The influence of parasitism by Trypanosoma cruzi in the hematological parameters of the white ear opossum (Didelphis albiventris) from Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil.

Considered ecologically generalist, Didelphis albiventris is reported as reservoir for different species of parasites, especially Trypanosoma cruzi. However, the knowledge about the influence of T. cruzi on hematological parameters of free-living opossum remains scarce. The present study aimed to evaluate the influence of T. cruzi on hematological parameters of white-ear opossums (D. albiventris) from Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. The blood samples and biometric data were collected from 40 opossums captured by Tomahawk and Sherman traps in six urban forest fragments located in the city. The health of these animals was inferred, mainly, by means of blood parameters (PCV, RBC, WBC, MCV and WBC differential). Molecular detection of T. cruzi infection was performed by nested polymerase chain reaction (nPCR), using 18S and 24Sα rDNA region as target. Paired-t-test and simple linear regression were used for statistical analysis. No significant difference was observed between the averages of hematological variables in relation to gender and body condition. The molecular diagnosis showed that 32.5% (13/40) of the opossums were infected by T. cruzi, which presented lymphocytosis (3.4 ±â€¯1.5) and eosinophilia (0.09 ±â€¯0.13). Path analysis showed that T. cruzi infection resulted in increased numbers of lymphocytes and indirectly decreased the body condition of opossums. Moreover T. cruzi infection resulted in a direct effect on decrease of MCV. Overall, our results suggest that T. cruzi infection may represent a risk to health of opossums since the lymphocytosis may cause a secondary damage on body condition of infected animals.

Correction: Outcomes of Trypanosoma cruzi and Trypanosoma evansi infections on health of Southern coati (Nasua nasua), crab-eating fox (Cerdocyon thous), and ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) in the Brazilian Pantanal.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0201357.].

Outcomes of Trypanosoma cruzi and Trypanosoma evansi infections on health of Southern coati (Nasua nasua), crab-eating fox (Cerdocyon thous), and ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) in the Brazilian Pantanal.

The occurrence of Trypanosoma spp. in wild carnivore populations has been intensively investigated during the last decades. However, the impact of these parasites on the health of free-living infected animals has been largely neglected. The Pantanal biome is the world's largest seasonal wetland, harboring a great diversity of species and habitats. This includes 174 species of mammals, of which 20 belong to the order Carnivora. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of Trypanosoma evansi and Trypanosoma cruzi infections and coinfections on the health of the most abundant carnivores in the Pantanal: coati (Nasua nasua), crab-eating fox (Cerdocyon thous), and ocelot (Leopardus pardalis). We captured 39 coatis, 48 crab-eating foxes, and 19 ocelots. Diagnostic tests showed T. cruzi infection in 7 crab-eating foxes and 5 coatis. Additionally, 7 crab-eating foxes, 10 coatis, and 12 ocelots were positive for T. evansi. We observed coinfections in 9 crab-eating foxes, 8 coatis, and 2 ocelots. This is the first report of T. evansi and T. cruzi infection on the health of free-living ocelots and crab-eating foxes. We showed that single T. evansi or T. cruzi infection, as well as coinfection, caused some degree of anemia in all animals, as well as an indirect negative effect on body condition in coatis and crab-eating foxes via anemia indicators and immune investment, respectively. Furthermore, the vigorous immune investment observed in sampled coatis, crab-eating foxes and ocelots infected by T. evansi, T. cruzi and coinfected can be highly harmful to their health. Overall, our results indicate that single and combined infection with T. evansi and T. cruzi represent a severe risk to the health of wild carnivores in the Pantanal region.

Molecular and serological detection of tick-borne pathogens in dogs from an area endemic for Leishmania infantum in Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil

Tick-borne pathogens affect a wide range of vertebrate hosts. To identify tick-borne pathogens among dogs from Campo Grande, MS, Brazil testing seropositive for Leishmania infantum (syn. L. chagasi), a serological and molecular study was conducted to detect Ehrlichia canis, Anaplasma platys and Babesia vogeli in 60 serum and spleen samples. A confirmatory diagnosis of L. infantum based on serological and molecular assays was also performed, as was sequence alignment and phylogenetic analysis to assess the identity of the parasite species infecting these animals. IgG antibodies to Ehrlichia spp., B. vogeli and L. infantum were found, respectively, in 39 (65%), 49 (81.6%) and 60 (100%) of the sampled dogs. Twenty-seven (45%), fifty-four (90%), fifty-three (88.3%), two (3.3%) and one (1.6%) dog were positive, respectively, for E. canis, Leishmania spp., Leishmania donovani complex, Babesia sp. and Anaplasma sp. in PCR assays. After sequencing, the amplicons showed 99% of identity with E. canis, B. vogeli, A. platys and Leishmania chagasi isolates. The findings of this study indicate that L. infantum-seropositive dogs from Campo Grande are exposed to multiple tick-borne pathogens, which should therefore be included in the differential diagnosis of dogs with clinical suspicion of leishmaniasis.

Patógenos transmitidos por carrapatos atingem uma variedade de hospedeiros vertebrados. Para identificar os agentes patogênicos transmitidos por carrapatos entre cães soropositivos para Leishmania infantum no município Campo Grande-MS, foi realizado um estudo sorológico e molecular para a detecção de Ehrlichia canis, Anaplasma platys e Babesia vogeli em 60 amostras de soro e baço, respectivamente. Adicionalmente, foi realizado o diagnóstico confirmatório de L. infantum por meio de técnicas sorológicas e moleculares. Também foi realizado o alinhamento e análise filogenética das sequências para indicar a identidade das espécies de parasitas que infectam esses animais. Anticorpos IgG anti-Ehrlichia spp., anti-B. vogeli e anti-L. infantum foram detectados em 39 (65%), 49 (81,6%) e 60 (100%) dos cães amostrados, respectivamente. Vinte e sete (45%), cinquenta e quatro (90%), cinquenta e três (88,3%), dois (3,3%) e um (1,6%) cães mostraram-se positivos na PCR para E. canis, Leishmania spp., Leishmania donovani complex, Babesia sp. e Anaplasma sp., respectivamente. Após o seqüenciamento, os amplicons mostraram 99% de similaridade com isolados de E. canis, B. vogeli e A. platys e Leishmania chagasi. Os resultados deste estudo indicaram que os cães soropositivos para L. infantum de Campo Grande, MS, são expostos a vários agentes transmitidos por carrapatos, e, portanto, devem ser incluídos no diagnóstico diferencial em cães com suspeita clínica de leishmaniose.

INTOXICAÇÃO POR DISOFENOL EM CAPRINOS

Fifty-six goats died approximately 44 hours after been medicated with disophenol. Two animals were necropsied. Brown spots of approximately 2cm were observed in the capsule and cut surface of the liver. The cut surface of the kidneys presented clear areas mixed with dark areas. The urinary bladder was replete with urine and sediment. The abdominal, toracic and pericardic cavities had accumulation of yellow fluid. Edema was found in the trachea and lung. Metabolization of the coronary and mesenteric fat was also observed. Histologic lesions were characterized by centrilobular or diffuse necrosis of the liver; necrosis of the epitelial tubules, with presence of cilinders and congestion in the kidneys; and edema of the lung. Four goats were inoculated subcutaneously with 10, 10.5, 19.04 and 29.43mg per kg body weight of disophenol. The animal treated with 10.5mg/kg was mantained during 18 hours at room with temperature of 28ºC. The goat that recieved 29.43 mg/kg died. The macroscopic and histologic findings were similar to those observed in the spontaneous case.

Cinqüenta e seis cabras morreram em aproximadamente 44 horas após serem medicadas com disofenol. Dois animais foram necropsiados. Pontos de coloração marrom claro, com aproximadamente 2cm de diâmetro foram observados na cápsula e superfície de corte do órgão. A superfície de corte dos rins apresentaram áreas claras intercaladas com áreas escuras. A bexiga urinária estava repleta com urina e sedimento. A cavidade abdominal, torácica e o saco pericárdico tinham acúmulo de fluído amarelado. Espuma foi encontrada na traquéia e pulmões. Metabolização da gordura coronariana e mesentérica também foi observada. As lesões histológicas caracterizaram-se por necrose centrolobular ou massiva do fígado; necrose do epitélio dos túbulos, com presença de cilindros e congestão nos rins; e edema do pulmão. Em quatro cabras, foi aplicado por via subcutânea disofenol a doses de 10, 10,5, 19,04 e 29,43mg por kg de peso vivo. O caprino que recebeu 10,5mg/kg foi mantido em uma sala à temperatura de aproximadamente 28ºC durante 18 horas. O caprino que recebeu 29,43mg/kg morreu. Os achados macroscópicos e histológicos foram similares aos observados na intoxicação espontânea.

Intoxicação por disofenol em caprinos

Fifty-six goats died approximately 44 hours after been medicated with disophenol. Two animals were necropsied. Brown spots of approximately 2cm were observed in the capsule and cut surface of the liver. The cut surface of the kidneys presented clear areas mixed with dark areas. The urinary bladder was replete with urine and sediment. The abdominal, toracic and pericardic cavities had accumulation of yellow fluid. Edema was found in the trachea and lung. Metabolization of the coronary and mesenteric fat was also observed. Histologic lesions were characterized by centrilobular or diffuse necrosis of the liver; necrosis of the epitelial tubules, with presence of cilinders and congestion in the kidneys; and edema of the lung. Four goats were inoculated subcutaneously with 10, 10.5, 19.04 and 29.43mg per kg body weight of disophenol. The animal treated with 10.5mg/kg was mantained during 18 hours at room with temperature of 28ºC. The goat that recieved 29.43 mg/kg died. The macroscopic and histologic findings were similar to those observed in the spontaneous case.

Cinqüenta e seis cabras morreram em aproximadamente 44 horas após serem medicadas com disofenol. Dois animais foram necropsiados. Pontos de coloração marrom claro, com aproximadamente 2cm de diâmetro foram observados na cápsula e superfície de corte do órgão. A superfície de corte dos rins apresentaram áreas claras intercaladas com áreas escuras. A bexiga urinária estava repleta com urina e sedimento. A cavidade abdominal, torácica e o saco pericárdico tinham acúmulo de fluído amarelado. Espuma foi encontrada na traquéia e pulmões. Metabolização da gordura coronariana e mesentérica também foi observada. As lesões histológicas caracterizaram-se por necrose centrolobular ou massiva do fígado; necrose do epitélio dos túbulos, com presença de cilindros e congestão nos rins; e edema do pulmão. Em quatro cabras, foi aplicado por via subcutânea disofenol a doses de 10, 10,5, 19,04 e 29,43mg por kg de peso vivo. O caprino que recebeu 10,5mg/kg foi mantido em uma sala à temperatura de aproximadamente 28ºC durante 18 horas. O caprino que recebeu 29,43mg/kg morreu. Os achados macroscópicos e histológicos foram similares aos observados na intoxicação espontânea.