Infection agents of Didelphidae (Didelphimorphia) of Brazil: an underestimated matter in zoonoses research

Abstract

Zoonoses are diseases or infections naturally transmissible from vertebrate animals to humans, and can be bacterial, viral or parasitic. The growth of urbanization, industrialization and the advance of agriculture and livestock facilitate the spread of infectious and parasitic agents from wild animals to the human population and to their domestic animals. Among the various reservoirs of zoonotic agents, we find that didelphid species, due to their high capacity for adaptation in urban environments, as an important study case. We reviewed the literature data on the pathogens, including with zoonotic potential of marsupial species occurring in Brazil, accounted for infections by agents that we categorized into Bacteria, Viruses, Protozoa, and Helminths. Aiming identifies possible knowledge gaps, we also surveyed the origin of studied samples and the institutions leading the researches on host didelphids. Among the hosts, the genus Didelphis in the cycles of these agents stands out. Moreover, we found that the majority of reported cases are in the Southeastern Brazil, mean the data from other Brazilian localities and didelphid species could be underestimated. Most studies took place in graduate programs of public research institutions, emphasizing the importance of the funding public research for the Brazilian scientific development.

‘Candidatus Mycoplasma Haemoalbiventris’ and Tick-Borne Pathogens in Black-Eared Opossum (Didelphis aurita) from Southeastern Brazil

“…Its distribution occurs as far as southeastern Paraguay and northeastern Argentina [ 1 , 2 ]. The presence of these marsupials in domestic spaces is relevant to the One-Health context since they are hosts of pathogens as bacteria, virus, protozoan and helminths that affect the health of domestic and wild animals and humans [ 3 , 4 , 5 ]. Data on hemotropic mycoplasmas (hemoplasmas) and tick-borne pathogens in opossums ( Didelphis sp.)…”

“…Although different TBP have been described infecting Didelphis sp. [ 5 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 19 , 23 , 24 ], information on hemoplasmas and TBP on D. aurita still are scarce. In addition, the impact that these microorganisms may have on the health of affected individuals as well as the possible changes on hematological and biochemical profile remain unknown.…”

Zoonotic urbanisation: multispecies urbanism and the rescaling of urban epidemiology

“…16 A focus on zoonotic urbanisation underlines the scale of an emerging 'triple crisis' encompassing climate, biodiversity, and health. Yet making sense of these threats is also hampered by a scientific funding crisis running in parallel with the global health crisis that is marked by significant cutbacks for research into biodiversity, especially within the most biodiverse regions that form the likely epicentre for future zoonotic threats (Bitencourt and Bezerra, 2022). The expansion of bio-medical research programmes in the wake of Covid-19 is not matched by a concomitant emphasis on biodiversity research.…”