Eosinophilic meningoencephalitis associated with rat lungworm ( Angiostrongylus cantonensis ) migration in two nine-banded armadillos ( Dasypus novemcinctus ) and an opossum ( Didelphis virginiana ) in the southeastern United States
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Abstract:
Angiostrongylus cantonensis, the rat lungworm, was the cause of neural larval migrans in two nine-banded armadillos (Dasypus novemcinctus) and one Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana) from the southeastern United States. Histologic findings in all three cases included eosinophilic meningoencephalitis with variable numbers of nematode larvae in the meninges or the neuroparenchyma. In two of the three cases, nematodes were extracted from brain tissue via a "squash prep" method. Identification of the nematodes was confirmed by amplification and sequence analysis of the partial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene from all three cases. Sequences (704bp) from the two cases from Louisiana were identical and 99.7% similar to nematodes detected in the armadillo from Florida. As A. cantonensis is now considered endemic in the southern United States, it should be considered as an important differential for any wild or domestic animal or human patient with neurological signs and eosinophilic meningitis. Many wildlife species frequently consume snails and slugs and could serve as sentinels for the detection of this parasite in regions where the presence of this parasite has not been confirmed. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of neural larval migrans due to A. cantonensis in an armadillo and provides additional documentation that this nematode can cause disease in wildlife species in the southeastern United States.Keywords:
Lungworm
Xenarthra
Dasypus novemcinctus
Angiostrongyliasis
Paratenic
Didelphis
Angiostrongylus cantonensis, the rat lungworm, was the cause of neural larval migrans in two nine-banded armadillos (Dasypus novemcinctus) and one Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana) from the southeastern United States. Histologic findings in all three cases included eosinophilic meningoencephalitis with variable numbers of nematode larvae in the meninges or the neuroparenchyma. In two of the three cases, nematodes were extracted from brain tissue via a "squash prep" method. Identification of the nematodes was confirmed by amplification and sequence analysis of the partial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene from all three cases. Sequences (704bp) from the two cases from Louisiana were identical and 99.7% similar to nematodes detected in the armadillo from Florida. As A. cantonensis is now considered endemic in the southern United States, it should be considered as an important differential for any wild or domestic animal or human patient with neurological signs and eosinophilic meningitis. Many wildlife species frequently consume snails and slugs and could serve as sentinels for the detection of this parasite in regions where the presence of this parasite has not been confirmed. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of neural larval migrans due to A. cantonensis in an armadillo and provides additional documentation that this nematode can cause disease in wildlife species in the southeastern United States.
Lungworm
Xenarthra
Dasypus novemcinctus
Angiostrongyliasis
Paratenic
Didelphis
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During a survey of Mycobacterium leprae in wild armadillos in the State of Espirito Santo, thirty-four armadillos were captured in the municipality of Alegre (20 degrees 45'S, 41 degrees 29'W, 150m). The armadillos, Dasypus novemcinctus were examined by clinical and macroscopic examination. In four armadillos (11.7%), were found nodes in the abdomen. The nodules were identified as Tunga terasma. This is the first report of T. terasma in D. novemcinctus armadillos in the State of Espirito Santo, Brazil.
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Dasypus novemcinctus, Linnaeus, 1758 (Dasypodidae) occurs from Southern United States to South America (Reis et al. 2006). They have fossorial terrestrial habits, and the majority of the species construct burrow and excavate the soil to obtain food (Carter & Encarnação 1983). They are essentially solitary except during the brief mating period. Many armadillos of this species are run over and killed on highways (Fischer 1997) and they are also extensively hunted, but they are not listed as endangered due to their large distribution.
Dasypus novemcinctus
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The nine-banded armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus) is a widely distributed species throughout North and South America, however its distribution has been restricted by latitude and altitude due to cold temperatures. The maximum reported altitude for the nine-banded armadillo is between 2000–3000 m asl; hence, new records at high elevations might suggest range shifts. Here we report video evidence of a nine-banded armadillo at 3400 m asl near the summit of the Irazu volcano in Costa Rica, which extends upwards the previously known elevation range by 300 m. We speculate this altitudinal range extension is indicative of regime shifts of ecosystems due to climate variability in response to rising temperatures, such as previously reported for several species.
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Xenarthra
Sloth
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Xenarthra
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Abstract In order to assess the mechanical properties of xenarthrous vertebrae, and to evaluate the role of xenarthrae as fossorial adaptations, in vitro bending tests were performed on posterior thoracic and lumbar vertebral segments excised from specimens of the armadillo Dasypus novemcinctus and the opossum Didelphis virginiana , the latter being used to represent the primitive mammalian condition. The columns of the two species were subjected to dorsal, ventral, and lateral bending, as well as torsion, in order to determine their stiffness in each of these directions. During these tests, bone strains in the centra of selected vertebrae were determined using rosette strain gages. Overall stiffness of the armadillo backbone at physiologically relevant displacement levels was significantly higher than that of the opossum for both dorsal and lateral bending. The two species also exhibited significant differences in angular displacement of individual vertebrae and in vertebral strain magnitudes and orientations in these two directions. No significant differences were observed when the columns of the two species were subjected to torsion or to ventral bending. Our results suggest that some, but not all, of the mechanical differences between the two species are due to the presence of xenarthrae. For example, removal of the xenarthrae from selected vertebrae (L2—L4) changes strain orientation and shear, but not strain magnitudes. Comparisons with functional data from other digging mammals indicate that the modified mechanical properties of the Dasypus column are consistent with an interpretation of xenarthra as digging adaptations and lend support to the idea that the order Xenarthra represents an early offshoot of placental mammals specialized for fossoriality. © 1992 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
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Xenarthra
Morphology
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Armadillos (Xenarthra: Dasypodidae) distribution in Buenos Aires province, Argentina. In this paper we analyze the distribution of extant armadillos species in the Buenos Aires province. The information comes from fieldwork, literature and collections. The analyses contain temporal and spatial aspects. We obtained 401 georeferenced records from seven species. Dasypus hybridus and Chaetophractus villosus are the most common and widely distributed armadillos. C. villosus appears to be facilitated by new agricultural practices and D. hybridus shows an increase in habitat use. A movement was registered for Zaedyus pichiy in the southeast of the province, which can be explained by changes in climate conditions. For Chlamyphorus truncatus this review shows the need for further studies since its distribution area is being in- tensely degraded. The only extinct species, Tolypeutes matacus, probably disappeared due to climatic and environmental changes. Dasypus novemcinctus appeared in the province few years ago, in the ecoregion Delta e Islas del Parana. The presence of Euphractus sexcinctus, Cabassous tatouay and Dasypus septemcinctus has not been verified. The history of armadillo's distribution presented in this paper reflects climate
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Dasypus novemcinctus
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Dasypus novemcinctus
Xenarthra
Digging
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Schneidernema retusa is reported in Southern Brazil. Forty - three specimens of Schneidernema retusa were found in the large intestine of nine-banded armadillo in Rio Grande do Sul State. Although this specie of nematode has already been described for this host in Brazil, the Pampa Biome is a new locality record for this specie.
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Description de la nature des dommages anatomiques observes dans une population de tatous a neuf bandes du nord de la Floride (Etats-Unis), et evaluation de l'etendue et de la frequence de tels dommages chez differents sous-groupes de cette population. Ces dommages concernent la perte de la queue, des pertes partielles de carapace (entailles), la dechirure ou la perte des oreilles, des cicatrices sur la carapace, ou des anomalies des bandes. Ces accidents se multiplient avec l'âge: il y en a plus chez les adultes que chez les juveniles ou les jeunes de l'annee precedente; l'importance des dommages augmente avec le temps chez les adultes. Il y a peu de difference entre les sexes a ce point de vue. Ces blessures ne paraissent pas affecter la reproduction, bien que les femelles allaitantes soient plus atteintes que les femelles non allaitantes. Le poids des animaux portant ou non des lesions ne differe pas chez les juveniles ou les jeunes de l'annee precedente. Cependant, les adultes portant des lesions sont significativement plus lourds que les autres. Les predateurs, les agressions intraspecifiques, l'environnement physique et l'instabilite du developpement figurent parmi les causes possibles de ces dommages.
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