Lethal Fascioliasis in Capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) in Brazil

Author(s)

Labruna, M. B. ^[1] ; Costa, F. B. ^[1] ; Port-Carvalho, M. ^{[1, 2]} ; Oliveira, A. S. ^{[1, 3]} ; Souza, S. L. P. ^{[1, 4]} ; Castro, M. B. ^{[1, 5]}

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Med Vet & Zootecnia, Av Prof Orlando Marques de Paiva 87, BR-05508270 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[2] Inst Florestal, Rua Horto 931, BR-02377010 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[3] Municipio Sao Paulo, Div Fauna Prefeitura, Ave Republ Libano 660, BR-04502000 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[4] Univ Anhembi Morumbi, Rua Doutor Almeida Lima 1134, BR-03164000 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[5] Univ Brasilia, Lab Patol Vet, Caixa Postal 04508, BR-70910970 Brasilia, DF - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Journal of Parasitology; v. 104, n. 2, p. 173-176, APR 2018.
• Web of Science Citations: 6

Abstract

The liver fluke Fasciola hepatica (Trematoda: Fasciolidae) causes fascioliasis, which affects mostly domestic ruminants and humans worldwide. This parasite has an Old World origin and was introduced into the New World by European colonizers. Capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) is the largest living rodent species, with adults weighing over 60 kg. We report a fascioliasis outbreak caused by F. hepatica that reduced a capybara group from 21 to 2 animals within a 9-mo period. Animal infection and associated lesions were confirmed by postmortem examinations that revealed extensive liver damage associated with the presence of large number of adult and immature forms of F. hepatica. Both macroscopic and microscopic alterations in the liver were compatible with acute fascioliasis, which is characterized by a large parasite burden in the liver. Taxonomic identification of flukes collected from capybara livers were confirmed by molecular methods, which generated a mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase I (NDI) gene partial sequence that was 100% identical to a F. hepatica NDI sequence from the United Kingdom. This is the first report of deleterious effects caused by F. hepatica in capybaras, highlighting the potential harm caused by this exotic parasite in the capybara. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 13/18046-7 - Capybaras, ticks, and spotted fever
• Grantee: Marcelo Bahia Labruna
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 14/23176-0 - Population structure and dynamics of free-living capybara associated with tick infestation and Rickettsia spp. infection
• Grantee: Francisco Borges Costa
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral