Exposure of free-living Lontra longicaudis (Neotropical otter) to domestic carnivores and their associated pathogens in a protected area in Brazil
The Neotropical otter (Lontra longicaudis) is a semiaquatic mustelid widely distributed across all Brazilian biomes. However, its conservation is increasingly threatened by growing interactions with domestic animals, especially dogs and cats, which create opportunities for pathogen transmission and...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Mammal Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmamm.2025.1634247/full |
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| author | Greice Z. Gonchoroski Greice Z. Gonchoroski Greice Z. Gonchoroski Jose Reck Lauren S. Mello Vinicius P. Silveira Vagner R. Lunge Caroline Leuchtenberger Caroline Leuchtenberger Caroline Leuchtenberger Thales R. O. Freitas |
| author_facet | Greice Z. Gonchoroski Greice Z. Gonchoroski Greice Z. Gonchoroski Jose Reck Lauren S. Mello Vinicius P. Silveira Vagner R. Lunge Caroline Leuchtenberger Caroline Leuchtenberger Caroline Leuchtenberger Thales R. O. Freitas |
| author_sort | Greice Z. Gonchoroski |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The Neotropical otter (Lontra longicaudis) is a semiaquatic mustelid widely distributed across all Brazilian biomes. However, its conservation is increasingly threatened by growing interactions with domestic animals, especially dogs and cats, which create opportunities for pathogen transmission and disease emergence in wild populations. The aim of this study was to assess the exposure of Lontra longicaudis to domestic carnivores and to pathogens associated with these species within a protected area in southern Brazil. For this, we investigated the overlapping occurrence of otters, domestic dogs, and cats in the study area, as well as the exposure to major pathogens commonly associated with dogs (Canine Distemper Virus - CDV, Canine Parvovirus type 2 - CPV, and Neospora caninum) and cats (Toxoplasma gondii and Feline Leukemia Virus - FeLV) in Neotropical otters. Samples from six otters were analyzed. Most of them presented antibodies against CDV (83%), CPV (66%), and T. gondii (66%), while none were seropositive for N. caninum or reagent for FeLV antigen. Direct observation and camera trap monitoring allowed identification of overlapping records of otters, dogs and cats. Our results indicate that Neotropical otters, even in protected areas, are exposed to domestic carnivorans and their pathogens, increasing the likelihood of disease cycles with wildlife. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-b8476bfe43964022bb2df7d924404ac1 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2813-4699 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Mammal Science |
| spelling | doaj-art-b8476bfe43964022bb2df7d924404ac12025-08-20T03:30:52ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Mammal Science2813-46992025-07-01410.3389/fmamm.2025.16342471634247Exposure of free-living Lontra longicaudis (Neotropical otter) to domestic carnivores and their associated pathogens in a protected area in BrazilGreice Z. Gonchoroski0Greice Z. Gonchoroski1Greice Z. Gonchoroski2Jose Reck3Lauren S. Mello4Vinicius P. Silveira5Vagner R. Lunge6Caroline Leuchtenberger7Caroline Leuchtenberger8Caroline Leuchtenberger9Thales R. O. Freitas10Projeto Ariranhas/Giant Otter Conservation Fund, Rua Presidente Vargas, Arroio do Meio, Rio Grande do Sul, BrazilIUCN Species Survival Commission, Otter Specialist Group, Gland, SwitzerlandPrograma de Pós-graduação em Biologia Animal, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, BrazilInstituto de Pesquisas Veterinárias Desidério Finamor (IPVDF), Eldorado do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, BrazilSimbios Biotecnologia, Cachoeirinha, Rio Grande do Sul, BrazilSimbios Biotecnologia, Cachoeirinha, Rio Grande do Sul, BrazilSimbios Biotecnologia, Cachoeirinha, Rio Grande do Sul, BrazilProjeto Ariranhas/Giant Otter Conservation Fund, Rua Presidente Vargas, Arroio do Meio, Rio Grande do Sul, BrazilIUCN Species Survival Commission, Otter Specialist Group, Gland, SwitzerlandInstituto Federal Farroupilha - IFFAR, Alameda Santiago do Chile, Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, BrazilPrograma de Pós-graduação em Biologia Animal, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, BrazilThe Neotropical otter (Lontra longicaudis) is a semiaquatic mustelid widely distributed across all Brazilian biomes. However, its conservation is increasingly threatened by growing interactions with domestic animals, especially dogs and cats, which create opportunities for pathogen transmission and disease emergence in wild populations. The aim of this study was to assess the exposure of Lontra longicaudis to domestic carnivores and to pathogens associated with these species within a protected area in southern Brazil. For this, we investigated the overlapping occurrence of otters, domestic dogs, and cats in the study area, as well as the exposure to major pathogens commonly associated with dogs (Canine Distemper Virus - CDV, Canine Parvovirus type 2 - CPV, and Neospora caninum) and cats (Toxoplasma gondii and Feline Leukemia Virus - FeLV) in Neotropical otters. Samples from six otters were analyzed. Most of them presented antibodies against CDV (83%), CPV (66%), and T. gondii (66%), while none were seropositive for N. caninum or reagent for FeLV antigen. Direct observation and camera trap monitoring allowed identification of overlapping records of otters, dogs and cats. Our results indicate that Neotropical otters, even in protected areas, are exposed to domestic carnivorans and their pathogens, increasing the likelihood of disease cycles with wildlife.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmamm.2025.1634247/fullmustelidneotropicalotterdogcatdistemper |
| spellingShingle | Greice Z. Gonchoroski Greice Z. Gonchoroski Greice Z. Gonchoroski Jose Reck Lauren S. Mello Vinicius P. Silveira Vagner R. Lunge Caroline Leuchtenberger Caroline Leuchtenberger Caroline Leuchtenberger Thales R. O. Freitas Exposure of free-living Lontra longicaudis (Neotropical otter) to domestic carnivores and their associated pathogens in a protected area in Brazil Frontiers in Mammal Science mustelid neotropical otter dog cat distemper |
| title | Exposure of free-living Lontra longicaudis (Neotropical otter) to domestic carnivores and their associated pathogens in a protected area in Brazil |
| title_full | Exposure of free-living Lontra longicaudis (Neotropical otter) to domestic carnivores and their associated pathogens in a protected area in Brazil |
| title_fullStr | Exposure of free-living Lontra longicaudis (Neotropical otter) to domestic carnivores and their associated pathogens in a protected area in Brazil |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exposure of free-living Lontra longicaudis (Neotropical otter) to domestic carnivores and their associated pathogens in a protected area in Brazil |
| title_short | Exposure of free-living Lontra longicaudis (Neotropical otter) to domestic carnivores and their associated pathogens in a protected area in Brazil |
| title_sort | exposure of free living lontra longicaudis neotropical otter to domestic carnivores and their associated pathogens in a protected area in brazil |
| topic | mustelid neotropical otter dog cat distemper |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmamm.2025.1634247/full |
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