Prevalence, abundance and intensity of eggs and oocysts of gastrointestinal parasites in the opossum Didelphis virginiana Kerr, 1792 in Yucatan, Mexico

Abstract

SummaryVirginia opossum, Didelphis virginiana, is a synanthropic mammal associated with peridomestic areas of Yucatán, However, little is known about the gastrointestinal parasite infections of this species. The infection prevalence, mean abundance and mean intensity of eggs and oocysts of gastrointestinal parasites, in opossums captured in the peridomestic areas were estimated in six rural localities of Yucatán, Mexico. Eighty-four faecal samples were processed by flotation technique. McMaster test was used to estimate the number of helminth eggs and protozoa oocysts per gram of feces. Seven genera of gastrointestinal parasites were identified, and then infection prevalence was estimated as follows: Protozoa Eimeria sp. (51.9 %) and Sarcocystis sp. (1 %); nematodes Ancylostoma sp. (80.56 %), Cruzia sp. (62.04 %), Trichuris sp. (60.19 %), Capillaria sp. (29.63 %), Turgida sp. (23.15 %), Toxocara sp. (11.11 %), and Ascaris sp. (1.85 %); and one acanthocephalan: Oligacanthorhynchus sp. (14.81 %). This is the first study on the diversity of gastrointestinal parasites in Virginia opossums, and first evidence about the potential role of opossums in the transmission of zoonotic gastrointestinal parasites in peridomestic areas of Yucatán, Mexico.

Giardia and Cryptosporidium in Neo-Tropical Rodents and Marsupials: Is There Any Zoonotic Potential?

“…The opossum is a generalist species that can be found in a variety of different habitats in the neo-tropics [ 48 ]. The opossum is often described as a synanthrope, as it is frequently sighted near human dwellings in the region [ 1 , 49 ]. The omnivorous diet of this species is described as wide, diverse, and opportunistic, ranging from fruits to small animals to fecal matter [ 50 , 51 ].…”

“…Many studies have identified this species as a host or reservoir vector species for a plethora of endoparasites and infectious agents that can cause disease [ 1 , 49 , 52 , 53 ], including the two protozoan species Cryptosporidium and Giardia , which have both been reported in Didelphis opossums D. albiventris [ 7 ], D. virginiana [ 54 ], and D. aurita [ 1 ]. The opossums’ ability to act as a host for these two infectious parasites, combined with its varied diet and synanthropic behavior, make it a likely candidate for the spread of zoonotic parasites.…”

“…amongst the samples collected in California. Contrastingly, studies conducted on the same species, D. virginiana , located closer to the neo-tropical realm in Mexico, were unable to identify Cryptosporidium or Giardia spp., although several other parasitic species were identified [ 49 ]. Differences in results may have been due to differing detection sensitivity methods, as well as the location the samples were obtained.…”

“…Differences in results may have been due to differing detection sensitivity methods, as well as the location the samples were obtained. Thus, Knox [ 23 ] studies collected samples from locations where water bodies or water were readily available, while Aragón Pech et al’s [ 49 ] research examined species that were in areas that may have a been a bit drier, with fewer bodies of surface water available.…”

“…Zanette et al [ 7 ] studies also observed the presence of oocysts and cysts from both Giardia and Cryptosporidium , along with Eimeria spp. Moreover, Aragón Pech et al [ 49 ] identified polyparasitism in D. virginiana opossums in Mexico, but the species did not belong to either Giardia or Cryptosporidium genus. The effects of multiple parasitism favoring infection from protozoan species like Cryptosporidium warrants further study.…”