Identificação e densidade de coccídios de aves silvestres em uma área de Mata Atlântica no Município de Guapimirim, RJ

Abstract

The coccidia (Apicomplexa: Eucoccidiorida) are protozoan parasites frequently observed in fecal samples of wild birds, which have extreme importance for biodiversity, host specificity, and conservation. The current work aimed to identify and quantify the coccidian species from wild birds captured in a fragmented area of Atlantic Forest at the Municipality of Guapimirim in the State of Rio de Janeiro, which is located around the National Park of the Serra dos Órgãos. 101 birds of three orders and 14 distinct families were captured and identified. The order Passeriformes and the families Thraupidae, Tyrannidae and Turdidae were the most representatives. The highest prevalence and densities were observed from the Columbidae family (Columbiformes). In the families of Passeriformes, the higher prevalences and densities were from birds of the families Thraupidae and Turdidae. The majority of the samples positive and with higher densities were collected in the afternoon. 11 coccidian species were identified in total. Seven of these species morphologically identified are undescribed in the scientific literature and should be new species. Four specieswereidentified: Eimeriacurvata Adriano, Thyssen, Cordeiro, 2000 fromColumbina talpacoti (Temminck, 1811), Isosporacagasebi Berto, Flausino, Luz, Ferreira, Lopes, 2008 fromCoerebaflaveolaLinnaeus, 1758, Isosporacetasiensis Coelho, Berto, Neves, Oliveira, Flausino, Lopes, 2011 fromSicalisflaveola (Linnaeus, 1766) andIsosporamassardi Lopes, Berto, Luz, Galvão, Ferreira, Lopes, 2014 fromTurdus spp. The current work exposes the wide distribution and dispersion of coccidia of wild birds in southeastern Brazil, and records the municipality of Guapimirim, in the state of Rio de Janeiro, as a new locality of parasitism, besides of the new hosts recorded.