ABSTRACT
Background: The rhea (Rhea americana) is a Brazilian wild bird that produce meat, leather and feathers of excellent quality. Rhea production has been increasing every day in Brazil due to many favorable conditions for breeding and there are also large native populations in various regions of the country. The incidence of parasites is a limiting factor when raising many animals, and rheas are not an exception. The occurrence of Cryptosporidium spp in captive rheas in a Brazilian zoo and Spain was described. However, little is known about cryptosporidiosis in rhea, which makes the need for further studies. Thus, this study aimed to detect Cryptosporidium parvum in rheas from the South of Brazil.Case: This study evaluated two properties located in Southern Brazil. Property A was located in Rio Rufi no, Santa Catarina State, Brazil and it had 40 rheas for commercial purposes. Property B was located in Santa Maria, a small town in Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil and it had 10 rheas. Fresh fecal samples were collected and kept refrigerated from adult birds (n = 4) and chicks (n = 2) from property A, and chicks (n = 3) of three months of age from property B. Samples were analyzed by the method of direct examination, followed by centrifugal flotation with zinc sulfate. Only the centrifugal fl otation technique allowed the observation of Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts in three adults and
Background: The rhea (Rhea americana) is a Brazilian wild bird that produce meat, leather and feathers of excellent quality. Rhea production has been increasing every day in Brazil due to many favorable conditions for breeding and there are also large native populations in various regions of the country. The incidence of parasites is a limiting factor when raising many animals, and rheas are not an exception. The occurrence of Cryptosporidium spp in captive rheas in a Brazilian zoo and Spain was described. However, little is known about cryptosporidiosis in rhea, which makes the need for further studies. Thus, this study aimed to detect Cryptosporidium parvum in rheas from the South of Brazil.Case: This study evaluated two properties located in Southern Brazil. Property A was located in Rio Rufi no, Santa Catarina State, Brazil and it had 40 rheas for commercial purposes. Property B was located in Santa Maria, a small town in Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil and it had 10 rheas. Fresh fecal samples were collected and kept refrigerated from adult birds (n = 4) and chicks (n = 2) from property A, and chicks (n = 3) of three months of age from property B. Samples were analyzed by the method of direct examination, followed by centrifugal flotation with zinc sulfate. Only the centrifugal fl otation technique allowed the observation of Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts in three adults and
ABSTRACT
Background: The rhea (Rhea americana) is a Brazilian wild bird that produce meat, leather and feathers of excellent quality. Rhea production has been increasing every day in Brazil due to many favorable conditions for breeding and there are also large native populations in various regions of the country. The incidence of parasites is a limiting factor when raising many animals, and rheas are not an exception. The occurrence of Cryptosporidium spp in captive rheas in a Brazilian zoo and Spain was described. However, little is known about cryptosporidiosis in rhea, which makes the need for further studies. Thus, this study aimed to detect Cryptosporidium parvum in rheas from the South of Brazil.Case: This study evaluated two properties located in Southern Brazil. Property A was located in Rio Rufi no, Santa Catarina State, Brazil and it had 40 rheas for commercial purposes. Property B was located in Santa Maria, a small town in Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil and it had 10 rheas. Fresh fecal samples were collected and kept refrigerated from adult birds (n = 4) and chicks (n = 2) from property A, and chicks (n = 3) of three months of age from property B. Samples were analyzed by the method of direct examination, followed by centrifugal flotation with zinc sulfate. Only the centrifugal fl otation technique allowed the observation of Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts in three adults and
Background: The rhea (Rhea americana) is a Brazilian wild bird that produce meat, leather and feathers of excellent quality. Rhea production has been increasing every day in Brazil due to many favorable conditions for breeding and there are also large native populations in various regions of the country. The incidence of parasites is a limiting factor when raising many animals, and rheas are not an exception. The occurrence of Cryptosporidium spp in captive rheas in a Brazilian zoo and Spain was described. However, little is known about cryptosporidiosis in rhea, which makes the need for further studies. Thus, this study aimed to detect Cryptosporidium parvum in rheas from the South of Brazil.Case: This study evaluated two properties located in Southern Brazil. Property A was located in Rio Rufi no, Santa Catarina State, Brazil and it had 40 rheas for commercial purposes. Property B was located in Santa Maria, a small town in Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil and it had 10 rheas. Fresh fecal samples were collected and kept refrigerated from adult birds (n = 4) and chicks (n = 2) from property A, and chicks (n = 3) of three months of age from property B. Samples were analyzed by the method of direct examination, followed by centrifugal flotation with zinc sulfate. Only the centrifugal fl otation technique allowed the observation of Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts in three adults and
ABSTRACT
This study aimed to verify the occurrence of antibodies againstToxoplasma gondii in rheas (Rhea americana) and ostriches (Struthio camelus) commercially breeding in Brazil. Blood samples from 20 rheas and 46 ostriches (young and adults) were serologically tested using a technique known as modified agglutination test (MAT) at an initial titration of 1:16 for ostriches and 1:25 for rheas. Antibodies against T. gondii were found in 50% (10/20) of the rheas, with titers ranging from 1:25 to 1:6,400. The incidence of antibodies against T. gondii in ostriches was 17.4% (8/46) with titers ranging from 1:16 to 1:256. Birds showing titers higher than 1:200 forT. gondii were mainly the young ones. Therefore, rheas and ostriches may be parasitized by T. gondii, showing high levels of antibodies against this parasite.
Este estudo teve como objetivo verificar a presença de anticorpos contra o Toxoplasma gondii em emas (Rhea americana) e avestruzes (Struthio camelus) criados comercialmente no Brasil. Amostras de sangue de 20 emas e 46 avestruzes (jovens e adultos) foram testadas sorologicamente pela técnica conhecida como teste de aglutinação modificada (MAT) em titulações iniciais de 1:16 para avestruzes e 1:25 para emas. Anticorpos contra T. gondii foram encontrados em 50% (10/20) das emas com títulos variando de 1:25 a 1:6.400. A incidência de anticorpos contra T. gondii em avestruzes foi de 17,4% (8/46) com os títulos oscilando entre 1:16 e 1:256. Aves jovens foram aquelas que apresentaram títulos superiores a 1:200 para T. gondii. Portanto, emas e avestruzes podem ser parasitados por T. gondii, apresentando elevados níveis de anticorpos contra o parasita.