Suppurative meningoencephalitis secondary to a Trueperella pyogenes-induced mandibular abscess in a free-ranging gray brocket deer (Mazama gouazoubira)

Trueperella pyogenes is an opportunistic pathogen, most commonly affecting ruminants and pigs. A female free-ranging gray brocket deer (Mazama gouazoubira) had an abscess in the masseter muscle associated with an osteolysis and osteomyelitis in the adjacent right mandibule, with a fistulous tract to the orbit and through the optic foramen into the skull, causing a suppurative meningitis. Histologically, the abscess was characterized by a neutrophilic and histiocytic inflammatory infiltrate with myriad of Gram-positive rod-shaped bacteria, and a focally extensive suppurative and histiocytic leptomeningitis of the ventral portions of the brain. Aerobic microbiologic culture, MALDI-ToF, and PCR identified T. pyogenes.

NEW RECORD OF LIPOPTENA MAZAMAE (RONDANI, 1878) AS A MAZAMA GOUAZOUBIRA (FISCHER, 1814) PARASITE IN SOUTHERN BRAZIL

Louse flies (Lipoptena mazamae) are important Gray brocket deer (Mazama gouazoubira) parasites, and can be found in large numbers in this mammal. Their distribution is known for just a few locations, and because of this, it is so important to report new records of this association. To contribute with knowledge concerning this parasitism relationship, a record of this fly species parasitizing a deer individual in southern Brazil is reported herein. Such records are paramount, as L. mazamae displays both zoonotic and medical importance, due to the potential propagation of etiological agents that cause diseases. Moreover, as far as we know, this study is only the fifth study that reports this association worldwide, indicating its relevance. It is very important to perform studies as these, because we may contribute to new records of this association of parasitism, therefore, we contribute to alert authorities to the possible association of these parasites with diseases that may pose problems for human and other animal health. Moscas da família Hipoboscidae (Lipoptena mazamae) são parasitos muito importantes do veado-catingueiro (Mazama gouazoubira), podendo ser encontrados em uma considerável abundância nesse mamífero. Sua distribuição é conhecida em apenas alguns locais, e, por causa disso, é muito importante reportar novos registros dessa associação de parasitismo. Para contribuir com o conhecimento dessa associação, é reportado aqui um novo registro dessa mosca parasitando um indivíduo de veado-catingueiro. Esses registros se destacam, pois L. mazamae possui importância médica e veterinária, devido ao seu potencial de veicular agentes etiológicos causadores de doenças. Além disso, depois de nossas pesquisas, concluímos que este é apenas o quinto estudo reportando essa associação no mundo, indicando, portanto, sua relevância. Estudos como este são relevantes, pois contribuem com novos registros dessa associação de parasitismo, e, portanto, pode-se também servir como alerta às autoridades para a possível associação desses parasitos com doenças que podem causar danos à saúde humana e de outros animais.

Characterization of “Candidatus Ehrlichia Pampeana” in Haemaphysalis juxtakochi Ticks and Gray Brocket Deer (Mazama gouazoubira) from Uruguay

Human ehrlichiosis are scantily documented in Uruguay. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of Ehrlichia spp. in Haemaphysalis juxtakochi and in a gray brocket deer (Mazama gouazoubira) from Uruguay. The presence of Ehrlichia DNA was investigated in free-living H. juxtakochi in five localities of southeast and northeast Uruguay, as well as blood, spleen, and ticks retrieved from a M. gouazoubira. Ehrlichia spp. DNA was detected in six out of 99 tick pools from vegetation, in the spleen of M. gouazoubira, and in one out of five pools of ticks feeding on this cervid. Bayesian inference analyses for three loci (16S rRNA, dsb, and groEL) revealed the presence of a new rickettsial organism, named herein as “Candidatus Ehrlichia pampeana”. This new detected Ehrlichia is phylogenetically related to those found in ticks from Asia, as well as Ehrlichia ewingii from USA and Cameroon. Although the potential pathogenicity of “Ca. E. pampeana” for humans is currently unknown, some eco-epidemiological factors may be relevant to its possible pathogenic role, namely: (i) the phylogenetic closeness with the zoonotic agent E. ewingii, (ii) the evidence of H. juxtakochi parasitizing humans, and (iii) the importance of cervids as reservoirs for zoonotic Ehrlichia spp. The molecular detection of “Ca. E. pampeana” represents the third Ehrlichia genotype described in Uruguay.

Angioarchitecture of the coronary arteries in Mazama gouazoubira (G. Fischer, 1814)

Mazama gouazoubira is a widely distributed deer in the South American continent. However, studies on its anatomical characteristics are still scarce. The objective of this study was to elucidate the coronary circulation of M. gouazoubira. With this aim, after collecting cadavers on highways, twenty-four hearts injected with latex and preserved in formaldehyde at 10% were dissected. The dissections revealed that all specimens presented left coronary dominance, characterized by the origin of the subsinuous interventricular branch from the circumflex branch of the left coronary artery. The number of ventricular branches originated from branches of the left coronary artery was approximately five times higher than that of the right coronary artery. The occurrence of myocardial bridges was registered in 91.7% of the individuals, with bridges predominating over the paraconal interventricular branch. The mean length of the paraconal interventricular sulcus was significantly higher in males (p = 0.02). The number of atrial branches and ventricular branches, length of myocardial bridges and length of subsinuous interventricular sulcus did not vary significantly between sex. Left coronary dominance and high frequency of myocardial bridges in M. gouazoubira are preponderant anatomical traits also present in different species of Ruminantia suborder. Coronary dominance studies in other South American deer species may confirm the correlation of this trait with the evolutionary history of these animals.

Abortion in Captive Gray Brocket Deer (Mazama gouazoubira) Associated with Colloid Goiter, Hemonchosis and Necrotizing Rumenitis

Background: The gray brocket deer (Mazama gouazoubira) is a specie that shows great adaptability in different habitats and it is the most abundant deer specie in South America. The present work describes for the first time a case of abortion followed by death associated with colloid goiter, massive hemonchosis and necrotizing rumenitis in a captive female gray brocket deer. Case: A 4-year-old female gray brocket deer (M. gouazoubira) raised in captivity had a history of abortion during the last third of gestation. The animal was kept in an enclosure together with 3 other gray brockets deers, being 1 male of the same age and 2 juvenile brocket deer of approximately 1 and 2 years old. The animals were fed with concentrated used as cattle feed and dewormed annually with 1% Ivermectin. The animals' enclosure had vegetation cover formed by grasses and soil. The animals appeared healthy with no behavioral changes. The day after the stillbirth, the mother was found dead in the enclosure and sent to the animal pathology sector of the University of Vila Velha (UVV), Brazil. Necropsy revealed that thyroid lobules were highly increased in volume and histopathological findings were compatible with colloid goiter. A large number of nematodes were found in the abomasal content,totalizing 11,626 helminths, which were morphologically characterized as Haemonchus contortus. Grossly, the serous and ruminal mucosa exhibited an extensively reddish focal area with irregular contour, surface ulceration and a firm consistency. Microscopically, a severe necrotizing rumenitis was diagnosed. The liver showed pale multifocal areas on the subcapsular surface,friable to the touch which deepened when cut. Histopathological analysis revealed an accentuated multifocal panlobular coagulative necrosis, characterizing an acute liver necrosis.Discussion: Iodine is a mineral of great importance for thyroid hormones synthesis and your requirements are higher during pregnancy and lactation. Diets deficient in iodine causes a reduction in the basal activity of the hormones triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) and over-stimulation of the thyroid by thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), resulting in goiter. In the present case, it is possible that the shortage of iodine in diet caused a goiter and, as a consequence, triggered the abortion. Haemonchus contortus is a pathogenic nematode of small ruminants, leading to decreased productivity and death in some cases as a result of anemia and hypoxia. The contact between domestic and wild animals, resulting in the emergence of infectious diseases and the spread of pathogens among species. In the present case, manual counting accounted for 11,626 H. contortus larvae, characterizing a massive infection and justifying the condition of severe anemia. The high parasitic load shown in this case points out this parasite's importance related to this species in captivity. In general, inflammatory lesions in the rumen are results of excessive intake of fermentable carbohydrates, which leads to a considerable decrease in ruminal pH and leads to a high proliferation of lactic acid bacteria. This lesion has been previously reported in cervids. This case of comorbidities demonstrates that failures in nutritional and health handling, may cause simultaneous multiple diseases leading to death. Preventive measures for helminth parasite control and a proper feeding management with an adequate diet must be provided in order to preserve the species in captivity. Keywords: colloid goiter, abortion, cervids, Haemonchus contortus.