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Morphological study of the tongue is an interesting way of understanding evolutionary processes associated with feeding habits. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to describe the tongue morphology of the Antillean manatee and to understand possible morphological relationships with its way of capturing food. Macroscopic dissections and light and scanning electron microscopy analyses of seven manatee tongues were performed. The tongue in Antillean manatees is a muscular and robust organ, divided into apex, body, and root. It is firmly adhered to the floor of the oral cavity. Lingual papillae were distributed over the entire tongue surface. They were identified as filiform papillae concentrated in the apex. Fungiform papillae were present on the apex and lateral regions. Foliate papillae were located on the dorsolateral portion of the root. Lentiform papillae were located across the dorsal tongue surface. The mucosa was lined by a keratinized stratified squamous epithelium presenting compound tubuloacinar glands and taste buds in the foliate papillae. The tongue of the Antillean manatee is similar to other Sirenia species, both of which share a completely herbivorous diet.

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Among the bacterial infections that impair the health status of marine mammals, those caused by Brucella spp. are the most reported worldwide. Brucella infections in marine mammals can result in acute or chronic disease and are associated with variable clinical outcomes, depending on the organ involved during the infectious process, infection route, host immunity, and strain pathogenicity. Asymptomatic infections may also occur. The current study expands the investigation of Brucella infection in northeast Brazil by analyzing 19 dead, stranded cetaceans and 52 Antillean manatees Trichechus manatus manatus. The manatees included 8 dead, captive manatees and 44 live specimens, of which 10 were analyzed only after reintroduction into the wild as part of a rehabilitation program, 9 were analyzed both while in captivity or semi-captivity and after reintroduction, 20 were sampled only in captivity or semi-captivity, and 5 were free-living manatees. Serological tests were used to screen for antibodies against smooth Brucella spp. Whole blood, swabs, and tissue samples were screened for Brucella spp. DNA by PCR. Samples with positive PCR results were cultured for Brucella spp. isolation. All manatees yielded negative results in serological and molecular tests. Brucella spp. DNA was detected in the kidney of one adult Guiana dolphin Sotalia guianensis exhibiting necrosis in the liver. No growth of Brucella spp. was observed via microbiological culturing. This study is the first report of Brucella spp. DNA detection in cetaceans in the state of Pernambuco, and it highlights the importance of conducting systematic monitoring for the presence of Brucella infection in marine mammals along the Brazilian coast, especially in the northeast region, where several cases have been reported.

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Amazonian (Trichechus inunguis) and West Indian (Trichechus manatus) manatees are aquatic mammals vulnerable to extinction found in the Amazon basin and the coastal western Atlantic. Toll-like receptors (TLR) play a key role in recognizing pathogen-associated molecular patterns using leucine-rich repeats (LRRs). We described the diversity of TLR4 and TLR8 genes in these two species of manatee. Amazonian manatee showed seven SNPs in TLR4 and the eight in TLR8, while West Indian manatee shared four and six of those SNPs, respectively. In our analysis, TLR4 showed one non-conservative amino acid replacement substitution in LRR7 and LRR8, on the other hand, TLR8 was less variable and showed only conserved amino acid substitutions. Selection analysis showed that only one TLR4 site was subjected to positive selection and none in TLR8. TLR4 in manatees did not show any evidence of convergent evolution compared to species of the cetacean lineage. Differences in TLR4 and TLR8 polymorphism may be related to distinct selection by pathogens, population reduction of West Indian manatees, or an expected consequence of population expansion in Amazonian manatees. Future studies combining pathogen association and TLR polymorphism may clarify possible roles of these genes and be used for conservation purposes of manatee species.

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Background: Manatees are the most endangered aquatic mammals in Brazil. The current conservation scenario, together with their biological characteristics, raises concern with the future of this species. Pyothorax, also known as septic pleural effusion or pleural empyema, is characterized by the accumulation of a septic purulent exudate within the pleural space. Although this infection often has a multifactorial etiology, it is most commonly associated with respiratory tract disorders and trauma. Here, we report a case of pyothorax in a Antillean manatee (Trichechus manatus) held in captivity for acclimatization in Brazil. Case: A young, male Antillean manatee, aged 4 years and 11 months, measuring 227 cm in total length, and weighing 258 kg was held in captivity for acclimatization (natural environment) in Porto de Pedras in the State of Alagoas, Brazil. The animal died in February 2013 and was sent for necropsy at the CMA/ICMBio laboratory. The study was developed with authorisation from the Ethics Committee on Animal Use (License number 020/2009) and under the license SISBIO/ ICMBio number 20685-1. Externally, the carcass of the animal showed swelling and bulging of the right antimere and purulent secretion from the right nostril. After external examination, a window was opened in the layers of skin, fat, and muscles from the level of the anus to the navel. Subsequently, the abdominal cavity was opened for inspecting the internal organs. The subcutaneous muscles had a slightly friable, swollen, and pale texture, in addition to petechial hemorrhage, suffusions, and marked edema of the subcutaneous tissue. The right hemidiaphragm was elevated, filling the abdominal and thoracic spaces. Depending on the elevation, all organs were moved to...(AU)

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Background: Antillean manatee (Trichechus manatus) and Amazonian manatee (Trichechus inunguis) are the two species of manatees that occur in Brazil, and both are endangered. Studies on manatee disease in Brazil were previously based mainly on Florida manatees. In recent years, these studies have increased in Brazil. Thus, the objective was to carry out a survey of the publications of infectious and non-infectious diseases in the two species of manatees that occur in the country, to assist in the identification of threats to the species and in the health assessment of manatees in the country. Review: Regarding infectious and contagious diseases, parasites have affected both species of manatees in Brazil, such as Pulmonicola cochleotrema in wild T. manatus, Toxoplasma gondii in both species, and Cryptosporidium spp. also in both species, this being an important agent of zoonotic character. Giardia sp., another zoonotic parasite, has also been reported in both species of manatees in Brazil. Mycotic lesions caused by B. hawaiiensis have been described in calves of T. manatus in captivity. Meanwhile, Candida sp., Trichosporon sp., Rhodotorula sp., and Cryptococcus sp. have been identified in T. inunguis. Studies on viruses in manatees are still not widespread compared to other species; however, it has been verified that rotavirus is present in T. manatus in captivity. In studies carried out to identify bacteria in T. manatus, the following bacteria were isolated: Arizona sp., Bacillus sp., Corynebacterium equi, Corynebacterium pseudodiphteriticum, Corinebacterium sp., Edwasiella tarda, Enterobacter aerogenes, Enterobacter agglomerans, Enterobacter sakasakii, Escherichia coli, Leptospira spp., Proteus sp., Proteus vulgaris, Providencia rettgeri...

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Background: Manatees are the most endangered aquatic mammals in Brazil. The current conservation scenario, together with their biological characteristics, raises concern with the future of this species. Pyothorax, also known as septic pleural effusion or pleural empyema, is characterized by the accumulation of a septic purulent exudate within the pleural space. Although this infection often has a multifactorial etiology, it is most commonly associated with respiratory tract disorders and trauma. Here, we report a case of pyothorax in a Antillean manatee (Trichechus manatus) held in captivity for acclimatization in Brazil. Case: A young, male Antillean manatee, aged 4 years and 11 months, measuring 227 cm in total length, and weighing 258 kg was held in captivity for acclimatization (natural environment) in Porto de Pedras in the State of Alagoas, Brazil. The animal died in February 2013 and was sent for necropsy at the CMA/ICMBio laboratory. The study was developed with authorisation from the Ethics Committee on Animal Use (License number 020/2009) and under the license SISBIO/ ICMBio number 20685-1. Externally, the carcass of the animal showed swelling and bulging of the right antimere and purulent secretion from the right nostril. After external examination, a window was opened in the layers of skin, fat, and muscles from the level of the anus to the navel. Subsequently, the abdominal cavity was opened for inspecting the internal organs. The subcutaneous muscles had a slightly friable, swollen, and pale texture, in addition to petechial hemorrhage, suffusions, and marked edema of the subcutaneous tissue. The right hemidiaphragm was elevated, filling the abdominal and thoracic spaces. Depending on the elevation, all organs were moved to...

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The Antillean manatee inhabits coastal regions of North and Northeastern Brazil and currently is considered an endangered species in the country. Aiming to gather information for the development of public policies focusing on the conservation of manatees, the National Center for Research and Conservation of Aquatic Mammals of the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity has been rescuing, rehabilitating and releasing these mammals since the 1980s. Over the last 36 years, 40 manatees were released by the CMA/ICMBio and four of them were rescued again due to debris ingestion. Two of these manatees died and the other two were taken back into captivity for a new rehabilitation process. The four mammals had confirmed diagnosis of plastic debris ingestion. These findings demonstrate that the environment where the manatees live after being released had a significant amount of garbage which may hinder the success of the species conservation in Brazil.

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