Parasitism of Dirofilaria incrassata Molin, 1858 in coatis (Nasua nasua).

Populations of the coati, Nasua nasua, like the populations of other wild animals, are regulated by several biotic or abiotic factors. For example, parasites act as a biotic factor affecting the dynamics and density of coati populations. The parasitic nematodes of coatis include Dirofilaria species, such as Dirofilaria immitis, Dirofilaria repens, and Dirofilaria incrassata. Considering that there are few records on parasitism by D. incrassata, including information on the life cycle or location in the host body, this study aimed to investigate the infection of N. nasua by D. incrassata in midwestern Brazil. Thus, two coatis (males and adults) from the Cerrado of Goiás, which died (cause unknown) at the Wild Animal Screening Center/IBAMA in the municipality of Goiânia, Goiás, Midwestern of Brazil, were dissected and all helminths found were collected, identified following specific keys and quantified. A total of 85 specimens of D. incrassata were collected, with a mean parasitic intensity of 42.5 and a parasitic amplitude ranging from 40 to 45, measuring 41-93 mm in length and 0.23-0.45 mm in width. All helminths were adults and were distributed in the superficial and deep fascia (at different levels) from the neck to the hind limb. Most helminths were tangled, with some encased in a connective tissue film. Most reported human heartworm cases refer to subcutaneous or ocular heartworm infection, mainly caused by D. repens, although other species of heartworm may be associated. D. incrassata was not reported as zoonotic agent, diferently of other Dirofilaria species associated with wild animals and with zoonotic potential in the Americas. This study reiterates N. nasua as the definitive host for D. incrassata and the subcutaneous tissue as the site of choice for this helminth in the adult form. In addition, it reports new body regions where the parasite occurs. This study is the first to document the occurrence of D. incrassata infestation in the State of Goiás, Brazil.

Aspectos anatômicos dos músculos mediais da coxa do Quati (Nasua nasua, Linnaeus 1766) / Anatomical aspects of the medial thigh muscles of coati (Nasua nasua, Linnaeus 1766)

Quatis (Nasua Spp.) são animais pertencentes à família Procyonidae da ordem Carnivora. Presentes em todos os biomas brasileiros, o Nasua nasua está distribuído na América do Sul, desde o norte da Colômbia até o norte da Argentina, sendo comuns na maioria das florestas neotropicais desta região. Onívoros, alimentam-se principalmente de frutos, tanto no solo quanto em árvores, o que os tornam importantes dispersores de sementes. Seus hábitos arbóreos exigem mais força e mobilidade de seus membros pélvicos do que nos canídeos, dos quais divergiram evolutivamente, mas ainda compartilham a mesma subordem. Neste sentido, este estudo analisou os aspectos anatômicos dos músculos que integram o grupo medial da coxa dos quatis, os quais tiveram seus aspectos gerais, localização, forma, origem, inserção, sintopia e ações avaliados. Para a realização desta pesquisa foram utilizados cinco animais adultos (duas fêmeas e três machos) cedidos pelo IBAMA-GO (Licença: 98/2011), os quais foram fixados com solução de formaldeído a 10% e dissecados depois de um período mínimo de 72 horas. Os músculos que compõem o grupo medial da coxa dos quatis são o m. grácil, m. pectíneo, m. adutor magno, m. adutor curto, m. adutor longo e o m. obturador externo. Todos os músculos apresentam particularidades quanto à origem e/ou inserção. O músculo grácil é bem largo e não contribui para a formação do tendão calcanear comum. O músculo pectíneo insere-se na metade da face caudal do fêmur. Os três músculos adutores encontram-se presentes e dispostos como três lâminas sucessivas e crescentes, no sentido craniocaudal, estando o músculo adutor curto interposto entre o m. adutor longo cranialmente e o m. adutor magno caudalmente. Suas inserções dispõem-se longitudinalmente e paralelas na face caudal do fêmur, crescendo em extensão, da medial (m. adutor longo) para a lateral (m. adutor magno). As habilidades adquiridas pelos quatis na medida em que se afastaram evolutivamente dos canídeos, passando a ter hábitos também arbóreos, foram acompanhadas por adaptações anatômicas no grupo muscular em questão, com várias delas assemelhando-se mais ao padrão verificado nos gatos do que propriamente nos cães. As adaptações caracterizaram-se principalmente por alterações nas origens e/ou inserções, tamanho e, no caso dos músculos adutores, também na quantidade e arranjo dos mesmos.

The coati (Nasua nasua) is a mammal of the Carnivora order and Procyonidae family. This species is present in all Brazilian biomes and is distributed throughout South America, from northern Colombia to northern Argentina, being most common in neotropical forests of this region. Omnivores, they feed mostly on fruits, both on the ground as in trees, which make them important seed dispersers. Their arboreal habits require more strength and mobility of their pelvic limbs than in canids, which they evolutionarily diverged from, but still share the same Suborder. Thus, this study examined the anatomical aspects of the muscles that integrate the medial group of the thigh of coatis, which had its general aspects, location, shape, origin, insertion, syntopy and actions evaluated. Five adult animals (two females and three males) provided by IBAMA-GO (License: 98/2011) were used in this research. They were fixed with 10% formaldehyde solution and dissected after a minimum period of 72 hours. The muscles which comprise the medial group of the thigh of coatis are the gracilis, pectineus, magnus, brevis and longus adductors and external obturator. All muscles show particularities regarding the origin and/or insertion. The gracilis muscle is very broad and does not contribute to the formation of the common calcaneal tendon. The pectineus muscle is inserted on the half of the caudal surface of the femur. The three individual adductors are arranged like three layers that increase craniocaudally, being the adductor brevis positioned between the longus cranially and the magnus caudally. Their insertions are arranged longitudinally and parallel throughout the caudal surface of the femur, increasing in extension from the medial (adductor longus) toward the lateral (adductor magnus). The abilities acquired by coatis in that diverged from canids, such as the arboreal habits, have been accompanied by anatomical adaptations in this muscle group, with several of them resembling more the pattern found in cats than in dogs. The adaptations are mainly characterized by changes in the origins and/or insertions, size, and in the case of adductor muscles, also in their pattern of individualization and arrangement.

Estudo de patógenos de potencial zoonótico em procionídeos / Study of the zoonotic potential of different pathogens in procyonids

Os procionídeos são animais de hábitos terrestres e arbóreos, encontrados em diferentes habitats. Embora classificados como carnívoros, englobam importantes espécies onívoras que, além de serem dispersoras de sementes de frutos, exercem influência sobre o tamanho das populações de suas presas vertebradas e servem como fonte de alimento para os grandes felinos silvestres. Apesardos benefícios que os procionídeos conferem ao meio ambiente, seu contato com o ambiente urbano pode trazer riscos à saúde. Podem ser acometidos por patógenos adquiridos dos animais domésticos que vivem no entorno das Unidades de Conservação e transmiti-los ou servir de reservatório para outros animais e para o homem. Portanto, esta atualização objetivou realizar um levantamento dos estudos de prevalência, detecção e isolamento de patógenos com potencial zoonótico encontrados nas espécies de procionídeos mais amplamente distribuídas nas Américas.

Serological and molecular evidence of hepatitis E virus in swine in Brazil.

Active hepatitis E virus (HEV) infections in two Brazilian swine herds were investigated. In study 1, 26 piglets born to five anti-HEV positive sows were monitored from birth to post-partum week 22. Serum samples were screened for the detection of anti-HEV antibodies and a nested RT-PCR used to examine the HEV genome. Passive transfer of immunity was confirmed. At week 22, 23/26 (88.4%) of the piglets had seroconverted. Genome amplification was achieved in a feces pool from one holding pen and in one serum sample, both from 13-week-old animals. Histology was suggestive of a potential HEV infection. In the second study, 47 piglets born to six anti-HEV-positive sows were monitored after weaning. Seroconversion was determined in eight animals at 6-8 weeks of age. HEV RNA was detected in two pools from a holding pen for 12-16-week-old animals. Brazilian isolates were classified as genotype 3. This is the first molecular evidence of HEV infection in Brazilian pig herds.