The order Rodentia is the largest order of mammals and is widespread through different habitats (Wilson & Reeder, 2005). Rodents of the family Erethizontidae include New World porcupines and comprises 15 species distributed across three genera: Chaetomys, Coendou and Sphiggurus (Woods & Kilpatrick, 2005). The orange-spined hairy dwarf porcupine (Sphiggurus villosus) is a solitary, nocturnal and arboreal animal, endemic to the Atlantic forest habitat, occurring in southeastern and southern Brazil (Lange & Schmidt, 2014; Oliveira & Bonvicino, 2006). Although occur in primary Atlantic Forest, they may be commonly found on forest borders and, occasionally, near urban areas where human (Jorge et al., 2016) and domestic dogs (Lange & Schmidt, 2014) injuries caused by its spines may occur.Additionally, porcupines are amongst the most frequently roadkilled animals in Brazil (Coelho, Kindel, & Coelho, 2008).Haemotropic mycoplasmas (haemoplasmas) are epicellular bacteria that attach to erythrocyte's surface of a wide range of mammalian hosts (Messick, 2004), including human beings (Hattori et al., 2020).Two haemotropic Mycoplasma species have been reported in

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Hemoplasmas are epierythrocytic bacteria that infect mammals. ‘Candidatus Mycoplasma haemoalbiventris’ was detected in white-eared opossums (Didelphis albiventris) from southern and central-western Brazil. The present study aimed at: i) screening opossums for tick-borne (TBP) pathogens (Piroplasmida and Anaplasmataceae) and ii) detecting and characterizing hemoplasma species infecting opossums from Curitiba and Foz do Iguaçu cities in the Paraná State, southern Brazil. Thirty blood samples from white-eared opossums were evaluated by PCR assays. Animals were not infested by ectoparasites. The mammalian endogenous gapdh gene was consistently amplified in all samples. All opossums tested negative for Theileria/Babesia spp. and Ehrlichia/Anaplasma spp. by PCR based on 18S rRNA and 16S rRNA genes, respectively. A genus-specific PCR assay based on the 16S rRNA gene of hemoplasmas showed that three/13 (23.08%; CI 95%: 8.18-50.26%) opossums from Foz do Iguaçu were positive for hemotropic Mycoplasma sp. All opossums from Curitiba tested negative for hemoplasmas. Sequencing of both the 16S and 23S rRNA genes revealed that the animals were infected by ‘Ca. M. haemoalbiventris’. Although ‘Ca. M. haemoalbiventris’ is prevalent in opossums in Brazil, clinical signs associated with its infection and its putative vectors remain unknown.

Background Non‐human primates can present oral diseases. However, differences among the dentition of the various species make it difficult to understand their dental features and associated diseases. This research hypothesizes that the prevalence of dental disorders varies in the species studied according to distinct types of diet. Methods Forty‐five syncraniums of the species Alouatta caraya, Alouatta guariba clamitans, Sapajus nigritus, Callithrix jacchus, and Callithrix penicillata were evaluated by visual inspection, magnifying glasses, and on cone‐beam computed tomography. Results Disorders identified consisted of missing teeth before death, agenesis, dental calculus, dental wear, dental staining, dental fracture, exposure of pulp chamber, alveolar bone resorption, tooth discoloration, and persistence of deciduous teeth. Alouatta guariba clamitans presented the most disorders. Conclusions The results suggest that neotropical primates have a high prevalence of dental changes, even in free‐living conditions, and that the differences observed among them may be associated with different diet patterns.

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Although toxoplasmosis has been considered among the most neglected zoonoses worldwide, no study has focused on the frequency and associated risk factors of owners and their dogs living on an island and mainland seashore areas. Accordingly, anti-Toxoplasma gondii IgG antibodies were screened by indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) in owners and dogs from three oceanic islands and two nearby mainland harbor areas, with associated risk factors for toxoplasmosis assessed by univariable and multivariable logistic regression models. Overall, anti-T. gondii seropositivity was observed in 59/328 (18.0%) owners and 66/283 (23.3%) dogs, with no statistical difference between owners (p = 0.360) and dogs (p = 0.655) from islands and mainland areas. Consumption of local water springs (p = 0.016; OR = 2.11) was an associated risk factor for T. gondii seropositivity, and owners with the habit of spring water intake were twice more likely seropositive (p = 0.014; OR = 2.14). Presence of anti-T. gondii antibodies in dogs was associated with seropositive owners (p = 0.008; OR = 2.81), household consumption of beef meat (p = 0.042; OR = 1.7) and chicken (p = 0.026; OR = 2.9). Despite being lower than the worldwide prevalence, toxoplasmosis seropositivity in owners and their dogs in southern Brazil was influenced by the positive owner, water source, and meat consumption, and not by inhabiting islands or seashore mainland areas, presence of dogs, cats, or both. In addition, drinking water quality should always be considered a critical risk factor for toxoplasmosis on islands.

Resumo O desenvolvimento ósseo nas aves é diferenciado e, radiograficamente, não existe uma placa de crescimento visível. A densitometria radiográfica (DR) é utilizada para avaliar e mensurar a densidade óssea. Foram utilizadas cinquenta e quatro codornas-japonesas (Coturnix japonica) de um dia de vida e de ambos os sexos. A cada três dias foram pesados dois animais e, em seguida, identificados, submetidos à eutanásia e radiografados. Foi utilizada uma escada de alumínio de vinte e um degraus para a mensuração densitométrica. Realizaram-se mensurações de comprimento do úmero, rádio, ulna, fêmur, tibiotarso e tarsometatarso; correlação do período de postura com a ocorrência de hiperostose poliostótica (HP) nos ossos longos; bem como avaliação densitométrica ao longo de 80 dias. Houve aumento na densidade óssea conforme crescimento em comprimento dos ossos em úmero, seguido pelo tibiotarso, ulna e fêmur, verificado principalmente no período de sete a 13 dias de vida. No úmero e no fêmur, houve significativo aumento de densidade óssea também entre 70 a 79 dias. A partir do 61º dia, foi identificada a presença de hiperostose poliostótica nos fêmures das fêmeas. A DR é uma técnica aplicável em C. japonica como um método acessível e de baixo custo. Os resultados confirmam um grande aumento mineral ao longo do crescimento e durante a postura, confirmando a presença de HP na espécie.