Bacterial septicemia in water snakes (Helicops modestus) in Brazil

Relata-se infecção septicêmica em cobras d’água (Helicops modestus) causada por Proteus vulgaris. Os animais iniciavam o processo apresentando abscessos puntiformes de coloração esbranquiçada na pele e após rápida evolução, morriam (100% de mortalidade). Descreve-se, ainda, a sensibilidade do P. vulgaris isolado dos animais a drogas antibacterianas.

Clinical problems of sloths (Bradypus sp. and Choloepus sp.) in captivity.

A 20-yr retrospective study of disease prevalence was carried out for 51 sloths (34 Bradypus sp. and 17 Choloepus sp.) at the São Paulo Zoo. A total of 81 clinical disorders were detected, including nutritional (45.7%), digestive (12.3%), and respiratory (12.3%) problems and injuries (6.1%). A definitive diagnosis was not possible in 8.6% of the cases. The incidence of disease varied according to seasonal climate (winter, 32.5%; spring, 24%; summer, 22.9%; autumn, 20.5%), time in captivity (96.4% of diseases occurred within the first 6 mo and 3.6% occurred thereafter), and type of enclosure (quarantine cage, 96.4%; exhibition enclosure, 3.6%). Both young animals (86.7%) and adults (3.2%) were affected. Parasites were identified by fecal examination in 45.4% of animals with clinical illness (Ascaris sp., 80%; Coccidia sp., 20%). Bacteria such as Salmonella enteritidis, Escherichia coli, and Citrobacter freundii were isolated from feces and/or organs. The first 6 mo in captivity are critical for these animals. Proper management and early identification of medical conditions in captivity have implications for sloth population in the wild.

Clinical disorders in armadillos (Dasypodidae, Edentata) in captivity.

The major health problems found in 113 armadillos are presented and correlated with management in captivity. The most common of 217 recorded clinical disorders involved injury (28.5%), digestive system (17.9%), respiratory system (15.2%), nutritional deficiency (13.3%), skin problems (3.6%), septicaemia (1.8%), nervous system (1.3%), urinary system (0.9%) and effects of environmental (0.9%), with 14.7% of the cases inconclusive. Internal parasites were identified in 42.0% of faeces samples, mainly eggs of helminths (66.6%), of which the commonest were Ancylostoma sp. (33.3%), Strongyloides sp. (30.5%), Ascaris sp. (25.0%), Trichuris sp. (11.1%), and also protozoa (13.0%). Enterobacteriaceae were the bacteria most frequently isolated, with Escherichia coli the most prevalent, followed by Salmonella sp. and Enterobacter aerogenes. The most successful treatments are listed. The influence of some captive factors on the onset of the diseases was also analysed: donated animals 91.1% and zoo born 8.8%; quarantine enclosure 84.0% and exhibition 15.0%; and related to time in captivity, 92.2% occurred with animals in the first 6 months in the zoo and 7.8% with animals more than 6 months.

Dermatoses observadas no homem e em animais de laboratório, domésticos e silvestres em São Paulo. Levantamento retrospectivo / Dermatoses observed in man, laboratory, domestic and wild animals, in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Restrospective study

Five hundred and forty-five samples of hair, feathers, skin, scale and nails scrapings of 28 different species, including humans domestic animals, laboratory animals and wild animals were analysed. Samples were examined by direct microscopy after 30 per cent KOH clarification, and cultured in dextrose agar Sabouraud, Mycobiotic agar (dextrose 10 g/L, chlormicetine 0.05 g/L, cycloheximide 0.5 g/L), and in brain heart infusion agar (BHI agar). The results obtained after isolation and identification were: bacteria 53.94 per cent, non-dermatophytes mycelial fungi 42.56 per cent, dermatophytes 17.43 per cent, yeasts 13.57 per cent, and acari 2.93 per cent, and 19.26 per cent were negative. Staphylococcus were the most prevalent bacteria and among dermatophytes the most prevalent were M. canis; among non-dermatophytes mycelial the Aspergillus sp, and Candida sp were the most common yeasts isolated

Atividade reprodutiva de leoas - Panthera (Felis) leo, em semiliberdade. Säo Paulo - Brasil / Reproductive activity in female lions - Panthera (Felis) leo, in semiliberty. Sao Paulo - Brazil

Analisaram-se dados retrospectivos de 23 anos da atividade reprodutiva de 25 leoas adultas, com idade entre dois anos e seis meses e 19 anos e quatro meses, mantidas em parque de animais silvestres em Säo Paulo, Brasil. Os resultados mostraram início da atividade reprodutiva em dois anos e meio e onze anos e meio, com período fértil mais intenso entre três e oito anos, máximo de oito partos ao longo da vida, ciclo estral, em média de 12,9 dias, ocorrendo o ano todo (poliéstricas näo-estacional), gestaçäo ao redor de 111,8 dias, intervalo de partos de seis e oito meses, número de filhotes por parto de um a cinco e longevidade além de dezenove anos e quatro meses. A espécie Panthera (Felis) leo está bastante adaptada ao meio, podendo reproduzir-se intensamente em parques e zoológicos do Brasil e provocar superpopulaçöes, até mesmo consanguíneas, caso sua atividade reprodutiva näo seja devidamente controlada

Health problems of Callithrix jacchus in captivity.

A 20-year retrospective study was carried out to determine the prevalence of diseases occurring in 265 (155 males and 110 females) common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus), kept at the São Paulo Zoo. A total of 564 clinical disorders were detected: digestive problems, 50.2% (protozoa, 44.3%; helminths, 26.3%; bacteria, 7.0%; non-especific causes, 22.4%); respiratory problems (pneumonia), 16.3%; injuries, 13.8%; nutritional deficiency, 4.4%; reproductive problems (obstetrical) 2.5%; septicemia, 1.6%; circulatory problems, 1.6%; sporadic cases, 4.0%; inconclusive cases, 5.5%. Little attention has been paid to the sanitary care of marmosets in Brazil. Since most of the available information comes from the international literature, the occurrence of major diseases and their etiological agents in Brazil are relevant data.

Delayed hypersensitivity test with paracoccidioidin in captive Latin American wild mammals.

The aim of this investigation was to study epidemiological aspects of paracoccidioidomycosis, the main endemic systemic mycosis in Brazil. This study was carried out using the paracoccidioidin delayed hypersensitivity test in 96 Latin American wild mammals, including 49 arboreal animals (primates): 33 Cebus apella (weeping-capuchin), 16 Callithrix jacchus (marmoset); and 47 terrestrial animals (carnivora): 37 Nasua nasua (coatimundi), and 10 Felidae [Panthera onca (jaguar), Felis paradalis (ocelot), Felis wiedii (margay), Felis tigrina (wild cat) and Felis geoffroyi (wild cat)], taking their behaviour and habitat into consideration. When the levels of paracoccidiodin positive reactions were examined, terrestrial animals showed significantly higher rates (82.98%) while arboreal animals showed lower reactivity (22.45%) (P < 0.01). The data are relevant because there are quite a few papers regarding domestic and wild animals and this study may help the understanding of some aspects of the parasite ecology. These results point to the soil as the most probable reservoir of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis, and this is possibly the ecological niche of the saprophytic phase in nature.

Clinical disorders observed in anteaters (Myrmecophagidae, Edentata) in captivity.

The major health problems found in 103 captive lesser anteaters (Tamandua tetradactyla) and giant anteaters (Myrmecophaga tridactyla), family Myrmecophagidae, are presented and correlated with management. The most common of 200 recorded clinical disorders involved the digestive system (26%), nutritional deficiency (20%), injury (15.5%), respiratory system (10%), skin (7%) and circulatory system (4.5%), but 13% of the cases were inconclusive. Parasites were identified in 48.5% of faecal samples, mainly the eggs of nematodes (40%), of which the commonest were Trichuris spp (28%) and Strongyloides spp (11%); protozoa (16%), of which the commonest were Eimeria spp (10%), Entamoeba spp (5%) and Giardia spp (1%); and cestodes (8%) and acanthocephalids (1%). Bacteria cultured from the various materials included Salmonella enteritidis, S. cholerasuis, Escherichia coli, Enterobacter aerogenes, Streptococcus spp and Staphylococcus spp. The ectoparasites found were Amblyomma spp and Otodectis spp (Arthropoda, Acaridae).

Health problems of Callithrix jacchus in captivity

A 20-year retrospective study was carried out to determine the prevalence of diseases occurring in 265 (155 males and 110 females) common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus), kept at the Säo Paulo Zoo. A total of 564 clinical disorders were detected: digestive problems, 50.2percent (protozoa, 44.3 percent; helminths, 26.3 percent; bacteria, 7.0 percent; non-especific causes, 22.4 percent); respiratory problems (pneumonia), 16.3 percent; injuries, 13.8 percent; nutritional deficiency, 4.4 percent; reproductive problems (obstetrical) 2.5 percent; septicemia, 1.6 percent; circulatory problems, 1.6 percent; sporadic cases, 4.0 percent; inconclusive cases, 5.5 percent. Little attention has been paid to the sanitary care of marmosets in Brazil. Since most of the available information comes from the international literature, the occurrence of major diseases and their etiological agents in Brazil are relevant data

[Interspecific outbreaks of dermatomycoses +caused by Microsporum canis and Microsporum gypseum]. / Surtos interespecíficos de dermatomicoses por Microsporum canis e Microsporum gypseum.

Dermatomycosis in domestic animals are important zoonosis in view of the fact that they maintain close contact with human beings. Seven ringworm outbreaks are here described, one of M. gypseum involving a cat and a women and the remainder of M. canis involving 20 human beings (adults, young people and children), 5 dogs, 16 cats and a gibbon-monkey (Hylobates lar).

Surtos interespecíficos de dermatomicoses por Microsporum canis e Microsporum gypseum / Human and animal dermatomycosis: outbreaks of Microsporum canis and Microsporum gypseum

As dermatomicoses dos animais domésticos constituem zoonoses importantes, uma vez que estes mantêm estreito contato com a espécie humana, dada a alta infectividade observada nesses processos. Relata-se ocorrência de sete surtos de dermatomicoses, um por M. gypseum envolvendo um gato e um indivíduo do sexo feminino e os outros por M. canis envolvendo 20 indivíduos da espécie humana (adultos, jovens e crianças de ambos os sexos), 5 cäes, 16 gatos e um macaco gibäo (Hylobates lar)

Epidemiological study of sporotrichosis and histoplasmosis in captive Latin American wild mammals, São Paulo, Brazil.

Sporotrichosis and histoplasmosis are deep mycosis with a high incidence in human beings in Brazil. In domestic animals histoplasmosis has been described only in dogs, but the occurrence of sporotrichosis among domestic animals in Brazil has been described in dogs, cats, mules and asses. There is also a case of this disease reported in a chimpanzee (Pan troglodites). The purpose of this research was to perform an epidomiological study of these mycoses using delayed hypersensitivity tests (histoplasmin and sporotrichin) in Latin American wild mammals. This research was assayed using 96 healthy animals at Parque Zoológico de São Paulo, Brazil: Primates: 33 Cebus apella--weeping-capuchin and 16 Callithrix jacchus--marmoset; Procyonidae: 37 Nasua nasua--coatimundi and 10 Felidae (Panthera onca--jaguar; Felis pardalis--ocelot Felis wiedii--margay; Felis tigrina--wild cat). For intradermic tests, the following antigens were used: Sporothrix schenkii cell suspension (sporotrichin, histoplasmin-filtrate), Histoplasma capsulatum cell suspension (histoplasmin), and Histoplasma capsulatum (polysaccharide). The positivity to histoplasmin was 44.79% (Cebidae 15.15%; Callithricidae 6.25%; Procyonidae 86.49% and Felidae 50.00%, respectively). With respect to sporotrichin, 30.21% (Cebidae 6.06%, Callithricidae 0.0%; Procyonidae 64.86% and Felidae 30.00% respectively). The pattern of infection is similar to that shown by human beings and this may suggest that these animals could be involved in the epidemiologic chain of sporotrichosis and histoplasmosis, the second most prevalent human deep mycoses in Brazil. It is important to point out the absence of similar studies in Latin American wild animals.

Adenocarcinoma metastatico. Apresentacao de um caso. / Metastatic adenocarcinoma.Report of a case

Os autores apresentam um caso de adenocarcinoma de mama com metastases para a pele, coluna vertebral, medula ossea e pulmao, e fazem revisao da literatura, mostrando a importancia das manifestacoes cutaneas em doencas sistemicas. O diagnostico foi confirmado pelo exame histopatologico de lesao cutanea