Comparison of racemic ketamine versus (S+) ketamine when combined with midazolam for anesthesia of Callithrix jacchus and Callithrix penicillata.

Ten common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) and 10 black-tufted marmosets (Callithrix penicillata) were immobilized to compare the anesthetic effects of racemic ketamine and (S+) ketamine in combination with midazolam. The animals were distributed into four groups: five common marmosets (group CJR) and five black-tufted marmosets (group CPR) received 9.8 +/- 1.4 mg/kg of racemic ketamine, and five common marmosets (group CJS) and five black-tufted marmosets (group CPS) received 10.4 +/- 1.6 mg/kg of (S+) ketamine. All groups received similar dosages of midazolam (1.0 +/- 0.15 mg/kg). During immobilization, heart rates, respiratory rates, rectal temperatures, and muscle relaxation scores were recorded at 5, 10, and 20 min after initial injection. Quality of induction and quality of recovery were evaluated in each marmoset by recording physical reactions including withdrawal reflexes, involuntary movements, salivation, compulsive licking, catalepsy, and ataxia. There were no significant differences in the induction, immobilization, and recovery times between the four groups. Similarly, there were no significant differences between groups in heart rates, respiratory rates, or body temperatures, although there was a significant decrease in respiratory rates over time in group CPR. In addition, the CJR and CPS groups showed significant decreases over time in rectal temperature. Muscle relaxation was more profound in the CPR group than in the other groups. Compulsive licking, involuntary movements, salivation, and withdrawal reflexes were observed more frequently in animals given S(+) ketamine; but in general, racemic ketamine and S(+) ketamine had similar effects in all callitrichines. Further studies are required to confirm that S(+) ketamine has different potency in these species.

Impacts of animal traffic on the Brazilian Amazon parrots (Amazona species) collection of the Quinzinho de Barros Municipal Zoological Park, Brazil, 1986-2007.

Eleven species of Amazon parrots (genus Amazona) are known to occur in Brazil, and nest poaching and illegal traffic pose serious conservation threats to these species. When the illegal owners realize these animals are incompatible with their expectations and lifestyle, or when the police arrests traders and owners, these trafficked animals are often considered unfit for release and sent to local zoos and captive breeders. A retrospective survey of animal and necropsy records from 1986 to 2007 was used to evaluate the impacts of animal traffic on the population composition and mortality patterns of Amazon parrots at the Quinzinho de Barros Municipal Zoological Park, Sorocaba, Brazil. Data were obtained for 374 Amazon parrots of ten Brazilian species, and there was evidence that the studied population could be split into two major groups: a majority belonging to the Amazona aestiva species and a minority belonging to the remaining species. In comparison, the animals of the first group were more frequently admitted from traffic-related origins (98 vs. 75%), had a shorter lifespan (median 301 days vs. 848 days) and a higher mortality within the first year postadmission (54 vs. 37%), were less likely to receive expensive treatments, and were more frequently housed off-exhibit. On an average, parrots were found to have a short postadmission lifespan (median 356 days), with 92.5% of the birds dying within their first five years in captivity. The paper discusses the difficult dilemmas these incoming traffic-related animals pose to zoo management and official anti-traffic policies.

Occurrence of Sarcocystis spp. in opossums (Didelphis aurita and Didelphis albiventris) in regions of the State of São Paulo, Brazil / Ocorrência de Sarcocystis spp. em gambás (Didelphis aurita e Didelphisalbiventris) em regiões do Estado de São Paulo, Brasil

The objective of this study was to determine the occurrence of Sarcocystis spp. in Didelphis albiventris and D. aurita in three regions of the state of São Paulo. Ninety-eight dead Didelphis were employed in this study, among which 66 were D. aurita and 32 D. albiventris. Twenty eight living D. aurita and five D. albiventris were also analyzed. Flotation centrifugation in sucrose solution was used in the isolation of Sarcocystis spp. of the small intestine and feces. Sarcocystis spp. was found in the small intestines of 9.1% of the D. aurita (6/66); in four of them, the feces were also positives. There was no statistically significant difference between males and females (P= 0,522), or among samples that came from different regions of the state of São Paulo(P= 0,627), regarding the occurrence of Sarcocystis spp. However, there was a significant difference of positive samples harvested from captive compared to free-ranging animals (P = 0.009), and between adults and off spring (P= 0,004). Adults were more affected by the parasite than the off spring, and only free-ranging animals were positives. From the samples collected from 28 living D. aurita, Sarcocystis spp. was found in 7.1% (2/28) of them. A total of 32 D. albiventris were studied,none of which had positive tests for Sarcocystis spp. in samples of intestine of feces, and five animals live were also negative. We conclude that the occurrence of Sarcocystis spp. in D. aurita and D. albiventris inthese three regions of the state of São Paulo is low in the conditions assessed in this study

O objetivo deste estudo foi de determinar a ocorrência de Sarcocystis spp. em D. albiventris e D. aurita em três regiões do Estado de São Paulo. Para tal, utilizou-se noventa e oito Didelphis mortos, sendo 66D. aurita e 32 D. albiventris, e também 28 D. aurita e cinco D. albiventrisvivos. O método de centrífugo-flutuação em solução de sacarose foi empregado para isolamento dos oocistos/esporocistos de Sarcocystis spp. do intestino delgado e das fezes. Encontrou-se Sarcocystis spp.no intestino delgado de 9,1% dos D. aurita (6/66), sendo que quatro destes também houve positividade nas fezes. Não houve diferença estatística significativa entre machos e fêmeas positivos (P= 0,522), e entre os positivos de diferentes origens do Estado de São Paulo (P=0,627), quanto a ocorrência de Sarcocystis spp. Entretanto, houve diferença estatística significativa entre animais de vida livre e de cativeiro(P = 0.009), sendo que somente os de vida livre foram positivos.Entre adultos e filhotes positivos também houve diferença (P= 0,004),sendo os adultos mais parasitados que os filhotes. Das amostras provenientes dos 28 D. aurita vivos, encontrou-se Sarcocystis spp. em7.1% (2/28) deles. Dos 32 D. albiventris, todos foram negativos para Sarcocystis spp. nas amostras de intestino delgado e fezes. Os cincos D. albiventris vivos também foram negativos. Sendo assim, pode-se observar que a ocorrência de Sarcocystis spp. em D. aurita e D. albiventris nestas três regiões do Estado de São Paulo é baixa para estas condições analisadas