Rediscovering an old friend: the case of Ixodes dampfi in a protected natural reserve in central Mexico.

The tick Ixodes dampfi Cooley 1943, a member of the Pholeoixodes subgenus, was first described from gophers (Geomys sp.) collected in the state of Mexico. However, information on the origin and parasite-host association of I. dampfi is lacking. Here, new records of the occurrence of this tick species were provided nearly 80 years since its original description, in addition to new localities, genetic data, and host-parasite records. A total of four hosts (one Bassariscus astutus, two Didelphis virginiana, and one Peromyscus gratus) from three orders (Carnivora, Didelphimorphia, and Rodentia) were parasitised by seven I. dampfi females. Sequences of the 16S rDNA gene from the ticks exhibited a similarity ranging from 97 (389/403 bp) to 100% (403/403 bp), with the unique sequence of I. dampfi available on GenBank (AF549837). Additionally, Rickettsia-specific 16S rDNA, htrA, and ompA gene assays generated sequences in four of the seven I. dampfi specimens (57.14%). Partial sequences revealed 99-100% genetic identities with Candidatus Rickettsia angustus (GenBank accession HF935069, HF935072, HF935078) and Candidatus Rickettsia kingi (GenBank accession HF935068, HF935071, HF935077) from Canada. Our results represent the first record of this elusive ectoparasite in a natural protected area, which is a triumph for conservation, as accelerated defaunation processes pose the risk of coextinction for many groups of vertebrates and their ectoparasites.

Viability of in vitro preserved sperm of Harris's hawk (Parabuteo unicinctus).

Harris hawks (Parabuteo unicinctus) are the raptors with more anthropogenic use, which makes it necessary to improve their reproduction either natural or assisted for sustainable use even though they are not endangered. The aim of this study was to determine fresh and thawed P. unicinctus sperm capacitation and acrosome reaction parameters as indicators of sperm viability in ejaculates of birds with injuries. A total of 30 ejaculates were analyzed as fresh and thawed samples. Basic sperm evaluations as well as in vitro acrosomal reaction capability through the presence and distribution of Ca2+ and N-acetylglucosamine and sialic acid using chlortetracycline and agglutinin-fluorescein isothiocyanate Triticum vulgaris were performed, respectively. Tagged samples were observed using epifluorescence microscopy. The results indicated 30.00% decrease in sperm viability following freeze-thaw, while rate of capacitated sperms (10.00%) and the percentage of sperm with acrosomal reaction (40.00%) were increased. The results of the experiment demonstrated that the post-thaw viability of the obtained sperm may be an alternative for use in artificial insemination.

Urban foci of murine typhus involving cat fleas (Ctenocephalides felis felis) collected from opossums in Mexico City.

Murine typhus, a neglected rickettsiosis caused by Rickettsia typhi, is a common disease in several Latin-American countries. The sylvatic life cycle of R. typhi encompasses the presence of several wild mammals, particularly opossums of the genus Didelphis and their associated fleas. Due to the colonization of wild environments by human populations, the increase in contact with opossum fleas has generated the presence of urban outbreaks of typhus. For this reason, the aim of our study was to identify the presence and diversity of Rickettsia sp. in fleas collected from opossums of an urban reserve in Mexico City. Opossums were captured from February to September 2017. For the detection of Rickettsia DNA, fragments of 800 bp of the citrate synthase (gltA) and the outer membrane protein B (ompB) were amplified. A total of 141 fleas (111 ♀, 30 ♂) of a single species (Ctenocephalides felis felis) were recovered from 31 Didelphis virginiana. Rickettsia DNA was detected in 17.7% (25/141) of the analysed fleas, recovered from seven infested opossums. The Maximum likelihood of sequences exhibited an identity of 99%-100% with sequences of R. typhi from southern United States. This work represents the first record of R. typhi in fleas from opossums in Mexico.

Harris's hawks (Parabuteo unicinctus) hematological parameters in different tropical locations.

This work described and compared the hematological findings of 25 clinically healthy Harris's hawks (Parabuteo unicinctus) in captivity at two different tropical locations: 16 samples from Aguascalientes, which altitude is 1878 mean sea level, and nine samples from Amecameca which altitude is 2650 mean sea level. Blood samples were collected from the brachial vein of each raptor under physical restraint. Significant differences between the two locations were found in some parameters including total, erythrocytes, heterophils, basophils, lymphocytes, and heterophil/lymphocyte ratio. When the results were compared to the reference values, the population of Amecameca showed decreased values of hematocrit (32.21 ± 13.72%), hemoglobin (107.40 ± 45.60 g L-1) and erythrocytes (1.98 ± 0.63 ×1012 per µL). This work contributed to the knowledge of variations in blood parameters of clinically healthy captive Harris`s hawks at different tropical locations and sex. The information will enable clinicians to provide appropriate veterinary diagnostics and care to ensure the health and welfare of raptors kept in captivity.

Testicular development induced by GnRH-IS in budgerigar (Melopsittacus undulatus).

Nowadays, the third part of parrots in the world is endangered or vulnerable; an alternative for their preservation is assisted reproduction in captivity through hormonal manipulation. In birds, GnRH is the main hormone which controls reproductive physiology, it is known there are three types: GnRH-I, GnRH-II and GnRH-III, involved in the release or inhibition of luteinizing hormone and follicle stimulant hormone to control gonadal and gametic development. The objective of this study was, to evaluate the effect of administrating synthetic GnRH-I in the testicular development of Melopsittacus undulatus. Twenty-eight adult budgerigars were randomly divided in two groups: control (n=14) and treated (n=14) with a unique dose of synthetic GnRH-I. Testicular development was assessed through ultrasonography and density was evaluated with pixels. Germinal diameter and thickness of germinal epithelium were determined with histology; there were identified and countified different cellular strains in seminiferous tubules therefore spermatobioscopy. Results. Ecographic density was: control group: 76 ± 7 pixels, treated group 41 ± 3 pixels. Thickness of germinal epitellium, 51.5 ± 2.9µm and 73.1 ± 3.1µm, for control group and treated group respectively. Sperm concentration in the treated group was 300% superior than in control group. It is concluded that the administration of synthetic GnRH-I, is a viable alternative to be used as part of the assisted reproductive techniques to induce reproduction.

ENDEMIC ORTHOPOXVIRUS CIRCULATING IN PROCYONIDS IN MEXICO.

Limited serosurveillance studies suggested that orthopoxviruses (OPXV) are widespread in the US (e.g., Raccoonpox virus, Skunkpox virus, Volepox virus) and Brazil (Vaccinia virus); however, their animal reservoir(s) remain unconfirmed. Mexican mammal diversity includes several species related to those in which evidence for OPXV infections has been found (Oryzomys, Peromyscus, Microtus, and Procyonidae). The presence of these groups of mammals in Mexico and the evidence of their possible involvement in the maintenance of OPXV in nature suggest the same or similar OPXV are circulating in Mexico. We tested 201 sera from 129 procyonids via modified enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western blot (WB) to estimate OPXV antibody prevalence in these animals. We detected a prevalence of 16.67% in Nasua narica (white-nosed coati), 35% in Procyon lotor (raccoon), and 30.4% in Bassariscus astutus (ring-tailed cat) when tested by either ELISA or WB. Western blot results presented protein bands consistent with the size of some OPXV immunodominant bands (14, 18, 32, 36, and 62 kDa). These results support the hypothesis that OPXV circulate in at least three genera of Procyonidae in Central and Southeast Mexico.

Resultados preliminares de la inseminación artificial del panda gigante (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) en el Zoollógico de Chapultepec, de la Ciudad de México / Preliminary results of artificial insemination in the giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) at the Chapultepec Zoo in Mexico City

El panda gigante (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) es un carnívoro silvestre que habita en China y que se encuentra en grave peligro de extinción. Esta especie se reprodujo naturalmente por primera vez fuera de ese país en el Zoológico de Chapultepec de la ciudad de México y hasta el momento han nacido 8 crías en un total de 6 partos, de éstas sobreviven 4 ejemplares. A partir de 1990, se han realizado 10 inseminaciones artificiales en 2 hembras. En este trabajo se exponen las técnicas de electroeyaculación, conservación de semen fresco y congelamiento del mismo e inseminación artificial a través de la vagina en el panda gigante. La inseminación se lleva a cabo utilizando un espéculo o un vaginoscopio y catéteres uretrales. Se debe diferenciar la uretra de la entrada de la vagina en el interior de un vestíbulo que se encuentra próximo a la vulva; generalmente el semen fresco o descongelado se deposita intravaginalmente y solamente por medio de la ayuda de un endoscopio se ha logado depositar el semen dentro del útero vía transcervical. Hasta el momento, ninguna de las hembras ha quedado gestante utilizando la inseminación artificial. El seguiento del ciclo reproductivo se ha llevado a cabo mediante la observación del comportamiento de los ejemplares y de algunos otros signos externos tales como la disminución del apetito (anorexia) y el color e hinchazón de la vulva. Con base en el desarrollo de este estudio de la inseminación artificial en pandas gigantes, se concluye que existe cierta dificultad para relaizar dicha técnica, en especial debido a las particularidades anatómicas del aparato reproductivo y a la necesidad de instrumentar una técnica de seguimiento eficaz del ciclo reproductivo en las hembras a fin de conocer el momento exacto de la ovulación y asegurar el éxito de la inseminación artificial. Una de las técnicas que podría llevarse a cabo para tal efecto, es el análisis de los niveles de hormonas esteroides en orina y excremento, para correlacionarlo con las observaciones etológicas que se llevan a cabo

Investigación serológica de leptospirosis en fauna silvestre mantenida en cautiverio en el zoológico de Chapultepec de la ciudad de México / Serological survey of leptosporosis in captive wildlife at the Chapultepec Zoo in Mexico City

Son escasos los estudios sobre leptospirosis en fauna silvestre albergada en parques zoológicos. Sin embargo, hay antecedentes serológicos de esta enfermedad en el zoológico de Chapultepec de la ciudad de México. Con el objeto de conocer la frecuencia serológica y el perfil inmunológico de las distintas serovariedades ahí alojadas se analizaron 48 muestras de suero de 19 diferentes especies animales, mediante la técnica de aglutinación microscópica, empleando 12 serovariedades de leptospira. Se consideraron positivos los sueros cuyos títulos fueron de 1:100 o mayores. Los resultados indican que en 15 distintas especies hubo serrorreactores positivos a 8 diferentes serovariedades y que el 52 por ciento de los sueros resultó positivo; en algunos sueros se encontraron títulos de 1:1600. Las serovariedades identificadas fueron: icterohaemorrhagiae (40 por ciento), canicola y pyrogenes (26 por ciento), hebdomadis (23 por ciento), pomona y grippotyphosa (12 por ciento) y autumnalis y panama (2 por ciento). Estos datos indican que la leptospirosis es una enfermedad ampliamente difundida entre las colonias de animales y que hay una importante diversidad de serovariedades de L. interrogans, por lo que es necesario diseñar un programa de prevención y control con base en estos datos. Además, en este estudio se encontró la presencia de anticuerpos aglutinantes de leptospira en especies animales como el león (Panthera leo), pantera (Pantera pardus), oso polar (Thalarctos maritimus), rinocerontes tanto blanco (Ceratotherium simum) como negro (Diceros bicornis), orangután (Pongo pygmaeus) y tigre (Panthera tigris) de las cuales no se encontraron informes previos, por lo que también se amplía la información epizootiológica existente sobre los posibles huéspedes de esta enfermedad