Evidences of internal parasites in live animals: a population of Chaetophractus vellerosus (Xenarthra: Dasypodidae) as model of coproparasitological study

Abstract

The aim of this study was to analyze the parasitic fauna of a population of Chaetophractus vellerosusfrom Magdalena, Buenos Aires province, Argentina, by parasitological analysis. We evaluated the influence on theparasitic dynamics of different host parameters —age, sex, height and weight— as well as seasonality, vegetation andhuman impact. Oocysts of 2 species of Eimeria (Protozoa-Coccidea) and eggs of Aspidodera sp. Trichostrongylina,Ancylostoma sp. and Trichuris sp. (Nematoda) were found. Eimeria sp. and Aspidodera sp. were the most prevalentparasites, and Ancylostoma sp. was the lowest prevalent. Parasite loads of coccideans were higher in hosts young.Parasite loads of Trichuris sp. were higher in males. Only Trichostrongylina had greater loads in specimens withpoor body condition. Trichostrongylina and Eimeria sp. were most prevalent in summer, while Aspidodera sp. was inwinter. Neither vegetation nor human impact influenced in parasitic loads. This study enabled us to know the parasiticfauna of a population of C. vellerosus (Dasypodidae) in Argentina through coproparasitological analysis, and monitorit for 4 consecutive years.