Domestic Animals and the Risk of Transmission of Pathogens for Wild Fauna in the Surrounding Area of Tijuca National Park

Abstract

Domestic animals are potential carriers of pathogenic agents, endangering wildlife, a common threat in urban environments, such as Tijuca National Park (PNT) and its buffer zone, where they live in great numbers in the surrounding communities. The Rio de Janeiro's Botanical Garden (JBRJ), such as the PNT, is pressured by urbanization, harboring at the PNT's borders, a community known as Horto (CH), circumstances which brings wildlife, domestic animals and people closer. Pathogens can devastate wild populations, or, conversely, serve as an amplifier of infectious pathogens, circumventing controlactions of health, thus, it is essential to know the health conditions, maintenance and management characteristics of domestic animals around the protected areas, in order to plan wildlife protection actions. This study's objective is to identify the potential presence of infectious risk agents to wildlife, by estimating domestic animals residing there and an inventory of possible infectious agents. For this we used questionnaires having as informants CH residents and veterinarians of the area, as well as data from the JBRJ's Fauna Conservation Team that served as a support for the analyzes. Community animals were not represented in local clinics records of visits, with unvaccinated and neglected animals, especially cats. We consider that there is a risk to native fauna at various levels and specially, the risk of reemergence of feline rabies. From the obtained results we can understand characteristics and beliefs of the community, being able to structure strategies for adequacy of the situation and replication of the study in other communities.