Moisés Gallas

Mesocestoides sp. (Eucestoda, Mesocestoididae) parasitizing four species of wild felines in southern Brazil.

Leopardus colocolo, Leopardus geoffroyi, Leopardus tigrinus and Puma yagouaroundi are wild feline species endangered mainly due to habitat destruction and vehicle run overs. Seventeen felines hit on the roads were collected in Southern Brazil and examined for parasites. Cestodes were identified as Mesocestoides sp. The parasites were found in the small intestine of the hosts with a prevalence of 66.7% (L. colocolo and L. tigrinus), 60% (P. yagouaroundi) and 50% (L. geoffroyi). Rodents and lizards were found in the stomach contents and they possibly were intermediate hosts of Mesocestoides sp. This is the first report of Mesocestoides sp. in wild felines in Brazil.

Diplotriaena delirae Pinto & Noronha, 1970 (Nematoda, Diplotriaenidae) in Pitangus sulphuratus (Linnaeus, 1766) (Passeriformes, Tyrannidae) from southern Brazil

Diplotriaena delirae Pinto & Noronha, 1970 is known to parasitize Pitangus sulphuratus (Linnaeus, 1766) in Peru and in the Midwestern and Southeastern regions of Brazil. Here, specimens of P. sulphuratus were collected in the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, and necropsied. Nematodes (n = 6) found in these specimens were identified as D. delirae based on their morphological traits. This is the first report of D. delirae from southern Brazil, expanding the knowledge of the helminth fauna of P. sulphuratus in the Neotropical region.

New locality records for Guerrerostrongylus zetta (Travassos, 1937) Sutton & Durette-Desset, 1991 (Nematoda: Heligmonellidae) parasitizing Oligoryzomys nigripes (Olfers, 1818) (Rodentia: Sigmodontinae) from southern Brazil

Guerrerostrongylus zetta had been found in a number of different species of rodents from northern and southeastern Brazil as well as Argentina. Between 2008 and 2010, specimens of Oligoryzomys nigripes ( n = 14) were collected and necropsied. The nematodes encountered were identified as G . zetta due their morphological traits. Prevalence was 78%, with a mean intensity of infection of 5.63 helminths/host. This report fills in a lacuna in the known distribution of G. zetta , and provides the first record of this parasite in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.

Cotylogaster basiri Siddiqi & Cable, 1960 (Aspidobothrea: Aspidogastridae) in Pogonias cromis (Linnaeus, 1766) (Perciformes: Sciaenidae): first report from Brazil

Up until now, there have been few studies of the helminth fauna of Brazilian populations of Pogonias cromis. In North America, P. cromis is known to be a definitive host of Cotylogaster basiri, although there have been no reports of any species of Cotylogaster infecting fish in Brazil. During necropsies of marine fish obtained from professional fisherman in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, specimens of C. basiri were found in the intestine and rectum of P. cromis. In comparison with previous studies, differences were found in relation to the number of lobes in the buccal disc and the development of the biocellate larvae in the eggs of C. basiri. This is the first report of C. basiri in P. cromis from Brazil, contributing to the understanding of the helminth fauna of this fish from the coastal zone of Brazil.

Pathologies of Oligacanthorhynchus pardalis (Acanthocephala, Oligacanthorhynchidae) in Leopardus tigrinus (Carnivora, Felidae) in Southern Brazil

In Brazil, Oligacanthorhynchus pardalis (Westrumb, 1821) Schmidt, 1972 has been observed in five species of wild felines. In the present study, five roadkilled oncillas (Leopardus tigrinus Schreber, 1775) were collected in the State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Chronic lesions caused by O. pardalis were observed in the small intestine of one of the specimens. Histological examination identified a well-defined leukocyte infiltration and an area of collagenous fibrosis. Only males parasites (n = 5) were found, with a prevalence of 20%. The life cycle of Oligacanthorhynchus species is poorly known, although arthropods may be their intermediate hosts. The low prevalence encountered may be related to the small number of hosts examined, and the reduced ingestion of arthropods infected by larvae of O. pardalis. This is the first report of O. pardalis parasitizing L. tigrinus in the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul.