Uses of nonhuman primates by humans in northeastern Brazil.

Humans have used non-human primates (hereafter referred to as primates) as food source, medicine, parts of rituals, pets, and models for various studies worldwide. Here we investigated the extent of the use of primates by humans in three areas in northeastern Brazil, the country's most impoverished region. We carried out our study in three biomes (Caatinga, Cerrado, and Atlantic Forest). The results showed that humans exploited all five primate species occurring in the study sites: Callithrix jacchus, Sapajus flavius, Sapajus libidinosus, Alouatta belzebul, and Alouatta ululata. They used the primates as a food source, as pets and medicines, and for leisure. Despite socioeconomic differences in the study areas, we found similarities in the use of primates. Larger primates were targeted for meat, whereas the small common marmosets were targeted as pets. We found conflicting interactions between humans and bearded capuchins due to crop raiding, but no such conflict was found between humans and blonde capuchins, reflecting the differences in crop type, pattern, and tradition in the sites. A. ululata was used as medicine. We suggest that environmental education actions in the study areas should focus on (i) raising awareness among local people of the ecological importance of primates, (ii) providing alternative activities to hunting whenever possible, and (iii) minimising conflicts.

Hematology and serum biochemistry of free-range brown-throated sloths in two urban areas in Brazil.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The brown-throated sloth (Bradypus variegatus) is widely distributed in three biomes: The Amazon, Atlantic Forest, and Caatinga. Some subpopulations are isolated in urban areas in Brazil, usually in squares and small woods. Due to the scarcity of reference values, an investigation was carried out on the hematology and blood biochemistry of brown-throated sloths from urban areas. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Blood was collected by venipuncture in the femoral vein from 19 brown-throated sloths for hematological and biochemical analyses, living in two municipalities; Teófilo Otoni (TO) (Minas Gerais State) and Rio Tinto (RT) (Paraíba state), in the Atlantic Forest biome, Brazil. The samples were analyzed in specialized veterinary laboratories using automatic cell counters and slide fixation staining methods. RESULTS: The two subpopulations of brown-throated sloths had no significant differences in most hematological values, with the exception of a higher leukocyte concentration (p<0.01) in the RT sub-population. The difference in leukocyte concentration suggests an idiosyncratic effect, as the animals were healthy and the stress of the capture was acute, not chronic. The concentrations of urea, creatinine, and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were similar (p<0.05) in brown-throated sloths from TO and RT. Likewise, the liver enzyme concentrations (ALP, alanine transaminase [ALT], and aspartate transaminase [AST]) did not differ between the two subpopulations (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Compared to another study, brown-throated sloths from TO and RT have higher plasma concentrations of ALT and ALP, suggestive of a hepatic overload. Hematological and blood biochemical findings of TO and RT can be used as clinical reference values for brown-throated sloths living in an urban environment.