Endo e ectoparasitos de serpentes Crotalus durissus Linnaeus, 1758 (Viperidae) de algumas localidades de Minas Gerais.

Abstract

Parasitism in snakes is a major problem for breeding these animals in captivity. Therefore, a survey of species that normally infect snakes can be useful to indicate procedures aimed at reducing the mortality of animals in creation and also to reduce clinical signs of parasitism. The objective of this study was to identify the helminths and ectoparasites of Crotalus durissus (Serpentes, Viperidae) naturally parasitized, received by Foundation Ezequiel Dias, originating from some localities of Minas Gerais State. Thirty five adult individuals of C. durissus originated from 17 localities in the state of Minas Gerais were euthanized. Snakes were weighed, measured, inspected for the presence of ectoparasites and open from mouth to the cloaca. Each organ was separated on a plate with 0.85% saline for individual inspection in a stereomicroscope in a search for helminths. The feces were collected directly from the intestine of animals to conduct coproparasitologic. Nematodes and Acanthocephala larvae were fixed with 10% hot formalin. The ectoparasites were fixed in 70% alcohol. Feces were pelleted, centrifuged with ether and analyzed by light microscopy. A histopathological description of the injury caused in the stomach by the parasite Ophidascaris arndti, was performed. Of the 35 animals necropsied, 24 (68.57%) were parasitized. It was found 19 (79.16%) animals infected with nematodes Ophidascaris arndti, 6 (25%) with Hexametra boddaertii, 1 (4.16%) with Maracaya belemensis, 7 (29.16%) with Rhabdias filicaudalis, 4 (16 66%) with Kalicephalus inermis inermis, 1 (4.16%) with Kalicephalus costatus costatus, 1 (4.16%) with Kalicephalus sp., 1 (4.16%) with Hastospiculum onchocercum, 1 (4.16% ) with an unidentified nematode larvae, 1 (4.16%) with larvae of plerocercod Pseudophyllidea, 7 (29.16%) with larvae of Acanthocephala, 1 (4.16%) with nymph Porocephalus crotali and 2 (8,33%) with ticks of the species Amblyomma rotundatum. Of 35 fecal examinations, 24 (68.57%) indicated the presence of eggs and/or larvae of helminths, of which: 11 (45.83%) O. arndti, 5 (20.83%) of H. boddaertii/O. arndti, 6 (25%) of Rhabdias, 3 (12.5%) of Kalicephalus, 1 (4.16%) H. onchocercum, 2 (8.33%) Ascaroidea and 3 (12.5%) of Rhabdtoidea. The EPF also revealed 2 (8.33%) animals infected with coccidia oocysts. The pathological changes in the stomach caused by O. arndti were consistent with the diagnosis of granulomatous gastritis multifocal, with several foci of circumscribed lesion with central necrosis, surrounded by inflammatory infiltrate lymphoplasmohistiocytic associated with the presence of epithelioid cells located in submucosa, muscle and serosa layers.