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1 October 2000 A SURVEY OF HEMOPARASITE INFECTIONS IN FREE-RANGING MAMMALS AND REPTILES IN FRENCH GUIANA
Benoît de Thoisy, Jean-Claude Michel, Ingrun Vogel, Jean-Christophe Vié
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Abstract

Blood smears of 1,353 free-ranging mammals (35 species) and 112 reptiles (31 species) from French Guiana were examined for hemoparasites. Parasites from 3 major groups were recorded: Apicomplexa (including hemogregarines, piroplasms, and Plasmodium spp.), Trypanosomatidae, and Filaroidea. Fifty percent of the individuals (86% of the species) were infected by parasites from at least 1 group. Hemogregarines, identified as Hepatozoon sp., infected numerous snakes with high prevalences (30–100%); infection is reported for the first time in 5 host genera of snakes: Clelia, Oxybelis, Pseustes, Rhinobotryum, and Bothriopsis. Infections were also observed in 4 marsupial species and 1 rodent. Hepatozoon spp. recorded in Didelphis albiventris (Marsupialia) and Coendou prehensilis (Rodentia) may be new species. Plasmodium sp. were observed in 2 snake species, Dipsas indica (Colubridae) and Bothrops atrox (Viperidae). Plasmodium brasilianum was recorded in all 5 primate species examined. Piroplasms were observed in all mammal orders except primates. Large terrestrial rodents were the main hosts of members of the Babesidae; 42% of Myoprocta acouchy, 36% of Dasyprocta agouti, and 44% of Agouti paca were infected. Trypanosomes were common in mammals and were recorded in 70% of the examined genera. Trypanosoma cruzi-like infections were reported in 21 mammal species, including sloths, rodents, carnivores, and primates. Microfilariae were also widespread, with higher prevalences in sloths, anteaters, and porcupines (>40% of the individuals infected) and in tamarins (95% infected). This survey highlights some potential anthropozoonotic risks due to the recent further evidence of Plasmodium brasilianum and P. malariae as a single species and to the increased diversity of hosts for Trypanosoma cruzi.

Benoît de Thoisy, Jean-Claude Michel, Ingrun Vogel, and Jean-Christophe Vié "A SURVEY OF HEMOPARASITE INFECTIONS IN FREE-RANGING MAMMALS AND REPTILES IN FRENCH GUIANA," Journal of Parasitology 86(5), 1035-1040, (1 October 2000). https://doi.org/10.1645/0022-3395(2000)086[1035:ASOHII]2.0.CO;2
Received: 26 May 1999; Accepted: 1 March 2000; Published: 1 October 2000
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