Occurrence of Dioctophyme renale larvae (Goeze, 1782) (Nematoda: Enoplida) in a new host from southern Brazil / Novo hospedeiro de larvas de Dioctophyme renale (Goeze, 1782) (Nematoda: Enoplida) no extremo sul do Brasil

Abstract Dioctophymatosis is caused by the giant kidney worm Dioctophyme renale which occurs in dogs, cats, and wild mammals. In Brazil, the disease has been diagnosed in dogs from several states around the country. In the present study, the occurrence of D. renale larvae in snakes from southern of Brazil is reported. Three specimens of Philodryas patagoniensis (Serpentes: Dipsadidae) (common names in Brazil: "parelheira", "papa-pinto") roadkill in the county of Capão do Leão, State of Rio Grande do Sul, southern Brazil, were necropsied. Two third-stage larvae of D. renale were found in the coelomic cavity of P. patagoniensis. This study reveals a new host for D. renale larvae in the southern region of the State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. This particular geographic area of the country has stood out as several cases of D. renale infection have been reported in a number of vertebrates from this region including domestic dogs and cats and wild animals such as carnivores, fish, and freshwater turtles.

Resumo Dioctophyme renale, verme gigante do rim, parasita cães, gatos e mamíferos silvestres, sendo que no Brasil, a dioctofimatose canina vem sendo diagnosticada em diversos estados brasileiros. O estudo tem por objetivo registrar larvas de D. renale parasitando serpente no extremo sul do Brasil. Nesse contexto, foram examinados três espécimes de Philodryas patagoniensis (Serpentes: Dipsadidae) encontradas mortas após atropelamento em uma estrada do município de Capão do Leão, Rio Grande do Sul (RS). Duas larvas de terceiro estágio de D. renale foram encontradas na cavidade celomática de P. patagoniensis, a qual representa um novo hospedeiro para larvas de D. renale na região sul do RS, a qual vem se destacando devido aos diversos registros do parasito em cães e gatos domésticos, bem como animais silvestres (carnívoros, peixes, quelônios).

Parasitological and immunological diagnoses from feces of captive-bred snakes at Vital Brazil Institute / Diagnóstico parasitológico e imunológico em fezes de serpentes cativas do Instituto Vital Brazil

Fecal samples from 56 snakes at the Vital Brazil Institute, in the city of Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, were tested using the sedimentation and flotation techniques to investigate the evolutionary forms of parasites such as helminths and protozoa, and using enzyme immunoassay techniques to detect antigens of Cryptosporidium sp. and Giardia sp. Among the animals tested, 80.3% were positive for parasites. Out of these, there were 16 Bothrops jararaca, 16 B. jararacussu and 13 Crotalus durissus. The prevalence of parasitic nematodes was 41.1%, and nematodes were found in all three snake species. Among these, the most frequent finding was eggs of Kalicephalus sp., which were diagnosed in 25% of the snakes. The positivity for protozoa detected using parasite concentration techniques was 75%, including oocysts of Caryospora sp. in 75%, cysts with morphology similar to Giardia sp. 3.6%, amoeboid cysts in 41.1% and unsporulated coccidia oocysts in 8.9%. Immunoassays for Cryptosporidium sp. antigens produced positive findings in 60.7%. Pseudoparasites were detected in 64.3%. These results show that there is a need to improve the sanitary handling of captive-bred snakes, and also for the animal house that supplies rodents to feed them. The results also highlight that diagnostic tests should be performed periodically on stool specimens from captive-bred snakes.

Foram analisadas amostras fecais de 56 serpentes do Instituto Vital Brazil, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, por técnicas de sedimentação e flutuação, para pesquisa de formas evolutivas de parasitos como helmintos e protozoários, e imunoenzimáticas para detecção de antígenos de Cryptosporidium sp. e Giardia sp. Dos animais estudados, 80,3% foram positivos para parasitos, dos quais 16 pertenciam à espécie Bothrops jararaca, 16 à B. jararacussu e 13 à Crotalus durissus. A prevalência de nematódeos parasitos foi de 41,1%, sendo evidenciados nas três espécies de serpentes. Dentre estes, o mais frequente foi o encontro de ovos de Kalicephalus sp., diagnosticado em 25% das serpentes. A positividade para protozoários detectados pelas técnicas de concentração foi de 75%, nas quais oocistos de Caryospora sp. foram detectados em 75%, cistos com morfologia similar a Giardia sp. em 3,6%, cistos de amebídeos em 41,1% e oocistos não esporulados de coccídios em 8,9%. Obteve-se positividade para antígenos de Cryptosporidium sp. por imunoensaio em 60,7%. Pseudoparasitos foram detectados em 64,3%. Estes resultados apontam para a necessidade de aprimoramento do manejo sanitário das serpentes cativas, bem como no biotério que fornece roedores para sua alimentação, destacando a realização periódica de diagnóstico nas amostras fecais de serpentes cativas.

Tetrathyridia of Mesocestoides lineatus in Chinese Snakes and Their Adults Recovered from Experimental Animals

Morphological characteristics of Mesocestoides lineatus tetrathyridia collected from Chinese snakes and their adults recovered from experimental animals were studied. The tetrathyridia were detected mainly in the mesentery of 2 snake species, Agkistrodon saxatilis (25%) and Elaphe schrenckii (20%). They were 1.73 by 1.02 mm in average size and had an invaginated scolex with 4 suckers. Adult tapeworms were recovered from 2 hamsters and 1 dog, which were orally infected with 5-10 larvae each. Adults from hamsters were about 32 cm long and those from a dog were about 58 cm long. The scolex was 0.56 mm in average width with 4 suckers of 0.17 by 0.15 mm in average size. Mature proglottids measured 0.29 by 0.91 mm (av.). Ovaries and vitellaria bilobed and located in the posterior portion of proglottids. The cirrus sac was oval-shaped and located median. Testes were follicular, distributed in both lateral fields of proglottids, and 41-52 in number per proglottid. Gravid proglottids were 1.84 by 1.39 mm (av.) with a characteristic paruterine organ. Eggs were 35 by 27 microm in average size with a hexacanth embryo. These morphological characteristics of adult worms were identical with those of M. lineatus reported previously. Therefore, it has been confirmed that the tetrathyridia detected in 2 species of Chinese snakes are the metacestodes of M. lineatus, and 2 snake species, A. saxatilis and E. schrenckii, play the role of intermediate hosts.

Determinação de hemogregarina em Boa constrictor constrictor mantidos em cativeiro / Determination of hemogregarine in Boa constrictor constrictor kept in captivity

O presente estudo teve como objetivo determinar a presença de hemogregarina em boídeos mantidos em cativeiro no Estado do Pará, bem como, relacionar a hemoparasitose com pre-disposição sexual, alterações clínicas e hematológicas e a presença de ectoparasitos. Esta pesquisa teve autorização do Sistema de Autorização e Informação em Biodiversidade do Instituto Brasileiro do Meio Ambiente e dos Recursos Naturais Renováveis para ser realizado. Utilizaram-se 19 serpentes da família Boidae mantidas em cativeiro, pertencentes ao "Museu Paraense Emilio Goeldi" (Belém/PA) e "Sítio Xerimbabo" (Santo Antônio do Tauá/PA). A pesquisa de hemogregarina foi realizada em esfregaços sanguíneos examinados no aumento de 400x, enquanto que a parasitemia foi determinada contando- se 550 hemácias em aumento de 1000x. Do total de animais estudados (n=19), nove encontraram-se parasitados (47,36%), não havendo correlação entre presença de hemogregarina, pré-disposição sexual, alterações clínicas e hematológicas nas serpentes hospedeiras. A correlação da hemoparasitose foi detectada apenas quanto à presença de ectoparasitas nas serpentes, no entanto, estudos adicionais são necessários para verificar a prevalência de hemogregarinas em animais mantidos em cativeiro no Estado do Pará, visto que, existe grande lacuna de dados na literatura veterinária especializada no que diz respeito à fauna da região amazônica.

We aimed to determine hemogregarines presence in snakes of the Boidae family kept in captivity in Pará (PA), Brazil, and to relate it with sex, clinical and hematological and ectoparasitism. This study had authorization from Sisbio/IBAMA to be done. Nineteen Boa constrictor snakes were used, belonging to the "Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi" (Belém/ PA) and "Xerimbabo Farm" (Santo Antônio do Tauá/PA). Blood smears were examined with 400x magnification, while the parasitemia percentage was determined by counting 550 red blood cells with 1000x magnification. From the snakes studied (n=19), nine were parasitized (47.36%) and there was no correlation between hemogregarines presence, sex, clinical and hematological changes. Hemoparasitosis correlation was detected only with the ectoparasites presence; however further studies are needed to determine the real hemogregarines prevalence in snakes kept in captivity in Pará, since there is a huge gap of data in the veterinary specialized literature about the fauna of the Amazon region.

New host records for Amblyomma rotundatum (Acari: Ixodidae) from Grussaí restinga, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil / Novos registros de hospedeiros para Amblyomma rotundatum (Acari: Ixodidae) da restinga de Grussaí, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil

Amblyomma rotundatum Koch is a parthenogenetic tick usually associated with reptiles and amphibians. However, relatively few studies on occurrences of ticks in wild reptile populations in Brazil have been produced. The aim of this study was to analyze the presence of ticks associated with reptile species in the Grussaí restinga, in the municipality of São João da Barra, state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Between December 2010 and January 2011, 131 individuals belonging to nine species of reptiles of the order Squamata were sampled: the lizards Tropidurus torquatus (n = 51), Hemidactylus mabouia (n = 25), Mabuya agilis (n = 30), Mabuya macrorhyncha (n = 6), Cnemidophorus littoralis (n = 5) and Ameiva ameiva (n = 10); and the snakes Philodryas olfersii (n = 2), Oxyrhopus rhombifer (n = 1) and Micrurus corallinus (n = 1). The only tick species found to be associated with any of the reptiles sampled was A. rotundatum. One adult female was detected on one individual of the lizard A. ameiva, one nymph on one individual of the lizard T. torquatus and four nymphs on one individual of the snake P. olfersii. This study is the first record of parasitism of A. rotundatum involving the reptiles T. torquatus and P. olfersii as hosts. Our results suggest that in the Grussaí restinga habitat, A. rotundatum may use different species of reptiles to complete its life cycle.

Amblyomma rotundatum Koch é um carrapato partenogenético geralmente associado a répteis e anfíbios. Entretanto existem relativamente poucos estudos sobre a ocorrência de carrapatos em populações silvestres de répteis no Brasil. O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar a presença de carrapatos associados às espécies de répteis em uma comunidade na restinga de Grussaí, município de São João da Barra, Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. Foram amostradas, entre os meses de dezembro de 2010 e janeiro de 2011, 131 indivíduos pertencentes a nove espécies de répteis da ordem Squamata: lagartos Tropidurus torquatus (n = 51); Hemidactylus mabouia (n = 25), Mabuya agilis (n = 30), Mabuya macrorhyncha (n = 6), Cnemidophorus littoralis (n = 5) e Ameiva ameiva (n = 10), e serpentes Philodryas olfersii (n = 2), Oxyrhopus rhombifer (n = 1) e Micrurus corallinus (n = 1). A única espécie de carrapato encontrada associada a espécimes de répteis foi A. rotundatum, tendo sido encontrada uma fêmea adulta em um indivíduo do lagarto A. ameiva, uma ninfa em um T. torquatus e quatro ninfas em uma serpente P. olfersii. O presente estudo constitui o primeiro registro do parasitismo de A. rotundatum nos répteis T. torquatus e P. olfersii como hospedeiros. Nossos resultados sugerem que no habitat da restinga de Grussaí, A. rotundatum pode utilizar diferentes espécies de répteis para a realização do seu ciclo de vida.

Discovery of Larval Gnathostoma nipponicum in Frogs and Snakes from Jeju-do (Province), Republic of Korea

A survey was performed to find out the intermediate hosts of Gnathostoma nipponicum in Jeju-do (Province), the Republic of Korea. In August 2009 and 2010, a total of 82 tadpoles, 23 black-spotted pond frogs (Rana nigromaculata), 7 tiger keelback snakes (Rhabdophis tigrinus tigrinus), 6 red-tongue viper snakes (Agkistrodon ussuriensis), and 2 cat snakes (Elaphe dione) were collected in Jeju-do and examined by the pepsin-HCl digestion method. Total 5 gnathostome larvae were detected in 3 (50%) of 6 A. ussuriensis, 70 larvae in 3 of 7 (42.9%) R. tigrinus tigrinus, and 2 larvae in 2 of 82 (8.7%) frogs. No gnathostome larvae were detected in tadpoles and cat snakes. The larvae detected were a single species, and 2.17x0.22 mm in average size. They had characteristic head bulbs, muscular esophagus, and 4 cervical sacs. Three rows of hooklets were arranged in the head bulbs, and the number of hooklets in each row was 29, 33, and 36 posteriorly. All these characters were consistent with the advanced third-stage larvae of G. nipponicum. It has been first confirmed in Jeju-do that R. nigromaculata, A. ussuriensis, and R. tigrinus tigrinus play a role for intermediate and/or paratenic hosts for G. nipponicum.

Ocorrência de Hepatozoon spp. (Apicomplexa, Hepatozoidae) em serpentes captive Boa constrictor mantidas em cativeiro no semiárido do estado do Rio Grande do Norte / Occurrence of Hepatozoon spp. (Apicomplexa, Hepatozoidae) in captive Boa constrictor snakes in the semi-arid of Rio Grande do Norte State, Northeastern Brazil

The occurrence of Hepatozoon spp. in the blood cells of captive Boa constritor in captivity in the semi-arid of the Rio Grande do Norte State, Brazil, was analyzed. Blood samples from Geochelone carbonaria (n = 6), Geochelone denticulata (n = 4), Boa Constrictor (n = 7), and Tupinanbis teguixim (n = 10) were used. All snakes presented Hepatozoon spp. in their blood cells, and few erythrocytes were infected. G. carbonaria, G. denticulate, and T. teguixim were negative for Hepatozoon spp. gametocytes research. This is the first report of the occurrence of Hepatozoon spp. in captive B. constritor in the studied area.

Amblyomma dissimile (Acari: Ixodidae) em Hydrodynastes gigas (Squamata: Colubridae) no estado Mato Grosso do Sul, Brasil – Nota Prévia / Amblyomma dissimile (Acari: Ixodidae) in Hydrodynastes gigas (Squamata: Colubridae) in Mato Grosso do Sul State, Brasil – Short Communication

A Hydrodynastes giga, (Duméril, Bibron & Duméril, 1854) vulgarmente conhecida como surucucu-do-pantanal, é uma serpente de grande porte, que ocorre no norte, centro-oeste, sudeste e sul do Brasil e que pode ser parasitada por ectoparasitos como os carrapatos do gênero Amblyomma. Em dezembro de 2007 foram coletados manualmente três carrapatos de uma serpente H. gigas no pantanal de Miranda, MS,Brasil (19º51’-19º58’S; 56º17’-56º24’W). Os carrapatos foram armazenados e enviados para o Laboratório de Parasitologia do Hospital Veterinário da ULBRA, Canoas, RS, onde foi realizada a identificação de três machos da espécie Amblyomma dissimile. A presente nota faz o primeiro relato de A. dissimile parasitando serpentes da espécie H. gigas no pantanal de Miranda, MS, Brasil

Hydrodynastes giga (Duméril, Bibron & Duméril, 1854) best known as false water cobra, is a big-sized snake, which lives in Northern, Middle western, Southeastern and Southern Brazil and might be infested by ectoparasites, such as ticks from the Amblyomma genus. In December 2007 three ticks were manually collected from a H. gigas in the Miranda wetlands, MS, Brazil (19º51’-19º58’S; 56º17’-56º24’W). All ticks were placed in identified bottles and then sent to the Laboratório de Parasitologia of ULBRA Veterinary Hospital, Canoas, RS, where the identification of three males of the Amblyomma dissimile species was carried out. This note is the first report of A. dissimile parasitizing snakes of the H. gigas species in the Miranda wetlands, MS, Brazil

Separation of the Syncytial Layer of Spargana using Urea

The tegument of tapeworms is known to be composed of an outer syncytial cytoplasm layer which includes microtriches and cytoplasmic organelles (= syncytial layer), and a parenchymatous cytoplasm layer that contains subtegumental cell nuclei (= subtegumental layer) and organelles. In the present study, separation of the syncytial layer of the sparganum, the plerocercoid stage of Spirometra mansoni, was tried using urea as the chemical reagent. Histological sections were prepared to visualize the status of separation after staining with hematoxylin and eosin. The results showed that the syncytial layer of the sparganum tegument which includes microtriches and cytoplasmic organelles were successfully separated from the parenchyma using 3 M urea.

New record of Haplometroides intercaecalis (Digenea, Plagiorchiidae) infecting a Brazilian snake

Phalotris matogrossensis (Serpentes, Colubridae) was reported as a new host for Haplometroides intercaecalis (Digenea, Plagiorchiidae). The host snake was obtained from the municipality of Anastácio, state of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. One specimen of H. intercaecalis was recovered from the esophagus of the host and identified by the intercecal position of the vitellaria in the pre-acetabular region. This paper describes the second report of the occurrence of this trematode in fossorial snakes of the genus Phalotris in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil.

Hallazgo de Raillietiella sp. en culebra chilena de cola larga (Philodryas chamissonis) de un Zoológico de la Región Metropolitana / Raillitiella sp. finding on chilean long tailed snake (Philodryas chamissonis) from a zoo of the Metropolitan Region

Se encontrado un pentastómido de reptil en los pulmones de culebra chilena de cola larga (Philodryas chamissonis) mantenida en cautiverio en un zoológico nacional. La identificación de dicho parásito correspondió a Raillietiella sp. Este constituye la primera comunicación sobre Raillietiella sp. en reptiles de nuestro país.

During 2005, several pentastomids were found on the lungs of a Chilean Long Tailed Snakes (Philodryas chamissonis) that were kept under captivity on a national zoo. The identification of this parasites determinates that they were Raillitiella sp. This is the first report of Raillietiella sp. on reptiles in the country.

Occurrence of Haplometroides odhneri (Trematoda, Digenea, Plagiorchüdae) infecting Leptotyphlops koppesi (Serpentes, Leptotyphlopidae)

Descreveu-se a ocorrência de Haplometroides odhneri (Trematoda, Digenea, Plagiorchiidae) na traquéia e esôfago de Leptotyph1ops koppesi (Serpentes, Leptotyphlopidae) proveniente da Usina Hidrelétrica Corumbá I, município de Caldas Novas, Goiás. Este é o primeiro relato sobre a ocorrência de H. odhneri parasitando L. koppesi.

The Genus Cyclospora (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae), with a description of Cyclospora schneideri n.sp. in the snake Anilius scytale scytale (Aniliidae) from Amazonian Brazil: a review

A review is made of the recorded species of the coccidian genus Cyclospora and major events leading up to the discovery of C. cayetanensis, which is responsible for serious outbreaks of diarrhoea in man and is one of the aetiological agents of "traveller's diarrhoea". Humans appear to be the specific hosts, with the entire life-cycle in the intestine: to date there is no convincing evidence that the disease is a zoonosis. A description is given of oocysts and endogenous stages of C. schneideri n.sp., in the snake Anilius scytale scytale. Sporulation is exogenous and completed after about one week at 24-26°. Mature oocysts 19.8 Î 16.6 (15.1 Î 13.8-25.7 Î 20.1), shape-index 1.2 (1.0-1.3): no oocyst residuum or polar bodies. Oocyst wall a single colourless, smooth layer with no micropyle: it is rapidly deformed or broken. Sporocysts 13.6 Î 9.4 (11.3 Î 8.3-15.1 Î 9.9), shape-index 1.4 (1.2-1.5) with an inconspicuous Stieda body. Sporozoites 11-13 Î 2.5-3. Endogenous stages are intracytoplasmic in the epithelial cells of the small intestine and with the characters of the Eimeriorina.

Modification of carbohydrate compositions of 31/36 kDa proteins of plerocercoids (sparganum) of Spirometra mansoni grown in different intermediate hosts

We purified specific 31/36 kDa antigenic molecules from sparganum in different intermediate hosts (snakes and mice) and analyzed their monosaccharide compositions. Compositional analysis showed that glucose and mannose concentrations were 2-3 fold higher in the 31/36 kDa molecule purified from snakes than those from mice. This result implies that antigenic glycoproteins of sparganum from snakes might be modified in mammalian sparganosis with respect to their carbohydrate composition.

Eosofilia elevada como manifesticiones viscerales: VI. Infección por larva de nemátodo de 427 µ / High eosinophilia with visceral manifestations: VI. Nematode's larva infection of 427 µ

Se discute el estado actual del conocimiento sobre los cuadros clínicos de eosinofilia por helmintiasis parenteral, quedando aquí englobados los síndromes de Löeffler, eosinofilia tropical, granulomatosis larvaria, endoftalmitis por nemátodos y de Friess-Pierrou. Se revisan los posibles diagnósticos etiológicos en estos pacientes. Se presenta el caso de una niña de 18 meses de edad con gran eosinofilia y hepatomegalia, en la que se encontró una larva de 427 µ de largo en el hígado. Se determinó que la larva no corresponde a un parásito habitual del hombre ni a parasitos de animales que ya se hayan encontrado en el hombre. Se opinó que tal larva puede ser un nemátodo parásito de plantas o de insectos, o quizá del género Logibucca, parásito de serpientes y murciélagos. Sea cual sea su posición taxonómica, agranda enormemente las posibilidades etiológicas del síndrome aquí estudiado

Planorbid snails as potential molluscan intermediate host of a human intestinal fluke, Neodiplostomum seoulensis (Trematoda : Diplostomatidae) in Korea.

Three species of the pulmonate snails of the family Planorbidae have been reported from Korea; Gyraulus convexiusculus, Hippeutis (Helicorbis) cantori and Segmentina (Polypylis) hemisphaerula. Of these 3 species, only H. cantori is reported as the molluscan intermediate host of Neodiplostomum seoulensis, one of the important snail-borne human intestinal trematodes in Korea. However, S. hemisphaerula was also found to be an intermediate host for N. seoulensis. In field-collected snails, H. cantori and S. hemisphaerula were found shedding bifurcated cercariae of N. seoulensis, whereas no G. convexiusculus was found shedding cercariae. In experiments with laboratory-bred snails, only S. hemisphaerula was susceptible to miracidia of N. seoulensis. Tadpoles of Rana nigromaculata and R. rugosa were exposed to cercariae shed from field-collected and laboratory-bred S. hemisphaerula. All tadpoles of R. nigromaculata were found to be massively infected, but none of the tadpoles of R. rugosa were infected with larvae of N. seoulensis. Metacercariae from tadpoles of R. nigromaculata and the snake Rhabdophis tigrinus tigrinus were fed to rats, and eggs of N. seoulensis were detected in the rat feces one-week later. These rats were killed and adult N. seoulensis recovered from the small intestines. This is the first report of S. hemisphaerula as a molluscan intermediate host for N. seoulensis in Korea.

Current status of food-borne parasitic zoonoses in South Africa and Namibia.

Epidemiological data on food-borne parasitic zoonoses in countries of southern Africa are sporadic. In a study of toxoplasmosis in South Africa, there was an overall prevalence of 21% (2, 147/10,228). Prevalences vary between the different cultural groups and from one geographical region to another. The prevalence rate for the San (Bushmen) people of Namibia and Botswana was 9% (65/725) compared to the 30% (190/635) found in the Indian and Black communities of Kwazulu-Natal province, South Africa. These variations are probably linked to the dietary habits of the different cultural communities. Cysticercosis appears to be most prevalent in the Eastern Cape Province (former Transkei), where pigs roam freely and sanitation facilities are inadequate or non-existent. Segments of tapeworms often feature as an ingredient of concoctions prepared by traditional healers and are suspected sources of many of the cases of cysticercosis in South Africa. Trichinella nelsoni has been identified in wild game in South Africa: so far no cases of infection in humans have been recorded. Cases of Sarcocystis have been identified in some instances but infection is probably underdiagnosed in the country.

Camallanus, Railliet et Henry 1995, parásito de hydrodynastes gigas del Chaco Argentino / Camallanus, Railliet et Henry 1995, parasite from hydrodynastes gigas from Argentine Chaco

Adult specimens of camallanus genus (nematoda, camallanidae), parasitizing a hydrodynastes gigas (serpentes, colubridae) from Argentine Chaco in the north east of Argentina, are described for the first time. The morphologic and morphometric parasitological studies were carried out using diaphanization by lactophenol technique. The specimens described were drawned and photographed. With this investigation the analysis of the reptilian pathologies, the knowledge of which in necessary to make projects, to manage and control the biomedic aspects in breeders, zoos and/or reserves has started. Thus, in enables us to know associated nematofauna providing facts about the biodiversity of nematode parasites of reptiles.

Travassosascaris araujoi Sprent 1978: um novo hospedeiro / Travassosascaris araujoi Sprent 1978: a new host

Partindo-se de três exemplares de helmintos fêmeas colhidos de uma bothrops jararaca, capturada em abiente natural em Sao Joao de Nepomuceo, Minas Gerais e trazida para o Ofidário científico do laboratorio de Morofofisiología e Patogênia de Carrapatos (LMPC), e necropsiada apôs morte natural, procedeu-se identificaçao a nivel de gênero e espécie. Os helmintos foram colhidos vivos do intestino do ofidio durante o exame para identificaçao da causa mortis, e foram sacrificados por imersae em AFA aquecido sendo preservados em álcool glicerinado a temperatura ambiente. Para a identificaçao, os exemplares foram clarificados e montados em lâminas provisórias com ácido lático. Com base na descriçao de Sprent, 1978 concluiu-se pela identificaçao dos espécimes a Travassosascaris araujoi. Registra-se assim un movo hospedeiro para esta espécie

Observacoes ao microscopio eletronico de varredura de algumas especies de pentastomideos de serpentes / Scanning electron microscope observations on some pentastomid species from snakes

Se estudia por microscopía electónica de barrido (MEB) algunas características morfológicas de pentastómideos de sepientes. Se establece que Armmillifer moniliformes, parásito de la pitón africana, se diferencia facilmente de las especies de porocephalus, parásitos de las serpientes sudamericanas por la presencia de grandes papilas cefálicas y ganchos de mayor tamaño