Parasitological and molecular investigation of the occurrence of Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia spp. in free-living Maracanã Parakeets (Psittacara leucophthalmus) in rehabilitation

• Grant number: 22/12354-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: January 01, 2023
• End date: December 31, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Katia Denise Saraiva Bresciani
• Grantee: Grazielli Aparecida Messias de Assis
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária (FMVA). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Araçatuba. Araçatuba , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Birds can harbor a variety of intestinal parasites, including Cryptosporidium and Giardia, which have been reported in other bird species.Maracana parakeets (Psittacara leucophthalmus) can be hosts to several intestinal parasites such as Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia spp. which are transmitted to humans and other animals mainly through contaminated water and food, with diarrhea as the main clinical sign (CARVALHO, 2009).Parakeets have a close relationship with humans, and may serve as transmission vectors of these parasites to humans. Therefore, the objective of this work is to investigate, using molecular techniques, the occurrence of Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia spp. in Fecal exceptions of P. leucophthalmus. This investigation will make it possible to describe and compare the results obtained with other works available in the literature, in order to understand the interaction of the species with humans and with the environment in which it lives in the region of Araçatuba, São Paulo.