Gastrointestinal, skin and blood parasites in Didelphis spp. from urban and sylvatic areas in São Paulo state, Brazil

Didelphis (Marsupialia, Didelphimorphia) are synanthropic mammals, whose omnivorous diet predisposes them to infections caused by endoparasites. Their higher frequency in urban areas makes them potential carriers of zoonotic protozoans and helminths, enhancing potential transmission to humans. Our p...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Veterinary parasitology (Amsterdam) 2019-04, Vol.16, p.100286-100286, Article 100286
Main Authors: Teodoro, Anna Karollina Menezes, Cutolo, André Antonio, Motoie, Gabriela, Meira-Strejevitch, Cristina da Silva, Pereira-Chioccola, Vera Lucia, Mendes, Tiago Manuel Fernandes, Allegretti, Silmara Marques
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Brazil - epidemiology
Carrier State - epidemiology
Carrier State - transmission
Carrier State - veterinary
Cities
Didelphis - parasitology
Feces - parasitology
Female
Forests
Humans
Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic - epidemiology
Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic - transmission
Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic - veterinary
Male
Parasitemia - epidemiology
Parasitemia - transmission
Parasitemia - veterinary
Rivers
Skin Diseases, Parasitic - epidemiology
Skin Diseases, Parasitic - transmission
Skin Diseases, Parasitic - veterinary
Zoonoses - parasitology
Zoonoses - transmission
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Summary:Didelphis (Marsupialia, Didelphimorphia) are synanthropic mammals, whose omnivorous diet predisposes them to infections caused by endoparasites. Their higher frequency in urban areas makes them potential carriers of zoonotic protozoans and helminths, enhancing potential transmission to humans. Our purpose was to study two common species, Didelphis albiventris (54 individuals) and D. aurita (2 individuals), which were screened for blood, skin and intestinal parasites in animals captured in urban areas and in riparian forest regions associated with the Capivari River Basin, in Monte Mor's municipality, São Paulo state (SP), Brazil. Blood and tissue samples were collected for DNA extraction and PCR. Fecal samples were collected and submitted to two sedimentation and two flotation methods. 77.6% of fecal samples were positive for nematode eggs, 34.5% for trematode eggs and 32.7% for protozoans. Two D. aurita specimens were naturally infected by Trypanosoma cruzi. Molecular analysis in a D. albiventris captured on a forested rural area was positive for Leishmania sp. DNA. Several parasites were found infecting Didelphis sp., demonstrating that this group of animals can harbor important zoonotic parasites, potentially playing a role as sylvatic reservoirs for human and domestic animal pathogens.
ISSN:2405-9390
2405-9390
DOI:10.1016/j.vprsr.2019.100286