Presence of Dioctophyme renale in domestic and wild cycles in the Brazilian Cerrado.

Abstract

Despite several records of Dioctophyme renale in domestic hosts (mainly dogs) and wild animals in Brazil, there are few studies related to the biology of the parasite and epidemiology of the parasitosis in the country. This also applies to the interactions and scratches in different locales. The aim of this study was to describe D. renale occurrence in 12 animals at an interface of the domestic-wild cycle and to detail two specific cases of these, one domestic and one wild canine (Chrysocyon brachyurus) from the same microregion of the Brazilian Cerrado. The difficulty in diagnosing dioctophimosis is related to nonspecific clinical signs. Over the last five years, 12 cases of D. renale have been reported in domestic and wild canids, two of which are described in full in this study. The expansion of livestock farming and urbanization of biomes, fragmentation of floral areas, and destruction of natural areas have increased the proximity between domestic and wild animals, and consequently, the occurrence of infectious and parasitic diseases. Its probability of occurrence in humans represents a public health risk.