The helminth fauna associated with Muller's termite frog, Dermatonotus muelleri, from the southern region of Ceará State, Brazil, was studied. The species richness was 6 helminth taxa, including cystacanths of Acanthocephala and 5 nematode species: Aplectana membranosa, Parapharyngodon silvoi, Raillietnema spectans, larvae of Physaloptera sp., and an unidentified nematode. The overall prevalence was 88.6%, with an average intensity of infection of 123.7 ± 26.3. The nematode Raillietnema spectans presented the highest prevalence and was the most abundant ( d = 0.670). Host body size did not influence the intensity of infection nor the richness of helminth species. This study increases the body of knowledge about the diversity of helminth fauna associated with Dermatonotus muelleri from northeastern Brazil, extending the record of hosts and the geographic distribution of these helminth species.
We describe a case of myiasis in Crotalus durissus terrificus (Laurenti) caused by Megaselia scalaris (Loew). The snake was found in Anhembi, Sao Paulo, Brazil, with a lesion measuring 25 mm in diameter where the larvae of M. scalaris had penetrated the ribs. The opportunistic behavior of the larvae of M. scalaris is discussed.
The objective of this paper is to report the death of a Boa constrictor amarali after ingestion of a tree porcupine. The animal was donated to the Center for the Study of Venoms and Venomous Animals (CEVAP/UNESP) - and died in captivity. At necropsy, spine-like structures were observed in the stomach serosa and vicinity, and the stomach mucosa showed an intense reddish area, suggesting inflammation. The analysis of the spine-like structure revealed that they were tree porcupine spines. The feeding habits and inexperience of this Boa constrictor amarali in selecting its prey may have been be responsible for its death
We describe a case of trichomoniasis in a Bothrops jararaca (Serpentes, Viperidae) donated to the Center for the Study of Venoms and Venomous Animals - CEVAP/UNESP. The animal had diarrhea with great quantity of flagellated protozoa in the feces. Microscopic examination of fecal smears stained with Giemsa revealed the presence of trichomonads, morphologically similar to Trichomonas acosta. Trichomonads were not detected in fecal exams after treatment with a single dose of 40 mg/kg metronidazole (Flagyl®)
BnSP-6 (myot.oxin I) is a phospholipase A2 homologue isolated from Bothrops neuwiedi pauloensis venom. Crystals of BnSP-6 were obtained which diffracted X-rays to 2.5 A resolution using a synchrotron radiation source at room temperature and belong to space group P3121. The unit cell dimensions are a=b=57.7, c=131.1 A. The structure was solved by molecular replacement using the coordinates of bothropstoxin I from B. jararacussu venom. There are two molecules in the asymmetric unit.
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