1
|
de Lima NJ, Pádua GT, Cardoso ERN, Bittencourt RBM, Tavares MA, Paula WVDF, Neves LC, Segovia CD, dos Santos GC, Serpa MCDA, Toledo DC, Pascoal LM, Labruna MB, Biondo AW, Krawczak FDS. Serological and Molecular Survey of Rickettsial Agents in Wild Boars ( Sus scrofa) from Midwestern Brazil. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:2224. [PMID: 39123749 PMCID: PMC11311017 DOI: 10.3390/ani14152224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2024] [Revised: 07/27/2024] [Accepted: 07/27/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Wild boars (Sus scrofa L.) are considered among the most harmful invasive species worldwide, causing irreversible ecosystem damage, acting as zoonotic spreaders and reservoirs, threatening human and animal health, and having an important economic impact. Accordingly, the present study has assessed the rickettsial exposure, tick infestation of wild boars, and rickettsial DNA presence in ticks from infested animals from the Cerrado biome in midwestern Brazil. Anti-Rickettsia spp. antibodies were detected in serum samples of wild boars by immunofluorescence assay. Overall, 106/285 (37.2%) wild boar serum samples from 13 to 18 (72.2%) municipalities showed seroreactivity to at least one of the four Rickettsia spp. antigens tested, the largest number of wild boars serologically tested to Rickettsia spp. in this type of study. Among the 106 seroreactive animals, 34 showed possible homologous reactions between R. parkeri, R. amblyommatis, and R. bellii, with endpoint titers between 128 and 512. A sample of 45 ticks collected from four culled wild boars was identified as Amblyomma sculptum, and all tested negative for rickettsial DNA presence. In conclusion, this study has provided a reliable sampling seroprevalence and indicated high exposure of wild boars to rickettsial agents, with a potential interaction with Rickettsia spp. from the spotted fever group within the Cerrado biome from midwestern Brazil.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Jalowitzki de Lima
- Veterinary and Animal Science School, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia 74605-220, Brazil; (N.J.d.L.); (W.V.d.F.P.); (L.C.N.); (L.M.P.)
| | - Gracielle Teles Pádua
- Veterinary and Animal Science School, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia 74605-220, Brazil; (N.J.d.L.); (W.V.d.F.P.); (L.C.N.); (L.M.P.)
| | - Ennya Rafaella Neves Cardoso
- Veterinary and Animal Science School, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia 74605-220, Brazil; (N.J.d.L.); (W.V.d.F.P.); (L.C.N.); (L.M.P.)
| | - Raphaela Bueno Mendes Bittencourt
- Veterinary and Animal Science School, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia 74605-220, Brazil; (N.J.d.L.); (W.V.d.F.P.); (L.C.N.); (L.M.P.)
| | - Mariana Avelar Tavares
- Veterinary and Animal Science School, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia 74605-220, Brazil; (N.J.d.L.); (W.V.d.F.P.); (L.C.N.); (L.M.P.)
| | - Warley Vieira de Freitas Paula
- Veterinary and Animal Science School, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia 74605-220, Brazil; (N.J.d.L.); (W.V.d.F.P.); (L.C.N.); (L.M.P.)
| | - Lucianne Cardoso Neves
- Veterinary and Animal Science School, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia 74605-220, Brazil; (N.J.d.L.); (W.V.d.F.P.); (L.C.N.); (L.M.P.)
| | - Carlos Damian Segovia
- Veterinary and Animal Science School, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia 74605-220, Brazil; (N.J.d.L.); (W.V.d.F.P.); (L.C.N.); (L.M.P.)
| | - Gabriel Cândido dos Santos
- Veterinary and Animal Science School, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia 74605-220, Brazil; (N.J.d.L.); (W.V.d.F.P.); (L.C.N.); (L.M.P.)
| | - Maria Carolina de Azevedo Serpa
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo—USP, São Paulo 05508-270, Brazil (M.B.L.)
| | - Denise Caroline Toledo
- Veterinary and Animal Science School, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia 74605-220, Brazil; (N.J.d.L.); (W.V.d.F.P.); (L.C.N.); (L.M.P.)
| | - Lívia Mendonça Pascoal
- Veterinary and Animal Science School, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia 74605-220, Brazil; (N.J.d.L.); (W.V.d.F.P.); (L.C.N.); (L.M.P.)
| | - Marcelo Bahia Labruna
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo—USP, São Paulo 05508-270, Brazil (M.B.L.)
| | - Alexander Welker Biondo
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Paraná—UFPR, Curitiba 81531-970, Brazil;
| | - Felipe da Silva Krawczak
- Veterinary and Animal Science School, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia 74605-220, Brazil; (N.J.d.L.); (W.V.d.F.P.); (L.C.N.); (L.M.P.)
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Kmetiuk LB, Biondo LM, Pedrosa F, Favero GM, Biondo AW. One Health at gunpoint: Impact of wild boars as exotic species in Brazil - A review. One Health 2023; 17:100577. [PMID: 37332883 PMCID: PMC10276213 DOI: 10.1016/j.onehlt.2023.100577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2022] [Revised: 06/04/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Wild boars have been listed among the 100 most invasive species worldwide, spreading impacts to all continents, with the exception of Antarctica. In Brazil, a major source of introduction was a commercial livestock importation for exotic meat market, followed by successive escapes and releases to natural ecosystems. Currently found in all six Brazilian biomes, with reports in 11 Brazilian states, wild boars have invaded natural and agricultural areas. Wild boars have been reportedly indicated as hosts and reservoirs of several zoonotic diseases in Brazil, including toxoplasmosis, salmonelosis, leptospirosis, brucellosis, tuberculosis, trichinellosis, and hepatitis E. Wild boars have been also associated with Brazilian spotted fever and rabies, infected while providing plentiful exotic blood supply for native ticks and hematophagous bats. Due to their phylogenetic proximity, wild boars may present ecological niche overlapping and direct disease risk to native white-lipped and collared peccaries. Moreover, wild boars may post an economical threat to Brazilian livestock industry due to restrictive diseases such as Aujeszky, enzootic pneumonia, neosporosis, hemoplasmosis, and classic swine fever. Finally, wild boars have directly impacted in environmentally protected areas, silting up water springs, rooting and wallowing native plants, decreasing native vegetal coverage, disbalancing of soil components, altering soil structure and composition. Wild boar hunting has failed as a control measure to date, according to the Brazilian Ministry of Environment, due to private hunting groups mostly targeting males, intentionally leaving females and piglets alive, disseminating wild boar populations nationwide. Meanwhile, non-government animal welfare organizations have pointed to animal cruelty of hunting dogs and wild boars (and native species) during hunting. Despite unanimous necessity of wild boar control, eradication and prevention, methods have been controversial and should focus on effective governmental measures instead occasional game hunting, which has negatively impacted native wildlife species while wild boars have continuously spread throughout Brazil.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Louise Bach Kmetiuk
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Paraná (UFPR), Curitiba, PR 80035-050, Brazil
| | - Leandro Menegueli Biondo
- National Institute of the Atlantic Forest (INMA), Brazilian Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation, Santa Teresa, Espirito Santo, Brazil
| | - Felipe Pedrosa
- Mão na Mata – Environmental Management and Solutions, São Paulo, SP 05350-000, Brazil
| | - Giovani Marino Favero
- Department of General Biology, State University of Ponta Grossa, General Carlos Cavalcanti, 4748, Ponta Grossa, PR 84030-900, Brazil
| | - Alexander Welker Biondo
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Paraná (UFPR), Curitiba, PR 80035-050, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Pires MM, Galetti M. Beyond the “empty forest”: The defaunation syndromes of Neotropical forests in the Anthropocene. Glob Ecol Conserv 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2022.e02362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
|
4
|
Galetti M, Carmignotto AP, Percequillo AR, Santos MCDO, Ferraz KMPMDB, Lima F, Vancine MH, Muylaert RL, Bonfim FCG, Magioli M, Abra FD, Chiarello AG, Duarte JMB, Morato R, de Mello Beisiegel B, Olmos F, Galetti Jr. PM, Ribeiro MC. Mammals in São Paulo State: diversity, distribution, ecology, and conservation. BIOTA NEOTROPICA 2022. [DOI: 10.1590/1676-0611-bn-2022-1363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Abstract Mammals are charismatic organisms that play a fundamental role in ecological functions and ecosystem services, such as pollination, seed dispersal, nutrient cycling, and pest control. The state of São Paulo represents only 3% of the Brazilian territory but holds 33% of its mammalian diversity. Most of its territory is dominated by agriculture, pastures, and urban areas which directly affect the diversity and persistence of mammals in the landscape. In addition, São Paulo has the largest port in Latin America and the largest offshore oil reservoir in Brazil, with a 600 km stretch of coastline with several marine mammal species. These human-made infrastructures affect the diversity, distribution, ecology, and the future of mammals in the state. Here, we answer five main questions: 1) What is the diversity of wild mammals in São Paulo state? 2) Where are they? 3) What is their positive and negative impact on human well-being? 4) How do mammals thrive in human-modified landscapes? 5) What is the future of mammals in the state? The state of São Paulo holds 255 species of native mammals, with four endemic species, two of them globally endangered. At least six species (two marsupials, Giant otter, Pampas deer, Brazilian dwarf brocket deer, and Giant armadillo) were extirpated from the state due to hunting and habitat loss. The intense human land use in the state forced many mammalian species to change their diet to cope with the intense fragmentation and agriculture. Large-scale monoculture has facilitated the invasion of exotic species such as wild boars (javali) and the European hare. Several “savanna-dwelling” species are expanding their ranges (Maned wolf, Brocket deer) over deforested areas and probably reflect changes towards a drier climate. Because the state has the largest road system, about 40,000 mammals from 33 species are killed per year in collisions causing an economic loss of 12 million dollars/year. The diversity of mammals is concentrated in the largest forest remnants of Serra do Mar and in the interior of the State, mainly in the regions of Ribeirão Preto and Jundiaí. Sampling gaps are concentrated throughout the interior of the state, particularly in the northwest region. Wild mammals play a fundamental role in many ecosystem services, but they can also be a concern in bringing new emergent diseases to humans. Although the taxonomy of mammals seems to be well known, we show that new species are continuously being discovered in the state. Therefore, continuous surveys using traditional and new technologies (eDNA, iDNA, drones), long-term population monitoring, investigation of the interface of human-wildlife conflict, and understanding of the unique ecosystem role played by mammals are future avenues for promoting sustainable green landscapes allied to human well-being in the state. The planting of forest or savanna corridors, particularly along with major river systems, in the plateau, controlling illegal hunting in the coastal areas, managing fire regimes in the Cerrado, and mitigating roadkill must be prioritized to protect this outstanding mammal diversity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Marcelo Magioli
- Instituto Pró-Carnivoros, Brasil; Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade, Brasil
| | - Fernanda D. Abra
- Instituto Pró-Carnivoros, Brasil; Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, USA
| | | | | | - Ronaldo Morato
- Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade, Brasil
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|