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, hematology, plasma biochemical analyses, levels of exposure to selected infectious agents, and endoparasite and ectoparasite identification was performed on nine-banded and three-banded armadillos in the Gran Chaco, Bolivia. Based on clinical findings, the general health of these armadillos was rated as good. However, many of the nine-banded armadillos (64%) had abrasions and wounds, probably related to the capture method. The blood value results from a subset of these armadillos are presented as baseline values for free-ranging populations of both these species in Bolivia. Serologic antibody tests for M. leprae were negative in three-banded (n = 8) and nine-banded (n = 2) armadillos. Three-banded armadillos were antibody positive for Eastern equine encephalitis virus (8/8; 100%) and Saint Louis encephalitis virus (5/8; 62.5%). Two of 12 (16.7%) three-banded armadillos tested were antigen positive for Dirofilaria immitis. Nine-banded armadillos were antibody positive for T. gondii (3/9; 33.3%), Eastern equine encephalitis virus (5/8; 62.5%), and T. cruzi (2/9; 22.2%). Two of eight (25%) nine-banded armadillos were antigen positive for D. immitis. A number of endo- and ectoparasites were identified in/on both species of armadillos. Results from this study support the possibility that the handling and consumption of these species by the local Isoseño-Guarani people may have a public health impact.
Deem
Sharon L
SL
Wildlife Conservation Society, 2300 Southern Boulevard, Bronx, New York, 10460, USA. deem@stlzoo.org
Noss
Andrew J
AJ
Fiorello
Christine V
CV
Manharth
Ann L
AL
Robbins
Richard G
RG
Karesh
William B
WB
D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D001135:Armadillos / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary*; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis / Q000662:veterinary; D001838:Bolivia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006403:Hematologic Tests / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D010273:Parasitic Diseases, Animal / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000662:veterinary; D011634:Public Health; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013045:Species Specificity; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary*; D015047:Zoonoses
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D000914:Antibodies, Viral