Abstract
Anteaters comprise three different species: Myrmecophaga tridactyla (flag anteater), Tamandua tetradactyla (mini anteater) and Cyclopes didactylus (anteater), some considered vulnerable to extinction. These species are distributed over a large part of the Brazilian territory, especially in the cerrado biome. In order to preserve these species, some research work on the health status of these animals has been carried out, both in captive and free-living animals. The objective of this study was to investigate keratinophilic filamentous fungi, including dermatophytes, in the coat of 27 adult anteaters retained in captivity. Among the animals studied, 14 were giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) and 13 were small anteater (Tamandua tetradactyla). These specimens were retained at the São Paulo Zoological Park Foundation and Quinzinho de Barros Municipal Zoological Park. Samples were obtained by means of rubbing sterilized squares of carpet on the coat of each animal. Each carpet was seeded in Petri dishes containing Mycobiotic™ agar medium (Difco™) and incubated at 25ºC until colony growth was observed. Dermatophytes were not isolated; however, the following genera of filamentous fungi were identified: Cladosporium spp. (51.8%), Scopulariopsis sp (29.6%), Aspergillus spp. (22.2%), Acremonium spp. and Chrysosporium spp. (11.1%) and Mucor spp. (7.4%), among these we highlight the keratinophilics: Scopulariopsis sp, Acremonium spp. and Chrysosporium spp. There are few studies on the prevalence of dermatophytes and other keratinophilics in wild animals and none on anteaters. It was possible to confirm the presence of non-dermatophytic keratinophilics in the normal microbiota of anteaters, similarly to what was observed in other mammals.
Highlights
Biodiversity is essential for the survival of humanity and its intrinsic and extrinsic value has been widely recognized by means of governments and civil society in several international agreements (Peres et al, 2011)
Based on the scarcity of studies on the health aspect of wild animals, as well as some important predictive microbiological parameters for disease prevention, monitoring and even therapeutic interventions, the aim of this study was to investigate the possible presence of dermatophytes and other filamentous fungi with keratinophilic nature as resident and/or transient members in the surface microbiota of the integument of two of the three species of anteaters maintained as a biomaterial reserve in conservation institutions in Brazil
The scientific community's concern with the environment and the required conserve endemic fauna has stimulated pioneering initiatives across the country. This is the case of the Working Group for the Conservation of Anteaters in Brazil (Projeto Tamanduá), which is based at the São Paulo Zoological Park Foundation (FPZ-SP), has the mission of promoting actions that favor the conservation of anteater species in Brazil
Summary
Biodiversity is essential for the survival of humanity and its intrinsic and extrinsic value has been widely recognized by means of governments and civil society in several international agreements (Peres et al, 2011). Professionals from numerous areas of the science, governmental and non-governmental organizations, including veterinarians, biologists and environmentalists have dedicated a large effort to the conservation of endangered species and this effort is translated through increasing studies and researches in the area of the national flora and fauna. Some institutions such as the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) have created lists (IUCN “Red List”) based on worldwide research and databases to define endangered species and it works for the conservation of these species around the world (IUCN, 2021)
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