title: Sicarius uncinipenis and Deletrocephalus cesarpintoi in captive greater rheas of Minas Gerais State, Brazil.
abstract: The present study details the pathological and parasitological findings of parasitic ventriculitis and nematode infections in the large intestines of two female Rhea americana americana birds. The birds were housed in captivity, and both exhibited poor body condition and lethargy. The rheas were sent to the Veterinary Hospital of the Veterinary School, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG) and, despite medical care, the clinical condition of the birds did not improve. The birds died two days after admission, and were submitted to necropsy. Gross, histopathology and parasitological analysis resulted in the identification of Sicarius uncinipenis, which is associated with parasitic ventriculitis, while Deletrocephalus cesarpintoi was identified in the large intestine of both rheas. The apparent clinical indications, including loss of appetite and death, combined with the discovery of numerous parasites and other pathology changes, supported the conclusion that the death of the birds was caused by the parasitic infection. Further investigations of these infections in free-living and captive rheas are required, such that accurate data on the incidence and pathogenicity of these parasites can be obtained.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Patologia, Departamento de Clínica e Cirurgia Veterinárias, Escola de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais ? UFMG, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil.
authors.forename: Isabela de Oliveira
authors.initials: Ide O
authors.lastname: Avelar
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais ? UFMG, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil.
authors.forename: Lara Ribeiro de
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Almeida
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais ? UFMG, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil.
authors.forename: Hudson Andrade Dos
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais ? UFMG, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil.
authors.forename: Walter Dos Santos
authors.initials: Wdos S
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Zootecnia, Escola de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais ? UFMG, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil.
authors.forename: Leonardo Bôscoli
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Lara
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Patologia, Departamento de Clínica e Cirurgia Veterinárias, Escola de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais ? UFMG, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil.
authors.forename: Roselene
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ecco
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001715:Bird Diseases / Q000469:parasitology*; D001938:Brazil; D005260:Female; D007411:Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D009349:Nematode Infections / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D017196:Rhabditida Infections / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary; D020311:Rheiformes / Q000469:parasitology*; D013272:Stomach Diseases / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*