Multiparasitism in Crab-eating fox (Cerdocyon thous) (Carnivora: Canidae), including new records, in the Brazilian Pampa - case report

ABSTRACT Cerdocyon thous is considered the most common wild canid in Rio Grande do Sul, and can serve as a host for several parasites, playing an important role in maintaining the biological cycle. Despite being a widespread and abundant species, they have a relatively little-known fauna of endo and ectoparasites, mainly focusing on the different regions of their occurrence. With this work, the objective was to report the multiparasitism in a specimen of C. thous in the Brazilian Pampa. Using modified Centrifuge-Flotation and Spontaneous Sedimentation techniques, a high taxonomic diversity of parasites was observed, and the finding of eggs compatible with Lagochilascaris spp. in C. thous in Brazil, in addition to Uncinaria spp. eggs and Cystoisospora spp. oocysts in the same host in the south of the country. The presence of eggs of different helminths in the feces of C. thous is extremely important, mainly for public health, but also for the knowledge of the biodiversity of parasites present in wild populations of canids, until then little studied, thus allowing the implementation of control programs.

摘要：食蟹狐（Cerdocyon thous）被认为是巴西南大河州（Rio Grande do Sul）最常见的野生犬科动物，可作为多种寄生虫的宿主，在维持寄生虫生物循环中发挥关键作用。尽管该物种分布广泛且种群数量充裕，但学界对其体内寄生虫（endoparasite）与体外寄生虫（ectoparasite）区系的认知仍相对匮乏，相关研究多聚焦于其分布的不同区域。本研究旨在报道巴西潘帕斯草原（Brazilian Pampa）内1例食蟹狐的多重寄生虫感染情况。研究采用改良离心漂浮法（modified Centrifuge-Flotation）与自然沉淀法（Spontaneous Sedimentation）开展检测，结果观察到寄生虫类群具有较高的分类学多样性；本次在巴西食蟹狐体内检出与兔唇蛔属（Lagochilascaris spp.）形态匹配的虫卵，同时在巴西南部的该宿主样本中检出钩口属（Uncinaria spp.）虫卵与等孢球虫属（Cystoisospora spp.）卵囊。在食蟹狐粪便中检出多种蠕虫虫卵，这一发现不仅对公共卫生领域具有重要意义，同时也有助于学界深化对此前研究不足的野生犬科动物种群寄生虫生物多样性的认知，进而为相关防控计划的实施提供科学依据。