First report of a Mephitidae (Mammalia: Carnivora) naturally infected by parasites of the genus Physaloptera (Rudolphi, 1918) (Spirurida: Physalopteridae)

• Autor(a) principal: Guimarães, Gregório Correa
• Data de Publicação: 2015
• Outros Autores: Barçante, Thales Augusto, Bezerra-Junior, Pedro Soares, Oliveira, Amanda do Nascimento, Rosa, Matheus Camargo de Britto, Lopes, Gabriela Castro, Barçante, Joziana Muniz de Paiva
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: por
• Título da fonte: Biotemas (Online)
• Texto Completo: https://periodicos.ufsc.br/index.php/biotemas/article/view/2175-7925.2015v28n2p149

Wild animals may be regarded as reservoirs of several parasite species. The occurrence of certain parasitic agents may provide significant information on host’s ecology and behavior and its trophic relations. Thus, this study aimed to determine the parasitic fauna of wild animals from southern Minas Gerais within the period from January to December 2011. A cross-sectional study was conducted with a convenience sample consisting of the dead bodies of two run over animals, which were rescued from highways and transported to the Laboratory of Animal Anatomy of the Federal University of Lavras (UFLA). The specimens were inspected to verify the presence of ectoparasites and, then, dissected to resume gastrointestinal content and detect helminths. No ectoparasites were identified in the two animals, both belonging to the species Conepatus semistriatus (striped hog-nosed skunk), but the presence of helminths belonging to the genus Physaloptera was identified in the stomach of one specimen.