Histopathological changes in the kidneys of vertebrate hosts infected naturally and experimentally with Paratanaisia bragai (Trematoda, Digenea)

• Published in: Revista brasileira de parasitologia veterinaria 2015-04, Vol.24 (2), p.241-246
• Main Authors: Xavier, Vanessa Barreto, Oliveira-Menezes, Aleksandra, dos Santos, Marcos Antônio José, Amato, Suzana Bencke, Torres, Eduardo José Lopes, Pinheiro, Jairo, Brandolini, Solange Viana Paschoal Blanco
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Bird Diseases - parasitology; Bird Diseases - pathology; Chickens - parasitology; Columbidae - parasitology; Kidney - parasitology; Kidney - pathology; Trematoda - isolation & purification; Trematode Infections - pathology; Trematode Infections - veterinary
• ISSN: 1984-2961
• DOI: 10.1590/S1984-29612015017

Paratanaisia bragai is a trematode parasite that reaches sexual maturity in the kidney collecting ducts of domesticated and wild fowl and whose intermediate hosts are the snails Subulina octona and Leptinaria unilamellata. There are some discrepancies in descriptions of the pathology of this parasite in bird kidneys. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to analyze the kidneys of rock pigeons (Columba livia) naturally infected and of chickens (Gallus gallus) experimentally infected with Paratanaisia bragai, by means of macroscopic observation and by light and scanning electron microscopy. Both bird species showed significantly dilated collecting ducts. In addition, lymphocyte infiltration was observed in the kidneys of C. livia and metaplasia in the epithelial lining of the kidney collecting ducts of G. gallus.