RESUMEN
O puma (Puma concolor) é um felídeo encontrado em diversas zonas ecológicas do Brasil e Américas. Em pumas já foi reportado parasitismo por carrapatos ixodidae e endoparasitos de diferentes gêneros e espécies. Porém, pesquisas envolvendo a fauna silvestre brasileira ainda são poucas. Portanto, este estudo visou avaliar o parasitismo gastrintestinal em P. concolor mantido em cativeiro na região central do Rio Grande do Sul. Foram analisadas fezes de um puma adulto através dos métodos exame direto, centrífugo flutuação com sulfato de zinco e kinyon para pesquisa de parasitos. Nas amostras constatou-se a presença de infecção mista por oocistos de Cryptosporidium sp. e ovos Trichuris sp., além de oocistos de coccídeos sugestivos de Toxoplasma gondii ou Besnoitia sp. Com base nos resultados, pode-se concluir que o puma é um hospedeiro em potencial destes parasitos, apresentando quadro clínico assintomático. No entanto, cabe pesquisar o verdadeiro papel deste felídeo no ambiente relacionado à disseminação destes parasitos.
The cougar (Puma concolor) is a feline found in various ecological zones of the Americas, including Brazil. In cougar it has been reported parasitism by ticks Ixodidae and endoparasites of different genera and species. However, researches involving the Brazilian wild fauna are still few. Therefore, this research study aimed at evaluating the gastrointestinal parasitism in P. concolor kept in captivity in the central region of Rio Grande do Sul state. Fecal samples of an adult cougar were analyzed by the direct smear method, centrifugal flotation technique with zinc sulfate and kinyon staining method. Mixed infection by oocysts of Cryptosporidium sp. and eggs of Trichuris sp. were observed. Moreover, the samples showed oocysts of coccidea suggestive of Toxoplasma gondii or Besnoitia sp. Based on the results, one can conclude that the cougar is a potential host of these parasites, presenting with asymptomatic. However, future studies are needed to determine the true role of the feline in environment related to the spread of these parasites.
Asunto(s)
Animales , Toxoplasma/aislamiento & purificación , Trichuris/aislamiento & purificación , Cryptosporidium/aislamiento & purificación , Puma/parasitología , Eimeriida/aislamiento & purificación , BrasilRESUMEN
In recent years populations of howler monkeys (Alouatta palliata) in southeastern Mexico have decreased substantially due to the transformation and loss of natural habitats. This is especially evident in the Santa Marta mountain range, Veracruz, Mexico where several studies have evaluated the impact of fragmentation on howler monkey populations in order to propose management programs for their conservation. The conditions generated by fragmentation likely change the rates of parasitic infection and could decrease howler survival. In this study, gastrointestinal parasite species richness, prevalence, and egg density of infection were determined in howler groups inhabiting five forest fragments at the Santa Marta mountain range. Two hundred and seventy-eight fresh fecal samples were collected between October 2002 and April 2003. Three parasite species were found during the dry and the wet season in all forest fragments sampled: one unidentified species of Eimeriidae; Trypanoxyuris minutus (Oxyuridae); and Controrchis biliophilus (Dicrocoeliidae). Both the prevalence of T. minutus and infection density for all parasites differed between seasons and fragments (the largest fragment consistently differed from other fragments). Host density, distance to the nearest town, fragment size, fragment shape, and total basal area of food trees explained parasite prevalence, but each species had a different pattern. Although parasite richness was lower, prevalence and density were higher than values reported for howlers in conserved forests. These results suggest that the establishment of biological corridors and animal translocation programs must take into account the parasite ecology of each fragment to avoid higher infection rates and preclude potential consequent mortality.
Asunto(s)
Alouatta/parasitología , Eimeriida/aislamiento & purificación , Tracto Gastrointestinal/parasitología , Helmintos/aislamiento & purificación , Enfermedades Parasitarias en Animales/clasificación , Animales , Bases de Datos Factuales , Dicrocoeliidae/clasificación , Dicrocoeliidae/aislamiento & purificación , Ecosistema , Eimeriida/clasificación , Especies en Peligro de Extinción , Heces/parasitología , Helmintos/clasificación , Oxyurida/clasificación , Oxyurida/aislamiento & purificación , Enfermedades Parasitarias en Animales/prevención & controlRESUMEN
According to the "International Passenger Survey," published in 1996 by the Office of Trading Standards, 534,000 British people traveled to the Caribbean area (personal communication, ABTA, 1998). The Dominican Republic, the eastern end of a large Caribbean island, has become in recent years one of the most popular destinations for UK holidaymakers as well as for travelers from many other countries. Cyclospora cayatensis has been firmly identified as a cause of gastroenteritis among international travelers,1 including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive individuals,2 but it has not been previously reported in the literature in British individuals returning from this increasingly popular vacation destination.
Asunto(s)
Coccidiosis/diagnóstico , Diarrea/diagnóstico , Eimeriida , Enteritis/diagnóstico , Viaje , Anciano , Animales , Antiinfecciosos/uso terapéutico , Coccidiosis/tratamiento farmacológico , Coccidiosis/parasitología , Diagnóstico Diferencial , Diarrea/tratamiento farmacológico , Diarrea/parasitología , República Dominicana , Eimeriida/aislamiento & purificación , Inglaterra , Enteritis/tratamiento farmacológico , Enteritis/parasitología , Heces/parasitología , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Combinación Trimetoprim y Sulfametoxazol/uso terapéuticoRESUMEN
Coccidian oocysts containing 16 sporocysts with 4 sporozoites in each were observed in a faecal sample from Sclerurus scansor collected in the Itatiaia National Park, southeastern region of Brazil. The oocysts are characterized by ellipsoidal shape measuring 42.5 x 32.8 mm, with smooth, thick double-layered wall of a greenish-orange colour. An oocyst residuum of numerous scattered granules among the sporocysts in sporulated ones; 16 round sporocysts, averaging 10.5 x 10 mm each containing four elongated sporozoites; presence of residuum; absence of Stieda body. The presently described coccidian, recorded for the first time in birds, is a new species named P. scleruri.
Asunto(s)
Enfermedades de las Aves/parasitología , Coccidiosis/veterinaria , Eimeriida/aislamiento & purificación , Pájaros Cantores/parasitología , Animales , Aves/parasitología , Brasil , Eimeriida/crecimiento & desarrollo , Heces/parasitologíaRESUMEN
Tissue cysts of Besnoitia sp. were found in muscles and several organs from a naturally infected Akodon montensis captured in the rural area of the municipality of Timbó, Santa Catarina State, in southern Brazil. Indirect fluorescence and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays carried out with sera from mice chronically infected with Toxoplasma gondii and Besnoitia sp. showed, as expected, a stronger reaction against homologous than heterologous antigens. No cross-protection was observed in mice immunized with T. gondii when challenged with Besnoitia sp. This is the first description of a natural infection of A. montensis by parasites of the genus Besnoitia sp. in Brazil.