First report of parasitism by Hexametra boddaertii (Nematoda: Ascaridae) in Oxyrhopus guibei (Serpentes: Colubridae).
The current study summarizes the postmortem examination of a specimen of Oxyrhopus guibei (Serpentes, Colubridae) collected in Iguazu National Park (Argentina), and found deceased a week following arrival to the serpentarium of the National Institute of Tropical Medicine (Argentina). Although the snake appeared to be in good health, a necropsy performed following its death identified the presence of a large number of roundworms in the coelomic cavity, with indications of peritonitis and serosal adherence. Additional observations from the necropsy revealed small calcifications in the mesothelium of the coelomic cavity; solid and expressive content in the gallbladder; massive gastrointestinal obstruction due to nematodes; and lung edema and congestion. Histopathological analyses of lung sections also showed proliferative heterophilic and histiocytic pneumonia. Parasites isolated from both the intestine and coelomic cavity were identified as Hexametra boddaertii by a combination of light and scanning electron microscopic examination. Results from this necropsy identify O. guibei as a new host for H. boddaertii, and is the first report of a natural infection by Hexametra in Argentina. Since Hexametra parasites may contribute to several pathological conditions in humans, and with the recent availability of O. guibei specimens through the illegal pet trade, it is necessary to consider the possibility of zoonotic helminth transmission of Hexametra from snake to human.
Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Ministerio de Ciencia Tecnología e Innovación Productiva; Instituto Nacional de Medicina Tropical (INMeT), Ministerio de Salud de la Nación, Neuquén y Jujuy s/n, 3370 Puerto Iguazú, Argentina. Electronic address: mepeichoto@yahoo.com.ar.
María E
ME
Peichoto
Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Ministerio de Ciencia Tecnología e Innovación Productiva; Instituto Nacional de Medicina Tropical (INMeT), Ministerio de Salud de la Nación, Neuquén y Jujuy s/n, 3370 Puerto Iguazú, Argentina.
Matías N
MN
Sánchez
Instituto Nacional de Medicina Tropical (INMeT), Ministerio de Salud de la Nación, Neuquén y Jujuy s/n, 3370 Puerto Iguazú, Argentina.
Ariel
A
López
Instituto Nacional de Medicina Tropical (INMeT), Ministerio de Salud de la Nación, Neuquén y Jujuy s/n, 3370 Puerto Iguazú, Argentina.
Martín
M
Salas
Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Ministerio de Ciencia Tecnología e Innovación Productiva; Instituto Nacional de Medicina Tropical (INMeT), Ministerio de Salud de la Nación, Neuquén y Jujuy s/n, 3370 Puerto Iguazú, Argentina.
María R
MR
Rivero
Universidad Nacional del Nordeste (UNNE), Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias (FCV), Sargento Cabral 2139, 3400, Corrientes, Argentina.
Pamela
P
Teibler
Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Campus de Botucatu, Instituto de Biociências, Departamento de Parasitologia, Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil.
Gislayne de Melo
GM
Toledo
Universidade Federal da Integração Latino-Americana (UNILA), Av. Silvio Américo Sasdelli, 1842 - Vila A, Foz do Iguaçu, PR, CEP 85866-000, Brazil.
Flávio L
FL
Tavares
D000818:Animals; D000836:Animals, Zoo / Q000469:parasitology*; D001118:Argentina; D017812:Colubridae / Q000469:parasitology*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D058507:Host Specificity; D009348:Nematoda / Q000145:classification / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009349:Nematode Infections / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*
Colubrid snake; Helminthiasis; Hexametra boddaertii; Oxyrhopus guibei; Reptilia