Prevalence of Trypanosoma cruzi, the Etiologic Agent of Chagas Disease, Infection in Texas Skunks (Mammalia: Mephitidae).

Background: Chagas disease is one of the world's most neglected tropical diseases, infecting over six million people across the Americas. The hemoparasite Trypanosoma cruzi is the etiological agent for the disease, circulating in domestic, peridomestic, and sylvatic transmission cycles that are maintained by triatomine vectors and a diversity of wild and synanthropic hosts. Public health and wildlife management interventions targeting the interruption of T. cruzi transmission rely on an understanding of the dynamics driving the ecology of this zoonotic pathogen. One wildlife host that purportedly plays a role in the transmission of Chagas disease within the southern United States is the striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis), although infection prevalence in this species is poorly understood. Materials and Methods: To this end, we conducted a PCR-based surveillance of T. cruzi in 235 wild skunks, representing 4 species, across 76 counties and 10 ecoregions in Texas, United States, along with an evaluation of risk factors associated with the infection. Results: We recovered an overall T. cruzi prevalence of 17.9% for all mephitid taxa aggregated, ranging between 6.7% for plains spotted skunks (Spilogale putorius interrupta) and 42.9% for western spotted skunks (Spilogale gracilis). We report the first cases of T. cruzi infection in plains spotted and American hog-nosed skunks (Conepatus leuconotus), of important note for conservation medicine since populations of both species are declining within Texas. Although not statistically significant, we also detected trends for juveniles to exhibit greater infection risk than adults and for differential sex biases in T. cruzi prevalence between taxa, which align with variations in species-specific seasonal activity patterns. No geographic or taxonomic risk factors were identified. Conclusion: Our study contributed key data for population viability analyses and epidemiologic models in addition to providing a baseline for future T. cruzi surveillance among skunks and other wildlife species.

PREVALENCE AND INTENSITY OF THE SINUS ROUNDWORM ( SKRJABINGYLUS CHITWOODORUM) IN RABIES-NEGATIVE SKUNKS OF TEXAS, USA.

: Estimates of the distribution and prevalence of the sinus roundworm ( Skrjabingylus chitwoodorum) have been based largely on the inspection of skunk (Mephitidae) skulls showing damage from infections. We examined 595 striped skunks ( Mephitis mephitis) and nine hog-nosed skunks ( Conepatus leuconotus) that had tested negative for rabies by the Texas Department of State Health Services (US) between November 2010 and April 2015 to determine species of Skrjabingylus, prevalence and intensity of infection, and distribution of infection in Texas by county. We expected ecoregions with more precipitation to have higher rates of infection than more-arid ecoregions. Prevalence of S. chitwoodorum in striped skunks was 48.7%, with a mean intensity of 19.4 (SD=24.44, range=1-181) nematodes. There was a bias for the left sinus. The prevalence of infection varied among ecoregions of Texas, but it was not correlated with precipitation. Infection intensity did not vary among ecoregions. The prevalence of sinus roundworms in rabies-negative skunks suggested that behavioral changes because of skrjabingylosis might have been responsible for the submission by the public of some skunks for rabies testing.

A contribuição de Francisco de Barros Jr. ao conhecimento da fauna de vertebrados da Região Sul do Brasil / Francisco de Barros Jr. 's contribution to the knowledge of the vertebrate fauna in the South Region of Brasil / La contribución de francisco de barros jr. Al conocimiento de la fauna de vertebrados de la región sur de brasil

Na primeira metade do século XX, Francisco de Barros Jr. percorreu parte do Brasil em viagens que tinham o objetivo de divulgar e comercializar munições para armas de fogo. Conhecido e afamado no país como caçador e pescador, ele praticava intensamente tais atividades. Apesar de suas viagens nada terem de expedições científicas, foi nelas que Barros Jr. reuniu informações para publicação dos três volumes do livro Caçando e pescando por todo o Brasil. O primeiro volume relata viagens realizadas nas décadas de 30 e 40 do século XX, aos estados de Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina, Paraná, São Paulo e Mato Grosso (atuais estados de Mato Grosso do Sul e Mato Grosso). Este artigo traz os resultados da análise crítica das citações de animais vertebrados (peixes, anfíbios, répteis, aves e mamíferos) nos estados da Região Sul do Brasil (Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina, Paraná). O texto foi avaliado com relação à qualidade da informação apresentada pelo autor, nível de detalhamento da descrição e situação que gerou a citação. Para os estados da Região Sul, o livro cita 10 espécies de peixes ósseos (Classe Osteichthyes), 2 espécies de anfíbios (Classe Amphibia), 5 espécies de répteis (Classe Reptilia), 24 espécies de aves (Classe Aves) e 21 espécies de mamíferos (Classe Mammalia). A importância dos dados coligidos por Barros Jr. se evidencia na descrição da abundância de várias espécies que atualmente se encontram ameaçadas de extinção e especialmente na citação, para o Estado do Paraná, de 2 espécies de mamífero que até recentemente ainda apresentavam problemas de confirmação de ocorrência – a ariranha (Pteronura brasiliensis) e o cangambá (Conepatus chinga).

ABSTRACT: In the fi rst half of the 20th century, Francisco de Barros Jr. traveled around great part of Brazil in journeys that aimed at commercializing fi re gun ammunition. Well-known and famous in the country as a hunter and fi sherman, he practiced such activities intensely. Although his trips were not scientifi c expeditions, they gave him information for the publication of three volumes of the book "Caçando e pescando por todo o Brasil" ("Hunting and fi shing all over Brasil"). The book fi rst volume reports trips taken in the decades of 1930-40 of the 20th century, to the states of Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina, Paraná, São Paulo, and Mato Grosso (current states of Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul). This article brings the results of the critical analysis of the mention of vertebrate animals (fi sh, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals) in the states of southern Brazil (Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina, and Paraná). The quality of the information presented by the author was evaluated, based on the level of details of the description and situations which have generated the quotes. For the southern states of Brasil, the book mentions ten species of bony fi sh (Osteichthyes group), two species of amphibians (Amphibia group), fi ve species of reptiles (Reptilia group), 24 species of birds (Aves group), and 21 species of mammals (Mammalia group). The importance of the data recorded by Barros Jr. is emphasized in the description of the abundance of several species that are now threatened with extinction, and especially in the quote, for the State of Paraná, of two mammal species which present problems of occurrence confi rmation so far - the giant-otter (Pteronura brasiliensis) and the hog-nosed skunk (Conepatus chinga).

RESUMEN: En la primera mitad del siglo XX, Francisco de Barros Jr. viajó por gran parte de Brasil en jornadas que tenían el objetivo para divulgar y comercializar munición para armas. Muy conocido y afamado en el país como cazador y pescador, él practicó tales actividades intensamente. Sus viajes no eran expediciones científi cas, pero le dieron información para la publicación del libro "Caçando e pescando por todo o Brasil" ("Cazando y pescando por todo el Brasil"). El primer volumen del libro relata viajes ocurridas en las décadas de 30 y 40 del siglo XX a los estados de Río Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina, Paraná, São Paulo y Mato Grosso (actuales estados de Mato Grosso y Mato Grosso do Sul). Este artículo trae los resultados del análisis crítico de las citaciones de animales vertebrados (peces, anfi bios, reptiles, aves y mamíferos) en los estados del sur de Brasil (Río Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina y Paraná). La calidad de la información presentada por el autor fue evaluada con base en el nivel de detalle de la descripción y situaciones que generaron las citaciones. Para los estados del sur de Brasil, el libro menciona diez especies de peces óseos (Clase Osteichthyes), dos especies de anfi bios (Clase Amphibia), cinco especies de reptiles (Clase Reptilia), 24 especies de aves (Clase Aves) y 21 especies de mamíferos (Clase Mammalia). La importancia de los datos registrados por Barros Jr. se evidencia en la descripción de la abundancia de varias especies que actualmente se encuentran amenazadas de extinción, y sobre todo en las citaciones, para el Estado de Paraná, de dos especies de mamíferos que hasta recientemente presentaban problemas de confi rmación de ocurrencia ­ el lobo de río grande o arirai (Pteronura brasiliensis) y el zorrino (Conepatus chinga).