Prevalence of Anti-Toxoplasma Gondii Antibodies in Ratites from Brazil.

The prevalence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies was investigated among 104 ratites: 68 rheas (Rhea americana), 16 emus (Dromaius novaehollandiae), and 20 ostriches (Struthio camelus) in 4 Brazilian states. The prevalence in rheas was 26.5% (18 of 68), and titers were 1:100 (n = 8), 1:200 (n = 1), 1:400 (n = 4), 1:800 (n = 4), and 1:1,600 (n = 1). In emus, the prevalence was 50% (8 of 16), and titers were 1:50 (n = 1) and 1:100 (n = 7). The ostriches were slaughtered for human consumption, and 80% (16 of 20) were seropositive with titers of 1:200 (n = 1), 1:400 (n = 9), and 1:800 (n = 6). Sera were tested with a modified agglutination test, and the results confirmed the distribution of the parasite in ratite species from Brazil. The data obtained in this study show that T. gondii is prevalent among ratites from Brazil, and therefore ratite meat should also be considered a potential source of human infection. This is the first report of T. gondii seroprevalence in emus.

Redescription of Procyrnea uncinipenis (Molin, 1860) (Nematoda: Habronematidae) based on material from Rhea americana (L.) (Aves: Rheidae).

A detailed description of Procyrnea uncinipenis (Molin, 1860) (Habronematidae) is provided based on light- and scanning electron microscopy of newly collected material ex Rhea americana (L.) from a private conservation breeding park located in Cachoeiro de Itapemirim (State of Espírito Santo, Brazil). Of the four host specimens analysed, two were infected with P. uncinipenis; a total of 441 nematodes were collected in the proventriculus and gizzard. The specimens represented large nematodes, sexually dimorphic, with females larger than males, reddish in vivo, with two well developed lateral pseudolabia and two interlabia, one dorsal and one ventral, long oesophagus, divided into a muscular and glandular portion, didelphic ovaries, opisthodelphic uteri, two phasmids and a rounded chitinous structure near the caudal end. Males possess posterior extremity curved in spiral ventrally, with bilateral caudal alae and unequal in size and shape spicules. This study adds new morphological data, thus contributing to the knowledge on P. uncinipenis, a common parasite of R. americana.

A new coccidian, Isospora rheae sp. nov. (Apicomplexa, Eimeriidae), from Rhea americana (Aves, Rheidae) from South America.

A NEW SPECIES OF COCCIDIAN (PROTOZOA: Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) obtained from rheas, Rhea americana, is reported in Brazil. Oocysts of Isospora rheae sp. nov. are spherical to subspheroidal, measuring 22.6 × 21.0 µm, and have a double and smooth wall that is approximately 1.7 µm thick. The micropyle, oocyst residuum and polar granule are absent. Sporocysts are slightly ovoid, measuring 13.9 × 9.6 µm. The Stieda body is flattened, the substieda body is pointed, irregular and wavy and the sporocyst residuum is composed of scattered granules of varying sizes. Sporozoites have an oblong refractile body and one nucleus. This is the first description of an isosporid coccidian infecting birds of the family Rheidae.

[The endoparasitic helminths of Pimelodus maculatus Lacépède, 1803 Siluriformes, Pimelodidae) from the two localities (Lagoon and gutter of the River) of the Guandu River, State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil]. / Helmintos endoparasitos de Pimelodus maculatus Lacépède, 1803, (Actinopterygii, Pimelodidae) de duas localidades (Lagoa e calha do Rio) do Rio Guandu, Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil.

Between November 2003 and March 2004, fourty specimens of Pimelodus maculatus Lacépède, 1803 from Guandu River and thirty-nine from Guandu Lagoon (Nova Iguaçu, RJ) were collected, for the analysis of endoparasitic fauna. A total of 236 specimens of Cucullanus pinnai Travassos, Artigas & Pereira, 1928 (Nematoda, Cucullanidae) were collected, being 163 adult specimens in the gut, three in the stomach and 70 larvae in the celomatic cavity and seven specimens of adults Nomimoscolex sp. (Eucestoda, Proteocephalidea) in the gut were found. Cucullanus pinnai presented prevalence (P) 77.50%, mean intensity (MI) 3.40 and mean abundance (MA) 2.60 on River and P: 66.67%, MI: 5.04, MA: 3.36 on Lagoon. Nomimoscolex sp. presented on River P: 2.50%, MI: 2.00, MA: 0.05, and P: 10.26%, MI: 1.25, MA: 0.13 on Lagoon. There was not significant positive interspecific association on the lagoon. In this research, the endoparasitic richness of P. maculatus was scarcest than similar studies in Guandu River and others rivers of different basins. The results about C. pinnai could be suggesting that the cycle of C. pinnai evolve only a host, occurring a histotrophic fase, in this case, in P. maculatus. Periodic analysis of the endoparasites indices in P. maculatus through the years may be used to describe the hydric quality of the Guandu River.

[Risk factors of Cryptosporidium sp. infection in household dogs of Campos dos Goytacazes City on Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil]. / Fatores de risco associados à infecção por Cryptosporidium spp. em cães domiciliados na cidade de campos dos goytacazes, Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil

Cryptosporidium sp. is an opportunistic protozoan parasite that may infect animals and humans, causing asymptomatic to severe intestinal infections, according to the immunological response of the hosts. The present work had the objective to determine the risk factors involved on Cryptosporidium sp. infection in dogs from Campos dos Goytacazes City on Rio de Janeiro State; and the frequency of this protozoan. Independent of sex, age, consistency and health of dogs, 200 feces samples were analyzed. Data were obtained using a questionnaire with the dogs owners. Feces were analyzed with an optical microscope after the concentration by modified Ritchie technique and coloring with the modified Ziehl-Neelsen technique. Association tests through c2 and multiple logistic regression analysis were made. Among the 200 dogs analyzed, 90 (45%) showed oocysts of Cryptosporidium genus in the feces. The conclusion was that the occurrence of asymptomatic cryptosporidiosis in dogs from the City of Campos dos Goytacazes is high. The risk factors involved are the social level of the owner, presence of cats and sporadic stage of vomiting and diarrhea. The final model detected the risk factors by social level, other animals, regions of the city, kind of residence, sporadic stage of vomiting and diarrhea.

[Achatina fulica Bowdich (1822) a new host of Cryptosporidium (Apicomplexa, Cryptosporidiidae) species]. / Achatina fulica Bowdich (1822) um novo hospedeiro de espécies de Cryptosporidium (Apicomplexa, Cryptosporidiidae).

With the objective of isolate Cryptosporidium spp. in Achatina fulica s feces, 50 mollusks were collected in nine neighborhoods of the municipal of Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ to the observation of oocysts in feces. The snails were put in individuals containers and fed with water and green vegetables ad libitum until be collected a gram of feces per animal. The samples were conditioned in tubes with formalin 10% and later smear of feces were made and dyed by Ziechl-Neelsen modified technique. Of the 50 samples examined, 26 (52%) were positive for the presence of oocysts of Cryptosporidium spp. The morphology and morphometry of the oocysts showed that are a great morphologic variability. Considering the obtained results, the mollusk Achatina fulica is a host of Cryptosporidium species and can participate in the epidemic chain of the cryptosporidiosis.

[Occurrence of Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts (Apicomplexa, Cryptosporidiidae) in ostriches, Struthio camelus L., 1758 (Aves, Struthionidae) reared in North and Lowered Coastline regions of the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil]. / Ocorrência de oocistos de Cryptosporidium spp. (Apicomplexa, Cryptosporidiidae) em avestruzes, Struthio camelus L., 1758 (Aves, Struthionidae) criadas nas Regiões Norte e Baixada Litorânea do estado do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil.

The aim of this research was to determine the prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. in ostriches reared in the state of Rio de Janeiro. The diagnosis of oocysts of Cryptosporidium spp. in the feces of 77 ostriches was done by modified Ziehl-Neelsen technique. The occurrence was observed in 44.4% of the examined animals. However, in a property 100% of the ostriches shed oocysts in their feces. Oocysts was subspherical in shape with 6.33 +/- 1.27 (4.31-9.63) by 5.90 +/- 1.18 (4.07-9.42) mm and shape index of 1.07 +/- 0.05 (1.00-1.29). Was verified a high occurrence of oocysts elimination. In spite was observed a uniform distribution of the oocysts measurements in the regression line (R2 = 0.9438) accentuated difference was evidenced in the morphometry of the oocysts, that suggests that more of a species of Cryptosporidium are parasitizing these birds.