The crab-eating fox (Cerdocyon thous) is a small wild mammal present in all Brazilian biomes and in some countries of South America. This study aimed to verify the involvement of viral infectious agents in the death of a wild crab-eating fox pup (Cerdocyon thous) in Brazil. The Center for Medicine and Research of Wild Animals of the Universidade Estadual Paulista received a free-living crab-eating fox aged approximately 21 days and apparently healthy. After 13 days, the animal presented anorexia, diarrhea, fever, prostration, and neurological signs progressing to death with an inconclusive diagnosis. In a retrospective study, tissue fragments stored at − 80°C were used to identify nucleic acids from major canine viruses, such as canine parvovirus-2 (CPV-2), canine adenovirus A types 1 and 2, canid alphaherpesvirus 1, and canine distemper virus. The amplified product with the expected length for CPV-2 was obtained from the heart fragment. After performing nucleotide (nt) sequencing of the amplicon, it was possible to demonstrate that the crab-eating fox strain exhibited high (99.8%) nt identity with the CPV-2b prototype (CPV-39 strain). Additionally, deduced amino acid (aa) sequence analysis showed the GAT codon for the aa Asp (D) at position 426 of the CPV-2 viral protein VP2, which characterizes the subtype 2b. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this report describes the first detection of CPV-2b DNA in tissue fragments from a crab-eating fox.

Canine parvovirus type 2 (CPV-2) is classified into three subtypes (CPV-2a, CPV-2b, and CPV-2c) and is the main cause of enteritis and myocarditis in young domestic and wild animals. This study aimed to evaluate the presence of CPV-2 in the feces of asymptomatic free-living coatis from Garden Forest Reserve, Palmital city, SP, Brazil. Fecal samples from 21 coatis (both sexes, different ages, and different aspects of feces) were collected in August 2014 and March 2015. The nucleic acid extracted was submitted to a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay to amplify a fragment of the VP2 gene of CPV-2. Eight (38%) fecal samples were positive in the PCR assay and were confirmed by sequencing. The 7 nucleotide (nt) sequences analyzed showed 100% nt identity with the prototype strain of CPV-2b (CPV-39 strain). The analysis of the deduced amino acid (aa) sequence revealed the presence of the GAT codon (aa D-Asp) at position 426 of the VP2 viral protein (subtype 2b). This study describes for the first time the identification of CPV-2b in asymptomatic free-living coatis (Nasua nasua) and suggests that coatis are susceptible to Carnivore protoparvovirus 1 infection and are important as a reservoir and an asymptomatic carrier to other wild and domestic animal species.

Background: The acupuncture points are considered a point in the skin of sensitivity to stimulation. The acupuncture meridians represent the communication between acupuncture points and internal organs. The giant anteater (Mirmecophaga tridactyla) is routinely attended in veterinary centers, and is pivotal to know its morphology and therapies such as acupuncture that, probably, can be used in medical practice. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the morphological substrate in regions that correspond to the transposition of acupuncture points of the Bladder Meridian using radiography, ultrasonography, electrical impedance and histology in the giant anteater.Material, Methods & Results: Seven giant anteaters (six males and one female) were used. The animals were from the Center of Medicine and Research in Wild Animals (CEMPAS), School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, UNESP, Botucatu, São Paulo. The acupoints of Bladder Meridian evaluated were Bladder 11 (B-11), Bladder 18 (B-18), Bladder 23 (B-23), Bladder 25 (B-25), and Bladder 28 (B-28). The locations of the acupoints were transposed based on the location of these acupuncture points in dogs. Four animals were live and were used for radiographic, ultrasonographic, and electrical impedance analysis. Three animals were died and the fragments of this acupoints were destined to histological routine with hematoxylin and eosin (HE) and Masson’s Trichrome stains. The giant anteaters studied had fifteen thoracic vertebrae, three lumbar vertebrae, and five sacral vertebrae fused in a single bone. The acupuncture points were characterized by presence of abundant connective tissue at the superficial and intermuscular level, muscular fascia, and many neurovascular bundles in the dermal layer. These bundles consisted of nerves, arteries and veins of various calibers. The spaces between the nerves and blood vessels were filled by loose connective tissue containing adipose cells, capillaries, and sweat glands.Discussion: The network of acupuncture points can be seen as a representation of a network formed by interstitial connective tissue. This hypothesis is supported by ultrasound imaging that demonstrated plans for cleavage of connective tissue at acupuncture points in normal humans. It seems that the anatomical relationship of acupoints and meridians with connective tissue planes is relevant to the mechanism of action of acupuncture and suggests an important integrative role for interstitial connective tissue. The presence of connective tissue was observed in the transposition areas studied in the giant anteater using ultrasound. The main histological structures found in the transposition regions of the acupoints in the giant anteater were the nerve and connective tissue, similar to other studies, who claimed that the nerve is the main histological component of an acupoint. Therefore, there are reports suggesting that the network of acupoints and meridians can be seen as a representation of a network formed by interstitial connective tissue and that this relationship is important for the therapeutic mechanism of acupuncture. Based on the results of this study, it is possible to infer that the studied regions present a morphological substrate that is consistent with the characteristics of an acupuncture point. Thus, it is suggested that there are probably acupuncture points in these regions in the giant anteater, which makes possible the use of this alternative medical therapy for the treatment of these animals.