ABSTRACT
Abstract The present study reports on patterns of parasitism by Amblyomma humerale on yellow-footed tortoise, Chelonoidis denticulatus, in the Atlantic Forest of southeastern Brazil. The tortoises were sampled occasionally, from July 2005 to January 2020. We collected 81 adult ticks from seven tortoises (mean = 11.57 ± 6.90 ticks/host), of which 72 were males (88.9%) and nine females (11.1%), resulting in an 8:1 sex ratio (males:females). Males were found in clusters, attached to the carapace. Females occurred mainly isolated, attached to coriaceous integumental areas (n = 7; 77.8%), especially the engorged females (100%). We suggest that the difference between attachment sites is a strategy used by fertilized females to avoid mechanical removal from their host through friction with elements of the environment. Because they undergo a considerable increase of volume when engorged, they move to more sheltered places on their host's surface. The parasitism patterns by A. humerale on C. denticulatus were compatible with those observed in the Amazon region and in the Cerrado-Amazonia transition. The present work provides information about the life history and host-parasite interface of the two species and contributes to understanding the parasitism patterns by A. humerale on C. denticulatus in the Atlantic Forest of southeastern Brazil.
Resumo O presente estudo relata os padrões de parasitismo de Amblyomma humerale em jabuti-tinga, Chelonoidis denticulatus, na Mata Atlântica do Sudeste do Brasil. Os jabutis foram amostrados de forma ocasional, entre julho de 2005 e janeiro de 2020. Foram amostrados sete jabutis e coletados 81 carrapatos adultos (media = 11,57 ± 6,90 carrapatos/hospedeiro), sendo 72 machos (88,9%) e nove fêmeas (11,1%), resultando em uma razão sexual de 8:1 (machos:fêmeas). Os machos encontravam-se agrupados e aderidos à carapaça. As fêmeas ocorreram principalmente isoladas e fixadas a áreas de tegumento coriáceo (n = 7; 77,8%), especialmente as fêmeas ingurgitadas (100%). Sugere-se que a diferença entre os locais de fixação seja uma estratégia das fêmeas fecundadas, para evitar a remoção mecânica por atrito com o ambiente, uma vez que aumentam consideravelmente seu volume quando ingurgitadas, deslocando-se para locais mais abrigados na superfície do hospedeiro. Os padrões de parasitismo de C. denticulatus por A. humerale foram compatíveis com aqueles observados na Amazônia e na transição Amazônia-Cerrado. O presente trabalho contribui com informações acerca da história de vida e da relação parasito-hospedeiro entre as duas espécies, contribuindo para o entendimento dos padrões de parasitismo de A. humerale em C. denticulatus na Mata Atlântica do sudeste do Brasil.
Subject(s)
Animals , Male , Female , Turtles , Ixodidae , Brazil , Forests , AmblyommaABSTRACT
Intranuclear coccidiosis of tortoises (TINC) has been described in association with systemic disease in various species of tortoises. TINC has been detected in numerous tortoises from the United States, but there are only a few reports from tropical tortoises in Germany and no reports from Asia. Using a real-time polymerase chain reaction assay, samples from 1,011 tortoises were screened for the presence of TINC. Samples originated from animals kept in captivity in Europe and in China. Coccidia were detected in a total of 27 chelonians (2.7%), including the first description of TINC in a marginated tortoise ( Testudo marginata ), Hermann's tortoise ( Testudo hermanni ), African spurred tortoise (Centrochelys sulcata), and yellow-footed tortoise (Chelonoidis denticulatus). The highest percentage of positive animals was found in radiated tortoises ( Astrochelys radiata ). Although the percentage of positive animals was relatively low, this study demonstrates the global distribution of TINC in captive chelonians as well as expanding the known host range for these pathogens.
Subject(s)
Coccidia/isolation & purification , Coccidiosis/veterinary , Turtles , Animals , China/epidemiology , Coccidiosis/diagnosis , Coccidiosis/epidemiology , Europe/epidemiologyABSTRACT
Captive terrestrial tortoises of the species Chelonoidis carbonaria (n = 17) and Chelonoidis denticulata (n = 37) in the state of Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil, were examined for hematozoans by using a combination of microscopic and molecular methods. Microscopic examination revealed young intra-erythrocytic forms in blood smears from both species of tortoises. The results of PCR, sequencing, and phylogenetic analysis indicated that these parasites belonged to the Haemoproteus spp., whose observed prevalence was 17.6 % in C. carbonaria and 13.5 % in C. denticulata. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that these sequences formed a clade that was grouped with other sequences of Haemoproteus spp. parasites in birds, separate from the clade formed by Haemoproteus spp. of reptiles. This study expands the information regarding the occurrence and distribution of hemosporidia in turtles and is the first study of blood parasites in C. carbonaria.
Subject(s)
Haemosporida/classification , Phylogeny , Protozoan Infections, Animal/epidemiology , Turtles/parasitology , Animals , Base Sequence , Bayes Theorem , Brazil/epidemiology , DNA, Protozoan/blood , DNA, Protozoan/chemistry , DNA, Protozoan/isolation & purification , Female , Haemosporida/genetics , Male , Prevalence , Protozoan Infections, Animal/blood , Protozoan Infections, Animal/parasitology , Sequence Analysis, DNA/veterinaryABSTRACT
One herein reports a successful case of celiotomy by plastrotomy for removal of foreign bodies in yellow-footed tortoise (Geochelone denticulata). The animal was treated at the Veterinary Hospital of the Federal University of Piaui, with appetite loss, regurgitation, constipation, lethargy, reluctance to walk and slightly reddish ocular mucous membranes. Radiographic examination was performed, confirming the presence of foreign bodies in the stomach. The tortoise underwent celiotomy by plastrotomy for the removal of the foreign bodies. The opening of the plastron was performed through the abdominal shields, with the aid of a circular mini grinding saw. One performed an incision in the midline between the two abdominal veins to access the abdominal cavity. A gastrotomy for removal of the foreign bodies (nails, toothpicks, stones, pieces of plastic, glass and crockery pieces) was performed after the location of the stomach. The surgery was successful and confirmed with radiographic evaluation in the immediate postoperative period. The celiotomy by plastrotomy for removal of foreign bodies in that animal proved to be a viable, very important and safe technique to the survival of chelonians.
Neste relato descreve-se um caso bem sucedido de celiotomia por plastrotomia para remoção de corpos estranhos em uma jabuti-tinga (Geochelone denticulata). O animal foi atendido no Hospital Veterinário da Universidade Federal do Piauí apresentando falta de apetite, regurgitação, constipação, letargia, relutância em andar e mucosas oculares hiperêmicas. Foi realizado exame radiográfico, o qual confirmou presença de corpos estranhos no estômago. O animal foi submetido à celiotomia por plastrotomia para remoção dos corpos estranhos. A abertura do plastrão foi realizada através dos escudos abdominais, com o auxílio de uma mini-serra circular de retífica. Foi feita uma incisão na linha média entre as duas veias abdominais para se acessar a cavidade abdominal e, uma vez exposto, o estômago foi incisado para remoção dos corpos estranhos (grampos, palitos de dente, pedras, peças de plástico, fragmentos de louças e vidros). A cirurgia foi bem sucedida e a remoção total dos corpos estranhos foi confirmada por radiografia realizada no pós-operatório imediato. A celiotomia por plastrotomia para remoção de corpos estranhos neste animal demonstrou ser uma técnica muito importante, segura e viável para a sobrevivência de quelônios.
