Enteroparásitos Con Potencial Zoonótico en Animales en Cautiverio Del Zoológico De Cali, Colombia

Abstract

Los zoológicos son lugares con una alta diversidad de animales, algunos de los cuales pueden poseer una particular carga parasitaria adquirida tanto en su zona de origen como durante su cautiverio. La probabilidad de contraer infecciones zoonóticas aumenta por el constante contacto de los cuidadores con los animales en sus labores diarias. Se realizó un estudio ecológico descriptivo con el objetivo de establecer la presencia de enteroparásitos con potencial zoonótico en los animales en cautiverio del Zoológico de Cali. Durante el mes de febrero del 2013 se recolectaron grupos seriados de heces de psitácidos (3 especies), cébidos (2 especies), atélidos (2 especies), cáviidos (1 especie) y lemúridos (1 especie), los cuales se analizaron por las técnicas de directo y concentración. Se realizó un muestreo por conveniencia tomando a 53 individuos (entre mamíferos y aves), obteniéndose una prevalencia parasitológica de 89%, distribuida así: 57,2% para helmintos (31,8% Trichurida, 6,35% Ascaridida, 6,35% Uncinarias y 12,7% Strongyloides sp.) y 31,8% para protozoos (19,05% Entamoeba spp. y 12,70% Giardia spp.). La presencia de parásitos con potencial zoonótico en las muestras positivas, tales como Giardia spp., Entamoeba spp. y Strongyloides spp., demanda estudios en una mayor población de animales y especies, utilizando métodos moleculares.

Wild Animals in Captivity: An Analysis of Parasite Biodiversity and Transmission among Animals at Two Zoological Institutions with Different Typologies

“…There are few studies on birds of prey (Accipitriformes, Falconiformes, and Strigiformes) in which capillariids and coccidia are the parasites most frequently found [ 39 , 40 ]. In our study, we did not find parasites in Psittaciformes or Passeriformes, groups that other authors found nematodes (mainly ascarids and trichurids) and coccidia with prevalences of up to 40% in some cases [ 9 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 32 , 36 , 39 , 41 , 42 ].…”

“…With a few exceptions noted below, all the intestinal parasites identified in this study have been previously described in captive animals housed in zoological gardens [ 9 , 26 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 ]. We should note that this study had some limitations: no specific stainings were performed to detect the presence of Cryptosporidium oocysts or microsporidia spores, and the presence of Blastocystis was not routinely investigated.…”

“…Non-human primates (NHP) are one of the mammal groups commonly studied in zoo animal research [ 35 ]. The parasites typically reported in these animals include Entamoeba , Giardia , and Trichuris [ 3 , 7 , 31 ]; other protists ( Giardia , coccidians, Cryptosporidium , ciliates) and helminths (such as strongylates, ascarids, oxyurids, and spirurids) were also occasionally documented [ 7 , 23 , 30 , 34 , 44 , 61 , 63 , 64 , 65 ]. Similar to hoofed animals, helminths were typically reported in NHPs with a higher prevalence than protists [ 7 , 31 , 32 , 34 ]; however, in some studies, protists (mainly Entamoeba , Giardia , and ciliates) were more common [ 22 ].…”