Noninvasive fecal sampling in Itatiaia National Park, Brazil: wild mammal identification and parasite detection

Background: Noninvasive collection of feces is a cost-effective strategy for monitoring free-living wild mammals. The aim of this study was to search for carnivore and artiodactyl species and investigate the gastrointestinal parasites in their feces, in Itatiaia National Park, Brazil.

Methodology/Main Findings: Between 2017 and 2018, feces from carnivores and artiodactyls were collected along trails in the park. Host species were identified from these feces through macroscopic and trichological examination and through molecular biology using mitochondrial gene fragments. To investigate parasites, the Faust, Lutz and modified Ritchie and Sheather techniques and enzyme immunoassays were used to detect Cryptosporidium sp. antigens. A total of 244 stools were collected in three regions of the park. The species identified were C. brachyurus (39.7%), L. guttulus (21.3%), C. familiaris (5.3%), C. thous (0.8%), Puma yagouaroundi (0.8%), L. pardalis (0.4%), P. concolor (0.4%) and S. scrofa (4...