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Morphological studies concerning the digestive system can further information on animal diets, thus aiding in the understanding of feeding behavior. Given the scarcity of information on sea turtle digestive system morphology, the aim of the present study was to describe the digestive tube (DT) morphology of Eretmochelys imbricata hatchlings to further understand the diet of these individuals in the wild. DT samples from 10 stillborn turtles (undefined sex) were analyzed at the macro and microscopic levels. The esophagus, stomach, small intestine (SI), and large intestine (LI) are described. Histologically, the DT is formed by four tunics, the mucosa, submucosa, muscular, and adventitia or serosa. The esophagus is lined by keratinized stratified squamous epithelium, while the remainder of the DT is lined by a simple columnar epithelium. The esophagus mucosa is marked by conical, pointed papillae. The stomach comprises three regions, the cardiac, fundic, and pyloric and is covered by neutral mucous granular cells. The intestinal mucosa presents absorptive cells with microvilli, neutral and acidic goblet cells, and mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue. The SI is significantly longer than the LI (p value = 0.006841). These morphological findings are strong indications of adaptations to a carnivorous diet in this hawksbill turtle age group.

Pathoanatomical studies of diseases that affect wild animals are extremely important as appropriate measures can then be taken for the prevention and control of such diseases. We report here the case of death of a greater rhea ( ) by intestinal intussusception secondary to the ingestion of a large amount of sand. The animal was bred at the Center for Multiplication of Wild Animals of the Federal Rural University of the Semi-Arid. The animal died after presenting clinical signs of apathy, weakness, prostration, and inability to move, drink water, or eat. After death, the carcass was immediately sent for necropsy. During necropsy, intussusception was found involving the jejunum, ileum, and colon. The duodenum contained large amounts of coarse sand. The invaginated intestinal segments were reddish in color, with necrotic spots, and covered by a fibrinous exudate. Histopathological examination of the invaginated segments showed necrosis of the enterocytes, detachment of the intestinal epithelium, and the presence of inflammatory cells. The ingestion of a large amount of sand may have resulted in altered intestinal transit, contributing to the occurrence of intussusception, which resulted in ischemic alterations, intestinal necrosis, and consequent death of the animal.

Background Research on cancer in wild animals provides important insights into the mechanisms of carcinogenesis. Histiocytic sarcomas comprise a rare malignant macrophage-dendritic cell lineage neoplasm in wildlife. This study reports a case of histiocytic sarcoma in the small intestine of a collared peccary ( Pecari tajacu ), describing its clinical, anatomopathological, and immunohistochemical aspects. Case presentation A six-year-old male collared peccary maintained in captivity at a facility in Northeastern Brazil presented progressive weight loss, diarrhea, anorexia, dyspnea, lethargy, abdominal distension, bristled fur, and pale mucous membranes. A complete blood count indicated a mild degree of anemia and moderate leukocytosis. Treatment included anti-inflammatories and antibiotics; however, on the 18th day after initial presentation, the animal was found dead in its enclosure. An anatomopathological examination revealed that the animal exhibited poor body condition, scant body fat with a gelatinous appearance, hydrothorax, pulmonary edema, and ascites. Thickening of the duodenal wall was observed, along with the presence of a yellowish-white tumor. Histopathological examination of the affected intestinal segment revealed a neoplastic proliferation of round cells with large, hyperchromatic nuclei, prominent nucleoli, and a high mitotic index (20 mitoses per high-power field). Numerous multinucleated and binucleated giant cells were present. The neoplastic cells extensively infiltrated all layers of the intestinal wall, from the mucosa to the serosa. Immunohistochemical analysis showed strong positivity for macrophage/mononuclear phagocytic lineage markers (CD18, IBA-1, and lysozyme), while negative for T-cell (CD3), B-cell (CD79), and plasma cell (MUM1) markers. The proliferation index assessed by Ki-67 was approximately 60%. Conclusions The histopathological and immunohistochemical findings confirmed the diagnosis of intestinal histiocytic sarcoma in a collared peccary, representing the first documented case of this neoplasm in this species.

The Caatinga is a Brazilian biome with limited studies on its wild mammal fauna, including the ectoparasitic relationships in these animals. This study aims to report the findings of fleas and ticks infesting wild animals rescued in the municipality of Mossoró, Rio Grande do Norte State (RN), Brazil, and treated at the Veterinary Hospital of the Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido (HOVET-UFERSA). During the clinical assessments and physical examinations of the host animals (one male Cerdocyon thous L.; two females of Tamandua tetradactyla L.; one male Leopardus tigrinus Schreber; and one male Conepatus semistriatus Boddaert), fleas and ticks were collected. These ectoparasites were removed mechanically and sent to the Animal Parasitology Laboratory at UFERSA for identification. Identification was carried out based on morphology, with the aid of specific literature, stereomicroscopy, and light optical microscopy. From C. thous , two males of Amblyomma parvum Aragão and four female Pulex irritans (L.) fleas were recovered. From the adult female T. tetradactyla , one male of Rhipicephalus linnaei (Audouin), eight nymphs, and two males of Amblyomma auricularium (Conil) were collected. From the juvenile female T. tetradactyla , three nymphs of A. parvum and six female fleas of the species Tunga penetrans (L.) were recovered. From the male L. tigrinus , five females and one male flea of the species Ctenocephalides felis (Bouche) were collected. Finally, from the male C. semistriatus , two nymphs, 19 males, and six females of A. auricularium were recovered. This study contributes to expanding the knowledge of host-parasite relationships in free-living mammals in the Caatinga biome, in western Rio Grande do Norte.

Phylogenetically, the yolk sac is an ancient structure in vertebrate evolution and crucial in the placentation of viviparous animals, playing an essential role in embryogenesis. Considering that the yolk sac persists until birth in rodents, forming an active placenta, this study aimed to describe the yolk sac development process in red-rumped agoutis ( Dasyprocta leporina ) during the early gestation phase and associating the progression to morphological changes in other structures. To this end, six female red-rumped agoutis obtained from CEMAS-UFERSA were monitored for 24 h. The first gestation day was defined as 24 h post-copulation. Samplings were carried out on the 13th, 14th and 15th pregnancy days. Pregnant uteri were fixed in 8% paraformaldehyde for 72 h and histologically processed, with 5 μm sections stained with Hematoxylin-Eosin (HE) and analyzed under a light microscope. On the 13th day, the blastocyst is implanted on the antimesometrial side of the uterus, surrounded by uterine stromal cells organizing themselves around this structure. On the 14th day, the intramural wall between the uterus and the embryo begins to break down and the parietal yolk sac exhibits spindle cells, while the visceral yolk sac presents eosinophilic cuboidal cells. On the 15th day, the intramural layer is almost completely ruptured, revealing a vascular bed between the embryo and the decidua. The visceral yolk sac did not yet contain its characteristic villi at this stage. Blastocyst formation and yolk sac differentiation take place between the 13th and 15th pregnancy days. The yolk sac inversion process is also described, taking place between the 14th and 15th gestation days, which had not yet been documented for red-rumped agoutis.

The greater rhea, Rhea americana , is a wild ratite of high scientific importance and significant and zootechnical value, especially considering the current development state of Brazilian poultry production, where research aimed at increasing the productivity of these animals has become extremely relevant. Studies concerning fetal attachments and embryonic development are paramount, as they can provide essential information concerning reproductive and nutritional animal management. However, a lack of information on greater rhea fetal morphology is noted. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to establish a standard model for fetal attachments in this species. Greater rhea eggs were incubated from 0 to 36 days, and macroscopic and microscopic embryonic attachment characterizations were performed. Histologically, all embryonic annexes exhibit germ layers, namely the ectoderm (outer layer), mesoderm (middle layer) and endoderm (inner layer). The findings indicate that greater rhea development patterns are similar to other birds.