A novel Betacoronavirus characterised in collared peccaries from the Rio de Janeiro Zoo (Brazil) killed by unknown disease

In an enclosure with nine collared peccaries (Pecari tajacu) from the Rio de Janeiro city Zoo, Brazil, one specimen was found dead and two others developed prostration, apathy and dehydration, resulting on its death. Necropsy of two animals pointed to pulmonary and renal damage. Histological examination revealed vasculitis in spleen from both P. tajacu, suggesting a systemic viral infection. Lungs from one specimen showed fibrinoid vasculitis, alveolar damage with hyaline membrane, and interstitial lymphocytes infiltration. Virome analysis in anal wash samples from the latter two animals revealed a new type of Betacoronavirus, lineage A, provisionally named Ptajacu-CoV.

Cytogenetics and Molecular Genetic Analysis of Chimerism in Marmosets (Callithrix: Primates)

ABSTRACT The birth of fraternal twins is a characteristic frequently observed in callitrichids. Cytogenetic studies have demonstrated hematopoietic chimerism in marmosets with the occurrence of two cell lines 2n=46,XX/46,XY in females and males co-twins, without phenotypic changes. Amplification by PCR have also been used to verify the presence of the SRY gene in female chimaeras. Our aim was to verify the occurrence of chimerism in Callithrix sp. individuals considered as hybrids according to their intermediate phenotypes between C. jacchus and C. penicillata. Blood samples from 37 Callithrix sp. individuals were collected. Hematopoietic chimerism 2n=46,XX/46,XY was detected by cytogenetic analysis in five individuals, three males and two females. A fragment of approximately 200bp of the SRY gene was amplified in seven females with normal external genitalia. The percentage of 32% of chimeric individuals detected in the present study is similar to that observed for pure specimens of Callithrix. These data suggests that hybridization probably does not interfere with the occurrence of twin gestation, nor of chimerism. Although cytogenetics is the main tool to identify the two cell lineages present in cases of chimerism, the amplification of the SRY gene by PCR has proved to be more efficient to identify the Y chromosome in cases of chimeric female marmoset.

Parasitos em sagüi-de-tufo-branco (Callithrix jacchus) no Rio de Janeiro / Parasites in commn marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) in Rio de Janeiro

O contato crescente entre os animais selvagens com os domésticos e os seres humanos tem possibilitado o aumento do trânsito de parasitos entre as espécies. A cidade do Rio de Janeiro, por sua geografia e forma de desenvolvimento urbano, somado a presença do Parque Nacional da Tijuca (PNT) no meio da área urbana, estimula hábitos em seus habitantes e possibilita o contato das pessoas com áreas naturais de uma forma mais ampla do que em outras grandes cidades. Este Parque abriga uma série de espécies autóctones e exóticas, como o sagüi-de-tufo-branco (Callithrix jacchus), originário da região nordeste. Os primatas da família Cebidae são considerados pela Fundação Nacional de Saúde como hospedeiros ou reservatórios de parasitos com potencial risco biológico, merecendo atenção da Coordenação de Vigilância e Controle dos Fatores de Risco Biológico (Cofab). O objetivo desta pesquisa foi realizar um estudo das infecções por fungos, bactérias e helmintos em Callithric jacchus, que possam transitar, por intermédios desta espécie para os seres humanos. Escolhendo-se áreas do interior do PNT, áreas urbanas e animais provenientes de cativeiro, foram realizadas comparações para observação dos diferentes parasitos circulantes. 65 espécimes foram analisados, sendo 34 do Parque Nacional da Tijuca, 11, de áreas urbanas e 20 provenientes de cativeiro, por meio de exames clínicos e laboratoriais, para pesquisa hemoparasitos, levantamento de flora bacteriana e fúngica. 27,7 % dos animais do estudo apresentaram problemas dentários e no PNT foi diagnosticadas microfilárias em 29,4 %, Trypanosoma minasense em 47 % dos animais e T. devei em 5,9 %. Somente foram encontrados espécies de fungos saprófitas, porém a flora bacteriana, além das saprófitas apresentou Campylobacter jejuni tipos I e II e Salmonela newland, como espécies que merecem atenção.

The increased contact among wildlife with domestic animals and human beings has been improving the crescent transit of parasites between species. Because of its geography, urban development, and the presence of Tijuca National Park (PNT) in the middle of urban area, the city of Rio de Janeirostimulates the inhabitants to a bigger contact with natural areas than in other big cities. This Park protects a series of autoctonous and exotic species as the common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus), from Northeastern region. Primates from the family Cebidae are considered hosts and reservoirs of zoonoticparasites by the National Health Foundation, deserving, special attention from Biological Risk Factors Control and Surveillance Coordination (Cofab). The objective of this research was study fungi, bacterial and helminth infection of Callithric jacchus, that can transit by them, to humans. Comparisons were made between PNTs core forested areas, urban areas and captive animals. Clinical and laboratorial examination, including hemoparasite, bacterial and fungi search were developed in 65specimens, 34 from PNT, 11 from urban areas and 20 from captivity. 27,7% had teeth problems, and in PNT 29,4% had microfilarids, 47% Trypanosoma minasense and 5,9% T. devei.

Behavioral and ecological interactions between reintroduced golden lion tamarins ( Leontopithecus rosalia Linnaeus, 1766 ) and introduced marmosets ( Callithrix spp, Linnaeus, 1758 ) in Brazil's Atlantic Coast forest fragments

Callithrix jacchus e spp (micos estrela) tem sido introduzido no estado do Rio de Janeiro em áreas designadas para a reintrodução do Leontopithecus rosalia (mico leão dourado). Os objetivos deste estudo foram estimar a população de sagüis em dois fragmentos particulares, e caracterizar a interação entre as espécies. A densidade de sagüis (0.09 a/ha) foi maior que a de mico-leão (0.06 a/ha). O grau de associação entre mico-leão e o sagüi variou entre grupos e estações do ano (inverno= 61%, verão =35%). Foram observados sinais de competição durante o inverno quando a presença do mico estrela está associada a mudanças no forrageio do mico-leão e aumento de comportamentos territoriais. No verão, sinais de benefícios foram uma diminuição da vigilância por parte dos adultos de micos leões. Além disso, os micos leões foram observados se alimentando de goma proveniente dos buracos feitos pelos micos estrela. Estes resultados sugerem que o mico estrela é uma ameaça para a conservação do mico-leão, no entanto.

Serial clinical, colpo-cytological and endocrinological evaluations of Cerdocyon thous bitches from the Rio de Janeiro zoo

Serial clinical, colpo-cytological and endocrinological examinations of two five-year-old females of the crab-eating dog (Cerdocyon thous), from the RIOZOO Foundation in the State of Rio de Janeiro - Brazil, were carried out over a 10-month period. Clinically healthy animals were kept in sand substratum enclosures, located 500m apart from each other. They were each housed with two males. The colpo-cytological technique employed for Cerdocyon thous used methods similar to those developed for domestic bitches. Unlike domestic dogs, blood cells were absent in all phases of the estrus cycle, including the pro-estrus phase. Differentiation of each type of vaginal cells during the estrus cycle phases in this species follows the same patterns shown by domestic bitches. The estradiol and progesterone levels were similar to those occurring in domestic bitches. The progesterone levels reach their maximum (46 ng/ml) around the 10th day of pregnancy. The estradiol analysis demonstrated that, although levels of this hormone could be high at various times throughout the year, mating actually occurs in late winter and in spring. It was impossible to evaluate whether males and females kept in close proximity throughout the entire year would stimulate the production of estradiol, resulting in what would be considered a captivity artifice