IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library |
|
||||||||||
|
||||||||||
|
|
| Reis, F.C. | |
| Trypanosomatids in wild mammals and potential insect vectors in Brasilia Zoo | |
| 2018 Full Book | |
Zoos play a key role in conservation projects. For these projects to succeed, it is necessary the genetic management of the captive populations and the translocations between institutions to avoid both endo and exogamous depressions. However, these transits of individuals can lead to a transport of pathogens between institutions and the natural environment, and the individuals involved can both carry parasites or become infected throughout the process. Among several diseases that must be considered, we can highlight those caused by trypanosomatids like _Trypanosoma cruzi_, aethiological agent of Chagas disease and Leishmania, aethiological agent of leishmaniasis. The objective of this study was to monitor the occurrence of insect vectors (triatomines and sandflies) and to investigate trypanosomatid infection in these insects and in captive wild mammals of the Brasilia Zoo, located in Distrito Federal, Brasil. A bimonthly active search for triatomines was carried out using lanterns and tweezers between 2016 and 2017. A colony with 17 adults, 2 nymphs and 32 _Panstrongylus megistus_ eggs was found in the hedgehog enclosure. Microscopy and qPCR tests confirmed T. cruzi infection in 25% of these insects. Twenty-two HP and two Shannon traps were installed to capture sandflies. After sampling effort of 7,392 hours, 17 sandflies were captured, and individuals of_ Nyssomyia whitmani_ (main vector of _L. brasiliensis_) and _Lutzomyia longipalpis_ (vector of_ L. infantum_) were found. qPCR was performed, but none were positive for Leishmania. Blood samples were collected from 74 wild mammals of six different orders from the institution. qPCR testing with use of primers TCZ4 and TCZ3 identified 50 specimens positive for_ T. cruzi_ in 24 species, possibly being the first report in_ Lagothrix cana_,_ Ateles marginatus_,_ Chiropotes satanas_,_ Speothos venaticus_, _Lontra longicaudis_, _Tremarctos ornatus_, _Leopardus tigrinus_,_ Leopardus colocolo _and _Puma yagouaroundi_. For Leishmania, qPCR with kDNA primers identified 15 positive species, being a total of 23 individuals. In total, 18 individuals were diagnosed with dual infection, being positive in both examinations. These results indicate the occurrence of vector transmission of trypanosomatids in the Bras¡lia Zoo. The new colony of triatomines detected at the site indicates that infestation of enclosures is a recurrent event and the presence of infected specimens indicates that the risk of_ T. cruzi_ transmission to captive mammals persists. The results broaden the list of primate species infected by_ T. cruzi _at the Brasilia Zoo and show other groups of infected mammals. The record of sandflies species, among them_ Lu. longipalpis_ and _Ny. whitmani_, that are the potential vectors of_ L. infantum_ and_ L. braziliensis_, and infected local mammals with Leishmania, indicate that transmission of Leishmania was autochthonous at the Brasilia Zoo. It is recommended the application of preventive measures to avoid new infections by _T. cruzi_ and Leishmania. The future translocations of wild animals of the Brasilia Zoo should consider the movement of these trypanosomatids, avoiding the introduction of the zoonoses. |
|
 |
PDF files are only accessible to Friends of the Cat Group. Joining Friends of the Cat Group gives you unlimited access and downloads in the Cat SG Library for one year, and allows you to receive our newsletter Cat News (2 regular issues per year plus special issues). More information how to join here |
(c) IUCN/SSC Cat Specialist Group ( IUCN - The World Conservation Union) |