Ovarian Filariasis in a Wild Southern Tamandua (Tamanduatetradactyla; Mammalia: Myrmecophagidae)

Abstract

Knowledge of reproductive health in wild southern tamanduas (Tamandua tetradactyla; Mammalia: Myrmecophagidae) is fragmentary. During necropsies of roadkill xenarthran species in Brazil, a case of ovarian filariasis in an adult female southern tamandua was observed. Macroscopically, both ovaries were irregularly enlarged and had numerous smooth protuberances. Histologically, the affected ovarian parenchyma presented adult nematodes (including females with microfilaria) surrounded by pleocellular inflammatory infiltrates. The morphological characteristics of the nematodes were consistent with the superfamily Filarioidea (order Spirurida). The adjacent ovarian parenchyma had developing and atretic follicles at different stages of maturation. Filarial nematodes were not observed in other tissues. The cause of death of this tamandua was fatal acute polytrauma as a consequence of the motor vehicle collision. This case adds to a prior report of ovarian filariasis in two southern tamanduas in Nicaragua and Guatemala, dating back almost 100 years, and suggests filarial infections could potentially have an impact on reproductive success in southern tamanduas and possibly other xenarthrans. Several xenarthran species are under different levels of threat and knowledge of their basic reproductive health is crucial for conservation programs.

Background and common lesions in the female reproductive organs of giant anteaters (Myrmecophaga tridactyla)

“…We consider our results to be similar to the structural findings in female giant anteaters made in a previous study (13). Furthermore, the background and common reproductive lesions visualized have previously been described in humans and in domestic and wildlife species (14)(15)(16).…”

“…Different lesions and female reproductive disorders have been described in several domestic and wild species, including lesser anteaters (Tamandua tetradactyla) (14)(15)(16)(17). To our knowledge, there have been few studies that have investigated and analyzed the histochemical features and common lesion alterations in giant female anteaters (18).…”

Pets, Wildlife and Parasites

“…The infection was associated with severe lesions of the ovaries, which were enlarged, with multiple nodules enclosing the nematode parasites. Parasitosis of the ovaries is a rare condition in all kinds of mammals [12]; however, in southern tamanduas, ovarian filarial nematodes have been also described in the past [13], which makes this recent report [11] particularly interesting andgives prominence to ovarian filariosis as a possible reproductive hindrance in this animal species. Further studies on this parasitosis in southern tamanduas and other Xenarthra are recommended, especially in the context of conservation projects focusing on the vulnerable or near-threatened species among them.…”

“…An interesting case of ovarian filariosis in a road-killed, adult southern tamanduas (Tamandua tetradactyla) is described in the report by Fromme et al [11]. The parasites could not be molecularly identified, but their morphological characteristics were consistent with nematodes of the superfamily Filarioidea.…”

Background and Common Lesions in the Female Reproductive Organs of Giant Anteaters (Myrmecophaga Tridactyla)

“…Different lesions and female reproductive disorders have been described in several domestic and wild species, including lesser anteaters [14][15][16][17]. However, to the best of our knowledge, studies investigating and analyzing the histochemical features of the background and common lesion alterations in giant female anteaters are rare [18].…”