Background Anthropogenic disturbances are the main threats to nonhuman primates conservation, and infectious diseases may also play a key role in primate population decline. This study aimed to determine the main causes of death in neotropical primates. Methods A retrospective study of post‐mortem examinations was conducted on 146 neotropical primates between January 2000 and December 2018. Results Conclusive diagnoses were obtained in 68.5% of the cases, of which 59 corresponded to non‐infectious causes and 41 to infectious diseases. Trauma was the main cause of death (54/100), with anthropogenic stressors caused by blunt force trauma injuries (collision with vehicles) and puncture wound injuries associated with interspecific aggression (dog predation) were the most common factors. Other causes of death included bacterial diseases (27%), followed by parasitic diseases (12%), neoplasms (2%), and viral diseases (2%). Conclusions Free‐ranging primates were mostly affected by non‐infectious causes, while captive primates were by infectious conditions.
Mosquito borne flaviviruses cause a series of important diseases in humans and animals. These viruses are maintained in cycles involving replication in mosquito and in vertebrate hosts. Most natural hosts are vertebrate animals living in sylvatic or peridomestic environments. Human contact with these environments may result in host shifts that lead to the establishment of urban transmission cycles. Zika virus is a Flavivirus that persists in nature in a transmission cycle involving non-human primates (NHP). Its recent emergence in Brazil has shed light upon the importance of surveying this agent in Brazilian sylvatic environments. Here we present histopathological and molecular evidence that free ranging howler monkeys (Alouatta guariba) in Southern Brazil are infected by ZIKV closely related to African lineage MR766. Nine NHP were nested RT-PCR positive for ZIKV RNA. Sequence analysis revealed 96 to 98% identity to ZIKV MR766 and 85% identity to ZIKV P6-740, the current epidemic strain. The affected howler monkeys presented discrete inflammatory infiltrates in several tissues and immunohistochemichal (IHC) labeling of viral antigen was observed in placenta. These findings point to the circulation of African lineage Zika virus in the Americas in non-human primates. And raises the possibility that ZIKV was introduced into the Americas on more than one occasion. 1
Tuberculosis is a common zooanthroponosis in humans with a high incidence in Brazil, but it may also affect non-human primates (NHPs), of which Old World primates are most commonly involved. Nonetheless, its occurrence in New World primates is unknown, and therefore, this study aimed to describe the infection by Mycobacterium tuberculosis variant tuberculosis in two captive black capuchin monkeys (Sapajus nigritus) in Southern Brazil. The primates were housed in the same enclosure, wherein close contact with humans frequently occurred, and presented apathy, anorexia, and death in a clinical course of 15 days to 2 months. At the necropsy, the tracheobronchial lymph nodes were markedly enlarged and firm to hard and on the cut surface had a caseous aspect. The lungs exhibited two injury patterns: multifocal and disseminated. Microscopically, the lungs exhibited multifocal to coalescing necrotic granulomas and non-necrotic granulomas, with multiple acid-fast bacilli within the cytoplasm of epithelioid macrophages and multinucleated giant cells. Bacilli were also labeled upon immunohistochemistry (IHC) for Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Microbiological culture of lung samples from both cases yielded colonies compatible with M. tuberculosis. The isolates were identified as M. tuberculosis var. tuberculosis through polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Although tuberculosis is poorly described in New World primates, M. tuberculosis var. tuberculosis may cause a highly contagious and progressive disease with high mortality in black capuchin monkeys (S. nigritus). Keywords Mycobacterium tuberculosis. New World primates. Granulomatous pneumonia. Zooanthroponosis Tuberculosis is a commonly identified infectious disease in humans and animals caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis species, which comprises several variants, such as M. tuberculosis var. tuberculosis, M. tuberculosis var. africanum, M. tuberculosis var. bovis, M. tuberculosis var. canetti, and M. tuberculosis var. microti [1]. The condition has a high incidence in Brazil and is one of the leading causes of death in humans locally and globally [2]. Additionally, the disease is considered a zooanthroponosis, which may affect non-human primates (NHPs), in which it may result in progressive lung disease [3] mainly caused by M. tuberculosis var. tuberculosis, M. tuberculosis var. bovis, or M. tuberculosis var. africanum [4-7]. Although NHPs are considered more susceptible to tuberculosis infection among other captive animal species, this information is limited to records of tuberculosis in Old World primates [8], while the occurrence in Neotropical (New World) primates is uncommon [8]. The current study aimed to describe the epidemiological, pathological, microbiological, and molecular aspects of M. tuberculosis var.
Gastrointestinal neoplasms (GIN) are uncommon in dogs, but they mainly show malignant behavior and poor prognosis. The types of GIN in dogs and their frequency, as well as their epidemiological and histopathological characteristics were analyzed through a retrospective study of biopsies from 24.711 dogs from 2005 to 2017. Additionally, histological sections of neoplasms were subjected to immunohistochemistry (IHC) using antibodies against pancytokeratin, vimentin, smooth muscle actin, c-Kit, S-100, CD31, CD79αcy, and neuron-specific enolase. Of the total samples from dogs analyzed, 88 corresponded to GIN. Neoplasms occurred more frequently in purebred dogs (64.8%, 57/88), males (53.4%, 47/88), with a median age of 10 years. The intestine was affected by 84.1% (74/88) of the cases. Of these, the large intestine was the most affected (67.6%, 50/74). Most of the neoplasms had malignant behavior (88.6%, 78/88). Regarding the classification of neoplasms, 46.6% (41/88) of the diagnoses corresponded to epithelial, 46.6% (41/88) were mesenchymal, 5.7% (5/88) were hematopoietic, and 1.1% (1/88) was neuroendocrine. The most frequently diagnosed neoplasms were papillary adenocarcinoma (19.3%, 17/88), leiomyosarcoma (17.0%, 15/88), gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) (12.5%, 11/88), and leiomyoma (5.0%, 8/88). Adenocarcinomas were located mainly in the rectum, whereas leiomyosarcomas and GISTs developed mainly in the cecum. Epithelial neoplasms showed a greater potential for lymphatic invasion whereas mesenchymal neoplasms appeared to be more expansive with intratumoral necrosis and hemorrhage. Immunohistochemistry was found to be an important diagnostic technique for the identification of infiltrating cells in carcinomas and an indispensable technique for the definitive diagnosis of sarcomas.
Background: Cryptococcosis is a serious fungal infection contracted by humans and animals, and the most common systemic mycosis found in cats. This disease is often contracted through inhalation of fungal propagules. The Central Nervous System (CNS) may be infected through local extension (nasal and frontal sinuses) or via hematogenous route. Similarly to CNS bacterial infection, the clinical signs of neurological dysfunction may be attributed to mass effect (gelatinous mass of fungal microorganisms and fungal granuloma formation) or to a more disseminated inflammatory response to invading microorganisms. The objective of this study is to report one case of a patient with cryptococcal granulomas in the central nervous system and one case of a patient with neurological signs associated to cryptococcosis.Cases: A 3-year-old male mixed breed feline was admitted Veterinary Clinic, located in Porto Alegre, RS, Southern Brazil. The patient presented unsourced behavioral changes, vestibular ataxia and dysphagia caused by inability of coordination. The following tests were performed: complete blood count test, biochemical analysis, computed tomography scan (CT scan), fluid analysis, radiography and toxoplasmosis test. The following medicine were administrated for treatment: fluconazole, dexamethasone, mannitol, phenobarbital and levetiracetam. Fluid therapy was also part of the treatment. Immediately after death, the cat was submitted for necropsy, and a fungal granulomatous meningoencephalomyelitis was diagnosed. Cryptococcus sp. was identified as the causal agent through pathological findings, fungal culture and PCR analysis. One year later, another feline was admitted to the same clinic (a 2-year-old female mixed breed) presenting hypersalivation, tremors and excessive vocalization. The patient had contact with the deceased feline. The following tests were performed: complete blood count test, biochemical analysis, computed tomography scan (CT scan), cerebrospinal fluid analysis, and radiography. The following medicine were administrated for treatment: fluconazole, prednisolone, phenobarbital, potassium citrate and cefalotine. This patient is frequently monitored by a veterinarian and presents adequate health conditions after the occurrence. Cryptococcus sp. was identified as the causal agent through fungal culture and cytology (cerebrospinal fluid).Discussion: Cats are the most frequently infected animals with the involvement of the upper and or lower respiratory tract, subcutaneous granuloma, and disseminated infections. These animals present a higher quality of life when the disease is diagnosed and treated early. Peripheral enhancement of intracranial cryptococcal granulomas has been demonstrated in felines. These fungal granulomas often present evidence of significant perilesional edema. The most substantial evidence for diagnosis of cryptococcosis is the identification of the microorganism in Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples. The mechanism of the lesion is cellular death, probably caused by secondary atrophy from distortion and tissue compression due to the expansion of Cryptococcus cysts in the cerebral parenchyma. There are several reports of long-lasting remission or cure of CNS cryptococcosis treated with medicine combinations, including flucytosine and/or triazole antifungal agents (itraconazole and fluconazole.) The isolated use of flucytosine may contribute to development of drug resistance. One controversial alternative that may be beneficial to the patient is the administration of low prednisolone doses to counter perilesional edema in the initial stages of treatment. The utilization of glucocorticoids after diagnosis was associated to higher survival rates in animals.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
334 Leonard St
Brooklyn, NY 11211
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.