Ocurrence of Cryptosporidium spp. in Amazonian manatees (Trichechus inunguis, Natterer, 1883)

• Main Authors: João Carlos Gomes Borges, Leucio Câmara Alves, Danielle dos Santos Lima, Fábia de Oliveira Luna, Carla Verônica Carrasco Aguilar, Jociery Einhardt Vergara-Parente, Maria Aparecida da Glória Faustino, Ana Maria Alves Lima, Miriam Marmontel
• Format: Publication
• Language: English
• Published: Centro de Ciências Biológicas da Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina 2007
• Subjects: Amazonia; coccidium; Sirenians; water

The apicomplexa protozoa Cryptosporidium infects several mammals, including terrestrial and aquatic species. In the epidemiology of this infection, the ingestion of water and/or food contamined with oocysts comprises the main mechanism of transmission to susceptible animals. Among the Sirenians, the occurrence of this coccidium has been reported in dugongs (Dugong dugon) and Antillean manatee (Trichechus manatus manatus). The present study was conducted with the aim of verifying the occurrence of Cryptosporidium spp. in Amazonian manatee. For this purpose, fecal samples were collected from ten free-ranging Amazonian manatees, two specimens in captivity, and 103 supernatants fecal samples. The samples were processed by the sedimentation method in formol-ether and Kinyoun stain technique for the presence of Cryptosporidium spp.. The positive samples were then submitted to Direct Immunoflorescence Test. The results showed 4.34% (05/115) of positive samples. This is the first report of Cryptosporidium spp. in the Amazonian manatee.