Ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) in wild animals treated at the Federal University of Lavras, Minas Gerais State, Brazil

Ticks have a great diversity of hosts, many of which are still being discovered. These parasites may be responsible for the transmission of several pathogens to animals and humans. For this reason, knowledge on tick species and their hosts is essential for planning actions in public health and fauna conservation. From February 2018 to July 2019, ticks found in animals treated at the Wild Animal Clinic of the Federal University of Lavras (UFLA) were surveyed. Animals came from nine municipalities at the southern region of Minas Gerais State, all close to the municipality of Lavras. During veterinary procedures the animals were inspected, and tick specimens were removed from the hosts’ skins with the help of tweezers, and posteriorly identified. One hundred and three specimens of ticks were removed from the hosts and allocated in five species of Amblyomma Koch, 1844 (Ixodidae) [A. nodosum (Neumann, 1899), A. sculptum Berlese, 1888, A. aureolatum (Pallas, 1772), A. calcaratum Neumann, 1899, and A. ovale (Koch, 1844)] and one of Rhipicephalus Latreille, 1806 [R. (Boophilus) microplus (Canestrini, 1888)]. Ticks were collected from: Cariama cristata (Linnaeus, 1766) (Cariamidae); Cerdocyon thous Linnaeus, 1766 and Chrysocyon brachyurus Illiger,1815 (Canidae); Leopardus pardalis Linnaeus, 1758 (Felidae); Mazama gouazoubira Fischer, 1814 (Cervidae); Myrmecophaga tridactyla Linnaeus, 1758 (Myrmecophagidae); Sphiggurus villosus (F. Cuvier, 1823) (Erethizontidae). In this study no new parasite-host relationships were found, however, wild animals can be vectors of important diseases, and monitoring the occurrence of ectoparasites in wildlife is a significant step in public health policies.

Emprego de fixador externo na configuração tie-in em osteossíntese de fratura femoral de uma jaguatirica

De acordo com a literatura, os ossos longos são os mais acometidos em casos de fraturas em felinos domésticos, totalizando mais de 50% dessas afecções, não sendo encontrados estudos da incidência entre as espécies de felinos silvestres. Existem diversas técnicas para a estabilização das fraturas femorais e, neste trabalho, objetivou-se descrever o uso do fixador esquelético externo uniplanar (Tipo Ia) combinado ao pino intramedular (tie-in) em uma jaguatirica (Leopardus pardalis) que apresentava fratura transversal em terço proximal do fêmur direito. A abordagem do fêmur foi realizada inserindo um pino normógrado e, subsequentemente, dois pinos (schanz) externos proximais e dois distalmente ao foco da fratura. As partes proximal e distal do pino intramedular foram unidas a uma barra conectante externa. Foram realizadas avaliações radiográficas ao término do procedimento cirúrgico e aos 30 e 60 dias de pós-operatório, sendo que nas últimas pôde-se observar adequada cicatrização óssea. Em seguida, os implantes foram removidos. Durante todo o período de acompanhamento não foram observadas complicações com os implantes ou com a interface pino-pele. A técnica utilizada, configuração tie-in, promoveu estabilidade, foi bem aceita pela espécie, devolveu função normal ao membro operado e proporcionou adequada consolidação óssea.

Descrição anatômica esquelética, osteotécnica e osteomontagem de uma onça jaquitirica (Leopardus pardalis) atropelado na Serra do Mar-Bertioga-São Paulo-SP / Skeletal anatomical, osteotechnical and osteomontage description of a ocelot jaguar (Leopardus pardalis) Mountain ranged the Sea-Bertioga-São Paulo-SP

A jaguatirica (Leopardus pardalis) é um felídeo de porte médio, de hábitos noturnos e solitários. Pode ser encontrado em quase todo território brasileiro, com exceção do sul do Rio Grande do Sul. Sua dieta é vasta, podendo incluir pequenos mamíferos, répteis e aves, até animais maiores, como tatus, filhotes de veado e macacos. Há poucos relatos que descrevem a anatomia óssea de L. pardalis. O Estudo descreve a técnica de montagem e aponta as estruturas do esqueleto de uma jaguatirica encontrada morta, devido a um atropelamento, na Serra do Mar, no município de Bertioga, São Paulo.

Reproductive aspects of the male jaguar (Panthera onca): A review

Objective: To describe the anatomy, morphology and physiology of the reproductive system of male jaguars, as well as assisted reproduction techniques. Methodology: A literature review on the anatomy and morphology of the jaguar´s reproductive system, its physiological characteristics and assisted reproduction techniques were carried out to document relevant information on the topic. Results: With this review, basic aspects of the morphology of the reproductive system of the jaguars are disclosed, although scarce knowledge is available on their reproduction. The advances in the collection, evaluation and cryopreservation of semen of this feline are shown, in addition to assisted reproduction techniques such as artificial insemination and in vitro fertilization, which have a great potential to safeguard the species. Study limitations: The jaguar, an emblematic species of Latinamerica, is an endangered species, like other wild felids species as ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) and margay (Leopardus wiedii), which makes it necessary to have a national assisted reproduction program. However, for this to be possible, information about their reproductive physiology is necessary, which is complicated in wild animals and even more so because the reproductive mechanisms greatly differ between felids species. There is scarce information in this regard from its free-living or Mexican zoos, it is for this reason necessary to generate such information. Conclusions: It is necessary to continue working on designing protocols for artificial insemination and other assisted reproduction techniques such as in-vitro fertilization specifically for male Panthera onca.

Landscape Structure of Woody Cover Patches for Endangered Ocelots in Southern Texas

Few ecological studies have explored landscape suitability using the gradient concept of landscape structure for wildlife species. Identification of conditions influencing the landscape ecology of endangered species allows for development of more robust recovery strategies. Our objectives were to (i) identify the range of landscape metrics (i.e., mean patch area; patch and edge densities; percent land cover; shape, aggregation, and largest patch indices) associated with woody vegetation used by ocelots (Leopardus pardalis), and (ii) quantify the potential distribution of suitable woody cover for ocelots across southern Texas. We used the gradient concept of landscape structure and the theory of slack combined with GPS telemetry data from 10 ocelots. Spatial distribution of high suitable woody cover is comprised of large patches, with low shape-index values (1.07–2.25), patch (27.21–72.50 patches/100 ha), and edge (0–191.50 m/ha) densities. High suitability landscape structure for ocelots occurs in 45.27% of woody cover in southern Texas. Our study demonstrates a new approach for measuring landscape suitability for ocelots in southern Texas. The range of landscape values identified that there are more large woody patches containing the spatial structure used by ocelots than previously suspected, which will aid in evaluating recovery and road planning efforts.

Pulmonary adenocarcinoma in a captive ocelot (Leopardus pardalis): morphologic and immunophenotypic characterization - case report

ABSTRACT Pulmonary adenocarcinoma is a malignant epithelial neoplasia that usually arises from conducting airways or alveolar parenchyma. It has rarely been described in wild felids, with no previous reports in ocelots. In domestic cats it is a very aggressive neoplasm with a high metastatic rate that usually evolves to death. This report aimed to describe a pulmonary adenocarcinoma in a captive and senile ocelot (Leopardus pardalis), with a thorough morphologic and immunophenotypically characterization, evidencing the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) phenomenon in a high metastatic carcinoma, an important feature rarely described in veterinary medicine, even in domestic cats.