Detecção molecular de Neospora caninum em macaco-da-noite (Aotus azarae) de vida livre no estado do Mato Grosso: relato de caso

Abstract

RESUMO Estudos indicam, por meio de infecção experimental, que primatas não humanos são susceptíveis à infecção por Neospora caninum. Relata-se um caso de um macaco-da-noite (Aotus azarae infulatus), que apresentou sinais inespecíficos e não respondeu à terapêutica clínica de suporte, evoluindo a óbito, encaminhado em seguida para exame anatomopatológico. Amostras de tecidos foram coletadas e processadas rotineiramente para confecção de lâminas histológicas. Microscopicamente, a principal lesão foi observada no coração e consistia em miocardite necrótica multifocal por protozoário, com a presença de estruturas compatíveis com o estágio de taquizoítos de protozoários dos gêneros Neospora sp. ou Toxoplasma sp. No sistema nervoso central, predominantemente no tronco encefálico, havia estruturas semelhantes às descritas no coração. Os resultados da reação em cadeia pela polimerase (PCR) foram positivos para N. caninum e negativos para Toxoplasma gondii, usando DNA extraído do sangue e dos tecidos. Este relato de caso fornece evidências histológicas e moleculares de que o primata em questão foi susceptível a uma infecção natural, porém estudos devem ser realizados para investigar o real papel dos primatas no ciclo de vida de N. caninum.

Molecular detection of Apicomplexa protozoa in tissues from Alouatta guariba clamitans

“…There is little information in the literature regarding the occurrence and importance of N. caninum in primates. However, experimental infection in nonhuman primates by Neospora has been confirmed (Barr et al 1994, Ho et al 1997, and a case of natural infection in Night Monkey (Aotus azarae infulatus) has been reported (Costa et al 2018). The differential diagnosis is relevant because of the similarity of tachyzoites, the close phylogenetic relationship between T. gondii and N. caninum (Dubey & Lindsay 1996), and the lack of information of the consequences of neosporosis in primates.…”

Molecular detection of Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum in neotropical primates

“…23 More recent studies have also confirmed the infection of this group of animals by N. caninum, with acute and fatal clinical outcomes, and emphasized the importance of the differential diagnosis due to the similarities of tissue lesions and clinical signs with T. gondii. 3 Neospora caninum is not considered a zoonotic disease; however, antibodies anti-N. caninum in human sera and DNA detection in human umbilical cord blood have been described, demonstrated the importance of human exposure to this agent. 24,25 In this study, three primates tested positive in the molecular detection of T. gondii and N. caninum, demonstrating coinfection in both free-living (one Mico melanurus and one Aotus azarae)…”

“…The association of these techniques helps in the diagnosis of protozoan etiological agents in primates. 3 Both T. gondii and N. caninum are protozoa whose infective forms are exclusively excreted in the feces of their respective definitive hosts. 24 Thus, infection is caused by coprophagy, a common habit in primates, and/or by the ingestion of water or food contaminated with infective oocysts.…”

“…primates are intermediate hosts of these pathogens and commonly contribute to acute and potentially fatal clinical outcomes. 3,4 In Brazil, studies on the health profile of these animals are scarce because of the limited resources to adequately detail the great diversity of the country's fauna. Thus, molecular tests, especially polymerase chain reaction (PCR), which is highly sensitive and specific when compared to other methods, aid in providing the correct diagnosis of pathological agents that jeopardize the survival of freeliving and captive neotropical primates.…”

“…Thus, molecular tests, especially polymerase chain reaction (PCR), which is highly sensitive and specific when compared to other methods, aid in providing the correct diagnosis of pathological agents that jeopardize the survival of freeliving and captive neotropical primates. 3,5 This study aimed to molecularly detect T. gondii and N. caninum DNA in blood/clot samples from free-living and captive neotropical primates from the Federal University of Mato Grosso (UFMT) Zoo, State Environmental Agency Mato Grosso (SEMA), and the Zoonoses Control Center (CCZ).…”