Caracterização de canídeos e felídeos silvestres procedentes de diferentes biomas nacionais, entre 2012 e 2016

Abstract

Brazilian wild canids and felines currently suffer from a broad variety of anthropogenic pressures including illegal hunting and retaliation hunting, habitat loss and fragmentation, increased road network and roadkill rates, competition, disease, illegal wildlife trade and the use of pesticides. The present study aimed to characterize canids and felids received at screening and rehabilitation centers of wild animals and other institutions from different locations in Brazil between the years of 2012 and 2016. A descriptive crosssectional observational epidemiological study was carried out from the entry of carnivores where the demographic variables, body condition, clinical signs, the reason for receiving and destination of the animals were analyzed. During the study period, 164 individuals were received, with Cerdocyon thous and Chrysocyon brachyurus being the most frequent inside the Canidae family with 43.04% and 41.77% respectively and Puma concolor with 42.35% inside the Felidae family. Leopardus pardalis, Leopardus gutullus, and individuals of the genus Lycalopex sp. were the most frequent species, with 24.71%, 17.65%, and 15.19%, respectively. There were no records of other species of carnivores. Among the five possibilities of incoming, the capture/recollection was the most frequent (41.46%), followed by vehicle collision (40.85%). There was a significant difference between the Canidae and Felidae families (P = 0.003), body condition (P = 0.027), evolution to death or recovery (P < 0.001) and destination (P < 0.001). Considering the most frequent macroscopic alterations in the individuals who were received by vehicle collision, fractures of long bones (57.57%), tegumentary continuity lesions (48.48%), traumatic anemias, fractures of skull bones and parasites of the gastrointestinal system (33.33%) were the most frequent findings. In captured/collected individuals, ectoparasites (60%), cachexia-anorexia complex, pulmonary edema and lymphadenomegaly (40%) stood out. The parasitological evaluation of 24.39% of the animals evidenced the diversity of helminth fauna and the presence of helminths with zoonotic potentials, such as hookworm, sparganosis, and sarcoptic mange. The low recovery rate of individuals exposed the high degree of impairment of the biological function of free-ranged carnivores. Canids showed greater vulnerability to collisions with vehicles and parasites. The epidemiological and parasitological analysis of animals received in public-private institutions should not be underestimated and should be carried out whenever possible, as there is a great potential in the identification of zoonotic and/or potentially pathogenic agents wildlife, people and domestic animals, since animals from areas with a greater degree of environmental disturbance are also under greater environmental pressure and therefore more susceptible to clinical signs of diseases that are still little known and investigated.