Endoparasites in fecal samples from anatids in captivity in São Paulo, Brazil.

Fernanda Bruno,Thais Aguiar Emídio,Cidéli De Paula Coelho,Claudiana Auxiliadora Rosa,Fabio Novelli Martorelli

doi:10.1590/s1984-29612021009

Abstract

The objective of the present study was to identify the intestinal parasites with the highest prevalence in anatids that were reared extensively in the city of São Paulo, through coproparasitological examinations. Fecal samples (n=108) were collected at two times, with an interval of two months between them, during the year 2018. The samples were constituted from a pool of feces, and one sample was collected from each enclosure. The samples were identified as belonging to 13 species of anatids (Aix galericulata, Aix sponsa, Anser abyssinia, Chenonetta jubata, Chloephaga melanoptera, Chloephaga picta, Lophodytes cucullatus, Tadorna cana, Tadorna ferrugínea, Tadorna radjah, Tadorna tadorna, Tadorna tadornoide and Tadorna variegata). Samples of birds with or without clinical symptoms of endoparasitosis were then collected. The Coproplus® test was used to make the coproparasitological diagnosis and subsequently the material was examined individually, at Santo Amaro University in São Paulo. It was observed that 48.14% of the enclosures had birds infected by one or more endoparasites. Parasites of the order Coccidia presented the highest prevalence (22.22%), followed by those of the orders Trichuroidea (10.18%) and Ascaridia (4.63%). Moreover, Balantidium sp. was found, the cycle and relevance of these ciliates in birds is uncertain.

Highlights

Parasitoses exhibit a direct relationship between the host and the parasite, given that the parasitized species naturally provides the environment necessary for survival of the parasite (Santana, 2019)
The nematodes that occur most frequently and that are most responsible for economic losses belong to the order Ascaridida, in the families Heterakidae and Ascarididae, which include the genera Heterakis and Ascaridia, which parasitize the small intestine and are most prevalent in birds reared in closed environments with access to the soil
Nematodes of the genus Capillaria are detected in the small intestine of several bird species, with greatest occurrence in situations of high-density reared populations, which generally more become contaminated by infective forms of the parasite (Machado, 2014)

Summary

Introduction

Parasitoses exhibit a direct relationship between the host and the parasite, given that the parasitized species naturally provides the environment necessary for survival of the parasite (Santana, 2019). The nematodes that occur most frequently and that are most responsible for economic losses belong to the order Ascaridida, in the families Heterakidae and Ascarididae, which include the genera Heterakis and Ascaridia, which parasitize the small intestine and are most prevalent in birds reared in closed environments with access to the soil. Both Heterakis spp. and Ascaridia spp. have eggs of ellipsoid appearance, with thick walls and a smooth surface (Corrêa, 2007). Nematodes of the genus Capillaria are detected in the small intestine of several bird species, with greatest occurrence in situations of high-density reared populations, which generally more become contaminated by infective forms of the parasite (Machado, 2014)

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