Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Laboratory of Parasitology, Federal Fluminense University, Biomedical Institute, Professor Hernani Mello Street, São Domingos, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, 24210-130, Brazil.
Statistics Laboratory, Mathematics and Statistics Institute, Fluminense Federal University, Rua Professor Marcos Waldemar de Freitas Reis s/n, bloco G, Gragoatá campus, Niterói, RJ, 24210-201, Brazil.
BMC Vet Res. 2020 Aug 17;16(1):295. doi: 10.1186/s12917-020-02490-5.
Non-invasive sampling through faecal collection is one of the most cost-effective alternatives for monitoring of free-living wild mammals, as it provides information on animal taxonomy as well as the dynamics of the gastrointestinal parasites that potentially infect these animals. In this context, this study aimed to perform an epidemiological survey of gastrointestinal parasites using non-invasive faecal samples from carnivores and artiodactyls identified by stool macroscopy, guard hair morphology and DNA sequencing in Itatiaia National Park. Between 2017 and 2018, faeces from carnivores and artiodactyls were collected along trails in the park. The host species were identified through macroscopic and trichological examinations and molecular biology. To investigate the parasites, the Faust, Lutz and modified Ritchie and Sheather techniques and enzyme immunoassays to detect Cryptosporidium sp. antigens were used.
A total of 244 stool samples were collected. The species identified were Chrysocyon brachyurus, Leopardus guttulus, Canis familiaris, Cerdocyon thous, Puma yagouaroundi, Leopardus pardalis, Puma concolor and Sus scrofa. There were 81.1% samples that were positive for parasites distributed mainly in the high part of the park. Helminths, especially eggs of the family Ascarididae, were more frequently detected in carnivore faeces (70.9%). Protozoa, especially Cryptosporidium sp., represented the highest frequency of infection in artiodactyl faeces (87.1%). This zoonotic protozoon was detected in eight mammalian species, including in a wild boar. High values of structural richness and Shannon and Simpson diversity indices were observed for the parasites, especially in the faeces of C. brachyurus. Significant differences in parasite diversity were observed between wild and domestic animals, such as C. brachyurus and C. familiaris, respectively, and between taxonomically distant species, such as C. brachyurus and S. scrofa. The highest values for parasite similarity were found among the species that frequented similar areas of the park, such as C. brachyurus and L. guttulus.
The animals and parasite infections were identified through the combination of three techniques. High frequency parasite structures were diagnosed. Zoonotic protozoa were found and mainly occurred in samples from introduced species.
通过粪便采集进行非侵入性采样是监测自由生活的野生动物的最具成本效益的替代方法之一，因为它提供了有关动物分类学以及可能感染这些动物的胃肠道寄生虫动态的信息。在这种情况下，本研究旨在通过粪便宏观检查、护毛形态和 DNA 测序从伊塔蒂亚伊国家公园确定的食肉动物和偶蹄目动物的非侵入性粪便样本进行胃肠道寄生虫的流行病学调查。2017 年至 2018 年期间，在公园小径沿线收集了食肉动物和偶蹄目动物的粪便。通过宏观和毛发学检查以及分子生物学来鉴定宿主物种。为了调查寄生虫，使用 Faust、Lutz 和改良的 Ritchie 和 Sheather 技术以及酶免疫测定法检测 Cryptosporidium sp. 抗原。
共收集了 244 份粪便样本。鉴定出的物种有 Chrysocyon brachyurus、Leopardus guttulus、Canis familiaris、Cerdocyon thous、Puma yagouaroundi、Leopardus pardalis、Puma concolor 和 Sus scrofa。寄生虫阳性率为 81.1%，主要分布在公园的高海拔地区。在食肉动物粪便中更频繁地检测到蠕虫，尤其是 Ascarididae 科的卵（70.9%）。在偶蹄目动物粪便中，原生动物，尤其是 Cryptosporidium sp.，感染率最高（87.1%）。这种人畜共患的原生动物在八种哺乳动物中被检测到，包括野猪。寄生虫的结构丰富度、Shannon 和 Simpson 多样性指数均较高，尤其是在 C. brachyurus 的粪便中。野生动物和家畜之间（如 C. brachyurus 和 C. familiaris）以及分类学上相距较远的物种之间（如 C. brachyurus 和 S. scrofa）的寄生虫多样性存在显著差异。在经常光顾公园相似区域的物种之间，发现了寄生虫相似性的最高值，例如 C. brachyurus 和 L. guttulus。
通过三种技术的结合鉴定了动物和寄生虫感染。诊断出高频率的寄生虫结构。发现了人畜共患的原生动物，主要发生在引入物种的样本中。
