Publications

ticks (acari: ixodida) on wild carnivores in brazil.	the present study reports field data of ticks infesting wild carnivores captured from july 1998 to september 2004 in brazil. additional data were obtained from one tick collection and from previous published data of ticks on carnivores in brazil. during field work, a total of 3437 ticks were collected from 89 cerdocyon thous (crab-eating fox), 58 chrysocyon brachyurus (maned wolf), 30 puma concolor (puma), 26 panthera onca (jaguar), 12 procyon cancrivorus (crab-eating raccoon), 4 speothos venati ...	2005	16082932
[diversity, natural history and conservation of mammals from san vito de coto brus, costa rica].	although costa rica has been biologically well studied, few areas have complete mammal inventories, which are essential for ecological studies and conservation. the san vito region is considered among the most important for scientific research in the country because of the presence of the wilson botanical garden and las cruces. however, the knowledge of its mammalian fauna is incomplete. we extensively studied the mammals of san vito, compiled a checklist, and evaluated its composition, relative ...	2006	18457190
genetic diversity of the neotropical otter (lontra longicaudis olfers, 1818) in southern and southeastern brazil.	the neotropical otter is one of the least known otter species, and it is considered to be threatened to various degrees throughout its geographic range. little information exists on the ecological characteristics of this species, and no genetic study has been published about it until now, hampering the design of adequate conservation strategies for its populations. to contribute with genetic information to comprehensive conservation efforts on behalf of l. longicaudis, we characterized the molec ...	2007	18278347
determination of hg and diet identification in otter (lontra longicaudis) feces.	an analytical procedure for the determination of hg in otter (lontra longicaudis) feces was developed, to separate fish scales for the identification of the animal diet. samples were washed with ultra-pure water and the suspension was sampled and transferred for digestion. the solubilization was performed with nitric-perchloric acid mixture, and detection carried out by the atomic fluorescence spectrometry (afs). the quality of the analytical procedure was assessed by analyzing in-house standard ...	2008	18037199
re-evaluation of the species composition of bashkirovitrema skrjabin, 1944 (digenea: echinostomatidae), with the description of two new species of this genus and the proposal of kostadinovatrema novaeguiniense n. g., n. sp.	a comparison of specimens previously identified as bashkirovitrema incrassatum (diesing, 1850) from the african or cape clawless otter aonyx capensis, and the speckle-throated or spotted-throated otter hydrictis maculicollis from the old world with specimens and descriptions of b. incrassatum from the new world showed that those from africa (bashkirovitrema africanum n. sp.) had a more extensive distribution of the vitelline fields than either b. canadense n. sp. from the northern river otter lo ...	2009	19789998
serologic survey of brucellosis in captive neotropical wild carnivores in northeast brazil.	abstract. this study reports the detection of antibodies against brucella abortus and b. canis in wild neotropical carnivores kept in captivity in three zoos in northeastern brazil. a total of 42 serum samples were examined, 17 from coatis (nasua nasua), eight from crab-eating raccoons (procyon cancrivorus), three from crab-eating foxes (cerdocyon thous), three from hoary foxes (lycalopex vetulus), two from little spotted cats (leopardus tigrinus), five from tayras (eira barbara), two from great ...	2012	22779245
phylogeography and demographic history of the neotropical otter (lontra longicaudis).	the neotropical otter (lontra longicaudis) is a medium-sized semiaquatic carnivore with a broad distribution in the neotropical region. despite being apparently common in many areas, it is one of the least known otters, and genetic studies on this species are scarce. here, we have investigated its genetic diversity, population structure, and demographic history across a large portion of its geographic range by analyzing 1471 base pairs (bp) of mitochondrial dna from 52 individuals. our results i ...	2012	22589556
heavy metals in the habitat and throughout the food chain of the neotropical otter, lontra longicaudis, in protected mexican wetlands.	top predators like the neotropical otter, lontra longicaudis annectens, are usually considered good bioindicators of habitat quality. in this study, we evaluated heavy metal contamination (hg(tot), pb, cd) in the riverine habitat, prey (crustaceans and fish), and otter feces in two ramsar wetlands with contrasting upstream contamination discharges: río blanco and río caño grande in veracruz, mexico, during the dry, the wet, and the nortes seasons. most comparisons revealed no differences between ...	2013	22527458
feeding ecology of the neotropical otter lontra longicaudis in the lower arroio grande river, southern brazil.	the present study was based on the analysis of spraints (n = 294) collected between december 2005 and november 2007. the importance of each type of prey was determined by absolute and relative frequency. niche breadth was also estimated. the results were reported as mean (± sd) of relative frequencies. fish were the main prey found in spraints (57.8 ± 7.0%). fish from callichthyidae family were the main prey, followed by cichlidae, the species hoplias malabaricus and the family characidae. the f ...	2013	23460432
morphological variability of the cranium of lontra longicaudis (carnivora: mustelidae): a morphometric and geographic analysis.	studies of morphometric variation make it possible to delimit species and geographic intraspecific variation, mainly in species with wide distribution ranges. in the neotropical otter, lontra longicaudis, variation in the shape of the rhinarium of three potential subspecies has been described but it is not known whether there is a pattern to the morphometric variation in the skull throughout the distribution of this species. we analyzed morphological variation in the cranium (ventral view) and t ...	2015	31966137
hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase and inosine 5'-monophosphate dehydrogenase activities in three mammalian species: aquatic (mirounga angustirostris), semi-aquatic (lontra longicaudis annectens) and terrestrial (sus scrofa).	aquatic and semiaquatic mammals have the capacity of breath hold (apnea) diving. northern elephant seals (mirounga angustirostris) have the ability to perform deep and long duration dives; during a routine dive, adults can hold their breath for 25 min. neotropical river otters (lontra longicaudis annectens) can hold their breath for about 30 s. such periods of apnea may result in reduced oxygen concentration (hypoxia) and reduced blood supply (ischemia) to tissues. production of adenosine 5'-tri ...	2015	26283971
discovery of the fossil otter enhydritherium terraenovae (carnivora, mammalia) in mexico reconciles a palaeozoogeographic mystery.	the north american fossil otter enhydritherium terraenovae is thought to be partially convergent in ecological niche with the living sea otter enhydra lutris, both having low-crowned crushing teeth and a close association with marine environments. fossil records of enhydritherium are found in mostly marginal marine deposits in california and florida; despite presence of very rich records of fossil terrestrial mammals in contemporaneous localities inland, no enhydritherium fossils are hitherto kn ...	2017	28615353
cryptosporidium spp. and giardia sp. in aquatic mammals in northern and northeastern brazil.	cryptosporidium and giardia are protozoans that can infect humans and wild and domestic animals. due to the growing importance of diseases caused by protozoan parasites in aquatic species, we aimed to evaluate the frequency of infection by cryptosporidium spp. and giardia sp. in aquatic and marine mammals in the northern and northeastern regions of brazil. we collected 553 fecal samples from 15 species of wild-ranging and captive aquatic mammals in northern and northeastern brazil. all samples w ...	2017	28930082
variation in neotropical river otter (lontra longicaudis) diet: effects of an invasive prey species.	predation is one of the main barriers that exotic species may face in newly colonized areas and may help stop or control the potential negative impacts of invasive species in the environment. we evaluated if the consumption of an invasive prey (armored catfish: pterygoplichtys sp.) affects the dietary niche breadth and trophic level of a native predator (neotropical river otter: lontra longicaudis) in northern guatemala. we examined otter scats from three rivers: two where the invasive armored c ...	2019	31581191
isolation and genetic characterization of toxoplasma gondii from free-ranging and captive birds and mammals in pernambuco state, brazil.	recent genetic population studies on toxoplasma gondii in brazil have shown large genetic variability. the objective of the present study was to isolate and genotypically characterize t. gondii from free-ranging and captive wild mammals and birds in pernambuco state, brazil. fragments of heart, brain, skeletal muscle and diaphragm tissue from 71 birds and 34 mammals, which were either free-ranging or captive, were collected. samples from 32 of these animals were subjected to bioassays in mice. s ...	2019	30184004
quantification of immunoreactive testosterone and estradiol-17ß metabolites to identify the sex of neotropical otters (lontra longicaudis annectens) in the field.	before there was use of ultrasonographic imaging, determination of the ratio of estrogens to androgens in the same individual was a technique used for differentiating the sex of monomorphic animals in captivity, with larger estrogen concentrations in the females. due to species-specific differences in both concentration and changes throughout the year of these hormones, corroboration of the method is needed in each case. in this study, there was use of a chemo-immuno assay to quantify sex steroi ...	2020	33017800
isolation and characterization of 13 microsatellite loci for the neotropical otter, lontra longicaudis, by next generation sequencing.	the neotropical otter, lontra longicaudis, is an ecologically important species for freshwater ecosystems that is threatened due to habitat destruction and hunting. however, there is limited information regarding the population sizes, genetic diversity, genetic structure and gene flow of the species, which is crucial for the elaboration of conservation plans. the aim of this study was to isolate and characterize microsatellites for l. longicaudis, using illumina paired-end-sequencing. initial am ...	2020	31696429