Casuistry of xenarthrans treated at the Veterinary Hospital of the Federal University of Pará, Brazilian Amazon

Almeida, Débora V.C.; Magalhães-Matos, Paulo C.; Soares, Airton R.B.; Lopes, Cinthia T.A.; Domingues, Sheyla F.S.

doi:10.1590/1678-5150-PVB-7058

ABSTRACT:

The present study aimed to analyze the casuistry of xenarthrans treated at the veterinary hospital of the Federal University of Pará to quantify the most important cases for clinical care and identify the main species, sex, age group, origin, and destination of the animals admitted. The data were collected from January 2013 to August 2020. The variables analyzed were the number of animals by species, sex, age group, weight (kilograms), form of admission (rescue or guardianship), person responsible for the admission of the animal, origin, circumstances of admission, length of stay (days), and evolution or destination of the animal (release, captivity, death, euthanasia, or escape). Fisher’s exact test was used to determine whether disease incidence was related to sex and whether animal mortality was influenced by sex and disease. The chi-square test was used to determine whether mortality differed by age group. Ninety-two (92) xenarthrans were included: 66 Bradypus variegatus, 10 Choloepus didactylus, 15 Tamandua tetradactyla, and one Dasypus novemcinctus. The animals were mainly from the municipality of Castanhal (70%) and were acquired through rescue (88%, B. variegatus; 80%, C. didactylus; 100%, T. tetradactyla), a significant proportion of which was per natural persons (88%, B. variegatus; 80%, C. didactylus; 100%, T. tetradactyla). The most important circumstances that led to the admission of the animals were as follows: animals for examination (42%, n=39), young animals at risk (9%, n=8), hit by a vehicle (8%, n=7), respiratory disease (7%, n=6), fall from a tree (5%, n=5), and electrotrauma (5%, n=5). Release was the most common destination of animals after hospitalization (59% B. variegatus, 50% C. didactylus, and 66% T. tetradactyla). The sex of the animals did not affect the incidence of disease or mortality in any species. In contrast, mortality of B. variegatus was significantly higher in animals admitted with disease (p=0.000). Mortality in cubs of this species was higher than that in juveniles and adults (p=0.003).

INDEX TERMS:
Retrospective study; amazon region; wild fauna; xenarthrans; sloths; anteater; armadillo

[1] *Corresponding author: deboramedvet22@gmail.com

Variable		Species of Xenarthra
		Bradypus variegatus		Choloepus didactylus		Tamandua tetradactyla
Sex
	Male	54% (36/66)		30% (3/10)		13% (2/15)
	Female	41% (27/66)		60% (6/10)		60% (9/15)
	Not identified	5% (3/66)		10% (1/10)		27% (4/15)

Age range
	Cubs	18% (12/66)		40% (4/10)		7% (1/15)
	Juveniles	23% (15/66)		-		7% (1/15)
	Adults	59% (39/66)		60% (6/10)		86% (13/15)

Average weight (Kg ± Standard deviation)
		Males	Females	Males	Females	Males	Females
	Cubs	0.654 (±0.38)	0.484 (±0.21)	0.545	1.353 (±0.06)	-	1.77
	Juveniles	1.888 (±0.36)	1.642 (±0.43)	-	-	-	3.20
	Adults	2.939 (±0.33)	2.959 (±0.59)	6.9 (±1.5)	6.177 (±0.93)	4.48 (±0.73)	3.79 (±0.67)

Form of admission
	Rescue	88% (58/66)		80% (8/10)		100% (15/15)
	Voluntary delivery	3% (2/66)		20% (2/10)		-
	Guardianship	3% (2/66)		-		-
	Uninformed	6% (4/66)		-		-

Entities responsible for referring animals to the Veterinary Hospital
	Public entity Sisnama	15% (10/66)		40% (4/10)		-
	Other public entity	38% (25/66)		10% (1/10)		40% (6/15)
	Private legal entities	3% (2/66)		-		7% (1/15)
	Natural persons	44% (29/66)		50% (5/10)		53% (8/15)

Circumstances of admission
	Healthy animals	45% (30/66)		20% (2/10)		46% (7/15)
	vulnerable puppies	9% (6/66)		20% (2/10)-		-
	Hit by a vehicle	11% (7/66)		-		-
	Respiratory changes	6% (4/66)		-		7% (1/15)
	Fallen from trees	8% (5/66)		-		-
	Electrical trauma	4% (3/66)		10% (1/10)		7% (1/15)
	Aggression from dogs	3% (2/66)		-		13% (2/15)
	Human aggression	3% (2/66)		20% (2/10)		-
	Others	11% (7/66)		30% (3/10)		27% (4/15)

Average length of hospital stay in days (± standard deviation); (minimum-maximum)
	Healthy animals	3.79 (±5.56); (1-27)		66.5 (±89.8); (3 - 130)		2.85 (±1.34); (1-5)
	Vulnerable puppies	89.67 (±76.38); (16-208)		90 (±57.98); (49 - 131)		-
	Hit by a vehicle	45.86 (±58.9); (1-142)		-		-
	Respiratory changes	6 (±6.38); (1-15)		-		5
	Fallen from trees	12.8 (±5.97); (5-18)		-		-
	Electrical trauma	11.66 (±14.36); (1-28)		150		270
	Aggression from dogs	203.5 (±17.68); (191-216)		-		2 (±1.41); (1-3)
	Human aggression	98 (±123.04); (11-185)		240.5 (±317.49); (16-465)		-
	Others	25.14 (±25.1); (1-67)		88.33 (±103.73); (1-203)		19.75 (±18.54); (2-45)

Evolution/destination of the animal
	Release	59% (39/66)		50% (5/10)		66% (10/15)
	Captivity	1.5% (1/66)		10% (1/10)		-
	Death	38% (25/66)		40% (4/10)		20% (3/15)
	Euthanasia	1.5% (1/66)		-		-
	Escape	-		-		7% (1/15)
	Medical release	-		-		7% (1/15)

Variable	Bradypus variegatus	p	Choloepus didactylus	p	Tamandua tetradactyla	p
Occurrence of diseases according to sex*
Male	47% (17/36)	1.000	100% (3/3)	0.464	100% (2/2)	0.491
Female	44% (12/27)	1.000	50% (3/6)	0.464	55% (5/9)	0.491

Mortality according to sex *
Male	44%(16/36)	0.298	66% (2/3)	0.523	100% (2/2)	0.109
Female	30% (8/27)	0.298	33% (2/6)	0.523	22% (2/9)	0.109

Mortality according to the presence or absence of diseases
Healthy	14% (5/36)	0.000	25% (1/4)	0.571	0% (0/7)	0.200
Sick	70% (21/30)	0.000	50% (3/6)	0.571	37% (3/8)	0.200

Mortality according to age group
Cubs	83% (10/12)	0.003	NA**		NA
Juveniles	27% (4/15)		NA	-	NA	-
Adults	31% (12/39)		NA		NA

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Casuistry of xenarthrans treated at the Veterinary Hospital of the Federal University of Pará, Brazilian Amazon

Casuística de Xenarthras atendidos no Hospital Veterinário da Universidade Federal do Pará, Amazônia brasileira

ABSTRACT: