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Rodrigues TF, Mantellatto AMB, Superina M, Chiarello AG. Ecosystem services provided by armadillos. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2020; 95:1-21. [PMID: 31448491 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2019] [Revised: 08/06/2019] [Accepted: 08/09/2019] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Awareness of the natural ecological processes provided by organisms that benefit human well-being has significantly progressed towards the goal of making conservation a mainstream value. Identifying different services and the species that provide them is a vital first step for the management and maintenance of these so-called ecosystem services. Herein, we specifically address the armadillos, which play key functional roles in terrestrial ecosystems, including as ecosystem engineers, predators, and vectors of invertebrates and nutrients, although these roles have often been overlooked. Armadillos can control pests, disperse seeds, and be effective sentinels of potential disease outbreaks or bioindicators of environmental contaminants. They also supply important material (meat, medicines) and non-material (learning, inspiration) contributions all over the Americas. We identify key gaps in the understanding of ecosystem services provided by armadillos and areas for future research required to clarify their functional role in terrestrial ecosystems and the services they supply. Such information will produce powerful arguments for armadillo conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thiago F Rodrigues
- Applied Ecology Program, Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, 13418-900, SP, Brazil
| | - Aline M B Mantellatto
- Universidade Federal do Sul da Bahia, Campus Sosígenes Costa, Porto Seguro, 45810-000, BA, Brazil
| | - Mariella Superina
- Laboratorio de Medicina y Endocrinología de la Fauna Silvestre, IMBECU - CCT CONICET Mendoza, Mendoza, 5500, Argentina
| | - Adriano G Chiarello
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Philosophy, Sciences and Letters at Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, 14040-901, SP, Brazil
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Souto WMS, Barboza RRD, Fernandes-Ferreira H, Júnior AJCM, Monteiro JM, Abi-chacra ÉDA, Alves RRN. Zootherapeutic uses of wildmeat and associated products in the semiarid region of Brazil: general aspects and challenges for conservation. JOURNAL OF ETHNOBIOLOGY AND ETHNOMEDICINE 2018; 14:60. [PMID: 30223856 PMCID: PMC6142313 DOI: 10.1186/s13002-018-0259-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2018] [Accepted: 09/06/2018] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hunting wildlife for medicinal purposes is a widespread practice throughout Brazil; however, studies about the animals used for zootherapeutic practices have been performed almost exclusively with traders (herbalists) and end consumers, and not hunters. This makes it difficult to completely understand the market chain, trade strategies, and drivers of this practice. The present study investigated the species hunted or trapped for traditional medicinal uses by collecting data about the use and trade of the zootheurapeutic species. METHODS We collected data through semi-structured questionnaires complemented by free interviews and informal conversations with hunters in five municipalities of semiarid region of the NE Brazil. We calculated the Use-Value (UV) index to determine the relative importance of each species reported by interviewees. The Multiple Linear Regression model was used to assess the influence of socioeconomic factors (age, schooling, residence zone, trade of zootherapeutic species) on species richness exploited by hunters. RESULTS Hunters reported a significant richness of species (n = 39) intentionally or opportunistically captured for use as remedies for treatment of 92 diseases or conditions in humans or livestock. Respondents also reported trade strategies that were well-organized and quickly directed the selling of wild animals or byproducts via modern technology. We found a weak positive relationship only between species richness and hunters' age via MLR model. CONCLUSIONS The hunting and use of wild species for medicinal purposes are culturally disseminated activities among hunters. Our results demonstrate the importance of studying hunters in order to understanding the dynamics of bushmeat exploitation and to develop more efficient strategies for wildlife use and conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wedson Medeiros Silva Souto
- Department of Biology, Laboratory of Zoology, Wildlife Use and Conservation (ZUCON), Federal University of Piaui (UFPI), Campus Ministro Petrônio Portella, Teresina, Piaui Zip code/CEP 64049-550 Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas (Zoologia), Departamento de Sistemática e Ecologia, Federal University of Paraiba (UFPB), João Pessoa, Paraiba CEP 58059-970 Brazil
| | - Raynner Rilke Duarte Barboza
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas (Zoologia), Departamento de Sistemática e Ecologia, Federal University of Paraiba (UFPB), João Pessoa, Paraiba CEP 58059-970 Brazil
- Department of Biology, State University of Paraiba (UEPB), Av. Baraúnas n. 351, Campina Grande, Paraiba CEP 58109-753 Brazil
| | - Hugo Fernandes-Ferreira
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas (Zoologia), Departamento de Sistemática e Ecologia, Federal University of Paraiba (UFPB), João Pessoa, Paraiba CEP 58059-970 Brazil
- State University of Ceara (UECE), Faculdade de Educação, Ciências e Letras do Sertão Central, Quixadá, Ceará CEP 63900-000 Brazil
| | | | - Julio Marcelino Monteiro
- Biological Sciences Course, UFPI, Campus Amílcar Ferreira Sobral (CAFS), Floriano, Piaui CEP 64800-000 Brazil
| | - Érika de Araújo Abi-chacra
- Department of Parasitology and Microbiology (DPM), Federal University of Piaui (UFPI), Campus Ministro Petrônio Portella, Teresina, Piaui Zip code/CEP 64049-550 Brazil
| | - Rômulo Romeu Nóbrega Alves
- Department of Biology, State University of Paraiba (UEPB), Av. Baraúnas n. 351, Campina Grande, Paraiba CEP 58109-753 Brazil
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Ferreira FS, Brito SV, Coutinho HDM, Souza EP, Almeida WO, Alves RRN. Vertebrates as a Bactericidal Agent. ECOHEALTH 2018; 15:619-626. [PMID: 29922961 DOI: 10.1007/s10393-018-1345-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2016] [Revised: 05/15/2018] [Accepted: 05/16/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
In Brazil, although a large number of animals are used in traditional medicine (at least 354 species), information about their biological activities is scarce. In this context, the objective of this study was to evaluate the bactericidal potential of zootherapeutic by-products from animals used in Brazilian traditional medicine and discuss the ecological and cultural consequences of such practices. The species analyzed were: Tupinambis merianae (skin), Iguana iguana (skin and body fat), Crotalus durissus (skin and body fat), Boa constrictor (skin), Euphractus sexcinctus (body fat) and Coendou prehensilis (quills). Experiments were performed with standard clinical strains of Escherichia coli (EC-ATCC10536) and Staphylococcus aureus (SA-ATCC 25923). For the microbiological assay, the zootherapeutics were evaluated using serial microdilutions. The results indicate that none of the samples possess inhibitory activity against standard bacterial strains. The in vitro ineffectiveness of the analyzed products demonstrate a necessity for new pharmacological research that encompass a large number of species of medicinal animals as well as highlight the importance of zootherapy in the context of plans for animal conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- F S Ferreira
- Universidade Federal do Vale do São Francisco, Colegiado Acadêmico de Ecologia, Senhor do Bonfim, BA, Brazil.
| | - S V Brito
- Universidade Federal do Maranhão, Centro de Ciências Agrárias e Ambientais, Chapadinha, MA, Brazil
| | - H D M Coutinho
- Departamento de Química Biológica, Universidade Regional do Cariri, Crato, CE, Brazil
| | - E P Souza
- Departamento de Morfologia, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
| | - W O Almeida
- Departamento de Química Biológica, Universidade Regional do Cariri, Crato, CE, Brazil
| | - R R N Alves
- Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Estadual da Paraíba, Campina Grande, PB, Brazil
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Yang F, Ding F, Chen H, He M, Zhu S, Ma X, Jiang L, Li H. DNA Barcoding for the Identification and Authentication of Animal Species in Traditional Medicine. EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE : ECAM 2018; 2018:5160254. [PMID: 29849709 PMCID: PMC5937547 DOI: 10.1155/2018/5160254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2017] [Accepted: 03/11/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Animal-based traditional medicine not only plays a significant role in therapeutic practices worldwide but also provides a potential compound library for drug discovery. However, persistent hunting and illegal trade markedly threaten numerous medicinal animal species, and increasing demand further provokes the emergence of various adulterants. As the conventional methods are difficult and time-consuming to detect processed products or identify animal species with similar morphology, developing novel authentication methods for animal-based traditional medicine represents an urgent need. During the last decade, DNA barcoding offers an accurate and efficient strategy that can identify existing species and discover unknown species via analysis of sequence variation in a standardized region of DNA. Recent studies have shown that DNA barcoding as well as minibarcoding and metabarcoding is capable of identifying animal species and discriminating the authentics from the adulterants in various types of traditional medicines, including raw materials, processed products, and complex preparations. These techniques can also be used to detect the unlabelled and threatened animal species in traditional medicine. Here, we review the recent progress of DNA barcoding for the identification and authentication of animal species used in traditional medicine, which provides a reference for quality control and trade supervision of animal-based traditional medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fan Yang
- Institute of Forensic Science, Ministry of Public Security, Beijing 100038, China
- Beijing Engineering Research Center of Crime Scene Evidence Examination, Institute of Forensic Science, Beijing 100038, China
| | - Fei Ding
- Center for Bioresources & Drug Discovery and School of Biosciences & Biopharmaceutics, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, China
| | - Hong Chen
- Center for Bioresources & Drug Discovery and School of Biosciences & Biopharmaceutics, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, China
| | - Mingqi He
- Center for Bioresources & Drug Discovery and School of Biosciences & Biopharmaceutics, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, China
| | - Shixin Zhu
- Center for Bioresources & Drug Discovery and School of Biosciences & Biopharmaceutics, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, China
| | - Xin Ma
- Institute of Forensic Science, Ministry of Public Security, Beijing 100038, China
- Beijing Engineering Research Center of Crime Scene Evidence Examination, Institute of Forensic Science, Beijing 100038, China
| | - Li Jiang
- Institute of Forensic Science, Ministry of Public Security, Beijing 100038, China
- Beijing Engineering Research Center of Crime Scene Evidence Examination, Institute of Forensic Science, Beijing 100038, China
| | - Haifeng Li
- Center for Bioresources & Drug Discovery and School of Biosciences & Biopharmaceutics, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, China
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Abstract
Human health and animal health are closely intertwined. We share hundreds of diseases with animals, and they are vectors for many diseases that assail humans—but, at the same time, they are essential to many treatments and cures. We discuss in this chapter various aspects of intimate relationship between human and animal health, giving examples of the importance of multidisciplinary studies in understanding these connections and the fundamental aspects of strategies for promoting the health and well-being of both groups.
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Topical Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Oil from Tropidurus hispidus (Spix, 1825). EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE 2015; 2015:140247. [PMID: 26664448 PMCID: PMC4667054 DOI: 10.1155/2015/140247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2015] [Revised: 09/23/2015] [Accepted: 10/28/2015] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Tropidurus hispidus has been used in traditional medicine in several regions of Northeastern Region of Brazil. Its medicinal use involves the treatment of diseases such as warts, sore throat, tonsillitis, chicken pox, varicella, measles, asthma, alcoholism, and dermatomycosis. The present study evaluated the topical anti-inflammatory activity of Tropidurus hispidus fat in treating ear edema in an animal model. Oil from T. hispidus (OTH) was evaluated on its effect against experimental inflammation in mice. OTH was extracted from body fat located in the ventral region of Tropidurus hispidus using hexane as a solvent. We used the model of mouse ear edema induced by phlogistic agents, croton oil (single and multiple applications), arachidonic acid, phenol, capsaicin, and histamine, applied into the right ears of animals pretreated with acetone (control), dexamethasone, or OTH. OTH inhibited the dermatitis induced by all noxious agents, except capsaicin. This effect may be related to the fatty acids present in OTH.
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