Terapia transfusional em tamanduá-bandeira (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) - Relato de caso

Abstract

The species Myrmecophaga tridactyla Linnaeus, 1758 (Pilosa, Xenarthra, Myrmecophagidae) is a large-sized mammal, with a broad geographic distribution in South and Central America. In Brazil, the species is commonly known as "Tamanduá-bandeira" (giant anteater), occurring in all terrestrial biomes. The species has been the target of anthropogenic threats, including fragmentation of its natural habitat due to agricultural activities, urbanization and fires, or direct influence on individuals, by roadkill or hunting. Currently, the species is classified as Vulnerable (VU), according to IUCN criteria on the List of Threatened Species. In different regions of the country, the rise in accidents involving giant anteaters has increased the need for clinical care for individuals in critical health. Depending on the conditions, many cases end up evolving into a serious condition with blood loss, which, consequently, leads to the death of the animal if there is no medical and/or therapeutic intervention. In veterinary medicine, transfusion therapy is becoming increasingly popular in cases of severe anemia. In these cases, blood transfusion is performed by transferring whole blood or its products from a healthy and suitable donor to a recipient, with the aim of recovering, for a certain period of time, this deficiency in the body, regardless of the underlying cause of anemia. In the present report, the transfused animal showed positive results to this type of therapy, meaning it did not present any delayed transfusion reactions, which allowed for an increase in hematocrit levels.