Occurrence of Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts in mammals at a zoo in ...

ComunicacionesRev. Ibero-Latinoam. Parasitol. (2011); 70 (1): 122-128Occurrence of Cryptosporidium spp.oocysts in mammals at a zoo in southern BrazilLUDWIG R. 1 and MARQUES, S. M. T. 21Ciências Biológicas, Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos, São Leopoldo, Rio Grande do Sul (Brasil).2Departamento de Patologia Clínica Veterinária, Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande doSul, Rio Grande do Sul (Brasil).ABSTRACTThe aim of the present study was to investigate the presence of Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts in captivewild mammals at the zoo of the Zoobotanical Foundation of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. A totalof 41 species from 46 enclosures were studied. Ninety-two fecal samples were collected from a pool of 208mammals and analyzed using a modified Ziehl-Neelsen’s acid fast method. The analysis of double samples(92) revealed that Alouatta caraya, Aotus nigriceps, Ateles chamek, Puma concolor, Coendou prehensilis,Dama dama, Cervus unicolor, Kobus ellipsiprymnus and Myrmecophaga tridactyla shed Cryptosporidiumspp oocysts. The overall occurrence of crypstosporidial infection amounted to 19.56%. The morphometricanalysis of oocysts showed short and subspherical oocysts measuring, on average, 5.7 µm X 4.9 µm, witha shape index of 1.16. This is the first report of Cryptosporidium spp. in A. caraya, A. chamek, D. dama,C. unicolor and K. ellipsiprymnus in Brazil, and the first report of cryptosporidiosis in A. nigriceps, C.prehensilis and M. tridactyla in the world.Key words: Cryptosporidium spp., Oocysts, Mammals, Zoo, Brazil.ResumenEl objetivo de este estudio fue establecer la presencia de ooquistes de Cryptosporidium spp. en mamíferossilvestres mantenidos en cautiverio en el zoológico de la Fundación Zoobotánica del estado de Rio Grandedo Sul, Brasil. Un total de 41 especies alojadas en 46 recintos fueron estudiadas. Noventa y dos muestrasde heces fecales provenientes de 208 mamíferos fueron analizadas por el método modificado de Ziehl-Neelsen ácido alcohol resistente. El examen microscópico reveló que Alouatta caraya, Aotus nigriceps,Ateles chamek, Puma concolor, Coendou prehensilis, Dama dama, Cervus unicolor, Kobus ellipsiprymnusy Myrmecophaga tridactyla eliminaron ooquistes de Cryptosporidium spp, con una incidencia general de19,56%. El análisis morfométrico mostró ooquistes pequeños, subesféricos con un tamaño promedio 4,9Recibido: 23 de Octubre de 2010. Aprobado: 15 de Abril de 2011.Corresponding: Sandra M. T. Marques. Departamento de Patologia Clínica Veterinária. Faculdade de Veterinária.Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul - Rio Grande do Sul (Brasil). Av. BentoGonçalves,9090, CEP: 91540-000. Phone: +55 51 33086136; fax: +55 51 33087305.E-mail address: sandra.marques@ufrgs.br; smtmuni@hotmail.com124

CRYPTOSPORIDIUM SPP. OOCYSTS IN MAMMALS AT A ZOO IN BRAZILμm x 5,7 μm, e índice de forma 1,16. Este es el primer reporte de Cryptosporidium spp. en A. caraya, A.chamek, D. dama, C. unicolor y K. ellipsiprymnus en Brasil, y el primero en A. nigriceps, C. prehensilis yM. tridactyla en el mundo.Palabras clave: Cryptosporidium spp., Ooquistes, Mamiferos, Zoo, Brasil.IntroduCTIONZoonotic diseases have been observed ingeographical regions and in animal species inwhich they had not been detected before. Thereasons for such trend are complex and includeenvironmental changes, amount and distributionof some animal species; growth of the humanpopulation and of animal population in urbanareas; growing movement of people as well as thetrade of wild animals, their rearing in captivity, andreduction in surveillance and control actions forseveral zoonotic diseases (Meslin, 1997).Many zoos, conservation parks and rehabilitationcenters for wildlife have shown concern for thepresence, and level, of contamination of their animalcollections. A zoo, due to the concentration ofdifferent animal species in a restricted space, plusthe stress caused by captivity and the contact withman, predisposes to the dissemination of pathogens(Appelbee et al, 2005).Protozoa of the genus Cryptosporidium areobligatory coccidia that infect the intestinal epithelialcells or the respiratory tract of four vertebrategroups - fishes, reptiles, birds and mammals.They are ubiquitous and infect around 170 animalspecies, and so far 19 species have been identified(Fayer, 2010). The fecal-oral route is the majormode of transmission and it is associated with theintake of water and food or contact between susceptiblehosts (Xiao and Ryan, 2008).Occurrence of Cryptosporidium spp. throughparasitological tests were evaluated in several zoos,such as in Lisbon, Barcelona, Prague, Japan, Argentinaand Malaysia (Alves et al, 2005; Appelbeeet al, 2005; Matsubayashi et al, 2005; Venturiniet al, 2006; Lim et al, 2008). However, in Brazil,there is no research on this parasite in animals thatare kept in captivity by organizations that strugglefor the preservation of the wild fauna.The present study aims to investigate thepresence of Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts amongmammals at the zoo of the Zoobotanical Foundationof the State of Rio Grande do Sul, in Sapucaia doSul, southern Brazil.MATERIAL AND METHODSStudy area and animals: The zoo of theZoobotanical Foundation of the State of Rio Grandedo Sul was opened to the public in 1962 and is oneof Brazil’s most widely visited conservation units.Approximately 600,000 people visit the zoo everyyear. The visiting area extends over 160 hectares.This zoo manages and exhibits living collections ofwild animals in environments that seek to mimicthe living conditions each species would find in itsnatural habitat, in compliance with governmentallaws, for the survival, reproduction and welfareof animals, allowing for their preservation andresearch, and for the education and leisure of zoovisitors (FZB/RS, 2008).The zoo is located in the metropolitan region ofPorto Alegre (29º48’05.28”S and 51º09’58.87”O),in Sapucaia do Sul, state of Rio Grande do Sul,southern Brazil. It contains 1,013 animals (reptiles,birds and mammals), including native and endangeredspecies (FZB/RS, 2008).The study was conducted between March andMay 2008, and included 41 species distributed into46 different enclosures. A total of 92 fecal sampleswere obtained from a pool of 208 animals (Table1). The fecal samples belonged to adult and youngmammals (male and female) whose health andnutritional statuses were considered to be goodduring the experimental period. All mammalsthat were exhibited to the public were assessed,totaling seven different orders: Primata, Carnivora,Rodentia, Artiodactyla, Perissodactyla, Xenarthraand Proboscidea. Only five species were exhibitedin more than one enclosure, namely: Cebus apella,Callithrix penicillata, Panthera onca, Tremarctosornatus and Sus scrofa, in an attempt to complywith the law that regulates the population densityof individuals per enclosure area or due toRev. Ibero-Latinoam. Parasitol. (2011); 70 (1): 122-128125

CRYPTOSPORIDIUM SPP. OOCYSTS IN MAMMALS AT A ZOO IN BRAZILContinuación Table 1Family ErethizontidaeCoendou prehensilis 1 2 2Orden ArtiodactylFamily Cervidae aCervus elaphus 20 2 -Dama dama 8 2 2Cervus unicolor 5 2 2Family GiraffidaeGiraffa cameloipardalis 3 2 -Family BovidaeKobus ellipsiprymnus 1 2 2Ammotragus lervia 1 2 -Family CamelidaeLama guanicoe 5 2 -Camelus bactrianus 5 2 -Lama glama 4 2 -Family SuidaeSus scroffa 6 4 -Family TayassuidaePecari tajacu 30 2 -Family HippopotamidaeHippopotamus amphibious 5 2 -Orden PerissodactylaFamily RhinocerotidaeCeratotherium simum 2 2 -Family EquidaeEquus burchelli bohemi 2 2 -Equus asinus 20 2 -Order XenarhraFamily MyrmecophagidaeMyrmecophaga tridactyla 1 2 2Order ProboscideaElephas maximus 1 2 -Total 208 92 18REFERENCES1. ALVES M, XIAO L, LEMOS V, ZHOU L, CAMAV, CUNHA MB, MATOS O, ANTUNES F. 2005.Occurrence and molecular characterization ofCryptosporidium spp. in mammals and reptiles at theLisbon Zoo. Parasitol Res, 97: 108-112.2. APPELBEE AJ, THOMPSON RC, OLSON ME. 2005.Giardia and Cryptosporidium in mammalian wildlifecurrentstatus and future needs. Trends Parasitol, 21:370-376.3. CABRAL DD, BARBOSA FC, STRASSER C, BAR-SOTTI SRH. 2001. Exame de fezes de mamíferos silvestrespara verificação de parasitismo por Cryptospo-Rev. Ibero-Latinoam. Parasitol. (2011); 70 (1): 122-128129