Enterococci are natural inhabitants of the gastrointestinal tracts in humans and animals. Epidemiological data suggest that enterococci are important reservoirs of antimicrobial resistant genes that may be transmitted from other bacterial species The aim of this study was to investigate the species composition, antimicrobial resistance and virulence genes in enterococci recovered from fecal samples of wild Arctocephalus australis and A. tropicalis found dead along the South Coast of Brazil. From a total of 43 wild fur seals, eleven were selected for this study. Phenotypic and genotypic characterizations were used to classify Enterococcus species. Strains were tested for susceptibility to 10 antibiotics, presence of ace, gelE, asa, cylA, tet(L), tet(M) and erm(B) genes by PCR, and genetic variability using RAPD-PCR. Among the 50 enterococci isolated, 40% were Enterococcus faecalis, 40% E. hirae, 12% E. casseliflavus and 8 % other enterococcal species. Resistance profiles were observed to erythromycin, nitrofurantoin, tetracycline, norfloxacin and ciprofloxacin. The prevalence of virulence genes was ace (68%), gelE (54%), asa (22%) and cylA (4%). In erythromycin- and tetracycline strains, erm(B) and tet(M) were detected, respectively. The RAPD-PCR demonstrated a close phylogenetic relationship between the enterococci isolated from A. australis and A. tropicalis. In conclusion, different enterococcus species showing antimicrobial resistance and virulence determinates were isolated from fecal samples of fur seals. Antibiotic resistant strains in these animals could be related within food chain and aquatic pollutants or linked to environmental resistome, and demonstrates the potential importance of these animals as reservoirs and disseminators of such determinants in marine environmental.
1. The common dolphins (genus Delphinus) have one of most problematic taxonomies and complex distribution patterns of all cetaceans. Although the taxonomy and the distribution seem to have been clarified somewhat in the eastern North Pacific and Indo-Pacific Oceans, many questions remain in the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean (SWA). We review the biogeography of Delphinus in the SWA. 2. We reviewed data from strandings, incidental catches and sightings since 1922. Systematic surveys were conducted in five major areas. Twenty-one natural history collections were examined, and 135 skulls were measured. 3. A total of 184 records of common dolphins were compiled. Delphinus apparently occurs in three stocks in the SWA: one located in northern Brazil and two from southeastern Brazil (~22°S) to central Argentina (~42°S). Two distinct patterns in habitat use were observed by depth: in southeastern Brazil, sightings were restricted to coastal waters with water depths ranging from 18m to 70m. On the other hand, in the area that extends from southern Brazil to Central Argentina (from 28°S to 42°S), sightings were recorded in deeper waters, ranging from 71m to 1435m, with the exception of occasional coastal sightings. The cranial analyses demonstrated that both short-beaked common dolphins Delphinus delphis and long-beaked common dolphins Dephinus capensis occur in the SWA. 4.In the SWA, Delphinus seems to occur near areas of high productivity. One stock is associated with the productive waters discharged by the Amazon River and possibily with the coastal upwelling system off the coast of Venezuela, while the other stocks are associated with the Cabo Frio upwelling system and the Subtropical Convergence. Our results indicate that the current taxonomy does not adequately reflect the amount of variation within the genus in the world.
ABSTRACT. External morphology of the immature stages of neotropical heliconians: I. Eueides isabella dianasa (Hübner, 1806). The external features of egg, larva and pupa of Eueides isabella dianasa (Hübner, 1806) (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae, Heliconiinae) are described and illustrated, based upon light and scanning electron microscopy.
The evaluation of road-kill spatial patterns is an important tool to identify the priority of locations for mitigation measures aiming to reduce wildlife mortality on roads. Single-target or multi-species approaches are usually adopted on the implementation of such measures, although their success must be assessed. We aim to test if road-kill hotspots are coincident among different vertebrate groups. If this proves to be right, data on accidents from one group could be used to plan measures applicable to other groups. We identified hotspots using five different grouping criteria: vertebrate Classes (reptiles, birds or mammals), body size (large or small), species commonness (common or rare), type of locomotion (flying or non-flying), and time of activity (nocturnal/crepuscular or diurnal). We analyzed data from road-kill surveys on four roads in southern Brazil, each with at least one year of monitoring. We performed a modified Ripley's K-statistic to recognize scales of road-kill aggregation, and we carried out a hotspot analyses to identify the location of road-kill aggregations for each group described above on each road. To test for similarity in hotspot location among different groups we performed an association test using correlation as the resemblance measure. Hotspot analyses and association tests were done using different spatial scales to evaluate the effect of scales on similarities. Correlation results between groups presented low values at small scales although they had a tendency to increase with raising scales. Our results show that road-kill hotspots are different among groups, especially when analyzed on small scales. We suggest that, for a successful biodiversity approach to mitigation, one should first select general hotspots on large scales and then identify specific hotspots on small scales to implement specific measures. These findings are relevant in a context of existing road networks, where mitigation measures are being planned to reduce impact on wildlife.
ABSTRACT. Externai rnorphology of the irnrnature stages of neotropical heliconians. IH. Heliconills erato phyllis (Fabricius) (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae, Heliconiinae). The externai features of egg. larva and pupa of Heliconius erato phyllis (Fabricius, 1775) are described and illustrated, based upon light and scanning electron microscopy. KEY WORDS. Lepidoptera, Heliconiini , Nymphalidae, immalure stages, morphology He/iconius Kluk, 1802 (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae) é um dos gêneros mais conspícuos e co nhecidos de borbo letas neotropicais (DEVRIES 1987). Heliconius erato (Li nnaeus , 1758) é considerada a espéc ie mai s vari ável do gênero, sendo reconhec id as, até o presente, 29 subespéc ies (HOLZINGER & HOLZINGER 1994). Segund o os mesmos autores, He/iconius erato phyllis (Fabricius, 1775) apresenta ampla distribuição na América do Su l, ond e ocorre desde o nord es te até o sul do Brasil , Bolívia, nordeste da Argentina e Uruguai.Heliconius erato é comumente encontrada em ambi entes enso larados, sendo freqüente em florestas abertas ou perturbadas, bem como clareiras em florestas den sas (BROWN 1992). Os adultos possuem comportamento semigregá-rio , fo rmand o agrupamen tos noturnos chamados de "dormi tórios " que reúnem de 2 a 145 indi víduos (CRANE 1957; TURNER 1971;MALLET 1986 ; R. DiMare, UFRGS , dados não pub li cados) . O ovo é depositado na região apical dos ramos de várias espécies de Passiflora Linnaeus, preferencialmente do sub gê nero Plectostemma Masters. A larva é so litária e apresenta tendência ao canibali smo (B ROWN & MIELKE 1972; BENSON et ai. 1976). As espécies de Heliconius , dev ido à fác il adaptação às cond ições de insetário e cu lti vo de suas plantas hospedeiras, têm si do utili zadas como modelos experim enta is em diversos es tudos so bre interação in seto-planta
The Brazilian South coast seasonally hosts numerous marine species, observed particularly during winter months. Some animals, including fur seals, are found dead or debilitated along the shore and may harbor potential pathogens within their microbiota. In the present study, a metagenomic approach was performed to evaluate the viral diversity in feces of fur seals found deceased along the coast of the state of Rio Grande do Sul. The fecal virome of two fur seal species was characterized: the South American fur seal (Arctocephalus australis) and the Subantarctic fur seal (Arctocephalus tropicalis). Fecal samples from 10 specimens (A. australis, n = 5; A. tropicalis, n = 5) were collected and viral particles were purified, extracted and amplified with a random PCR. The products were sequenced through Ion Torrent and Illumina platforms and assembled reads were submitted to BLASTx searches. Both viromes were dominated by bacteriophages and included a number of potentially novel virus genomes. Sequences of picobirnaviruses, picornaviruses and a hepevirus-like were identified in A. australis. A rotavirus related to group C, a novel member of the Sakobuvirus and a sapovirus very similar to California sea lion sapovirus 1 were found in A. tropicalis. Additionally, sequences of members of the Anelloviridae and Parvoviridae families were detected in both fur seal species. This is the first metagenomic study to screen the fecal virome of fur seals, contributing to a better understanding of the complexity of the viral community present in the intestinal microbiota of these 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.