Diet of crab-eating fox (Cerdocyon thous) in two conservation units of the Amazon rainforest, Brazil

The present study aimed to evaluate the diet of the free-living crab-eating fox by identifying the stomach contents of the 17 crab-eating foxes (Cerdocyon thous) roadkilled in two conservation units, both located in the Amazon rainforest. The food items were quantified by frequency of occurrence (FO) and percentage of occurrence (PO). The stomach contents were analysed for dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), crude fibre (CF), ether extract (EE), and mineral matter (MM). Nitrogen-free extractives (NFE), metabolisable energy (ME) values, as well as the energy need for maintenance were estimated. The composition of the diet for the crab-eating fox presented 29 food items from the different taxonomic groups, with a greater diversity of items of animal origin (n=22), although the highest frequency of occurrence was gramineae (Poaceae) (41.18%). Among the items of animal origin, 21% were mammals, 18% reptiles, 10% amphibians, 9% invertebrates and 3% birds. A high content of CF (62.76%) were determined. Nitrogen-free extractive and dry matter averages were 5.91% and 141.82 kcal/100g, respectively. The average maintenance energy was 447.01 kcal/day. These findings suggesting that the crab-eating foxes have a generalist diet with an omnivorous diet in the Amazon basin, feeding on gramineae, fruits, insects, snakes, amphibians, birds and small mammals and have the same feeding habit that present in other Brazilian biomes.

Craniectomia descompressiva em raposa (Cerdocyon thous Linnaeus, 1766)

O presente trabalho apresenta relato de craniectomia descompressiva em raposa (Cerdocyon thous), macho, jovem, após diagnóstico de trauma cranioencefálico. O paciente foi graduado pela escala de Glasgow modificada como grave (grau 7), e por não ter apresentado melhora durante as primeiras quatro horas de tratamento, optou-se então pelo procedimento cirúrgico de craniectomia descompressiva com o intuito de diminuir a pressão intracraniana para prevenção e controle de danos do sistema nervoso. O paciente apresentou melhoras progressivas, após 60 dias obteve alta. A sequela observada nesse caso foi de déficit visual do olho direito, retornando com a movimentação e resposta ao ambiente. Após alta médica o paciente foi encaminhado a zoológico, mostrou interação com outros indivíduos da mesma espécie e reproduziu com uma fêmea do mesmo recinto. What do you want to do ? New mailCopy What do you want to do ? New mailCopy What do you want to do ? New mailCopy What do you want to do ? New mailCopy What do you want to do ? New mailCopy What do you want to do ? New mailCopy What do you want to do ? New mailCopy What do you want to do ? New mailCopy What do you want to do ? New mailCopy What do you want to do ? New mailCopy

WILDLIFE ROADKILL IN THE SURROUNDINGS OF EMAS NATIONAL PARK, CERRADO BIOME, BRAZIL

Roadkill is a serious threat to biodiversity conservation especially when roads are near natural habitats of wildlife, such as the Emas National Park (ENP), a Protected Area in Mid-west Brazil in the Cerrado Biome. We aimed to identify the species killed on a stretch of the GO-341 highway that is tangent to the ENP. We investigated if roadkills were influenced by seasonality, sugar cane harvest and by the activity pattern of the animals (diurnal/nocturnal). We also analyzed if roadkills were aggregated in space, where the roadkill hotspots were located, if they were influenced by seasonality, and if they were different for the most abundant species. The highway was monitored with a vehicle, in the morning, at a speed of 40 to 60 km/hour, daily, with two observers. We covered a total of 4,230 km during the 90-day monitoring period, which included dry and rainy seasons. We recorded 132 wild animals’ roadkills: 67 birds (51 %), 60 mammals (45 %) and 5 reptiles (4 %). We identified 22 vertebrate species, including 13 birds, six mammals and three reptiles. The roadkill rate was 0.03 animals/km/day. During the dry season, the blue-and-yellow macaw (Ara ararauna) had higher roadkill rates. The crab-eating fox (Cerdocyon thous) was the only species with higher roadkill rates during the sugarcane harvest. Most birds killed had diurnal habits, for mammals, no difference was observed concerning the activity pattern. Bird roadkills were aggregated considering the entire data set, as well as for the dry and rainy seasons separately. Mammal roadkills were aggregated only when considering the entire data set. The location of bird roadkill hotspots differed between seasons. The roadkill hotspot location of birds and mammals highly overlapped those observed for the two most abundant species of these taxa, respectively, Ara ararauna and Euphractus sexcinctus.

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8496-3706

A perda e fragmentação de habitats constitui uma das maiores ameaças à fauna, principalmente aos mamíferos terrestres de médio e grande porte. Considerando as ameaças contínuas que os remanescentes de Cerrado sofrem, é essencial realizar inventários de mamíferos em áreas ainda pouco pesquisadas. Para avaliar a riqueza de espécies e a frequência relativa de mamíferos de médio e grande porte foram aplicados os métodos de visualização direta e registro por armadilhas fotográficas. O estudo foi realizado entre fevereiro e agosto de 2020, no Monumento Natural Municipal Serra do Bom Jardim, em Alcinópolis, Mato Grosso do Sul – MS. A partir de um esforço amostral 840 armadilhas-noite e 224 horas de buscas direta, foram registradas 27 espécies de mamíferos nativos, equivalente a 57.4 % das espécies desse grupo presentes no MS. A curva de acumulação de espécies associada com a riqueza estimada (Jackknife-1) indica que a continuidade da amostragem deve adicionar novas espécies. Duas espécies foram responsáveis por mais de 60 % dos registros fotográficos (Tapirus terrestres e Cerdocyon thous). Nosso inventário adicionou três novas ocorrências ao plano de manejo da UC (Didelphis albiventris, Leopardus tigrinus, e Coendou prehensilis). O registro de ocorrência de L. tigrinus por armadilha fotográfica é o primeiro para o estado de MS. Esse é o único carnívoro com ocorrência no Brasil que está ameaçado globalmente. Obtivemos registros de mais de 50 % das espécies ameaçadas de extinção presentes no MS, sem considerar L. tigrinus. Duas delas por exemplo, Ozotoceros bezoarticus e Priodontes maximus, estão entre as espécies mais raras em território sul mato-grossense. Nossos registros contribuem para a execução de medidas de conservação dos mamíferos na UC estudada, que desempenha um papel fundamental para a proteção do corredor Cerrado-Pantanal. MEDIUM AND LARGE SIZED MAMMALS IN PROTECTED AREA AT CERRADO, MATO GROSSO DO SUL, BRAZIL: Habitat loss is one of the greatest threats to fauna, especially for medium to large-sized terrestrial mammals. Considering the continuous threats on Cerrado remnants, it is essential to carry out mammal inventories in areas with low information available. In order to evaluate the species richness and the relative frequency of medium and large mammals, we investigated the area with direct observations and using camera traps. The study was conducted from February to August 2020, in the Serra do Bom Jardim Municipal Natural Monument, in Alcinópolis, Mato Grosso do Sul State (MS). From a sampling effort of 840 trap-nights and 224 hours of direct observations, a total of 27 species of native mammals were registered, representing 57.4 % of medium and large species that occur MS. Species accumulation curve associated with estimated richness (Jackknife-1) indicates that continued sampling would add new species. Two species were responsible for more than 60 % of the photographic records (Tapirus terrestre and Cerdocyon thous). Our survey added three new occurrences to the protected area management plan (Didelphis albiventris, Leopardus tigrinus, and Coendou prehensilis). The occurrence of L. tigrinus is the first record for the state of MS. This is the only globally threatened carnivore in Brazil. We recorded more than 50 % of the endangered species present in MS, besides L. tigrinus. Two of endangered species, Ozotoceros bezoarticus and Priodontes maximus, are among the rarest species in MS. Our study contributes to conservation measures proposed by municipal protected area, which plays a fundamental role for wildlife conservation in the Cerrado-Pantanal corridor.

New insights on severe clinical manifestations and deaths from visceral leishmaniasis in free-living crab-eating foxes (Cerdocyon thous) in Brazil

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a zoonotic and severe neglected tropical disease, with worldwide distribution, that still cause many deaths among dogs and humans. Brazil is the country responsible for about 97% of the cases of leishmaniasis in the Americas and the disease is still considered a serious public health concern. Among wild mammalians, studies demonstrate the involvement of Cerdocyon thous in the biological cycle of Leishmania. Nevertheless, several authors consider the clinical manifestation of the disease to be rare or mild in free-living animals. Herein, we demonstrate the occurrence of severe clinical sings and deaths caused by VL in free-living crab-eating foxes. Three specimens of foxes collected from periurban areas were diagnosed with VL. The animals presented cutaneous, ophthalmological, gastrointestinal, locomotor and hematological alterations, and died after clinical progression. We identified the presence of anti-Leishmania antibodies by immunochromatographic test in all specimens. We also observed intra and extracellular amastigotes in skin cytology and lymph node aspirate. Furthermore, Leishmania infantum DNA was identified in all samples by the polymer chain reaction technique. Additionally, we performed blood count and stool parasitological tests and observed hematological disorders common to VL, such as anemia and lymphopenia. Taken together, our data demonstrate that VL can induce clinical complications and even cause death in C. thous and corroborate that this crab-eating fox is an adequate host for L. infantum.

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.

OCORRÊNCIA DO VÍRUS DA RAIVA NA POPULAÇÃO SELVAGEM DE SAGUIS CALLITHRIX GEOFFROYI (HUMBOLDT, 1812) NO SUDESTE DO BRASIL

Background: Zoonosis, which causes acute and lethal encephalitis, is transmitted through the inoculation of the virus present in the saliva of mammals of several species. In Brazil, wild rabies is a challenge for epidemiological surveillance and a significant increase has already been observed in human cases. Some of the main wild reservoirs are: wild dog (Cerdocyon thous), marmosets (Callithrix sp) and hematophagous bats (Desmodus rotundus). Considering cases of positivity in marmosets in the Northeast of Brazil, together with the increasing number of cases in wild animals, this work aimed to survey the occurrence of the virus in a wild population. The animals were necropsied from the tramway ES-060, all of the Callithrix geoffroyi. The material collected for analysis of the rabies virus consisted of brain, which was conditioned and identified for later analysis at the Institute of Agricultural and Forest Defense of Espírito Santo (IDAF). The 44 samples gave negative results. The study suggests that the occurrence of the virus should be investigated in other localities, especially in regions closer to sites that have already been reported cases of rabies, and that the use of trampled animals is feasible for a better understanding of wildlife health.

Presença de Ascaridia galli, Aspiculuris tetraptera, Syphacia obvelata e Passalurus ambiguus em cachorro-do-mato (Cerdocyon thous, Linnaeus, 1766) residente em cativeiro / Presence of Ascaridia galli, Aspiculuris tetraptera, Syphacia obvelata e Passalurus ambiguus in crab-eating fox (Cerdocyon thous, Linnaeus, 1766) residing in captivity

O cachorro-do-mato é um animal de difícil manejo, sendo necessária contenção anestésica para coleta de material biológico, dificultando a realização de exames de rotina. A alimentação essencialmente proteica oriunda de outros animais como leporídeos, roedores e aves não inspecionadas, aumenta o risco do parasitismo predatório e acidental causando agravos à saúde do animal. A dificuldade de manuseio destes animais leva a escassez de literatura, assim objetivou-se relatar a presença de parasitismo por diferentes espécies de helmintos em cachorro do mato (Cerdocyon thous) mantido em cativeiro. Foi realizada uma visita clínica ao Criatório Conservacionista do Centro Universitário Cesmac. Ao exame clínico observou-se: apatia, perda de peso e pelos ressecados. Foi coletada amostra fecal e encaminhada ao Laboratório de Doenças Parasitárias da mesma instituição, onde foi submetida à técnica de Willis-Mollay. Constatou-se a presença de Ascaridia galli, Aspiculuris tetraptera, Syphacia obvelata e Passalurus ambiguus em grande quantidade, os quais são parasitas de galinha, roedores e coelho, respectivamente. O animal não havia sido vermifugado e recebeu esse tipo de alimentação meses antes da realização do exame coproparasitológico. Sugere-se que o animal seja portador e hospedeiro paratênico. É importante ressaltar, ainda, que a vermifugação, o monitoramento e a qualidade do alimento fornecido são determinantes para a prevenção e melhora da saúde e bem-estar desses animais.