Fernanda A. Libório

Evaluation of ophthalmic and hemodynamic parameters in capuchin monkeys (Sapajus sp.) submitted to dissociative anesthetic protocols

Dissociative drugs are used for chemical restraint in monkeys. The aim was to evaluate muscle relaxation, recovery, and ophthalmic and hemodynamic parameters in 24 capuchin monkeys subjected to four dissociative anesthesia protocols.

Limited Evidence for Infection of Urban and Peri-urban Nonhuman Primates with Zika and Chikungunya Viruses in Brazil

Since 2013, Zika virus (ZIKV) and chikungunya virus (CHIKV) have infected millions of people in the Americas via urban transmission cycles. Nonhuman primates (NHP) are involved in sylvatic transmission cycles maintaining ZIKV and CHIKV in the Old World. We tested NHP sampled during 2012 to 2017 in urban and peri-urban areas severely affected by ZIKV and CHIKV in Brazil. Seroprevalence and antibody titers were low for both viruses. Additionally, we found evidence for infection by heterologous viruses eliciting cross-reactive antibodies. Our data suggest that urban or peri-urban NHP are not easily infected by ZIKV and CHIKV despite intense local transmission. These data may imply that the ZIKV and CHIKV outbreaks in the Americas cannot be sustained in urban or peri-urban NHP once human population immunity limits urban transmission cycles. Investigation of diverse animals is urgently required to determine the fate of the ZIKV and CHIKV outbreaks in the Americas. ABSTRACT Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) and Zika virus (ZIKV) emerged in the Americas in 2013. Limited antigenic variability of CHIKV and ZIKV may restrict urban transmission cycles due to population protective immunity. In Africa, sylvatic transmission cycles involving nonhuman primates (NHP) are known for CHIKV and ZIKV, causing cyclic reemergence in humans. To evaluate whether sylvatic cycles can be expected in Latin America, we tested 207 NHP collected between 2012 and 2017 in urban and peri-urban settings in Brazil for infection with ZIKV and CHIKV. No animal tested positive for viral RNA in genus-specific and species-specific reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) assays. In contrast, six animals (2.9%) from the families Atelidae, Callitrichidae, and Cebidae showed ZIKV-specific antibodies and 11 (5.3%) showed CHIKV-specific antibodies in plaque reduction neutralization tests (PRNT). Reactivity was monotypic against either ZIKV or CHIKV in all cases, opposing unspecific virucidal activity of sera. PRNT endpoint titers were low at 1:40 in all NHP, and positive specimens did not correspond to the likely dispersal route and time of introduction of both arboviruses. All antibody-positive samples were therefore tested against the NHP-associated yellow fever virus (YFV) and Mayaro virus (MAYV) and against the human-associated dengue virus (DENV) by PRNT. Two ZIKV-positive samples were simultaneously DENV positive and two CHIKV-positive samples were simultaneously MAYV positive, at titers of 1:40 to 1:160. This suggested cross-reactive antibodies against heterologous alphaviruses and flaviviruses in 24% of ZIKV-positive/CHIKV-positive sera. In sum, low seroprevalence, invariably low antibody titers, and the distribution of positive specimens call into question the capability of ZIKV and CHIKV to infect New World NHP and establish sylvatic transmission cycles. IMPORTANCE Since 2013, Zika virus (ZIKV) and chikungunya virus (CHIKV) have infected millions of people in the Americas via urban transmission cycles. Nonhuman primates (NHP) are involved in sylvatic transmission cycles maintaining ZIKV and CHIKV in the Old World. We tested NHP sampled during 2012 to 2017 in urban and peri-urban areas severely affected by ZIKV and CHIKV in Brazil. Seroprevalence and antibody titers were low for both viruses. Additionally, we found evidence for infection by heterologous viruses eliciting cross-reactive antibodies. Our data suggest that urban or peri-urban NHP are not easily infected by ZIKV and CHIKV despite intense local transmission. These data may imply that the ZIKV and CHIKV outbreaks in the Americas cannot be sustained in urban or peri-urban NHP once human population immunity limits urban transmission cycles. Investigation of diverse animals is urgently required to determine the fate of the ZIKV and CHIKV outbreaks in the Americas.

Exophthalmos due to odontogenic intraorbital abscess in Cebus apella

The accumulation of pus in the orbit originating from an infected dental root is classified as odontogenic intraorbital abscess.

Ophthalmic parameters of Blue-and-yellow Macaws ( Ara ararauna ) and Lear's Macaws ( Anodorhynchus leari )

Our aim was to determine the ophthalmic parameters and describe the eye histology of Blue-and-yellow Macaws (Ara ararauna) and Lears Macaws (Anodorhynchus leari) kept at the Triage Center for Wild Animals (CETAS) and in Getulio Vargas Zoobotanic Park (Salvador, northeastern Brazil), respectively. Thirty four clinically healthy macaws (28 Blue-and-yellow Macaws and six Lears Macaws) were studied. The investigation included culture of the conjunctival bacterial flora, evaluation of tear production by endodontic absorbent paper point tear test (EAPPTT) and phenol red thread test (PRTT), measurement of palpebral fissure length (PFL), corneal touch threshold (CTT) and intraocular pressure (IOP), as well as characterisation of conjunctival cytology samples, B-mode ultrasonography, and eye histology of one Blue-and-yellow Macaw. There was a predominance of Gram-positive bacteria in the samples analysed and the microorganism colonies were resistant to tetracycline and oxacillin. Blue-and-yellow Macaws had significantly higher EAPPTT than Lears Macaws, but there were no differences in PFL and IOP. Conjunctival cytology revealed predominance of squamous and columnar epithelial cells. The pecten, a pleated structure located on the optic nerve and projecting into the vitreous, was composed of several large blood vessels and capillaries. The ophthalmic parameters determined in this study may help in the diagnosis of ocular diseases in Blue-and-yellow and Lears Macaws.

Morphological study of the eye and adnexa in capuchin monkeys (Sapajus sp.)

The objective of this study was to describe the anatomic and histologic features of the Sapajus sp. eye, comparing similarities and differences of humans and other species of non-human primates for biomedical research purposes. Computed tomography (CT) of adnexa, eye and orbit live animal, as well as formolized pieces of the same structures of Sapajus sp. for anatomical and histological study were also performed. The anatomical description of the eye and adnexa was performed using the techniques of topographic dissection and exenteration. Histological fragments were fixated in buffered formalin 10%, processed by the routine paraffin inclusion technique, stained with hematoxylin-eosin and special stains. CT scan evaluation showed no differences between the live animal and the formolized head on identification of visual apparatus structures. Anatomic and histologic evaluation revealed rounded orbit, absence of the supraorbital foramen and frontal notch, little exposure of the sclera, with slight pigmentation of the exposed area and marked pigmentation at the sclerocorneal junction. Massons Trichrome revealed the Meibomian glands, the corneal epithelium and Bowmans membrane; in the choroid, melanocytes and Bruchs membrane were observed; and in the retina, cones and rods as well as, optic nerve, the lamina cribrosa of the nerve fibers bundles. Toluidine blue highlighted the membranes: Bowman, Descemet and the endothelium; in the choroid: melanocytes; and in the retina: nuclear layers and retinal pigment epithelium. In view of the observed results Sapajus sp. is an important experimental model for research in the ophthalmology field, which has been shown due to the high similarity of its anatomical and histological structures with the human species.

Indícios de exposição a leptospiras em primatas neotropicais resgatados do comércio ilegal e de um Zoológico da Bahia

Few studies have compared the seroprevalence of antileptospiral agglutinins with the demonstration of urinary shedding of leptospires or evidence of active infection in the bloodstreams of non-human primates. The study population consists of 58 animals, including d 42 monkeys from the Zoological Park of Salvador (Parque Zoobotânico Getulio Vargas), Bahia, Brazil. The study also evaluated 16 primates (Cebus sp.) rescued from illegal trade that were housed in the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center of Salvador (CETAS), Bahia, Brazil. The seroprevalence of antileptospiral antibodies was low (2%) in the animals from the Zoo. A higher rate (31%) was observed among the animals that were rescued from illegal trade in the state of Bahia. Even if all the blood and urine samples were negative for leptospiral DNA fragments, the high frequency of serological evidence of exposure suggests a potential risk of leptospirosis transmission when keeping these animals as pets.

Ceratopatia bolhosa em caracará (Milvago chimachima) tratado com flap de terceira pálpebra modificado

A Yellow-headed Caracara (Milvago chimachima) was submitted to the Ophthalmology Service of the Federal University of Bahia with a corneal abnormality. During ophthalmic evaluation the right cornea was stained positively with fluorescein; a blurred bullous lesion, with irregular surface, compatible with the diagnosis of bullous keratopathy was found. This is a rare condition in a bird which was treated successfully with a modified third eyelid flap associated with antibiotic and hyaluronic acid eye drops. The adopted therapeutic proved to be simple to implement and viable for repair of the bullous keratopathy in the Yellow-headed caracara.