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Haemogregarina spp. in a wild population from Podocnemis unifilis Troschel, 1848 in the Brazilian Amazonia

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Abstract

The study objectives were to characterize the morphology of the parasitic forms and describe the prevalence and intensity of Haemogregarina spp. in a population of the turtle Podocnemis unifilis as well as to examine the relationships between parasitism and turtle variables such as gender, size, and weight. Samples were taken in the Tapajós and Jamanxim rivers, Itaituba, Pará state, Brazil. Blood was collected from the tail vein of 72 P. unifilis specimens, including 35 males, 36 females, and one unsexed juvenile. The prevalence of Haemogregarina spp. was 98 % (n = 71). The mean parasite intensity of Haemogregarina spp. was 118 (1–582) parasites/2000 blood cells (6 %). There was no significant difference in the mean parasite intensity between male (137.68 ± 121.8, n = 35) and female turtles (101.42 ± 123.59, n = 35). There was no relationship between parasite intensity and carapace length. Although the relationship between parasite intensity and host body weight was significant, the relationship was weak. This is the first study on Haemogregarina parasitism with a relatively high number of turtles in Brazil.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Programa de Pós Graduação em Biologia Animal, Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde–Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul Avenida Costa e Silva s/n, Campo Grande, 79070-900, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil

    Priscilla Soares

  2. Programa de Pós Graduação Biologia de Água Doce e Pesca Interior, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia, Manaus, AM. Avenida André de Araújo, 2.936, 69067-375, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil

    Elizângela Silva de Brito

  3. Laboratório de Parasitologia Veterinária, Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde–Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul. Avenida Costa e Silva s/n, 79070–900, Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil

    Fernando Paiva & Lúcio André Viana

  4. Ecosfera Consultoria e Pesquisa em Meio Ambiente LTDA, Rua Gioconda Mussolini, São Paulo 291, 05591-120, São Paulo, Brazil

    Dante Pavan

Authors
  1. Priscilla Soares
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  2. Elizângela Silva de Brito
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  3. Fernando Paiva
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  4. Dante Pavan
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  5. Lúcio André Viana
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Correspondence to Lúcio André Viana.

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Soares, P., de Brito, E.S., Paiva, F. et al. Haemogregarina spp. in a wild population from Podocnemis unifilis Troschel, 1848 in the Brazilian Amazonia. Parasitol Res 113, 4499–4503 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-014-4139-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-014-4139-7

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