RESUMEN
The tropical dry forest is one of the world's most threatened ecosystems and is the habitat of the Robinson's Mouse Opossum (Marmosa robinsoni), a small marsupial within the Didelphidae family. This study aimed to describe cases of cuterebriases in free-ranging M. robinsoni by examining individuals caught in live animal traps. Sherman traps were deployed in four different sites over three different periods in five days. All animals passed through biometry, weighing, sampling parasites, and sampling feces. Only animals captured in the study site located close to the city were anesthetized and examined. The evaluation included blood samples and a clinical examination. Animals received anesthesia under physical restraint by intramuscular injections of ketamine and xylazine. For anesthetic reversion, the protocol was Yohimbine administered before release. In total, 8% (5/60) of all captured animals had fly larvae extracted from wounds. The molecular Barcode of the mitochondrial Cytochrome Oxidase I gene showed no match with any recognized species of Cuterebra. The animals weighed from 35 to 80 g and had lesions in the scapular region with parasites under their skin in sizes ranging from 1.3 to 2.2 cm. The animals with parasites were in good physical condition without evidence of disturbances in health conditions. This is compatible with literature, reporting little effect on population dynamics of other host species infected with Cuterebra larvae. The study included 24 animals captured in three areas far from any city, which showed no evidence of cuterebrid infection, suggesting that proximity to the city could increase exposure to cuterebriasis. There are reports of cuterebrids in M. robinsoni in Brazil; however, this is the first report of cuterebriasis in M. robinsoni in Colombia.
RESUMEN
RESUMEN Objetivo. El objetivo del presente trabajo fue describir la frecuencia y caracterización de parásitos gastrointestinales en roedores sinantrópicos capturados en el Zoológico de Barranquilla. Materiales y métodos. Para la captura de los roedores se utilizaron trampas Tomahawk con ayuda de cebos no tóxicos, y posteriormente los individuos capturados fueron sacrificados mediante la inhalación de ¡soflurano. El diagnóstico e identificación de parásitos en el contenido intestinal fue realizado mediante las técnicas de examen directo en NaCl (0.9%), flotación Sheather modificada y sedimentación Ritchie modificada. Resultados. Un total de 34 roedores (Rattus rattus) fueron capturados, en los cuales la frecuencia de infección fue de 82.4% (IC 95% = 68.8-95.8%, 28/34). Los parásitos descritos con mayor frecuencia fueron los nematodos (63.2%, IC 95% = 49.2-77.2%, 31/49), seguido de los protozoos (20.4%, IC 95% = 8.7-32.1%, 10/49) y cestodos (16.3%, IC 95% =5.6-27%, 8/49), con diferencias significativas entre los tres grupos (x2=20.7, p<0.0l). Dentro de los nematodos, la familia encontrada con mayor frecuencia fue la Strongylidae (24/31), seguida de la Ascarididae (4/31), Ancylostomatidae (1/31), Oxyuridae (1/31) y Trichostrongylidae (1/31); para el caso de los protozoos, fueron la Eimeriidae (6/10) y Entamoebidae (4/10), mientras para los cestodos fue la Hymenolepididae (8/8). Conclusiones. La especie R. rattus fue la única especie de roedor sinantrópico capturada en el Zoológico de Barranquilla, la cual al encontrarce infectada con diversas especies de parásitos gastrointestinales, debe ser considerada un factor de riesgo para la transmisión de estos parásitos hacia personas y otros animales en el zoológico.
ABSTRACT Objective. The aim of this work was to characterize and describe the frequency of the gastrointestinal parasites in synanthropic rodents captured at the Barranquilla Zoo. Materials and methods. The rodents were captured using Tomahawk traps with the help of non-toxic bait and subsequently sacrificed by isoflurane inhalation. The diagnosis and identification of parasites in the intestinal contents was performed using direct examination in NaCl (0.9%), modified Sheather's flotation, and modified Ritchie's sedimentation techniques. Results. A total of 34 rodents (Rattus rattus) were captured, with an infection frequency of 82.4% (95% CI = 68.8%-95.8%, 28/34). The most prevalent parasites were nematodes (63.2%, 95% CI = 49.2%-77.2%, 31/49), followed by protozoans (20.4%, 95% CI = 8.7%-32.1%, 10/49) and cestodes (16.3%, 95% CI = 5.6%-27%, 8/49), with significant differences between the three groups (x2 = 20.7, p<0.01). Among the nematodes, Strongylidae was the most prevalent family (24/31), followed by Ascarididae (4/31), Ancylostomatidae (1/31), Oxyuridae (1/31), and Trichostrongylidae (1/31); for the protozoans, the most prevalent families were Eimeriidae (6/10) and Entamoebidae (4/10), and for the cestodes, the only family found was the Hymenolepididae (8/8) family. Conclusions. The R. rattus species was the only species of synanthropic rodents caught in the Barranquilla Zoo; because it was infected with various species of gastrointestinal parasites, it should be considered a risk factor for the transmission of these parasites to humans and other animals in the zoo.
