Gastric Lesions in Free-Ranging Black Caimans (Melanosuchus niger) Associated With Brevimulticaecum Species

Abstract

The stomachs of 100 free-ranging black caimans (Melanosuchus niger Spix, 1825) from the Mamirauá Sustainable Development Reserve, Amazonas state, Brazil, were examined for parasitism and pathologic lesions. All animals were harvested for human consumption. Ascaridoid nematodes were found in 67 caimans and were identified as Brevimulticaecum sp. These parasites were associated with focally extensive, chronic gastric ulcers and formation of localized intramural granulomas containing nematodes. All caiman were in good nutritional condition, which suggests that effects of gastric nematodiasis on the crocodilian hosts were minimal at the time of slaughter.

Morphological and morphometric features of nematode-cysts in Gymnotus inaequilabiatus liver in the Brazilian Pantanal

“…Furthermore, the biological cycle of Brevimulticaecum sp. has not been completely elucidated, although general pathological aspects have been identified in other species (CARDOSO et al, 2012) leading us to suppose it is similar with regards to this nematode species. Nematodes cause infectious without apparent extensive pathological symptoms.…”

First record of microfilaria in the blood of black caiman Melanosuchus niger (Crocodylia: Alligatoridae) specimens from the Amazon River basin

“…It was also reported that 67% of black caimans from the Mamirauá Development Reserve at the river Solimões, Amazonas state, had nematodes in the gastric mucosa and ulcers with hemorrhagic aspects. In some cases, there was even perforating ulcers in the serous layer of the stomach (Cardoso et al, 2013). This study shows the direct relation that exists among these microfilariae, which may affect the blood of M. niger from the middle Rio Negro.…”

Helminth eggs from early cretaceous faeces

“…and Dujardinascaris sp. anisakids are associated with crocodyloids and alligatoroids as definitive hosts 31 , 43 , 44 .…”

“…The egg wall, the circular shape (quasi-spherical), the smooth outer surface, and the diameter show similarities with the eggs of the Anisakis nematode-like Brevimulticaecum sp. 43 , 44 , Dujardinascaris sp. 31 , 44 , and Terranova sp 45 .…”