PHTHALATE ESTERS (PLASTICIZERS) IN THE UROPYGIAL GLAND AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP TO PLASTICS INGESTION IN SEABIRDS ALONG THE COAST OF ESPÍRITO SANTO, EASTERN BRAZIL.

Plastic ingestion is a problem for seabirds worldwide. In addition to direct health effects such as obstruction or perforation of the gastrointestinal tract, plastic ingestion can also lead to indirect health effects through the release of chemicals that may be absorbed and cause systemic and chronic toxicity. Among chemicals that can be released by plastics are phthalate esters, a group of chemicals widely used as plasticizers or additives to change the physical characteristics of plastics. In this study, three phthalate esters, dimethyl phthalate (DMP), dibuthyl phthalate (DBP), and diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), were quantified in the uropygial gland of 48 seabirds from 16 species collected ashore in a tropical region, the coast of Espírito Santo, Eastern Brazil. Including trace levels, DMP was detected in 16 birds (33%) from 10 species, with an average concentration of 0.014 ± 0.005 ng/µl (mean ± SD for individuals with concentrations above the practical level of detection of 0.01 ng/µl). DBP was detected in 15 birds (31%) from 11 species, with an average concentration of 0.049 ± 0.032 ng/µl. DEHP was detected in 21 birds (44%) from 11 species, with an average concentration of 0.115 ± 0.105 ng/µl. DMP concentration in the uropygial gland was positively associated with the presence, number, and mass of plastic items in the upper digestive tract. However, no such relationship was noted for DBP nor DEHP, suggesting the concentration of phthalate compounds in the uropygial gland might not always serve as a reliable proxy for plastic ingestion. In spite of relatively high frequencies of detection, the low concentrations of phthalates detected in this study suggest levels of exposure below known toxicity thresholds. Further studies on the potential adverse effects of phthalate exposure in seabirds are necessary, especially on the reproductive development of embryos and chicks.

A new haemosporidian parasite from the Red-legged Seriema Cariama cristata (Cariamiformes, Cariamidae).

Haemoproteids (Haemosporida, Haemoproteidae) are a diverse group of avian blood parasites that are transmitted by hematophagous dipterans. In this study, we describe Haemoproteus pulcher sp. nov. from a Red-legged Seriema (Cariama cristata) in southeast Brazil. Analysis of the mitochondrial cytb gene indicates this parasite is closely related to Haemoproteus catharti (from Turkey Vulture, Cathartes aura) and the unidentified haemosporidian lineages PSOOCH01 (from Pale-winged Trumpeter, Psophia leucoptera) and MYCAME08 (from Wood Stork, Mycteria americana). This group of parasites appears to represent an evolutionary lineage that is distinct from other Haemoproteus spp., being instead more closely related to Haemocystidium spp. (from reptiles), Plasmodium spp. (from reptiles, birds, and mammals) and other mammal-infecting haemosporidians (Nycteria, Polychromophilus, and Hepatocystis). Current evidence suggests that parasites of this newly discovered evolutionary lineage may be endemic to the Americas, but further studies are necessary to clarify their taxonomy, life cycle, vectors, hosts, geographic distribution and host health effects. Additionally, it should be borne in mind that some PCR protocols targeting the cytb gene might not reliably detect H. pulcher due to low primer affinity.

Ingestion of plastics and other debris by coastal and pelagic birds along the coast of Espírito Santo, Eastern Brazil.

Although the ingestion of plastics and other anthropogenic debris by seabirds is a global problem, few studies have employed standardized protocols to quantify and classify the debris ingested by seabirds in the Southwest Atlantic. We evaluated the ingestion of marine debris (items >0.1 mm) by 126 coastal and pelagic birds (19 species) along the coast of Espírito Santo, Eastern Brazil. Debris were found in 30% of birds examined (11 species). Particles <1 mm accounted for 35% of all debris items. Most ingested debris were plastics (97%). Ingestion of >0.1 g of plastic debris was recorded in five species: Atlantic yellow-nosed albatrosses (Thalassarche chlororhynchos), Cory's shearwaters (Calonectris borealis), Manx shearwaters (Puffinus puffinus), brown boobies (Sula leucogaster), and Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus). Our findings suggest that the ingestion of marine debris, especially plastics, is a common problem for coastal and pelagic birds in tropical Southwest Atlantic waters.

Successful Treatment of Capture Myopathy and Satellite Transmitter Injury in an Atlantic Yellow-nosed Albatross (Thalassarche chlororhynchos).

An Atlantic yellow-nosed albatross (Thalassarche chlororhynchos) was found on shore 3 days after having been captured at sea by researchers. It presented very lethargic, moderately dehydrated, and in poor body condition. It was mildly hypothermic, with moderate pediculosis, and dark malodorous feces with yellow urates. The bird had a 48-g satellite transmitter attached with a backpack-style chest harness, which caused an ulcerative lesion on the interscapular area. The bird was severely anemic (packed cell volume, 18%), and plasma chemistry results were suggestive of a severe rhabdomyolysis (aspartate transaminase, 3620 U/L; creatine kinase, 100 400 U/L). We hypothesized that capture myopathy occurred because of a combination of capture stress and prolonged physical restraint by researchers, stress associated with repeated attempts by the bird to remove the satellite-transmitter harness, and a lengthy road transport to the rehabilitation center. A treatment protocol, which relied on a combination of aggressive fluid therapy, selenium, vitamins E and B12, and multivitamin supplementation, was administered after the initial physical assessment of the albatross. Isoflurane inhalation anesthesia was used to minimize stress associated with the performed medical procedures (eg, physical examination, removal of the satellite transmitter harness, blood collection, and wound management). Measures were adopted while the bird was hospitalized to reduce stress (eg, quiet and comfortable environment with visual barriers and restricting handling of the patient to experienced staff). Clinical and hematological monitoring was used to assess the patient's condition as the bird gradually recovered while hospitalized. The albatross was successfully released 28 days after the initial presentation, suggesting that the medical protocol employed in this case may be useful for the treatment of capture myopathy in albatrosses and other birds.

First report of avian malaria in a Manx shearwater (Puffinus puffinus).

This study reports the case of a Manx shearwater (Puffinus puffinus) that died from avian malaria while under care at a rehabilitation center in Espírito Santo, Brazil. The bird was rescued on October 2018, and remained under care until it died suddenly on January 2019. A blood smear produced 8 days before death was negative for parasites, whereas a blood smear produced post-mortem revealed a high parasitemia by a parasite resembling Plasmodium cathemerium. The sequence of a 412 bp segment of the cyt-b gene was identical to that of lineage PADOM09, and phylogenetic analysis corroborated that this parasite was closely-related to known lineages of P. cathemerium. The acuteness and severity of the infection documented in this case suggest that seabirds of the order Procellariiformes might be highly susceptible to Plasmodium infections, raising the concern that avian malaria may present a significant threat to their conservation.

Epidemiology, hematology, and unusual morphological characteristics of Plasmodium during an avian malaria outbreak in penguins in Brazil.

Avian malaria is a mosquito-borne disease caused by Plasmodium spp. protozoa, and penguins are considered particularly susceptible to this disease, developing rapid outbreaks with potentially high mortality. We report on an outbreak of avian malaria in Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) at a rehabilitation center in Espírito Santo, southeast Brazil. In August and September 2015, a total of 89 Magellanic penguins (87 juveniles and 2 adults) received care at Institute of Research and Rehabilitation of Marine Animals. Over a period of 2 weeks, Plasmodium infections were identified in eight individuals (9.0%), four of which died (mortality = 4.5%, lethality = 50%). Blood smears and sequencing of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene revealed the presence of Plasmodium lutzi SPMAG06, Plasmodium elongatum GRW06, Plasmodium sp. PHPAT01, Plasmodium sp. SPMAG10, and Plasmodium cathemerium (sequencing not successful). Two unusual morphological features were observed in individuals infected with lineage SPMAG06: (a) lack of clumping of pigment granules and (b) presence of circulating exoerythrocytic meronts. Hematological results (packed cell volume, plasma total solids, complete blood cell counts) of positive individuals showed differences from those of negative individuals depending on the lineages, but there was no overarching pattern consistently observed for all Plasmodium spp. The epidemiology of the outbreak and the phylogeography of the parasite lineages detected in this study support the notion that malarial infections in penguins undergoing rehabilitation in Brazil are the result of the spillover inoculation by plasmodia that circulate in the local avifauna, especially Passeriformes.

Tick-borne infections in dogs and horses in the state of Espírito Santo, Southeast Brazil.

This work aims to identify and quantify the percentage of Rickettsia spp., Ehrlichia spp., Babesia spp. and Hepatozoon spp. positive pet dogs, and to identify ticks collected on these animals in the state of Espírito Santo, in the Southeast region of Brazil. The study included 378 dogs, 226 females and 152 males, of various breeds and ages (mean age of 4.1 years). All animals were examined for ticks, and whole blood was collected and processed by conventional PCR protocols for Babesia spp., Anaplasmataceae, Hepatozoon spp. and by real-time PCR for Ehrlichia canis. Of the 378 dogs examined, 157 (41.53%) had ticks at the time of the study, which were identified as R. sanguineus s.l. in 154 animals (98.10%), Amblyomma ovale in one animal (0.63%), and Amblyomma sculptum in 2 animals (1.27%). In the PCR for Babesia spp., 5 animals (1.32%) were positive, producing DNA sequences 100% identical to Babesia vogeli. For Anaplasmataceae, 34 animals (9%) were positive, 10 of which generated DNA sequences 100% similar to Ehrlichia canis. The other 24 samples generated fragments 100% identical to Anaplasma platys. In the PCR for Hepatozoon spp, 39 animals (10.31%) were positive, producing sequences 100% identical to Hepatozoon canis. Finally, in the real-time PCR specific for E. canis, 28 animals (7.40%) were positive. Coinfection with 2 or 3 agents was observed in 20 animals (5.29%). Of the 378 dogs sampled, 312 were analyzed by indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) for E. canis and five species of Rickettsia (R. rickettsii, R. parkeri, R. amblyommatis, R. rhipicephali and R. bellii). Among them, 71 dogs (22.75%) had a positive reaction for E. canis and 16 dogs (5.13%) had antibody titers higher than 64 to at least one Rickettsia species, 5 of them (1.60%) to R. rickettsii. Samples of blood were collected from 10 equines in the regions where dogs were found with positive serology for any one of the Rickettsia sp. tested. In the municipality of Vila Velha, two equines were positive for R. bellii with inverse titers of 64 and 128. These results indicate that tick-transmitted agents, such as E. canis, A. platys, B. vogeli, H. canis, and several spotted fever group Rickettsia are circulating in the canine population of the Brazilian state of Espirito Santo.

Síncope neurocardiogênica em cão com doença valvular crônica de mitral - Relato de caso / Neurocardiogenic syncope in a dog with chronic mitral valvular disease - Case report / Síncope neurocardiogénico en perro con enfermedad valvular mitral crónica - Relato de caso

A doença valvular crônica de mitral é a enfermidade cardíaca mais comumente relatada em cães de pequeno e médio porte, adultos ou idosos. A síncope cardíaca é uma manifestação comumente observada, causada por diversos mecanismos. Objetivou-se relatar um caso desta doença em uma cadela da raça Teckel, com 16 anos de idade, que apresentava episódios recorrentes de síncope. Os episódios estavam associados com bradicardia, palidez de mucosas e aumento da pressão intratorácica. Excluindo-se outras causas de síncope, foi realizado o diagnóstico presuntivo de síncope neurocardiogênica, sendo a primeira descrição na medicina veterinária.

Chronic mitral valvular disease is the most commonly acquired heart disease in middle-aged to elderly dogs in small to medium-size breeds. Cardiac syncope is a common manifestation observed in such disease, caused by several mechanisms. The purpose of this study is to report a case of several syncope episodes in a Teckel dog aged 16 years, presenting chronic mitral valvular disease. The episodes were associated with bradycardia, pale mucous membranes and increased intra-thoracic pressure. The presumptive diagnosis of neurocardiogenic syncope was reached by excluding other causes of syncope, which is the first description in veterinary medicine.

La enfermedad valvular crónica de mitral es la enfermedad cardíaca más comúnmente reportada en perros de pequeño y mediano tamaño, adultos o ancianos. El síncope cardíaco es una manifestación comúnmente observada, causada por varios mecanismos. Esta investigación ha buscado relatar un caso de esta enfermedad en una perra de la raza Teckel, de 16 años de edad, que presentaba episodios recurrentes de síncope. Los episodios estaban asociados con bradicardia, palidez de mucosas y aumento de la presión intratorácica. Se ha excluido otras causas de síncope, se llevó a cabo el diagnóstico presuntivo de síncope neurocardiogénico, siendo la primera descripción en medicina veterinaria.