Detecção de Cryptosporidium spp., Leishmania spp. e identificação de ixodídeos e sifonápteros em Didelphis albiventris Lund 1841 (Marsupialia: Didelphidae)

Abstract

Several wild animals are described as reservoirs, hosts and carriers of infectious and parasitic agents, especially the marsupials Didelphis genus, including the Didelphis albiventris. Due to the general and anthropic habit, this animal is recognized as a reservoir of various pathogens, especially Cryptosporidium spp. and Leishmania spp., besides serving as a carrier of arthropods that can parasitize domestic animals, wildlife and humans. Given this context, the objective of this study was to detect Cryptosporidium spp., Leishmania spp. and identify Ixodids in Didelphis albiventris. The capture was performed with the use of Tomahowk live trap. Physical containment was performed with the aid of appropriate leather gloves and chemical containment was performed with the association of Ketamine Hydrochloride (30 to 50 mg / kg / IM) and Xylazine (2 mg / kg / IM). A total of 40 animals were captured, 29 females and 11 males of free life belonging to the Metropolitan Mesoregion of Recife and the Micro-region of Araripina, Pernambuco, Brazil. Stool samples of the animals were subjected to centrifugal sedimentation technique in formalin-ether with subsequent staining Kinyoun method. Blood samples were also collected to investigate the infection by Leishmania spp. by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and are listed ectoparasites. As a result, it was observed that 15% (6/40) of the fecal samples of D. albiventris were parasitized with Cryptosporidium spp., demonstrating that they can act as important reservoirs of this parasite in the urban-wildland interface. None of the samples was positive for Leishmania spp. by PCR, noting that the animals are not part of the life cycle of this agent in studied areas. Ectoparasites found were rated as Ixodes loricatus, Amblyomma rotundatum and Amblyomma spp., being reported for the first time the parasitism by Amblyomma rotundatum in D. albiventris.