RESUMO
Armadillos (Dasypus sp.) are a natural host of a number of protozoal and bacterial pathogens of medical and veterinaty importance. To date , it is the best experimental host of leprosy caused by Mycobacterium leprae and can be naturally infected with this organism. Poor survical-rate of armadillos under conventional housing conditions, however, has proved a major obstacle in breeding D. novemcinctus on captivity. Encouraging results are reported for the breeding and survical of this xenarthran in a walled-off area of forest offering an environment similar to the armadillos' natural habitat. One female raised 2 consecutive litters of 2 and 4 offspring, respectively, to adult age. Increased production is anticipated after preparation of a number of these delimited areas of natural environment for breeding purposes
