Molecular survey of hemotropic mycoplasmas in crab-eating raccoons (Procyon cancrivorus) in southern Brazil.

Hemoplasmas are non-cultivable bacterial parasites of erythrocytes that infect domestic and wild animals, as well as humans. Their means of transmission and pathogenesis remain contentious issues and difficult to evaluate in wild animals. Procyon cancrivorus is a South American carnivore and occurs in all Brazilian biomes. In this study, we aimed to investigate occurrences of hemoplasmas infecting P. cancrivorus and to identify their 16S rRNA gene, in southern Brazil. DNA was extracted from spleen and blood samples of P. cancrivorus (n = 9) from different locations. Hemoplasma DNA was detected in six samples, based on 16S rRNA gene amplification and phylogenetic analysis. Four of the six sequences belonged to the "Mycoplasma haemofelis group", which is closely related to genotypes detected in Procyon lotor from the USA; one was within the "Mycoplasma suis group", closely related to "Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum"; and one was within the intermediate group between these clusters. Thus, these sequences showed that the molecular identity of hemoplasmas in the population studied was very variable. In five positive animals, Amblyomma aureolatum ticks and a flea (Ctenocephalides felis felis) were collected. The present study describes the first molecular detection of mycoplasmas in P. cancrivorus.

Epidemiological compatibility of Amblyomma sculptum as possible vector and Panthera onca as reservoir of Cytauxzoon spp. in Midwestern Brazil.

Cytauxzoonosis is an acute and highly lethal tick-borne disease of wild and domestic cats, and is widely distributed in Africa, Asia, Europe, the USA and Brazil. So far, only two tick species present on the USA are experimentally confirmed in Cytauxzoon transmission however, in Brazil and other continents, the epidemiology of the disease remains unknown. Evidences points to Panthera onca as a possible reservoir, but there is no evidence to point the vector. Therefore, this study evaluates the presence of Cytauxzoon spp. in wild felids from areas with and without records of Amblyomma sculptum this ixodid for comparison. Overall, 53 blood samples of P. onca, Puma concolor, and Leopardus pardalis from the Midwest region (MR; region with A. sculptum) and 143 blood and/or spleen samples from Leopardus geoffroyi, Leopardus wiedii, Leopardus munoai, Leopardus guttulus, Herpailurus yagouaroundi, L. pardalis, and P. concolor from Rio Grande do Sul State (RS; without A. sculptum). Only one feline sample was negative for Cytauxzoon sp. from MR; no samples from RS were positive. In total, 507 ticks were identified from MR felids, with predominance of A. sculptum (69.23%). In RS, there were 93 ixodids, of which 90.32% were Amblyomma aureolatum. The difference in the tick fauna of the two regions studied (presence/absence of A. sculptum) reflects the results found. This study highlighted A. sculptum as a possible vector since this hemoparasite was abundantly observed in areas where it occurs, also, there was no evidence of Cytauxzoon spp. where it was absent. Additionally, the study supported the suggestion that P. onca is the reservoir for the agent in MR.

First record of melanism in the critically endangered Pampa cat (Leopardus munoai), an endemic species of the Pampa grasslands / Primeiro registro de melanismo no criticamente ameaçado gato-pampeano (Leopardus munoai), uma espécie endêmica das áreas abertas do Pampa

Abstract We report the first record of a melanistic individual of the critically endangered Pampa cat (Leopardus munoai), from July 8th, 2021, at 10:45 am (coordinates 30.096288° S; 54.941139° W) in the area of the Brazilian army, known as Campo de Instrução Barão de São Borja (CIBSB), popularly known as Saicã.

Resumo: Este trabalho reporta o primeiro registro de melanismo do criticamente ameaçado de extinção gato-pampeano (Leopardus munoai), realizado em 8 de julho de 2021, às 10:45 da manhã. O registro foi obtido nas coordenadas 30.096288° S; 54.941139° W na área do exército brasileiro Campo de Instrução Barão de São Borja (CIBSB), popularmente conhecida como Saicã.

Molecular survey of hemotropic mycoplasmas in crab-eating raccoons (Procyon cancrivorus) in southern Brazil / Levantamento molecular de micoplasma hemotrópico em mão-pelada (Procyon cancrivorus) do sul do Brasil

Hemoplasmas are non-cultivable bacterial parasites of erythrocytes that infect domestic and wild animals, as well as humans. Their means of transmission and pathogenesis remain contentious issues and difficult to evaluate in wild animals. Procyon cancrivorus is a South American carnivore and occurs in all Brazilian biomes. In this study, we aimed to investigate occurrences of hemoplasmas infecting P. cancrivorus and to identify their 16S rRNA gene, in southern Brazil. DNA was extracted from spleen and blood samples of P. cancrivorus (n = 9) from different locations. Hemoplasma DNA was detected in six samples, based on 16S rRNA gene amplification and phylogenetic analysis. Four of the six sequences belonged to the "Mycoplasma haemofelis group", which is closely related to genotypes detected in Procyon lotor from the USA; one was within the "Mycoplasma suis group", closely related to "Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum"; and one was within the intermediate group between these clusters. Thus, these sequences showed that the molecular identity of hemoplasmas in the population studied was very variable. In five positive animals, Amblyomma aureolatum ticks and a flea (Ctenocephalides felis felis) were collected. The present study describes the first molecular detection of mycoplasmas in P. cancrivorus.(AU)

Os micoplasmas hemotrópicos (hemoplasmas) são parasitas bacterianos não-cultiváveis de eritrócitos que infectam tanto animais domésticos e selvagens, como seres humanos. A transmissão e a patogênese são discutíveis e difíceis de avaliar em animais selvagens. O mão pelada (Procyon cancrivorus) é um carnívoro Sul-americano, que ocorre em todos os biomas brasileiros. O objetivo do presente estudo é o de investigar a ocorrência de hemoplasmas infectando P. cancrivorus e identificar seu gene 16S rRNA no Sul do Brasil. O DNA foi extraído do baço e amostras de sangue de P. cancrivorus (n= 9). O DNA de hemoplasma foi detectado em seis amostras, com base na amplificação do gene 16S rRNA e na análise filogenética. Quatro das seis sequências pertencem ao "Grupo Mycoplasma haemofelis", que estão intimamente relacionadas aos genótipos detectados no Procyon lotor dos EUA; uma dentro do "Grupo Mycoplasma suis", que está intimamente relacionado ao "Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum", e uma dentro do grupo intermediário entre esses clusters, mostrando assim que há uma diversidade genética de hemoplasmas na população estudada. Em cinco animais positivos, foram coletados carrapatos Amblyomma aureolatum e uma pulga Ctenocephalides felis. O presente estudo traz a primeira detecção molecular de micoplasmas em P. cancrivorus.(AU)