Gastrointestinal parasites of a population of emus (Dromaius novaehollandiae) in Brazil

Abstract Emus are large flightless birds in the ratite group and are native to Australia. Since the mid-1980s, there has been increased interest in the captive breeding of emus for the production of leather, meat and oil. The aim of this study was to identify gastrointestinal parasites in the feces of emus Dromaius novaehollandiae from a South American scientific breeding. Fecal samples collected from 13 birds were examined by direct smears, both with and without centrifugation, as well as by the fecal flotation technique using Sheather’s sugar solution. Trophozoites, cysts and oocysts of protozoa and nematode eggs were morphologically and morphometrically evaluated. Molecular analysis using PCR assays with specific primers for the genera Entamoeba, Giardia and Cryptosporidium were performed. Trophozoites and cysts of Entamoeba spp. and Giardia spp., oocysts of Eimeria spp. and Isospora dromaii, as well as eggs belonging to the Ascaridida order were found in the feces. Three animals were diagnosed with Giardia spp., and three were positive for Entamoeba spp. based on PCR techniques. After analyzing the data, we concluded that emus were infected enzootically by nematode and protozoan species.

摘要：鸸鹋（Emus）是平胸总目（ratite）下的大型无翼鸟类，原产于澳大利亚。自20世纪80年代中期以来，学界对圈养繁殖鸸鹋以获取其皮革、肉类与油脂的兴趣日益浓厚。本研究旨在对南美某科研繁育基地的鸸鹋（Dromaius novaehollandiae）粪便中的胃肠道寄生虫进行物种鉴定。研究人员采集了13只个体的粪便样本，分别采用直接涂片法（含离心与非离心两种操作模式）以及以谢弗氏糖溶液（Sheather’s sugar solution）为漂浮介质的粪便漂浮法开展检测。对原虫的滋养体、包囊、卵囊以及线虫虫卵进行了形态学与形态计量学分析与鉴定。使用针对内阿米巴属（Entamoeba）、贾第鞭毛虫属（Giardia）和隐孢子虫属（Cryptosporidium）的特异性引物，通过PCR检测完成分子生物学分析。粪便样本中共检出内阿米巴属（Entamoeba spp.）和贾第鞭毛虫属（Giardia spp.）的滋养体与包囊、艾美耳属（Eimeria spp.）与鸸鹋等孢球虫（Isospora dromaii）的卵囊，以及蛔目（Ascaridida）的虫卵。经PCR检测，3只鸸鹋呈贾第鞭毛虫属阳性，另有3只呈内阿米巴属阳性。综合分析全部实验数据后，本研究得出结论：鸸鹋存在线虫与原虫的地方性流行感染。