1
|
Caixeta BT, Tolesano-Pascoli GV, Mundim FL, Pascoal JDO, Rodrigues VDS, Martins MM, Ramos VDN, Torga K, Costa LF, Miranda VC, Benfatti LR, Silva LM, Limongi JE, Szabó MPJ, Yokosawa J. Survey of Rickettsia spp. in ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) infesting opossums (Didelphis albiventris) and capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) from an urban park in southeastern Brazil. EXPERIMENTAL & APPLIED ACAROLOGY 2024; 92:463-477. [PMID: 38361037 DOI: 10.1007/s10493-023-00885-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
Ticks are hematophagous arthropods and, during feeding, may transmit pathogens to vertebrate hosts, including humans. This study aimed to investigate the presence of Rickettsia spp. in ticks collected between 2010 and 2013 from free-ranging capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) and opossums (Didelphis albiventris) that inhabit Sabiá Park in Uberlândia, Brazil. Overall, 1,860 ticks were collected: 1,272 (68.4%) from capybaras (487 of the species Amblyomma sculptum, 475 adults and 12 nymphs; 778 Amblyomma dubitatum, 727 adults and 51 nymphs; and seven larva clusters of the genus Amblyomma); and 588 (31.6%) from opossums (21 A. sculptum, one adult and 20 nymphs; 79 A. dubitatum, all nymphs; 15 Ixodes loricatus, 12 adults and three nymphs; 457 Amblyomma sp. larva clusters; 15 Ixodes sp. larva clusters; and one Argasidae larva cluster). Out of 201 DNA samples tested for the presence of Rickettsia spp. DNA using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) 12 showed amplification of a gtlA gene segment that was specific to Rickettsia bellii, a bacterium non-pathogenic to humans. As there has been a report showing serological evidence of infections caused by Rickettsia species of the spotted fever group (SFG) in capybaras and opossums in the park, including Rickettsia rickettsii, the etiological agent of Brazilian spotted fever, and considering the presence of A. sculptum ticks, which are aggressive to humans, as well as these vertebrate hosts, which are amplifiers of R. rickettsii, it is important to monitor the presence of SFG rickettsiae in the Sabiá Park, which is visited daily by thousands of people.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bruno Tolentino Caixeta
- Laboratory of Microorganisms of Cerrado (Brazilian Savannah), Department of Microbiology, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, UFU, Uberlândia, Brazil.
| | | | - Flávia Lúcio Mundim
- Laboratory of Microorganisms of Cerrado (Brazilian Savannah), Department of Microbiology, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, UFU, Uberlândia, Brazil
| | - Jamile de Oliveira Pascoal
- Laboratory of Ixodology, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia (UFU), Uberlândia, Brazil
| | - Vinícius da Silva Rodrigues
- Laboratory of Ixodology, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia (UFU), Uberlândia, Brazil
| | - Maria Marlene Martins
- Laboratory of Ixodology, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia (UFU), Uberlândia, Brazil
| | - Vanessa do Nascimento Ramos
- Laboratory of Ixodology, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia (UFU), Uberlândia, Brazil
| | - Khelma Torga
- Laboratory of Ixodology, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia (UFU), Uberlândia, Brazil
| | - Lourenço Faria Costa
- Instituto Acadêmico de Ciências da Saúde e Biológicas, Universidade Estadual de Goiás, Quirinópolis, Brazil
| | - Vinícius Campos Miranda
- Laboratory of Microorganisms of Cerrado (Brazilian Savannah), Department of Microbiology, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, UFU, Uberlândia, Brazil
| | - Luisa Rodrigues Benfatti
- Laboratory of Microorganisms of Cerrado (Brazilian Savannah), Department of Microbiology, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, UFU, Uberlândia, Brazil
| | - Leticia Maria Silva
- Laboratory of Microorganisms of Cerrado (Brazilian Savannah), Department of Microbiology, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, UFU, Uberlândia, Brazil
| | | | - Matias Pablo Juan Szabó
- Laboratory of Ixodology, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia (UFU), Uberlândia, Brazil.
| | - Jonny Yokosawa
- Laboratory of Microorganisms of Cerrado (Brazilian Savannah), Department of Microbiology, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, UFU, Uberlândia, Brazil.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Benatti HR, Luz HR, Lima DM, Gonçalves VD, Costa FB, Ramos VN, Aguiar DM, Pacheco RC, Piovezan U, Szabó MPJ, Ferraz KMPMB, Labruna MB. Morphometric Patterns and Blood Biochemistry of Capybaras ( Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) from Human-Modified Landscapes and Natural Landscapes in Brazil. Vet Sci 2021; 8:vetsci8080165. [PMID: 34437487 PMCID: PMC8402786 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci8080165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Revised: 08/06/2021] [Accepted: 08/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The capybara, Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris, is the largest extant rodent of the world. To better understand the correlation between size and body mass, and biochemical parameters of capybaras from areas with different degrees of anthropization (i.e., different food supplies), we sampled free-ranging capybaras from areas of natural landscapes (NLs) and human-modified landscapes (HMLs) in Brazil. Analyses of biometrical and biochemical parameters of capybaras showed that animals from HMLs were heavier (higher body mass) than those from NL, a condition possibly related to fat deposit rather than body length, as indicated by Body Condition Index (BCI) analyses. Biochemical parameters indicated higher serum levels of albumin, creatine kinase, cholesterol, fructosamine and total protein among capybaras from HMLs than from NLs; however, when all adult capybaras were analyzed together only cholesterol and triglycerides were positively correlated with body mass. We propose that the biochemical profile differences between HMLs and NLs are related to the obesity condition of capybaras among HMLs. Considering that heavier animals might live longer and reproduce more often, our results could have important implications in the population dynamics of capybaras among HMLs, where this rodent species is frequently represented by overgrowth populations that generate several levels of conflicts with human beings.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hector R. Benatti
- Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, Av Prof. Orlando Marques de Paiva 87, Cidade Universitária, São Paulo 05508-270, SP, Brazil; (H.R.B.); (H.R.L.); (D.M.L.); (V.D.G.); (F.B.C.); (V.N.R.)
| | - Hermes R. Luz
- Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, Av Prof. Orlando Marques de Paiva 87, Cidade Universitária, São Paulo 05508-270, SP, Brazil; (H.R.B.); (H.R.L.); (D.M.L.); (V.D.G.); (F.B.C.); (V.N.R.)
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia do Renorbio, Ponto Focal Maranhão, Universidade Federal do Maranhão, São Luís 65080-805, MA, Brazil
| | - Daniel M. Lima
- Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, Av Prof. Orlando Marques de Paiva 87, Cidade Universitária, São Paulo 05508-270, SP, Brazil; (H.R.B.); (H.R.L.); (D.M.L.); (V.D.G.); (F.B.C.); (V.N.R.)
| | - Vinicius D. Gonçalves
- Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, Av Prof. Orlando Marques de Paiva 87, Cidade Universitária, São Paulo 05508-270, SP, Brazil; (H.R.B.); (H.R.L.); (D.M.L.); (V.D.G.); (F.B.C.); (V.N.R.)
| | - Francisco B. Costa
- Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, Av Prof. Orlando Marques de Paiva 87, Cidade Universitária, São Paulo 05508-270, SP, Brazil; (H.R.B.); (H.R.L.); (D.M.L.); (V.D.G.); (F.B.C.); (V.N.R.)
- Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Estadual do Maranhão, São Luís 65055-970, MA, Brazil
| | - Vanessa N. Ramos
- Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, Av Prof. Orlando Marques de Paiva 87, Cidade Universitária, São Paulo 05508-270, SP, Brazil; (H.R.B.); (H.R.L.); (D.M.L.); (V.D.G.); (F.B.C.); (V.N.R.)
- Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Uberlândia 38400-902, MG, Brazil;
| | - Daniel M. Aguiar
- Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Cuiabá 78060-900, MT, Brazil; (D.M.A.); (R.C.P.)
| | - Richard C. Pacheco
- Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Cuiabá 78060-900, MT, Brazil; (D.M.A.); (R.C.P.)
| | | | - Matias P. J. Szabó
- Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Uberlândia 38400-902, MG, Brazil;
| | - Katia Maria P. M. B. Ferraz
- Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz, Universidade de São Paulo, Piracicaba 13418-900, SP, Brazil;
| | - Marcelo B. Labruna
- Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, Av Prof. Orlando Marques de Paiva 87, Cidade Universitária, São Paulo 05508-270, SP, Brazil; (H.R.B.); (H.R.L.); (D.M.L.); (V.D.G.); (F.B.C.); (V.N.R.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +55-11-3091-1394
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Lopes B, McEvoy JF, Morato RG, Luz HR, Costa FB, Benatti HR, Dias TDC, Rocha VJ, Ramos VDN, Piovezan U, Monticelli PF, Nievas AM, Pacheco RC, Moro MEG, Brasil J, Leimgruber P, Labruna MB, Ferraz KMPMDB. Human-modified landscapes alter home range and movement patterns of capybaras. J Mammal 2021. [DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyaa144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
The expansion of human activity forces species to co-exist with people in human-modified landscapes (HMLs). However, living in HMLs demands behavioral adaptations, and the proximity between wildlife and people heightens human–wildlife conflicts. Capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) is a thriving rodent species in HMLs in Brazil and as such, is involved in human–wildlife conflicts, such as vehicle collisions and transmission of Brazilian spotted fever (BSF). Despite their public importance, the effects of HMLs on capybara movement behavior have never been investigated. Our study aimed to investigate changes in home range, ranging pattern, and activity, for capybaras in six HMLs and two natural landscapes (NLs) by monitoring capybaras with GPS collars. We found home ranges 2.43 times greater in NLs than in HMLs and differences in ranging pattern in HMLs. Capybaras tended to be more nocturnal and move shorter distances across HMLs than NLs. Our results confirm the impacts of the HMLs altering capybara movement. The aggregation of capybaras in very small home ranges might imply on greater risks of tick infestations. In addition, capybara–vehicle collision may be increased during capybaras’ nocturnal activity. Therefore, we recommend that transportation agencies avoid the construction of transportation infrastructures (roads, railways, airstrips) in capybaras’ home ranges, which should be of restricted access to people in BSF endemic areas.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Beatriz Lopes
- Departamento de Ciências Florestais, Escola Superior de Agricultura “Luiz de Queiroz”, Universidade de São Paulo, Piracicaba, SP, Brasil
| | - John F McEvoy
- Conservation Ecology Center, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Front Royal, VA, United State
| | - Ronaldo Gonçalves Morato
- Centro Nacional de Pesquisa e Conservação de Mamíferos Carnívoros, Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade, Atibaia, SP, Brasil
| | - Hermes R Luz
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Biotecnologia/Renorbio, Ponto Focal Maranhão, Universidade Federal do Maranhão, São Luís, MA, Brasil
- Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - Francisco B Costa
- Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Estadual do Maranhão, São Luís, MA, Brasil
| | - Hector Ribeiro Benatti
- Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - Thiago da Costa Dias
- Departamento de Ciências da Natureza, Matemática e educação, Centro de Ciências Agrárias, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, Araras, SP, Brasil
| | - Vlamir José Rocha
- Departamento de Ciências da Natureza, Matemática e educação, Centro de Ciências Agrárias, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, Araras, SP, Brasil
| | | | | | - Patricia Ferreira Monticelli
- Departamento de Psicologia, Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brasil
| | - Ana Maria Nievas
- Departamento de Psicologia, Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brasil
| | - Richard Campos Pacheco
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Veterinárias, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Cuiabá, MT, Brasil
| | - Maria Estela Gaglianone Moro
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Faculdade de Zootecnia e Engenharia de Alimentos, Universidade de São Paulo, Pirassununga, SP, Brasil
| | - Jardel Brasil
- Secretaria Municipal de Saúde de Americana, Prefeitura de Americana, Americana, SP, Brasil
| | - Peter Leimgruber
- Conservation Ecology Center, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Front Royal, VA, United State
| | - Marcelo B Labruna
- Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | | |
Collapse
|
4
|
Mendoza-Roldan JA, Ribeiro SR, Castilho-Onofrio V, Marcili A, Simonato BB, Latrofa MS, Benelli G, Otranto D, Barros-Battesti DM. Molecular detection of vector-borne agents in ectoparasites and reptiles from Brazil. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2020; 12:101585. [PMID: 33113476 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2020.101585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2020] [Revised: 09/22/2020] [Accepted: 09/29/2020] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Trombidiformes and Mesostigmata mites, as well as Ixodida ticks, infest ectothermic tetrapods worldwide, potentially acting as vectors of bacteria, viruses and protozoa. The relationship among ectoparasites, transmitted pathogenic agents (e.g., Borrelia spp., Coxiella spp., Hepatozoon spp., and Rickettsia spp.) and ectothermic hosts has been scarcely investigated. This research focuses on a large collection of Brazilian herpetofauna screened for the presence of arthropod ectoparasites and vector-borne microbial agents. Reptiles (n = 121) and amphibians (n = 49) from various locations were infested by ectoparasites. Following genomic extraction, microbial agents were detected in 81 % of the Acari (i.e. n = 113 mites and n = 26 ticks). None of the mites, ticks and tissues from amphibians yielded positive results for any of the screened agents. Blood was collected from reptiles and processed through blood cytology and molecular analyses (n = 48). Of those, six snakes (12.5 %) showed intraerythrocytic alterations compatible with Hepatozoon spp. gamonts and Iridovirus inclusions. Hepatozoon spp. similar to Hepatozoon ayorgbor and Hepatozoon musa were molecularly identified from seven hosts, two mite and two tick species. Rickettsia spp. (e.g., Rickettsia amblyommatis, Rickettsia bellii-like, Rickettsia sp.) were detected molecularly from four mite species and Amblyomma rotundatum ticks. Phylogenetic analyses confirmed the molecular identification of the above-mentioned microbial agents of mites and ticks related to snakes and lizards. Overall, our findings highlighted that the Brazilian herpetofauna and its ectoparasites harbour potentially pathogenic agents, particularly from the northern and south-eastern regions. The detection of several species of spotted fever group Rickettsia pointed out the potential role of ectothermic hosts and related arthropod ectoparasites in the epidemiological cycle of these bacteria in Brazil.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jairo Alfonso Mendoza-Roldan
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari, Valenzano, Bari, Italy; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, 05508-270, Brazil; Zoological Collections Laboratory, Butantan Institute, São Paulo, 05503-900, Brazil.
| | - Stephany Rocha Ribeiro
- Zoological Collections Laboratory, Butantan Institute, São Paulo, 05503-900, Brazil; Master's Program in Veterinary Medicine and Animal Welfare, and Doctoral Program in One Health, Santo Amaro University, São Paulo, 04829-300, Brazil
| | - Valeria Castilho-Onofrio
- Zoological Collections Laboratory, Butantan Institute, São Paulo, 05503-900, Brazil; Master's Program in Veterinary Medicine and Animal Welfare, and Doctoral Program in One Health, Santo Amaro University, São Paulo, 04829-300, Brazil
| | - Arlei Marcili
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, 05508-270, Brazil; Master's Program in Veterinary Medicine and Animal Welfare, and Doctoral Program in One Health, Santo Amaro University, São Paulo, 04829-300, Brazil
| | - Bruna Borghi Simonato
- Deparment of Veterinary Medicine, Anhembi Morumbi University Vila Tramontano, São Paulo, SP, 05650-000, Brazil
| | | | - Giovanni Benelli
- Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Pisa, via Del Borghetto 80, 56124, Pisa, Italy
| | - Domenico Otranto
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari, Valenzano, Bari, Italy; Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Bu-Ali Sina University, Felestin Sq., Hamedan, Iran
| | - Darci Moraes Barros-Battesti
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, 05508-270, Brazil; Department of Veterinary Pathology, Universidade Estadual Paulista Julio De Mesquita Filho (UNESP), Jaboticabal, 14884-900, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|