Investigating the need for antibiotic supplementation to the extender used for semen cryopreservation in collared peccaries.

The objective was to investigate the effects of semen freezing extender supplementation with antibiotics on bacterial load of semen samples, sperm functional and morphological metrics in the collared peccary. Fresh ejaculates from 10 males were extended in Tris-egg yolk-glycerol supplemented or not (control) with gentamicin (70 µg/mL) streptomycin-penicillin (SP; 1 mg/mL-1000 IU/mL) or and cryopreserved in liquid nitrogen. Bacterial load, sperm motility patterns, morphology, membrane functionality and integrity, mitochondrial activity, chromatin integrity and sperm-binding ability were evaluated in fresh and frozen-thawed samples. Regardless of the use of antibiotics, the sole cryopreservation provoked a significant decrease (P < 0.05) in bacterial load compared to fresh samples (from average values > 1 x 106 CFU/mL to <0.4 × 106 CFU/mL). Post-thawing sperm kinetic parameters were not affected by the absence or presence of different antibiotics, except for beat cross frequency that was significantly (P < 0.05) impaired by SP supplementation compared to the group without antibiotics. After thawing, sperm morphology, membrane functionality and integrity, and mitochondrial activity were also not affected by the presence or absence of antibiotics; however, a significant decrease was observed in the group without antibiotics (P < 0.05) in comparison to fresh samples. Regarding sperm-binding ability, there were no differences among the different groups. While collared peccary semen could be efficiently cryopreserved in the absence of antibiotics in the extender, the use of both gentamicin or the streptomycin-penicillin combination is recommended as effective antibiotic supplementation for a further control of bacterial loads without affecting sperm parameters.

Caracterização da microbiota auricular de cutias (Dasyprocta aguti) criadas em cativeiro / Characterization of auricular natural microbiota from captive agoutis (Dasyprocta aguti)

The aim of this study was to identify the aerobic bacteria of the auricular natural microbiota from healthy agoutis (Dasyprocta aguti Linnaeus, 1758). In the total, 48 agoutis were used in this experiment, being 32 adults and 16 puppies (both groups divided into equal parts between males and females). The animals were raised under captive conditions, in the Brazilian Semiarid. From each animal, a sample of auricular secretion was collected from each auricular pinna and processed for microbiological analyses. A total of 96 samples were collected and analyzed by colony macroscopic format, cytology and by biochemistry proofs with the objective of isolate and identify the microorganisms. The main bacteria found were Staphylococcus spp. (47.26%), Streptococcus spp. (12.80%), Bacillus spp. (22.73%) and Corynebacterium spp. (17.30%). As conclusion, the most frequent bacteria in auricular pinna of healthy agoutis are Gram-positive cocci and rods, similarly to found in some pets.

O presente trabalho teve por objetivo identificar as principais bactérias aeróbias que compõem a microbiota natural do pavilhão auricular de cutias hígidas. Para tanto, foram utilizadas 48 cutias, criadas em cativeiro sob as condições Semiáridas do Nordeste Brasileiro. Esses animais foram distribuídos nas categorias de adultos (N=32) e filhotes (N=16), e, em ambas, distribuídos igualmente entre machos e fêmeas. Através de um swab, em cada animal coletou-se de cada orelha a secreção presente na superfície do pavilhão auricular dos animais, totalizando 96 amostras. Este material foi refrigerado, e encaminhado ao laboratório para a realização das análises microbiológicas (macroscopia das colônias, citologia e provas bioquímicas), com o intuito de isolar e identificar os microrganismos. Os principais microrganismos isolados foram Staphylococcus spp. (47,26%), Streptococcus spp. (12,80%), Bacillus spp. (22,73%) e Corynebacterium spp. (17,30%). Verificou-se também que não houve diferença entre adultos e filhotes em relação aos microrganismos retrocitados. Assim, as bactérias residentes do pavilhão auricular de cutias hígidas são essencialmente cocos e bacilos gram-positivos, similarmente ao encontrado em pequenos animais domésticos.

Control of phlebotomine (Diptera: Psychodidae) leishmaniasis vectors.

Phlebotomines are of medical and veterinary concern as they vector leishmaniasis, bartonellosis and some arboviruses. The adaptations of some species to places modified by humans bring these vectors into contact with dwellings, which can facilitate disease transmission, and the vector control strategies adopted have rendered controversial results. Regarding leishmaniasis, for instance, which vector and reservoirs control can be effective, there is an assumption that the incidence of human infection is directly related to the number of infectious dogs, as well as to entomological factors. Therefore, vector control can provide a cheaper and more practical solution to prevent cases of leishmaniasis. Nevertheless, due to the complexity of the factors involved, chemical control is still essential, and biological insecticides and insecticide plants, for example, represent areas for study that should be encouraged and developed since they show promising results. This paper summarizes the control strategies adopted so far, especially the methods and efficiency of the entomological components of leishmaniasis control programs.

Control of phlebotomine (Diptera: Psychodidae) leishmaniasis vectors / Controle de flebotomíneos (Diptera: Psychodidae) vetores de leishmanioses

Phlebotomines are of medical and veterinary concern as they vector leishmaniasis, bartonellosis and some arboviruses. The adaptations of some species to places modified by humans bring these vectors into contact with dwellings, which can facilitate disease transmission, and the vector control strategies adopted have rendered controversial results. Regarding leishmaniasis, for instance, which vector and reservoirs control can be effective, there is an assumption that the incidence of human infection is directly related to the number of infectious dogs, as well as to entomological factors. Therefore, vector control can provide a cheaper and more practical solution to prevent cases of leishmaniasis. Nevertheless, due to the complexity of the factors involved, chemical control is still essential, and biological insecticides and insecticide plants, for example, represent areas for study that should be encouraged and developed since they show promising results. This paper summarizes the control strategies adopted so far, especially the methods and efficiency of the entomological components of leishmaniasis control programs.

Os flebotomíneos são vetores de importância médica e veterinária, podendo transmitir leishmanioses, bartoneloses e algumas arboviroses. A adaptação de algumas espécies a locais que passaram por modificações humanas as aproxima dos domicílios, podendo facilitar a transmissão das doenças, e as estratégias adotadas para seu controle têm sido controvertidas. No tocante às leishmanioses, por exemplo, o que sustenta a utilização do controle vetorial e de reservatórios como estratégias de intervenção é a conjectura de que a incidência de infecção em humanos está diretamente relacionada ao número de cães infectantes e a fatores entomológicos. Dessa forma, o controle do vetor pode então oferecer solução menos onerosa e mais prática, o que conduziria a medidas preventivas eficazes em um maior número de focos de leishmaniose. Não obstante, na complexidade dos fatores envolvidos, o controle químico continua sendo indispensável e o uso de inseticidas biológicos e plantas inseticidas, por exemplo, representam áreas de estudo a serem incentivadas e desenvolvidas, pois apresentam resultados promissores. A análise em questão representa uma oportunidade de avaliação das medidas até então adotadas, principalmente em relação aos métodos e à eficácia dos componentes entomológicos dos programas de controle das leishmanioses.

[Fungi microbiot of Melipona subnitida Ducke (Hymenoptera: Apidae)]. / Microbiota fúngica de Melipona subnitida Ducke (Hymenoptera: Apidae).

This paper reports on the occurrence of filamentous fungi found on the surface of the bees body from the specie Melipona subnitida Ducke that inhabits rocky places on the semi-arid Northeastern Brazil. Bees with cause of natural death were collected of beehives belonging to the Centro de Multiplicação de Animais Silvestres of the Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Arido. We found the fungi: Aspergillus sp. 6 (37.5%); Aspergillus niger 2 (12.5%); Penicilium sp. 2 (12.5%); Aspergillus terreus 1 (6.3%); Curvularia sp. 1 (6.35%); Monilia sp. 1 (6.3%); Nigrospora sp. 1 (6.3%); Cladosporium sp. 1 (6.3%); Tricoderma sp. 1 (6.3%).

Microbiota fúngica de Melipona subnitida Ducke (Hymenoptera: Apidae) / Fungi microbiot of Melipona subnitida Ducke (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

O presente trabalho descreve a ocorrência de fungos filamentosos sobre a superfície do corpo de abelhas da espécie Melipona subnitida Ducke, que habita regiões pedregosas do semi-árido nordestino. Abelhas com causa de morte natural foram coletadas de colméias pertencentes ao Centro de Multiplicação de Animais Silvestres da Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido. Foram encontrados os fungos: Aspergillus sp. 6 (37,5 por cento); Aspergillus niger 2 (12,5 por cento); Penicilium sp. 2 (12,5 por cento); Aspergillus terreus 1 (6,3 por cento); Curvularia sp. 1 (6,3 por cento); Monilia sp. 1 (6,3 por cento); Nigrospora sp. 1 (6,3 por cento); Cladosporium sp. 1 (6,3 por cento); Tricoderma sp. 1 (6,3 por cento).

This paper reports on the occurrence of filamentous fungi found on the surface of the beeÆs body from the specie Melipona subnitida Ducke that inhabits rocky places on the semi-arid Northeastern Brazil. Bees with cause of natural death were collected of beehives belonging to the Centro de Multiplicação de Animais Silvestres of the Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido. We found the fungi: Aspergillus sp. 6 (37.5 percent); Aspergillus niger 2 (12.5 percent); Penicilium sp. 2 (12.5 percent); Aspergillus terreus 1 (6.3 percent); Curvularia sp. 1 (6.35 percent); Monilia sp. 1 (6.3 percent); Nigrospora sp. 1 (6.3 percent); Cladosporium sp. 1 (6.3 percent); Tricoderma sp. 1 (6.3 percent).