Occurrence of Gasterophilus spp. in weanling foals in southern Brazil

The occurrence of gastrointestinal myiasis caused by Gasterophilus spp. larvae (Diptera: Oestridae) in adult horses has been widely characterized, however data on natural infestation in young foals have been lacking. This observation may be related to the absence of conclusive diagnosis in these individuals, most likely due to logistical or financial constraints. Gastric ulceration is a problem and a significant cause of morbidity in foals, particularly during the weaning stage; therefore, gasterophilosis should be included in the differential diagnosis. The primary purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of gasterophilosis in 4- to 6-month-old weanling foals. Seventy-one healthy weanling foals were enrolled in the study. Physical assessment blood sampling and was completed in all foals before the commencement of the experiment. Gastroscopy examinations were performed under sedation (Detomidine 0.01 - 0.02 mg/kg) with a flexible endoscope inserted through nasogastric via. The lumen of the stomach was examined in order to search for botflies' larvae. Following gastroscopy, foals were classified into 2 groups based on the presence of Gasterophilus spp. larvae in their stomachs: 1) Infected and 2) Not Infected. Infected foals received a single dose of commercial trichlorfon and albendazole equine oral gel and were stalled for 24 h. The passed feces were thoroughly examined, searching for elimination of larvae. A total of 64% of the foals (n = 45/71) harbored Gasterophilus spp. larvae in the stomach. Mild hyperemia in the gastric mucosa was observed in the attachment sites of the parasites. Physical assessment and hematological parameters' data were analyzed with Shapiro-Wilk normality test. Comparison between groups for clinical signs, hematological parameters and Gasterophilus spp. infection rates were evaluated using the Kruskal-Wallis test or Student's t-test. Statistical significance was set at P < 0.05. There were no statistically significant variations in physical and hematological parameters between foals that were affected and those that were not infected. The larvae found in the feces were subjected to morphological examination, which confirmed the diagnosis of Gasterophilus intestinalis. No systemic clinical indications compatible with Gasterophilus spp. infestation were seen, as described in previous studies of horses infected with the parasite. No botfly eggs were observed in the hair of evaluated foals. During gastroscopy, mild hyperemic lesions in the gastric mucosa were observed in the larvae fixation sites. Although no changes in clinical or hematological parameters were noted, the confirmation of parasite presence is a cause for concern due to horses' tolerance for low infestation levels and poor diagnosis. Additionally, the presence of this myiasis in foals may be a significant stressor during the weaning period and should be included in the differential diagnosis of recurring abdominal pain. Furthermore, infected foals might be a reservoir for the parasite and, contribute to the elimination and spread of the larvae in the environment. Thus, inclusion of young horses in deworming protocols targeted to botfly larvae is needed. This is the first report of Gasterophilus intestinalis myiasis in foals in Brazil. Further research is necessary to fully understand the epidemiology and prevalence of this condition in young horses in Brazil, based on the findings of this study.(AU)

Gyrostigma rhinocerontis (Diptera: Oestridae, Gasterophilinae) in white rhinoceroses (Ceratotherium simum) imported from South Africa: occurrence in Itatiba, São Paulo, Brazil / Gyrostigma rhinocerontis (Diptera: Oestridae, Gasterophilinae) em rinocerontes-brancos (Ceratotherium simum) importados da África do Sul: ocorrência em Itatiba, São Paulo

Fly larvae from the Gasterophilinae subfamily of the Oestridae family are parasites of domestic (equine) and wild (rhinos and equine) odd-hoofed ungulates (Perissodactyla). The gastric parasite of African Rhinos is Gyrostigma rhinocerontis (formerly Gyrostigma pavesii), which in its larva phase can be found in the feces of their hosts and can reach 40mm length. The adult is the largest fly in Africa, reaching 41mm long, with 71-mm wingspan. The Gyrostigma genus does not occur naturally in Brazil. There is one previous report of the occurrence of its larvae in the feces of a white rhino brought from South Africa in the 1990's, which was housed in a zoo located in Rio Grande do Sul. The present paper furnishes data from a zoo of the city of Itatiba, São Paulo state, Brazil, where Gyrostigma rhinocerontis larvae were found in 2005 in the feces of a group of white rhinos (Ceratotherium simum) legally imported from South Africa. The rhinos were kept in a breeding and preservation farm. This paper also reports the measures taken to control the case and avoid the dissemination of the parasite, calling attention to the fact of globalization, which allows international and intercontinental transit of wild animals with potential risks of adaptation of exotic parasites to new ecosystems.(AU)

As larvas dos dípteros da subfamília Gasterophilinae da família Oestridae parasitam ungulados perissodáctilos, tanto domésticos (equídeos) quanto selvagens (rinocerontes e equídeos). O parasito gástrico dos rinocerontes africanos é Gyrostigma rhinocerontis (anteriormente Gyrostigma pavesii), que na fase larval pode ser encontrada nas fezes dos hospedeiros, e chega a medir 40mm de comprimento. O adulto é a maior mosca daquele continente, atingindo até 41mm de comprimento, e envergadura de 71 mm. O gênero Gyrostigma não ocorre naturalmente no Brasil, onde anteriormente existia somente um relato do achado de larvas, nas fezes de um rinoceronte-branco oriundo da África do Sul nos anos 90 do século XX, e albergado num zoológico localizado no Rio Grande do Sul. Este artigo apresenta dados sobre o achado, em um zoológico no município de Itatiba, Estado de São Paulo, Brasil, de larvas de Gyrostigma rhinocerontis nas fezes de um grupo de rinocerontes-brancos (Ceratotherium simum) importados legalmente da África do Sul, onde eram mantidos em uma fazenda de preservação com criação manejada, em 2005. São relatadas também as medidas tomadas para controle do caso e prevenção da disseminação do parasito, e se discutem os riscos da globalização, que viabiliza o trânsito internacional e intercontinental de animais selvagens, com riscos potenciais de adaptação de parasitos exóticos a novos ecossistemas.(AU)

Sarcopromusca pruna (Diptera: Muscidae): phoretic for Dermatobia hominis (Diptera: Cuterebridae) eggs in Colombia / Sarcopromusca pruna (Diptera: Muscidae): forético para los huevos de Dermatobia hominis (Diptera: Cuterebridae) en Colombia / Sarcopromusca pruna (Diptera: Muscidae): forético para os ovos de Dermatobia hominis (Diptera: Cuterebridae) na Colômbia

Objective: the finding of Sarcopromusca pruna as a phoretic for Dermatobia hominis eggs is described here. The later is a frequent cattle ectoparasite (human botfly) known as "nuche" in Colombia. Methods: the phoretic flies were captured in a village at San Rafael municipality (Antioquia) using Malaise-typetraps installed during the months of June to August, 2004. Each Sarcopromusca specimen carried a minimum of 19 and, in some cases, up to 23 eggs of D. hominis on the right or left side of the abdominal region. Results and conclusion:This is a new report of Sarcopromusca pruna behaving as a phoretic fly for Dermatobia hominis eggs observed in Colombia.

Objetivo: Se describe el hallazgo de Sarcopromusca pruna (S. pruna) como forético de huevos Dermatobia hominis (D. hominis) ectoparásito comúnmente conocido en Colombia como "nuche". Metódo: las moscas foréticas fueron capturadas en una vereda del municipio de San Rafael (Antioquia) usando trampas de intercepción tipo Malaise instaladas durante los meses de junio a agosto de 2004. Cada espécimen de Sarcopromusca transportaba un número mínimo de 19 y en algunos casos hasta 23 huevos de D. hominis en el lado derecho o en el izquierdo de la región abdominal. Resultados y conclusión: este es un nuevo reporte de S. pruna como forético de huevos de Dermatobia hominis en Colombia.

Objetivo: relatamos a descoberta de Sarcopromusca pruna (S. pruna) como forético dos ovos de Dermatobia hominis (D. hominis), ectoparasita comumente conhecido na Colômbia como "nuche" e no Brasil como "mosca-varejeira". Métodos: as moscas foréticas foram capturadas no município de San Rafael (Antioquia), utilizando armadilhas de intercepção tipo Malaise instaladas durante os meses de junho a agosto de 2004. Cada espécime Sarcopromusca carregava entre 19 e 23 ovos de D. hominis no lado direito ou esquerdo da região abdominal. Resultados y conclusões: este é um novo reporte da S. pruna como forético de ovos de Dermatobia hominis na Colômbia.

Occurrence of Sarcopromusca pruna (Diptera) in Southern Brazil as a vector of Dermatobia hominis (Diptera) eggs

Relata-se a ocorrência de Sarcopromusca pruna como vetor biológico de Dermatobia hominis no sul do Brasil. O díptero foi capturado em Janeiro de 2003 em armadilha Malaise, permanentemente instalada desde Julho de 2002, como parte de um estudo de diversidade de Muscoidea no bioma Campos Sulinos, extremo sul do Rio Grande do Sul. O espécime estava carreando 18 ovos de D. hominis na porção látero-ventral direita do abdome

Incidence of myiasis in Panama during the eradication of Cochliomyia hominivorax (Coquerel 1858, Diptera: Calliphoridae) (2002-2005)

We present the results of a study on myiasis in Panama during the first years of a Cochliomyia hominivorax eradication program (1998-2005), with the aim of investigating the behavior of the flies that produce myiasis in animals and human beings. The hosts that registered positive for myiasis were cattle (46.4 percent), dogs (15.3 percent), humans (14.7 percent), birds (12 percent), pigs (6 percent), horses (4 percent), and sheep (1 percent). Six fly species caused myiasis: Dermatobia hominis (58 percent), Phaenicia spp. (20 percent), Cochliomyia macellaria (19 percent), Chrysomya rufifacies (0.4 percent), and maggots of unidentified species belonging to the Sarcophagidae (3 percent) and Muscidae (0.3 percent). With the Dubois index, was no evidence that the absence of C. hominivorax allowed an increase in the cases of facultative myiasis.