First record of intestinal parasites in a wild population of jaguar in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest

Abstract

Small and isolated wildlife populations may be more susceptible to disease, which makes illness an important issue to investigate regarding the conservation of large carnivores. Here, we present the results of the first investigation of intestinal parasites in one of the last remaining populations of jaguars in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. We studied parasites from fecal samples using three different techniques for parasitological examination: floatation in saturated sodium chloride solution, sedimentation and formalin-ether centrifugation. Intestinal parasites were detected in 70% of the analyzed samples, and seven taxa (mean = 3.7 taxa/sample) were identified. All the groups of parasites that were identified have been recorded in previous jaguar studies. However, the records of Class Trematoda and nematodes Trichuridae are the first evidence of these groups of worms in free-ranging jaguars in Brazil. Although our results do not provide conclusive evidence on the health of this jaguar population, given its very small size (approximately 20 animals) we stress the need to properly understand the dynamics of disease in this wild population and to evaluate the risk of contracting new diseases from domestic species inhabiting the neighboring areas. These represent imperative actions for the successful conservation of this threatened population of jaguar.Keywords: Panthera onca, parasitology, wildlife, worms. ResumoPopulações pequenas e isoladas são mais suscetíveis a doenças, o que torna a investigação de enfermidades uma questão importante para a conservação de grandes carnívoros. O presente estudo apresenta os resultados da primeira investigação de parasitos intestinais em uma das últimas populações remanescentes de onça-pintada na Mata Atlântica brasileira. Os parasitos foram obtidos a partir de amostras fecais, sendo utilizadas três técnicas para exame parasitológico: flutuação em solução saturada de cloreto de sódio (Método de Willis), sedimentação (Método de HPJ) e centrifugação com formol-éter. Parasitos intestinais foram detectados em 70% das amostras analisadas, tendo sido identificados sete táxons (média = 3,7 taxa/amostra). Todos os grupos de parasitos identificados foram mencionados em estudos anteriores realizados com onças-pintadas. Entretanto, os registros de Trematoda e nematoides Trichuridae aqui obtidos representam a primeira evidência desses grupos de vermes em onças-pintadas de vida livre no Brasil. Embora os resultados obtidos não sejam conclusivos quanto à saúde da população estudada, em virtude do tamanho populacional reduzido (aproximadamente 20 indivíduos), recomenda-se a investigação da dinâmica de doenças, bem como a avaliação do risco de contração de novas doenças a partir do contato com animais domésticos provenientes do entorno da área estudada. Essas investigações são fundamentais para a conservação dessa população ameaçada de onças-pintadas.Palavras-chave: Panthera onca, parasitologia, vida silvestre, vermes.

Gastrointestinal parasites among felids inhabiting the Serra dos Órgãos National Park, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

“…Regarding the presence of stages of the life cycles of potentially gastrointestinal parasites, helminths were particularly frequent. Lower frequencies than what was observed in the present study were reported by Srbek-Araujo et al (2014) in the Vale Natural Reserve, Espírito Santo, who found that 70% of their samples were positive for parasites. On the other hand, Patton & Rabinowitz (1994) observed that the frequency of gastrointestinal parasites in fecal samples from felids in Thailand was 96%.…”

“…However, that author observed that only 10.6% of the samples came from felids, and identified the species as P. concolor. Although Srbek-Araujo et al (2014) did not report the total number of fecal samples collected from the environment, they identified 10 fecal samples from P. onca in expeditions to the Vale Natural Reserve, in the state of Espírito Santo, also using the guard hair analysis method. In turn, Kusma et al (2015) used trichological analysis and identified 100% of the fecal samples that they also gathered in Espírito Santo, as belonging to felids.…”

“…The structures observed in the fecal samples probably belonged to the genus Spirometra, because according to Conboy (2009), the eggs of this genus present narrow extremities, which was observed in the specimens found in the present study, while eggs of the genus Diphyllobothrium tend to be more rounded. Cestodes from the order Pseudophyllidea were detected in the Vale Natural Reserve, Espírito Santo, Brazil, by Srbek-Araujo et al (2014); eggs of Spirometra sp. were identified in fecal material from free-living felids in the Três Barras National Forest, Santa Catarina, Brazil, by Kusma et al (2015) and in the Chaco region of Bolivia by Fiorello et al (2006).…”

“…In investigations on gastrointestinal parasites among free-living felids, studies in which fecal material has been gathered directly from natural environments are particularly interesting, such as those conducted in parks in Thailand, in the San Miguelito Private Reserve in Bolivia and in different regions of Brazil: in the Serra da Capivara National Park, state of Piauí; Vale Natural Reserve, state of Espírito Santo, and Três Barras National Forest, state of Santa Catarina (BELTRÁN-SAAVEDRA et al, 2009;BRANDÃO et al, 2009;KUSMA et al, 2015;PATTON & RABINOWITZ, 1994;SRBEK-ARAUJO et al, 2014).…”

Prevalência de parasitos gastrointestinais em mamíferos selvagens do Jardim Zoológico do Rio de Janeiro

“…O uso destas técnicas visa diagnosticar ovos ou larvas de helmintos e cistos de protozoários (Freitas et al 2001;Carmo e Salgado, 2013;Srbek-Araújo et al, 2014;Alcantara et al, 2016). Neste estudo optou-se pelo uso apenas das técnicas de Gordon & Whitlock, Sheather e Baermann-Moraes com o objetivo de maior abrangência na pesquisa de formas parasitárias, mas também maior praticidade de execução, uma vez que éter sulfúrico e sulfato de Zinco (técnicas de Richie e Faust) são reagentes que nem sempre estão disponíveis em grande quantidade nos laboratórios de apoio diagnóstico.…”