AFFINITY OF BRAZILIAN WILD MAMMAL IMMUNOGLOBULINS TO BACTERIAL PROTEINS A AND G.

Staphylococcal A and streptococcal G proteins are widely used in immunoassays when specific immunological reagents are unavailable, such as for wild animals. The affinity of bacterial proteins A and G to the immunoglobulins of seven Brazilian mammals were tested, including black-tufted marmoset (Callithrix penicillata, n = 5), golden-bellied capuchin (Sapajus xanthosternos, n = 13), woolly mouse opossum (Micoureus demerarae, n = 6), long-nosed armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus, n = 5), collared anteater (Tamandua tetradactyla, n = 5), ocelot (Leopardus pardalis, n = 6), and vampire bat (Desmodus rotundus, n = 5). Blood samples were collected from animals that were rescued in peri-urban rainforest fragments. Sera pools of each species were tested by ELISA to determine the intensity of each bacterial protein affinity to the immunoglobulins. When comparing the affinity to both proteins, immunoglobulins from D. rotundus, S. xanthosternos, and T. tetradactyla presented a higher affinity to protein G, whereas a higher affinity to protein A was found for immunoglobulins of C. penicillata and L. pardalis. The only species that presented a very low affinity to both bacterial proteins was M. demerarae. This study can be used as a reference for further studies on the development of sensitive and specific immunodiagnostic assays to be used for the monitoring of the health of these wild mammals.

TRYPANOSOMA CRUZI AND LEISHMANIA SP. INFECTION IN WILDLIFE FROM URBAN RAINFOREST FRAGMENTS IN NORTHEAST BRAZIL.

: Trypanosoma cruzi and Leishmania sp. are important protozoan parasites for humans and animals in the Americas, causing Chagas disease and cutaneous or visceral leishmaniasis, respectively. These vector-borne diseases affect permanent and transient populations in developing tropical countries that exhibit favorable conditions for the perpetuation of the parasite cycle. Our objective was to investigate the occurrence of infection with these parasites in wild animals from urban rainforest fragments in the city of Salvador, the largest city in the northeast region of Brazil. Sixty-five wild animals were captured, clinically examined, and sampled for parasite detection by PCR and culture. Ten different mammalian genera were identified, being 58% (38/65) marsupials. The prevalence of T. cruzi and Leishmania sp. infections was 13% and 43%, respectively. Both parasites were detected by PCR in 11% (7/65), three of which were also double infected as determined by culture. Among the 28 animals found infected with at least one parasite (43%, 28/65), 68% (19/28) were marsupials, two specimens were Callithrix sp. (7%), and one was Trinomys sp. (3%). Most infected animals (89%) had no clinical signs of disease. We found that healthy free-living animals from urban rainforest fragments harbored pathogenic trypanosomatids and should be included in epidemiology studies of diseases in big cities in tropical countries, as these cities grow and engulf rainforest remnants.