Gyrostigma rhinocerontis (Diptera: Oestridae, Gasterophilinae) in white rhinoceroses (Ceratotherium simum) imported from South Africa: occurrence in Itatiba, São Paulo, Brazil

Abstract

RESUMO.-[Gyrostigma rhinocerontis (Diptera: Oestridae, Gasterophilinae) em rinocerontes-brancos (Ceratotherium simum) importados da África do Sul: ocorrência em Itatiba, São Paulo.] As larvas dos dípteros da subfamília Gasterophilinae da família Oestridae parasitam ungulados perissodáctilos, tanto domésticos (equídeos) quanto selvagens (rinocerontes e equídeos). O parasito gástrico dos rinocerontes africanos é Gyrostigma rhinocerontis (anteriormente Gyrostigma pavesii), que na fase larval pode ser encontrada nas fezes dos hospedeiros, e chega a medir 40mm de comprimento. O adulto é a maior mosca daquele continente, atingindo até 41mm de comprimento, e envergadura de 71 mm. O gênero Gyrostigma não ocorre naturalmente no Brasil, onde anteriormente existia somente um relato do achado de larvas, nas fezes de um rinoceronte-branco oriundo da África do Sul nos anos 90 do sécu-lo XX, e albergado num zoológico localizado no Rio Grande do Sul. Este artigo apresenta dados sobre o achado, em um zoológico no município de Itatiba, Estado de São Paulo, Brasil, de larvas de Gyrostigma rhinocerontis nas fezes de um grupo de rinocerontes-brancos (Ceratotherium simum) importados legalmente da África do Sul, onde eram manti- Fly larvae from the Gasterophilinae subfamily of the Oestridae family are parasites of domestic (equine) and wild (rhinos and equine) odd-hoofed ungulates (Perissodactyla). The gastric parasite of African Rhinos is Gyrostigma rhinocerontis (formerly Gyrostigma pavesii), which in its larva phase can be found in the feces of their hosts and can reach 40mm length. The adult is the largest fly in Africa, reaching 41mm long, with 71-mm wingspan. The Gyrostigma genus does not occur naturally in Brazil. There is one previous report of the occurrence of its larvae in the feces of a white rhino brought from South Africa in the 1990's, which was housed in a zoo located in Rio Grande do Sul. The present paper furnishes data from a zoo of the city of Itatiba, São Paulo state, Brazil, where Gyrostigma rhinocerontis larvae were found in 2005 in the feces of a group of white rhinos (Ceratotherium simum) legally imported from South Africa. The rhinos were kept in a breeding and preservation farm. This paper also reports the measures taken to control the case and avoid the dissemination of the parasite, calling attention to the fact of globalization, which allows international and intercontinental transit of wild animals with potential risks of adaptation of exotic parasites to new ecosystems.

Insights into the Antennal Characteristics and Olfactory Strategy of the Endangered Rhino Stomach Bot Fly Gyrostigma rhinocerontis (Diptera: Oestridae)

“…This study demonstrates the unique antennal characters of the rhinoceros bot fly G. rhinocerontis , a rare obligate intestinal parasite of the endangered white and black rhinoceros. As the largest fly species in Africa, with a body length reaching 24–41 mm [ 4 , 7 , 16 ], G. rhinocerontis is an exceptionally large species with exceptionally large antennae ( Supplementary File S1 ). Compared with other Oestridae species (e.g., P .…”

“…All the mounted samples were saved as voucher specimens numbered as GyroI–V. Due to the extreme rarity of G. rhinocerontis specimens in collections [ 16 , 38 ], a total of five specimens were examined in the present study (2 females, 3 males). Among them, antennae of a female and a male were imaged in detail.…”

“…Gyrostigma rhinocerontis (Hope) (Oestridae: Gasterophilinae) is a rare obligate parasite adapted to larval life in the alimentary canal of both white ( Ceratotherium simum (Burchell)) and black rhinoceroses ( Diceros bicornis Linnaeus) [ 4 , 7 , 9 , 13 ]. These flies can cause severe gastrointestinal myiasis [ 14 , 15 , 16 ] and may be detrimental to the health of an individual rhinoceros and to their population’s viability. As a high proportion of both the white and black rhinoceros populations are bred from small populations, high too are their chances of inbreeding and genetic defects [ 17 ].…”