Characteristics of Central American brocket deer resting sites in a tropical mountain cloud forest in eastern Mexico

The Central American brocket deer is a vulnerable species. Geographically isolated populations have been affected by poaching and habitat fragmentation, leading to local extinctions. It is therefore important to understand this species’ habitat characteristics, particularly of resting sites, which play a crucial role in survival and fitness. We describe the characteristics and distribution patterns of Central American brocket deer resting sites at the microhabitat and landscape scales in San Bartolo Tutotepec, Hidalgo, México. We conducted eight bimonthly field surveys between November 2017 and March 2019, consisting of 32 transects of 500 m length to search for fecal pellets, footprints, scrapes, and browsed plants. At each resting site we identified, we measured canopy closure, horizontal thermal cover, protection from predators for fawns and adults, escape routes, slope from the ground, presence of scrapes, cumulative importance value of the edible plant species, and distance from the resting site to the nearest water resource to characterize the site at the microhabitat scale. At the landscape scale, we identified the type of biotope, elevation, aspect, and slope. We compared all of these parameters from resting sites with a paired randomly selected site to serve as a control. We performed a multiple logistic regression to identify the parameters associated with the resting sites and a point pattern analysis to describe their distribution. We characterized 43 resting sites and their corresponding control plots. At the microhabitat scale, resting sites were associated with higher vertical thermal cover, more concealment cover, more escape routes, more edible plant species, higher slope from the ground, and closer distance to water resources. At the landscape scale, resting sites were associated with beech forest, oak forest, secondary forest, and ravine biotopes and negatively associated with pine forest, houses, and roads. Resting sites had an aggregated spatial pattern from 0 to 900 m, but their distribution was completely random at larger scales. Our study revealed that Central American brocket deer selected places with specific characteristics to rest, at both microhabitat and landscape scales. We therefore suggest that existing habitat be increased by reforesting with native species—particularly Mexican beech forest and oak forest—to improve the deer’s conservation status in the study area.

Suppurative meningoencephalitis secondary to a Trueperella pyogenes-induced mandibular abscess in a free-ranging gray brocket deer (Mazama gouazoubira)

Trueperella pyogenes is an opportunistic pathogen, most commonly affecting ruminants and pigs. A female free-ranging gray brocket deer (Mazama gouazoubira) had an abscess in the masseter muscle associated with an osteolysis and osteomyelitis in the adjacent right mandibule, with a fistulous tract to the orbit and through the optic foramen into the skull, causing a suppurative meningitis. Histologically, the abscess was characterized by a neutrophilic and histiocytic inflammatory infiltrate with myriad of Gram-positive rod-shaped bacteria, and a focally extensive suppurative and histiocytic leptomeningitis of the ventral portions of the brain. Aerobic microbiologic culture, MALDI-ToF, and PCR identified T. pyogenes.

NEW RECORD OF LIPOPTENA MAZAMAE (RONDANI, 1878) AS A MAZAMA GOUAZOUBIRA (FISCHER, 1814) PARASITE IN SOUTHERN BRAZIL

Louse flies (Lipoptena mazamae) are important Gray brocket deer (Mazama gouazoubira) parasites, and can be found in large numbers in this mammal. Their distribution is known for just a few locations, and because of this, it is so important to report new records of this association. To contribute with knowledge concerning this parasitism relationship, a record of this fly species parasitizing a deer individual in southern Brazil is reported herein. Such records are paramount, as L. mazamae displays both zoonotic and medical importance, due to the potential propagation of etiological agents that cause diseases. Moreover, as far as we know, this study is only the fifth study that reports this association worldwide, indicating its relevance. It is very important to perform studies as these, because we may contribute to new records of this association of parasitism, therefore, we contribute to alert authorities to the possible association of these parasites with diseases that may pose problems for human and other animal health. Moscas da família Hipoboscidae (Lipoptena mazamae) são parasitos muito importantes do veado-catingueiro (Mazama gouazoubira), podendo ser encontrados em uma considerável abundância nesse mamífero. Sua distribuição é conhecida em apenas alguns locais, e, por causa disso, é muito importante reportar novos registros dessa associação de parasitismo. Para contribuir com o conhecimento dessa associação, é reportado aqui um novo registro dessa mosca parasitando um indivíduo de veado-catingueiro. Esses registros se destacam, pois L. mazamae possui importância médica e veterinária, devido ao seu potencial de veicular agentes etiológicos causadores de doenças. Além disso, depois de nossas pesquisas, concluímos que este é apenas o quinto estudo reportando essa associação no mundo, indicando, portanto, sua relevância. Estudos como este são relevantes, pois contribuem com novos registros dessa associação de parasitismo, e, portanto, pode-se também servir como alerta às autoridades para a possível associação desses parasitos com doenças que podem causar danos à saúde humana e de outros animais.

Characterization of “Candidatus Ehrlichia Pampeana” in Haemaphysalis juxtakochi Ticks and Gray Brocket Deer (Mazama gouazoubira) from Uruguay

Human ehrlichiosis are scantily documented in Uruguay. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of Ehrlichia spp. in Haemaphysalis juxtakochi and in a gray brocket deer (Mazama gouazoubira) from Uruguay. The presence of Ehrlichia DNA was investigated in free-living H. juxtakochi in five localities of southeast and northeast Uruguay, as well as blood, spleen, and ticks retrieved from a M. gouazoubira. Ehrlichia spp. DNA was detected in six out of 99 tick pools from vegetation, in the spleen of M. gouazoubira, and in one out of five pools of ticks feeding on this cervid. Bayesian inference analyses for three loci (16S rRNA, dsb, and groEL) revealed the presence of a new rickettsial organism, named herein as “Candidatus Ehrlichia pampeana”. This new detected Ehrlichia is phylogenetically related to those found in ticks from Asia, as well as Ehrlichia ewingii from USA and Cameroon. Although the potential pathogenicity of “Ca. E. pampeana” for humans is currently unknown, some eco-epidemiological factors may be relevant to its possible pathogenic role, namely: (i) the phylogenetic closeness with the zoonotic agent E. ewingii, (ii) the evidence of H. juxtakochi parasitizing humans, and (iii) the importance of cervids as reservoirs for zoonotic Ehrlichia spp. The molecular detection of “Ca. E. pampeana” represents the third Ehrlichia genotype described in Uruguay.

Elevation as an occupancy determinant of the little red brocket deer (Mazama rufina) in the Central Andes of Colombia

We assessed the influence of terrain variables on the occupancy of the little red brocket deer (Mazama rufina) in the Central Andes of Colombia. Occupancy increased with elevation up to 3000, where it starts decreasing. This information is crucial to predict the potential effects of climate change on M. rufina and other mountain species.

Abortion in Captive Gray Brocket Deer (Mazama gouazoubira) Associated with Colloid Goiter, Hemonchosis and Necrotizing Rumenitis

Background: The gray brocket deer (Mazama gouazoubira) is a specie that shows great adaptability in different habitats and it is the most abundant deer specie in South America. The present work describes for the first time a case of abortion followed by death associated with colloid goiter, massive hemonchosis and necrotizing rumenitis in a captive female gray brocket deer. Case: A 4-year-old female gray brocket deer (M. gouazoubira) raised in captivity had a history of abortion during the last third of gestation. The animal was kept in an enclosure together with 3 other gray brockets deers, being 1 male of the same age and 2 juvenile brocket deer of approximately 1 and 2 years old. The animals were fed with concentrated used as cattle feed and dewormed annually with 1% Ivermectin. The animals' enclosure had vegetation cover formed by grasses and soil. The animals appeared healthy with no behavioral changes. The day after the stillbirth, the mother was found dead in the enclosure and sent to the animal pathology sector of the University of Vila Velha (UVV), Brazil. Necropsy revealed that thyroid lobules were highly increased in volume and histopathological findings were compatible with colloid goiter. A large number of nematodes were found in the abomasal content,totalizing 11,626 helminths, which were morphologically characterized as Haemonchus contortus. Grossly, the serous and ruminal mucosa exhibited an extensively reddish focal area with irregular contour, surface ulceration and a firm consistency. Microscopically, a severe necrotizing rumenitis was diagnosed. The liver showed pale multifocal areas on the subcapsular surface,friable to the touch which deepened when cut. Histopathological analysis revealed an accentuated multifocal panlobular coagulative necrosis, characterizing an acute liver necrosis.Discussion: Iodine is a mineral of great importance for thyroid hormones synthesis and your requirements are higher during pregnancy and lactation. Diets deficient in iodine causes a reduction in the basal activity of the hormones triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) and over-stimulation of the thyroid by thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), resulting in goiter. In the present case, it is possible that the shortage of iodine in diet caused a goiter and, as a consequence, triggered the abortion. Haemonchus contortus is a pathogenic nematode of small ruminants, leading to decreased productivity and death in some cases as a result of anemia and hypoxia. The contact between domestic and wild animals, resulting in the emergence of infectious diseases and the spread of pathogens among species. In the present case, manual counting accounted for 11,626 H. contortus larvae, characterizing a massive infection and justifying the condition of severe anemia. The high parasitic load shown in this case points out this parasite's importance related to this species in captivity. In general, inflammatory lesions in the rumen are results of excessive intake of fermentable carbohydrates, which leads to a considerable decrease in ruminal pH and leads to a high proliferation of lactic acid bacteria. This lesion has been previously reported in cervids. This case of comorbidities demonstrates that failures in nutritional and health handling, may cause simultaneous multiple diseases leading to death. Preventive measures for helminth parasite control and a proper feeding management with an adequate diet must be provided in order to preserve the species in captivity. Keywords: colloid goiter, abortion, cervids, Haemonchus contortus.