Lilian Silva Catenacci

Yeasts of the genus Candida are microorganisms of significant relevance in clinical practice, particularly within intensive care units, where they are classified as high-risk pathogens due to their impact on immunocompromised patients. Despite this, fungi frequently remain neglected in comparison to other infectious agents, and their ecological role, specifically concerning wildlife, remains underexplored. Historically, wild animals have been utilized as a source of subsistence by riverside and rural communities, although such consumption has been increasingly regulated in recent years. The interaction among wild animals, domestic species, and humans facilitates microbial exchange across diverse ecological niches, thereby increasing the risk of the transmission of pathogenic microorganisms and underscoring the principles of the One Health concept. Accordingly, this literature review consolidated studies regarding the isolation of Candida spp. from commensal sites and infectious processes in wild mammals. Thirty-four studies were analyzed, encompassing 21 Candida species across 74 mammalian species. Although Candida spp. are present in the vast majority of healthy individuals, their presence in free-ranging animals may serve as an indicator of ecological alterations and anthropogenic influence within these habitats. Furthermore, under specific circumstances, these commensals can cause infections, particularly in cases of immunological fragility. These data underscore the necessity for further research into the role of wildlife as hotspots or sentinels in the dissemination of these yeasts, contributing to the monitoring and management of emerging diseases, as well as to the health and conservation of wild populations.

This study aimed to expand the understanding of the intestinal microbiota of collared peccaries (Pecari tajacu), using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization - time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) technique for bacterial identification. Rectal swabs from 70 peccaries kept in a breeding center at the Federal University of Piauí were collected for the isolation of Gram-negative bacteria, using Hektoen Enteric agar (HE) and MacConkey agar (MAC). In total, 114 colonies were evaluated by the MALDI-TOF technique, which revealed the presence of six bacterial orders, with emphasis on Enterobacterales (42.11 %), followed by Pseudomonadales (23.68%) and Lysobacterales (15.79%). Research on the microbiota of collared peccaries is scarce and reveals little diversity of species. However, in this study, it was possible to identify a greater variety of bacteria, including microorganisms considered pathogenic and zoonotic. To our knowledge, this is the first study to apply MALDI-TOF technique to assess the diversity of the microbiota of collared peccaries, demonstrating its effectiveness in the accurate identification of the microbiota in wild animals and highlighting its relevance for microbiological and animal health surveillance.

Loreto virus (LORV) is an insect-specific virus classified into the proposed taxon Negevirus. It was originally described in Iquitos, Peru, in 1977. Here, we describe three novel LORV genomes obtained from the isolates of three pooled samples of Trichoprosopon digitatum, Aedes (Ochlerotatus) fulvus, and Limatus durhamii collected in Ilhéus—Bahia, 2014. Samples were submitted to RNA sequencing on the Illumina platform to recover the LORV genome. The genomes presented, on average, 81.5% nucleotide identity and 92.6% global amino acid identity with the LORV reference genome (NC_034158). Subsequently, phylogenetic analysis was performed based on a multiple sequence alignment of the concatenated amino acid sequences predicted for the three ORFs of the Negevirus genomes, and the target sequences were clustered within the LORV clade. The taxon Negevirus is in constant expansion of its species content and host range. New data about insect specific negeviruses are important for virus evolution studies, along with those approaching interactions with the hosts and their influence in the transmission of arboviruses. Also, the assessment of these data may allow the development of biologic control strategies for arboviral vectors. This is the original report of the identification of LORV in Brazil, infecting three Culicidae species hosts native to the Atlantic Forest biome.

Aim: Venomous animals are responsible for 26.8% of all poisonings occurring in people registered in Brazil, reflecting serious economic, medical, and social public health issues in tropical countries. The objective of this work was to characterize the cases notified of accidents involving venomous animals in humans in a Public Regional Hospital located in Piauí state, Northeast Brazil.Methods: We analyzed the notification forms registered at the National Notifiable Diseases Information System (SINAN), provided by the Hospital Regional Manoel de Souza from July 2009 to December 2017. The data were organized in spreadsheets and were exported to SPSS v. 24 for statistical analysis. A linear regression analysis was performed, and variables were considered significant when the estimated regression model presented P ≤ 0.05.Results: From 2009 to 2017, 833 cases of accidents caused by venomous animals treated were reported on SINAN. Accidents caused by scorpions were the most frequent, accounting for 69.7% (n = 269) of cases, followed by snakes at 17.6% (n = 68) and insects at 12.7% (n = 49). The people most affected by venomous animals were men (53.9%; n = 208) between the ages of 20 and 39 (42.5%; n = 164). The most frequent bite site was on the extremities, with the feet being the most affected region at 39.3% (n = 235), followed by the hands at 25.8% (n = 154) and the legs at 8% (n = 48). The study showed that despite the Regional Hospital covering 18 cities, the municipality of Bom Jesus had the highest incidence of accidents caused by venomous animals, mainly scorpions. Therefore, this investigation is a starting point for understanding the spatial distribution of these accidents. The data show that there are still flaws in the SINAN information flow. In the serotherapy variable, for example, 51.1% of cases were not completed.Conclusion: It is necessary to provide guidance and carry out educational work in order to improve official data records, so that they can be incorporated into the care routine.

The use, misuse, and overuse of antimicrobials is one of the main public health threats of the 21st century. We investigated the risk factor of the presence of extended-spectrum, cephalosporin-resistant Enterobacterales in feces of non-domestic and domestic birds and other domestic animals in Piauí State, northeast Brazil. We collected a total of 387 cloacal and rectal swab samples of free-living birds, domestic birds, and domestic mammals in five municipalities: Amarante, Água Branca, Lagoa Alegre, Parnaíba, and Teresina. A total of 59/387 (15.2%) of these samples harbored extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacterales. Using the MALDI-TOF technique, we identified fifty-seven samples as Escherichia coli and two samples as Klebsiella pneumoniae. Teresina and Parnaíba had the highest prevalence of animals with resistant bacteria (32.1% and 27.1%, respectively) and highest exposure risk factor (OR of 16.06 and 8.58, respectively, and p < 0.001 for all). Multidrug-resistant, ESBL-producing Enterobacterales were observed in 72.8% of the samples (43/59). For the free-living birds, the positive samples belonged to a great kiskadee (Pitangus sulphuratus) and a semipalmated sandpiper (Calidris pusilla) in migratory and resident species, respectively. For domestic animals, the swine samples showed the highest prevalence of antimicrobial resistance. The lack of access to veterinary care and information regarding antimicrobial therapy, along with the easy access to antimicrobials without medical prescription, favors the inadequate use of antimicrobials in Piauí.

Devido a suspensão das aulas presenciais no ano de 2020, em razão da pandemia de COVID-19, o uso de Tecnologias Digitais da Informação e Comunicação (TDCIs) tornou-se fundamental para a continuidade de ensino e aprendizagem. Considerando este contexto, o Grupo de Estudos em Biodiversidade e o Grupo de Estudos em Animais Selvagens da Universidade Federal do Piauí realizaram 33 eventos online na área de saúde única, clínica, manejo e conservação de animais silvestres de abril a dezembro de 2020. O presente artigo tem como objetivo relatar essa experiência e descrever o perfil dos participantes com o interesse de adquirir conhecimentos nessas áreas com o uso de tecnologias digitais. Através de questionários respondidos durante os eventos foi possível verificar um público de mais de 4.000 pessoas, sendo a maioria estudantes de ensino superior (86,1%), com idade entre 18-25 anos (83,4%) e pertencentes aos cursos de Medicina Veterinária (59,7%) e Ciências Biológicas (32,7%). As atividades tiveram inscritos de 8 países de 278 instituições, principalmente da rede privada. Pudemos evidenciar o benefício do uso da tecnologia digital na educação continuada para temas atuais ou pouco explorados nas mídias sociais ou universidades.

Rheas are the largest birds in South America. Belonging to the order of Struthioniformes, they are bred in captivity for their beauty and also for the quality and use of their meat, leather, feathers and eggs. The objective of this report was to describe a case of prolapse and amputation of the phallus after clinical and surgical care of a greater rhea (Rhea americana), to contribute to the literature on the occurrence of this condition in ratites. The animal was raised and is kept in captivity at Federal University of Piauí (UFPI), in Teresina, Piaui state, Brazil. The animal relapsed after two attempts to reduce the phallus prolapse, requiring amputation, since the animal’s organ presented areas of necrosis. After the intervention, the animal was returned to the previous enclosure, regrouping with the flock without complications and maintained a normal pre-surgery behavior. To the author’s knowledge, this is the first case of phallus and cloaca prolapse reported in Rhea americana.

We performed coproparasitological testing of free-living golden-headed lion tamarins, Leontopithecus chrysomelas, using the Hoffmann-Pons-Janner method. In total, we collected 118 samples from ten groups: four living in Federal Protected Area and six living in Non-Protected Areas of cocoa farms. Eggs from parasites of the Acanthocephala phylum and Spiruridae, Ancylostomatidae, Ascarididae and Oxyuridae families were identified, as well as the genus Strongyloides (Nematode: Strongyloididae) and phylum Apicomplexa. This is the first description of infection with coccidian, Trichuridae family and Strongyloides spp. in L. chrysomelas. A total of 48% (n= 57) of the animals were infected and the highest prevalence (37.2±SD 8.72, n = 44) was for Acanthocephalidae, followed by Spiruridae (8.5±SD 5.03, n = 10). There was no difference in parasite prevalence by age classes or sex. However, we found higher diversity and prevalence of parasites in animals living in the Federal Protected Area. These results suggest that intestinal parasites may be influenced by environmental factors, such as the management of the areas where the animals live, in addition to the feeding behavior of L. chrysomelas and distinct transmission strategies of parasites. The combination of ecological and demographic data combined with parasitological studies may contribute to conservation programs for this species.

Background: West Nile virus (WNV) was first sequenced in Brazil in 2019, when it was isolated from a horse in the Espírito Santo state. Despite multiple studies reporting serological evidence suggestive of past circulation since 2004, WNV remains a low priority for surveillance and public health, such that much is still unknown about its genomic diversity, evolution, and transmission in the country. Methods: A combination of diagnostic assays, nanopore sequencing, phylogenetic inference, and epidemiological modeling are here used to provide a holistic overview of what is known about WNV in Brazil. Results: We report new genetic evidence of WNV circulation in southern (Minas Gerais, São Paulo) and northeastern (Piauí) states isolated from equine red blood cells. A novel, climate-informed theoretical perspective of the potential transmission of WNV across the country highlights the state of Piauí as particularly relevant for WNV epidemiology in Brazil, although it does not reject possible circulation in other states. Conclusion: Our output demonstrates the scarceness of existing data, and that although there is sufficient evidence for the circulation and persistence of the virus, much is still unknown on its local evolution, epidemiology, and activity. We advocate for a shift to active surveillance, to ensure adequate preparedness for future epidemics with spill-over potential to humans.

Landscape change is one of the foremost drivers of the emergence of infectious diseases. Exploring demographic, household and environmental conditions under which infectious diseases occur may inform strategies to prevent disease emergence in human populations. We collected blood samples from 523 humans and explore factors for arbovirus emergence in Bahia, Brazil. The overall arbovirus seroprevalence was 65.2%, with the genus Flavivirus most prevalent (64.4%). Based on monotypic reactions, the population had contact with five arbovirus: Dengue 3, Ilheus, Oropouche, Caraparu and Eastern equine encephalitis virus. To our knowledge, this is the first study reporting exposure to Oropouche, Caraparu and Eastern equine encephalitis virus in human populations in Bahia, Northeast of Brazil. The best model fit demonstrated that household and environmental variables were more predictive of the risk of arbovirus exposure than demographic variables. The presence of forest and free‐living monkeys in the areas close to the communities had a protective effect for the human population (i.e. lower seroprevalence). The dilution effect is considered as one explanation for this finding. These results highlight the important ecological role of wildlife‐friendly agriculture.