Isospora bocamontensis (Protozoa: Apicomplexa) in captive yellow cardinal Gubernatrix cristata (Passeriformes: Emberezidae)

Abstract

The yellow cardinal (Gubernatrix cristata) is a passerine found in southern Brazil, especially along the border with Uruguay and Argentina. It is an endangered species and its population is decreasing. Among the parasites that affect passerines, the genus Isospora is the most easily found in both captive and free-living birds. This parasite commonly causes injury to the intestinal tissue and could occasionally affect other organs. In this work we examined the occurrence of coccidiosis in captive yellow cardinals and its association with factors such as sex, use of parasiticides, type of enclosure, contact with feces, type of food and cleaning frequency. We collected fecal samples of 45 yellow cardinals, healthy and kept in captivity, in late afternoon at the end of the reproductive period. The examination showed parasitic infection by Isospora bocamontensis in 44.5% of the birds. This infection is not influenced by the sex of birds, but is significantly affected by the type of enclosure, contact with the feces, use of parasiticides, type of food and cleaning frequency. The results indicate that to keep yellow cardinals captive, these factors must be observed. 4 Departamento de Estatística, UFSM, Av. Roraima 1000, Santa Maria, RS. E-mail dos outros autores: isamainieri@yahoo.com.br; schneiders. gustavo@gmail.com; mah_tl@hotmail.com; edcsdn@terra.com.br; lfmaristela@ gmail.com Passeriformes, o gênero Isospora está entre o mais encontrado, tanto em aves de cativeiro quanto em aves de vida-livre. Comumente causam injúrias no tecido intestinal, podendo ocasionalmente afetar outros órgãos. Neste trabalho examinamos a ocorrência de coccidiose em cardeais mantidos em cativeiro e verificamos sua associação com fatores como sexo, uso de produtos parasiticidas, tipo de recinto, contato com fezes, tipo de alimentação e frequência de limpeza. Foram coletadas amostras de fezes, ao entardecer, de 45 cardeais-amarelos, hígidos, mantidos em cativeiro, no final do período reprodutivo. O exame coproparasitológico revelou infecção parasitária por Isospora bocamontensis, em 44,5% das aves. Esta infecção não é influenciada pelo sexo das aves, mas é significativamente afetada pelo tipo de recinto, contato com as fezes, uso de parasiticidas, tipo de alimentação e frequência de limpeza. Indicando que para a manutenção em cativeiro estes fatores devem ser observados.

Causes of bird losses recorded in a captive-bred wild bird flock between 2011 and 2015

“…Environmental and nutritional requirements of species kept in captivity are the major aspects to be addressed in such projects (KARSTEN, 2007). While important questions regarding management limitations in captive breeding programs have been raised (SNYDER et al, 1996;HEMMINGS et al, 2012), little specific and detailed information from bird breeding centers is available (CORK et al, 1999;CRUZ et al, 2011;PEREIRA et al, 2013), albeit this may be useful for planning such conservation initiatives. In this sense, analysis of the financial costs involved (FA et al, 2011;CRUZ et al, 2016) is essential for decision making or planning captive breeding efforts.…”