Carolina S. Mascarenhas

The helminth fauna of the red-crested cardinal (Paroaria coronata) Passeriformes: Emberizidae in Brazil.

With the objective of identifying the helminths of Paroaria coronata, 40 birds were necropsied, and their organs and contents were examined. The parasites were preserved in 70ºGL alcohol and prepared for identification using standard techniques. The helminth fauna found in P. coronata were Aproctella carinii, Dispharynx nasuta, Capillaria sp., Diplotriaena sp., Tanaisia oviaspera, Tanaisia valida, Tanaisia sp., Prosthogonimus ovatus, Orthoskrjabinia sp., and Mediorhynchus sp., with Nematoda being most represented, occurring in 22.5% of the birds. Besides being the first record of these helminths in P. coronata, this work also extends the area of occurrence of Orthoskrjabinia sp. for Brazil and of A. carinii, Diplotriaena sp., T. oviaspera, T. valida, and Mediorhynchus sp. for the State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.

Nematode parasites of Chelidae (Testudines) from Southern Brazil

The presence of helminths associated with freshwater turtles is rarely reported. There are no records of nematodes parasitizing Acanthochelys spixii, and for Hydromedusa tectifera, there is only the report of unidentified nematodes found in this species in Argentina. This is the first report of nematodes (Spiroxys contortus and Camallanus sp.) in A. spixii and the first record of Spiroxys contortus and Camallanus sp. in H. tectifera. This is the southernmost record of S. contortus because this nematode was previously recorded only in Mexico.

Helminths Parasitizing Columbina picui (Columbiformes: Columbidae) in Brazil

Abstract Columbina picui (picui ground-dove) is a small, diurnal columbid bird that lives, in couples or flocks, in open areas in the countryside and urban centers. The species occurs in Brazil and other countries in South America. The aim of this study was to identify the helminths that parasitize C. picui in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, southern Brazil. Thirty-four specimens were necropsied; in each case, the organs were isolated and examined separately. The nematodes and their prevalences were: Ascaridia columbae (26.5%) and Ornithostrongylus iheringi (11.8%) in the small intestine; Dispharynx nasuta in the proventriculus (5.9%) and gizzard (2.9%); and a Dispharynx sp. (2.9%) in the proventriculus. This is the first report of D. nasuta parasitizing C. picui in Brazil and the first record of A. columbae and O. iheringi infecting C. picui in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.

Nasal mites (Gamasida: Rhinonyssidae) of Paroaria coronata (Miller) (Passeriformes: Emberezidae)

With the aim of identifying the species of nasal mites of Paroaria coronata (red-crested cardinal), the nasal cavity of 40 birds were examined. The nasal mites were identified as Ptilonyssus sairae de Castro and Sternostoma pirangae Pence, with 50% and 7.5% of prevalence, respectively. This is the first record of these mite species parasitizing P. coronata. This report also amplifies the area of occurrence of S. pirangae for Brazil and that of P. sairae for Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.

Novos Hospedeiros para o Ácaro Nasal Rhinonyssus rhinolethrum (Trouessart) (Gamasida: Rhinonyssidae) no Brasil

The black-necked swan, Cygnus melanocoryphus, and the ringed teal, Callonetta leucophrys, are reported as new hosts for the nasal mite Rhinonyssus rhinolethrum (Trouessart) in Brazil.

Phthiraptera and Gamasida Parasites of Columbina picui (Temminck) (Columbiformes: Columbidae) in the State of Rio Grande do Sul, Southern Brazil

Thirty-two specimens of Columbina picui (picui ground-dove) were examined, and a collection of arthropods was made by washing the external surface of the body and the nasal cavity. The species in the order Phthiraptera found and their respective prevalences, mean abundance and mean intensity were: Columbicola passerinae (84.4%; 10.3; 12.2), Hohorstiella passerinae (21.9%; 0.7; 3.1) and Physconelloides eurysema (3.1%; 0.1; 2). The gamasid mites found in the birds and their respective prevalences, mean abundance and mean intensity were: Pellonyssus marui (31.3%; 1.2; 3.9), Ornithonyssus bursa (15.6%; 0.2. ;1.2) and Mesonyssus sp. (6.3%; 0.1; 1). Columbicola passerinae, H. passerinae, P. eurysema, O. bursa, P. marui and Mesonyssus sp. were recorded for the first time infecting C. picui in Brazil. Except for O. bursa, the other species are reported for the first time in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.

Spiroxys contortus (Gnathostomatidae) and Falcaustra affinis (Kathlaniidae) from Trachemys dorbigni (Emydidae) in Southern Brazil

ABSTRACT: Trachemys dorbigni, the Brazilian slider turtle, occurs in the southernmost portion of South America in Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina. Despite being an abundant species in southern Brazil, its helminth fauna is little known. In this context, 60 turtles from southern Brazil were examined for helminths. The nematodes Spiroxys contortus (Gnathostomatidae) and Falcaustra affinis (Kathlaniidae) were found, both representing new host records. This is the southernmost locality reported for Falcaustra affinis, as the previous known extent of its southern distribution was in Mexico.

Rhinonyssus sphenisci (Acari: Rhinonyssidae) in Magellanic Penguin ( Spheniscus magellanicus )

Nasal mites occur in different groups of birds, but little is known about their diversity associated with seabirds. The aim of this study was to verify the presence of nasal mites in the Magellanic Penguin (Spheniscus magellanicus), and to study their parasitological indices. For that purpose, the nasal cavity of 99 Magellanic Penguin found in the southern coast of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, was dissected and examined. Rhinonyssus sphenisci (Rhinonyssidae) occurred in 17 hosts (17.2%) with mean intensity of 11.52 mites/host. There were no significant differences in prevalence and mean intensity of infection between male and female hosts. Rhinonyssus sphenisci had already been reported in S. magellanicus; however, there had been no information on parasitological indices. Therefore, this study reported infection levels of R. sphenisci in S. magellanicus.

Rhinonyssidae in Chrysomus ruficapillus (Vieillot, 1819) (Passeriformes: Icteridae) from Southern Brazil

ABSTRACT: We examined 122 specimens of Chrysomus ruficapillus (Vieillot, 1819) from southern Brazil for nasal mites. The mites, Sternostoma strandtmanni Furman, 1957; Ptilonyssus sairae (Castro, 1948); Ptilonyssus icteridius (Strandtmann and Furman, 1956); and Ptilonyssus sp. were identified. Ptilonyssus sairae was the most prevalent (14.8%), and S. strandtmanni had the highest mean infection intensity (5.53). Co-infections occurred in 15 hosts, and P. sairae and P. icteridius were simultaneously present in 11 birds. This is the first record of S. strandtmanni and P. sairae in C. ruficapillus and the southernmost record of P. icteridius in the Americas.

Occurrence of Chandleronema longigutturata (Nematoda: Acuariidae) in Procyon cancrivorus in the Neotropical region

Procyon cancrivorus is a wild animal that is found from Central America to Uruguay and northeastern Argentina. It is one of the least studied carnivore species in Brazil. For the purpose of identifying helminths that parasitize P. cancrivorus, individuals of this species that had been run over and killed by motor vehicles were collected from highways in the southern part of the state of Rio Grande do Sul. At necropsy, their organs, along with organ contents and mucous membranes, were examined for parasite collection. The nematodes found in the stomachs of these Procyonidae were cleared with lactophenol and Chandleronema longigutturata was identified. This report provides the first record of occurrences of C. longigutturata in the Neotropical region and its parasitism in P. cancrivorus.