Silva M A M L, Ronconi A, Cordeiro N, Bossi D E P, Bergallo H G, Costa M C C, Balieiro J C C, Varzim F L S B
Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Centro Universitário da Fundação de Ensino Octávio Bastos, São João da Boa Vista, SP 13874-159, Brazil.
Braz J Biol. 2007 Aug;67(3):531-5. doi: 10.1590/s1519-69842007000300019.
A study of blood parasites in small wild non-flying mammals was undertaken in three areas of the Atlantic Forest in Southeastern Brazil: Serra de Itatiaia, RJ, Serra da Bocaina, SP and Serra da Fartura, SP, from June 1999 to May 2001. A total of 450 animals (15 species) were captured in traps and it was observed in 15.5% of the blood smears the presence of Haemobartonella sp. and Babesia sp. in red blood cells. There was no statistically significant difference between parasited and non-parasited specimens regarding total plasma protein, packed cell volume and body weight, which strongly suggests that these specimens might be parasite reservoirs.
