As alterações ambientais antrópicas são os principais fatores de emergência ou reemergência de doenças infecciosas. A leishmaniose cutânea é uma doença que está relacionada, em caráter epidêmico, com episódios de desmatamento. No entanto, o caráter endêmico da doença ocorre quando o homem se encontra próximo de áreas florestais já colonizadas. O Pontal do Paranapanema é uma área onde ocorreu intenso desmatamento e a mata nativa remanescente está representada pelo Parque Estadual Morro do Diabo e alguns fragmentos florestais. Casos de leishmaniose cutânea em humanos são comuns na região, principalmente em áreas marginais de floresta. O objetivo deste trabalho foi realizar um levantamento da fauna flebotomínica e de mamíferos silvestres potencialmente reservatórios no Parque Estadual Morro do Diabo e alguns fragmentos da região, buscando avaliar se o tamanho do fragmento tem influência na ocorrência das espécies e na freqüência de Leishmania sp, através da técnica da PCR. Foram capturadas 26 espécies de flebótomos e sete espécies de mamíferos silvestres. O gênero Brumptomyia foi predominante em quase todas as áreas florestais, com exceção da borda do Parque, que apresentou dominância de Nyssomyia neivai. Os resultados das análises da PCR demonstraram quatro espécies de mamíferos portadores de Leishmania sp, Akodon cursor, Dasyprocta azarae, Didelphis albiventris e Oligoryzomys sp. As amostras de pools de flebotomíneos apresentaram resultados negativos. Não foi observada diferença significativa na freqüência de mamíferos infectados em relação ao tamanho da área florestal. / Anthropogenic environmental changes are the main factors of emergence or reemergence of infectious diseases. Cutaneous leishmaniasis is a disease that is related, in an epidemic form, with episodes of deforestation. However, the endemicity of the disease occurs when the man is close to forest areas already colonized. The Pontal of Paranapanema is an area where massive deforestation has occurred and the remaining native forest is represented by the Morro do Diabo State Park and a few forest fragments. Cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis in humans are common in the region, especially in marginal areas of forest. The aim of this study was a survey of sand flies and mammals potentially reservoirs, in Morro do Diabo State Park and some fragments of the region, seeking to assess whether the fragment size has an influence on species occurrence and frequency of Leishmania, through the PCR technique. We captured 26 species of sandflies and seven species of wild mammals. The genus Brumptomyia was prevalent in almost all forest areas, except the edge of the park, which showed dominance of Nyssomyia neivai. The results of PCR analysis revealed four species of mammals suffering from Leishmania, Akodon cursor, Dasyprocta azarae, Didelphis albiventris and Oligoryzomys sp. Samples of sandfly pools tested negative. There was no significant difference in the frequency of infected mammals in relation to the size of the forest.

A crescente importância do ciclo silvestre da raiva envolvendo morcegos e mamíferos terrestres demonstra a importância do estudo da epidemiologia do vírus da raiva nessas espécies. Foram estudadas amostras provenientes de diversas espécies de animais silvestres terrestres procedentes de uma área de Mata Atlântica nativa no litoral Norte do Estado de São Paulo. Este estudo pesquisou a presença de anticorpos contra o vírus da raiva por meio dos Testes de RFFIT, SFIMT e ELISA em amostras de soro de animais capturados em uma área desmatada, transpostos e monitorados em uma área de soltura. E ainda a pesquisa do vírus da raiva por meio das técnicas de IFD, IC e RT-PCR em amostras de sistema nervoso central dos animais encontrados mortos na região. A positividade observada foi de 10,8% na RFFIT, 34,0% no SFIMT e 1,13% no ELISA. Todos as amostras submetidas as técnicas de IFD, IC e RT-PCR apresentaram resultados negativos. Os resultados observados demonstram circulação do vírus entre as espécies silvestres da área. / The emergent importance of rabies in terrestrial wild animals demonstrates the importance of epidemiological studies regarding rabies virus in those animal species. Samples from several wild species from a native Rainforest area in the North coast of São Paulo State Brazil were studied. The aim of the present study was the research of anti-rabies antibodies in those animals using the RFFIT, SFIMT and ELISA techniques in animals captured and monitorated in a release área. And also by rabies virus detection using FAT, MIT and RT-PCR techniques in central nervous system samples from animals found dead in the same area. The observed positivity was 10,8% on RFFIT, 34,0% on SFIMT e 1,13% on ELISA. All samples tested by the FAT, MIT and RT-PCR techniques presented negative results. The observed results are an evidence of rabies virus circulation between wild animal species in the studied area.

Student Number: 0218322F Master of Science School of Physiology / The high morbidity and mortality of wild mammals and livestock during capture and transport is generally ascribed to thermal stress. Consequently, capture operators can benefit from improved methods that may reduce thermal stress. The aim of my study was to develop a practical method of measuring the body temperature of mammals during capture and transport operations. Firstly, I determined whether intermittent temperature recordings, which allow for minuteby- minute monitoring of an animal’s temperature, could accurately reflect continuous measures of an animal’s rectal temperature. Intermittent temperatures were measured via telemetry while continuous and off-line recordings were measured with data loggers. Secondly, I compared rectal and abdominal temperatures to determine if rectal temperature can provide a practical, noninvasive method of estimating core body temperature. Additionally, I measured body temperature and environmental conditions throughout transportation and compared pre- and post-transport levels of faecal cortisol, and blood cortisol, haematocrit and catecholamines. Measuring rectal temperatures seems to be the only feasible, non-invasive technique to obtain temperature during transport operations. However, rectal temperature records required about 30 minutes to stabilise after inserting a thermometric device. After rectal temperature stabilised, generally the difference between abdominal and rectal temperatures varied greatly for individual animals, while the average differences in temperatures between the body sites were not significant for all, except one, species. I have also shown that telemeters and data loggers can be used interchangeably to measure the body temperature of animals. The differences between temperatures measured by the devices were not significant, except for substantial differences shown in two animals. The addition of earphones and a large aerial inside the vehicle improved the telemetry results, by limiting the extraneous noise of the capture and transport environment. These conditions probably caused the anomalous readings in the two animals. General thermal responses to stress are that animals showed a peak in temperature due to capture and a decrease in temperature during transport. Therefore, capture-related stress and the likelihood of animals dying during capture could be minimised by ensuring that the animals are not chased longer than a set cut-off time. Further, globe temperature should be monitored to ensure that animals are not captured in high thermal conditions. In contradiction with the current guidelines regarding the appropriate time of day for capture, I recommend that animals should not be caught at the end of the day, as my results show that this is when their body temperatures are the highest. Body temperatures during transport and differences in faeces cortisol before and after transport seem to indicate that animals adapt to repeated stress events.

A prevalência de Toxoplasma gondii em mamíferos silvestres, quando próximos a áreas urbanizadas, deve ser analisada para diagnosticar riscos à saúde humana e animal. Em Natal-RN, duas Unidades de Conservação (UC), Parque da Cidade e Parque das Dunas, se destacam pela importância ecológica. Nestas UCs a presença de gatos domésticos errantes é constante. O objetivo foi avaliar e comparar a presença de T. gondii através de teste sorológico (MAT) e molecular (gene B1) em gatos e pequenos mamíferos silvestres. Houve associação entre o número de animais silvestres soropositivos em cada parque (p = 0,018), sendo que o Parque da Cidade demonstrou um quadro mais alarmante. A positividade para T. gondii através da amplificação do gene B1 foi positiva em 16,3% do total de animais silvestres analizados e 8,1% do total de gatos avaliados nas duas Ucs. Não houve associação entre o número de animais silvestres positivos para o gene B1 em cada parque (p = 1,00). Existe a participação de ambos os grupos de animais (silvestres e domésticos) no ciclo local do T. gondii. / The prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in wild mammals close to urbanized areas should be analyzed to diagnose risks to human and animal health. In Natal-RN State, two protected areas, Parque da Cidade and Parque das Dunas are distinguished by ecological importance. In these protected areas, the presence of domestic cats is constant. The aim was to evaluate and compare the presence of T. gondii by serological testing (MAT) and molecular (B1 gene) in cats and small wild mammals. There was an association between the number of wild seropositive animals in each park (p = 0.018). The Parque da Cidade showed a more alarming situation. The positivity for T. gondii by B1 gene amplification was positive in 16.3% on wild animals analyzed and 8.1% on the cats evaluated in the two protected areas. There was no association between the number of wild animals positive for the B1 gene in each park (p = 1,00). There is a participation of both groups of animals (wild and domestic) in the local cycle of T. gondii.

A prevalência de Toxoplasma gondii em mamíferos silvestres, quando próximos a áreas urbanizadas, deve ser analisada para diagnosticar riscos à saúde humana e animal. Em Natal-RN, duas Unidades de Conservação (UC), Parque da Cidade e Parque das Dunas, se destacam pela importância ecológica. Nestas UCs a presença de gatos domésticos errantes é constante. O objetivo foi avaliar e comparar a presença de T. gondii através de teste sorológico (MAT) e molecular (gene B1) em gatos e pequenos mamíferos silvestres. Houve associação entre o número de animais silvestres soropositivos em cada parque (p = 0,018), sendo que o Parque da Cidade demonstrou um quadro mais alarmante. A positividade para T. gondii através da amplificação do gene B1 foi positiva em 16,3% do total de animais silvestres analizados e 8,1% do total de gatos avaliados nas duas Ucs. Não houve associação entre o número de animais silvestres positivos para o gene B1 em cada parque (p = 1,00). Existe a participação de ambos os grupos de animais (silvestres e domésticos) no ciclo local do T. gondii. / The prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in wild mammals close to urbanized areas should be analyzed to diagnose risks to human and animal health. In Natal-RN State, two protected areas, Parque da Cidade and Parque das Dunas are distinguished by ecological importance. In these protected areas, the presence of domestic cats is constant. The aim was to evaluate and compare the presence of T. gondii by serological testing (MAT) and molecular (B1 gene) in cats and small wild mammals. There was an association between the number of wild seropositive animals in each park (p = 0.018). The Parque da Cidade showed a more alarming situation. The positivity for T. gondii by B1 gene amplification was positive in 16.3% on wild animals analyzed and 8.1% on the cats evaluated in the two protected areas. There was no association between the number of wild animals positive for the B1 gene in each park (p = 1,00). There is a participation of both groups of animals (wild and domestic) in the local cycle of T. gondii.