Artéria renal tripla em porco-espinho (Sphiggurus villosus): relato de caso / Triple renal artery in porcupine (Sphiggurus villosus): case report

O interesse pelo estudo de animais silvestres vem crescendo consideravelmente nos últimos anos, seja em decorrência do riscode extinção ou visando o controle de doenças, especialmente as zoonoses. A ordem Rodentia apresenta o maior número deespécies da classe Mammalia. Apesar de ampla distribuição e importância, dados sobre sua anatomia vascular renal são escassosna literatura. O objetivo deste artigo é relatar o aparecimento de variação numérica na artéria renal esquerda em Sphiggurusvillosus com enfoque nas possibilidades de implicações clínico-cirúrgicas, como, anastomoses cirúrgicas, estudos imaginológicos,nefrectomias e planejamento pré-operatório para redução de riscos e complicações como hemorragia. O cadáver foi devidamenteformolizado no Laboratório de Ensino e Pesquisa em Morfologia de Animais Domésticos e Selvagens e posteriormente dissecado.O rim esquerdo apresentou três artérias renais, uma cranial, uma intermediaria e outra caudal, ambas posicionadas em nível de L2emergindo de forma impar lateralmente da aorta abdominal. A primeira artéria, mais cranial, apresentou 10,52 mm de comprimentoe se dirigiu diretamente para o hilo renal, emitindo ramo para adrenal, diafragma e musculatura sublombar. A segunda artéria,intermediária, mediu 7,77 mm, emitiu ramo cranial e caudal para o hilo renal e ramo ureteral. A terceira artéria, caudal, mediu10,11 mm e se dirigiu para o hilo renal. A veia renal esquerda era única e apresentou 9,25 mm de comprimento, posicionada emnível de L1. Este é o primeiro relato de artéria renal tripla em mamífero silvestre.

Interest in the study of wild animals has grown considerably in recent years, either due to the risk of extinction or to control diseases,especially zoonoses. The order Rodentia has the largest number of species in the Mammalia class. Despite its wide distributionand importance, data on its renal vascular anatomy are scarce in the literature. The aim of this paper is to report the appearanceof numerical variation in the left renal artery in porcupine focusing on the possibilities of clinical and surgical implications, suchas surgical anastomoses, imaging studies, nephrectomies and preoperative planning to reduce risks and complications such asbleeding. The animal was duly formalized in the Laboratory of Teaching and Research in Morphology of Domestic and Wild Animalsand subsequently dissected. The left kidney had three renal arteries, one cranial, one intermediate, and one caudal, both positionedat L2 level, emerging unevenly laterally from the abdominal aorta. The first more cranial artery was 10.52 mm long and directeddirectly into the renal hilum, emitting a branch to the adrenal, diaphragm and sub lumbar muscles. The second intermediate arterymeasured 7.77 mm, emitting a cranial and caudal branch to the renal hilum and ureteral branch. The third caudal artery measured10.11 mm and headed straight for the renal hilum. The left renal vein was unique, measured 9.25 mm long, and positioned at L1level. This is the first report of triple renal artery in wild mammals.

Artéria renal tripla em porco-espinho (Sphiggurus villosus): relato de caso / Triple renal artery in porcupine (Sphiggurus villosus): case report

O interesse pelo estudo de animais silvestres vem crescendo consideravelmente nos últimos anos, seja em decorrência do riscode extinção ou visando o controle de doenças, especialmente as zoonoses. A ordem Rodentia apresenta o maior número deespécies da classe Mammalia. Apesar de ampla distribuição e importância, dados sobre sua anatomia vascular renal são escassosna literatura. O objetivo deste artigo é relatar o aparecimento de variação numérica na artéria renal esquerda em Sphiggurusvillosus com enfoque nas possibilidades de implicações clínico-cirúrgicas, como, anastomoses cirúrgicas, estudos imaginológicos,nefrectomias e planejamento pré-operatório para redução de riscos e complicações como hemorragia. O cadáver foi devidamenteformolizado no Laboratório de Ensino e Pesquisa em Morfologia de Animais Domésticos e Selvagens e posteriormente dissecado.O rim esquerdo apresentou três artérias renais, uma cranial, uma intermediaria e outra caudal, ambas posicionadas em nível de L2emergindo de forma impar lateralmente da aorta abdominal. A primeira artéria, mais cranial, apresentou 10,52 mm de comprimentoe se dirigiu diretamente para o hilo renal, emitindo ramo para adrenal, diafragma e musculatura sublombar. A segunda artéria,intermediária, mediu 7,77 mm, emitiu ramo cranial e caudal para o hilo renal e ramo ureteral. A terceira artéria, caudal, mediu10,11 mm e se dirigiu para o hilo renal. A veia renal esquerda era única e apresentou 9,25 mm de comprimento, posicionada emnível de L1. Este é o primeiro relato de artéria renal tripla em mamífero silvestre.(AU)

Interest in the study of wild animals has grown considerably in recent years, either due to the risk of extinction or to control diseases,especially zoonoses. The order Rodentia has the largest number of species in the Mammalia class. Despite its wide distributionand importance, data on its renal vascular anatomy are scarce in the literature. The aim of this paper is to report the appearanceof numerical variation in the left renal artery in porcupine focusing on the possibilities of clinical and surgical implications, suchas surgical anastomoses, imaging studies, nephrectomies and preoperative planning to reduce risks and complications such asbleeding. The animal was duly formalized in the Laboratory of Teaching and Research in Morphology of Domestic and Wild Animalsand subsequently dissected. The left kidney had three renal arteries, one cranial, one intermediate, and one caudal, both positionedat L2 level, emerging unevenly laterally from the abdominal aorta. The first more cranial artery was 10.52 mm long and directeddirectly into the renal hilum, emitting a branch to the adrenal, diaphragm and sub lumbar muscles. The second intermediate arterymeasured 7.77 mm, emitting a cranial and caudal branch to the renal hilum and ureteral branch. The third caudal artery measured10.11 mm and headed straight for the renal hilum. The left renal vein was unique, measured 9.25 mm long, and positioned at L1level. This is the first report of triple renal artery in wild mammals.(AU)

Causes and consequences of change rates in the habitat of the threatened tropical porcupine, Sphiggurus mexicanus (Rodentia: Erethizontidae) in Oaxaca, Mexico: implications for its conservation / Causas y consecuencias de las tasas de cambio en el hábitat del puerco espín tropical amenazado, Sphiggurus mexicanus (Rodentia: Erethizontidae), en Oaxaca, México: implicaciones para su conservación

Land use changes by human activities have been the main causes of habitats and wildlife population degradation. In the Tehuantepec Isthmus in Oaxaca, the tropical habitat of the porcupine Sphiggurus mexicanus has been subject to vegetation and land use changes, causing its reduction and fragmentation. In this study, we estimated vegetation cover and land use (δn) change rates and assessed habitat availability and potential corridors for possible porcupine movements to avoid its isolation. In the study area, the type of vegetation with the most change rate value was the savanna (δn=-2.9), transformed into induced grasslands. Additionally, we have observed the porcupine (since 2011) in semi-deciduous (δn=-0.87) and tropical dry (δn=-0.89) forests that have been transformed in temporal agriculture and mesquite and induced grasslands. The vegetation inhabited by the porcupine resulted in recording a total of 64 plant species (44 trees, nine vines, seven herbs, four shrubs), of which the vine Bunchosia lanceolata showed the highest importance value (41.85) followed by the trees Guazuma ulmifolia (22.71), Dalbergia glabra (18.05), and Enterolobium cyclocarpum (17.02). The habitat evaluation and potential corridor analysis showed that only 1 501.93ha could be considered as suitable habitats with optimum structural conditions (coverage, surface, and distances to transformed areas) to maintain viable populations of S. mexicanus, and 293.6ha as corridors. An increasing destruction of the porcupines’ habitat has been observed in the study area due to excessive logging, and actions for this species and its habitat conservation and management have to be taken urgently. Rev. Biol. Trop. 62 (4): 1481-1494. Epub 2014 December 01.

Los cambios de uso del suelo por actividades humanas, han sido de las principales causas de la degradación, reducción y fragmentación de los hábitats y poblaciones de fauna silvestre. En el Istmo de Tehuantepec, Oaxaca, el hábitat del puercoespín tropical Sphiggurus mexicanus, se encuentra sometido a cambios de cobertura vegetal y uso del suelo, que están causando la reducción y fragmentación de su hábitat. Debido a ello, estimamos las tasas de cambio de la cobertura vegetal y uso del suelo (δn), y evaluamos la disponibilidad del hábitat y de corredores vegetales potenciales para los posibles movimientos del puercoespín tropical y evitar su aislamiento. En el área de estudio el tipo de vegetación con mayor valor de tasa de cambio fue la sabana (δn=-2.9), transformado en pastizal inducido. Adicionalmente, observamos puercoespínes (desde 2011) en selva mediana subperennifolia (δn=-0.87) y selva baja caducifolia (δn=-0.89), los cuales han sido transformados en áreas de cultivo, selva baja espinosa y pastizal inducido. Caracterizamos la vegetación del hábitat del puercoespín, registrando un total de 64 especies vegetales (44 árboles, nueve bejucos, siete hierbas y cuatro arbustos), de los cuales, el bejuco Bunchosia lanceolata, presentó los valores más altos de importancia (41.85), seguidos por los árboles Guazuma ulmifolia (22.71), Dalbergia glabra (18.05), y Enterolobium cyclocarpum (17.02). El análisis de evaluación de hábitat y corredores potenciales mostró que solo 1 501.93ha pueden considerarse como hábitats adecuados con condiciones estructurales (de cobertura, superficie y distancias a áreas transformadas) para mantener poblaciones viables de S. mexicanus; y 293.6ha como corredores. La destrucción del hábitat del puerco espín en el área de estudio está incrementándose por la tala excesiva, por lo tanto, es prioritario emprender acciones para la conservación y manejo del taxón y su hábitat.

Causes and consequences of change rates in the habitat of the threatened tropical porcupine, Sphiggurus mexicanus (Rodentia: Erethizontidae) in Oaxaca, Mexico: implications for its conservation.

Land use changes by human activities have been the main causes of habitats and wildlife population degradation. In the Tehuantepec Isthmus in Oaxaca, the tropical habitat of the porcupine Sphiggurus mexicanus has been subject to vegetation and land use changes, causing its reduction and fragmentation. In this study, we estimated vegetation cover and land use (δn) change rates and assessed habitat availability and potential cor- ridors for possible porcupine movements to avoid its isolation. In the study area, the type of vegetation with the most change rate value was the savanna (δn = -2.9), transformed into induced grasslands. Additionally, we have observed the porcupine (since 2011) in semi-deciduous (δn = -0.87) and tropical dry (δn = -0.89) forests that have been transformed in temporal agriculture and mesquite and induced grasslands. The vegetation inhabited by the porcupine resulted in recording a total of 64 plant species (44 trees, nine vines, seven herbs, four shrubs), of which the vine Bunchosia lanceolata showed the highest importance value (41.85) followed by the trees Guazuma ulmifolia (22.71), Dalbergia glabra (18.05), and Enterolobium cyclocarpum (17.02). The habitat evaluation and potential corridor analysis showed that only 1 501.93ha could be considered as suitable habitats with optimum structural conditions (coverage, surface, and distances to transformed areas) to maintain viable populations of S. mexicanus, and 293.6 ha as corridors. An increasing destruction of the porcupines' habitat has been observed in the study area due to excessive logging, and actions for this species and its habitat conserva- tion and management have to be taken urgently.

A new species of porcupine, genus Coendou (Rodentia: Erethizontidae) from the Atlantic forest of northeastern Brazil.

We report the discovery of a new species of Coendou (Rodentia, Erethizontidae), here designated Coendou speratus sp. nov. This small porcupine, locally known as coandumirim, is found in the Pernambuco Endemism Centre in the Atlantic coast of northeastern Brazil north of the São Francisco river, one of the most important known biodiversity hotspots. The geographic range of C. speratus overlaps with that of the larger, widespread C. prehensilis, but not with that of C. insidiosus from the southeastern Atlantic forest, nor with that of C. nycthemera, an eastern Amazonian species. Coendou speratus is a small-bodied, long-tailed species that appears to be completely spiny because it lacks long dorsal fur. The dorsal quills have conspicuously brownish red tips that contrast with the blackish dorsal background color. The new species is overall similar to C. nycthemera, but the dorsal body quills are typically tricolored in the former and bicolored in the latter. The new species is externally very distinct from C. insidiosus, especially because the latter has bicolored dorsal quills that are almost completely hidden beneath longer and homogeneous pale or dark hairs.

Isolation of Staphylococcus epidermidis from inflamed upper respiratory tract of an orange-spined hairy dwarf porcupine (Sphiggurus villosus)

The orange-spined hairy dwarf porcupine (Sphiggurus villosus) is a rodent species common in most parts of South America, and little is known about the pathologies that can afflict it. A specimen was delivered at the Wildlife Research and Medical Center (CEMPAS), School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Husbandry, UNESP, Botucatu, SP, Brazil. The animal showed intense apathy, with purulent secretion in the nasal cavity and fracture of the lumbar spine. Due to the unfavorable prognosis, the porcupine was euthanized and microbiological culture of nasal discharge showed Staphylococcus epidermidis. The antimicrobial resistance test revealed sensitivity to all tested antimicrobials (ampicillin, oxacillin, tetracycline, penicillin G, neomycin, cephalexin, gentamicin, enrofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, cotrimoxazol, cefoxitin and cephalothin). This bacterium is part of the nasal flora of humans and other animals, and may cause infection under certain conditions. In the present study, the infection and colonization by S. epidermidis was the probable cause of the inflammatory process. The sensitivity to all tested antimicrobials suggests that this strain has not been previously exposed to such drugs.(AU)

The taxonomic status of the endangered thin-spined porcupine, Chaetomys subspinosus (Olfers, 1818), based on molecular and karyologic data.

BACKGROUND: The thin-spined porcupine, also known as the bristle-spined rat, Chaetomys subspinosus (Olfers, 1818), the only member of its genus, figures among Brazilian endangered species. In addition to being threatened, it is poorly known, and even its taxonomic status at the family level has long been controversial. The genus Chaetomys was originally regarded as a porcupine in the family Erethizontidae, but some authors classified it as a spiny-rat in the family Echimyidae. Although the dispute seems to be settled in favor of the erethizontid advocates, further discussion of its affinities should be based on a phylogenetic framework. In the present study, we used nucleotide-sequence data from the complete mitochondrial cytochrome b gene and karyotypic information to address this issue. Our molecular analyses included one individual of Chaetomys subspinosus from the state of Bahia in northeastern Brazil, and other hystricognaths. RESULTS: All topologies recovered in our molecular phylogenetic analyses strongly supported Chaetomys subspinosus as a sister clade of the erethizontids. Cytogenetically, Chaetomys subspinosus showed 2n = 52 and FN = 76. Although the sexual pair could not be identified, we assumed that the X chromosome is biarmed. The karyotype included 13 large to medium metacentric and submetacentric chromosome pairs, one small subtelocentric pair, and 12 small acrocentric pairs. The subtelocentric pair 14 had a terminal secondary constriction in the short arm, corresponding to the nucleolar organizer region (Ag-NOR), similar to the erethizontid Sphiggurus villosus, 2n = 42 and FN = 76, and different from the echimyids, in which the secondary constriction is interstitial. CONCLUSION: Both molecular phylogenies and karyotypical evidence indicated that Chaetomys is closely related to the Erethizontidae rather than to the Echimyidae, although in a basal position relative to the rest of the Erethizontidae. The high levels of molecular and morphological divergence suggest that Chaetomys belongs to an early radiation of the Erethizontidae that may have occurred in the Early Miocene, and should be assigned to its own subfamily, the Chaetomyinae.