Fabiola Eloisa Setim Prioste

HEALTH EVALUATION AND SURVEY OF ZOONOTIC PATHOGENS IN FREE-RANGING CAPYBARAS (HYDROCHOERUS HYDROCHAERIS)

Abstract Capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) are the worlds largest rodents and play an epidemiologic role in the transmission of zoonotic pathogens, including the causative agents of Brazilian spotted fever, leptospirosis, and others. We surveyed the health of 31 free-ranging capybaras at the Alberto Löfgren State Park, São Paulo, Brazil using a variety of diagnostic methods. Hematology and serum chemistry were consistent with mild malnutrition and parasitism but did not indicate severe physiologic imbalance or disease. All animals were serologically negative for Rickettsia rickettsii, Leishmania spp., and Trypanosoma sp., but antibodies against rabies virus (71%), Leptospira sp. (26%), and Toxoplasma sp. (23%) were detected. Salmonella sp. was not cultured from fecal samples. Frequently cultured enterobacteria included Escherichia coli (61%), Enterococcus casseiflavus (35%), Enterococcus faecalis (35%), Enterobacter aerogenes (32%), Klebisella pneumoniae (32%), and Serratia marcescens (32%). No potentially pathogenic fungi were cultured from hair samples. Fecal parasitology revealed infection by Protozoophaga sp. (58%), Viannella spp. (23%), Strongyloides spp. (10%), and Ancilostomatidae (10%). A total of 218 ticks was retrieved from the animals: Amblyomma sp. larvae and nymphs (43%), A. dubitatum adults (52%), and A. cajennense adults (5%). The capybaras were free from most potentially zoonotic pathogens evaluated; however, the presence of Amblyomma spp. ticks (potential vectors of Rickettsia spp.) and indirect evidence of exposure to the rabies virus, Leptospira sp., and Toxoplasma sp. warrant the maintenance of public health programs and wildlife health monitoring.

Hematologic reference values for clinically healthy captive golden conures (Guaruba guarouba).

SUMMARY. Golden conures or ararajubas (Guaruba guarouba) are endangered parrots endemic to the Brazilian Amazon forest. Body mass, blood cell counts, and total plasma protein were determined for 70 clinically healthy golden conures captive at zoologic parks and private breeder facilities in Brazil. Hematologic results (mean ± SD) were: Erythrocytes 3.6 ± 0.5 × 106 cells/mm3, hemoglobin 12.8 ± 1.4 g/dl, packed cell volume 46 ± 3.8%, mean corpuscular volume 132 ± 20 fl, mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) 36 ± 5.7 pg, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) 28 ± 3.5%, thrombocytes 26.3 ± 9.3 × 103 cells/mm3, leukocytes 11.9 ± 4.5 × 103 cells/mm3, heterophils 6284 ± 2715 cells/mm3, lymphocytes 5473 ± 2408 cells/mm3, monocytes 113 ± 162 cells/mm3, eosinophils 10 ± 42 cells/mm3, basophils 27 ± 64 cells/mm3. Body mass was 254 ± 24.9 g and total plasma protein (TPP) was 3.54 ± 0.58 g/dl. No statistical differences were observed between genders within age groups. Differences between juveniles (J) and adults (A) were identified for TPP (J < A), MCH (J > A), and MCHC (J > A). These results provide reliable reference values for the clinical interpretation of hematologic results for the species. Hematology may be an important tool for population health investigations on free-ranging golden conure populations and will also be essential to survey the health of release candidates in future reintroduction programs.

Challenges in Evaluating the Severity of Fibropapillomatosis: A Proposal for Objective Index and Score System for Green Sea Turtles (Chelonia mydas) in Brazil.

Fibropapillomatosis (FP) is a neoplastic disease that affects marine turtles worldwide, especially green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas). FP tumors can develop on the body surface of marine turtles and also internally in the oral cavity and viscera. Depending on their quantity, size and anatomical distribution, these tumors can interfere with hydrodynamics and the ability to feed, hence scoring systems have been proposed in an attempt to quantify the clinical manifestation of FP. In order to establish a new scoring system adapted to geographic regions, we examined 214 juvenile green sea turtles with FP caught or rescued at Brazilian feeding areas, counted their 7466 tumors and classified them in relation to their size and anatomical distribution. The patterns in quantity, size and distribution of tumors revealed interesting aspects in the clinical manifestation of FP in specimens studied in Brazil, and that FP scoring systems developed for other areas might not perform adequately when applied to sea turtles on the Southwest Atlantic Ocean. We therefore propose a novel method to evaluate the clinical manifestation of FP: fibropapillomatosis index (FPI) that provides the Southwest Atlantic fibropapillomatosis score (FPSSWA). In combination, these indexing and scoring systems allow for a more objective, rapid and detailed evaluation of the severity of FP in green sea turtles. While primarily designed for the clinical manifestation of FP currently witnessed in our dataset, this index and the score system can be adapted for other areas and compare the characteristics of the disease across regions. In conclusion, scoring systems to classify the severity of FP can assist our understanding on the environmental factors that modulate its development and its impacts on the individual and population health of green sea turtles.

ENTEROBACTERIAL COLONIZATION IN CAPTIVE RED-EARED SLIDERS (TRACHEMYS SCRIPTA ELEGANS)

Abstract:  The handling of turtles and other reptiles can be associated with risk of pathogenic enterobacteria transmission, mainly Salmonella spp. The aim of this study was to identify the enterobacteria in cloacal swabs of 39 red-eared sliders (Trachemys scripta elegans). Cloacal swabs from 39 captive individuals were analyzed. After sample enrichment in brain–heart infusion broth and 1% peptone water, bacterial isolation was performed through cultivation in blood, MacConkey and xylose lysine desoxycholate agar. Bacterial identification was achieved through conventional tests and automated turbidity analysis. The results indicated the growth of Kluyvera ascorbata (38/39), Leclercia adecarboxylata (37/39), Raoultella planticola (30/39), Citrobacter freundii (20/39), Proteus spp. (15/39), and Escherichia coli (5/39). Salmonella spp. were not detected. The intestinal enterobacteria identified in this study differed from that reported in the literature for other reptiles.

Immune Response of Green Sea Turtles with and without Fibropapillomatosis: Evaluating Oxidative Burst and Phagocytosis via Flow Cytometry

Abstract Fibropapillomatosis (FP) has a complex etiology, involving genetic and environmental factors, and is considered a threat to green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas). The goals of this study were to evaluate phagocytosis and oxidative burst in blood samples of green sea turtles with and without FP. We analyzed samples from 38 specimens (27 with FP) captured at a feeding area in Brazil. No differences were observed between specimens with and without FP regarding leukocyte activity; nevertheless, the analyses revealed there were significant differences among leukocyte populations of animals with FP, lymphocytes and monocytes had higher phagocytic activity than did granulocytes, and lymphocytes had lower oxidative burst activity than did granulocytes and monocytes. This study described an efficient method to assess leukocyte activity through flow cytometry and revealed important characteristics of white blood cells from green sea turtles with FP.

Normal Plasma Cholinesterase Activity of Neotropical Falconiformes and Strigiformes

Abstract Raptors are highly susceptible to poisoning by anticholinesterase drugs and pesticides, such as organophosphates and carbamates, due to their carnivorous and/or insectivorous diets. Measurement of plasma cholinesterase inhibition is a proxy indicator of exposure to these agents; however, prior knowledge of the normal plasma cholinesterase activity of healthy birds is required for interpretation of results. Such normal values have not yet been established for most species of neotropical raptors. We collected blood samples from 133 raptors, including eleven species of Falconiformes (n  =  45) and seven species of Strigiformes (n  =  88). The birds had no clinical signs or history of possible exposure to anticholinesterase drugs and were housed in rehabilitation centers (free-ranging animals) and zoos (captive animals) in the state of São Paulo, southeastern Brazil. We found that plasma cholinesterase activity, as measured by the Ellman method, had a logarithmic distribution with a median of 0.58 µmols/mL for Falconiformes (quartiles: Q1  =  0.43; Q3  =  0.73) and 0.96 µmols/mL for Strigiformes (Q1  =  0.78; Q3  =  1.25). There were no significant differences between sex or age classes within Falconiformes or Strigiformes. Captive Strigiformes in zoos had lower plasma cholinesterase activity values than birds housed in the rehabilitation centers, a pattern that did not occur in Falconiformes. These results provide reference values of plasma cholinesterase activity for the future interpretation of suspected pesticide poisoning in neotropical raptors.

Concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in liver samples of juvenile green sea turtles from Brazil: Can these compounds play a role in the development of fibropapillomatosis?

Fibropapillomatosis (FP) poses a significant threat to the conservation of green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas). Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons-PAHs are considered mutagenic, carcinogenic and toxic, and can act as cofactor of this disease. In order to evaluate possible differences between green sea turtles with and without FP, we monitored 15 PAHs in liver samples of 44 specimens (24 with FP) captured in Brazil. We detected eight PAHs and quantified phenanthrene in all green sea turtles with FP. Specimens without FP presented lower values than the tumored ones (1.48 ng g-1 and 17.35 ng g-1, respectively; p < 0.0001). There were no significant differences between tumored and non-tumored specimens, among studied areas, or Southwest Atlantic Fibropapillomatosis Score. Even though we found higher concentrations in the liver samples of green sea turtles with FP, further studies are necessary to confirm if these pollutants are involved in the pathogenesis of the disease.