Registro de ácaros em avestruz no estado do Rio de Janeiro / Report of mites in ostrich in Rio de Janeiro State

For the first time, it was identified a mite in a three-year-old male ostrich that had lost feathers and showed skin irritation. The animal belonged to a flock of 50 birds, located in Baixada Fluminense, in Rio de Janeiro State. After they were fixed in 70 percent alcohol, clarifyed in lactophenol and mounted in Canada balsam, the mites were identified in the laboratory. They belonged to the Pterolichidae family and Struthioperolichus sculpturatus species (Hirst). The ostrich was treated by ivermectin in dose of 200µg/kg of body weight, with recovery and disappearance of the clinical symptoms. The occurrence of mite infestation by the described species in ostrich should be monitored by professionals and farmers, as they cause fall of feathers and economic losses.

Leptospirosis in a giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla, Linnaeus, 1758) in Rio de Janeiro Zoo, Brazil

An adult female giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) presented leptospirosis in Rio de Janeiro Zoo. Serum samples werecollected and agglutinins anti-Leptospira interrogans serovar icterohaemorrhagiae were evidenced. Hemogram and biochemicalanalysis were compatible with the disease. Therapy was instituted with an association of Penicillin, Streptomycin andDihydrostreptomycin. No toxic effects of antibiotic association could be noticed and this therapy was considered adequate totreat giant anteater leptospirosis. We suggest giant anteater immunisation against leptospirosis to be implemented in riskareas and further investigation on the vaccination efficacy in this species.

Avaliaçäo soroepidemiológica do vírus influenza em aves domésticas e silvestres no Estado do Rio de Janeiro / Serological survey on influenza virus in domestic and wild birds from Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil

Estudou-se a presença de anticorpos para o vírus da influenza aviária, subtipos H1N1 e H3N2, por meio da técnica de inibiçäo da hemaglutinaçäo no plasma de 225 aves da Fundaçäo RIO-ZOO, do Bwana Park e de pequenas criaçöes do Estado do Rio de Janeiro. Entre as aves estudadas 60 (26,6 por cento) foram soropositivas, sendo 22 (9,8 por cento) para o subtipo H1N1, 28 (12,4 por cento) para o subtipo H3N2 e 10 (4,4 por cento) para os dois subtipos. Esses resultados indicam a ocorrência dos subtipos do vírus da influenza aviária investigados no Rio de Janeiro e apontam para o risco potencial de sua transmissäo para a avicultura industrial e para pessoas