PARASITOLOGIC AND PATHOLOGIC STUDY OF FREE-RANGING SOUTH AMERICAN RATTLESNAKES () IN BRAZIL.

Abstract

This study assesses parasitism and pathologic manifestations in free-ranging. A total of 96 rattlesnakes from the State of Minas Gerais (southeast Brazil) were necropsied between September 2019 and February 2020. Granulomatous gastritis affected 48% (46 of 96) of the snakes evaluated, which were associated with the ascaridid nematodessp. andsp. Other nematodes found includedand(Diaphanocephalidae; 7%, 7 of 96) in the intestines,sp. (Rhabdiasidae; 18%, 17 of 96) in the lungs, andsp. (Diplotriaenidae; 2%, 2 of 96) encapsulated in the serosa of the mesentery. Larval cestodes, probably spargana ofsp. (Diphyllobothriidae; 2%, 2 of 96), were found in the skeletal muscle and unidentified acanthocephalan cystacanths (Oligacanthorhynchidae; 5%, 5 of 96) in the subcutis and coelomic cavity. The pentastome(Porocephalidae; 2%, 2 of 96) was also found in the lungs. Microscopically, intestinal disease was caused bysp. (7%, 7 of 96),sp. (1%, 1 of 96), andsp. (1%, 1 of 96) and fungi (7%, 7 of 96). In addition, hemoparasites such asspp. (23%, 22 of 96) andsp. (1%, 1 of 96) were observed in blood smears. This study expands the knowledge of diseases, parasites, and other infectious agents affecting free-rangingin Brazil.