Eimerid coccidia from capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) in southern Bahia, Brazil

Coccídios eimerídios em capivaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) no sul da Bahia

Eimerid coccidia from capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) in southern Bahia, Brazil

Coccídios eimerídios em capivaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) no sul da Bahia

George R. Albuquerque^I,*; Bruno P. Berto^II; Lilian S. Catenacci^III; Selene S. da C. Nogueira^I; Sérgio Luiz G. Nogueira-Filho^I; Carlos Wilson G. Lopes^IV

^IDepartamento de Ciências Agrárias e Ambientais, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz (UESC), Campus Soane Nazaré de Andrade, Rodovia Ilhéus-Itabuna Km 16, Ilhéus, BA 45662-000, Brazil

^IICurso de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Veterinárias, Universidade do Sul. Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro (UFRRJ), Seropédica, RJ 23890-000, Brazil

^IIIInstituto de Estudos Sócioambientais do Sul da Bahia (IESB), Rua Major Homem Del Rey 147, Ilhéus, BA 45650-180, Brazil

^IVDepartamento de Parasitologia Animal, Instituto de Veterinária, UFRRJ, Seropédica, RJ. Bolsista do CNPq

ABSTRACT

Two eimerid coccidia are reported in a capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) population kept in captivity in the south of Bahia, northeastern Brazil (14º 47' 57.89"S and 39º 10' 10.58" W). Oocysts of Eimeria ichiloensis are subspheroidal to ellipsoidal, 26.2 x 21.7mm with bi-layered wall, the outer yellow and sculptured and the inner, dark and smooth. Residuum is absent, but usually 2-3 polar granules are present. Sporocysts are ovoid, 12.0 x 7.6mm. Stieda body and sporocyst residuum are present. Oocysts of Eimeria trinidadensis are subspheroidal to ellipsoidal, 22.2 x 19.6mm with bi-layered wall, the outer yellow and smooth, and the inner dark and smooth. Residuum is absent, but one polar granule is present. Sporocysts are ovoid, 11.0 x 6.9mm. Stieda body and sporocyst residuum are present. Based on these descriptions and previous ones it can be concluded that these coccidea species are widely dispersed in capybaras in South America.

Index terms:Eimeria ichiloensis, Eimeria trinidadensis, Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris, capybara, South America.

RESUMO

Duas espécies de Eimeria foram relatadas em capivaras Hydrochaeris hydrochaeris cativas no sul da Bahia, nordeste do Brasil (14º 47' 57.89"S and 39º 10' 10.58" W). Os oocistos de Eimeria ichiloensis são sub-esferoidais a elipsoidais, 26,2 x 21,7mm. Apresentam parede dupla, sendo a externa amarela e esculpida e a interna, escura e lisa. Resíduo está ausente, mas usualmente 2-3 grânulos polares estão presentes. Os esporocistos são ovóides, 12,0 x 7,6mm. Corpo de Stieda e resíduo do esporocisto estão presentes. Oocistos de Eimeria trinidadensis são sub-esferoidais a elipsoidais, 22,2 x 19,6mm. Apresentam parede dupla, sendo a externa amarela e lisa e a interna, escura e lisa. Resíduo está ausente, mas um grânulo polar está presente. Os esporocistos são ovóides, 11,0 x 6,9mm. Corpo de Stieda e resíduo do esporocisto estão presentes. Baseado nestas descrições e em descrições prévias foi possível concluir que estas espécies estão amplamente dispersas em capivaras na América do Sul.

Termos de indexação:Eimeria ichiloensis, Eimeria trinidadensis, Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris, capivara, América do Sul.

INTRODUCTION

The capybara, Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris (Linnaeus, 1766) is the largest rodent in the world: its total body length ranges from 1.0 to 1.3m, average shoulder height around 0.5m and adult weight reaching 60kg or more. It is a grazing herbivore that inhabits a great variety of semiaquatic habitats (Ojasti 1973).

Among these animal health issues, coccidiosis is known to cause intestinal lesions and economic losses in farm animals (Fitzgerald 1980). Most infections of the genus Eimeria Schneider, 1875, are asymptomatic or subclinical. Eventually infection with pathogenic species would induce clinical coccidiosis and diarrhea with blood and fibrin (Busato et al. 1998). Parasitized animals may have fever, abdominal pain, sometimes tenesmus and anemia, dehydration, weakness, anorexia, weight loss and eventually even die (Stockdale et al 1981).

Coccidiosis in capybaras can be associated with the genus Cryptosporidium Tyzzer, 1907, and Eimeria. Meireles et al. (2007) described natural infections with zoonotic subtypes of C. parvum Tyzzer, 1912, and Carini (1937) previously described E. capibarae Carini, 1937, and E. hidrochoeri Carini, 1937 in capybaras from the state of São Paulo, southeastern Brazil. Eimeria trinidadensis Casas, Duszynski and Zalles, 1995, E. ichiloensis Casas, Duszynski and Zalles, 1995, and E. boliviensis Casas, Duszynski and Zalles, 1995, were described in capybaras from eastern Bolivia and southern Venezuela. Recently, E. araside Gurgel, Sartori and Araújo, 2007 was described from the state of Rio Grande do Sul, southern Brazil.

In this context, the purpose of the present study was to investigate the presence of coccidian parasites infecting capybaras, H. hydrochaeris from southern Bahia.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Samples of feces were collected from 13 capybaras, four with diarrhea, from a community of 26 animals maintained in an experimental farm at Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Ilhéus, Bahia, Brazil (14º 47' 57.89"S and 39º 10' 10.58" W). In this farm the animals are raised under semi-confinement conditions: two paddocks of 5000m² each, surrounded by a mesh wire fence. In September 2007, one male and three females were captured with signs of diarrhea, using a 20 m² curral-trap. They were individually immobilized in a restriction-cage, feces were then collected immediately after defecation. Fecal samples were placed into plastic vials containing 2.5% potassium dichromate solution (K₂Cr₂O₇) 1:6v/v. Collected material was analyzed at the Laboratório de Coccídios e Coccidioses, Projeto Sanidade Animal Embrapa/UFRRJ, Departamento de Parasitologia Animal, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro. To allow sporulation, samples were placed on Petri dishes forming a thin layer of liquid (~5mm) at laboratory environmental temperature (23-28ºC) for 10 days, according to the methodology described by Duszynski & Wilber (1997). Oocysts were recovered by flotation in Sheatter's sugar solution (sp.g. 1.20) and were examined under a light microscope comparing the description of Duszinsky & Wilber (1997).

For morphological observations a binocular microscope (Carl Zeiss, Germany), with apochromatic oil immersion objective and ocular micrometer K-15x PZO (Poland), was used. As for the drawings, a binocular microscope (Carl Zeiss, Germany), with apochromatic oil immersion objective and ocular micrometer Line, was used. Photographs were taken with a digital camera (CD Mavica MVC-CD250 Sony^®). Size ranges are presented between parenthesis followed by means and shape index (length/width).

RESULTS

From the 13 capybaras, 9 shed oocysts of two distinct species. The oocysts were initially unsporulated and 70% of them were sporulated at 7 days. From these oocysts, two eimerian species were identified, which were previously described by Casas et al. (1995) in capybaras from eastern Bolivia and southern Venezuela in 1993-1994: Eimeria ichiloensis and E. trinidadensis.

Eimeria ichiloensis Casas, Duszynski and Zalles, 1995

Description. Oocysts (Fig.1a, ^2a,^b) subspheroidal to ellipsoidal, 26.2mm (22.3-33.5) x 21.7mm (19.9-26.6). Shape-index of 1.2mm (1.1-1.4). Bi-layered wall ~1.6mm, being the outer yellow and sculptured and the inner, darkness and smooth. Micropyle and residuum are absent, but usually 2-3 polar granules are present. Sporocysts ovoid, 12.0mm (10.7-14.7) x 7.6mm (6.4-8.8). Shape-index of 1.6mm (1.3-1.7). Stieda body nipplelike, ~1.3-1.6mm high x 2.2-2.8mm wide. Substieda and parastieda body absent. Sporocyst residuum centered and composed of granular material. Sporozoites with a subspheroidal, robust, posterior refractile body at the posterior end.

 

Type Host: Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris Linnaeus, 1766 (Rodentia: Hydrochaeridae).

Type Locality: Bahia, Brazil.

Site of infection: Unknown, oocysts recovered from feces.

Prevalence: Nine examined capybaras shed oocysts in feces.

Type material: Oocysts in 10% aqueous (v/v) buffered formalin deposited at the Parasitology Collection, in the Department of Animal Parasitology, UFRRJ, Seropédica, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Repository number is 1/2008, including phototypes and line drawings.

Eimeria trinidadensis Casas, Duszynski and Zalles, 1995

Description: Oocysts (Fig.1b, ^2c,^d) subspheroidal to ellipsoidal, 22.2mm (19.3-24.7) x 19.6mm (17.3-21.0). Shape-index of 1.1mm (1.0-1.3). Bi-layered wall ~1.2mm, being the outer yellow and smooth and the inner, darkness and smooth. Micropyle and residuum are absent, but 1 polar granule, 2.2x2.9mm, highly refractile is present. Sporocysts ovoid, 11.0mm (9.8-12.8) x 6.9mm (5.9-7.7). Shape-index of 1.6 (1.5-2.0). Stieda body nipplelike, ~0.8-1.2mm high x 2.0-2.4mm wide. Substieda and parastieda body absent. Sporocyst residuum composed of few granules dispersed. Sporozoites with a sub-spherical, robust, posterior refractile body at the posterior end.

Type Host: Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris Linnaeus, 1766 (Rodentia: Hydrochaeridae).

Type Locality: Bahia, Brazil.

Site of infection: Unknown, oocysts recovered from feces.

Prevalence: Nine examined capybaras shed oocysts in the feces.

Type material: Oocysts in 10% aqueous (v/v) buffered formalin deposited at the Parasitology Collection, in the Department of Animal Parasitology, UFRRJ, Seropédica, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Repository number is 02/2008, including phototypes and line drawings.

DISCUSSION

Considering all morphological characteristics and comparative analyses of the eimerian oocysts (Table1) the species described in the present study are being considered Eimeria trinidadensis and E. ichiloensis, previously described by Casas et al. (1995) in capybaras from eastern Bolivia and southern Venezuela. Oocysts of these species were also recovered in capybaras from Rio Grande do Sul, southern Brazil (Gurgel et al. 2007). Thus, it is possible to conclude that these two species are widely dispersed in South America (Fig.3). The large range of capybara, Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris, from northern Argentina until the Panama channel in the Central America (Eisenberg & Redford 1999) and its dispersion pattern (Ojasti 1973), probably explain these eimerid coccidia dispersion. On the other hand, E. capibarae and E. hidrochoeri recovered in capybaras from the State of São Paulo, southeastern Brazil (Carini 1937), are not cited in any other work.

In Brazil commercial hunting is illegal. However, wildlife farming is allowed and encouraged by the Brazilian Government Environmental Agency (IBAMA) and, as a consequence; number of capybara farms in different Brazilian regions are increasing (Nogueira-Filho & Nogueira 2004). These farms occasionally trade live animals with each other. The arrival of a new animal in a given population can cause disease outbreaks. Thus, coccidiosis may be an important disease for commercial breeding of capybaras.

Received on April 29, 2008.

Accepted for publication on June 3, 2008.

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Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  11 Sept 2008
• Date of issue
  July 2008

History

• Accepted
  03 June 2008
• Received
  29 Apr 2008