Abstract

FIRST REPORT OF CRYPTOSPORIDIUM SPP. OCCURRENCE IN DUSKY-LEGGED GUAN (PENELOPE OBSCURA)

Antonio Neres Norberg*, Paulo Roberto Blanco Moreira Norberg, Bianca Magnelli Mangiavacchi, Alcemar Antônio Lopes de Matos1, Lígia Cordeiro Matos Faial, Margareth Maria de Carvalho Queiroz, Paulo Cesar Ribeiro, Renato Mataveli Ferreira Filho and Juliana Toledo Campos Arêas

ABSTRACT

Cryptosporidiosis is considered one of the most important protozoan diseases in birds. This disease affects both the digestive and respiratory tracts of these animals and affects a large number of species of birds on all continents. Penelope obscura, popularly known as “jacuguassu”, is a bird of the Cracidae family which inhabits the Atlantic Forest in Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay. This research aims to investigate the presence of Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts in stool samples of Penelope obscura. We collected 33 samples of fresh stools collected after the feeding of Penelope obscura specimens in the morning around the feeding box located in the Ponte Branca region, countryside of the city of Nova Friburgo, Province of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The stool samples were submitted to the spontaneous sedimentation and Ritchie techniques. With part of the sediment, slides were prepared and, after drying, were fixed with methanol and stained through the Ziehl-Neelsen technique to investigate Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts. Later, the slides were observed under light microscopy with the objective to increase 1000X. In all 33 examined stool samples of Penelope obscura, oocysts of Cryptosporidium spp. were observed (100%), with variable degrees of protozoal load for each sample. All animals appeared healthy, the consistency of the faeces was considered normal and the presence of few oocysts in the stool of each sample is indicative of chronic or subclinical infection. The persistence of Cryptosporidium spp. contamination in Penelope obscura and the continuous contamination of the environment with oocysts discharged with the stools may be a risk for the transmission of this pathogen to other animal species and humans. This was the first report of infection by Cryptosporidium spp. in the species Penelope obscura.

Keywords: Cryptosporidium spp., Penelope obscura, infection, zoonosis, occurrence.