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Bitencourt MM, Bezerra AMR. Infection agents of Didelphidae (Didelphimorphia) of Brazil: an underestimated matter in zoonoses research. MAMMALIA 2021. [DOI: 10.1515/mammalia-2021-0134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Zoonoses are diseases or infections naturally transmissible from vertebrate animals to humans, and can be bacterial, viral or parasitic. The growth of urbanization, industrialization and the advance of agriculture and livestock facilitate the spread of infectious and parasitic agents from wild animals to the human population and to their domestic animals. Among the various reservoirs of zoonotic agents, we find that didelphid species, due to their high capacity for adaptation in urban environments, as an important study case. We reviewed the literature data on the pathogens, including with zoonotic potential of marsupial species occurring in Brazil, accounted for infections by agents that we categorized into Bacteria, Viruses, Protozoa, and Helminths. Aiming identifies possible knowledge gaps, we also surveyed the origin of studied samples and the institutions leading the researches on host didelphids. Among the hosts, the genus Didelphis in the cycles of these agents stands out. Moreover, we found that the majority of reported cases are in the Southeastern Brazil, mean the data from other Brazilian localities and didelphid species could be underestimated. Most studies took place in graduate programs of public research institutions, emphasizing the importance of the funding public research for the Brazilian scientific development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matheus M. Bitencourt
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Zoologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará , Rua Augusto Corrêa, 01, CEP 66075-110 , Belém , PA , Brazil
| | - Alexandra M. R. Bezerra
- Mastozoologia/COZOO, Museu Paraense Emilio Goeldi, Campus de Pesquisa , Av. Perimetral 1901, CEP 66077-830 , Belém , PA , Brazil
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Serological investigation of protozoan pathogens (Trypanosoma cruzi, Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum) in opossums from southern Brazil. Vet Parasitol Reg Stud Reports 2021; 24:100546. [PMID: 34024364 DOI: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2021.100546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2020] [Revised: 02/06/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
South American opossums of the order Didelphimorphia are considered sentinels for zoonotic infections and environmental diseases, such as for Chagas disease caused by Trypanosoma cruzi. Nevertheless, there is a paucity of data regarding protozoan diseases such Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum in Neotropical marsupials; despite these pathogens have been considered threats to some marsupial species. The aim of this study was to determine whether Didelphis albiventris and Philander frenatus opossums from southern Brazil had been previously exposed to T. cruzi, T. gondii or N. caninum. Opossum samples were obtained by live-trapping of free-ranging animals and collection at wildlife rehabilitation centers in Rio Grande do Sul (RS) state, Brazil. The detection of anti-T. cruzi and anti-T. gondii antibodies was performed by indirect hemagglutination and anti-N. caninum antibodies by competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. In total, samples were collected from 76 marsupials from nine municipalities in RS state, including 69 D. albiventris (white-eared opossum), and seven were P. frenatus (southern four-eyed opossum). For T. cruzi, 11% were seropositive, and for T. gondii 26% were seropositive. None of the marsupials sampled here were seropositive for N. caninum. Risk factor analysis showed that free-living animals were about five-fold more likely to be infected by T. gondii than were rescued animals. Our study showed the exposure of Neotropical marsupials (D. albiventris and P. frenatus) to protozoan pathogens T. cruzi and T. gondii, while no evidence of N. caninum exposure was found. The set of results presented here may have an effect on ecology and conservation of the studied species and may also indicate possible sentinels of these pathogen circulation.
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Brito Junior PDA, Rocha JM, Silva CAD, Oliveira PMV, Correia JE, Cruz LAD, Sevá ADP, Oliveira TVD, Silva AVD, Alvarez MRDV, Albuquerque GR. Survey of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in wild mammals captured from Atlantic Forest fragments in Bahia, northeastern Brazil. REVISTA BRASILEIRA DE PARASITOLOGIA VETERINARIA = BRAZILIAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY PARASITOLOGY : ORGAO OFICIAL DO COLEGIO BRASILEIRO DE PARASITOLOGIA VETERINARIA 2020; 29:e004720. [PMID: 33111842 DOI: 10.1590/s1984-29612020083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2020] [Accepted: 08/05/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The objective of this study was to investigate the frequency of antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii present in wild mammals that were trap captured in forest fragments in the State of Bahia, northeastern Brazil. A total of 368 individuals (246 rodents, 104 marsupials and 18 bats) were captured using live catch traps. Serum samples were tested using the modified agglutination test, with a cut-off point at 1:25 dilution. The total occurrence of antibodies to T. gondii was 10.6% (39/368), being 16.3% (17/104) in marsupials, 8.5% (21/246) in rodents, and 5.5% (1/18) in bats. Antibody titers varied between 25 and 50 for rodents, between 25 and 400 for marsupials, and were 25 for bats. This is the first report on antibodies to T. gondii in certain rodent species (Thaptomys nigrita, Hylaeamys laticeps, and Cerradomys subflavus), marsupial species (Monodelphis americana, Gracilinanus microtarsus, Gracilinanus agilis and Marmosops incanus), and bats of the genus Rhynchonycteris. The presence of antibodies to T. gondii in wild mammals demonstrates the possibility of these animals as sentinels of toxoplasmosis, especially on regions under high anthropogenic effect.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Josiane Moreira Rocha
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciência Animal - PPGCA, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz - UESC, Ilhéus, BA, Brasil
| | - Caroline Araújo da Silva
- Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana - UEFS, Feira de Santana, BA, Brasil
| | | | - Joelande Esquivel Correia
- Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana - UEFS, Feira de Santana, BA, Brasil
| | - Luciara Alves da Cruz
- Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana - UEFS, Feira de Santana, BA, Brasil
| | - Anaiá da Paixão Sevá
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciência Animal - PPGCA, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz - UESC, Ilhéus, BA, Brasil
- Laboratório de Epidemiologia e Bioestatística, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia - FMVZ, Universidade de São Paulo - USP, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - Téo Veiga de Oliveira
- Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana - UEFS, Feira de Santana, BA, Brasil
| | - Aristeu Vieira da Silva
- Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana - UEFS, Feira de Santana, BA, Brasil
| | | | - George Rêgo Albuquerque
- Departamento de Ciências Agrárias e Ambientais, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz - UESC, Ilhéus, BA, Brasil
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Fernandes JJ, de Lima Peixoto A, de Farias ASS, Junior Pinheiro T, da Costa DF, Silva MLCR, Júnior JPA, Malossi CD, Ullmann LS, de Azevedo SS, Alves CJ, Dos Santos Higino SS. Didelphis albiventris as a carrier of Leptospira sp. in the central nervous tissue in the semiarid region of Northeast, Brazil. Comp Immunol Microbiol Infect Dis 2020; 73:101560. [PMID: 33099254 DOI: 10.1016/j.cimid.2020.101560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2020] [Revised: 09/28/2020] [Accepted: 10/07/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Leptospirosis has been investigated in several species of wild animals. The white-eared opossum (Didelphis albiventris) is a mammal common in the brazilian semi-arid, so, this study aimed to investigate its role in the occurrence of the leptospirosis in the region Northeast of Brazil. 12 animals were used, from which samples were collected for the attempt of isolation, molecular detection and serological examination. There was no microbial growth, nor were any anti-Leptospira sp. antibodies found in the serological samples. The PCR detected leptospiric DNA in the central nervous system (CNS) of five animals (41.7 %). The gene in one of the samples was sequenced and showed identity with Leptospira interrogans. The presence of Leptospira sp. in the CNS of Didelphis albiventris does not allow the characterization of the studied animals as reservoirs with potential for transmission of the pathogen in the region, however it represents a site that needs to be further investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juciê Jales Fernandes
- Federal University of Campina Grande (UFCG), University Avenue, No Number, Santa Cecília, Patos, Paraíba State, Brazil
| | - Aline de Lima Peixoto
- Federal University of Campina Grande (UFCG), University Avenue, No Number, Santa Cecília, Patos, Paraíba State, Brazil
| | | | - Tiago Junior Pinheiro
- Federal University of Campina Grande (UFCG), University Avenue, No Number, Santa Cecília, Patos, Paraíba State, Brazil
| | - Diego Figueiredo da Costa
- Federal University of Campina Grande (UFCG), University Avenue, No Number, Santa Cecília, Patos, Paraíba State, Brazil
| | | | | | | | | | - Sergio Santos de Azevedo
- Federal University of Campina Grande (UFCG), University Avenue, No Number, Santa Cecília, Patos, Paraíba State, Brazil
| | - Clebert José Alves
- Federal University of Campina Grande (UFCG), University Avenue, No Number, Santa Cecília, Patos, Paraíba State, Brazil
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Bezerra-Santos MA, Nogueira BCF, Yamatogi RS, Campos AK. Molecular detection of Toxoplasma gondii in opossums from Southeastern, Brazil. J Parasit Dis 2020; 44:661-665. [PMID: 32801521 DOI: 10.1007/s12639-020-01243-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2020] [Accepted: 07/09/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasmosis is a worldwide-distributed zoonotic disease of great relevance to public health. Many wildlife species, including marsupials of the genus Didelphis, are considered hosts for Toxoplasma gondii, which makes them to have a possible role in the dispersion and maintenance of this parasite in nature. This study provides data on the molecular detection of T. gondii in D. aurita opossums from an urbanized area of Southeastern Brazil. Animals were captured and blood and/or spleen samples were collected. Real Time PCR was performed for the detection of T. gondii. From the opossums captured, 26.3% (n = 15/57) scored positive, with a frequency of 21.6% (n = 11/51) in blood, and 66.7% (n = 6/9) in spleen samples. BLAST analysis demonstrated 100% identity and 100% cover query with sequences of T. gondii available in GenBank database. Data herein reported present great public health importance, since Didelphis spp. are usually observed inhabiting close to human dwellings, which facilitates their contact with people and domestic animals, and consequently, the transmission of zoonotic agents. However, further studies are needed to elucidate whether these opossums play an important role in the zoonotic cycle of T. gondii in urban areas of Brazil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcos Antônio Bezerra-Santos
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Viçosa, Av. PH Rolfs, s/n, University Campus, Viçosa, MG 36570-900 Brazil
| | - Bárbara Cristina Félix Nogueira
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Viçosa, Av. PH Rolfs, s/n, University Campus, Viçosa, MG 36570-900 Brazil
| | - Ricardo Seiti Yamatogi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Viçosa, Av. PH Rolfs, s/n, University Campus, Viçosa, MG 36570-900 Brazil
| | - Artur Kanadani Campos
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Viçosa, Av. PH Rolfs, s/n, University Campus, Viçosa, MG 36570-900 Brazil
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