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Emilia Patricia Medici - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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ticks and rickettsial exposure in lowland tapirs Tapirus terrestris of three brazilian biomes
Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases, 2021Co-Authors: Marcelo B. Labruna, Thiago F. Martins, Renata Carolina Fernandessantos, Igor Da Cunha Lima Acosta, Maria Carolina De Azevedo Serpa, Herbert Sousa Soares, Rodrigo Hidalgo Friciello Teixeira, Emilia Patricia MediciAbstract:This study evaluated ticks and rickettsial exposure in 220 free-ranging lowland tapirs, Tapirus terrestris, from 2006 to 2018 in selected areas of three major biomes of Brazil - Atlantic Forest, Pantanal, and Cerrado. Overall, a total of 5970 tick specimens representing the following nine species were collected from tapirs: Amblyomma brasiliense, Amblyomma coelebs, Amblyomma dubitatum, Amblyomma ovale, Amblyomma parvum, Amblyomma sculptum, Amblyomma triste, Haemaphysalis juxtakochi, and Rhipicephalus microplus. Amblyomma sculptum was the most prevalent and abundant tick species in all three biomes; however, mean intensity values for A. sculptum were significantly lower in Atlantic Forest than in the Pantanal or Cerrado, and at the same time, statistically similar among tapirs from Pantanal and Cerrado. Contrastingly, mean intensity values for A. coelebs were significantly higher in the Atlantic Forest than in the other biomes. The remaining tick species were collected in lower numbers, or were exclusive for one biome, e.g., A. brasiliense and H. juxtakochi only in the Atlantic Forest. A total of 177 blood sera (123 individuals plus 54 recaptures) were collected from tapirs and tested for the presence of reactive antibodies to six Rickettsia species by immunofluorescence assay. Overall, 69% (9/13), 49% (62/126), and 66% (25/38) tapir sera from Atlantic Forest, Pantanal and Cerrado, respectively, were seroreactive to at least one Rickettsia species, with no significant difference between the three areas. Although many tapir sera reacted simultaneously to ≥2 Rickettsia species, Rickettsia parkeri elicited highest % seroprevalence and endpoint titers, and was incriminated as the possible agent involved in a homologous reaction in tapirs from the three biomes, where A. ovale was previously found infected by R. parkeri. In fact, seroconversion to R. parkeri was demonstrated in five tapirs that were captured at least twice during the study. This study demonstrated that tapirs were found to be constantly infested by several tick species in the Atlantic Forest, Pantanal and Cerrado biomes; however, the richness of tick infestations was concordant to the tick species known to be established in each biome. Under natural conditions, lowland tapirs were shown to be exposed to tick-borne spotted fever group rickettsiae.
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rabies virus exposure in wild lowland tapirs Tapirus terrestris from three brazilian biomes
Journal of Wildlife Diseases, 2021Co-Authors: Renata Carolina Fernandessantos, Elaine Raniero Fernandes, Fernanda Guedes Luiz, Luciana Botelho Chaves, Sandriana Dos Ramos Silva, Emilia Patricia MediciAbstract:We evaluated the presence of antibodies for rabies virus in 177 serum samples from 125 wild lowland tapirs (Tapirus terrestris) from three different Brazilian biomes. The rapid fluorescent focus inhibition test was performed. No antibody titers suggesting the circulation of the rabies virus in tapir habitat were detected.
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use of unfenced highway underpasses by lowland tapirs and other medium and large mammals in central western brazil
Perspectives in Ecology and Conservation, 2020Co-Authors: Fernanda Delborgo Abra, Ariel Da Costa Canena, Guilherme S T Garbino, Emilia Patricia MediciAbstract:Abstract Wildlife road mortality is a worldwide problem. In tropical developing countries, it is urgent to implement and test mitigation measures to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions, especially because financial resources are limited and alternatives should be considered such as retrofitting of existing underpasses. We assessed herein the use of 12 unfenced crossing structures, including drainage culverts and cattle boxes, by medium and large mammals along a highway in the Brazilian Cerrado. Underpass usage was monitored for 3682 trapping nights from September 2017 to May 2018. We recorded 20 species of medium and large wild mammals in a total of 4212 events. The most frequent mammals were lowland tapirs (Tapirus terrestris, n = 1154), followed by capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris, n = 910), and crab-eating foxes (Cerdocyon thous, n = 271). Underpass usage did not differ between drainage culverts and cattle boxes, but species composition differed among the structures, suggesting that terrestrial mammals prefer cattle boxes while some semiaquatic species used only culverts. We identified 28 different individual tapirs using the underpasses and we estimated over 180 tons of tapir biomass crossing under the highway. Tapir underpass usage did not differ between cattle boxes and culverts, but it was negatively associated with the presence of pasture area around the structures. Our study suggests that, although underpasses show high mammal usage suggesting a satisfactory level of connectivity, combining this method with fencing would be critical to substantially decrease wildlife road mortality and increase human safety.
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health assessment of wild lowland tapirs Tapirus terrestris in the highly threatened cerrado biome brazil
Journal of Wildlife Diseases, 2020Co-Authors: Renata Carolina Fernandessantos, Emilia Patricia Medici, Caroline Testajose, Tatiane MichelettiAbstract:Over 2 yr, we assessed the health of 35 lowland tapirs (Tapirus terrestris) in the Brazilian Cerrado (CE) biome, an area that is highly affected by human activities. This involved physical examinations, hematology and blood biochemistry, urinalysis, fecal parasitologic evaluation, microbial profiling of anatomic cavities and lesions, and serologic surveys for evidence of infectious agents. Research methods closely resembled those used in previous tapir health assessments in the Atlantic Forest (AF) and Pantanal (PA) biomes, allowing for a comparison among the three populations. Although not reaching statistical significance (P>0.05), tapirs from the CE exhibited poorer body and skin condition as compared to animals from the AF and PA. Furthermore, there were higher prevalences of dental problems and traumatic lesions as compared to those from the AF and PA. Eight of the 12 hematologic parameters evaluated and 17 of the 30 biochemical parameters differed significantly (P<0.05) between the tapirs from CE and those from the AF and PA. We isolated 24 different microbiologic strains from swabs of anatomic cavities and dermal lesions, of which five taxa had not previously been found in the AF or PA. We detected serum antibodies to Leptospira interrogans, bluetongue virus, and porcine parvovirus. Overall, our results suggested that tapirs from the CE exhibited more health abnormalities than tapirs in the AF and PA, possibly due to a greater exposure to environmental disturbances in the area.
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pathological findings in lowland tapirs Tapirus terrestris killed by motor vehicle collision in the brazilian cerrado
Journal of Comparative Pathology, 2019Co-Authors: Pedro Enrique Navassuarez, Emilia Patricia Medici, Renata Carolina Fernandessantos, Josue Diazdelgado, C Testajose, R Silva, M Sansone, Jose Luiz CataodiasAbstract:The lowland tapir (Tapirus terrestris) is the largest land mammal in South America. The species faces steady population decline due to poaching, habitat loss and fragmentation, road-kill, pesticide pollution, competition with domestic livestock and fires, among other threats. The lowland tapir is currently listed as vulnerable to extinction. Little information is available about natural disease processes for the species. This study aimed to report the pathological findings recorded in a cohort of 35 lowland tapirs killed by motor vehicle collision (MVC) on highways of Mato Grosso do Sul State, Brazil, between 2015 and 2018. The main gross pathological findings were those associated with MVC, primarily involving skeletal fractures and internal multiorgan damage with extensive bleeding and/or severe central nervous system injury. The most prevalent concurrent histopathological findings, unrelated to the cause of death, were: adrenal gland degeneration, necrosis and loss of fascicular and reticular cells with replacement fibrosis and cortical atrophy (9/15; 60%); interstitial pneumonia (20/34; 59%); glossitis (9/24; 38%); pulmonary anthracosis (12/34; 35%); colitis (9/28; 32%); and cholangitis/pericholangitis (9/35; 26%). The aetiopathogeneses and clinicopathological significance of some of these findings are unclear; however, parasitic infections appear to be common. Our results highlight the importance of wildlife health information obtained through the study of carcasses of roadkills.
Nauwelaerts Sandra - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Modern Tapirs as Morphofunctional Analogues for Locomotion in Endemic Eocene European Perissodactyls
2019Co-Authors: Maclaren James, Nauwelaerts SandraAbstract:Tapirs have historically been considered as ecologically analogous to several groups of extinct perissodactyls based on dental and locomotor morphology. Here, we investigate comparative functional morphology between living tapirs and endemic Eocene European perissodactyls to ascertain whether tapirs represent viable analogues for locomotion in palaeotheres and lophiodontids. Forelimb bones from 20 species of Eocene European perissodactyls were laser scanned and compared to a forelimb dataset of extant Tapirus. Bone shape was quantified using 3D geometric morphometrics; coordinates were Procrustes aligned and compared using Principal Component Analysis and neighbor-joining trees. Functional traits included lever-arm ratios (LARs; proxy for joint angular velocity), long-bone proportions (speed proxy), and estimated body mass. Results suggest that Paralophiodon and Palaeotherium magnum resemble Neotropical tapirs in humeral morphology and LARs. Palaeotheres demonstrate extensive forelimb shape disparity. Despite previous assessments, metacarpal shape analyzes do not support a strong morphological similarity between palaeotheres and tapirs, with Tapirus pinchaque representing the closest analogue for Eocene European equoid manus morphology. Our analyses suggest lophiodontids were not capable of moving as swiftly as tapirs due to greater loading over the manus. We conclude that the variation within modern tapir forelimb morphology confounds the assignment of one living analogue within Tapirus for extinct European equoids, whereas tapirs adapted for greater loading over the manus (e.g., T. bairdii, T. indicus) represent viable locomotor analogues for lophiodontids. This study represents a valuable first step toward locomotor simulation and behavioral inference for both hippomorph and tapiromorph perissodactyls in Eocene faunal communities.Peer reviewe
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Modern Tapirs as Morphofunctional Analogues for Locomotion in Endemic Eocene European Perissodactyls
Kluwer Academic Plenum Publishers, 2019Co-Authors: Maclaren James, Nauwelaerts SandraAbstract:peer reviewedaudience: researcher, professional, studentTapirs have historically been considered as ecologically analogous to several groups of extinct perissodactyls based on dental and locomotor morphology. Here, we investigate comparative functional morphology between living tapirs and endemic Eocene European perissodactyls to ascertain whether tapirs represent viable analogues for locomotion in palaeotheres and lophiodontids. Forelimb bones from 20 species of Eocene European perissodactyls were laser scanned and compared to a forelimb dataset of extant Tapirus. Bone shape was quantified using 3D geometric morphometrics; coordinates were Procrustes aligned and compared using Principal Component Analysis and neighbor-joining trees. Functional traits included lever-arm ratios (LARs; proxy for joint angular velocity), long-bone proportions (speed proxy), and estimated body mass. Results suggest that Paralophiodon and Palaeotherium magnum resemble Neotropical tapirs in humeral morphology and LARs. Palaeotheres demonstrate extensive forelimb shape disparity. Despite previous assessments, metacarpal shape analyzes do not support a strong morphological similarity between palaeotheres and tapirs, with Tapirus pinchaque representing the closest analogue for Eocene European equoid manus morphology. Our analyses suggest lophiodontids were not capable of moving as swiftly as tapirs due to greater loading over the manus. We conclude that the variation within modern tapir forelimb morphology confounds the assignment of one living analogue within Tapirus for extinct European equoids, whereas tapirs adapted for greater loading over the manus (e.g., T. bairdii, T. indicus) represent viable locomotor analogues for lophiodontids. This study represents a valuable first step toward locomotor simulation and behavioral inference for both hippomorph and tapiromorph perissodactyls in Eocene faunal communities
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A morphometric analysis of the forelimb in the genus Tapirus (Perissodactyla: Tapiridae) reveals influences of habitat, phylogeny and size through time and across geographical space
'Oxford University Press (OUP)', 2018Co-Authors: Maclaren James, Hulbert Jr. Richard, Wallace Steven, Nauwelaerts SandraAbstract:peer reviewedaudience: researcher, professional, student, popularizationThe limb skeleton of tapirs (Perissodactyla: Tapirus spp.) was traditionally thought to exhibit morphological variation only as a result of changes in body size. Here, we test whether forelimb variation exhibited by Tapirus is solely an artefact of size fluctuations through the tapir fossil record or whether it is influenced by habitat differences. We investigated the forelimb osteology of 12 species of Tapirus using three-dimensional geometric morphometrics on laser surface scans. Aligned shape coordinates were regressed against intrinsic bone size to account for allometry. Taxa of equivalent body mass exhibited significant differences in size-corrected bone shape. Stable carbon isotope values were averaged per species as a proxy for habitat density. Multivariate regressions of the humerus, pisiform, cuneiform, unciform, third and fourth metacarpals revealed no significant influence of size on shape. The lateral car-pals (pisiform, cuneiform, unciform) demonstrated variation across the habitat density gradient. Observed variation is likely driven by species in the extinct subgenus HelicoTapirus tapirs, which inhabited drier, more open woodland than modern taxa. We conclude that tapir forelimb variation is not exclusively an artefact of body size, with lateral wrist bones displaying notable differences across a habitat density gradient, beyond that resulting from size and phylogenetic effects
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A morphometric analysis of the forelimb in the genus Tapirus (Perissodactyla: Tapiridae) reveals influences of habitat, phylogeny and size through time and across geographical space
2018Co-Authors: Maclaren James, Hulbert Jr. Richard, Wallace Steven, Nauwelaerts SandraAbstract:The limb skeleton of tapirs (Perissodactyla: Tapirus spp.) was traditionally thought to exhibit morphological variation only as a result of changes in body size. Here, we test whether forelimb variation exhibited by Tapirus is solely an artefact of size fluctuations through the tapir fossil record or whether it is influenced by habitat differences. We investigated the forelimb osteology of 12 species of Tapirus using three-dimensional geometric morphometrics on laser surface scans. Aligned shape coordinates were regressed against intrinsic bone size to account for allometry. Taxa of equivalent body mass exhibited significant differences in size-corrected bone shape. Stable carbon isotope values were averaged per species as a proxy for habitat density. Multivariate regressions of the humerus, pisiform, cuneiform, unciform, third and fourth metacarpals revealed no significant influence of size on shape. The lateral car-pals (pisiform, cuneiform, unciform) demonstrated variation across the habitat density gradient. Observed variation is likely driven by species in the extinct subgenus HelicoTapirus tapirs, which inhabited drier, more open woodland than modern taxa. We conclude that tapir forelimb variation is not exclusively an artefact of body size, with lateral wrist bones displaying notable differences across a habitat density gradient, beyond that resulting from size and phylogenetic effects.Peer reviewe
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Interspecific variation in the tetradactyl manus of modern tapirs (Perissodactyla: Tapirus) exposed using geometric morphometrics
2017Co-Authors: Maclaren James, Nauwelaerts SandraAbstract:The distal forelimb (autopodium) of quadrupedal mammals is a key morphological unit involved in locomotion, body support, and interaction with the substrate. The manus of the tapir (Perissodactyla: Tapirus) is unique within modern perissodactyls, as it retains the plesiomorphic tetradactyl (four-toed) condition also exhibited by basal equids and rhinoceroses. Tapirs are known to exhibit anatomical mesaxonic symmetry in the manus, although interspecific differences and biomechanical mesaxony have yet to be rigorously tested. Here, we investigate variation in the manus morphology of four modern tapir species (Tapirus indicus, Tapirus bairdii, Tapirus pinchaque, and Tapirus terrestris) using a geometric morphometric approach. Autopodial bones were laser scanned to capture surface shape and morphology was quantified using 3D-landmark analysis. Landmarks were aligned using Generalised Procrustes Analysis, with discriminant function and partial least square analyses performed on aligned coordinate data to identify features that significantly separate tapir species. Overall, our results support the previously held hypothesis that T. indicus is morphologically separate from neotropical tapirs; however, previous conclusions regarding function from morphological differences are shown to require reassessment. We find evidence indicating that T. bairdii exhibits reduced reliance on the lateral fifth digit compared to other tapirs. Morphometric assessment of the metacarpophalangeal joint and the morphology of the distal facets of the lunate lend evidence toward high loading on the lateral digits of both the large T. indicus (large body mass) and the small, long limbed T. pinchaque (ground impact). Our results support other recent studies on T. pinchaque, suggesting subtle but important adaptations to a compliant but inclined habitat. In conclusion, we demonstrate further evidence that the modern tapir forelimb is a variable locomotor unit with a range of interspecific features tailored to habitual and biomechanical needs of each species.Peer reviewe
Marcus Clauss - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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chewing dental morphology and wear in tapirs Tapirus spp and a comparison of free ranging and captive specimens
PLOS ONE, 2020Co-Authors: Clemens J M Hohl, Dennis W H Muller, Jeanmichel Hatt, Daryl Codron, Thomas M Kaiser, Louise F Martin, Marcus ClaussAbstract:Feeding practice in herbivorous mammals can impact their dental wear, due to excessive or irregular abrasion. Previous studies indicated that browsing species display more wear when kept in zoos compared to natural habitats. Comparable analyses in tapirs do not exist, as their dental anatomy and chewing kinematics are assumed to prevent the use of macroscopic wear proxies such as mesowear. We aimed at describing tapir chewing, dental anatomy and wear, to develop a system allowing comparison of free-ranging and captive specimens even in the absence of known age. Video analyses suggest that in contrast to other perissodactyls, tapirs have an orthal (and no lateral) chewing movement. Analysing cheek teeth from 74 museum specimens, we quantified dental anatomy, determined the sequence of dental wear along the tooth row, and established several morphometric measures of wear. In doing so, we showcase that tapir maxillary teeth distinctively change their morphology during wear, developing a height differential between less worn buccal and more worn lingual cusps, and that quantitative wear corresponds to the eruption sequence. We demonstrate that mesowear scoring shows a stable signal during initial wear stages but results in a rather high mesowear score compared to other browsing herbivores. Zoo specimens had lesser or equal mesowear scores as specimens from the wild; additionally, for the same level of third molar wear, premolars and other molars of zoo specimens showed similar or less wear compared specimens from the wild. While this might be due to the traditional use of non-roughage diet items in zoo tapirs, these results indicate that in contrast to the situation in other browsers, excessive tooth wear appears to be no relevant concern in ex situ tapir management.
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the macroscopic intestinal anatomy of a lowland tapir Tapirus terrestris
European Journal of Wildlife Research, 2015Co-Authors: Katharina B Hagen, Dennis W H Muller, Gudrun Wibbelt, Andreas Ochs, Jeanmichel Hatt, Marcus ClaussAbstract:Tapirs are the only group among the perissodactyls for which no recent description of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) exists. Historical depictions of the GIT of tapirs suggest a similarity to the GIT of equids, but do not resolve the question whether the isthmus at the caeco-colical junction, and at the transition from the proximal colon to the colon transversum—both evident in horses—occur in tapirs as well. Here, we describe the macroscopic anatomy of the GIT of a captive, adult lowland tapir (Tapirus terrestris). While similar to equids in terms of the overall design and, in particular, the two mentioned isthmuses, the proximal colon of the tapir appeared less pronounced than in other perissodactyls, resulting in a GIT in which the caecum appeared as the most voluminous fermentation chamber. This finding is supported by the particular location of the ileo-caecal junction, which does not visibly separate the caecum from the colon, or the caecum head from the caecum body, but enters the caecum body in its upper third.
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retention of fluid and particles in captive tapirs Tapirus sp
Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology A-molecular & Integrative Physiology, 2010Co-Authors: Marcus Clauss, S Langdeuerling, Ellen Kienzle, Dennis W H Muller, Patrick Steuer, Jurgen HummelAbstract:The retention of ingesta in the digestive tract is a major characteristic of herbivorous animals. We measured particle and fluid mean retention times (MRT) in 13 lowland tapirs (Tapirus terrestris) and 5 Malayan tapirs (Tapirus indicus) from five zoological institutions on their usual zoo diet and 2 lowland and 4 Malayan tapirs additionally on roughage-only diets (total n of trials = 24) with cobalt-EDTA as fluid and chromium-mordanted fibre (<2mm) as particle markers. MRT for fluid and particles averaged 42 ± 16 h and 55 ± 18 h in lowland and 40 ± 13 h and 56 ± 14 h in Malayan tapirs. In a General Linerar Model, neither Tapir species, body mass nor diet (characteriszed by the proportion of roughage) was significantly related to MRT, but dry matter intake was, with a steep decline in MRT with higher intake levels. Compared to other hindgut fermenters, tapirs have a low defecation frequency, which might be linked to their comparatively low food intake. Their gastrointestinal capacity (in dry matter: 1.63 ± 0.63 % of body mass) is similar to that calculated for horses. A comparison of the difference in fluid and particle MRT in large hindgut fermenters (horses, rhinoceroses, elephants, and the tapirs of this study) show that longer absolute particle MRT are linked to shorter relative fluid MRT, possibly indicating a more thorough ‘washing’ of particulate ingesta with digestive fluids at longer particle MRT. The only outlier to this general pattern, with an exceptionally high difference between fluid and particle MRT, indicating a particularly efficient ingesta washing, is the white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum). If possible, results of this study should be compared to findings in tapirs on natural diets.
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mineral absorption in tapirs Tapirus spp as compared to the domestic horse
Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition, 2009Co-Authors: Marcus Clauss, S Langdeuerling, E P Medici, Ellen Kienzle, Jurgen HummelAbstract:Summary To test whether mineral recommendations for horses are likely to guarantee adequate mineral provision for tapirs (Tapirus spp.), we investigated the apparent absorption (aA) of macro and micro-minerals in 18 tapirs from five zoological institutions in a total of 24 feeding trials with total faecal collection. Samples of feeds and faeces were analysed for Ca, P, Mg, Na, K, Fe, Cu and Zn. The resulting aA coefficients and the linear relationships of apparently absorbable dietary mineral content to total dietary mineral content (per 100 g dry matter) were compared with data for domestic horses. While there were no apparent differences in the absorption patterns for P, K, Na, Fe, Cu or Zn, the absorption of both Ca and Mg was distinctively higher in tapirs than in horses. Tapirs are browsers that are adapted to a diet of higher Ca content and higher Ca:P ratio than equids, and high absorptive efficiency for Ca might have evolved to ensure that high dietary Ca concentrations do not lead to the binding of dietary P in the intestine, making it unavailable for hindgut microbes. Similar to other hindgut fermenters, in tapirs, absorption coefficients for Ca increased with dietary Ca:P ratio, and urinary Ca:creatinine ratios increased with dietary Ca. Several zoo diets used were deficient in one or more minerals. When compared with faeces of free-ranging animals, faeces of zoo animals had higher concentrations of most minerals, probably indicating a lesser diluting effect of indigestible fibre in zoo animals.
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diet composition food intake body condition and fecal consistency in captive tapirs Tapirus spp in uk collections
Zoo Biology, 2009Co-Authors: Marcus Clauss, Tamsin Wilkins, Andy Hartley, Jeanmichel HattAbstract:Intake measurements were carried out in 22 tapirs from seven UK zoological collections. Dry matter intake (DMI) ranged from 48 to 86 g/kg(0.75)/d. Across collections, the highest proportion of the ingested diet consisted of pelleted feeds (including grains and bread) at 46+/-17% DMI, followed by commercial produce at 26+/-12% DMI, roughage (excluding browse) at 17+/-11% DMI, and browse at 11+/-11% DMI. The proportion of roughage, crude protein, crude fiber, and neutral detergent fiber levels in the diets investigated were well below levels recommended for domestic horses and other ungulates. Intakes of digestible energy (DE) as estimated from food nutrients using of a standard equation for domestic horses ranged from 0.58 to 0.88 MJ/DE/kg(0.75)/d, with many individuals exceeding the assumed maintenance requirement of 0.6 MJ/DE/kg(0.75)/d for hindgut fermenters. At values exceeding this DE intake, animals had higher than ideal body condition scores (BCS). Animals with higher BCS (i.e. more obese animals) generally had higher fecal scores (FS) (i.e. softer feces), and both BCS and FS were positively correlated to DMI and calculated DE intake. This suggests that the population studied was generally overfed, with resulting obesity and softer fecal consistency. The use of highly digestible feeds such as commercial produce and pelleted feeds should be restricted in the diets of these animals and roughage intake promoted in order to attempt to achieve normal BCS and FS in this captive population.
Renata Carolina Fernandessantos - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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ticks and rickettsial exposure in lowland tapirs Tapirus terrestris of three brazilian biomes
Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases, 2021Co-Authors: Marcelo B. Labruna, Thiago F. Martins, Renata Carolina Fernandessantos, Igor Da Cunha Lima Acosta, Maria Carolina De Azevedo Serpa, Herbert Sousa Soares, Rodrigo Hidalgo Friciello Teixeira, Emilia Patricia MediciAbstract:This study evaluated ticks and rickettsial exposure in 220 free-ranging lowland tapirs, Tapirus terrestris, from 2006 to 2018 in selected areas of three major biomes of Brazil - Atlantic Forest, Pantanal, and Cerrado. Overall, a total of 5970 tick specimens representing the following nine species were collected from tapirs: Amblyomma brasiliense, Amblyomma coelebs, Amblyomma dubitatum, Amblyomma ovale, Amblyomma parvum, Amblyomma sculptum, Amblyomma triste, Haemaphysalis juxtakochi, and Rhipicephalus microplus. Amblyomma sculptum was the most prevalent and abundant tick species in all three biomes; however, mean intensity values for A. sculptum were significantly lower in Atlantic Forest than in the Pantanal or Cerrado, and at the same time, statistically similar among tapirs from Pantanal and Cerrado. Contrastingly, mean intensity values for A. coelebs were significantly higher in the Atlantic Forest than in the other biomes. The remaining tick species were collected in lower numbers, or were exclusive for one biome, e.g., A. brasiliense and H. juxtakochi only in the Atlantic Forest. A total of 177 blood sera (123 individuals plus 54 recaptures) were collected from tapirs and tested for the presence of reactive antibodies to six Rickettsia species by immunofluorescence assay. Overall, 69% (9/13), 49% (62/126), and 66% (25/38) tapir sera from Atlantic Forest, Pantanal and Cerrado, respectively, were seroreactive to at least one Rickettsia species, with no significant difference between the three areas. Although many tapir sera reacted simultaneously to ≥2 Rickettsia species, Rickettsia parkeri elicited highest % seroprevalence and endpoint titers, and was incriminated as the possible agent involved in a homologous reaction in tapirs from the three biomes, where A. ovale was previously found infected by R. parkeri. In fact, seroconversion to R. parkeri was demonstrated in five tapirs that were captured at least twice during the study. This study demonstrated that tapirs were found to be constantly infested by several tick species in the Atlantic Forest, Pantanal and Cerrado biomes; however, the richness of tick infestations was concordant to the tick species known to be established in each biome. Under natural conditions, lowland tapirs were shown to be exposed to tick-borne spotted fever group rickettsiae.
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rabies virus exposure in wild lowland tapirs Tapirus terrestris from three brazilian biomes
Journal of Wildlife Diseases, 2021Co-Authors: Renata Carolina Fernandessantos, Elaine Raniero Fernandes, Fernanda Guedes Luiz, Luciana Botelho Chaves, Sandriana Dos Ramos Silva, Emilia Patricia MediciAbstract:We evaluated the presence of antibodies for rabies virus in 177 serum samples from 125 wild lowland tapirs (Tapirus terrestris) from three different Brazilian biomes. The rapid fluorescent focus inhibition test was performed. No antibody titers suggesting the circulation of the rabies virus in tapir habitat were detected.
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health assessment of wild lowland tapirs Tapirus terrestris in the highly threatened cerrado biome brazil
Journal of Wildlife Diseases, 2020Co-Authors: Renata Carolina Fernandessantos, Emilia Patricia Medici, Caroline Testajose, Tatiane MichelettiAbstract:Over 2 yr, we assessed the health of 35 lowland tapirs (Tapirus terrestris) in the Brazilian Cerrado (CE) biome, an area that is highly affected by human activities. This involved physical examinations, hematology and blood biochemistry, urinalysis, fecal parasitologic evaluation, microbial profiling of anatomic cavities and lesions, and serologic surveys for evidence of infectious agents. Research methods closely resembled those used in previous tapir health assessments in the Atlantic Forest (AF) and Pantanal (PA) biomes, allowing for a comparison among the three populations. Although not reaching statistical significance (P>0.05), tapirs from the CE exhibited poorer body and skin condition as compared to animals from the AF and PA. Furthermore, there were higher prevalences of dental problems and traumatic lesions as compared to those from the AF and PA. Eight of the 12 hematologic parameters evaluated and 17 of the 30 biochemical parameters differed significantly (P<0.05) between the tapirs from CE and those from the AF and PA. We isolated 24 different microbiologic strains from swabs of anatomic cavities and dermal lesions, of which five taxa had not previously been found in the AF or PA. We detected serum antibodies to Leptospira interrogans, bluetongue virus, and porcine parvovirus. Overall, our results suggested that tapirs from the CE exhibited more health abnormalities than tapirs in the AF and PA, possibly due to a greater exposure to environmental disturbances in the area.
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pathological findings in lowland tapirs Tapirus terrestris killed by motor vehicle collision in the brazilian cerrado
Journal of Comparative Pathology, 2019Co-Authors: Pedro Enrique Navassuarez, Emilia Patricia Medici, Renata Carolina Fernandessantos, Josue Diazdelgado, C Testajose, R Silva, M Sansone, Jose Luiz CataodiasAbstract:The lowland tapir (Tapirus terrestris) is the largest land mammal in South America. The species faces steady population decline due to poaching, habitat loss and fragmentation, road-kill, pesticide pollution, competition with domestic livestock and fires, among other threats. The lowland tapir is currently listed as vulnerable to extinction. Little information is available about natural disease processes for the species. This study aimed to report the pathological findings recorded in a cohort of 35 lowland tapirs killed by motor vehicle collision (MVC) on highways of Mato Grosso do Sul State, Brazil, between 2015 and 2018. The main gross pathological findings were those associated with MVC, primarily involving skeletal fractures and internal multiorgan damage with extensive bleeding and/or severe central nervous system injury. The most prevalent concurrent histopathological findings, unrelated to the cause of death, were: adrenal gland degeneration, necrosis and loss of fascicular and reticular cells with replacement fibrosis and cortical atrophy (9/15; 60%); interstitial pneumonia (20/34; 59%); glossitis (9/24; 38%); pulmonary anthracosis (12/34; 35%); colitis (9/28; 32%); and cholangitis/pericholangitis (9/35; 26%). The aetiopathogeneses and clinicopathological significance of some of these findings are unclear; however, parasitic infections appear to be common. Our results highlight the importance of wildlife health information obtained through the study of carcasses of roadkills.
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health assessment of wild lowland tapir Tapirus terrestris populations in the atlantic forest and pantanal biomes brazil 1996 2012
Journal of Wildlife Diseases, 2014Co-Authors: Emo Lia Patro Cia Medici, Paulo Rogerio Mangini, Renata Carolina FernandessantosAbstract:Abstract The lowland tapir (Tapirus terrestris) is found in South America and is listed as Vulnerable to Extinction by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, Red List of Threatened Species. Health issues, particularly infectious diseases, are potential threats for the species. Health information from 65 wild tapirs from two Brazilian biomes, Atlantic Forest (AF) and Pantanal (PA), were collected during a long-term study (1996–2012). The study included physic, hematologic and biochemical evaluations, microbiologic cultures, urinalysis, and serologic analyses for antibodies against 13 infectious agents (viral and bacterial). The AF and PA tapirs were significantly different for several hematologic and biochemical parameters. Ten bacteria taxa were identified in the AF and 26 in the PA. Antibodies against five viruses were detected: Bluetongue virus, eastern equine encephalitis virus, western equine encephalitis virus, infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus, and porcine parvovirus. A high preva...
Norberto P Giannini - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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comparative cranial ontogeny of Tapirus mammalia perissodactyla tapiridae
Journal of Anatomy, 2017Co-Authors: Rocio S Moyano, Norberto P GianniniAbstract:Skull morphology in tapirs is particularly interesting due to the presence of a proboscis with important trophic, sensory and behavioral functions. Several studies have dealt with tapir skull osteology but chiefly in a comparative framework between fossil and recent species of tapirs. Only one study examined an aspect of cranial ontogeny, development of the sagittal crest (Holbrook. J Zool Soc Lond 2002; 256; 215). Our goal is to describe in detail the morphological changes that occur during the postnatal ontogeny of the skull in two representative tapir species, Tapirus terrestris and Tapirus indicus, and to explore possible functional consequences of their developmental trajectories. We compared qualitative features of the skull on a growth series of 46 specimens of T. terrestris ordered on the basis of the sequence of eruption and tooth wear, dividing the sample into three age classes: class Y (very young juvenile), class J (from young juvenile to young adult) and class A (full and old adult). The qualitative morphological analysis consisted of describing changes in the series in each skull bone and major skull structure, including the type and degree of transformation (e.g. appearance, fusion) of cranial features (e.g. processes, foramina) and articulations (sutures, synchondroses, and synovial joints). We then measured 23 cranial variables in 46 specimens of T. terrestris that included the entire ontogenetic series from newborn to old adults. We applied statistical multivariate techniques to describe allometric growth, and compared the results with the allometric trends calculated for a sample of 25 specimens of T. indicus. Results show that the skull structure was largely conserved throughout the postnatal ontogeny in T. terrestris, so class Y was remarkably similar to class A in overall shape, with the most significant changes localized in the masticatory apparatus, specifically the maxillary tuber as a support of the large-sized permanent postcanine dentition, and correlated changes in diastemata, mandibular body, and sagittal and nuchal crests. In the nasal region, ontogenetic remodeling affected the space for the meatal diverticulum and the surfaces for the origin of the proboscis musculature. Overall, ontogenetic trajectories exhibited more negative allometric components in T. indicus than in T. terrestris, and they shared 47.83% of allometric trends. Tapirus indicus differed most significantly from T. terrestris in the allometry of postcanine toothrows, diastemata and mandibular body. Thus, some allometric trends seem to be highly conserved among the species studied, and the changes observed showed a strong functional and likely adaptive basis in this lineage of ungulates.