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enumeration of mycobacterium leprae using real-time pcr.mycobacterium leprae is not cultivable in axenic media, and direct microscopic enumeration of the bacilli is complex, labor intensive, and suffers from limited sensitivity and specificity. we have developed a real-time pcr assay for quantifying m. leprae dna in biological samples. primers were identified to amplify a shared region of the multicopy repeat sequence (rlep) specific to m. leprae and tested for sensitivity and specificity in the taqman format. the assay was specific for m. leprae and ...200818982056
evaluation of endocytic capacity and nadph-oxidase activity from armadillo (dasypus novemcinctus) eosinophils infected with microfilariae.endocytic activity of phagocytic cells from armadillos infected with viruses, parasites or bacteria is unknown. this report shows that eosinophils from armadillos infected with microfilaria act against these helmintic parasites but have deficiencies in their oxygen-dependent bacteriocidal mechanisms and also in endocytic capacity against yeast.200918990455
is leprosy spreading among nine-banded armadillos in the southeastern united states?in the united states, nine-banded armadillo (dasypus novemcinctus) populations are derived from two sources: (1) a continuous range expansion from mexico led to western populations, some of which, particularly along the western gulf coast and west side of the mississippi river delta, exhibit persistently high rates of leprosy infection, and (2) a small group of animals released from captivity in florida gave rise to eastern populations that were all considered leprosy free. given that western an ...200919204343
the effect of iron supplementation in the diet of dasypus novemcinctus (linnaeus, 1758) armadillos in captivity.armadillos of the species dasypus novemcinctus have been used as an experimental model of leprosy. besides non-human primates, they are the only species naturally infected with mycobacterium leprae and when experimentally inoculated, reproduce the lepromatous form of the disease producing large quantities of bacilli. this species has been maintained in captivity by numerous researchers and specific housing and feeding requirements have been developed to guarantee their survival during long exper ...200919347153
pulmonary and extrapulmonary coccidioidomycosis: three cases in an endemic area in the state of ceará, brazil.coccidioidomycosis, a fungal illness acquired by the inhalation of arthroconidia of coccidioides sp., was first described in 1894. coccidioidomycosis is mainly restricted to areas with arid climate, alkaline soil and low rainfall. consequently, most of the reported cases in brazil have occurred in the northeastern region. we report three cases of pulmonary coccidioidomycosis occurring between 2005 and 2006 in an endemic area in the state of ceará, brazil. the three patients were immunocompetent ...200919390727
wild ecotopes and food habits of triatoma longipennis infected by trypanosoma cruzi lineages i and ii in mexico.the control of wild triatomine populations that can invade dwellings is a major challenge for chagas disease control in mexico, but a better knowledge of the biology of these populations is required to develop appropriate control methods. we describe a new terrestrial ecotope of triatoma longipennis, a principal vector in the occidental part of mexico, in addition to its previously identified niche in rock pile boundary walls. analysis of feeding hosts in the two ecotopes showed that this specie ...200919478263
health assessment of free-ranging three-banded (tolypeutes matacus) and nine-banded (dasypus novemcinctus) armadillos in the gran chaco, bolivia.the gran chaco, bolivia, has a total of seven species of armadillos with the three-banded (tolypeutes matacus) and nine-banded (dasypus novemcinctus) the most commonly hunted by the local isoseño-guarani people. armadillos are known carriers of zoonotic pathogens, including mycobacterium leprae, toxoplasma gondii, and trypanosoma cruzi; thus human handling and consumption of these species may have a significant public health impact. a health assessment that included physical examinations, hemato ...200919569470
research regarding anti-pgl-i antibodies by elisa in wild armadillos from brazil.armadillos have been involved in leprosy transmission and are considered a source of mycobacterium leprae in numerous reports. clinicians from certain areas of the usa consider contact with armadillos a risk factor for leprosy. however, there is a challenge associated with the role of wild armadillos perpetuating human leprosy in the american continent. the presence of anti-pgl-i antibodies was investigated in wild nine-banded armadillos from leprosy-endemic areas in state of espirito santo, bra ...200819618080
the effect of human development on mammal populations of the punta leona private wildlife refuge, costa rica.the effect of human development on six diurnal mammal species was studied using transects in the punta leona private wildlife refuge, puntarenas, costa rica during the dry season months of march and april 2006. individuals/km was recorded for each species in more developed (md) (near paved roads, buildings, construction, or deforested trees) and less developed areas (ld) (secondary forest). the white-faced capuchin monkey (cebus capucinus) (n = 233), coatimundi (nasua narica) (n = 46), and centr ...200919637721
trypanosoma cruzi iic: phylogenetic and phylogeographic insights from sequence and microsatellite analysis and potential impact on emergent chagas disease.trypanosoma cruzi, the etiological agent of chagas disease, is highly genetically diverse. numerous lines of evidence point to the existence of six stable genetic lineages or dtus: tci, tciia, tciib, tciic, tciid, and tciie. molecular dating suggests that t. cruzi is likely to have been an endemic infection of neotropical mammalian fauna for many millions of years. here we have applied a panel of 49 polymorphic microsatellite markers developed from the online t. cruzi genome to document genetic ...200919721699
importance of xenarthrans in the eco-epidemiology of paracoccidioides brasiliensis.several pathogens that cause important zoonotic diseases have been frequently associated with armadillos and other xenarthrans. this mammal group typically has evolved on the south american continent and many of its extant species are seriously threatened with extinction. natural infection of armadillos with paracoccidioides brasiliensis in hyperendemic areas has provided a valuable opportunity for understanding the role of this mammal in the eco-epidemiology of paracoccidioidomycosis (pcm), one ...200919919716
hunting and use of terrestrial fauna used by caiçaras from the atlantic forest coast (brazil).the brazilian atlantic forest is considered one of the hotspots for conservation, comprising remnants of rain forest along the eastern brazilian coast. its native inhabitants in the southeastern coast include the caiçaras (descendants from amerindians and european colonizers), with a deep knowledge on the natural resources used for their livelihood.200919930595
evolution of trappin genes in mammals.trappin is a multifunctional host-defense peptide that has antiproteolytic, antiinflammatory, and antimicrobial activities. the numbers and compositions of trappin paralogs vary among mammalian species: human and sheep have a single trappin-2 gene; mouse and rat have no trappin gene; pig and cow have multiple trappin genes; and guinea pig has a trappin gene and two other derivative genes. independent duplications of trappin genes in pig and cow were observed recently after the species were separ ...201020113469
sex differentiation in the nine-banded armadillo, dasypus novemcinctus. 194720266444
detection of mycobacterium leprae dna in nine-banded armadillos (dasypus novemcinctus) from the andean region of colombia.to use dna detection methodologies to test for m. leprae in nine-banded armadillos inhabiting forested regions located around the cities and towns where leprosy patients have been identified.200920306641
search for mycobacterium leprae in wild mammals.leprosy is still a worldwide public health problem. brazil and india show the highest prevalence rates of the disease. natural infection of armadillos dasypus novemcinctus with mycobacterium leprae has been reported in some regions of the united states. identification of bacilli is difficult, particularly due to its inability to grow in vitro. the use of molecular tools represents a fast and sensitive alternative method for diagnosis of mycobacteriosis. in the present study, the diagnostic metho ...201020428654
non-legalized commerce in game meat in the brazilian amazon: a case study.in tropical forests, wild game meat represents an option or the only protein source for some human populations. this study analyzed the wildlife meat trade destined to human consumption in an open market of the amazon rainforest, brazil. wildlife meat trade was monitored during 2005 through interviews to vendors and consumers in order to evaluate the socioeconomic profile of the sellers, the main species and byproducts sold, their geographical origin, commercial value, frequency of sale and prod ...201020737856
helminths of armadillos, dasypus novemcinctus, in eastern texas. 194620990866
evaluation of a rapid immunochromatographic dipstick test for detection of antibodies to trypanosoma cruzi in dogs experimentally infected with isolates obtained from opossums (didelphis virginiana), armadillos (dasypus novemcinctus), and dogs (canis familiaris) from the united states.dogs are reservoir hosts for trypanosoma cruzi , the causative agent of american trypanosomiasis. a rapid immunochromatographic dipstick test (ict) is available commercially for canine serological testing. the ict was developed with the use of sera from south american dogs, but it is not routinely used in the united states. we evaluated the utility of the ict in detecting anti-t. cruzi antibodies in dogs from the united states. dogs (n  =  64) were experimentally infected with united states' iso ...201021348621
environmental enrichment for a mixed-species nocturnal mammal exhibit.environmental enrichment (ee) is an integral aspect of modern zoo animal management but, empirical evaluation of it is biased toward species housed in single-species groups. nocturnal houses, where several nocturnal species are housed together, are particularly overlooked. this study investigated whether three species (nine-banded armadillos, dasypus novemcinctus; senegal bush babies, galago senegalensis; two-toed sloths, choloepus didactylus) in the nocturnal house at paignton zoo environmental ...201621387395
permanent genetic resources added to molecular ecology resources database 1 april 2010 - 31 may 2010.this article documents the addition of 396 microsatellite marker loci to the molecular ecology resources database. loci were developed for the following species: anthocidaris crassispina, aphis glycines, argyrosomus regius, astrocaryum sciophilum, dasypus novemcinctus, delomys sublineatus, dermatemys mawii, fundulus heteroclitus, homalaspis plana, jumellea rossii, khaya senegalensis, mugil cephalus, neoceratitis cyanescens, phalacrocorax aristotelis, phytophthora infestans, piper cordulatum, pte ...201021565124
genetic admixture in multidimensional environmental space: asymmetrical niche similarity promotes gene flow in armadillos (dasypus novemcinctus).we unite genetic data with a robust test of niche divergence to test the hypothesis that patterns of gene flow between two lineages of the nine-banded armadillo are influenced by their climatic niches. we collected geographical information system (gis) data on climate using locality information from 111 individuals from two lineages that had associated genetic material. we tested whether niches of these lineages were more conserved or divergent than the background environments of their geographi ...201121884050
epidemiological factors related to the transmission risk of trypanosoma cruzi in a quilombola community, state of mato grosso do sul, brazil.this work was an epidemiological investigation of the risk of trypanosoma cruzi transmission in the rural quilombola community of furnas do dionízio, state of mato grosso do sul, brazil.201122031072
hansen's disease (leprosy): current and future pharmacotherapy and treatment of disease-related immunologic reactions.hansen's disease, also known as leprosy, remains an important public health problem throughout the world, including north america. the causative microbe in hansen's disease is mycobacterium leprae, an acid-fast organism that is difficult to grow in vitro. the nine-banded armadillo is the major animal reservoir in the united states. manifestations of disease vary based on host immune response and can range from tuberculoid to lepromatous leprosy (paucibacillary to multibacillary disease). hansen' ...201222392826
the fetomaternal interface in the placenta of three species of armadillos (eutheria, xenarthra, dasypodidae).placental characters vary among xenarthra, one of four supraordinal clades of eutheria. armadillos are known for villous, haemochorial placentas similar to humans. only the nine-banded armadillo has been well studied so far.201222559925
detection of paracoccidioides spp. in environmental aerosol samples.taking into account that paracoccidioidomycosis infection occurs by inhalation of the asexual conidia produced by paracoccidioides spp. in its saprobic phase, this work presents the collection of aerosol samples as an option for environmental detection of this pathogen, by positioning a cyclonic air sampler at the entrance of armadillo burrows. methods included direct culture, extinction technique culture and nested pcr of the rrna coding sequence, comprising the its1-5.8s-its2 region. in additi ...201322762209
the sylvatic transmission cycle of trypanosoma cruzi in a rural area in the humid chaco of argentina.little is known about the sylvatic transmission cycle of trypanosoma cruzi in the gran chaco ecoregion. we conducted surveys to identify the main sylvatic hosts of t. cruzi, parasite discrete typing units and vector species involved in pampa del indio, a rural area in the humid argentinean chaco. a total of 44 mammals from 14 species were captured and examined for infection by xenodiagnosis and polymerase chain reaction amplification of the hyper-variable region of kinetoplast dna minicircles of ...201222771688
trypanosoma cruzi iii from armadillos (dasypus novemcinctus novemcinctus) from northeastern venezuela and its biological behavior in murine model. risk of emergency of chagas' disease.trypanosoma cruzi, etiological agent of chagas' disease, was isolated from armadillos (dasypus novemcinctus novemcinctus) captured in rural communities northeastern venezuela from nueva esparta state (no endemic for chagas' disease), monagas and anzoátegui states (endemics). the isolates, genetically typed by pcr-rflp as belonging to the tciii dtu, have demonstrated in murine model heterogenic parasitemia, mortality and histotropism with marked parasitism in cardiac, skeletal, and smooth myocyte ...201222902748
spermatogenesis is seasonal in the large hairy armadillo, chaetophractus villosus (dasypodidae, xenarthra, mammalia).very little is known about the distinct reproductive biology of armadillos. very few studies have investigated armadillo spermatogenesis, with data available only for euphractus sexcinctus and dasypus novemcinctus. in the present study, we analysed male germ cell differentiation in the large hairy armadillo chaetophractus villosus throughout the year, describing a cycle of the seminiferous epithelium made of eight different stages. evaluation of the testis/body mass ratio, analysis of the archit ...201322951275
molecular evolution of the neurohypophysial hormone precursors in mammals: comparative genomics reveals novel mammalian oxytocin and vasopressin analogues.among vertebrates the neurohypophysial hormones show considerable variation. however, in eutherian mammals they have been considered rather conserved, with arginine vasopressin (avp) and oxytocin (ot) in all species except pig and some relatives, where lysine vasopressin replaces avp. the availability of genomic data for a wide range of mammals makes it possible to assess whether these peptides and their precursors may be more variable in eutheria than previously suspected. a survey of these dat ...201222995712
discrete typing units of trypanosoma cruzi identified in rural dogs and cats in the humid argentinean chaco.the discrete typing units (dtus) of trypanosoma cruzi that infect domestic dogs and cats have rarely been studied. with this purpose we conducted a cross-sectional xenodiagnostic survey of dog and cat populations residing in 2 infested rural villages in pampa del indio, in the humid argentine chaco. parasites were isolated by culture from 44 dogs and 12 cats with a positive xenodiagnosis. dtus were identified from parasite culture samples using a strategy based on multiple polymerase-chain react ...201323058180
validation of a poisson-distributed limiting dilution assay (lda) for a rapid and accurate resolution of multiclonal infections in natural trypanosoma cruzi populations.trypanosoma cruzi is the causative agent of american trypanosomiasis, a complex zoonotic disease that affects more than 10million people in the americas. strains of this parasite possess a significant amount of genetic variability and hence can be divided into at least six discrete typing units (dtus). the life cycle of this protist suggests that multiclonal infections may emerge due to the likelihood of contact of triatomine insects with more than 100 mammal species. to date, there have been a ...201323159798
the armadillo: a model for the neuropathy of leprosy and potentially other neurodegenerative diseases.leprosy (also known as hansen's disease) is an infectious peripheral neurological disorder caused by mycobacterium leprae that even today leaves millions of individuals worldwide with life-long disabilities. the specific mechanisms by which this bacterium induces nerve injury remain largely unknown, mainly owing to ethical and practical limitations in obtaining affected human nerve samples. in addition to humans, nine-banded armadillos (dasypus novemcinctus) are the only other natural host of m. ...201323223615
mycobacterium leprae in six-banded (euphractus sexcinctus) and nine-banded armadillos (dasypus novemcinctus) in northeast brazil.human beings are the main reservoir of the causative agent of leprosy, mycobacterium leprae. in the americas, nine-banded armadillos (dasypus novemcinctus) also act as a reservoir for the bacillus. in the state of ceará (ce), which is located in northeast brazil and is an endemic area of leprosy, there are several species of armadillos, including d. novemcinctus and euphractus sexcinctus (six-banded armadillo). contact between humans and armadillos occur mainly through hunting, cleaning, prepari ...201223283473
molecular decay of enamel matrix protein genes in turtles and other edentulous amniotes.secondary edentulism (toothlessness) has evolved on multiple occasions in amniotes including several mammalian lineages (pangolins, anteaters, baleen whales), birds, and turtles. all edentulous amniote clades have evolved from ancestors with enamel-capped teeth. previous studies have documented the molecular decay of tooth-specific genes in edentulous mammals, all of which lost their teeth in the cenozoic, and birds, which lost their teeth in the cretaceous. by contrast with mammals and birds, t ...201323342979
new sylvatic hosts of trypanosoma cruzi and their reservoir competence in the humid chaco of argentina: a longitudinal study.a four-year longitudinal study of the structure of sylvatic transmission cycles of trypanosoma cruzi, reservoir host competence and parasite discrete typing units was conducted in a disturbed rural area of the humid chaco in argentina. among 190 mammals examined by xenodiagnosis and polymerase chain reaction amplification, the composite prevalence of infection was substantially higher in dasypus novemcinctus armadillos (57.7%) and didelphis albiventris opossums (38.1%) than in euphractus sexcinc ...201323530075
metal accumulation in wild nine-banded armadillos.nine-banded armadillos (dasypus novemcinctus) are widespread and abundant new world mammals with a lifestyle that entails prolonged, intimate contact with soils. thus, armadillos would seem a promising candidate as a sentinel species to monitor chemical contamination in terrestrial ecosystems. surprisingly, there have been virtually no toxicology studies on armadillos. here, we provide the first analysis of metal contaminants for wild armadillos. liver tissues were obtained from 302 armadillos c ...201323794189
population dynamics and range expansion in nine-banded armadillos.understanding why certain species can successfully colonize new areas while others do not is a central question in ecology. the nine-banded armadillo (dasypus novemcinctus) is a conspicuous example of a successful invader, having colonized much of the southern united states in the last 200 years. we used 15 years (1992-2006) of capture-mark-recapture data from a population of armadillos in northern florida in order to estimate, and examine relationships among, various demographic parameters that ...201323844183
aspidodera kinsellai n. sp. (nematoda: heterakoidea) from nine-banded armadillos in middle america with notes on phylogeny and host-parasite biogeography.aspidodera kinsellai n. sp. (heterakoidea: aspidoderidae) from the 9-banded armadillo, dasypus novemcinctus , is herein described. this nematode occurs from costa rica north through central mexico where it can be found causing co-infections with aspidodera sogandaresi . aspidodera kinsellai n. sp. can be discriminated from this and all other species in the family based on 3 key features, including (1) conspicuous lateral grooves with no lateral alae starting immediately after the hood and termin ...201323909482
trans-sialidase inhibition assay detects trypanosoma cruzi infection in different wild mammal species.the detection of trypanosoma cruzi infection in mammals is crucial for understanding the eco-epidemiological role of the different species involved in parasite transmission cycles. xenodiagnosis (xd) and hemoculture (hc) are routinely used to detect t. cruzi in wild mammals. serological methods are much more limited because they require the use of specific antibodies to immunoglobulins of each mammalian species susceptible to t. cruzi. in this study we detected t. cruzi infection by trans-sialid ...201323930975
monitoring the status and trends of tropical forest terrestrial vertebrate communities from camera trap data: a tool for conservation.reducing the loss of biodiversity is key to ensure the future well being of the planet. indicators to measure the state of biodiversity should come from primary data that are collected using consistent field methods across several sites, longitudinal, and derived using sound statistical methods that correct for observation/detection bias. in this paper we analyze camera trap data collected between 2008 and 2012 at a site in costa rica (volcan barva transect) as part of an ongoing tropical forest ...201324023898
earthworms near leprosy patients' homes are negative for acid-fast bacilli by fite stain, providing no link between leprous armadillos (dasypus novemcinctus) and human leprosy.enzootic leprosy has been recognized in armadillos in louisiana since 1975. contact with armadillos is being assessed as a risk factor for leprosy in three white women, lifelong residents of separate rural areas in northern louisiana, which is a region without endemic leprosy. none has had any known exposure to human leprosy. each was aware of armadillos (dasypus novemcinctus) near or under her home for decades. in considering possible environmental sources formycobacterium leprae, we observed t ...198924197127
isolation and characterization of peptidoglycan recognition protein 1 from antler base of sika deer (cervus nippon).peptidoglycan recognition proteins (pgrps) are secreted innate immunity pattern recognition molecules. in this study, a new peptidoglycan recognition protein 1 named cnpgrp1 was isolated from an antler base of sika deer cervus nippon. the antler base antimicrobial proteins (aap) were subjected to consecutive chromatographic methods connected to sephadex g-25 gel filtration column (cm) anion-exchange column, and rp-hplc. the molecular weight of cnpgrp1 was 17.2 kda under sds-page, and peptide mas ...201424360898
a new dasypodini armadillo (xenarthra: cingulata) from san gregorio formation, pliocene of venezuela: affinities and biogeographic interpretations.we describe pliodasypus vergelianus gen. et sp. nov., a dasypodini armadillo from the middle pliocene of venezuela (vergel member, san gregorio formation). although scarce, the remains are remarkable because of their geochronologic proximity to the main phase of great american biotic interchange (gabi). the cladistic analysis conducted reveals that pliodasypus groups with dasypus and both are sister taxa of propraopus, whereas anadasypus is at a basal position. with respect to the records of tri ...201424414134
use of medicinal fauna in mexican traditional medicine.mexico has great biodiversity of fauna. the use of fauna with medicinal properties is a common practice since pre-hispanic times. in the last decade, there has been an interest in ethnozoological studies in mexico. therefore, more studies are needed in order to gather information regarding the use of fauna with medicinal properties in méxico. ethnozoological studies are necessary in order to discover new medications for human health. this review presents current information in terms of ethnozool ...201424440438
the dasypodidae (mammalia, xenarthra) from the urso fóssil cave (quaternary), parque nacional de ubajara, state of ceará, brazil: paleoecological and taxonomic aspects.this paper deals with xenarthrans osteoderms assigned to dasypus aff. d. novemcinctus, euphractus sexcinctus and cabassous sp. the material was collected in subsurface, from 0.10 to 0.60 m in the urso fóssil cave, parque nacional de ubajara, state of ceará, northeastern brazil. the ages of sediment samples from levels 4 and 5 (depths of 0.40 and 0.50 m) were determined by thermoluminescence technique, and indicated ages of 8,000 and 8,200 years bp for each layer respectively. the presence in the ...201424519005
sporothrix schenckii sensu stricto isolated from soil in an armadillo's burrow.sporotrichosis is a polymorphic disease of man and animals caused by traumatic implantation of propagules into the skin and subcutaneous tissue. pathogenic species includes s. brasiliensis, s. schenckii, s. globosa and s. luriei. the disease is remarkable for its occurrence as sapronoses and/or zoonosis outbreaks in tropical and subtropical areas; although, the ecology of the clinical clade is still puzzling. here, we describe an anamorphic sporothrix strain isolated from soil in an armadillo's ...201424577793
the armadillo as a model for peripheral neuropathy in leprosy.leprosy (also known as hansen's disease) is a chronic infectious disease caused by mycobacterium leprae that primarily targets the peripheral nervous system; skin, muscle, and other tissues are also affected. other than humans, nine-banded armadillos (dasypus novemcinctus) are the only natural hosts of m. leprae, and they are the only laboratory animals that develop extensive neurological involvement with this bacterium. infection in the armadillo closely recapitulates many of the structural, ph ...201424615444
molecular identification of trypanosomatids in wild animals.diverse wild animal species can be reservoirs of zoonotic flagellate parasites, which can cause pathologic chagas disease. the present study aimed to detect the natural occurrence of flagellate parasites through direct microscopic examination of the parasites in blood samples and through pcr of whole blood and blood culture (haemoculture) samples from 38 captive and 65 free-living wild animals in the centre for conservation of wild fauna (ccwf), an area endemic for leishmaniasis. for this study, ...201424636787
genetic characterization of toxoplasma gondii from brazilian wildlife revealed abundant new genotypes.this study aimed to isolate and genotype t. gondii from brazilian wildlife. for this purpose, 226 samples were submitted to mice bioassay and screened by pcr based on 18s rrna sequences. a total of 15 t. gondii isolates were obtained, including samples from four armadillos (three dasypus novemcinctus, one euphractus sexcinctus), three collared anteaters (tamandua tetradactyla), three whited-lipped peccaries (tayassu pecari), one spotted paca (cuniculus paca), one oncilla (leopardus tigrinus), on ...201425426424
mechanisms of nerve injury in leprosy.all patients with leprosy have some degree of nerve involvement. perineural inflammation is the histopathologic hallmark of leprosy, and this localization may reflect a vascular route of entry of mycobacterium leprae into nerves. once inside nerves, m. leprae are ingested by schwann cells, with a wide array of consequences. axonal atrophy may occur early in this process; ultimately, affected nerves undergo segmental demyelination. knowledge of the mechanisms of nerve injury in leprosy has been g ...201425432810
genomic evidence for rod monochromacy in sloths and armadillos suggests early subterranean history for xenarthra.rod monochromacy is a rare condition in vertebrates characterized by the absence of cone photoreceptor cells. the resulting phenotype is colourblindness and low acuity vision in dim-light and blindness in bright-light conditions. early reports of xenarthrans (armadillos, sloths and anteaters) suggest that they are rod monochromats, but this has not been tested with genomic data. we searched the genomes of dasypus novemcinctus (nine-banded armadillo), choloepus hoffmanni (hoffmann's two-toed slot ...201525540280
the correct name of the endemic dasypus (cingulata: dasypodidae) from northwestern argentina.we show that dasypus mazzai yepes 1933 is a senior synonym of dasypus yepesi vizcaíno 1995. we present morphological evidence that the holotype of d. mazzai is not a juvenile of dasypus novemcinctus or any other species of this genus, but a distinct endemic species from northwestern argentina undistinguishable from d. yepesi. therefore, the correct name for the long-nosed armadillo of intermediate size occurring in the argentinean provinces of jujuy and salta is dasypus mazzai yepes 1933.201425543926
[diversity, relative abundance and activity patterns of medium and large mammals in a tropical deciduous forest in the isthmus of tehuantepec, oaxaca, mexico].the use of camera traps and mammal track search are complementary methods to monitoring species of which is not well documented their natural history, as in the case of medium and large mammals. to ensure its conservation and good management, it is necessary to generate information about the structure of the community and their populations. the objective of the present study was to estimate the diversity, relative abundance and activity patterns of medium and large mammals in a tropical deciduou ...201425720178
[wildlife damage mitigation in agricultural crops in a bolivian montane forest].wildlife is often blamed for causing damage to human activities, including agricultural practices and the result may be a conflict between human interests and species conservation. a formal assessment of the magnitude of damage is necessary to adequately conduct management practices and an assessment of the efficiency of different management practices is necessary to enable managers to mitigate the conflict with rural people. this study was carried out to evaluate the effectiveness of agricultur ...201425720183
in vivo strains in the femur of the nine-banded armadillo (dasypus novemcinctus).the capacity of limb bones to resist the locomotor loads they encounter depends on both the pattern of those loads and the material properties of the skeletal elements. among mammals, understanding of the interplay between these two factors has been based primarily on evidence from locomotor behaviors in upright placentals, which show limb bones that are loaded predominantly in anteroposterior bending with minimal amounts of torsion. however, loading patterns from the femora of opossums, marsupi ...201525809577
squamous cell carcinoma in a nine-banded armadillo (dasypus novemcinctus).squamous cell carcinomas (sccs) are tumors that occur in most animals and show strong invasiveness into surrounding tissues and nearby osseous tissues. this report describes a case of scc in a 5-yr-old female nine-banded armadillo (dasypus novemcinctus) with a hemorrhagic mass on the left mandibular region. the tumor originated in skin tissues and showed invasion of the oral cavity, adjacent to the submandibular salivary gland histologically. to our knowledge, this is the first report of a scc i ...201526056888
the curse of the nine-banded armadillo: case report and review.hansen's disease (leprosy) is an ancient condition characterized by hypopigmented patches that progress to become plaques with hypoesthesia. several case reports suggest that armadillos may be a source of mycobacterium leprae for clinical cases, and contact with armadillos has been shown to be a significant risk factor in several case-control studies. early diagnosis and treatment result in an excellent prognosis and provide an effective means to prevent complications of peripheral nerve injury, ...201526126264
zoonotic leprosy in the southeastern united states.nine-banded armadillos (dasypus novemcinctus) are naturally infected with mycobacterium leprae and have been implicated in zoonotic transmission of leprosy. early studies found this disease mainly in texas and louisiana, but armadillos in the southeastern united states appeared to be free of infection. we screened 645 armadillos from 8 locations in the southeastern united states not known to harbor enzootic leprosy for m. leprae dna and antibodies. we found m. leprae-infected armadillos at each ...201526583204
inactivation of c4orf26 in toothless placental mammals.previous studies have reported inactivated copies of six enamel-related genes (ambn, amel, amtn, enam, klk4, mmp20) and one dentin-related gene (dspp) in one or more toothless vertebrates and/or vertebrates with enamelless teeth, thereby providing evidence that these genes are enamel or tooth-specific with respect to their critical functions that are maintained by natural selection. here, we employ available genome sequences for edentulous and enamelless mammals to evaluate the enamel specificit ...201626596502
a comparative study of trypanosoma cruzi infection in sylvatic mammals from a protected and a disturbed area in the argentine chaco.understanding the complex epidemiology of trypanosoma cruzi transmission cycles requires comparative studies in widely different environments. we assessed the occurrence of t. cruzi infection in sylvatic mammals, their infectiousness to the vector, and parasite genotypes in a protected area of the argentine chaco, and compared them with information obtained similarly in a nearby disturbed area. a total of 278 mammals from >23 species in the protected area were diagnosed for t. cruzi infection us ...201626708994
metal accumulation in wild-caught opossum.the virginia opossum (didelphis virginiana) is widespread in the usa, ranging south through latin america. the ecology of opossums is such that they are in frequent contact with soils, suggesting that they may function as a valuable bioindicator for chemical contamination in terrestrial environments. surprisingly, there have been virtually no toxicology studies on opossums. here, we provide the first analysis of metal contaminants in opossum liver tissues. liver samples were obtained from 471 op ...201627138002
patterns of mycobacterium leprae infection in wild nine-banded armadillos (dasypus novemcinctus) in mississippi, usa.the nine-banded armadillo ( dasypus novemcinctus ) is the only known nonhuman reservoir of mycobacterium leprae , the causative agent of hansen's disease or leprosy. we conducted a 6-yr study on a wild population of armadillos in western mississippi that was exposed to m. leprae to evaluate the importance of demographic and spatial risk factors on individual antibody status. we found that spatially derived covariates were not predictive of antibody status. furthermore, analyses revealed no evide ...201627195687
pauci- and multibacillary leprosy: two distinct, genetically neglected diseases.after sustained exposure to mycobacterium leprae, only a subset of exposed individuals develops clinical leprosy. moreover, leprosy patients show a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations that extend from the paucibacillary (pb) to the multibacillary (mb) form of the disease. this "polarization" of leprosy has long been a major focus of investigation for immunologists because of the different immune response in these two forms. but while leprosy per se has been shown to be under tight human gen ...201627219008
behavioral responses of three armadillo species (mammalia: xenarthra) to an environmental enrichment program in villavicencio, colombia.enrichment is a powerful tool to improve the welfare of animals under human care. stress-related health and behavioral problems, as well as reproductive failure, are frequent in armadillos (xenarthra, cingulata, dasypodidae) under human care, which hinders the development of successful ex situ conservation programs. nevertheless, scientific studies on the effect of enrichment programs on armadillos are virtually non-existent. the objective of this study was to assess the impact of an enrichment ...201627272640
the fetal-maternal interface of the nine-banded armadillo: endothelial cells of maternal sinus are partially replaced by trophoblast.the evolution of invasive placentation in the stem lineage of eutherian mammals entailed resolution of the incompatibility between a semi-allogenic fetus and the maternal immune system. the haemochorial placenta of nine-banded armadillo (dasypus novemcinctus) is thought to conceal itself from the maternal immune system to some degree by developing inside a preformed blood sinus, with minimal contact with the uterine connective tissue. in the present study, we elucidate the micro-anatomical relat ...201627284459
genome-wide screening of retroviral envelope genes in the nine-banded armadillo (dasypus novemcinctus, xenarthra) reveals an unfixed chimeric endogenous betaretrovirus using the asct2 receptor.retroviruses enter host cells through the interaction of their envelope (env) protein with a cell surface receptor, which triggers the fusion of viral and cellular membranes. the sodium-dependent neutral amino acid transporter asct2 is the common receptor of the large rd114 retrovirus interference group, whose members display frequent env recombination events. germ line retrovirus infections have led to numerous inherited endogenous retroviruses (ervs) in vertebrate genomes, which provide useful ...201627384664
vertebral bending mechanics and xenarthrous morphology in the nine-banded armadillo (dasypus novemcinctus).the vertebral column has evolved to accommodate the broad range of locomotor pressures found across vertebrate lineages. xenarthran (armadillos, sloths and anteaters) vertebral columns are characterized by xenarthrous articulations, novel intervertebral articulations located in the posterior trunk that are hypothesized to stiffen the vertebral column to facilitate digging. to determine the degree to which xenarthrous articulations impact vertebral movement, we passively measured compliance and r ...201627473436
gross osteology, radiographic and computed tomographic morphology of the axial skeleton of the nine-banded armadillo (dasypus novemcinctus).this study used 20 nine-banded armadillo, four in vivo and 16 cadavers, to describe the osteoarticular anatomy of the axial skeleton by means of digital radiography and computed tomography. vertebral formula obtained in this sample specimens was seven cervical, 10 thoracic, five lumbar, nine vertebrae related to the synsacrum and 20-27 free caudal vertebrae. peculiar features of this species were noted as the presence of xenarthrous processes in the caudal thoracic vertebra to the last lumbar ve ...201727611500
metal accumulation in bobcats in the southeastern usa.bobcats (lynx rufus) are wide-ranging mammals found throughout the continental usa. as carnivores near the top of their food chain, bobcats would seem to be a useful bioindicator of metal pollution in terrestrial environments. however, there is very limited research on bobcats in toxicology studies. here, we offer the first analysis of metal (copper, selenium, silver, and zinc) contaminants in the livers of wild bobcats. liver tissues from 120 adult bobcats (i.e., estimated to be ≥1 year old) we ...201627629555
genotyping of toxoplasma gondii and sarcocystis spp. in road-killed wild mammals from the central western region of the state of são paulo, brazil.road-killed wild animals host zoonotic pathogens such as toxoplasma gondii, offering a new opportunity for the epidemiological study of these infectious organisms.201627812655
molecular evolution of pten pseudogenes in mammals.phosphatase and tensin homolog (pten) is a tumor-suppressor gene. pten pseudogene (ptenp) acts as an endogenous rna, which regulates its parental gene by competitively binding to the 3' utr of pten gene in the human. despite the importance of this pseudogene, little is known about the molecular evolution of ptenp in mammals. in this study, we identified 37 pseudogenes from 65 mammalian genomes. among them, 32 were from rodents or primates. phylogenetic analyse showed a complex evolutionary histo ...201627936183
orientation selectivity in the visual cortex of the nine-banded armadillo.orientation selectivity in primary visual cortex (v1) has been proposed to reflect a canonical computation performed by the neocortical circuitry. although orientation selectivity has been reported in all mammals examined to date, the degree of selectivity and the functional organization of selectivity vary across mammalian clades. the differences in degree of orientation selectivity are large, from reports in marsupials that only a small subset of neurons are selective to studies in carnivores, ...201728053246
amblyomma auricularium (ixodida: ixodidae) in florida: new hosts and distribution records.previous published evidence for the occurrence of an exotic armadillo tick, amblyomma auricularium (conil), in florida is scant, but we found it is fully established and integrated into the state's tick fauna. we collected 11,192 specimens of this tick from naturalized nine-banded armadillos, dasypus novemcinctus l., and 14 other species of wild native mammals and birds in florida, while sampling statewide during 2004 through 2007. in all, we document its specific presence only in 14 contiguous ...201728082640
hosts and vectors of trypanosoma cruzi discrete typing units in the chagas disease endemic region of the paraguayan chaco.active trypanosoma cruzi transmission persists in the gran chaco region, which is considered hyperendemic for chagas disease. understanding domestic and sylvatic transmission cycles and therefore the relationship between vectors and mammalian hosts is crucial to designing and implementing improved effective control strategies. here we describe the species of triatomine vectors and the sylvatic mammal reservoirs of t. cruzi, in different localities of the paraguayan and bolivian chaco. we identif ...201728179034
functional responses of cougars (puma concolor) in a multiple prey-species system.the study of predator-prey interactions is commonly analyzed using functional responses to gain an understanding of predation patterns and the impact they have on prey populations. despite this, little is known about predator-prey systems with multiple prey species in sites near the equator. here we studied the functional response of cougars (puma concolor) in sierra nanchititla natural reserve (mexico), in relation to their main prey, armadillo (dasypus novemcinctus), coati (nasua narica) and w ...201728261959
paracoccidioidesspp.: virulence factors and immune-evasion strategies.paracoccidioidesspp. are dimorphic fungal pathogens responsible for one of the most relevant systemic mycoses in latin america, paracoccidioidomycosis (pcm). their exact ecological niche remains unknown; however, they have been isolated from soil samples and armadillos (dasypus novemcinctus), which have been proposed as animal reservoir for these fungi. human infection occurs by inhalation of conidia or mycelia fragments and is mostly associated with immunocompetent hosts inhabiting and/or worki ...201728553014
novel piroplasmid and hepatozoon organisms infecting the wildlife of two regions of the brazilian amazon.during 2009-2012, wild animals were sampled in two areas within the amazon biome of brazil, in the states of mato grosso and pará. animal tissues and blood were molecularly tested for the presence of piroplasmida (genera babesia, theileria, cytauxzoon) or hepatozoon dna. overall, 181 wild animals comprising 36 different species (2 reptiles, 5 birds, and 29 mammals) were sampled. the following piroplasmida agents were detected: cytauxzoon felis in one ocelot (leopardus pardalis), theileria cervi ...201728603688
eosinophilic meningoencephalitis associated with rat lungworm (angiostrongylus cantonensis) migration in two nine-banded armadillos (dasypus novemcinctus) and an opossum (didelphis virginiana) in the southeastern united states.angiostrongylus cantonensis, the rat lungworm, was the cause of neural larval migrans in two nine-banded armadillos (dasypus novemcinctus) and one virginia opossum (didelphis virginiana) from the southeastern united states. histologic findings in all three cases included eosinophilic meningoencephalitis with variable numbers of nematode larvae in the meninges or the neuroparenchyma. in two of the three cases, nematodes were extracted from brain tissue via a "squash prep" method. identification o ...201728626635
morphology of laryngeal cartilage of the nine-banded armadillo (dasypus novemcinctus) linnaeus, 1758.armadillos, xenarthras representatives, known for adaptability to different ecosystems, own specific morphophysiological characteristics that are not known and deserve to be studied. the aim of this study was to describe the morphology of cartilage of the larynx of the nine-banded armadillo (dasypus novemcinctus). five dead armadillos were donated by the chico mendes institute of biodiversity (icmbio-pi) to the federal university of piauí. the animals were fixed and dissected for removal of the ...201728653483
evolutionary analysis of fam83h in vertebrates.amelogenesis imperfecta is a group of disorders causing abnormalities in enamel formation in various phenotypes. many mutations in the fam83h gene have been identified to result in autosomal dominant hypocalcified amelogenesis imperfecta in different populations. however, the structure and function of fam83h and its pathological mechanism have yet to be further explored. evolutionary analysis is an alternative for revealing residues or motifs that are important for protein function. in the prese ...201728683132
the hidden anatomy of paranasal sinuses reveals biogeographically distinct morphotypes in the nine-banded armadillo (dasypus novemcinctus).with their pan-american distribution, long-nosed armadillos (genusdasypus) constitute an understudied model for neotropical biogeography. this genus currently comprises seven recognized species, the nine-banded armadillo (d. novemcinctus) having the widest distribution ranging from northern argentina to the south-eastern us. with their broad diversity of habitats, nine-banded armadillos provide a useful model to explore the effects of climatic and biogeographic events on morphological diversity ...201728828240
beyond the carapace: skull shape variation and morphological systematics of long-nosed armadillos (genusdasypus).the systematics of long-nosed armadillos (genusdasypus) has been mainly based on a handful of external morphological characters and classical measurements. here, we studied the pattern of morphological variation in the skull of long-nosed armadillos species, with a focus on the systematics of the widely distributed nine-banded armadillo (dasypus novemcinctus).201728828252
atlantic-camtraps: a dataset of medium and large terrestrial mammal communities in the atlantic forest of south america.our understanding of mammal ecology has always been hindered by the difficulties of observing species in closed tropical forests. camera trapping has become a major advance for monitoring terrestrial mammals in biodiversity rich ecosystems. here we compiled one of the largest datasets of inventories of terrestrial mammal communities for the neotropical region based on camera trapping studies. the dataset comprises 170 surveys of medium to large terrestrial mammals using camera traps conducted in ...201728857166
prevalence of trypanosoma cruzi and other trypanosomatids in frequently-hunted wild mammals from the peruvian amazon.to better understand the ecology of trypanosoma cruzi in the northeastern peruvian amazon, we evaluated the prevalence of t. cruzi and other trypanosomatids in four orders of wild mammals hunted and consumed by inhabitants of three remote indigenous communities in the peruvian amazon. of 300 wild mammals sampled, 115 (38.3%) were infected with trypanosomatids and 15 (5.0%) with t. cruzi. the prevalence of t. cruzi within each species was as follows: large rodents (cuniculus paca, 5.5%; dasyproct ...201729140234
trypanosoma cruzi strain tciv infects raccoons from illinois.the northern limits of trypanosoma cruzi across the territory of the united states remain unknown. the known vectors triatoma sanguisuga and t. lecticularia find their northernmost limits in illinois; yet, earlier screenings of those insects did not reveal the presence of the pathogen, which has not been reported in vectors or reservoir hosts in this state.201829211106
classics revisited: miguel fernández on germ layer inversion and specific polyembryony in armadillos.miguel fernández was an argentinian zoologist who published the first account of obligate polyembryony in armadillos. his contribution is here discussed in relation to his contemporaries, newman and patterson, and more recent work.201829277272
mycobacterium leprae genomes from naturally infected nonhuman primates.leprosy is caused by the bacterial pathogens mycobacterium leprae and mycobacterium lepromatosis. apart from humans, animals such as nine-banded armadillos in the americas and red squirrels in the british isles are naturally infected with m. leprae. natural leprosy has also been reported in certain nonhuman primates, but it is not known whether these occurrences are due to incidental infections by human m. leprae strains or by m. leprae strains specific to nonhuman primates. in this study, compl ...201829381722
the armadillo (dasypus novemcinctus): a witness but not a functional example for the emergence of the butyrophilin 3/vγ9vδ2 system in placental mammals.1-5% of human blood t cells are vγ9vδ2 t cells whose t cell receptor (tcr) contain a trgv9/trgjp rearrangement and a trdv2 comprising vδ2-chain. they respond to phosphoantigens (pags) like isopentenyl pyrophosphate or (e)-4-hydroxy-3-methyl-but-2-enyl-pyrophosphate (hmbpp) in a butyrophilin 3 (btn3)-dependent manner and may contribute to the control of mycobacterial infections. these cells were thought to be restricted to primates, but we demonstrated by analysis of genomic databases that trgv9, ...201829527206
lepvax, a defined subunit vaccine that provides effective pre-exposure and post-exposure prophylaxis of m. leprae infection.sustained elimination of leprosy as a global health concern likely requires a vaccine. the current standard, bcg, confers only partial protection and precipitates paucibacillary (pb) disease in some instances. when injected into mice with the t helper 1 (th1)-biasing adjuvant formulation glucopyranosyl lipid adjuvant in stable emulsion (gla-se), a cocktail of three prioritized antigens (ml2055, ml2380 and ml2028) reduced m. leprae infection levels. recognition and protective efficacy of a single ...201829619252
differential growth of mycobacterium leprae strains (snp genotypes) in armadillos.leprosy (hansen's disease) has occurred throughout human history, and persists today at a low prevalence in most populations. caused by mycobacterium leprae, the infection primarily involves the skin, mucosa and peripheral nerves. the susceptible host range for mycobacterium leprae is quite narrow. besides humans, nine banded armadillos (dasypus novemcinctus) and red squirrels (sciurus vulgaris) are the only other natural hosts for m. leprae, but only armadillos recapitulate the disease as seen ...201829665434
evidence of zoonotic leprosy in pará, brazilian amazon, and risks associated with human contact or consumption of armadillos.mycobacterium leprae (m. leprae) is a human pathogen and the causative agent for leprosy, a chronic disease characterized by lesions of the skin and peripheral nerve damage. zoonotic transmission of m. leprae to humans by nine-banded armadillos (dasypus novemcinctus) has been shown to occur in the southern united states, mainly in texas, louisiana, and florida. nine-banded armadillos are also common in south america, and residents living in some areas in brazil hunt and kill armadillos as a diet ...201829953440
pelvic sexual dimorphism among species monomorphic in body size: relationship to relative newborn body mass.females have larger pelves than males among eutherians to mitigate obstetrical difficulty. this study addresses 3 issues concerning pelvic sexual dimorphism using 8 species that are sexually monomorphic in nonpelvic size: aotus azarae , castor canadensis , dasypus novemcinctus , hylobates lar , saguinus geoffroyi , sciurus carolinensis , sylvilagus floridanus , and urocyon cinereoargenteus . using published data to compute the index of relative newborn body mass (rnbm = [newborn body mass/adult ...201630302031
leprosy survey among rural communities and wild armadillos from amazonas state, northern brazil.there is evidence that in southern us, leprosy is a zoonosis infecting wild dasypus novemcinctus armadillos but the extent of this finding is unknown. this ecological study investigated leprosy in rural communities and in wild armadillos from the brazilian amazon. the study area was the mamiá lake of coari municipality, amazonas state, northern region, a hyper endemic leprosy area where residents live on subsistence farming, fishing and armadillo hunting and its meat intake are frequent. the lep ...201930629624
neotropical xenarthrans: a data set of occurrence of xenarthran species in the neotropics.xenarthrans-anteaters, sloths, and armadillos-have essential functions for ecosystem maintenance, such as insect control and nutrient cycling, playing key roles as ecosystem engineers. because of habitat loss and fragmentation, hunting pressure, and conflicts with domestic dogs, these species have been threatened locally, regionally, or even across their full distribution ranges. the neotropics harbor 21 species of armadillos, 10 anteaters, and 6 sloths. our data set includes the families chlamy ...201931013542
ontogenetic changes in the long bone microstructure in the nine-banded armadillo (dasypus novemcinctus).analysis of ontogenetic changes in long bone microstructure aid in vertebrate life history reconstructions. specifically, osteohistological examination of common fauna can be used to infer growth strategies of biologically uncommon, threatened, or extinct vertebrates. although nine-banded armadillo biology has been studied extensively, work on growth history is limited. here we describe long bone microstructure in tibiae and femora of a limited ontogenetic series of nine- banded armadillos (dasy ...201931022247
anatomical description of the aortic arch of a rare species "the giant armadillo" (priodontes maximus; kerr, 1792).the giant armadillo (priodontes maximus) is found in diverse habitats from south america. a female adult giant armadillo with a body mass of 45 kg was used. the animal was a victim of trampling on highway ac-40, at 70 km, near the municipality of capixaba-acre and the corpse donated to the animal anatomy laboratory at federal university of acre (ufac). the arterial system was filled with natural latex via the thoracic aorta in a direction opposite the blood flow to facilitate the description of ...202031063200
quantitative analysis of forebrain pallial morphology in monotremes and comparison with that in therians.we have made quantitative volumetric analyses of cerebral cortical (pallial) structures in the brains of three species of monotreme (ornithorhynchus anatinus, tachyglossus aculeatus, zaglossus bruijni) and compared the findings with similar measurements in a range of therian mammals (6 marsupials and 50 placentals). we have found that although the iso- and periallocortical grey matter volume of the monotremes is about what would be expected for their brain size, the proportion of iso- and perial ...201931146906
atlantic mammals: a data set of assemblages of medium- and large-sized mammals of the atlantic forest of south america.biodiversity inventories contain important information about species richness, community structure, and composition, and are the first step in developing any conservation and mitigation strategies. the atlantic forest of south america is home to around 334 species of small-, medium-, and large-sized mammals, and is currently restricted to less than 12% of its original cover. here, we present the atlantic mammals, an open data set on information on medium- and large-sized mammal assemblages in th ...201931180132
macronutrient composition of longitudinal milk samples from captive aardvarks (orycteropus afer).hand-rearing and assisted-rearing aardvarks in captivity has become commonplace and has led to success in breeding the species. however, the macronutrient content of aardvark milk past 1 month of age is unknown. a better understanding of aardvark milk composition would enhance captive management efforts. here, we assayed milk samples from two captive individuals from 2 to 114 days postpartum (n = 21) for dry matter, fat, crude protein, total sugar, ash (total minerals), calcium (ca), phosphorus ...201931267587
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