Detection of Salmonella spp. in wild and domestic birds in an anthropized ecotone between the Cerrado and the Amazon Forest in Brazil.

Emergence of zoonotic infectious diseases represent one of the main threats to people worldwide. To properly understand and prevent zoonoses is fundamental to study their epidemiology and the possibility of spillover events, especially for commercially intensive domestic animals and humans. Here, we studied 210 wild birds from the "Ipucas" region, which consists of fragments of the Amazon Forest interspersed with fragments of the "Cerrado" that is subject to seasonal flooding and 75 domestic birds from neighboring poultry farming. Then, we molecularly diagnosed Salmonella and Chlamydia from wild birds and poultry. Among the wild birds, four were diagnosed with Chlamydia psittaci and 23 with Salmonella spp., while we detected 15 poultry infected by Salmonella spp. and no poultry with C. psittaci. We highlighted the common infections of wild and domestic birds in an anthropologically modified environment and potential spillover of Salmonella pathogens among wild and livestock birds. Those infections can harm the health of native and domestic species.

New Isospora and Host Species in Brazilian Passerines

Normal passerines (n=216) were evaluated for oocysts of Isospora in feces at the Triage Center for Wild Animals (CETAS, IBAMA, Belo Horizonte; August 21 to September 21, 2012). The positive samples with oocysts represented 13.0% of Cardinalidae (n=23), 11.2% of Emberizidae (n=107), 50% of Icteridae (n=10) and 60.3% of Thraupidae (n=68). The probability of fecal oocysts attributable to the host in Thraupidae is higher than in Cardinalidae, Emberizidae, Fringillidae and Turdidae, but similar to Icteridae. No oocysts were found in Fringillidae and Turdidae. Within Thraupidae, Isospora was for the first time described in Paroaria dominicana and Schistochlamys ruficapillus and within Icteridae, in Gnorimopsar chopi. Saltator similis presented a higher risk, 66.9% greater than Lanio pileatus and Sporophila caerulescens and with a 27.9% greater probability than Sporophila nigricolis. The new coccidian species described were Isospora dominicana [ellipsoid oocysts, 25 (30-20) x 25 (28-20) µm] in Paroaria dominicana; Isospora beagai [ovoid oocysts, 28 (32-17) x 25 (29-16) µm] and Isospora ferri [ellipsoid oocysts, 20 (22-16) x 18 (22-15) µm] in Saltator similis; Isospora ruficapillus [spheric to subspherical oocysts, 25 (26-23) x 24 (25-21) µm] in Schistochlamys ruficapillus; and Isospora chopi [spherical to sub-spherical oocysts, 24.5 x 22 (30-20 x 25-20) µm] and Isospora gnorimopsar [sub-spherical to ovoid oocysts, 27 x 23 (32-22 x 28-20) µm] in Gnorimopsar chopi. The morphometry and features were compared with previously described Isospora in passerines. New coccidian species and new passerine hosts are described for Isospora and recommends for constant monitoring during rehabilitation, especially for the hosts of Thraupidae and Icteridae.(AU)

New Isospora and Host Species in Brazilian Passerines

Normal passerines (n=216) were evaluated for oocysts of Isospora in feces at the Triage Center for Wild Animals (CETAS, IBAMA, Belo Horizonte; August 21 to September 21, 2012). The positive samples with oocysts represented 13.0% of Cardinalidae (n=23), 11.2% of Emberizidae (n=107), 50% of Icteridae (n=10) and 60.3% of Thraupidae (n=68). The probability of fecal oocysts attributable to the host in Thraupidae is higher than in Cardinalidae, Emberizidae, Fringillidae and Turdidae, but similar to Icteridae. No oocysts were found in Fringillidae and Turdidae. Within Thraupidae, Isospora was for the first time described in Paroaria dominicana and Schistochlamys ruficapillus and within Icteridae, in Gnorimopsar chopi. Saltator similis presented a higher risk, 66.9% greater than Lanio pileatus and Sporophila caerulescens and with a 27.9% greater probability than Sporophila nigricolis. The new coccidian species described were Isospora dominicana [ellipsoid oocysts, 25 (30-20) x 25 (28-20) µm] in Paroaria dominicana; Isospora beagai [ovoid oocysts, 28 (32-17) x 25 (29-16) µm] and Isospora ferri [ellipsoid oocysts, 20 (22-16) x 18 (22-15) µm] in Saltator similis; Isospora ruficapillus [spheric to subspherical oocysts, 25 (26-23) x 24 (25-21) µm] in Schistochlamys ruficapillus; and Isospora chopi [spherical to sub-spherical oocysts, 24.5 x 22 (30-20 x 25-20) µm] and Isospora gnorimopsar [sub-spherical to ovoid oocysts, 27 x 23 (32-22 x 28-20) µm] in Gnorimopsar chopi. The morphometry and features were compared with previously described Isospora in passerines. New coccidian species and new passerine hosts are described for Isospora and recommends for constant monitoring during rehabilitation, especially for the hosts of Thraupidae and Icteridae.