First record of Paratanaisia bragai (Digenea: Eucotylidae) in blue and gold macaw (Ara ararauna)

Abstract

The aim of this study was to provide the first report on a new host for the digenean Paratanaisia bragai in the caninde macaw Ara ararauna along with the pathological aspects of the infection in the new host. The microscopic findings revealed the presence of granulomatous interstitial nephritis. This study contributes towards knowledge of parasitism by P. bragai in A. ararauna, and emphasizes the need to use best practices in wildlife conservation parks.Keywords: Parasite, birds, histopathology, wildlife, macaw. ResumoO objetivo deste estudo foi relatar, pela primeira vez, a arara canindé Ara ararauna como um novo hospedeiro para o digenético Paratanaisia bragai, bem como relatar aspectos patológicos relacionados à infecção no novo hospedeiro. Os achados microscópicos revelaram nefrite intersticial granulomatosa. Este estudo contribui para o conhecimento do parasitismo por P. bragai em A. ararauna e ainda faz um alerta para a adoção de boas práticas de criação em criatórios conservacionistas da fauna silvestre.

Occurrence of Paratanaisia spp. Freitas, 1951 in a domiciled cockatiel (Nymphicus hollandicus, Psittaciformes: Cacatuidae)

“…The morphological alterations in the epithelial cells were probably caused by physical compression, as has been previously reported in domestic chicken (XAVIER et al, 2015). There was no relationship between the parasite size and the severity of the lesions, unlike what has been observed in Ara ararauna parasitized by P. bragai (SILVA et al, 2016).…”

“…No inflammatory infiltrates were observed near the areas where the parasites were present, which differs from descriptions in other Psittaciformes where infections with Paratanaisia trematodes have resulted in worse impairment (LUPPI et al, 2007;SILVA et al, 2016). The relatively discrete histopathological alterations observed in this case could be related to the low parasitic burden or to a low pathogenicity of the parasite in this bird species; it could even be an indication of recent infection.…”

“…These trematodes have been reported in a wide range of bird species (GOMES et al, 2005;TAVELA et al, 2014;XAVIER et al, 2015;MOMO et al, 2016;SANTI et al, 2017), testifying to their low definitive host specificity. Infections have been described in both free-living and zoo-housed Psittaciformes, including macaws (Ara ararauna and Propyrrhura maracana), parakeets (Pyrrhura leucotis, Eupsittula aurea, Psittacara leucophthalmus, and Brotogeris chiriri), parrots (Amazona amazonica and Amazona aestiva), and cockatiels (N. hollandicus) (LUPPI et al, 2007;SILVA et al, 2016;SANTI et al, 2018). Like other digeneans, Paratanaisia have a heteroxenous cycle with gastropod mollusks acting as the intermediate hosts and birds as the definitive hosts.…”

“…Macroscopic and histological alterations have been described for natural and experimental infections with variable degrees of impairment (MENEZES et al, 2001;GOMES et al, 2005;ABDO & SULTAN, 2013;SILVA et al, 2016;SANTI et al, 2017). Enlargement with brown-yellowish discolorations and interstitial lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate have been described in Psittaciformes (LUPPI et al, 2007).…”

Evaluation of the reproductive profile of Subulina octona (Gastropoda, Subulinidae) experimentally infected by Paratanaisia bragai (Digenea, Eucotylidae)

“…In Brazil, we found records of the occurrence of Paratanaisia spp. in Paraná (Taroda et al, 2013), Goiás (Carneiro et al, 1975), Rio de Janeiro (Menezes et al, 2001;Santos, 1934apud Pinto el at., 2004, Xavier et al, 2015, São Paulo (Silva et al, 2016;Santi et al, 2017;Santi et al, 2018) and Minas Gerais (Tavela et al, 2014;Teodoro et al, 2018). Most of these records involved birds care at veterinary hospitals, zoos or wildlife triage and conservation centers.…”