Pathological and parasitological characterization of Prosthenorchis elegans in a free-ranging marmoset Callithrix geofroyi from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest / Caracterização patológica e parasitológica de Prosthenorchis elegans em Callithrix geoffroyi primate de vida livre da Mata Atlântica

Prosthenorchis elegans is an acanthocephalan intestinal parasite reported in neotropical primates. Despite parasitism by P. elegans having already been described in wild marmosets in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, there are no reports of this infection in wild Geoffroy's marmoset (Callithrix geofroyi). The aim of this study is to report one case of P. elegans parasitism in a free-ranging C. geoffroyi from Brazilian Atlantic Forest in Espírito Santo state, and characterize the pathological and parasitological findings of this infection. One Geoffroy's marmoset necropsied at the Vila Velha University's Veterinary Pathology Laboratory presented intense chronic transmural ulcerative enteritis associated with twenty cylindrical helminths present in the jejunum and ileum. We can conclude that parasitism by P. elegans occurs in free-ranging groups of Geoffroy's marmosets. Its infection produced severe intestinal lesions even in free-ranging marmoset and therefore is a threat to this animal's survival in wildlife and can have some impact on primate conservation in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest.(AU)

Prosthenorchis elegans é um acantocéfalo intestinal descrito em primatas neotropicais. Apesar do parasitismo por P. elegans já ter sido descrito de saguis da Mata Atlântica brasileira, não há relatos da infecção em saguis-da-cara-branca (Callithrix geofroyi) de vida livre. O objetivo deste estudo é relatar um caso de parasitismo por P. elegans em um C. geoffroyi de vida livre proveniente da Mata Atlântica brasileira no Estado do Espírito Santo e caracterizar os achados patológicos e parasitológicos dessa infecção. Um sagui-da-cara-branca foi necropsiado no Laboratório de Patologia Veterinária da Universidade de Vila Velha, onde foi observada intensa enterite ulcerativa transmural crônica associada a vinte helmintos cilíndricos presentes no jejuno e íleo. Conclui-se que o parasitismo por P. elegans ocorre em grupos livres de saguis-da-cara-branca e a sua infecção leva a lesões intestinais graves; portanto, este parasita pode prejudicar a sobrevivência deste animal na vida selvagem e pode ter algum impacto na conservação de primatas na Mata Atlântica brasileira.(AU)

Mitochondrial DNA diversity in the acanthocephalan Prosthenorchis elegans in Colombia based on cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) gene sequence.

Prosthenorchis elegans is a member of the Phylum Acanthocephala and is an important parasite affecting New World Primates in the wild in South America and in captivity around the world. It is of significant management concern due to its pathogenicity and mode of transmission through intermediate hosts. Current diagnosis of P. elegans is based on the detection of eggs by coprological examination. However, this technique lacks both specificity and sensitivity, since eggs of most members of the genus are morphologically indistinguishable and shed intermittently, making differential diagnosis difficult, and coprological examinations are often negative in animals severely infected at death. We examined sequence variation in 633 bp of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) sequence in 37 isolates of P. elegans from New World monkeys (Saguinus leucopus and Cebus albifrons) in Colombia held in rescue centers and from the wild. Intraspecific divergence ranged from 0.0 to 1.6% and was comparable with corresponding values within other species of acanthocephalans. Furthermore, comparisons of patterns of sequence divergence within the Acanthocephala suggest that Prosthenorchis represents a separate genus within the Oligacanthorhynchida. Six distinct haplotypes were identified within P. elegans which grouped into one of two well-supported mtDNA haplogroups. No association between haplogroup/haplotype, holding facility and species was found. This information will help pave the way to the development of molecular-based diagnostic tools for the detection of P. elegans as well as furthering research into the life cycle, intermediate hosts and epidemiological aspects of the species.