Survey for natural Neospora caninum infection in wild and captive birds

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

Annual variations in fecal androgen metabolites and antler cycle of captive red brocket bucks (Mazama americana) in southeast Brazil

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

Influence of husbandry systems on physiological stress reactions of captive brown brocket (Mazama gouazoubira) and marsh deer (Blastocerus dichotomus)-noninvasive analysis of fecal cortisol metabolites

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Hematologic, serum biochemistry and urinary values for captive Crab-eating Fox (Cerdocyon thous) in São Paulo state, Brazil

A importância do estudo dos valores hematológicos, de bioquímica sérica e urinários de Cachorro-do-mato (Cerdocyon thous) baseia-se na necessidade de cuidados e manutenção da sanidade destas populações. Este estudo visou investigar os parâmetros fisiológicos hematológicos, de bioquímica sérica e urinários dos Cachorros-do-mato de cativeiro, comparando as possíveis diferenças sexuais e de faixa etária. Foram colhidas amostras de sangue de 52 animais, pertencentes a diversos Zoológicos do Estado de São Paulo, Brasil. Foram colhidos cerca de 7mL de sangue, que foram utilizados para se obter os valores hematológicos e o perfil de bioquímica sérica. Também foram colhidos 5mL de urina para realização da urinálise. Não se encontraram diferenças entre os valores obtidos para machos e fêmeas tanto na hematologia, quanto na bioquímica sérica. Alguns parâmetros hematológicos e de bioquímica sérica foram afetados pela idade, mostrando diferenças significativas. Os resultados da urinálise foram demonstrados apenas em forma descritiva. Os principais valores encontrados foram, hemácias 4,35+0,73 x 106 células /µL, leucócitos totais 7,72+3,66 x 103 células /µL (predomínio de neutrófilos segmentados), plaquetas 227,06+111,58 x 103 células /µL, ureia 43,06+14,28mg/dL e creatinina 1,03+0,24mg/dL. Os valores hematológicos, de bioquímica sérica e urinários obtidos neste estudo podem ser utilizados como valores fisiológicos de Cachorros-do-mato de cativeiro. Pode-se concluir que as espécies silvestres necessitam de seus próprios valores de referência com necessidade de se diferenciar animais em cativeiro de animais de vida livre.

Intraspecific Variation of Biological Activities in Venoms from Wild and Captive Bothrops jararaca

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

MOTOR NERVE CONDUCTION and REPETITIVE NERVE STIMULATION IN CAPTIVE RING-TAILED COATI (NASUA NASUA)

There are few electrophysiologic studies in wild animals. The aim of this study was to determine normal data for motor nerve conduction studies and repetitive stimulation in sciatic-tibial and ulnar nerves in clinically normal captive coati. Eight adult ring-tailed coatis (Nasua nasua), two females and six males weighing 68 kg, were used. Average nerve conduction velocity was 70.81 m/sec (standard deviation [SD] = 3.98) and 56.93 m/sec (SD = 4.31) for the sciatic-tibial and ulnar nerves, respectively. Repetitive stimulation responses demonstrated minimal variations of the area of the compound muscle action potentials at low (3 Hz) and high (20 Hz) frequencies. The maximal obtained decremental area response was 8%. These normal data of conduction studies may be used in assessing abnormalities for clinical diagnosis. In addition, the obtained normal repetitive stimulation data were similar to dogs and humans and may be used for post- and presynaptic disturbances of the neuromuscular transmission in coatis.

Leptospira spp. antibodies in captive coatis (Nasua nasua Storr, 1780) (Carnivora: Procyonidae)

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

Comparison of infection by Brucella spp. in free-ranging and captive wild animals from São Paulo State, Brazil

The aim of the current study was to evaluate the infection rate by Brucella spp. in wild and in captive animals. Serum samples from 121 animals (94 free-ranging and 27 captive) of different mammal species were evaluated. Sera were submitted to rose Bengal test (RBT) for screening and serum agglutination tests (SAT) and 2-mercaptoethanol test (2-ME) for confirmatory results. Nine animals (five free-ranging and four captive) tested positive in RBT, but negative in the confirmatory tests. Several domestic animal diseases that have control programs are not focused on wild reservoirs, such as brucellosis in Brazil. The study of new reservoirs in wildlife is essential to prevent emerging diseases.

SEROLOGIC SURVEY FOR LEPTOSPIRA SPP. IN CAPTIVE NEOTROPICAL FELIDS IN FOZ do IGUACU, PARANA, BRAZIL

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

Toxoplasma gondii and Leishmania spp. infection in captive crab-eating foxes, Cerdocyon thous (Carnivora, Canidae) from Brazil

The zoonoses toxoplasmosis and leishmaniasis are important worldwide and also affect wild animals. Thus, the present study aimed to assess the prevalence of Leishmania spp. and Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in 52 serum samples from captive crab-eating foxes (Cerdocyon thous) kept in 17 zoos in São Paulo State, Brazil. Modified agglutination test (MAT, for toxoplasmosis) and indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT, for toxoplasmosis and leishmaniasis) were employed with heterologous anti-dog immunoglobulin. Antibodies to T. gondii were found in 19.2% animals, with an almost perfect concordance (kappa = 0.86; standard error = 9.31%; CI95% = 68.25-104.76%; P < 0.0001) and a strong correlation coefficient (rs = 0.87; P < 0.0001), which allows the use of heterologous anti-dog immunoglobulin to perform IFAT for toxoplasmosis in crab-eating foxes. No sample was positive for Leishmania spp. Toxoplasmosis infection occurs in wild animals from the studied Brazilian zoos, which indicates a probable environmental contamination, highlighting the importance of appropriate zoo management and the action of the parasite as a sentinel to human infection. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Hemodynamic evaluation of the right portal vein in healthy dogs of different body weights

Background: Doppler ultrasonography is an important tool for evaluating hepatic portal hemodynamics. However, no study in dogs of different body weights, in the range encountered in routine clinical veterinary practice, has been reported. It can be difficult to obtain an ideal insonation angle when evaluating the main portal vein, so evaluation of the right portal vein branch has been described in humans as an alternative. The aim of this study was to analyze, through Doppler ultrasonography, the hemodynamics in the right portal vein branch in dogs of different body weights.Methods: Thirty normal dogs were divided in three groups by weight, in order to establish normal values for mean velocity, flow volume and portal congestion index of the right portal vein branch by means of Doppler ultrasonography.Results: In all dogs ideal insonation angles were obtained for the right portal vein branch. The average velocity was similar in the three groups, but the portal congestion index and the flow volume differed, showing that the weight of the dog can influence these values.Conclusion: Doppler ultrasonography for the evaluation of flow in the right branch of the portal vein could be a viable alternative, or complement, to examining the main vessel segment. This is especially so in those animals in which an ideal insonation angle for examination of the main portal vein is hard to obtain. In addition, the weight of the dog must be considered for the correct evaluation of the portal system hemodynamics, particularly for portal blood flow and the congestion index.

Orchidectomy enhances the effects of phenylephrine in rat isolated portal vein

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