CAPIVARAS (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) E A PRESENÇA DO CARRAPATO (Amblyomma sculptum) NO CAMPUS DA UFSCAR-ARARAS, SÃO PAULO

Abstract

ResumoCapivaras são territoriais e vivem em grupos sociais, ocorrendo comumente em áreas antropizadas. Em algumas regiões do Brasil, estes animais apresentam infestação por carrapatos do gênero Amblyomma, que por sua vez são considerados como principal vetor biológico e reservatório natural da bactéria Rickettsia rickettsii, agente causador da Febre Maculosa Brasileira. Na UFSCar campus Araras, a interação entre capivaras, carrapatos e comunidade acadêmica é frequente, ocorrendo principalmente durante a estação seca. Este estudo teve como objetivo realizar um censo populacional das capivaras que ocupam o campus, identificando sua área de uso e se estes roedores se encontravam infestados por carrapatos. Realizou-se observação direta das capivaras, captura-marcação e recaptura com uso de um brete, e também coleta dos carrapatos nas capivaras e no ambiente. Registrou-se um total de 56 capivaras, com densidade de 1,50 ind./ha. Foram capturados 24 animais, sendo 25% machos e 75% fêmeas, dos quais 25% eram adultos, 45,8% jovens e 29,2% filhotes. A espécie de carrapato amplamente encontrada infestando tanto os animais como o ambiente foi A. sculptum. Conclui-se que o grupo de capivaras apresentou um número elevado de indivíduos por causa da abundância de recursos e ausência de predadores, e também com grande infestação por carrapatos. Palavras-chave: capivaras; censo; comunidade acadêmica; manejo; saúde pública. AbstractCapybaras are territorial animals that live in groups social occurring even in anthropized areas. In some

Habitat selection in natural and human-modified landscapes by capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris), an important host for Amblyomma sculptum ticks

“…Preferences for areas nearby water sources across natural and human-modified landscapes were not surprising. Capybaras are semi-aquatic mammals and their dependence on water sources has already been well-documented, with some authors reporting these rodents hardly moving more than 500-m from water [61,64,65]. However, our models highlighted that capybaras were less dependent on water sources in human-modified landscapes, which may be…”

Human-induced changes in habitat preference by capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) and their potential effect on zoonotic disease transmission

“…Preferences for areas nearby water sources across natural and human-modified landscapes were not surprising. Capybaras are semi-aquatic mammals and their dependence on water sources has already been well-documented, with some authors reporting these rodents hardly moving more than 500-m from water [60, 61]. However, our models highlighted that capybaras were less dependent on water sources in human-modified landscapes, which may be related to human-driven variation in one or more behaviors linked to water use: reproduction, thermoregulation, or predator avoidance [11].…”

Description of the terminal branches of the abdominal aorta in capybaras Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris Linnaeus, 1766 (Mammalia: Rodentia)

“…Water is a must since it is used for haven, copulation and thermal regulation. In fact, they never distance themselves more than 500 m from any water body (Rocha et al, 2017). The animals are herbivorous and feed on grass and water plants, even though they have a wide range of feed, such as fruit, roots and leaves (Moreira and MacDonald, 1997).…”

“…The animals are herbivorous and feed on grass and water plants, even though they have a wide range of feed, such as fruit, roots and leaves (Moreira and MacDonald, 1997). Foraging areas depend on food availability (Rocha et al, 2017), whilst their reproduction capacity, fast growth and low cost feed have called the attention of commercial producers for alternative animal protein sources (Antonucci and Ribeiro, 2014). In captivity, they feed on corn, rice, manioc, banana (Moreira and MacDonald, 1997) and even sugarcane.…”

“…They are sometimes considered pests since their occurrence is frequently associated with crop liabilities (Antonucci and Ribeiro, 2014), mainly in sugarcane plantations (Felix, 2012). The occurrence of ectoparasites on the animals´ bodies is also frequent (Rocha et al, 2017) and one may observe the great amount of birds feeding on the invertebrates near the herds (Almeida et al, 2013).…”