Abstract Protozoa of the Apicomplexa phylum are worldwide distributed with capacity to infect endothermic animals. The study of these protozoa in wild birds in Brazil is scarce. This study aimed to evaluate the occurrence of apicomplexan protozoa in wild birds in the Northeast of Brazil. From October to December 2019, brain tissue samples were collected from 71 captive birds from the Wild Animal Screening Center of the Pernambuco State (CETRAS-Tangara) and 25 free-living birds from the Caatinga biome in Rio Grande do Norte, totaling 96 animals (41 species). Brain fragments were subjected to molecular diagnosis by nested PCR for the 18s rDNA gene of Apicomplexa parasites, followed by DNA sequencing. This gene was detected in 25% (24/96) of the samples, and it was possible to perform DNA sequencing of 14 samples, confirming three genera: Isospora, Sarcocystis and Toxoplasma from eight bird species (Amazona aestiva, Coereba flaveola, Egretta thula, Paroaria dominicana, Sporophila nigricollis, Cariama cristata, Columbina talpacoti, Crypturellus parvirostris). The occurrence these coccidia in wild birds provides important epidemiological information for the adoption of preventive measures for its conservation. Future studies are needed to better understand the consequence of Apicomplexa infection in birds in Caatinga and Atlantic Forest biomes.

Resumo Protozoários do filo Apicomplexa são distribuídos mundialmente e com capacidade de infectar animais endotérmicos. O estudo destes protozoários, em aves silvestres do Brasil, é escasso. Objetivou-se avaliar a ocorrência de protozoários Apicomplexa em aves silvestres na região Nordeste do Brasil. De outubro a dezembro de 2019, foram coletadas amostras de encéfalo de 71 aves de cativeiro do Centro de Triagem e Reabilitação de Animais Silvestres de Pernambuco (CETRAS-Tangara). E 25 aves de vida livre do bioma Caatinga no Rio Grande do Norte, totalizando 96 animais (41 espécies). Os fragmentos de encéfalo foram submetidos ao diagnóstico molecular por nested PCR, para o gene 18s rDNA de protozoários Apicomplexa, seguido por sequenciamento do DNA. Este gene foi detectado em 25% (24/96) das amostras analisadas; foi possível realizar o sequenciamento de 14 amostras, confirmando-se três gêneros: Isospora, Sarcocystis e Toxoplasma em oito espécies de aves (Amazona aestiva, Coereba flaveola, Egretta thula, Paroaria dominicana, Sporophila nigricollis, Cariama cristata, Columbina talpacoti, Crypturellus parvirostris). A ocorrência destes coccídios nas aves silvestres fornece informações epidemiológicas importantes para a adoção de medidas preventivas tendo em vista sua conservação. Estudos futuros são necessários para melhor compreensão da consequência da infecção por Apicomplexa, em aves silvestres dos biomas Caatinga e Floresta Atlântica.

RESUMO: O presente estudo foi conduzido para investigar a soroprevalência em 20 fazendas de criação extensiva de ovinos quanto à presença de anticorpos para Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis (n=402) e Toxoplasma gondii (n=228). Ensaio de imunoabsorção enzimático (ELISA) foi utilizado para a detecção de anticorpos contra C. pseudotuberculosis/T. gondii. Observou-se que C. pseudotuberculosis apresentou a maior prevalência na região (34,07%), com presença estatisticamente significante (p <0,05) nas categorias de ovelha. Anticorpos contra T. gondii foram encontrados em 14,91% dos animais estudados. Sobre a coinfecção de C. pseudotuberculosis/T. gondii, as categorias carneiro apresentaram diferenças significativas (p <0,05), sugerindo que esse gênero poderia perpetuar as doenças nos rebanhos. Concluiu-se que o conhecimento sobre as doenças na região em estudo facilitaria a execução de medidas profiláticas, principalmente contra as doenças que apresentam riscos à saúde pública e causam danos ao produtor.

ABSTRACT: The present study was conducted to investigate in 20 extensive sheep farms for the seroprevalence of Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis (n=402) and Toxoplasma gondii (n=228). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used for the detection of antibodies to C. pseudotuberculosis/T. gondii. It was observed that C. pseudotuberculosis showed the highest prevalence in the region (34.07%) with statistically significant presence (p<0.05) in ewes. Antibodies to T. gondii was reported in 14.91% of the animals studied. About C. pseudotuberculosis/T. gondii coinfection the categories of rams showed significant (p<0.05) differences, suggesting that this gender could perpetuate the diseases in the flocks. It was concluded that the knowledge about the diseases in the region under study would facilitate the execution of prophylactic measures, especially against the diseases that pose risks to the public health and cause damages to the producer.

Resumo: A jiboia (Boa constrictor) é considerada um predador de topo e a sua dieta inclui uma grande variedade de aves, mamíferos e outros répteis, todos relacionados diretamente com a sua disponibilidade no ambiente por ela habitado. Sete jiboias foram encontradas atropeladas em estradas no entorno de unidades de conservação da região semiárida do estado do Rio Grande do Norte, no nordeste brasileiro. O seu trato digestivo foi analisado de modo a identificar itens alimentares e a classificá-los de acordo com a sua orientação no trato. De entre os itens alimentares encontrados, o gambá-de-orelha-branca (Didelphis albiventris) e o teju (Salvator merianae) foram ingeridos no sentido ântero-posterior, enquanto que dentes de punaré (Thrichomys laurentius) e de preá (Galea spixii) e pelos de um roedor não identificado foram encontrados do trato intestinal. Dois itens novos foram identificados: a rolinha-de-asa-de-canela (Columbina minuta), que foi ingerida no sentido póstero-anterior, e sementes de carnaúba (Copernicia prunifera). A orientação dos itens (ântero-posterior ou póstero-anterior) seguiu o que era esperado para cada tipo de presa. A presença de sementes de carnaúba indica que, além de ser um predador de topo, a jiboia também pode ser um potencial dispersor de sementes, o que constitui um papel ecológico previamente não descrito para esta espécie.

Abstract: The boa (Boa constrictor) is considered a top predator and its diet includes a wide variety of birds, mammals, and other reptiles, all related directly to their availability in the environment inhabited by the snake. Seven boas were found roadkilled on highways adjacent to conservation units in the semi-arid region of Rio Grande do Norte state, in northeastern Brazil. Their digestive tract was analyzed to identify food items and classify them according to their orientation in the tract. Among the food items found, the white-eared opossum (Didelphis albiventris) and the black-and-white tegu (Salvator merianae) were ingested head-first, while teeth of a punaré (Thrichomys laurentius) and a Spix's yellow-toothed cavy (Galea spixii) and hairs of an unidentified rodent were found in the intestinal tract. In addition, two novel items were identified: the plain-breasted ground-dove (Columbina minuta), which were ingested tail-first, and carnauba palm seeds (Copernicia prunifera). The orientation of the prey (head-first or tail-first) followed what was expected for each type of prey. In addition, the presence of carnauba palm seeds indicates that, while being a top predator, the boa may also be a potential disperser of seeds, which would constitute a previously unrecorded ecological role for this species.

The Coscoroba Swan, Coscoroba coscoroba (Molina, 1782), is a poorly known aberrant Anserine endemic to South America. We captured adult birds (189 male, 157 female) from the largest population in Brazil at the Taim Ecological Reserve, State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Different patterns between sexes can reflect differences in selection, and positive allometry may indicate that a character is sexually selected. We used body weight and 10 morphological measurements to examine allometric differences between males and females of C. coscoroba. Males were consistently larger than females. Analysis of scaling relationships against body mass showed that nostril, tail, wing and bill height were positively allometric (i.e., heavier birds had relatively larger character lengths), but there were no sexual differences in allometric slopes. However, for a given mass, mature females had longer tails, longer wings (up to metacarpophalangeal articulation) and shorter heads than males. In the light of current debate in the literature, we discuss whether such positively allometric traits and sexual differences in scaling may be indicative of sexual selection. Although Coscoroba Swan is a monogamous species, increasing the size of some attributes may confer some advantage for mate selection or male-male competition and, contrary to other studies, we suggest that positively allometric slopes alone should not be considered as evidence for sexual selection of the considered traits.

La emergencia de las crías de tortuga laúd eclosionadas en los nidos profundos desde la arena hasta la superficie de la playa ocurre sin ayuda parental y es el primer gran desafío de supervivencia en su ciclo de vida. Este estudio, desarrollado en la costa Caribe colombiana, describe el comportamiento social de emergencia de neonatos y evalúa el efecto de la traslocación de los nidos en los patrones temporales de emergencia. Se propone por primera vez que el espacio liberado por la deshidratación de falsos huevos (SAGs) en la nidada, representa una ventaja reproductiva al facilitar el agrupamiento de los neonatos en un espacio muy limitado y favorecer la sincronía de la emergencia. El tiempo medio registrado para la emergencia en grupo fue de 3.3 días, variando entre uno y seis días. La traslocación de los nidos no afectó el patrón temporal de emergencia que fue predominantemente nocturno (77.77% en nidos naturales y 81.65% en trasladados). Los picos máximos de emergencias a la superficie coincidieron con los periodos de menor temperatura ambiental exterior (22:00h-06:00h). La ventaja selectiva de este patrón temporal y de la emergencia sincrónica está probablemente relacionada con las mayores tasas de depredación y mortalidad por hipertermia observadas durante el día.

False eggs (SAGs) facilitate social post-hatching emergence behaviour in Leatherback turtles Dermochelys coriacea (Testudines: Dermochelyidae) nests. Hatchling emergence to the beach surface from deep sand nests occurs without parental care. Social behaviour among siblings is crucial to overcome this first challenge in sea turtles life. This study, carried out at the Caribbean coast of Colombia, describes the emergence social behaviour of hatchlings from eight nests, and assess the nests translocation effects on temporal patterns of emergence. For the first time, we propose that space released by dehydration of shelled albumen globes (SAGs) at the top of the clutch, might be a reproductive advantage, while facilitating neonates to group together in a very limited space, and favouring the synchrony of emergence. The mean time of groups emergence was of 3.3 days, varying between 1 and 6 days. We found that relocation of the nests did not significantly affect the temporal pattern of emergence, which was mainly nocturnal (77.7% of natural nests and 81.7% of translocated ones). The maximum number of emergences to the surface occurred at the lowest air temperatures (22:00h-06:00h). The selective advantage of this pattern is probably related to the greater rate of predation and mortality by hyperthermia observed during the day. Rev. Biol. Trop. 58 (3): 943-954. Epub 2010 September 01.