Long-term survey of Eimeria spp. prevalence and faecal shedding in a traditional Portuguese free-range broiler farm

In free-range broiler production, animals are highly exposed to gastrointestinal parasitism, namely by coccidia, due to their long contact with the outdoor environment. Also, the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites in extensive poultry production, is frequently influenced by biotic and abiotic factors. The current national pioneer long-term survey aimed to assess the prevalence and faecal shedding of Eimeria spp. oocysts in a traditional Portuguese free-range broiler farm, on different production conditions. Between July 2018 and March 2019, a total of 350 faecal samples were collected from different groups of free-range broilers at the fattening phase, in a poultry farm located in North-western Lisbon district, Portugal. Quantitative and qualitative coprological techniques were performed, aiming to quantify the Eimeria spp. prevalence and faecal shedding level. Coccidia prevalence was higher in Summer and Autumn groups (72% and 80%, respectively), although faecal shedding levels were higher in the Autumn and Winter groups (1191 and 1562 Oocysts Per Gram, OPG). Animals showed clinical signs of coccidiosis during the survey, especially in Autumn’s 1st sampling, in which 42% of the faecal samples had blood. The lack of sanitary depopulations, length of the fattening phase (1 month), short pre-patent period of coccidia, exposure to different environmental conditions and irregular drug treatments with amprolium, were key factors responsible for the different parasitic scenarios observed during this survey.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Natural infection of gastrointestinal nematodes in long-nosed armadillos Dasypus novemcinctus Linnaeus, 1758 from Pantanal wetlands, Aquidauana sub-region, Mato Grosso do Sul State, with the description of Hadrostrongylus speciosum n. gen. et n. sp (Molineidae : Anoplostrongylinae)

This study evaluated the gastrointestinal helminth fauna of long-nosed armadillos, Dasypus novemcinctus, from the Pantanal wetlands, Aquidauana sub-region, Aquidauana County, Mato Grosso do Sul State, Brazil. Thirteen species of nematodes, comprising seven genera and four families, were recovered from their gastrointestinal tracts. The following descriptors of infection were determined: prevalence, variation of intensity, average intensity and abundance. Hadrostrongylus speciosum n. gen. et n. sp. is first described here. (c) 2006 Published by Elsevier B.V

Natural infection by Paramphistomoidea Stiles and Goldberger, 1910 trematodes in wild Marsh Deer (Blastocerus dichotomus Illiger, 1815) from Sérgio Mottas's hydroelectric power station flooding area.

Studies on helminthfauna of marsh deer Blastocerus dichotomus Illiger, 1815 are rare, although helminthic diseases are an important cause of mortality in these animals. Fifteen male and female adult marsh deer from Sergio Motta's hydroelectric power station flooding area at Paraná River which died during the capture and quarantine procedures, between 1998 and 1999, were necropsied. Three trematodes species, Paramphistomum cervi, Balanorchis anastrofus and Zygocotyle lunatum, all belonging to superfamily Paramphistomoidea, were identified. The obtained trematodes were identified, counted and their respectives descriptors of infection were determined. All necropsied animals were infected by helminths. Paramphistomum cervi was the most prevalent species, while Zygocotyle lunatum was found in only one animal

Estudos ecológicos em taxocenoses helmínticas de Chaunus ictericus (Spix, 1824) e C. schneideri (Werner, 1894) (Anura: Bufonidae) simpátricos, capturados no distrito de São Cristóvão, Município de Três Barras, Santa Catarina.

Fifty eight Chaunus ictericus and 42 C. schneideri specimens were collected on São Cristóvão district, Três Barras, SC for helminthological studies. Fourteen helminth species were diagnosed, from which only five species were found on both hosts. Chaunus ictericus showed higher values of species richness (2,8448+/-1,1516) and diversity (H = 1,374), with mild dominance (1-D = 0,642, J = 0,5528), in comparison with C. schneideri (0,6428+/-1,007; H = 1,165; 1-D = 0,5822 e J = 0,5985). Also, descriptors of helminthic infection were superior in the former host. Little number of shared species between the analyzed toad species suggests parasitic host-specificity

Seropositive Wild Boars Suggesting the Occurrence of a Wild Cycle of Trichinella spp. in Brazil

Trichinella is a zoonotic nematode traditionally detected worldwide in both domestic and wild animals. In South America, along with the occurrence of this parasite in domestic pigs and wild boars, there are reports of infection in wild carnivores. Brazil is considered free of the domestic cycle of Trichinella, but there is unpublished serological evidence of infection in wild boars, which changed the Brazilian status in OIE regarding the disease after an official communication. We investigated Trichinella spp. infection in wild boars and wild carnivores in the Southeastern region of Brazil. A total of 136 samples were tested, 121 from wild boars and 15 from wild carnivores. Artificial enzymatic digestion (AED) tests were performed on muscle samples from 37 wild boars and 15 wild carnivores, and 115 serum samples from wild boars were tested by iELISA. Seven serum samples from wild boars tested positive (7/115 = 6.1%, 95% CI 3.0–12.0), but no larvae were found in the AED. There was no significant difference between sex, age, and location of the samples. The serological results suggest that a wild cycle of Trichinella spp. may occur in Brazil, but further analyses should be performed to confirm the presence of the parasite