From 2005 to 2009, 147 ticks found on 32 wild animals from or referred to two zoobotanical parks (Parque Zoobotânico Arruda Câmara and Parque Estadual Dois Irmãos) located in northeastern Brazil were identified. Ticks found on two veterinarians working in one of the parks (i.e., Parque Estadual Dois Irmãos), after return from forested areas within the park's territory, were also identified. The following tick-host associations were recorded: Amblyomma fuscum Neumann on Boa constrictor L.; Amblyomma longirostre Koch on Ramphastos vitellinus ariel Vigors and Coendou prehensilis (L.); Amblyomma varium Koch on Bradypus variegates Schinz; Amblyomma rotundatum Koch on Chelonoidis carbonaria (Spix), Chelonoidis denticulata (L.), Micrurus ibiboboca (Merrem), Python molurus bivittatus Kuhl, Iguana iguana (L.) and B. variegatus; Amblyomma nodosum Neumann on Myrmecophaga tridactyla L. and Tamandua tetradactyla (L.); and Rhipicephalus sanguineus (Latreille) on Nasua nasua (L.). The ticks found on the veterinarians were identified as nine Amblyomma larvae. The presence of Am. nodosum in Pernambuco and Am. rotundatum and Am. varium in Paraíba is recorded for the first time and the occurrence of Am. longirostre in Pernambuco is confirmed. Ramphastos vitellinus ariel is a new host record for Am. longirostre whereas M. ibiboboca and B. variegatus are new host records for Am. rotundatum. Finally, the human parasitism by Amblyomma ticks is reported for the first time in Pernambuco, highlighting the potential of tick-borne pathogen transmission in this state.

Mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue, yellow fever and, more recently, Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) and Zika virus (ZIKV) have a great impact in the public health. In addition, the presence of such viruses might have an impact on wild animal conservation as well as their possible role as animal reservoir. Here, we performed a serological survey searching for antibodies against a panel of flaviviruses [ZIKV, Dengue virus (DENV), Yellow Fever virus (YFV), West Nile virus (WNV), Saint Louis Encephalitis virus (SLEV), Ilheus virus (ILHV) and Rocio virus (ROCV)] using plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT ) in both free-ranging and captive capuchin monkeys (Sapajus flavius and Sapajus libidinosus). Captive and free-living monkeys were sampled between June 2015 and January 2016 in the state of Pernambuco, including in the border with State of Paraíba, the epicentre of the ZIKV epidemics in Brazil. We have found neutralizing antibodies for ZIKV, DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3, DENV-4, YFV, ILHV and SLEV in both S. flavius and S. libidinosus samples. No positives samples were found for ROCV and WNV. Our results suggest that these flaviviruses might be circulating in capuchin monkey in the studied region. The possible presence of these viruses represents a risk for public health, as well as for animal conservation, especially for S. flavius which is a critically endangered species, facing high risk of extinction.

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The aim of this study was to identify risk factors associated with prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in captive capuchin monkeys at a facility in the northeastern Brazil. Serum samples from 116 bearded capuchin (Sapajus libidinosus), nine blonde capuchin (Sapajus flavius), five black-capped capuchin (Sapajus apella), and four capuchin monkeys (Sapajus spp.) were tested for T. gondii antibodies using the modified agglutination test (MAT, cut-off ≥25); antibodies were found in 85.3% (99/116) of S. libidinosus, 55.6% (5/9) of S. flavius, 80.0% (4/5) of S. apella, and 75.0% (3/4) of S. spp. The risk factors associated with T. gondii seropositivity were ingestion of raw meat [OR = 4.13 (1.26; 13.50)] and old age [OR = 4.90 (1.70; 14.13)]. Results indicate a very high T. gondii seropositivity in these primate populations. To minimize exposure to T. gondii raw meat should not be fed to these animals.

Among the primates tested all C. flavius were negative and 46% C. libidinosus presented antibodies to arbovirus. Antibodies were detected for nine arbovirus (9/19). Seventeen heterotypic reactions were observed for at least two Or Flavirus and 15 for Alphavirus, at titers varying between 1:20 to 1:1280. Fifteen samples presented monotypic reaction for ILHV (n=4), MAYV (n=6), SLEV (n=1), ROCV (n=2), OROV (n=1) and MUCV (n=1). These results suggest that there was an intense arbovirus circulation in the studied population of captive capuchin monkeys.

ResumoObjetivou-se com esta pesquisa analisar as espécies de ectoparasitos em gatos domésticos da cidade de João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brasil. Um total de 432 felinos de raças e idades variadas, ambos os sexos, foram estudados. Todos os animais foram submetidos a exame físico, parasitológico, inspeção da pele e exame otoscópico. Os parasitos foram acondicionados em frascos com álcool 70% para posterior montagem e identifi cação segundo chave específi ca. Os resultados mostraram 62,7% (271/432) dos animais estavam parasitados por um ou mais espécies de parasitos. As espécies de ectoparasitos foram Ctenocephalides felis (27,3%), Lynxacarus radovskyi (26,2%), Otodectes cynotis (17,4%), Felicola subrostratus (9,7%), Notoedres cati (2,1%) e Rhipicephalus sanguineus (1,6%). Os resultados mostram que ectoparasitos são comuns e causa importante de doença de pele em gatos e variáveis como raças, idade e sexo não mostram importância no parasitismo.Unitermos: Brasil, felinos, infestação, Paraíba, parasitos AbstractEctoparasitic species from Felis catus domesticus (Linnaeus, 1758) in João Pessoa city, Paraíba state, Brazil. The goal of this research was to analyze the ectoparasitic species from domestic cats in João Pessoa city, Paraíba state, Brazil. A total of 432 cats of various breeds and ages, of both genders, were included. All animals were submitted to physical and parasitological examination through skin inspection and an otoscopic exam was realized. Parasites were collected in vials containing 70% alcohol for subsequent mounting and identifi cation according to specifi c keys. The results showed that 62.7% (271/432) of animals were parasitized by one or more species. The ectoparasitic species observed were Ctenocephalides felis (27.3%), Lynxacarus radovskyi (26.2%), Otodectes cynotis (17.4%), Felicola subrostratus (9.7%), Notoedres cati (2.1%) and Rhipicephalus sanguineus (1.6%). The results showed that ectoparasites are a common and important skin disease in cats, and variables such breed, age, and sex did not show any infl uence on parasitism.

Objetivou-se com este estudo isolar e identificar os sorovares de Salmonella spp. em Cebus spp. mantidos em cativeiro. Foram investigados 28 animais mantidos em Centros de Triagem de Animais Silvestres (CETAS) do Nordeste do Brasil. As amostras foram obtidas com auxílio de suabes introduzidos no reto dos animais, sendo posteriormente processados para o isolamento da bactéria em meios seletivos seguido da identificação dos sorovares por meio de provas bioquímicas. Das 28 amostras analisadas, cinco (17,9%) foram positivas para Salmonella spp. e os sorovares identificados foram Infantis (40%), Panama (40%) e Newport (20%). Ocorreu associação significativa (p<0,05) para as variáveis: instituição (p=0,026), armazenamento de frutas, verduras e hortaliças (p=0,026), fornecimento de carne crua (p=0,026), tipo de bebedouro (p=0,026) e higienização diária de bebedouros (p=0,026). Este estudo demonstrou que infecções por Salmonella spp. ocorrem em populações de Cebus mantidos em cativeiro e apontou para a necessidade de se realizar investigações periódicas em todo o plantel, assim como implantar medidas de controle para evitar riscos tanto à saúde dos animais como à saúde pública.