scholarly journals Natural infection by endoparasites among free-living wild animals

2013 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 302-306 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luciane Holsback ◽  
Mauro José Lahm Cardoso ◽  
Rafael Fagnani ◽  
Thaís Helena Constantino Patelli

The objective of this study was to investigate the frequency of occurrence and variety of intestinal parasites among free-living wild animals. Fecal samples from wild mammals and birds at rehabilitation centers in the states of Mato Grosso do Sul and São Paulo were analyzed by sedimentation and flotation-centrifugation methods. Parasite eggs, oocysts, cysts and/or trophozoites were found in 71% of the samples. Cryptosporidiumsp. oocysts were detected in fecal samples from oncillas (Leopardus tigrinus) and scaly-headed parrots (Pionus maximiliani). Giardia cysts were identified in the feces of a gray brocket (Mazama gouazoubira). Among the most common parasites found, there were eggs from Toxocara cati,Toxascaris leonina and Ancylostoma tubaeforme, and from Cestoda. Several Enterobiussp. eggs were found in the feces of red howler monkeys (Alouatta seniculus). It can be concluded from this study that despite the small number of samples, the diversity of parasites found was noteworthy. Additional information about parasite endofauna in wild animals is needed, since their presence might suggest that there could be proximity to and interactions with domestic animals and/or humans. In addition, further studies on parasites from free-living wild animals are of prime importance for understanding the intensity of anthropic changes in wild environments.

2020 ◽  
Vol 48 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marco Aurélio Cunha Del Vechio ◽  
Edson Gerônimo ◽  
Enzo Emmerich Paula De Castro ◽  
Luciana Vieira Pinto Ribeiro ◽  
Rita De Cássia Lima Ribeiro ◽  
...  

Background: Studies on intestinal parasites in cougars Puma concolor are scarce, and most of the available information on the species has been derived from individuals in captivity. One of the greatest threats to the survival of wild cats is habitat loss caused by urban sprawl, agricultural matrix, and linear developments such as highways and railways, which expose animals to direct contact with humans and to a high risk of death. Given the lack of scientific data the objective of this study was to report on the occurrence of intestinal parasites in a cougar (P. concolor) specimen from the northwestern region of Paraná State, Brazil.Case: The carcass of a free-living cougar (P. concolor) individual was sent to the Interdisciplinary Science Museum (Museu Interdisciplinar de Ciências – MIC) of Paranaense University (Universidade Paranaense - UNIPAR); an individual was killed during a collision with an unidentified vehicle on highway PR-486, in the municipality of Mariluz (PR, Brazil). The geographical coordinates of the location where the animal was found are: 23°59′29″S, 53°8′47″W. This region is characterized by semi-deciduous seasonal forest remnants. After being identified on site and collected by the inspectors of the Paraná Environmental Institute (Instituto Ambiental do Paraná - IAP), the cadaver was donated to the MIC (by the IAP) for a necropsy to elucidate the cause of death. In this context, the cadaver was sent to the Animal Pathology section of the Department of Veterinary Medicine at UNIPAR. The animal was necropsied by performing the standard necropsy technique for carnivores: opening the intestine through the mesentery and exposing the mucosa from the duodenum to the colon. The necropsy showed that the cause of death was hypovolemic shock due to trauma. During necropsy, parasites in the intestinal lumen were visible to the naked eye. Parasites and feces were collected and stored in sterile flasks containing 10% formaldehyde and saline. The parasites were subjected to Faust and Hoffman techniques, micrometry, and morphological analysis, resulting in the identification of the roundworm Toxocara cati and the tapeworm Spirometra decipiens.Discussion: Identifying the roadkill species along highways is of paramount importance, since they are living very close to man and, consequently, reservoirs and disseminators of different infectious and parasitic zoonoses may be possible. Infection by protozoa and helminths in animals usually occurs by ingesting the infective form present in food or water. Toxocara cati and the tapeworm Spirometra decipiens were only reported in captivity before. Research on parasites in free-living wild animals is not common in the scientific literature and this is due to the difficulty of capturing this animal category as they live in difficult to access places such as forests and forests, therefore, research projects in partnership with museums are extremely important for the recognition of wild animal species that circulate in the region, in addition to the parasitic identification of these animals for future sanitary measures and for the preservation of the animal species in the environment. The Parasitological studies of wild animals are highly relevant for expanding this knowledge, especially considering the possible transfer risk of specific parasitic diseases to other animals, as well as to humans.


Author(s):  
Logman Aslan ◽  
Özdemir Adizel ◽  
Tunahan Sancak

Today, the ecosystem is being rapidly destroyed due to habitat loss, animal hunting, road construction, raising of transmission lines, general pollution, and agricultural activities, in addition to many other factors, all of which directly and indirectly affect wildlife. By necessity, rehabilitation units are available for the care and treatment of wild birds and mammals in need of life support. This paper discusses data collected regarding the treatment and rehabilitation of wild mammals and birds brought to the Center for Wildlife Conservation and Rehabilitation at Van Yüzüncü Yýl University from 2009-2016. During the course of the present study, total 145 wild animals including 117 birds and 28 mammals. Out of the total treated, 96 wild birds and 21 wild mammals recovered, 12 birds and 4 mammals died without responding to treatments, whereas 9 birds and 3 mammals were euthanized. Additionally, of the 96 birds and 21 mammals that recovered, 15 birds and 6 mammals were determined to be unable to survive in their natural habitats, and were sent to zoo gardens or wildlife conservation and rehabilitation centers. The remaining 96 animals that fully recovered were released back into their natural habitats.


2021 ◽  
Vol 41 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aline Mewius ◽  
Elis Regina Lusa ◽  
Julia G. Pertille ◽  
Tiago D. Dos Reis ◽  
Juliana A. Pletsch ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT: Free-living wild animals can host a wide variety of endoparasites. When subjected to conditions of captivity, these animals can go through stressful situations and develop parasites. Therefore, the objective of this study was to identify parasitic infection in wild mammals, birds, and reptiles kept at the “Universidade de Caxias do Sul” Zoo, in Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil. The population studied was based on 76 animals, divided into 50% (38/76) birds, 35.53% (27/76) mammals, and 14.47% (11/76) reptiles distributed in 33 different enclosures. Fecal samples were collected from the enclosures and analyzed in triplicate, using the centrifugal-flotation method with a zinc sulfate solution. Samples from the enclosures 31, 32, 33, (where snakes are located), and 15 (animal death), were not analyzed in triplicate, so the total number of analyses was 91 samples. The results showed that 41.76% (38/91) of the samples were positive for at least one class of endoparasites, such as Nematoda, Cestoda, or Coccidia. The positive samples showed the presence of at least one or more parasites from orders Strongylida (34.21%), Enoplida and Strongylida (23.68%), Enoplida only (23.68%), Cyclophyllidea and Oxyurida (5.26%), Ascaridida only (5.26%), Enoplida, Strongylida, and Ascaridida (5.26%), and Enoplida and Eucoccidiorida (2.63%). Considering the positive samples, 55.26% were collected from birds, 39.47% from mammals, and 5.27% from reptiles. Capillaria sp. eggs were the main structure found in birds, and eggs from the order Strongylida were the most found in samples from mammals. This study showed the order Strongylida as the most frequent parasite found in 63.16% of the total samples, established either in isolated or mixed infestations. Also, mammals and birds were those with a greater quantity of positive samples for endoparasites. Therefore, this study emphasizes the importance of carrying out research assessing the gastrointestinal parasitic fauna in wild animals, so one can determine the conditions under which these parasites become pathogenic to wild animals raised in captivity.


Author(s):  
Evgeniy Nedelkin ◽  
◽  
Alexander Khrustalev ◽  
Anna Babenko ◽  
Sergey Slepchenko ◽  
...  

The article presents the results of an archaeoparasitological and palynological study of a sample taken from the sewage drain of the Chorgun Tower. This is a fortification on the territory of the village of Chernorechie (South-Western Crimea). According to archaeological research, the construction of the keep dates back to the third quarter of the 15th century. Four types of eggs of intestinal parasites infecting humans and synanthropic animals were identified in the sample. Regarding parasitic and infectious gastrointestinal diseases, human whipworm and roundworm eggs found in the sample are indicative of relatively unfavorable sanitary conditions of the fortification. Based on the features of the archaeoparasitological spectrum, it can be concluded that anthelminthic agents were used or food with antiparasitic effects against roundworms was consumed. The difficult sanitary and epidemiological situation was also complicated by synanthropic rodents, such as rats and domestic mice, which could be a constant source of dangerous infections in the Chorgun Keep. A palynological study of the contents of the sewage runoff made it possible to obtain additional information on the nutrition of people who used the latrine facilities in the Chorgun Keep. What is equally important is that the study demonstrates the possibilities of methods for the study of canalization as a source of bioarchaeological information.


2016 ◽  
Vol 68 (3) ◽  
pp. 571-578 ◽  
Author(s):  
D.G.S. Ramos ◽  
A.R.G.L.O. Santos ◽  
L.C. Freitas ◽  
S.H.R. Correa ◽  
G.V. Kempe ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT The population of wild animals is regulated by many biotic and abiotic factors, and parasites are a biotic factor that affects the dynamic and density of host populations. From 2002 to 2014, 62 wild animals from the biomes Pantanal, Amazon, and "Cerrado" (or Savanna), which died in attendance in the veterinary hospital or have been road-killed, underwent necropsy for parasitological examination. Overall, 36 species of parasites were identified from 24 host species. Among the parasites, the most prevalent order was Oxyurida (29.1%), followed by Strongylida (20.9%), Spirurida (19.4%), Ascaridida (16.2%), Pentastomida (3.2%), Echinostomida (3.2%), Gygantorhynchia (3.2%), Rhabditida (1.6%), Plagiorchiida (1.6%), and Monilimorfida (1.6%), especially nematodes, which have more biotic potential and is more easily adapted to the environment than other classes. The occurrence of endoparasites was observed more frequently in endothermic than ectothermic animals, and herein is reported eleven new host occurrences for endoparasites in wild animals. The study has contributed to the knowledge on the biodiversity of parasites in wild animals from three biomes in central-western Brazil.


2007 ◽  
Vol 49 (2) ◽  
pp. 119-122 ◽  
Author(s):  
João Cezar do Nascimento ◽  
Byanca Regina de Paiva ◽  
Rosely dos Santos Malafronte ◽  
Wedson Desidério Fernandes ◽  
Eunice Aparecida Bianchi Galati

The main purpose of this study was to investigate natural infection by Leishmania in phlebotomine females in a visceral-leishmaniasis focus in Antonio João county in Mato Grosso do Sul State, Brazil. Between June and October 2003, the digestive tracts of 81 females captured in Aldeia Campestre, Aldeia Marangatu and Povoado Campestre were dissected. The females were separated by species, location, area and date of capture into 13 groups and kept in ethanol 70%. To identify the Leishmania species using the PCR technique, amplifications of the ribosomal-DNA (rDNA) and mini-exon genes were analyzed. Of the 81 specimens, 77 (95%) were Lutzomyia longipalpis, making this the most common species; only one specimen of each of the species Brumptomyia avellari, Evandromyia cortelezzii, Evandromyia lenti and Nyssomyia whitmani was found. Trypanosomatids were identified in eight of the nine groups of Lutzomyia longipalpis (10.39%) one group from Aldeia Campestre, one from Aldeia Marangatu and six from Povoado Campestre; of the eight groups, one from Aldeia Marangatu and another, with promastigotes forms also confirmed by dissection (1.23%) from Povoado Campestre, were identified by PCR as Leishmania chagasi (2.6%). The other groups gave negative results. These findings indicate that there is a high risk of leishmaniasis transmission in this area.


2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adele Nyambura Njuguna ◽  
John Maina Kagira ◽  
Simon Muturi Karanja ◽  
Maina Ngotho ◽  
Lucy Mutharia ◽  
...  

Gastrointestinal (GIT) parasites of domestic cats (Felis catus) not only cause morbidity but are also potential zoonotic agents. The current study aimed at establishing the prevalence of GIT parasites in cats kept by households in Thika region, Kenya. Fecal samples were collected randomly from 103 cats and analyzed for presence of parasites using standard parasitological methods. In descending order, the prevalence of the detected protozoa parasites wasIsosporaspp. 43.7% (95% CI: 40.4–47%),Cryptosporidiumspp. 40.8% (95% CI: 37.5–44.1%),Toxoplasma gondii7.8% (95% CI: 4.5–11.1%), andEntamoebaspp. 2.9% (95% CI: 1.6–6.2%). The prevalence of the observed helminths wasStrongyloides stercoralis43.7% (95% CI: 40.4–47%),Toxocara cati23.3% (95% CI: 20–26.6%),Ancylostomaspp. 9.7% (95% CI: 6.4–13%),Dipylidium caninum8.7% (95% CI: 5.4–12.0%), andAcanthocephalaspp. 1.9% (95% CI: 1–4.2%). The percentage of cats excreting at least one species of parasite was 73.2% (95% CI = 69.9–76.5%). The study shows that the cats have high spectrum (9) of parasites which are known to affect the cat’s health and some are of zoonotic significance.


Nature ◽  
1963 ◽  
Vol 199 (4889) ◽  
pp. 121-121
Keyword(s):  

Parasitology ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 145 (14) ◽  
pp. 1949-1958 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francisco C. Ferreira-Junior ◽  
Daniela de Angeli Dutra ◽  
Patrícia Silveira ◽  
Richard Campos Pacheco ◽  
Rute Witter ◽  
...  

AbstractHabitat modification may facilitate the emergence of novel pathogens, and the expansion of agricultural frontiers make domestic animals important sources of pathogen spillover to wild animals. We demonstrate for the first time that Plasmodium juxtanucleare, a widespread parasite from domestic chickens, naturally infects free-living passerines. We sampled 68 wild birds within and at the border of conservation units in central Brazil composed by Cerrado, a highly threatened biome. Seven out of 10 passerines captured in the limits of a protected area with a small farm were infected by P. juxtanucleare as was confirmed by sequencing a fragment of the parasite's cytochrome b. Blood smears from these positive passerines presented trophozoites, meronts and gametocytes compatible with P. juxtanucleare, meaning these birds are competent hosts for this parasite. After these intriguing results, we sampled 30 backyard chickens managed at the area where P. juxtanucleare-infected passerines were captured, revealing one chicken infected by the same parasite lineage. We sequenced the almost complete mitochondrial genome from all positive passerines, revealing that Brazilian and Asian parasites are closely related. P. juxtanucleare can be lethal to non-domestic hosts under captive and rehabilitation conditions, suggesting that this novel spillover may pose a real threat to wild birds.


2017 ◽  
Vol XXII (127) ◽  
pp. 72-80
Author(s):  
Juan Justino de Araújo Neves ◽  
Sândara Pimentel Sguario ◽  
Claudia Filoni ◽  
Marina Galvão Bueno ◽  
Henri Donnarumma Levy Bentubo ◽  
...  

Dermatophytes are keratinophilic fungi that can cause zoonosis. However, the role wild animals play in the transmission of these infections is yet to be determined. The aim of this study was to determine the presence of dermatophytes on the haircoat of Brazilian wild mammals. Thirty-two healthy wild mammals from several taxa were studied: 17 were captive and 15 were free-living individuals. Samples were obtained by rubbing the haircoat with sterile carpets. Samples were cultured on Mycobiotic agar, and the plates were incubated at 25 ºC. Identification of the isolates was carried out on the basis of macro- and micromorphology. Dermatophytes were isolated from 9.5% of the animals: Microsporum gypseum from one maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus), Microsporum cookie from one coati (Nasua nasua), and Trichophyton ajelloi from one bush dog (Speothos venaticus). These animals represent therefore sources of infection for both humans and other animals and are important for public health policies.


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