Search

Tick species parasitizing yellow armadillo, Euphractus sexcinctus, were recorded from October 2006 to October 2007 in Pantanal. A total of 89 ticks were collected from 23 yellow armadillos. Most ticks (n=50) were identified as Amblyomma cajennense (Fabricius) (32 males and 18 females). The only other species found was Amblyomma parvum (Aragão) (three females and two males). The remaining ticks were immatures of Amblyomma (29 nymphs and five larvae). The prevalence of A. cajennense was 55%, the mean intensity was 2.7±0.5 (SE) (n=17) and the mean abundance was 1.5±0.4 (n=31).

Leprosy is still a worldwide public health problem. Brazil and India show the highest prevalence rates of the disease. Natural infection of armadillos Dasypus novemcinctus with Mycobacterium leprae has been reported in some regions of the United States. Identification of bacilli is difficult, particularly due to its inability to grow in vitro. The use of molecular tools represents a fast and sensitive alternative method for diagnosis of mycobacteriosis. In the present study, the diagnostic methods used were bacilloscopy, histopathology, microbiology, and PCR using specific primers for M. leprae repetitive sequences. PCR were performed using genomic DNA extracted from 138 samples of liver, spleen, lymph nodes, and skin of 44 D. novemcinctus, Euphractus sexcinctus, Cabassous unicinctus, and C. tatouay armadillos from the Middle Western region of the state of São Paulo and from the experimental station of Embrapa Pantanal, located in Pantanal da Nhecolândia of Mato Grosso do Sul state. Also, the molecular analysis of 19 samples from internal organs of other road killed species of wild animals, such as Nasua nasua (ring-tailed coati), Procyon cancrivoros (hand-skinned), Cerdocyon thous (dog-pity-bush), Cavia aperea (restless cavy), Didelphis albiventris (skunk), Sphigurrus spinosus (hedgehog), and Gallictis vittata (ferret) showed PCR negative data. None of the 157 analyzed samples had shown natural mycobacterial infection. Only the armadillo inoculated with material collected from untreated multibacillary leprosy patient presented PCR positive and its genomic sequencing revealed 100% identity with M. leprae. According to these preliminary studies, based on the used methodology, it is possible to conclude that wild mammals seem not to play an important role in the epidemiology of leprosy in the Middle Western region of the São Paulo state and in the Pantanal of Mato Grosso do Sul state.

The aim of this study was to describe the normal B-mode, Doppler, and 2D Shear Wave Elastography ultrasonographic findings of some abdominal structures in a six-month-old male Southern Tamandua (Tamandua tetradactyla). The animal was found and rescued by the environmental police after being discovered in the wild near its mother, who had died in a car accident. For the ultrasonographic exams, the animal's abdominal region was shaved, and only physical restraint was used. In the B-mode exam, the urinary bladder, small intestine, kidneys, left adrenal gland, stomach, liver, and gallbladder were located and evaluated. Doppler examination obtained spectral tracings of the arcuate and renal arteries of both kidneys. Elastography assessed the stiffness of the renal cortex, liver, and spleen. The ultrasound examination provided an adequate evaluation and novel findings of the Southern Tamandua abdominal structures without invasiveness., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

Background: Understanding how to connect habitat remnants to facilitate the movement of species is a critical task in an increasingly fragmented world impacted by human activities. The identification of dispersal routes and corridors through connectivity analysis requires measures of landscape resistance but there has been no consensus on how to calculate resistance from habitat characteristics, potentially leading to very different connectivity outcomes. Methods: We propose a new model, called the Time-Explicit Habitat Selection (TEHS) model, that can be directly used for connectivity analysis. The TEHS model decomposes the movement process in a principled approach into a time and a selection component, providing complementary information regarding space use by separately assessing the drivers of time to traverse the landscape and the drivers of habitat selection. These models are illustrated using GPS-tracking data from giant anteaters (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) in the Pantanal wetlands of Brazil. Results: The time model revealed that the fastest movements tended to occur between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m., suggesting a crepuscular/nocturnal behavior. Giant anteaters moved faster over wetlands while moving much slower over forests and savannas, in comparison to grasslands. We also found that wetlands were consistently avoided whereas forest and savannas tended to be selected. Importantly, this model revealed that selection for forest increased with temperature, suggesting that forests may act as important thermal shelters when temperatures are high. Finally, using the spatial absorbing Markov chain framework, we show that the TEHS model results can be used to simulate movement and connectivity within a fragmented landscape, revealing that giant anteaters will often not use the shortest-distance path to the destination patch due to avoidance of certain habitats. Conclusions: The proposed approach can be used to characterize how landscape features are perceived by individuals through the decomposition of movement patterns into a time and a habitat selection component. Additionally, this framework can help bridge the gap between movement-based models and connectivity analysis, enabling the generation of time-explicit connectivity results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Studies on Neotropical Fauna & Environment is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: The Amazon Forest is one of the world's most biodiverse ecosystems and yet its protected areas are understudied concerning insects and other invertebrates. These organisms are essential for tropical forests due to their ecological processes, with some species being very sensitive to habitat disturbances. Dung beetles (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae, Scarabaeinae) have been used as bioindicators for more than 30 years and were surveyed to assess the insect biodiversity of two sustainable-use forest reserves in the Brazilian Amazon. New informationl: We report inventories of dung beetles from two Amazonian forest reserves in Pará State, Brazil: the Tapajós National Forest and the Carajás National Forest. Surveys were carried out with baited-pitfall traps installed in 2010, 2016, 2017 and 2019. We collected a total of 3,772 individuals from 19 genera and 96 species. We highlight the importance of Amazonian protected areas as refugia for insect biodiversity, particularly dung beetles, which contribute to many key ecosystem processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to evaluate the food preference of nine banded armadillos kept in captivity, exposed to four different diets: Diet 1 (D1) - dry dog food and ground beef; Diet 2 (D2) - dry dog food, ground beef, and chicken eggs; Diet 3 (D3) - dog food, ground beef, bananas, and papaya; Diet 4 (D4) - dog food, ground beef, chicken eggs, banana, and papaya. To this end, an experiment was carried out for five weeks, the first four of which were for preliminary management and the fifth week for data collection. Frequency of consumption, total intake for each diet, and intake ratio were evaluated. The dietary preference was higher for the diets with a higher protein percentage (D1 and D2), mainly D2, which presented increased demand and intake starting on the fourth day of observation. In second day of observation, D1 presented the higher intake ratio, but D2 gradually replaced it. The diet containing the lowest protein rate (D3) was the least favored on all observation days and evaluations. In conclusion, the food preference of ex-situ armadillos seems to be related to the inclusion of greater amounts of protein, particularly that of animal origin, with eggs being the most appreciated ingredient in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The giant anteater ( Myrmecophaga tridactyla ) is one of the three species in the family Myrmecophagidae of the suborder Vermilingua. It is the only species of the genus Myrmecophaga . The species, subject to increasing threats in its natural environment, is classified as vulnerable on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species. European zoos are involved in the ex situ conservation of the giant anteater, which is essential for its long-term viability. However, the diseases encountered by European captive populations of giant anteaters are not well documented, and best practice guidelines are not yet available for the species. An online two-part survey was conducted among European institutions hosting or having housed anteaters over a 20-yr period concerning the current management of captive populations and the diseases encountered. Medical data were collected from 99 giant anteaters from 30 institutions. Among the study population, 4% of the individuals were born in the wild and 96% were born in captivity. Seventy animals (71%) were still alive at the time of data collection, with an average age of 8 yr. A predominance of digestive (20%), dermatologic (20%)-with mainly wounds-and internal parasitism (18%) disorders was observed, followed by behavioral (13%), musculoskeletal (12%), respiratory (11%), nutritional (10%), and ocular (9%) disorders. Mortality mainly concerns the most extreme age categories: very young individuals, mostly secondary to trauma, and older individuals with no main cause identified. This paper details all the medical conditions reported in the European captive giant anteaters included in the study. It allows us to formulate some medical and zootechnical recommendations for the species management and to envisage new research perspectives.

Background: Mosquito assemblages are organized along an ecological gradient, including small habitats where interspecific competition predominates and large permanent habitats where predation predominates. This study aimed to analyze the oviposition behavior of mosquitoes regarding the preference for traps installed at two different heights with regard to ground level and the tendency to share spawning sites in an Atlantic Forest fragment in Nova Iguaçu, State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Methods: The eggs were collected from April 2018 to March 2019. Twelve ovitraps were used, randomly distributed in trees at ground level and at a height of 3 m in a forest environment. Results: They were sequentially numbered, monitored, and replaced every 2 weeks. Among the 5818 eggs collected, 3941 hatched, 3756 reached the pupa stage, and 2370 reached the adult stage. The most abundant species were Aedes albopictus (63%) and Haemagogus leucocelaenus (35%), followed by Aedes terrens (2%) and Haemagogus janthinomys (1%). Analyses showed a significant difference of (P = 0.02) between the number of mosquito species collected in the palettes at ground level and the number collected at the height of 3 m. Cluster analysis of species abundance showed that the eggs collected in the palettes at ground level were more abundant than those collected in the palettes at the height of 3 m. We detected co-occurrence of species in the oviposition palettes; according to the null model, such species distribution was not random. Conclusions: The exploitation of oviposition sites by mosquito species can represent an event forced by population density facilitated by the ecological valence of individuals of one species. Understanding the aggregate distribution of larvae at the oviposition site allows us to conduct more in-depth studies of the oviposition behavior of female mosquitoes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vestigial organs are historical echoes of past phenotypes. Determining whether a specific organ constitutes a functional or vestigial structure can be a challenging task, given that distinct levels of atrophy may arise between and within lineages. The mammalian pineal gland, an endocrine organ involved in melatonin biorhythmicity, represents a classic example, often yielding contradicting anatomical observations. In Xenarthra (sloths, anteaters, and armadillos), a peculiar mammalian order, the presence of a distinct pineal organ was clearly observed in some species (i.e., Linnaeus's two-toed sloth), but undetected in other closely related species (i.e., brown-throated sloth). In the nine-banded armadillo, contradicting evidence supports either functional or vestigial scenarios. Thus, to untangle the physiological status of the pineal gland in Xenarthra, we used a genomic approach to investigate the evolution of the gene hub responsible for melatonin synthesis and signaling. We show that both synthesis and signaling compartments are eroded and were probably lost independently among Xenarthra orders. Additionally, by expanding our analysis to 157 mammal genomes, we offer a comprehensive view showing that species with very distinctive habitats and lifestyles have convergently evolved a similar phenotype: Cetacea, Pholidota, Dermoptera, Sirenia, and Xenarthra. Our findings suggest that the recurrent inactivation of melatonin genes correlates with pineal atrophy and endorses the use of genomic analyses to ascertain the physiological status of suspected vestigial structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Knowing the influence of intrinsic and environmental traits on animals' movement is a central interest of ecology and can aid to enhance management decisions. The giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) is a vulnerable mammal that presents low capacity for physiological thermoregulation and uses forests as thermal shelters. Here, we aim to provide reliable estimates of giant anteaters' movement patterns and home range size, as well as untangle the role of intrinsic and environmental drivers on their movement. We GPS-tracked 19 giant anteaters in Brazilian savannah. We used a continuous-time movement model to estimate their movement patterns (described by home range crossing time, daily distance moved and directionality), and provide an autocorrelated kernel density estimate of home range size. Then, we used mixed structural equations to integratively model the effects of sex, body mass and proportion of forest cover on movement patterns and home range size, considering the complex net of interactions between these variables. Male giant anteaters presented more intensive space use and larger home range than females with similar body mass, as it is expected in polygynous social mating systems. Males and females increased home range size with increasing body mass, but the allometric scaling of intensity of space use was negative for males and positive for females, indicating different strategies in search for resources. With decreasing proportion of forest cover inside their home ranges, and, consequently, decreasing thermal quality of their habitat, giant anteaters increased home range size, possibly to maximize the chances of accessing thermal shelters. As frequency and intensity of extreme weather events and deforestation are increasing, effective management efforts need to consider the role of forests as an important thermal resource driving spatial requirements of this species. We highlight that both intrinsic and environmental drivers of animal movement should be integrated to better guide management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla), the largest representative of the xenarthrans, is listed as Vulnerable-IUCN. Their unique anatomy and physiological characteristics, such as relatively low basal metabolic rates, make xenarthrans challenging to anesthetize and equip with tracking devices. This study evaluates and describes physical capture and chemical immobilization protocols for field conditions that enable the harnessing of free-ranging giant anteaters. A total of 51 wild giant anteaters were physically captured, and chemical immobilization was performed applying the combination protocol (BDM), butorphanol tartrate, detomidine hydrochloride, and midazolam hydrochloride, each at 0.1 mg/kg. Whenever extra time was necessary, supplementary doses of BDM were used (0.03 mg/kg of butorphanol, 0.03 mg/kg of detomidine, and 0.03 mg/kg of midazolam). Vital signs were monitored during anesthesia every 10 min. All individuals received the antagonist combination NYF: naloxone hydrochloride (0.02 mg/kg), yohimbine hydrochloride (0.125 mg/kg), and flumazenil (0.01 mg/kg). Average rectal temperature was 34.5 ± 2.52 °C, heart rate/min 43.47 ± 7.39, respiratory rate 8.49 ± 2.79, and oxygen saturation values (SpO2%) 90.1 ± 4.38. BDM protocol was considered satisfactory and provided enough time to complete the procedures. The total chemical immobilization time was 85.5 ± 16.8 min. This protocol provided rapid, smooth inductions, and a wide margin of safety. Recovery time varied according administration method lasting 2.55 ± 1.33 to 12 ± 5.39 min intravenous or intramuscular, respectively. Physical capture method and the chemical immobilization protocol were considered efficient, safe, highly feasible, and can be completely antagonized, promoting smooth and rapid recoveries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bimonthly diurnal and nocturnal captures were conducted in four different sampling sites of the Mato Grosso Pantanal region over 24 consecutive months between March 2009 and January 2011. The goal of performing these collections was to elucidate aspects of the biology and ecology of mosquitoes in this region since little to nothing is known about these aspects for many species. A total of 17,532 specimens were captured, comprising two subfamilies, nine genera, and 44 species. The main species of culicids found in the Mato Grosso Pantanal had strong ecological compatibility with well-preserved environments and with some of the specific habitats found in at least one of the four selected collection sampling sites. Anopheles darlingi, An. albitarsis, and An. triannulatus are well-suited to environments with large water bodies and greater anthropic activity. Culex nigripalpus and Cx. quinquefasciatus prefer environments with bush fragments and pronounced human action and movement. Culex declarator and Psorophora albigenu, the most eclectic, prefer wild areas and with some anthropic activity. Mansonia titillans is associated with environments offering a wide variety of natural breeding areas that enable its development, in particular natural swamp areas covered with macrophytes, which is one of the natural components of the Pantanal biome. The effect of the flooding season on the population density of anophelines is especially advantageous, with an explosion in the number of individuals in periods of widespread flooding. The region's environmental dynamics are regulated by flooding cycles with alternating periods of flooding and drought, which are the main factors governing the ecology of the local fauna and flora. Flooding periods contribute to raising culicid species' richness and diversity, while the droughts result in a more even distribution of specimens within species. The flooding season of the Pantanal occurs between November and May and coincides with the greatest abundance of culicid species. During this period, the human population of the region has greater contact with mosquito vectors carrying pathogens, including arboviruses, which previous studies have confirmed via seropositivity in the region's equines and birds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nematode family Spirocercidae Chitwood and Wehr, 1932, comprises three subfamilies, Spirocercinae Chitwood and Wehr, 1932; Ascaropsinae Alicata and McIntosh, 1933; and Mastophorinae Quentin, 1970, which occur worldwide. Spirocercids infect canids and can cause severe illness. The crab-eating fox, Cerdocyon thous (Linnaeus, 1766), is a canid that inhabits most of South America, including Brazil and is a host for several parasitic worms, in particular, nematodes. However, few reports or genetic data are available on the spirocercids found in this host. In the present study, we describe a new species of Spirobakerus Chabaud and Bain 1981, from the intestine of two crab-eating foxes from two different biomes in Brazil. Spirobakerus sagittalis sp. nov. presents a) unequal spicules, with a long, thin left spicule with a lanceolated shape at the tip; b) a pair of sessile papillae and a median unpaired papillae located anteriorly of the cloaca, and c) a tuft without spines at the tip of the tail in females. The molecular phylogenetic analysis indicated that S. sagittalis sp. nov. is basal to the other species of the subfamily Ascaropsinae, which was not recovered as monophyletic. Our phylogenies also indicated that Spirocercidae is paraphyletic, given that Mastophorinae did not group with Ascaropsinae and Spirocercinae. We provide the first molecular data on the genus Spirobakerus and expand the molecular database of the spirocercids. However, further studies, including the sequences of other spirocercid taxa, are still needed to infer the relationships within this family more accurately. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Xenarthra, one of the major clades of placentals, comprises two different lineages (sloths and anteaters, and armadillos) with extant representatives showing strongly different morphologies and life habits. Sloths are arboreal herbivores, anteaters are insectivores with digging/climbing abilities, and armadillos are terrestrial diggers with varied diets. The ulna is one of the forelimb elements that exhibits distinct morphological specializations for different abilities (e.g., digging and climbing). A sample of xenarthrans was analyzed in this work from a functional and ecological perspective, using 2-D geometric morphometry. The analyses performed were a Principal Components Analysis (PCA), a regression of the shape on the centroid size, and a PCA with the residuals from the regression. The first PCA shows that the morphospace is strongly influenced by differences in length of the olecranon with respect to the shaft between the three clades. Allometry was detected for the whole sample. In the residual PCA, the allometry-free morphospace allows the differentiation between the ecological categories of substrate preference: armadillos and giant anteaters (terrestrial) are located towards the negative side of PC1, while sloths and silky anteaters (arboreal) are located near the positive end, with collared anteaters (semiarboreal) placed near the center. The terrestrial taxa present a more robust diaphysis, and a comparatively long, diaphysis-aligned olecranon, while the arboreal taxa show a relatively long ulna with an anteriorly curved shaft and an anteriorly deflected carpal facet. The ulnar curvature has biomechanical implications in relation to the bone response to different loadings produced in the context of posture and locomotion in each substrate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, traps were set out to improve mosquito monitoring, study their viability, and determine the most suitable traps for female mosquito species of epidemiological importance during oviposition. The effectiveness of 3 types of traps (bamboo traps, tire traps, and ovitraps) were compared at 2 sampling sites. A total of 24 traps were installed on the ground at elevations of 3 m, 6 m, and 9 m in a fragment of the Atlantic Forest in the municipality of Nova Iguaçu, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil. The samplings took place every 2 wk from July 2017 to June 2018. A total of 1,854 mosquitoes belonging to 16 different species were identified, of which 2 species are involved in the transmission of arbovirus: Haemagogus leucocelaenus (Dyar and Shannon) and Aedes albopictus Skuse. Larval tire traps were the most effective at trapping females laying eggs, followed by ovitraps. The results were consistent with the usual habitats of certain species that were found in tire traps, which are artificial objects commonly found in human environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among the primary beef producers globally, Brazil stands out due to livestock production based on pastures without massive grain dependence. Moreover, the adoption of integrated systems has increased in Brazilian farms in the past few years, reaching significant numbers such as 11.5 million hectares covered by some sort of integration, including silvopastoral systems (SPS). This study aimed to evaluate the diversity of Coleoptera species and dung pats decomposition in an open pasture (OP) of Urochloa brizantha cv. Marandu and in an SPS with Eucalyptus urograndis clone H13. There were no significant differences in dung beetle richness or abundance in OP and SPS, as well as similar rates of dung pats disintegration. Most insects were captured during the rainy season, and richness and diversity of species were similar between systems. The traps' distance to the Eucalyptus rows did not influence the number of dung beetles sampled; however, fewer individuals were captured under the tree rows. We suggest the importance of beetles for cattle dung decomposition and biological control of parasites, eventhough community structure was similar between systems with different habitat complexity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the prevalence of M. leprae infection in armadillos is important because of evidence from Brazil and other countries of an association between contact with armadillos and the development of Hansen's Disease (leprosy). Our aim was to characterize studies which have investigated natural M. leprae infection in wild armadillos in Brazil, and to quantify and explore variability in the reported prevalence of infection. We conducted a systematic review (PROSPERO CRD42019155277) of publications in MEDLINE, EMBASE, Global Health, Scopus, LILACS, Biblioteca Digital Brasileira de Teses e Dissertações, Catálogo de Teses e Dissertações de CAPES, and Biblioteca Virtual em Saúde up to 10/2019 using Mesh and text search terms (in English, Portuguese, Spanish, and French). The 10 included studies represented a total sample of 302 armadillos comprising 207 (69%) Dasypus novemcinctus, 67 (22%) Euphractus sexcinctus, 16 (5%) Priodontes maximus, 10 (3%) Cabassous unicinctus, and 2 (1%) Cabassous tatouay from 7 different states. Methods used included histopathology (4 studies), PGL-1 and LID-1 antigen detection (4 studies) and examination for clinical signs of disease (4 studies). Eight studies used PCR of which 7 targeted the RLEP repetitive element and 3 tested for inhibitory substances. M. leprae prevalence by PCR ranged from 0% (in 3 studies) to 100% in one study, with a summary estimate of 9.4% (95% CI 0.4% to 73.1%) and a predictive interval of 0–100%. The average prevalence is equivalent to 1 in 10 armadillos in Brazil being infected with M. leprae, but wide variation in sample estimates means that the prevalence in any similar study would be entirely unpredictable. We propose instead that future studies aim to investigate transmission and persistence of M. leprae within and between armadillo populations, meanwhile adopting the precautionary principle to protect human health and an endangered species in Brazil. Author summary: The risk to human health of contact with armadillos infected with Mycobacterium leprae, a bacterium that causes Hansen's Disease (leprosy), is uncertain, but evidence from Brazil and other countries appears to show a link between contact with armadillos and increased risk of Hansen's Disease in people. How much of Hansen's Disease in the human population is caused by contact with armadillos will depend on the size of the risk, the type and frequency of contact and how common it is in the population, and the role of other (human-to-human) transmission routes for Mycobacterium leprae. Our review has shown that one other key factor, the proportion of wild armadillos infected with Mycobacterium leprae, cannot be predicted with any certainty based on data from studies conducted to date. We suggest that much bigger and longer-term studies are needed, perhaps in partnership with animal conservation and ecology groups, to map Mycobacterium leprae infection in armadillos across Brazil and correlate this with proximity to human habitats. At the same time, data must be gathered in studies focused on populations of armadillos to characterize Mycobacterium leprae transmission and persistence within groups of animals, for example, using trackers and repeated sampling over the animals' lifespans. In the meantime, the precautionary principle should prevail, and public health and educational efforts should be directed to improving community knowledge and changing behaviour to protect people and armadillos. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental distribution of the two most abundant ticks in forest areas in the Brazilian Pantanal was evaluated by CO2 traps methodology in the wet season (peak of adult ticks) of 2012 and 2013. Adults of Amblyomma parvum were concentrated inside agglomerates of Bromelia balansae, in the border of forest patches. Adults of Amblyomma sculptum occurred in similar numbers both in bromeliad clumps and in bromeliad-free areas. Differential distribution of ticks in this habitat could be associated to the frequent use of bromeliad clumps by wild animals (potential hosts) and to the microclimate conditions inside this vegetation in the Pantanal. It is important to verify whether larvae and nymphs of A. parvum have a similar pattern of distribution in the same areas, during the dry season. These stages are more susceptible to desiccation and their principal hosts, non-volant small mammals, also use these bromeliad areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many (re)emerging infectious diseases in humans arise from pathogen spillover from wildlife or livestock, and accurately predicting pathogen spillover is an important public health goal. In the Americas, yellow fever in humans primarily occurs following spillover from non-human primates via mosquitoes. Predicting yellow fever spillover can improve public health responses through vector control and mass vaccination. Here, we develop and test a mechanistic model of pathogen spillover to predict human risk for yellow fever in Brazil. This environmental risk model, based on the ecology of mosquito vectors and non-human primate hosts, distinguished municipality-months with yellow fever spillover from 2001 to 2016 with high accuracy (AUC = 0.72). Incorporating hypothesized cyclical dynamics of infected primates improved accuracy (AUC = 0.79). Using boosted regression trees to identify gaps in the mechanistic model, we found that important predictors include current and one-month lagged environmental risk, vaccine coverage, population density, temperature and precipitation. More broadly, we show that for a widespread human viral pathogen, the ecological interactions between environment, vectors, reservoir hosts and humans can predict spillover with surprising accuracy, suggesting the potential to improve preventive action to reduce yellow fever spillover and avert onward epidemics in humans. This article is part of the theme issue 'Dynamic and integrative approaches to understanding pathogen spillover'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is evidence that in southern US, leprosy is a zoonosis infecting wild Dasypus novemcinctus armadillos but the extent of this finding is unknown. This ecological study investigated leprosy in rural communities and in wild armadillos from the Brazilian Amazon. The study area was the Mamiá Lake of Coari municipality, Amazonas State, Northern region, a hyper endemic leprosy area where residents live on subsistence farming, fishing and armadillo hunting and its meat intake are frequent. The leprosy survey was conducted in sixteen communities by a visiting team of specialists. Local partakers provided wild armadillos to investigate M. leprae infection. Volunteers had complete dermato-neurological examination by a dermatologist with expertise in leprosy diagnosis, suspect skin lesions were biopsied for histopathology (Hematoxylin-eosin/HE, Fite-Faraco/FF staining); slit skin smears were collected. Armadillos’ tissue fragments (skins, spleens, livers, lymph nodes, adrenal glands, others) were prepared for histopathology (HE/FF) and for M. leprae repetitive element-RLEP-qPCR. Among 176 volunteers, six new indeterminate leprosy cases were identified (incidence = 3.4%). Suspect skin sections and slit skin smears were negative for bacilli. Twelve wild D. novemcinctus were investigated (48 specimens/96 slides) and histopathological features of M. leprae infection were not found, except for one skin presenting unspecific inflammatory infiltrate suggestive of indeterminate leprosy. Possible traumatic neuroma, granuloma with epithelioid and Langhans cells, foreign-body granuloma were also identified. Granulomatous/non-granulomatous dermatitides were periodic-acid-Schiff/PAS negative for fungus. M. leprae-RLEP-qPCR was negative in all armadillos’ tissues; no bacillus was found in histopathology. Our survey in rural communities confirmed the high endemicity for leprosy while one armadillo was compatible with paucibacillary M. leprae infection. At least in the highly endemic rural area of Coari, in the Brazilian Amazon region where infectious sources from untreated multibacillary leprosy are abundant, M. leprae infected armadillos may not represent a major source of infection nor a significant public health concern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Cerrado Biome is the second largest in Brazil covering roughly 2 million km2, with varying features throughout its area. The Biome is endangered but it is also source of animal species for rural, green urban and degraded rainforest areas. Ticks are among Cerrado species that establish at anthropogenic sites and although information about them is steadily increasing, several features are unknown. We herein report tick species, abundance and some ecological relationships within natural areas of the Cerrado at higher altitudes (800-1500 m) within and around Serra da Canastra National Park, in Minas Gerais State Brazil. In total of 1196 ticks were collected in the environment along 10 campaigns held in 3 years (2007-2009). Amblyomma sculptum was the most numerous species followed by Amblyomma dubitatum and Amblyomma brasiliense. Distribution of these species was very uneven and an established population of A. brasiliense in the Cerrado is reported for the first time. Other tick species (Amblyomma ovale, Amblyomma nodosum, Amblyomma parvum, Ixodes schulzei and Haemaphysalis leporispalustris) were found in lesser numbers. Domestic animals displayed tick infestations of both rural and urban origin as well as from natural areas (Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato, Rhipicephalus microplus, Dermacentor nitens, A. sculptum, A. ovale, Amblyomma tigrinum, Argas miniatus). Amblyomma sculptum had the widest domestic host spectrum among all tick species. DNA of only one Rickettsia species, R. bellii, was found in an A. dubitatum tick. Several biological and ecological features of ticks of the studied areas are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ungual phalanges (the most distal bone within a limb) and claws (the overlying corneous sheath) from the third digit of the forefoot of selected Pleistocene ground sloths (Lestodon armatus,Glossotherium robustum,Scelidotherium leptocephalumandMegatherium americanum) are analysed, as well as those of some living xenarthrans for actualistic comparison, aiming at testing hypotheses of substrate usage and locomotor behaviour. The third digits were chosen for this study because of its size and nearly perfect bilateral symmetry, which increases the possibilities of revealing functional differences between taxa. The analyses performed were of inner and external curvature, the strength indicator and the mechanical advantage. The mechanical advantage indicates that the four ground sloths’ species were well adapted for strenuous activities, such as digging, in which force rather than velocity is optimised. Their strength indicator shows expected values for their body size, while inMylodon darwiniithe value obtained was lower than expected. In the two curvature analysesL. armatus,G. robustumandM. americanumfall within the group of armadillos that dig, whereasS. leptocephalumdoes not, this might be due to a difference in the movements performed while performing an activity such as digging or similar to it. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The responses of lowland tropical communities to climate change will critically influence global biodiversity but remain poorly understood. If species in these systems are unable to tolerate warming, the communities—currently the most diverse on Earth—may become depauperate (‘biotic attrition’). In response to temperature changes, animals can adjust their distribution in space or their activity in time, but these two components of the niche are seldom considered together. We assessed the spatio-temporal niches of rainforest mammal species in Borneo across gradients in elevation and temperature. Most species are not predicted to experience changes in spatio-temporal niche availability, even under pessimistic warming scenarios. Responses to temperature are not predictable by phylogeny but do appear to be trait-based, being much more variable in smaller-bodied taxa. General circulation models and weather station data suggest unprecedentedly high midday temperatures later in the century; predicted responses to this warming among small-bodied species range from 9% losses to 6% gains in spatio-temporal niche availability, while larger species have close to 0% predicted change. Body mass may therefore be a key ecological trait influencing the identity of climate change winners and losers. Mammal species composition will probably change in some areas as temperatures rise, but full-scale biotic attrition this century appears unlikely. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Studies on the inter-relations between people and animals have been considered essential to better understand the dynamics of socio-ecological systems. This study aimed to register the animal species known by the communities adjacent to National Forest of Araripe, their uses and if the close relationship affects the knowledge of useful species. Methods: Data collection was conducted through a semi-structured inquiry form, free listings and guided tour. The study included 246 people from two community groups: group 1 (n = 113; <2 km from FLONA) and group 2 (n=133; > 2 km). Results: According to the free listing, group 1 communities know more animal species (11.50 ± 5.81) than group 2 (9.41 ± 3.70), with a significant difference in knowledge between the groups. Men and women showed no significant difference in knowledge about animal species. The men from group 1 know, significantly, more species than men from group 2; but this difference was not observed in women from both groups. In the analysis of the Use Value (UV), Mazama gouazoubira showed a higher UV, both in group 1 (1.15) and group 2 (1.49). The guided tour identified the presence of 11 species, common in the vegetation of Forested Savannah (Cerradão) and in the transition Rainforest/Savannah (Cerrädo). Conclusion: The results indicate M. gouazoubira as the most known and used species in this Protected Area, showing that species of interest to the local communities are worthy of conservation attention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is believed that the two species of Tolypeutes Illiger, 1811 are the only armadillos that do not dig their own burrows, and that these species simply re-use burrows dug by other species. Here, we show that Tolypeutes matacus (Desmarest, 1804) and Tolypeutes tricinctus (Linnaeus, 1758) dig their own burrows. We describe the burrows and three other types of shelters used by them, and provide measurements and frequency of use of the different types of shelter. We have studied free-ranging individuals of T. matacus in two locations in Central Brazil and individuals of T. tricinctus in semi-captivity in the Northeast of Brazil. Individuals of T. matacus were found primarily in small burrows (76%), straw nests (13%), shallow depressions covered with leaf-litter (7%) or in straw nests made on shallow depressions (4%). Adult males and females of T. matacus did not differ in frequency of use of different types of shelter. Sub-adults T. matacus used shallow depressions and nests more often (40%) than adults (22%) and nurslings (10%). Nurslings of T. matacus reused the shelters more frequently (66%), than sub-adults (46%) and adults (35%). Adult females reused burrows and other types of shelter more frequently than adult males. Tolypeutes tricinctus rested mainly in burrows and under leaf-litter, but did not dig depressions or build nests. Tolypeutes tricinctus occasionally used burrows dug by Euphractus sexcinctus (Linnaeus, 1758), but T. matacus never used burrows dug by other species. Nursling T. matacus always shared shelter with an adult female therefore, both used shelters with similar frequency. Adult females and nurslings of T. matacus reused shelters in higher frequency. That can be explained by the fact that adult females with offspring tend to remain for consecutive nights in the same burrow when cubs are recently born. Due to their smaller body size, sub-adult T. matacus used shelter strategies that require less energetic effort more frequently than adults and nurslings. The habit of covering the burrow entrance with foliage and the burrow's reduced depth, indicates that Tolypeutes use of burrows is more likely to be related to parental care behavior and thermoregulation strategies than to defense mechanisms. We are confident that the burrows used for resting were indeed dug by Tolypeutes because, besides the direct observation of armadillos digging burrows, the measures of the burrows are very distinctive from those presented as characteristic for the co-occurring burrowing species and are congruent with Tolypeutes size and carapace shape. The newly acquired knowledge that species of Tolypeutes dig burrows can be used to increase the well-being of individuals kept in captivity by adapting enclosures to enable their digging behavior. In addition, this information contributes not only to the study of the ecology and natural history of the species, but can shed new light on the study of the anatomy of specialized diggers. Tolypeutes spp. can comprise the least fossorial of all living armadillo species, but they can no longer be classified as non-diggers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Similar, coexisting species often segregate along the spatial ecological axis. Here, we examine if two top predators (jaguars and pumas) present different fine-scale habitat use in areas of coexistence, and discuss if the observed pattern can be explained by the risk of interference competition between them. Interference competition theory predicts that pumas should avoid habitats or areas used by jaguars (the dominant species), and as a consequence should present more variability of niche parameters across study areas. We used non-invasive genetic sampling of faeces in 12 different areas and sensor satellite fine-scale habitat indices to answer these questions. Meta-analysis confirmed differences in fine-scale habitat use between jaguars and pumas. Furthermore, average marginality of the realized niches of pumas was more variable than those of jaguars, and tolerance (a measure of niche breadth) was on average 2.2 times higher in pumas than in jaguars, as expected under the interference competition risk hypothesis. The use of sensor satellite fine-scale habitat indices allowed the detection of subtle differences in the environmental characteristics of the habitats used by these two similar top predators, which, as a rule, until now were recorded using the same general habitat types. The detection of fine spatial segregation between these two top predators was scale-dependent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Bromeliads can be epiphytic, terrestrial or saxicolous and use strategies to allow water to be retained in their leaf axils, where various arthropods can be found. These include mosquitoes, whose larvae are the most abundant and commonly found organisms in the leaf axils. The objective of this study was to look for immature forms of mosquitoes (the larval and pupal stages) in bromeliads in municipal parks in São Paulo and to discuss the ecological and epidemiological importance of these insects. Methods: From October 2010 to July 2013, immature mosquitoes were collected from bromeliads in 65 municipal parks in the city of São Paulo, Brazil, using suction samplers. The immature forms were maintained until adult forms emerged, and these were then identified morphologically. Results: Two thousand forty-two immature-stage specimens belonging to the genera Aedes, Culex, Trichoprosopon, Toxorhynchites, Limatus and Wyeomyia were found in bromeliads in 15 of the 65 parks visited. Aedes albopictus was the most abundant species (660 specimens collected), followed by Culex quinquefasciatus (548 specimens) and Cx. (Microculex) imitator (444). The taxa with the most widespread distribution were Ae. aegypti and Toxorhynchites spp, followed by Ae. albopictus and Cx. quinquefasciatus. Conclusion: Bromeliads in urban parks are refuges for populations of native species of Culicidae and breeding sites for exotic species that are generally of epidemiological interest. Hence, administrators and surveillance and mosquito-control agencies must constantly monitor these microenvironments as the presence of these species endangers the health of park users and employees as well as people living near the parks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sloths are xenarthrans from Central and South America with a highly adapted morphophysiology. Five of the six known species of sloths are found in Brazil, among which Bradypus torquatus (maned three-toed sloth) is considered a vulnerable species by International Union for Conservation of Nature. Nevertheless, knowledge on health and disease of sloths is very scarce, thus this study aimed to describe macroscopic and microscopic findings in 36 Brazilian sloths. The most common findings included iron storage disorder, probable bacterial pneumonia, gastric and intestinal nematode parasitism, and a presumptive diagnosis of systemic mastocytosis.

Nine-banded armadillos (Dasypus novemcinctus) are naturally infected with Mycobacterium leprae and have been implicated in zoonotic transmission of leprosy. Early studies found this disease mainly in Texas and Louisiana, but armadillos in the southeastern United States appeared to be free of infection. We screened 645 armadillos from 8 locations in the southeastern United States not known to harbor enzootic leprosy for M. leprae DNA and antibodies. We found M. leprae-infected armadillos at each location, and 106 (16.4%) animals had serologic/PCR evidence of infection. Using single-nucleotide polymorphism variable number tandem repeat genotyping/genome sequencing, we detected M. leprae genotype 3I-2-v1 among 35 armadillos. Seven armadillos harbored a newly identified genotype (3I-2-v15). In comparison, 52 human patients from the same region were infected with 31 M. leprae types. However, 42.3% (22/52) of patients were infected with 1 of the 2 M. leprae genotype strains associated with armadillos. The geographic range and complexity of zoonotic leprosy is expanding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we characterized the activity patterns and estimated the activity overlap between two armadillo species ( Dasypus novemcinctus and Euphractus sexcinctus) in the Pantanal wetlands of Brazil. We report the effect of daily mean ambient temperature on activity onset and duration of these armadillos. We captured seven yellow armadillos and three nine-banded armadillos and fitted them with very high frequency radios and temperature loggers. By monitoring the temperature of the environment (air temperatures and burrow temperatures), we inferred when the armadillo was active (above ground) or inactive (inside the burrow). Yellow armadillos were active mainly during the daytime and in the beginning of the night, while nine-banded armadillos were active mainly during the night. However, nine-banded armadillos presented a bimodal activity pattern, becoming active for a short period in the middle of the morning and/or afternoon. The proportion of activity overlap was 0.28 between the species, occurring primarily at the beginning of the night. At lower temperatures, yellow armadillos tended to leave their burrows earlier and were active for longer periods. This is probably an adaptation to their physiological constraints and limited thermoregulatory capabilities. Xenarthrans could be used as models to obtain valuable information about how physiology affects mammal behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Pantanal of Brazil, the world's largest freshwater wetland, supports a large diversity of species and is under continually increasing pressure from human development, including vehicle collisions with wild animals. We examined decadal, annual, and spatial variation in wildlife-vehicle collisions along highway BR-262 in the southern Pantanal, and specifically: (1) what is the rate of roadkill along BR-262, and did it increased over the previous decade, (2) which species are frequently victims of collisions and does this vary annually along the highway's length, and (3) what anthropogenic or environmental factors may influence this variation and how can the context of collisions inform mitigation? We sampled the highway monthly, between April 2011 and June 2012, stopping when roadkill was observed to identify species and collect GPS coordinates and a photographic record. Data was analyzed temporally and in relation to traffic volume and precipitation, and imported into a GIS and analyzed spatially and in relation to elevation. We recorded 518 carcasses from 40 species over the 15 sampling periods. The rate of roadkill incidents was 1 every 6.2 km, a tenfold increase since 2002, and is now one of the highest in Brazil. IUCN Red List species were observed, including lowland tapir, giant anteater, and marsh deer. At the lowest elevations, during seasonal wetland inundation the causeway embankment is sought for refuge, increasing collision probability. Mitigation measures tied to seasonal flood pulse variation along the causeway may reduce the high rate of wild animal mortality and loss of biodiversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the São Paulo State (south-eastern Brazil), Eucalyptus plantations have been replacing large areas formerly occupied by pastures used for livestock production. Such land use change may affect the habitat use by wildlife in these anthropic landscapes. In this region, the commercial Eucalyptus plantations for paper and cellulose production usually take from 6 to 7 years to be harvested. During its production cycle, Eucalyptus stands vary from an open savanna-like environment just after plantation, when plants still resemble bushes, to a forest-like environment with densely distributed 18-meter tall trees. Previous studies show that Eucalyptus plantations in south-eastern Brazil are used by generalist species, including medium and large sized mammals. However, the possible influence of such dramatic temporal environmental heterogeneity on the wildlife habitat use in Eucalyptus plantations is still unknown. In this study, we assess the influence of the Eucalyptus stand age on the local patterns of distribution and abundance of middle to large-sized wild mammals. Our results show an increase not only in species richness, but also in frequency of occurrences along the commercial cycle of the Eucalyptus plantations, with a steep decline in both habitats just before harvest. Such pattern may be related to weed control practices which significantly reduce the understory vegetation, particularly at the end of the commercial cycle while preparing for harvesting. Future studies should prioritize the possible variation of the trophic structure in Eucalyptus plantations along commercial cycles as a response of wildlife-friendly silvicultural/agricultural management practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tunga is the most specialized genus among the Siphonaptera because adult females penetrate into the skin of their hosts and, after mating and fertilization, undergo hypertrophy, forming an enlarged structure known as the neosome. In humans and other warm-blooded animals, neosomes cause tungiasis, which arises due to the action of opportunistic agents. Although its effects on humans and domestic animals are well described in the literature, little is known about the impact of tungiasis on wild animals. This review focuses on the morphology, taxonomy, geographical distribution, hosts, prevalence, sites of attachment, and impact of tungid neosomes on wild and domestic animals. Because neosomes are the most characteristic form of the genus Tunga and also the form most frequently found in hosts, they are here differentiated and illustrated to aid in the identification of the 13 currently known species. Perspectives for future studies regarding the possibility of discovering other sand flea species, adaptation to new hosts, and the transfer of tungids between hosts in natural and modified habitats are also presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to assess the acaricidal activity of carvacrol, thymol, eugenol, and ( E)-cinnamaldehyde on unengorged larvae and nymphs of Amblyomma cajennense and Rhipicephalus sanguineus, using the modified larval packet test. Carvacrol, eugenol, and ( E)-cinnamaldehyde were tested at concentrations of 2.5, 5.0, 10.0, 15.0, and 20.0 μl/ml, while thymol was tested at concentrations of 2.5, 5.0, 10.0, 15.0, and 20.0 mg/ml, in all cases with 10 repetitions per treatment. For the A. cajennense larvae, mortality rates caused by carvacrol, thymol, eugenol, and ( E)-cinnamaldehyde at the lowest concentration were 45.0, 62.7, 10.2, and 81.6 %, respectively, reached 100 % at the concentration of 5.0 μl/ml for carvacrol and ( E)-cinnamaldehyde and 5.0 mg/ml for thymol, while this mortality was observed at 15.0 μl/ml for eugenol. For the nymphs of this species, carvacrol and thymol caused 100 % mortality starting at a concentration of 5.0 μl/ml and 10.0 mg/ml, respectively, while eugenol caused 100 % mortality at 20.0 μl/ml and the mortality caused by ( E)-cinnamaldehyde did not exceed 64 %. In the tests with R. sanguineus larvae, the lowest concentration of carvacrol and ( E)-cinnamaldehyde resulted in 100 % mortality, while this percentage was observed starting at 10.0 μl/ml for eugenol. For nymphs, carvacrol and thymol at the smallest concentration caused 100 % lethality, unlike the results for eugenol and ( E)-cinnamaldehyde, where 100 % mortality was only observed starting at the concentration of 10.0 μl/ml. The results obtained indicate that the tested substances have acaricidal activity on unengorged larvae and nymphs of A. cajennense and R. sanguineus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of deforestation and fragmentation upon ecologically important and poorly known groups is currently an important issue for conservation biology. Herein we describe xenathran communities across the Brazilian Cerrado and study the effects of habitat fragmentation on occupancy and activity patterns on these assemblages. Our hypothesis was that larger and specialized species would be more ecologically sensitive, and likely to exhibit shifts in their activity patterns in more deforested areas as a way of dealing with the myriad of effects involved in the fragmentation process. The study was conducted by camera trapping in ten Cerrado sites. Five species were analyzed: Priodontes maximus, Euphractus sexcinctus, Dasypus novemcintus (Order Cingulata), Tamandua tetradactyla and Myrmecophaga tridactyla (Order Pilosa). Fragmentation was quantified by landscape metrics, calculated on scales that matched the species' home ranges. Occupancy and detection probability analyses were conducted to test for shifts in occupancy under different fragmentation conditions. A mixed-effects model analysis was conducted to test for shifts in species' frequency of records related to time of day, controlling for spatial autocorrelation by means of eigenvector-based spatial filters for the models' residuals. There were no changes in activity pattern between more and less fragmented areas, so that our behavioural plasticity hypothesis was not corroborated for this group. The lack of changes in the patterns could be explained by a species' time-lag response, or by the lack of a wide enough fragmentation gradient in our study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Without doubt, the possession of an armored carapace represents one of the most conspicuous morphological features of all cingulates. Here, we review some of the many ways in which the carapace may have influenced the evolution of other features of extant armadillos (Xenarthra: Cingulata). Effects range from physiological impacts on respiration and thermoregulation, to mechanical and other constraints on reproduction. Additionally, in mammals, armor has been linked with relatively slow plantigrade locomotion, which in turn may have promoted the low metabolic rate and exploitation of a low quality diet typically observed in armadillos. Finally, this network of relationships may help to explain the lack of any obvious kin-selected altruism in the polyembryonic armadillos, such as the nine-banded armadillo ( Dasypus novemcinctus), because of time and energy constraints associated with a short active period devoted almost exclusively to feeding. In mammals, there has been growing interest in describing an ecological 'lifestyle' as the particular way in which each species makes its living, and how this lifestyle constrains the evolution of other phenotypic traits. Based on our review, it appears the carapace has been a major determinant of the lifestyle of armadillos and has played a central role in shaping the evolution of many other features of these animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study the tick prevalence, mean intensity of infestation and species were recorded on birds captured between January 2009 and December 2010 in the Ecological Station Pirapitinga-ESEC from Minas Gerais State, Brazil. A total of 967 birds, from 15 families and 40 species were captured and 165 (17.1 %) individuals were parasitized by ticks. Of these 160 (97 %) belonged to the order Passeriformes. Five tick species were identified: Amblyomma longirostre ( n = 274) was the most common species followed by Amblyomma parvum ( n = 43), Amblyomma nodosum (n = 39), Amblyomma ovale ( n = 24) and Riphicephalus sanguineus ( n = 7). None of 61 unengorged larvae molted to nymph. The mean intensity of infestation was 2.7 ± 2.4 ticks per bird (448 ticks/165 birds) ranging from 1 to 10. Only 19 (11.4 %) birds were infested with one species of tick. The remaining birds were infested by two, three or four species of ticks. Also new hosts for all five ticks were recorded. Only nymphs were recorded throughout the year with two similar peaks during autumn and winter 2009 and 2010. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]