In captive environments, mammals are frequently exposed to various parasitic protozoa and other vector-borne pathogens that can impact both animal health and public health. Monitoring these pathogens is essential for animal welfare and zoonotic disease control. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of parasitic protozoa and other vector-borne pathogens in captive mammals through molecular detection methods at the Belo Horizonte Zoo, Brazil. Between November 2021 and March 2023, whole blood samples were collected from 40 mammals. Molecular analyses identified piroplasms, Leishmania spp., granulocytic/platelet Anaplasma/Ehrlichia spp., monocytic Ehrlichia spp., Bartonella spp. and hemotropic Mycoplasma spp. with a 72.5% positivity rate. Piroplasms were found in 22.5% (two Pantanal cats, two gorillas, one white rhinoceros, one spider monkey, one jaguar, one tufted capuchin and one hippo) and Leishmania spp. in 12.9% (four maned wolves). Granulocytic/platelet Anaplasma/Ehrlichia spp. were found in 12.5% of the samples (one gorilla and four maned wolves), Ehrlichia canis in 2.5% of the animals (one maned wolf), Bartonella spp. in 42.5% (six howler monkeys, two maned wolves, one gorilla, one white rhino, one southern tamandua, one common woolly monkey, one tufted capuchin, one brown brocket deer, one agouti, one cougar and one hippo), hemotropic Mycoplasma spp. in 17.5% (one gorilla, one maned wolf, one white rhino, one howler monkey, two common woolly monkeys and one European fallow deer). Five Artiodactyla members tested negative for A. marginale. Coinfections occurred in 34.5% of the positive samples. Sequencing revealed that Theileria spp. and Cytauxzoon spp. are closely related to Theileria bicornis and Cytauxzoon felis; Ehrlichia canis and Bartonella spp. are closely related to B. clarridgeiae and B. henselae; and hemotropic Mycoplasma spp. are closely related to Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum. Our results showed a high occurrence of vector-borne pathogens in captive animals, including zoonotic species, which may pose a risk to animal and human public health.

While bats are known to harbor various viruses and bacteria, their role as hosts for hemoparasites has not been extensively studied. This research investigated the presence of ectoparasites and vector-borne pathogens—including Anaplasmataceae agents, hemoplasmas, apicomplexans, and kinetoplastids—in 74 Phyllostomidae bats sampled from an urban forest fragment in southeastern Brazil. Overall, 31.1% of the bats were infested with ectoparasites: 82.6% carried only Streblidae bat flies, 13.0% had only mites, and 4.4% were co-infested with both parasites. No hemoparasites were observed in Giemsa-stained preparations. Furthermore, all samples tested negative for PCR assays targeting the orders Haemosporida and Piroplasmida, as well as for Anaplasma sp., Neorickettsia sp., Trypanosoma cruzi , and Trypanosoma evansi . Molecular analyses revealed that 1.4% of the bats were positive for Ehrlichia sp., 20.3% for hemotropic Mycoplasma spp., and 1.4% for Leishmania infantum . Coinfections were found in 1.4% of the positive samples. Sequence analyses revealed that the detected Ehrlichia sp. is closely related to Ehrlichia canis , and that the Mycoplasma sp. shares high sequence identity with bat-associated hemoplasmas. These findings document the presence of ectoparasites and hemopathogens in the sampled Phyllostomidae bats, indicating that these infectious agents circulate within urban forest fragments. While the specific role of these bats in sustaining the pathogens’ life cycles remains to be fully elucidated, these initial findings underscore the need for expanded eco-epidemiological studies. This highlights the crucial need to study these pathogens in bat populations, underscoring their ecological significance and the potential implications for public health and biodiversity conservation (e.g. zoonotic spillover and population stress).

The captive native adult psittacines at human care, Amazona aestiva (blue-fronted parrot) and Ara chloropterus (red-and-green macaw), clinically affected with reduced activity/appetite and poor feathering, one found dead Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus (hyacinth macaw) and two exotic dead-in-nest Psittacula krameri (rose-ringed parakeet) were examined for signs and for ante- and post-mortem lesions, and for the presence of avian polyomavirus (APyV; Gammapolyomavirus avis) T/t genes. All individuals were tested-positive for APyV in skin and/or in other tissues such as blood, brain, liver, skin and spleen, and all were tested-negative for psittacine circovirus (BFDV). However, no association was found between the detection of APyV and the presence of macro or microscopic lesions. The APyV sequences detected in the A. aestiva and P. krameri were grouped together with high identity, which may suggest common origins. However, the sequence detected in A. hyacinthinus was dissimilar and grouped separate. The sequences detected had high identity with T/t gene sequences of strains previously described in distinct continents. The evaluation of avian species for APyV may not be available nor demanded in the international avian trade and may represent an avian health hazard. The biosecurity of the commercial avian pet flocks and the captive avifauna in rehabilitation is considered essential.

Bovine colostrum (BC) is widely recognized for its fundamental role in the nutrition and protection of newborn calves. However, it may also contain pathogens, and research is still limited to a few agents. This study aimed to assess the presence of Anaplasma marginale (msp4), Babesia bovis (cytb), B. bigemina (cytb), and hemotropic Mycoplasma spp. (hemoplasmas) (16S rRNA or gapN) in BC and blood by molecular investigation. Aseptically collected blood (5 mL) and colostrum (40 mL) were obtained once from 104 Holstein cows from a commercial dairy herd in southern Minas Gerais, Brazil, within the first 24 hours after parturition. Blood analyses by PCR revealed the frequencies of 95.19% (99/104) for A. marginale, 62.5% (65/104) for B. bigemina, 52.88% (55/104) for B. bovis, and 74.85% (82/104) for hemoplasmas. The most prevalent blood co-infection was A. marginale plus hemoplasmas. The investigation in BC by PCR showed that the agents were present in 22.12% of the samples, with frequencies of 12.12% (12/99) for A. marginale, 10.91% (6/55) for B. bovis, and 6.1% (5/82) for hemoplasmas. No co-infection was identified. These findings highlight the relevance of management for control of the hemopathogens, and demonstrate the need for further investigation into the viability of the microorganisms and their epidemiological role, once the vertical transmission is an important route for some pathogens.