Identificação e densidade de coccídios parasitas (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) de aves silvestres no Distrito de Cacaria, Município de Piraí-RJ

Abstract

Brazil is one of the 5 most megadiverse countries in the world, presenting 14% of all the biodiversity known worldwide. Brazil also has a greater tropical vegetation covering the world, presenting a high number of endemic species, becoming one of the most important countries in the world for investments in bird conservation. The district of Cacaria, in the municipality of Piraí, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, has an extensive vegetation cover area, but is affected by local cattle breeding, as well as other anthropogenic actions. Birds can have a high diversity of parasites, such as ectoparasites, helminths and coccidia. Coccidian parasites are the main cause of enteritis, behavioral and reproductive changes in most species of birds. . Coccidia studies are relevant both to animal health and to knowledge of the biodiversity of these parasites. In this context, the objective of this study was to examine the feces of wild birds captured in fragments of Atlantic Forest in the district of Cacaria, in southeastern Brazil, to identify and quantify the coccidian parasites that were present, besides relating them to some ecological characteristics of birds. 14 expeditions were carried out on three fragments of Atlantic Forest in Cacaria, resulting in the capture of 143 birds, with 20 of them positive for coccidia. Among the positive samples, coccidia of Isospora and Eimeira classification were found in 12 species of birds. These coccidia were identified according to the literature, species of coccidia not described in the literature until the present moment were considered morphotypes. There was no relation between the bird species and the positive samples, with their respective oopds (Oocyst by defecation). Regarding the ecological characteristics, only living habits in forest environments were significant, showing that the birds of forest environments are less susceptible to infection. Regarding eating habits, there were no significant results