Pathological and parasitological aspects of the peacock (Pavo cristatus) infection by Tanaisia(Paratanaisia)bragai

Abstract

Santos, 1934, are parasites of the kidney and ureter that affect several species of domestic and wild birds. Tanaisia bragai is considered a low pathogenic parasite, but high worm burdens may determine clinical complications, including signs of apathy, weight loss, diarrhea and death. This paper describes the first report of infection by T. bragai in peacocks (Pavo cristatus), which constitutes a new host record and offers data on the lesions associated to this parasitism, although the degree of pathogenicity and parasite load may be considered mild. These birds did not exhibit clinical signs of parasitism. The macroscopic exam revealed discreet yellow spots on the liver. In the histological sections of the kidney, specimens of T. bragai were found in the collecting ducts, which were markedly dilated, with a thickened wall. Other findings included a mild inflammatory reaction in the wall of the ducts (but sometimes absent), flattening of lining epithelial cells and small, multifocal points of calcification around the collecting ducts. The microscopic examination of the parasites revealed trematodes with an elongated body, well-developed sub terminal oral sucker, pharynx present, short esophagus, cecum somewhat undulating or not, with blind end, testes symmetrical, equatorial, irregular in shape or slightly lobed, vitelline fields extending in both pre-ovarian and post ovarian fields, uterus very long, intercecal or sometimes overlapping the cecum and containing large quantities of eggs. The present findings suggest the need for further diagnostic studies on the prevalence of this trematode in peacocks as well as pathologic studies for the determination of the potential pathogenicity of this parasite in this species of bird. Moreover, infected peacocks could serve as carriers of T. bragai to be transferred to other bird species, thereby contributing to the dispersion of the parasite.

Psittacara leucophthalmus (Aves: Psittacidae) como um novo hospedeiro de Paratanaisia bragai (Trematoda: Eucotylidae) no Brasil: achados clínicos e patológicos: relato de caso

“…Dieta rica em proteínas também é considerada condição favorável para a ocorrência de gota, mas a ave examinada tinha uma dieta pobre em proteínas, o que aumentava as evidências para a associação das alterações de gota úrica com as lesões renais pelo parasitismo. A lesão renal causada pela infecção por P. bragai é relacionada à fricção das escamas tegumentares na parede de túbulos renais (Costa et al, 2015), a qual se torna mais acentuada nos casos de elevada carga parasitária (Unwin et al, 2013, Silva et al, 2016. A morte de psitacídeos por insuficiência renal crônica secundária a nefrite granulomatosa por Paratanaisia sp.…”

“…é um trematódeo pertencente à família Eucotylidae, que parasita rins e ureteres de diversas espécies de aves domésticas e selvagens, sendo mais comumente encontrado em columbiformes (Santos, 1934;Brandolini e Amato, 2007;Unwin et al, 2013;Costa et al, 2015). No Brasil, há relatos de mais de 10 espécies de aves, incluindo galinhas, pombos, perus, galinhas d'Angola, araras e faisões, naturalmente infectadas em diferentes localidades do país (Fernandes et al, 2015), com vários casos relatados em espécies de psitacídeos (Tab.…”