Juliana Isabel Giuli da Silva Ferreira

Diversity of bats trypanosomes in hydroeletric area of Belo Monte in Brazilian Amazonia

The Trypanosoma comprises flagellates able to infect many mammalian species and is transmitted by several groups of invertebrates. The order Chiroptera can be infected by the subgenera Herpetosoma, Schizotrypanum, Megatrypanum and Trypanozoon. In this study, we described the diversity of bats trypanosomes, inferring the phylogenetic relationships among the trypanosomes from bats caught Belo Monte Hydroeletric area (Brazilian Amazonia). Trypanosomes from bats were isolated by haemoculture, and the molecular phylogeny based on small subunit rDNA (SSU rDNA) and glycosomal-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (gGAPDH) gene sequences. Morphological characterization included light and scanning electron microscopy. A total of 157 bats were caught in the area belonging 6 Families (Emballonuridae, Furipteridae, Mormoopidae, Natalidae, Phyllostomidae and Vespertilionidae) and 34 species. The bat trypanosome prevalence, as evaluated through haemoculture, was 5,7%. Phylogenetic trees grouped the isolates in T. cruzi branch (TCI and TCbat lineage), T. cruzi marinkellei and Trypanosoma wauwau from Pteronotus parnellii. This is the first isolate from T. wauwau in Para state. The occurrence of T. cruzi in the ​​ Belo Monte Hydroeletric area (UHE Belo Monte) in Amazon/Brazil attentive to the risk of migration human population required for the works of the dam and new cities that grow in the vicinity of these businesses, but it is a zoonosis already known to the Amazon region, and the presence of unclassified Trypanosoma species, attend to the large parasitic biodiversity still unknown.

Anuran trypanosomes: phylogenetic evidence for new clades in Brazil

Trypanosomes of anurans and fish are grouped into the Aquatic Clade which includes species isolated from fish, amphibians, turtles and platypus, usually transmitted by leeches and phlebotomine sand flies. Trypanosomes from Brazilian frogs are grouped within the Aquatic Clade with other anuran trypanosome species, where there seems to be coevolutionary patterns with vertebrate hosts and association to Brazilian biomes (Atlantic Forest, Pantanal and Amazonia Rainforest). We characterised the anuran trypanosomes from two different areas of the Cerrado biome and examined their phylogenetic relationships based on the SSU rRNA gene. A total of 112 anurans of six species was analysed and trypanosome prevalence evaluated through haemoculture was found to be 7% (8 positive frogs). However, only three isolates (2.7%) from two anuran species were recovered and cryopreserved. Analysis including SSU rDNA sequences from previous studies segregated the anuran trypanosomes into six groups, the previously reported An01 to An04, and An05 and An06 reported herein. Clade An05 comprises the isolates from Leptodactylus latrans (Steffen) and Pristimantis sp. captured in the Cerrado biome and Trypanosoma chattoni Mathis & Leger, 1911. The inclusion of new isolates in the phylogenetic analyses provided evidence for a new group (An06) of parasites from phlebotomine hosts. Our results indicate that the diversity of trypanosome species is underestimated since studies conducted in Brazil and other regions of the world are still few.

Toxoplasma gondii in domestic and wild animals from forest fragments of the municipality of Natal, northeastern Brazil.

Toxoplasmosis stands out as a global disease that has felines as definitive hosts. In the municipality of Natal, Rio Grande do Norte State, Brazil, two parks are notable for their ecological and social importance. This study aimed to investigate the presence of Toxoplasma gondii in short hair cats, bats and small non-volant mammals in these two ecological reserves. Altogether, biological samples were obtained from 154 mammals, 92 wild animals from both areas and 62 domestic cats of the Parque da Cidade. In total, 22 (53.7%) non-volant wild mammals, 11 (21.5%) bats and 28 (52.8%) cats were positive for IgG anti-T. gondii antibodies using the Modified Agglutination Test (≥ 25). It was possible to detect the presence of T. gondii DNA, by means of a molecular amplification of a B1 gene fragment (155bp), in 92 tissue samples from wild animals, including Didelphis albiventris, Monodelphis domestica, Artibeus lituratus, Carollia perspicillata and Glossophaga soricina. Of the 62 cats examined by the same molecular method, T. gondii DNA could be detected in 4 cats. In this study, it was observed the circulation of T. gondii in wild species and domestic cats, demonstrating the involvement of wild and domestic animals in the cycle of T. gondii.

Survey of Leishmania Infantum Chagasi in Wild and Domestic Animals in Urban Area and Atlantic Rainforest Fragment in Northeast, Brazil

Objective: Survey of Leishmania infantum chagasi in domestic and wild mammals in urban area and a Biological Reserve in Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. Methods: Domestic and wild mammals were captured in Brazilian northeast Atlantic Rainforest, Rio Grande do Norte state. Serological and parasitological studies were conducted; Leishmania isolates were positioned in phylogeny based on small subunit rDNA (SSU rDNA) and glycosomal-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (gGAPDH) gene sequences. Results: Blood samples were collected from 138 wild and domestic mammals, comprising 66 dogs, 52 cats and 20 marsupials. Antibodies were found in 27 dogs (40.91%), two cats (3.85%) and one Didelphis albiventris (5%). The cultures of popliteal lymph node aspirates were positive in nine dogs (13.64%) and from seven (10.61%) the parasite was isolated and cryopreserved. All isolates were positioned in phylogeny based on SSU rDNA and gGAPDH in the same branch with L. infantum chagasi. Conclusions: The proximity of the forest fragment with humans and their domestic animals provide interference in the health of wild animals. Measures to control the population of feral cats and environmental conservation should be implemented due the importance of visceral leishmaniasis

New Trypanosoma species, Trypanosoma gennarii sp. nov., from South American marsupial in Brazilian Cerrado

Hundreds of trypanosome species have been described in all mammalian orders, on every continent, including with mixed infections. Trypanosomes circulate in the form of sylvatic enzootic infections transmitted by blood-sucking insects that are associated with the host mammals. Small wild mammals were caught in a fragment of Cerrado terrain on an island in the hydroelectric reservoir of Três Marias, in the central region of the state of Minas Gerais, using pitfall and Sherman traps with different means of attraction. DNA samples from these mammals were subjected to the conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the full-length genes SSU rDNA and gGAPDH. A total of 232 animals of the orders Didelphimorphia, Rodentia, Chiroptera and Cingulata were caught (total of 17 species). There were also four species of marsupials: Monodelphis domestica, Didelphis albiventris, Gralicinanus agilis and Micoureus paraguaianus. Among these, there were eight positive individuals of Monodelphis domestica. However, nine cultures were established, because one of them was parasitized by two species of trypanosomes: Trypanosoma cruzi and a new trypanosome species. The new species have a large epimastigote forms, and with a well-developed undulating membrane in trypomastigote forms. The new species Trypanosoma gennarii was described in Monodelphis domestica.

Trypanosoma cruzi in Triatomines and wild mammals in the National Park of Serra das Confusões, Northeastern Brazil

INTRODUCTION The National Park of Serra das Confusões (NPSC) is a protected area of natural landscape located in Southern Piauí, Brazil, and it is considered as one of the largest and most important protected areas in the Caatinga biome. METHODS The natural occurrences of trypanosomatids from hemocultures on small mammals and cultures from intestinal contents triatomines were detected through molecular diagnoses of blood samples, and phylogenetic relationship analysis of the isolates parasites using the trypanosome barcode (V7V8 SSUrDNA) were realized. RESULTS Only two Galea spixii (8.1%) and six Triatoma brasiliensis (17.6%) were positive by hemoculture, and the isolates parasites were cryopreserved. All the isolates obtained were positioned on the Trypanosoma cruzi DTU TcI branch. CONCLUSIONS Research focused on studying the wild animal fauna in preserved and underexplored environments has made it possible to elucidate indispensable components of different epidemiological chains of diseases with zoonotic potential.

Frequency of gastrointestinal parasites in cats seen at the University of São Paulo Veterinary Hospital, Brazil.

A frequencia de infeccoes gastrintestinais foi avaliada em 502 gatos atendidos no Hospital Veterinario da Universidade de Sao Paulo, SP, Brasil, entre 2005 e 2014. As amostras foram analisadas utilizando-se os metodos de flutuacao e sedimentacao. Os resultados foram comparados com os de estudos previamente publicados com amostras de fezes oriundas do mesmo hospital, em momentos diferentes. As associacoes entre a frequencia de positividade para cada parasito e idade, raca, sexo, ocorrencia de diarreia e uso de anti-helminticos foram investigadas (teste de qui-quadrado ou teste exato de Fisher). Um teste de qui-quadrado estratificado foi utilizado para comparar os diferentes periodos (1991-1995; 1996-1999; 2000-2004 e 2005-2014). Cryptosporidium spp., Giardia spp., Cystoisospora spp. e Sarcocystis spp. foram os parasitos mais comuns parasitos, seguidos por Toxocara cati e Ancylostoma spp. Cryptosporidium spp. apresentou maior frequencia em gatos jovens e Sarcocystis spp. em animais com diarreia (p 0,05) aos resultados encontrados no periodo de 2000 a 2004 e menores do que os valores encontrados para os outros periodos (p <0,05). Os motivos dessas alteracoes devem ser investigados.

Presença de anticorpos anti-Toxoplasma gondii, -Neospora caninum, -Leishmania spp. e -Ehrlichia canis em lobos-guará (Chrysocyon brachyurus) de vida livre na Região Nordeste do Estado de São Paulo, Brasil

The maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus), an inhabitant of the Brazilian savanna, is considered the largest canid of South America and is classified as a near-threatened species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUNC). The purpose of this study was to investigate the presence of antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii, -Neospora caninum, Leishmania spp., and -Ehrlichia canis in free-ranging maned wolves in the northeastern region of the state of São Paulo, Brazil. Of the 17 serum samples tested by the indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT), 88.2% (15/17), 17.6% (3/17) and 52.9% (9/17) showed anti-T. gondii, -Leishmania spp., and -E. canis antibodies, respectively. None of the studied maned wolves tested positive for N. caninum antibodies. Our results indicated the exposure of free-ranging maned wolves to the agents in question. The presence of industrial complexes, extensive agriculture and habitat fragmentation in the northeastern region of the state of São Paulo puts these wild animals in proximity to urban areas, possibly contributing to the transmission of diseases between wild and domestic animals and human beings.