Detection of parasitic forms in feces of Chelonoidis carbonarius (Linnaeus, 1766) from Brazilian Cerrado

Abstract

Chelonoidis carbonarius is host to a great diversity of endoparasites. This research aimed to identify and taxonomically classify the parasitic forms of endoparasites found in the feces of C. carbonarius using coproparasitological methods. In total, 38 fecal samples were collected from animals captured in the municipalities of Cuiabá (n = 23) and Jataí (n = 15) in the Brazilian Ceraado. Fecal samples were submitted to at least one of the following techniques: Willis-Mollay flotation technique, zinc sulfate centrifugal flotation technique, and spontaneous sedimentation of Hoffman, and Pons, and Janer. Overall, 86.85% (33/38) of animals were positive in at least one of the diagnostic techniques. Of the 38 samples used, 50% of the animals were captive and 50% of the animals were free-living. Cysts, oocysts, and parasitic eggs were identified, as follows: Chapiniella spp. (65.78%; n = 24), Sauricola spp. (31.57%; n = 12), Ascaroidea (15.78%; n = 6), Oxyuridae (2.63%; n = 1), Trematoda (2.63%; n = 1), Acanthocephala (2.63%; n = 1), Balantidium spp. (39.47%; n = 15), Eimeria spp. (21.05%; n = 8), and Nyctotherus spp. (2.63%; n = 1). The study showed that both captive and free-living C. carbonarius are often parasitized by different endoparasite species, with nematode eggs being the most common.