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At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1982

The effects of posture on blood pressure and heart rate in the three-toed sloth, Bradypus tridactylus.

1. In unanesthetized, minimally restrained three-toed sloths, Bradypus tridactylus, the mean arterial pressure was 125/85 mmHg and the heart rate was 83.6 beats/min. There was no significant difference between these parameters whether the animal was erect or supine in the experimental chair. 2. Animals without any restraint had a mean blood pressure of 133/87 mmHg and a heart rate of 78.1 beats/min. There was no significant difference between these parameters whether the animal was seated or suspended from a horizontal bar and there was no significant difference between the minimally restrained and the unrestrained animals. 3. Tilting from the erect to the supine position produced large increases in blood pressure parameters, 37% in systolic and 21% in diastolic, reaching the maximum effect in a mean time of 38 sec. Tilting from the supine to the erect position caused even greater increases in pressure, 43% and 38% respectively, and reaching the maximum also in a mean time of 38 sec. 4. Tilting initially increased the heart rate, in going from erect to supine by 21% in 16 sec and from supine to erect by 23% in 20 sec. 5. In going from erect to supine there was a reflex bradycardia later, 15% below control level with a maximum at 40 sec, and to a lesser degree in going from supine to erect, 9% with maximum at 50 sec.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Sleep and waking in the three-toed sloth, Bradypus tridactylus.

The sleep-waking cycles of the three-toed sloth, Bradypus tridactylus, were studied by direct observation and polygraphic recording and the results were correlated. Three states of waking behavior were recognized, "awake-exploring", "awake-alert" and "awake-fixating". EEG recordings were classified as two waking states., A1 which was seen during both "awake-exploring" and "awake-alert" behavior and A2 which had some of the characteristics of drowsy behavior of other mammals and often accompanied the "awake-fixating" behavior. EEG patterns of sleep were divided into five types: two in light sleep, two in deep sleep and one in paradoxical sleep. Animals spent about 30% of the time in various degrees of waking behavior and about 70% asleep. Waking EEGs of various types were seen about 34% of the time, about 10% of that during behavioral sleep. EEG patterns of light sleep constituted about 56% of the records, about 6% of that during some form of waking behavior. EEG patterns of deep sleep constituted about 10% of the records; all of this came during behavioral sleep. The total duration of sleep and of paradoxical sleep did not depart materially from the expected pattern based on phylogenetic position. The pattern of sleep is polycyclic but in the laboratory situation animals were sleeping most soundly between 6 a.m. and noon.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Leishmania (Viannia) shawi sp. n., a parasite of monkeys, sloths and procyonids in Amazonian Brazil.

Leishmania (Viannia) shawi sp. n., is described from the monkeys Cebus apella and Chiropotes satanus, the sloths Choloepus didactylus and Bradypus tridactylus, the procyonid Nasua nasua, and the phlebotomine sandfly Lutzomyia whitmani, all from primary forest in the State of Pará, north Brazil. L. (V.) shawi is variably distinguished from all other known species within the subgenus Viannia by a combination of biological, biochemical and serological characters, as revealed by studies on morphology, isoenzyme profiles, kDNA buoyant densities and monoclonal antibodies.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Acute disseminated toxoplasmosis in a captive three-toed sloth (Bradypus tridactylus).

Fatal toxoplasmosis was diagnosed in a captive three-toed sloth (Bradypus tridactylus), an arboreal species of the tropical rainforests of South and Central America. In view of its specialized lifestyle and ecosystem and its low metabolic rate, B. tridactylus would seem to warrant further investigation in respect of its susceptibility to Toxoplasma gondii.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1981

Some histological and histochemical studies of the pancreas of the Brasilian sloth, Bradypus tridactylus.

The histological and histochemical study of the pancreas of the three-toed sloth, Bradypus tridactylus, demonstrated that with the methods employed the pancreatic islets are apparently formed by A cells exclusively. Two different types of argyrophilic cells were noticed in the exocrine secretory units when Grimelius' method was used. The methods for the demonstration of D cells showed negative results. Aldehyde fuchsin-positive granules were only noticed at the apex of the exocrine pancreatic cells. These results are discussed in relation to current hypotheses concerning the evolution of insulin secretion mechanisms.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Identification of endotrypanum species from a sloth, a squirrel and Lutzomyia sandflies in ecuador by PCR amplification and sequencing of the mini-exon gene.

PCR amplification and nucleotide sequencing of the mini-exon gene revealed that four strains isolated from a sloth (Choloepus hoffmanni), a squirrel (Sciurus granatensis) and two sandflies (Lutzomyia hartmanni) in Ecuador were indistinguishable from Endotrypanum monterogeii. Another strain isolated from Lu. hartmanni showed the high sequence similarity to E. schaudinni. Since three of these strains have been previously identified as Leishmania (Viannia) equatorensis, the results demonstrate that L. (V.) equatorensis is genetically closely related to the genus Endotrypanum. The present study also indicates that Endotrypanum species are distributed in arboreal animals and sandflies in Ecuador, and that mini-exon gene amplification is useful for epidemiological studies of Leishmania and Endotrypanum in the New World.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Cardiovascular responses to locomotor activity and feeding in unrestrained three-toed sloths, Bradypus variegatus.

Heart rate (HR) and systolic (SBP), diastolic (DBP) and mean (MBP) blood pressure were recorded by biotelemetry in nine conscious unrestrained sloths for 1 min every 15 min over a 24-h period. The animals were allowed to freely move in an acoustically isolated and temperature-controlled (24 +/- 1 degree C) experimental room with light-dark cycle (12/12 h). Behavior was closely monitored through a unidirectional visor and classified as resting (sitting or suspended), feeding (chewing and swallowing embauba leaves, Cecropia adenops), or locomotor activity around the tree trunk or on the room floor. Locomotor activity caused statistically significant increases in SBP (+8%, from 121 +/- 22 to 131 +/- 18 mmHg), DBP (+7%, from 86 +/- 17 to 92 +/- 10 mmHg), MBP (+8%, from 97 +/- 19 to 105 +/- 12 mmHg), and HR (+14%, from 84 +/- 15 to 96 +/- 15 bpm) compared to resting values, indicating a possible major influence of the autonomic nervous system on the modulation of cardiac function during this behavior. During feeding, the increase in blood pressure was even higher (SBP +27%, from 119 +/- 21 to 151 +/- 21 mmHg; DBP +21%, from 85 +/- 16 to 103 +/- 15 mmHg; MBP +24%, from 96 +/- 17 to 119 +/- 17 mmHg), while HR remained at 14% (from 84 +/- 15 to 96 +/- 10 bpm) above resting values. The proportionally greater increase in blood pressure than in HR during feeding suggests an increase in peripheral vascular resistance as part of the overall response to this behavior.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Social behavior between mothers x young of sloths Bradypus variegatus Schinz, 1825 (Xenarthra: Bradypodidae).

This study is a contribution to the ex situ and in situ conservation and preservation of Sloths. The behavioral records of the social interaction between mothers and offspring allow the detection of important learning interactions and psychomotor development. The results provide valuable information that may assist in improving management conditions of captive orphan progeny. They also favor a more effective monitoring of released or transferred specimens. Age is of fundamental importance in deciding what is important during the release, transfer, or reintroduction of the species.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Genetic diversity in different populations of sloths assessed by DNA fingerprinting.

In this study we analyzed a population of Bradypus torquatus with individuals originally distributed in different localities of Bahia, and two populations of B. variegatus with individuals from Bahia and São Paulo States. Using the DNA fingerprinting method, we assessed the genetic variability within and between populations. Analysis of the DNA profiles revealed genetic similarity indices ranging from 0.34 +/- 0.07 to 0.87 +/- 0.04. Similar low levels of genetic variability were found only in isolated mammalian populations or among related individuals. This study presents the first analyses of genetic diversity in sloth populations.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

[Autopharmacology, sloths and physiology. Opinions on certain historical aspects and potential developments in physiology in Liege].

We recall the works of Bacq, Lecomte and Goffart, three physiologists from the University of Liège, on neurohumoral transmission, autacoids, sloths and monkeys in order to stress first that Physiology is a natural science of its own, and secondly that physiological studies aim at the understanding of the general mechanisms concurring to homeostasis.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Some morphological and histochemical studies on the intestinal tract of the Brazilian sloth (Bradypus tridactylus).

The intestinal of the 3-toed sloth, Bradypus tridactylus, was studied macroscopically, with light microscope and with histochemical methods for mucosubstances. Macroscopically, the inner surface of the duodenum shows longitudinal and circular folds. There is no caecum, nor appendix. The large intestine consists of a short colon and a large rectal pouch, which has a thick wall. The mucosa of the small intestine has long leaf-shaped villi covered with columnar epithelium having a well developed striated border, and the goblet cells are scattered among the columnar cells. An association between neutral and acidic mucosubstances was detected in the goblet cells. The duodenal (Brunner's) glands are confined exclusively in the lamina propria of the duodenum. No Paneth cells were observed in the crypt lining. Argyrophil and argentaffin cells were found in the entire length of the intestine. The large intestine does not possess villi, but many goblet cells were observed in its mucosa.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

The endocranial cast of an early miocene edentate, Hapalops indifferens Ameghino (Mammalia, Edentata, Tardigrada, Megatheriidae). Comparative study with brains of recent sloths.

A natural endocranial cast which represents a complete brain of a specimen of Hapalops indifferens is described. Comparing this cast to brains of actual Tardigrada, it shows a telencephalic morphology and a pattern of neocortical sulci that resemble more the brain of Bradypus rather than that of Choloepus. The neocortical sulci homologate the lateral or corono-lateral, suprasylvian and pseudosylvian sulci. Taking into account the studies of cortical maps in Bradypus and the notable similitude of the pattern of neocortical sulci between Bradypus and H. indifferens, the possible representation of the primary sensitive and motor somatic areas, secondary sensitive somatic area, visual and auditory areas are inferred. As in Bradypus, the primary sensitive and motor somatotopic organizations would be overlapped and would not be mirror images; they would show a predominance of the area of the forelimb. The relative brain size of H. indifferens is similar or higher than that of sloths of the genus Bradypus. The close resemblance between Bradypus and Hapalops, with respect to its brain morphology and relative brain size. is congruent with the current hypothesis of the phylogenetic relations between fossil and recent Tardigrada.

Animals↗
PubMed1979

Leishmania herreri sp. n. from sloths and sandflies of Costa Rica.

Leishmania herreri sp. n. is described after isolation in pure culture from blood, viscera and skin of two-toed (Choloepus hoffmanni) and three-toed (Bradypus griseus) sloths from Costa Rica. Also, it was isolated from the following sandflies: Lutzomyia trapidoi, L. ylephiletor and L. shannoni. The amastigote forms were not seen in the final hosts but they were obtained in tissue culture at 33 C. Both promastigotes and amastigotes failed to infect hamsters. The new parasite is isolated frequently in culture, mixed with other hemoflagellates such as L. braziliensis, Endotrypanum sp. and Trypanosoma rangeli.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Extrahepatic biliary carcinoma in sloth bears.

Extrahepatic biliary carcinoma was found in each of 5 adult sloth bears that died between 1970 and 1984 while on exhibit in Ohio zoos. The tumor was characterized by numerous mucin-producing neoplastic glands scattered throughout abundant fibrous stroma. The cause of the tumor was not determined.

Adenocarcinoma, Scirrhous↗