The parasite was not detected in heart, muscle or brain homogenates from the jaguarundi. The black-eared opossum tissues could not be examined using this assay, because there was no material left. T. gondii was detected in tissues (lung or brains) from positive mice for each of the isolates. Genotyping results of the isolates from the three wild animals at all the

markers are shown in Table 1. Genotyping was also performed at all these markers with all the tested primary samples from the howler monkey and was successful. Three genotypes were detected. The genotypes from the jaguarundi and the black-eared opossum isolates were detected for ABT-199 datasheet the first time in Brazil. The genotype from the red-handed howler monkey isolate has been previously described in an isolate from a goat in Rio Grande do Norte State and in isolates from 10 chickens in seven states of Northeastern Brazil. Most T. gondii isolates genotyped in Brazil are from domestic animals, including free-range chickens, cats, dogs, sheep and goat; little is known about the genetics of T. gondii isolates from wild mammals in Brazil. Yai et al. (2009) genotyped isolates from capybaras (H. hydrochaeris), the largest rodent in the world, widely present in tropical America; among the 16 genotypes identified from the 36 studied isolates, seven genotypes, corresponding to 10 isolates, were described for the first time and eight of the isolates were grouped into

the common clonal lineages in Brazil, designated as Types BrI, BrII and BrIII ( Pena et al., 2008). In the present study, we isolated ZVADFMK and genotyped T. gondii from three different species of wild mammals in Brazil. These animals were chosen because of convenience. The red-handed howler monkey (A. belzebul) and the jaguarundi (P. yagouaroundi)

were captive animals, inhabiting the same zoo in a state of Northeastern Brazil. Many species of wild animals in Brazil are kept in zoos or by animal breeders as part of conservation programs. Serological studies showed a high prevalence of anti-T. gondii antibodies in zoo animals ( Silva et al., SDHB 2001 and Spencer et al., 2003). Brazil is the richest country in the world in terms of primate species. Red-handed howler monkeys, fed on leaves, fruits and insects, are endemic to Brazil and inhabit the northern and northeastern regions. Currently, there are no reports regarding the seroprevalence of T. gondii antibodies in this species. Garcia et al. (2005) observed a seroprevalence of 17.6% (3/17) in captured wild Alouatta caraya (black and golden howler monkeys) in the southern region. In the present study, we isolated T. gondii from a red-handed howler monkey. It is the first isolation of T. gondii in this species. This animal was suspected of dying of toxoplasmosis. Neotropical primates are one of the most susceptible groups to clinical and fatal toxoplasmosis ( Dubey and Beattie, 1988 and Garrel, 1999).