Macroparasites in Rhinella amphibians from São Paulo State

• Grant number: 18/00896-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: March 01, 2018
• End date: February 28, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Preventive Veterinary Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Estevam Guilherme Lux Hoppe
• Grantee: Guilherme de Brito Viana
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias (FCAV). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Jaboticabal. Jaboticabal , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Currently, 7727 species of amphibians are known, with 825 of these species registered in Brazil. Due to this, Brazil is considered the country with the higher known amphibian species richness. Interestingly, 92% of the species in the group have their parasitefauna unknown by science. The State of São Paulo has 28% of the Brazilian amphibian species registered in its territory, with the Rhinella genus as one of the most frequent. This genus, classified within the Bufonidae family, has a wide territorial distribution, ranging from the southern United States to Uruguay. In São Paulo, 05 species are registered, depending on the Biome. Amphibians are especially susceptible to parasites, which are related to the decline of wild populations of these animals. Thus, the present study aims to identify and describe species of parasites that affect amphibians of the genus Rhinella in the state of São Paulo, as well as the pathological changes caused in their hosts. (AU)