Pesquisa de anticorpos contra Leptospira spp. em animais silvestres e em estado feral da região de Nhecolândia, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brasil. Utilização da técnica de imuno-histoquímica para detecção do agente

GIRIO, R.J.S.; PEREIRA, F.L.G.; FILHO, M.M.; MATHIAS, L.A.; HERREIRA, R.C.P.; ALESSI, A.C.; GIRIO, T.M.S. 2004. Pesquisa de anticorpos contra Leptospira spp. em animais silvestres e em estado feral da região de Nhecolândia, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brasil. Utilização da técnica de imuno-histoquímica para detecção do agente. Ciência Rural 34(1):165-169.

Abstract. Three hundred and fifteen serum samples of several animal species living in wild or in feral state in the area of Nhecolândia, Corumbá, MS, Brazil, were examined by the microscopic agglutination test. Of these samples, 67 were of feral bovine (Bos taurus indicus), 39 of feral pigs (Sus scrofa), 39 of buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis), nine of coatis (Nasua nasua), 41 of pampas deer (Ozotoceros bezoarticus), 10 of brocket deer (Mazama americana) and 110 of feral sheep (Ovis aries). In 12 dead animals (six feral pigs, four pampas deer and two feral sheep), isolation attempts and leptospira identification through the immunohistochemistry were accomplished. Sixty-four (20.3%) of the samples reacted to at least one serovar of pathogenic leptospira; 41.0% of the buffaloes, 40.3% of the feral bovine, 17.9% of the feral pigs, 9% of the feral sheep, and 9.7% of the pampas deer serum samples were reactors. All the serum samples of brocket deer and of coatis were not reactors. The most frequent serovars for the studied animal species were: pomona for buffaloes and feral sheep; icterohaemorrhagiae for feral sheep, pampas deer and feral pigs; and copenhageni for pampas deer and feral pigs. The attempts of leptospira isolation resulted negative, and the immunohistochemistry analysis revealed leptospira in the liver of one feral pig. Microscopic examination of the kidney revealed vascular congestion, hemorrhage and infiltration of mononuclear inflammatory cells in the interstice.

The historical ecology of human and wild primate malarias in the New World

CORMIER, L.A. 2010. The historical ecology of human and wild primate malarias in the New World. Diversity 2(2):256-280. doi: 10.3390/d2020256.

Abstract. The origin and subsequent proliferation of malarias capable of infecting humans in South America remain unclear, particularly with respect to the role of Neotropical monkeys in the infectious chain. The evidence to date will be reviewed for Pre-Columbian human malaria, introduction with colonization, zoonotic transfer from cebid monkeys, and anthroponotic transfer to monkeys. Cultural behaviors (primate hunting and pet-keeping) and ecological changes favorable to proliferation of mosquito vectors are also addressed.

Evolution of nakedness in Homo sapiens

RANTALA, M.J. 2007. Evolution of nakedness in Homo sapiens. Journal of Zoology 273:1-7.

Abstract. Homo sapiens L. is the only existing primate species lacking in functionally effective thermally insulating fur. As all other primates have considerable hair covering, it has always been accepted that our ancestors must once have had a respectable amount of body hair. Unfortunately, fossils cannot help us when it comes to differences in skin and hair. Recent DNA analysis, however, has given us some idea of when and where the great denudation took place. A number of hypotheses have been proposed to account for this feature, but none of these has gained general acceptance. In this paper, I present these hypotheses in the light of current empirical evidence and discussion.