Nelson Henrique de Almeida Curi

Serologic evidence of Leishmania infection in free-ranging wild and domestic canids around a Brazilian National Park

Transmission of disease between wildlife, domestic animals, and humans is of great concern to conservation issues and public health. Here we report on the prevalence of anti-Leishmania sp. antibodies in 21 wild canids (7 Chrysocyon brachyurus, 12 Cerdocyon thous, and 2 Lycalopex vetulus) and 74 free domestic dogs (Canis familiaris) sampled around the Serra do Cipó National Park. In dogs, the apparent prevalence was 8.1% and in wild canids it was 19% (2 crab-eating foxes, C. thous, and 2 maned wolves, C. brachyurus). Management of the domestic dog population with evaluation of incidence changes in humans and wildlife, and enlightenment on the role of wild reservoirs are essential issues for future action and research.

Factors associated with the seroprevalence of leishmaniasis in dogs living around Atlantic Forest fragments.

Canine visceral leishmaniasis is an important zoonosis in Brazil. However, infection patterns are unknown in some scenarios such as rural settlements around Atlantic Forest fragments. Additionally, controversy remains over risk factors, and most identified patterns of infection in dogs have been found in urban areas. We conducted a cross-sectional epidemiological survey to assess the prevalence of leishmaniasis in dogs through three different serological tests, and interviews with owners to assess features of dogs and households around five Atlantic Forest remnants in southeastern Brazil. We used Generalized Linear Mixed Models and Chi-square tests to detect associations between prevalence and variables that might influence Leishmania infection, and a nearest neighbor dispersion analysis to assess clustering in the spatial distribution of seropositive dogs. Our findings showed an average prevalence of 20% (ranging from 10 to 32%) in dogs. Nearly 40% (ranging from 22 to 55%) of households had at least one seropositive dog. Some individual traits of dogs (height, sterilization, long fur, age class) were found to positively influence the prevalence, while some had negative influence (weight, body score, presence of ectoparasites). Environmental and management features (number of cats in the households, dogs with free-ranging behavior) also entered models as negative associations with seropositivity. Strong and consistent negative (protective) influences of the presence of chickens and pigs in dog seropositivity were detected. Spatial clustering of cases was detected in only one of the five study sites. The results showed that different risk factors than those found in urban areas may drive the prevalence of canine leishmaniasis in farm/forest interfaces, and that humans and wildlife risk infection in these areas. Domestic dog population limitation by gonadectomy, legal restriction of dog numbers per household and owner education are of the greatest importance for the control of visceral leishmaniasis in rural zones near forest fragments.

Captura, imobilização e parâmetros clínicos e morfológicos de canídeos silvestres (Carnivora, Mammalia) do Cerrado brasileiro

Este artigo apresenta um metodo simples, seguro e eficiente para a captura e imobilizacao quimica de tres especies de canideos silvestres da regiao do Parque Nacional da Serra do Cipo, no bioma Cerrado do Sudeste brasileiro. Medidas morfologicas e dados de anestesia obtidos durante as capturas tambem sao descritos. Tais dados sao essenciais devido a necessidade de pesquisas invasivas para programas de monitoramento, analises de casos clinicos, e investigacoes ecologicas ou epidemiologicas em populacoes cativas ou de vida livre de canideos neotropicais.

Haematology and several health aspects of endangered free-ranging thin-spined porcupines, Chaetomys subspinosus (Olfers, 1818) (Erethizontidae: Chaetomyinae)

The thin-spined porcupine Chaetomys subspinosus is an endangered mammal from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. Folivory, long periods spent resting and reduced home ranges are characteristics related to their slow behaviour. We captured and restrained four C. subspinosus individuals from Parque Estadual Paulo César Vinha, Guarapari, Espírito Santo State, Brazil, and performed clinical, haematological and coproparasitological tests to partially assess the health status of these animals. We also describe the restraint and monitoring procedures used here. The observed haematological values were similar to previously published results from other Erethizontidae, except for higher platelet counts found in Chaetomys compared to other studies on Coendou and lower packed cell volumes and erythrocyte and leukocyte counts relative to Sphiggurus. No gastrointestinal parasites, ectoparasites or haemoparasites were found. Because all the individuals were in good physical condition, we suggest the use of our data as a reference for future studies on medicine, conservation, ecology and health of this endangered species.