be used in breeding programs for resistance to these insects.

Bronchopneumonia in wild boar (Sus scrofa) caused by Rhodococcus equi carrying the VapB type 8 plasmid

Background: Rhodococcus equi is associated with pyogranulomatous infections, especially in foals, and this bacterium has also emerged as a pathogen for humans, particularly immunocompromised patients. R. equi infections in pigs, wild boar (Sus scrofa) and humans are mainly due to strains carrying the intermediate virulence (VapB) plasmid. In Brazil, R. equi carrying the VapB type 8 plasmid is the most common type recovered from humans co-infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). R. equi infection in pigs and wild boar is restricted predominantly to the lymphatic system, without any reports of pulmonary manifestations. Findings. This report describes the microbiological and histopathological findings, and molecular characterization of R. equi in two bronchopneumonia cases in wild boar using PCR and plasmid profile analysis by digestion with restriction endonucleases. The histological findings were suggestive of pyogranulomatous infection, and the plasmid profile of both R. equi isolates enabled the characterization of the strains as VapB type 8. Conclusions: This is the first report of bronchopneumonia in wild boar due to R. equi. The detection of the VapB type 8 plasmid in R. equi isolates emphasize that wild boar may be a potential source of pathogenic R. equi strains for humans. © 2013 de Vargas et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

Characterization of resveratrol content in ten wild species of section Arachis, genus Arachis

Peanut is one of the few plants that synthesizes resveratrol, a phenolic compound of the stilbene class, which has been associated with reduced risk of developing chronic diseases, such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, skin diseases, pulmonary diseases, diabetes and neurological diseases. Resveratrol was detected in different parts of the peanut plant, including roots, leaves, seeds and their derivatives. The wild species of the Arachis section are also strong candidates to synthesize resveratrol because they are phylogenetically closely related to cultivated peanut. Our objective was to characterize the resveratrol content in ten wild species of Arachis with three different genomes (A, B and K). The plant material was composed of leaves of the ten species treated (test) and not treated (control) with ultraviolet (UV) radiation. The test and control samples were extracted and the identification and quantification of resveratrol was performed using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). All species studied synthesized resveratrol and the concentrations ranged from 299.5 μg/g in A. kempff-mercadoi to 819.9 μg/g in A. cardenasii. DPPH antioxidant activity varied between 18.7 % for A. duranensis and 48.2 % in A. simpsonii. The results showed that wild Arachis species are a potential source of alleles for improvement of cultivated peanut, with the aim of achieving higher resveratrol content in leaves. © 2013 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht.

No changes in seedling recruitment when terrestrial mammals are excluded in a partially defaunated Atlantic rainforest

One of the most intriguing questions in ecology is how to identify which and how many species will be able to inhabit human-modified landscapes. Large-bodied mammals structure plant communities by trampling, herbivory, seed dispersal and predation, and their local extinction may have pervasive consequences in plant communities due to the breakdown of key interactions. Although much attention has been given to understanding the effects of defaunation on plant communities, information on the potential impacts on plant functional groups (seed dispersal, seed size and seedling leaves defense) inhabiting continuous forests after defaunation is scarce. We conducted mammal surveys (line transects and camera trapping) to determine the defaunation status of a continuous Atlantic forest in Brazil. Then, we evaluated the effects of defaunation on seedling diversity, richness and abundance of functional groups using 15 plot-pairs (each pair with one open and one exclusion plot) monitored over 36. months. We found that the studied area is partially defaunated because it exhibits high abundance of primates, while terrestrial mammals, such as large rodents and ungulates, are rare. We found no significant changes in either seedling richness and diversity or in the seedling composition of plant functional groups in response to mammal exclosure. Seedling mortality and recruitment were similar between plot types. Our findings suggest that at semi-defaunated areas, where arboreal species are still present, terrestrial mammals have low impacts on the plant community reassembly. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd.

Experimental infection of commercial layers with wild or attenuated Salmonella Gallinarum mutant strains: Anatomic pathology, total blood cell count and serum protein levels

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Presence of antibodies against H5, H7 and H9 influenza a virus in wild birds in the state of São Paulo, Brazil

Although the natural reservoirs of the avian influenza (AI) virus have been extensively studied in many countries, there is a clear lack of information on this subject in South America, particularly in Brazil. The objective of this study was to conduct a serological survey for H5, H7 and H9 antibodies to AI-subtype viruses in wild birds in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. Serum samples were tested using the hemagglutination-inhibition assay. Out of the 31 wild birds sampled between January and December of 2006, seven (22.58%), were seropositive for H5, H7 and H9; four (12.90%) were seropositive for H5 and H7; 13 (41.94%), were seropositive only for H7; three (9.7%), were seropositive only for H9; and four (12.90%) were negative for all three hemagglutinin subtypes. These results indicate that AI viruses belonging to H5, H7 and H9 subtypes circulate among wild birds in the state of São Paulo in the form of either concurrent or consecutive infections. This study contributes to the knowledge of AI epidemiology in Brazil, and stresses the need of further detailed and long-term epidemiological and ecological investigation to determine the current status of this virus.

Interference of cage fish farm on diet, condition factor and numeric abundance on wild fish in a Neotropical reservoir

Historically, the ichthyofauna of large Brazilian rivers has been subject to anthropogenic interference, such as impoundments. Currently, cage fish farming systems are a new source of impact on aquatic ecosystems. The objective of this study was to characterise the impact of freshwater fish farms on the feeding of five species of Neotropical freshwater fish. Specimens of Astyanax altiparanae, Galeocharax knerii, Iheringicthys labrosus, Pimelodus maculatus and Plagioscion squamosissimus were sampled in areas around two systems of cage fish farming (CF), and two control areas (CT) that were not influenced by this activity. Results show that there were significant changes in the diet of trophic generalist species (A. altiparanae, P. maculatus and I. labrosus) accompanied by a related increase in the condition factor values of these species in cage areas. Trophic specialist species, such as the carnivorous fish species G. knerii and P. squamosissimus, presented small differences between the CF and CT areas with regard to diet and showed no differences in other analyses performed. In conclusion, cage fish farms can affect the natural diet of trophic generalist fish species, directly affecting the nutritional status (condition factor), where food wastes was found to be one of the principal items consumed by this trophic guild. Results indicate that these species are responsible for recycling a great quantity of organic matter transferred by this type of activity, which, along with local fishery activities, contribute to mitigation of associated processes of eutrophication. © 2013 Elsevier B.V.

Inquérito sorológico, molecular e fatores de risco para leptospirose em mamíferos cativos, papel dos animais sinantrópicos presentes no local e aspectos de saúde pública

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Avaliação diagnóstica para Leishmania spp. e Trypanosoma cruzi em gatos domésticos procedentes da associação protetora dos animais do município de Ilha Solteira, SP, Brasil

Pós-graduação em Doenças Tropicais - FMB

Detecção e caracterização molecular de Chlamydophila psittaci e Chlamydophila abortus em aves assintomáticas

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Utilização de um mutante atenuado de Salmonella enterica subesp. enterica sorovar GALLINARUM cobS cbiA para proteção de aves contra a infecção por Salmonella enterica subesp. enterica sorovares GALLINARUM E ENTERITIDIS

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)