GASTRINTESTINAL PARASITIC OCCURRENCE IN WILD BIRDS CAPTURED IN SEROPEDICA CITY AT RIO DE JANEIRO STATE, BRAZIL

Abstract

This study aimed to assess the role of endoparasitic infections as another factor of biological pressure on both migratory and local bird species. The occurrence of endoparasites may be considered a sign of undesirable hygienic alterations, causing the shortening of natural fields, compromising the resting area and the habitat nutritional quality. A total of 75 fecal samples were collected at the Campus of the Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro (UFRRJ), Brazil, between August 2007 and May 2008, and they were analyzed in a Lugol´s solution by Faust´s technique.  Amongst the 82.66% positive samples for enteric parasites, 44% were parasitized by the trichomonads and 5.33% by the Chilomastix enterozoary genera, 52% presented coccidian oocysts, 29.33% showed Entamoeba coli, 37.22% presented Iodamoeba butschlii vegetative forms, and 10.66% were positive for worm eggs. The high prevalence of enteroparasites observed  indicates the need of more detailed and frequent evaluations of the environmental sanitary conditions, whose impact seems to be associated to the scarce local hygienic conditions due to the growing anthropization. 

KEYWORDS: Enteroparasites, environmental impact, wild birds.