José Hairton Tebaldi’s research while affiliated with São Paulo State University and other places

The big-headed Amazon River turtle, Peltocephalus dumerilianus, is endemic to the Orinoco and Amazon River basins. It is a food source for local communities, often unsustainably. Knowledge about P. dumerilianus’ parasitological fauna and host-parasite relationships is limited. Thus, ecological aspects of gastrointestinal parasitism in this species were investigated. Helminths were found in the gastrointestinal tract of 21 turtles, morphologically identified, and infection descriptors calculated. All animals harbored helminths: nematodes Ancyracanthus pinnatifidus, Paratractis hystrix, Atractis trematophila, Klossinemella conciliatus indeterminate three Klossinemella species, and digeneans Nematophila grandis, Helicotrema spirale, and Telorchis hagmanni. The highest parasite load occurred in the large intestine, followed by the small intestine and stomach. Shell length directly correlated with parasite burden of heteroxenic helminths, with males having higher burden than females. This is the first record of A. trematophila, K. conciliatus, and T. hagmanni in P. dumerilianus, and new location record for A. trematophila, P. hystrix, N. grandis, H. spirale, and T. hagmanni. Three potentially new Klossinemella species are presented.

Zoonotic parasitic diseases in dogs are particularly concerning in regions with low human development indices due to inadequate sanitary services and insufficient environmental and health education. This study aimed to assess the parasitological status of dogs living in households and evaluate their owners' knowledge about zoonoses. A total of 183 dogs from Rolim de Moura, Rondônia State, were screened for the presence of ectoparasites, and 163 fecal samples were collected for analysis. The results showed that 74.23% (112/163) of the animals had at least one species of endoparasite. The most identified pathogens were Ancylostoma spp. (68.71%, 112/163), Trichuris vulpis (11.66%, 19/163), Toxocara canis (6.75%, 11/163), Cystoisospora canis (4.91%, 8/163), Dipylidium caninum (1.23%, 2/163), and Hammondia/Neospora (0.61%, 1/163). Ectoparasites were observed in 43.17% (79/183) of the evaluated animals, with Rhipicephalus sanguineus found in 31.15% (57/183) and Ctenocephalides felis felis in 20.77% (38/183). Only 11.48% (7/61) of the owners were familiar with the term "Zoonoses." However, a significant majority (83.61%, 51/61) believed that dogs can transmit diseases to humans. Our findings highlight the prevalence of parasites in the studied area and associated risk factors, underscoring the urgent need for educational interventions to raise awareness about these diseases and their risks to human health.

Knowledge of taxonomy and biodiversity of parasites is fundamental to better understand ecosystem dynamics. The objective of this study was to describe the helminth fauna of two species of marsupials in five fragments of the Atlantic rainforest in the western region of Paraná State, Brazil. In a total of 4050 trap-nights, the animals were captured using Sherman, Tomahawk, and Pitfall traps, euthanized, necropsied, and their organs inspected for helminths. After identification of the parasites, descriptors of infection, such as prevalence, mean abundance, mean intensity, and range of intensity, were calculated. Collectively, six helminth species were observed in 18 animals. The following five species were observed in Marmosa paraguayana: Viannaia hamata (58.8%), Gracilioxyuris agilisis (52.9%), Travassostrongylus sextus (17.6%), Oncicola luehei (5.9%), and Pritchardia boliviensis (5.9%). Whereas the following two species were observed in Monodelphis dimidiata: Trichohelix tuberculata (100%) and Travassostrongylus sextus (100%). This study represents a new locality record for all helminths described herein, and a new host for four helminth species. This is the first report on the helminth fauna of Monodelphis dimidiata, expanding knowledge about marsupials in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest.

Parasites are important components of ecosystems and may contribute to the ecological aspects of their hosts and indicate the integrity of their environment. To identify the gastrointestinal helminths of the South American fur seal, Arctocephalus australis, 52 animals found dead on the Rio Grande do Sul coast, Southern Brazil, were necropsied. All studied animals were parasitized, and 104,670 specimens of helminths from three phyla and 14 taxa were collected. Adult specimens represented five of the identified species: Contracaecum ogmorhini, Adenocephalus pacificus, Stephanoprora uruguayense, Ascocotyle (Phagicola) longa, and Corynosoma australe; and one of the identified genera: Strongyloides sp. Immature forms represented the other eight taxa: Anisakidae gen. sp., Anisakis sp., Pseudoterranova sp., Contracaecum sp., Tetrabothriidae gen. sp., Cestoda gen. sp., Corynosoma cetaceum, and Bolbosoma turbinella. The acanthocephalan C. australe was the most prevalent and abundant parasite, whereas Strongyloides sp. had the highest intensity. This is the first record of the nematode Anisakis sp., digenean S. uruguayense, and acanthocephalan B. turbinella in this host. Trophic generalist species such as A. australis can be good indicators of the composition of the helminth fauna of their ecosystems, indicating the presence of zoonotic parasites transmitted by the consumption of fish.

Wild boars (Sus scrofa) are a significant invasive species in Brazil. We evaluated the helminth diversity of 96 wild boars in São Paulo state. Helminth infection descriptors were calculated, the species were identified and their 18S, 28S rDNA and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions were amplified for phylogenetic analyses. Ascarops strongylina, Strongyloides ransomi, Globocephalus urosubulatus, Oesophagostomum dentatum, Trichuris suis, Metastrongylus salmi, Metastrongylus pudendotecus, Ascaris suum and Stephanurus dentatus and Macracanthorhynchus hirudinaceus were identified. Globocephalus urosubulatus had the highest prevalence and mean abundance, and most animals had mixed infections with three parasite species. There was no association between parasite intensity and prevalence and host sex and body condition index (p > 0.05). Novel DNA sequences were obtained from G. urosubulatus, A. strongylina, and S. dentatus. This is the first study on the helmint diversity of non-captive wild boars in Brazil, and the first report of the occurrence of M. hirudinaceus, G. urosubulatus and S. dentatus in Brazilian wild boars. Non-captive wild boars of São Paulo State did not act as capture hosts for native helminth species but maintained their typical parasites, common to domestic pigs. They may act as parasite dispersers for low-tech subsistence pig farming and for native Tayassuidae.

Rodents are small mammals that can be parasitized by various helminths. This study aimed to identify and describe the ecological indicators of infection in rodents captured in fragments of the Atlantic Forest in the western region of Paraná State, Brazil. Sixty-eight specimens of five rodent species were collected, necropsied, and inspected in search of helminths. The parasites were stored in 70% ethanol, morphologically identified, and counted for calculation of infection indicators. Fourteen species of helminths and one species of Crustacea were recorded: ten in Akodon montensis, four in Mus musculus, two in Thaptomys nigrita, two in Oligoryzomys nigripes, and one in Euryoryzomys russatus. The registered species of parasites were: Rodentolepis akodontis, Angiostrongylus sp., Protospirura numidica criceticola, Trichuris navonae, Syphacia alata, Syphacia criceti, Syphacia evaginata, Trichofreitasia lenti, Stilestrongylus aculeata, Stilestrongylus eta, Stilestrongylus gracielae, Stilestrongylus franciscanus, Stilestrongylus moreli, Stilestrongylus sp., and Pentastomida gen. sp. A positive correlation between the intensity of infection of T. navonae and T. lenti was observed with the body condition index of the host A. montensis. For all species, this study represents a new register of locality, and for eight of them a new host.

We aim to describe the parasitic population in vicuñas from three Andean communities and its relationship with fiber quality using 115 fecal and 22 fiber samples, classified according to sex, age, body condition score, and management system. Coproparasitologic diagnostic revealed that 84.4% of animals presented at least one type of parasite egg/oocyst. Most frequent parasite egg/oocyst were Strongyle-type eggs (54.8%) and Eimeria punoensis (38.3%). Wild vicuñas had a higher prevalence of Strongyle-type eggs (91.4%) than semi-captive (38.8%) animals, and age was significative to Eimeria infection; crias had the highest frequency (100%) when compared to yearlings (84.2%) and adults (49.4%). Larvae identification revealed a strong influence of domestic animals on vicuña parasite community, presenting the first report of Bunostomum phlebotomum and Gaigeria pachyscelis in vicuñas from southeastern Peru. Females had a significantly finer diameter of fiber (13.05 ± 0.73 μm) than males (14.22 ± 1.22 μm), and infection with Eimeria spp. affected negatively fiber diameter and resistance. Our results provide data for disease surveillance and encourage further parasitological studies in vicuñas. Graphical abstract

As the second-largest Neotropical carnivore, cougars (Puma concolor) are especially important for maintenance of the biodiversity and ecosystem health. Five wild adult cougars (Puma concolor), found roadkilled in highways in the Northeastern region of São Paulo, were evaluated in search for parasites. Ten species representing nine families were identified. The most prevalent helminths were Uncinaria bidens, Lagochilascaris major, Spirometra sp., and Oncicola canis, followed by Cylicospirura subaequalis, Toxascaris leonina, Taenia omissa, Echinococcus sp., Filaroides sp. and Oncicola oncicola. It is important to note that some helminths found in this study, such as L. major, Spirometra sp., O. oncicola, O. canis, Echinococcus sp., T. leonina, C. subaequalis, and Filaroides sp. are known to affect domestic carnivores, which may indicate interaction between wild and domestic hosts. This study represents a new host record for four of the species found in cougars, U. bidens, L. major, O. canis, and Filaroides sp., and new locality records for U. bidens, T. leonina, C. subaequalis, and Filaroides sp.

La nutria (Myocastor coypus Molina, 1782) puede afectar significativamente los ecosistemas, resultando en consecuencias socioeconómicas y de salud adversas para los seres humanos y los animales. El presente trabajo identificó la helmintofauna de M. coypus oriundos de una región de Mata de Araucária en el Estado de Paraná, Brasil. Se utilizaron tres animales de vida libre, adultos, machos, encontrados muertos en el área rural del municipio de Dos Vizinhos-PR. Los segmentos anatómicos del tracto digestivo, respiratorio, cardíaco y renal fueron tamizados y el contenido fijado en solución de Railliet y Henry. Después de la identificación y recuento de los helmintos, se elaboró un análisis descriptivo de los indicadores de infección. Se recogieron 341 helmintos, pertenecientes al Orden y Familia: Trichostrongylidea: Heligmonelidae, Cestoda: Hymenolepididae y Digenea: Notocotylidae. La prevalencia, intensidad y abundancia parasitaria media de las dos primeras especies de helmintos fueron las mayores observadas en los animales evaluados. La región de estudio representa un nuevo registro de localidad para las tres especies diagnosticadas. Myocastor coypus es un nuevo huésped registrado para Rondentolepis octocoronata Linstow, 1879, en Brasil. Estos datos contribuyen al conocimiento de la helmintofauna de M. coypus de vida libre en la región de la Mata de Araucária Brasileña.

The nutria (Myocastor coypus Molina, 1782) can significantly affect ecosystems, resulting in adverse socioeconomic and health consequences for humans and animals. The present study identified the helminth fauna of M. coypus from a region of Mata de Araucaria in the State of Paraná, Brazil. Three free-living adult males that were found dead in the rural zone of this municipality were used. Anatomical segments from the digestive tract, respiratory tract, heart and kidneys were sieved and the material was fixed in Railliet and Henry solution. The helminths were identified and counted and the infection indicators were analyzed descriptively. A total of 341 helminths was collected belonging to the Orders and Families Trichostrongylidea: Heligmonelidae; Cestoda: Hymenolepididae; and Digenea: Notocotylidae. The prevalence, parasite intensity and abundance of the two first helminth species were observed in the animals evaluated. The region of study represents a new locality record for the three species diagnosed. Myocastor coypus is a new registered host for Rondentolepis octocoronata Linstow, 1879 in Brazil. These data contribute to the knowledge of the helminth fauna of free-living M. coypus in the Brazilian Araucaria Forest region.