ABSTRACT
The present study details the pathological and parasitological findings of parasitic ventriculitis and nematode infections in the large intestines of two female Rhea americana americana birds. The birds were housed in captivity, and both exhibited poor body condition and lethargy. The rheas were sent to the Veterinary Hospital of the Veterinary School, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG) and, despite medical care, the clinical condition of the birds did not improve. The birds died two days after admission, and were submitted to necropsy. Gross, histopathology and parasitological analysis resulted in the identification of Sicarius uncinipenis, which is associated with parasitic ventriculitis, while Deletrocephalus cesarpintoi was identified in the large intestine of both rheas. The apparent clinical indications, including loss of appetite and death, combined with the discovery of numerous parasites and other pathology changes, supported the conclusion that the death of the birds was caused by the parasitic infection. Further investigations of these infections in free-living and captive rheas are required, such that accurate data on the incidence and pathogenicity of these parasites can be obtained.
O presente estudo relata os achados patológicos e parasitológicos de ventriculite parasitária e da infecção por nematódeo no intestino grosso em duas fêmeas Rhea americana americana. As aves eram mantidas em cativeiro e ambas apresentaram condição corporal ruim e inapetência. As emas foram encaminhadas para o Hospital Veterinário da Escola de Veterinária da UFMG e, apesar dos cuidados médicos, não houve melhora na condição clínica. As aves morreram dois dias após a internação e foram encaminhadas para a necropsia. Ao exame macroscópico, histopatológico e parasitológico, Sicarius uncinipenis foi identificado e associado com ventriculite parasitária, enquanto Deletrocephalus cesarpintoi foi identificado no intestino grosso. Possivelmente, o quadro de inapetência e morte foi causado pela infecção parasitária, pois os parasitos eram numerosos. Mais investigações dessa infecção são necessárias em emas de vida livre e cativeiro, para a obtenção de informações mais precisas da incidência e patogenicidade desses parasitos.
Subject(s)
Animals , Female , Bird Diseases/parasitology , Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic/veterinary , Nematode Infections/veterinary , Rheiformes/parasitology , Stomach Diseases/veterinary , Brazil , Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic/parasitology , Nematode Infections/parasitology , Rhabditida Infections/parasitology , Rhabditida Infections/veterinary , Stomach Diseases/parasitologyABSTRACT
Este estudo objetivou avahar a ocorrência de oocistos de Cryptosporidium spp. em emas (Rhea americana) cativas no Parque Zoológico da Fundação Zoobotânica do Rio Grande do Sul, sul do Brasil. Foram identificados oocistos de Cryptosporidium spp. em esfregaços de fezes de emas e em amostras de agua, coradas pela técnica de Ziehl-Neelsen modificada. A análise morfométrica dos coccídeos revelou pequenos oocistos esféricos medindo, em media, 4,91 um X 4,91 /im e relação comprimento/largura de razão 1. A confirmação da prêsera de oocistos nas amostras de fezes e de agua é relevante pelo potencial de transmissão e manutenção da criptosporidiose em hospedeiros susceptíveis. Este é o primeiro relato de Cryptosporidium spp. em R. americana no Brasil.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the occurrence of Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts in common rhea (Rhea americana) living in captivity in the zoological park of the Zoobotanical Foundation of the State of Rio Grande do Sul, southern Brazil. Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts were detected in fecal smears of common rhea and in water samples by using the modified Ziehl-Neelsen staining method. The morphometric analysis of coccidia revealed small spherical oocysts, measuring, on average, 4.91 [im x 4.91 fim, and a length/width ratio of 1. The detection of Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts in fecal and water samples is important as it can indicate the transmission and maintenance of cryptosporidiosis in susceptible hosts. This is the first report of Cryptosporidium spp. in R. americana in Brazil.
Subject(s)
Animals , Cryptosporidiosis/epidemiology , Cryptosporidium/isolation & purification , Feces/parasitology , Rheiformes/parasitology , Water/parasitology , Animals, Zoo/parasitology , Brazil/epidemiology , Oocysts/ultrastructureABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to report some external morphological features of Paradeletrocephalus minor MOLIN (1861); FREITAS & LENT (1947). The parasites were collected during necropsy from the small intestine and large intestine of Ñandú (Rhea americana), hunted in its native environment near Tandil City, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. Collected specimens of Paradeletrocephalus minor were observed by light microscopy in order to be classified. Later the parasites were put into a 3 percent glutaraldehyde solution, dehydrated, dried by critical point, assembled, metalized, observed and photographed with a SEM. This is the first description of some external morphologic features of this species carried out by Light microscope and SEM in Argentina.