Genetic diversity of adenovirus in neotropical bats from Brazil.

Bats can harbor a diversity of viruses, such as adenovirus. Ten different species of bat adenoviruses (BtAdV A to J) have been previous described worlwide. In Brazil, BtAdV was described in three species of phyllostomid species: Artibeus lituratus, Desmodus rotundus, and Sturnira lilium. There are around 180 bat species in Brazil, with 67% inhabiting the Atlantic Forest, with few information about the circulation of BtAdV in this biome. We aimed to describe the molecular detection and the phylogenetic characterization and suggest a classification of BtAdVs circulating in bats from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. We collected 382 oral and rectal swabs from 208 bats between 2014-2015 and 2020-2021 from São Paulo, Pernambuco, and Santa Catarina Brazilian states. The adenovirus detection was done by a nested PCR targeting the DNA polymerase gene, and all positive samples were sequenced by the Sanger method. The phylogenetic analyses were based on the amino acid sequences using the MEGA 7 and BEAST software. We obtained 16 positive animals (detection rate 7.7%) belonging to seven bat species: Artibeus lituratus, Carollia perspicillata, Sturnira lilium, Molossus molossus, and the first record of Phyllostomus discolor, Eptesicus diminutus, and Myotis riparius. The phylogenetic analysis based on partial amino acid sequences showed that all obtained AdV sequences belong to the Mastadenovirus genus. We observed a high genetic diversity of BtAdV and identified eleven potential BtAdV species circulating in Brazil (BtAdV K to U). Our results contribute to the epidemiological surveillance of adenovirus, increasing the knowledge about the viral diversity and the distribution of AdV in bats from the Atlantic Forest.

Ticks on birds caught on the campus of the Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The prevalence of parasitic infections, particularly those caused by ectoparasites, may influence the biology and ecology of wild birds. The aim of this study was to investigate occurrences and identify the species of ticks collected from wild birds caught on the campus of the Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro. The birds were caught using mist nets between October 2009 and December 2010. In total, 223 birds were caught, represented by 53 species and 19 families in nine orders. Nineteen birds (n = 7 species) were parasitized by immature ticks (prevalence of 8.5%). Forty-four ticks were collected, of which 23 were nymphs and 21 were larvae. There were associations between parasitism by ticks and non-Passeriformes birds, and between parasitism and ground-dwelling birds, which was possibly due to the presence (or inclusion among the captured birds) of Vanellus chilensis (Charadriiformes: Charadriidae). All the nymphs collected were identified as Amblyomma cajennense. In general terms, we must emphasize that wild birds in the study area may play the role of dispersers for the immature stages of A. cajennense, albeit non-preferentially.

Ticks on birds caught on the campus of the Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil / Carrapatos em aves capturadas no campus da Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil

The prevalence of parasitic infections, particularly those caused by ectoparasites, may influence the biology and ecology of wild birds. The aim of this study was to investigate occurrences and identify the species of ticks collected from wild birds caught on the campus of the Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro. The birds were caught using mist nets between October 2009 and December 2010. In total, 223 birds were caught, represented by 53 species and 19 families in nine orders. Nineteen birds (n = 7 species) were parasitized by immature ticks (prevalence of 8.5%). Forty-four ticks were collected, of which 23 were nymphs and 21 were larvae. There were associations between parasitism by ticks and non-Passeriformes birds, and between parasitism and ground-dwelling birds, which was possibly due to the presence (or inclusion among the captured birds) of Vanellus chilensis (Charadriiformes: Charadriidae). All the nymphs collected were identified as Amblyomma cajennense. In general terms, we must emphasize that wild birds in the study area may play the role of dispersers for the immature stages of A. cajennense, albeit non-preferentially.

A prevalência das infecções parasitárias e em particular, aquelas causadas por ectoparasitos, pode influenciar na biologia e ecologia das aves silvestres. O objetivo do estudo foi investigar a ocorrência e identificar as espécies de carrapatos coletadas em aves silvestres capturadas no campus da Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro. As aves foram coletadas em rede-de-neblina durante o período de outubro de 2009 a dezembro de 2010. No total foram capturadas 223 aves representadas por 53 espécies, 19 famílias em 9 ordens. Parasitismo por formas imaturas de carrapatos, foram encontradas em 19 aves (n = 7 espécies) correspondendo a uma prevalência de 8,5%. Foram coletados 44 carrapatos onde 23 estavam em estágio de ninfa e 21 em estágio de larva. Houve associação entre o parasitismo por carrapatos e aves não Passeriformes e entre o parasitismo e aves de hábitos terrestres capturadas, que se deu possivelmente pela presença (ou inclusão da captura) de Vanellus chilensis (Charadriiforme: Charadriidae). Todas as ninfas coletadas foram identificadas como Amblyomma cajennense. De modo geral, devemos ressaltar que aves silvestres da área estudada podem exercer papel de dispersoras, ainda que não preferenciais, para estágios imaturos de A. cajennense.