Zoonotic parasites infecting free-living armadillos from Brazil.

Armadillos are specialist diggers and their burrows are used to find food, seek shelter and protect their pups. These burrows can also be shared with dozens of vertebrate and invertebrate species and; consequently, their parasites including the zoonotics. The aim of this study was to diagnose the presence of zoonotic parasites in four wild-caught armadillo species from two different Brazilian ecosystems, the Cerrado (Brazilian savanna) and the Pantanal (wetland). The investigated parasites and their correspondent diseases were: Toxoplasma gondii (toxoplasmosis), Trypanosoma cruzi (Chagas disease), Leishmania spp., (leishmaniasis), Paracoccidioides brasiliensis (Paracoccidioidomicosis) and Mycobacterium leprae (Hansen's disease). Forty-three free-living armadillos from Pantanal and seven road-killed armadillos from the Cerrado were sampled. Trypanosoma cruzi DTU TcIII were isolated from 2 out of 43 (4.65%) armadillos, including one of them also infected with Trypanosoma rangeli. Antibodies anti-T. gondii were detected in 13 out of 43 (30.2%) armadillos. All seven armadillos from Cerrado tested positive for P. brasiliensis DNA, in the lungs, spleen, liver fragments. Also, by molecular analysis, all 43 individuals were negative for M. leprae and Leishmania spp. Armadillos were infected by T. cruzi, T. rangeli, P. brasiliensis and presented seric antibodies to T. gondii, highlighting the importance of those armadillos could have in the epidemiology of zoonotic parasites.

Prevalence and incidence density of Mycobacterium leprae and Trypanosoma cruzi infections within a population of wild nine-banded armadillos.

A total of 415 wild 9-banded armadillos from the East Atchafalaya River Levee (Point Coupee, LA) were collected over 4 years to estimate the incidence and prevalence of Mycobacterium leprae and Trypanosoma cruzi and to discern any relationship between the 2 agents. M. leprae infections were maintained at a high steady prevalence rate year to year averaging 19%. T. cruzi antibody prevalence remained relatively low, averaging 3.9%, and varied markedly between years. Prevalence rates were independent, with only 3 armadillos coinfected with both agents. M. leprae incidence density ranged from 0.47 to 3.5 cases per 1,000 animal-days, depending on case definition, confirming active intense transmission of M. leprae among armadillos. No incident T. cruzi cases were found. These infections seem to occur independently and may be used in comparisons to understand better factors that may influence transmission of these agents.

Prevalence and incidence density of Mycobacterium leprae and trypanosoma cruzi infections within a population of wild nine-banded armadillos

A total of 415 wild 9-banded armadillos from the East Atchafalaya River Levee (Point Coupee, LA) were collected over 4 years to estimate the incidence and prevalence of Mycobacterium leprae and Trypanosoma cruzi and to discern any relationship between the 2 agents. M. leprae infections were maintained at a high steady prevalence rate year to year averaging 19 per cent. T. cruzi antibody prevalence remained relatively low, averaging 3.9 per cent, and varied markedly between years. Prevalence rates were independent, with only 3 armadillos coinfected with both agents. M. leprae incidence density ranged from 0.47 to 3.5 cases per 1,000 animal-days, depending on case definition, confirming active intense transmission of M. leprae among armadillos. No incident T. cruzi cases were found. These infections seem to occur independently and may be used in comparisons to understand better factors that may influence transmission of these agents.