ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Toxoplasmosis is an important disease affecting captive non-human primates. The goal of this study was to assess the seroprevalence and pathological findings of toxoplasmosis in different species of captive primates. METHODS: Six captive neotropical primates died naturally due to Toxoplasma gondii infection and were necropsied. Tissue samples were evaluated by histopathology and immunohistochemistry. Serum samples from 57 captive neotropical and Old-world primates housed at the Belo Horizonte zoological garden were analyzed by indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and indirect hemagglutination assay (IHA). RESULTS: Neotropical primates had lesions compatible with toxoplasmosis with immunolabeled intralesional T gondii. All Old-World primates (10/10), but only three neotropical primates (3/47), all belonging to the Sapajus apella species (3/6), were serologically positive. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest a higher susceptibility of neotropical primates to toxoplasmosis. However, this study also supports the hypothesis that Sapajus apella may be naturally resistant.
Subject(s)
Host Specificity , Monkey Diseases , Pitheciidae , Toxoplasma/physiology , Toxoplasmosis, Animal/diagnosis , Animals , Animals, Zoo , Aotus trivirgatus , Brazil , Fatal Outcome , Female , Leontopithecus , Male , Toxoplasmosis, Animal/parasitologyABSTRACT
Anteaters belong to the Order Xenarthra / Family Myrmecophagidae and are the only members without teeth. There are three genera with four living species in the family Myrmecophagidae: Myrmecophaga tridactyla (giant anteater), Tamandua tetradactyla (southern lesser anteater), Tamandua mexicana (northern lesser anteater), and Cyclopes didactylus (silky anteater). The karyotypes of M. tridactyla (2n = 60), T. tetradactyla (2n = 54) and C. didactylus (2n = 64) have already been described. In the present paper, three female and two male specimens of giant anteater and one lesser anteater male were analyzed. The results indicate the existence of a new karyotype in the genus Tamandua, with 2n = 56 chromosomes, which can represent a new lesser anteater species. The karyotype of M. tridactyla was also described, supporting previous reports.
