First report of the intestinal helminth community in the broad-headed spiny-rat Clyomys laticeps (Rodentia, Echimyidae).

Fernanda Oliveira Rodrigues,Natália Oliveira Leiner,Beatriz Elise De Andrade-Silva,Rosana Gentile,Claire Pauline Röpke Ferrando,Arnaldo Maldonado Junior

doi:10.1590/s1984-29612020068

Fernanda Oliveira Rodrigues, Natália Oliveira Leiner + Show 4 more

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https://doi.org/10.1590/s1984-29612020068

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Abstract

The broad-headed spiny rat, Clyomys laticeps, is an echimyid rodent found in open areas of Cerrado and Pantanal biomes in central Brazil and Paraguay. Little is known about the parasites associated with this semi-fossorial species, as no previous studies have been conducted on their helminth fauna. The aim of this study was to report the helminth community structure of C. laticeps inhabiting Serra de Caldas Novas State Park, a Cerrado area in central Brazil. Trappings were carried out in dry grasslands from January to October 2016, and the large and small intestines of 14 C. laticeps individuals were examined for the presence of helminths. Three nematode species were found: Fuellebornema almeidai, Pterygodermatites (Paucipectines) sp., and Subulura forcipata, and 85.7% of the studied species were infected with at least one of these helminths. F. almeidai was the most prevalent species among hosts, and S. forcipata was the most abundant. This study is the first report on helminth community structure in C. laticeps. We report a new host species and increase the known geographical range of F. almeidai, and provide the first record of Pterygodermatites (Paucipectines) sp. infecting echimyids. This is also the first report of S. forcipata in a mammal host.

Highlights

South-American rodents comprise approximately 45% of the mammalian fauna in this region, and they are commonly known for their role as reservoirs of several parasites and zoonotic diseases (Han et al, 2015)
The broad-headed spiny rat Clyomys laticeps is a spiny rat in the family Echimyidae, and is the only species in this genus. It is found in open areas of Cerrado and Pantanal biomes, and occurs in grassland habitats in central Brazil and Paraguay (Bezerra & Bonvicino, 2015)
Three nematode species were recovered from the hosts, and were identified as Fuellebornema almeidai (Travassos, 1937) (Heligmonellidae), Pterygodermatites (Paucipectines) sp., and Subulura forcipata (Rudolphi, 1819) (Subuluridae)

Summary

Introduction

South-American rodents comprise approximately 45% of the mammalian fauna in this region, and they are commonly known for their role as reservoirs of several parasites and zoonotic diseases (Han et al, 2015). The broad-headed spiny rat Clyomys laticeps (hereafter referred to as ‘spiny rat’) is a spiny rat in the family Echimyidae, and is the only species in this genus. It is found in open areas of Cerrado and Pantanal biomes, and occurs in grassland habitats in central Brazil and Paraguay (Bezerra & Bonvicino, 2015). It has semi-fossorial habits and sexual size dimorphism, with males having a larger body mass and daily home range than females (Ferrando et al, 2019). Spiny rats are considered mainly as frugivore-herbivores, acting both as predators and dispersers of seeds of palms (Bezerra & Bonvicino, 2015), insect fragments have been frequently recorded in their stomachs (Ferrando, pers. obs)

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