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DOI: https://doi.org/10.34069/AI/2022.55.07.23
How to Cite:
Sciabarrasi, A. (2022). Raillietiniasis in cacique parrot (Deroptyus accipitrinus fuscifrons) and its importance as a zoonotic
disease. Amazonia Investiga, 11(55), 220-225. https://doi.org/10.34069/AI/2022.55.07.23
Raillietiniasis in cacique parrot (Deroptyus accipitrinus fuscifrons) and
its importance as a zoonotic disease
Raillietiniasis en loro cacique (Deroptyus accipitrinus fuscifrons) y su importancia como
enfermedad zoonótica
Received: March 28, 2022 Accepted: Auguat 28, 2022
Written by:
Antonio Sciabarrasi101
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0601-3166
Abstract
Raillietinosis is a disease of zoonotic importance.
The objective of the present work was to report
the presence of Raillietina sp. in Cacique parrots
(Deroptyus accipitrinus fuscifrons) in captivity
by coprology and necropsy. Analyzes revealed
that the birds studied were found to be parasitized
by cestodes compatible with Raillietina sp. This
registry is the first report in Argentina and it
acquires great importance since there is the
possibility of its transmission to their owners and
/ or professionals, such as veterinarians,
biologists and keepers who contact more directly
with these birds.
Keywords: Deroptyus accipitrinus, Parrots,
Raillietina, Zoonosis.
Introduction
Raillietinosis is a zoonotic disease (OPS, 2003)
produced by cestodes, characterized by diarrhea
(sometimes bloody) during the acute state and
emaciation, cachexia and anemia during the
chronic phase. It is caused by some species of the
genus Raillietina that parasitize the small
intestine (Paul et al. 2012); in parrots it presents
a mild parasitism that in most cases does not
cause clinical signs (Sciabarrasi et al. 2020).
Of the genus Raillietina, more than 200 species
are known; most of them affect birds, in these the
most frequent species are: R. taylori,
R. tetragonoides, R. echinobothrida, and R.
bonini. The first two being those eventually
reported in parrots and R. cacatuinae in
cockatoos housed in enclosures with a dirt floor
(Doneley, 2010).
101
Chair of Zoology, Diversity and Environment, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Universidad National del Litoral (FCV-UNL).
Kreder 2805, Argentina. La Esmeralda Zoological Station, Argentina.
They all have indirect life cycles with a pre-
patent period of 2 to 3 weeks (García Corredor et
al., 2013). The cycle begins with the release of
the egg-filled proglottids in the faeces of the
definitive hosts (rodents, birds). These are
ingested by intermediate hosts (ants, flies, snails,
slugs, depending on the Raillietina species).
Then, from the embryonated eggs, the
cysticercoid larvae develop, which are infective
once the definitive host feeds on the arthropod or
the other intermediaries (Ensucho et al, 2015).
They are relatively frequent parasites in wild
Old-World parrots (yacos, cockatoos), but not in
South American parrots (Melo et al., 2013).
Sciabarrasi, A. / Volume 11 - Issue 55: 220-225 / July, 2022
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The cacique parrot (Deroptyus accipitrinus) is a
species of South American bird of the Psittacidae
family; it is the only member of the genus
Deroptyus (IUCN, 2014). It inhabits the jungles
of the Amazon and the Orinoco basin where its
population is declining due to increased
deforestation (Collar, 1997). There are two
subspecies Deroptyus accipitrinus accipitrinus
the nominal species and Deroptyus accipitrinus
fuscifrons, with a much smaller range located
south of the Amazon and is distinguished by the
much darker color of the feathers of the head.
Their size is 33 to 35 cm and when they feel
threatened or excited, they have the property of
raising the collar of feathers on the nape like a
fan (Forshaw, 2010).
The objective of the present work was to report
the presence of Raillietina sp. in Cacique parrots
(Deroptyus accipitrinus fuscifrons) in captivity;
in order to contribute to improving their sanitary
and handling conditions as well as those of their
caregivers.
Methodology
This study was carried out at the Zoological
Station "La Esmeralda" of the Province of Santa
Fe, Argentina (Longitude 31 ° 35'11.6''S, latitude
60 ° 41'32.4''W, at 25 masl), in the months of
February and March 2020.
Fecal matter samples were taken from 6 adult
individuals of Deroptyus accipitrinus fuscifrons
(3 males and 3 females) each housed, for this
study, individually in enclosures according to the
species (Figure 1), plus a dead specimen of
traumatic causes preserved of chilled form. The
feces were collected non-invasively by means of
a polyethylene placed on the floor of each cage,
which were removed after 6 hours. At the time of
collecting the samples, the outer halo and the
lower part that came into contact with the plastic
were discarded, so the inner part was taken to
avoid damage to the sample. The sampling was
repeating 3 times with an interval of one week
between each one. They were transported in
polyethylene bags and refrigerated, avoiding as
much as possible exposure to external factors
such as heat and air currents that could cause
damage to them, to the Zoology laboratory of the
Faculty of Veterinary Sciences (UNL), in a time
less than eight hours, where they were processed.
They were processed using the combined
Teuscher flotation and sedimentation technique
(sedimentation-flotation with SO4Zn) and
observed under an optical microscope for
identification, counting and measurement
according to Martínez Tovar et al., (2015).
Flatworms collected from the dead individual
were stained with hematoxylin and rinsed with
phenol, according to the methodology adapted
from Amato, Böeger and Amato (1991) and
Hoffmann (1987). The cestodes were mounted
on slides with permanent synthetic resin,
identified according to the keys of Anderson,
Chabaud and Willmott (2009), Khalil, Jones and
Bray (1994) and Vicente, Rodrigues, Gomes and
Pinto (1995) and incorporated into the collection
of the Chair of Zoology, Diversity and
Environment of the FCV-UNL.
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Figure 1. Individual of (Deroptyus accipitrinus fuscifrons) in a room for taking samples.
Statistical analysis: This research corresponded
to a descriptive analytical cross-sectional study
with simple random sampling (Wayne, 2006).
The results of this research were tabulated in an
EXCEL sheet and analyzed by the EPIINFO
statistical program (Pérez-Cardona and
Suárez-Pérez, 2004). The prevalence of infection
was calculated according to Bush, Lafferty, Lotz
and Shostak (1997).
Ethical aspects: The enclosures were within the
guidelines of the WAZA (2017). The
management of the birds and the information had
the authorization of the Directorate of the Fauna
Center ¨La Esmeralda¨ together with the
corresponding endorsement of the Institutional
Committee of Ethics, Bioethics and Animal
Welfare.
Results and Discussion
Stool analysis revealed the presence, in all
samples, of eggs (from 53.9 to 57.7 per 42 μ) of
cestodes, isolated or in ovigerous capsules
approximately 8 in number (Fig. 2). In the
autopsy of individual No. 7, hemorrhages of
varying intensity were observed in the intestinal
mucosa, catarrhal hemorrhagic enteritis, and the
parasites themselves during macroscopic
observation. Therefore, the 7 birds studied were
found parasitized by cestodes compatible with
Raillietina sp. (100% prevalence).
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Figure 2. Raillietina sp eggs in ovigerous capsules observed at 40X in Deroptyus accipitrinus fuscifrons
fecal matter.
Sciabarrasi et al. (2020) with similar diagnostic
methodology reported the presence of Raillietina
sp. in individual parrots of the captive Forpus
coelestis and Forpus conspicillatus species in
Argentina, originating from illegal wildlife
trafficking.
In Brazil, Melo et al. (2013) recorded parasitism
by Raillietina sp. in parrots of the species
Amazona aestiva in captivity. Although cestodes
are common in non-psittacidal wild birds, they
are not common in parrots, and their association
with mortality is unusual. In general, parrots
parasitized by these flatworms can show anemia,
weight loss and diarrhea, but more serious
infections can facilitate the appearance of other
diseases that can cause the death of the animal
(Doneley, 2009).
The gregarious habit of parrots can represent a
risk for populations affected by parasitic
infections; the high population density of the
hosts can be an influencing factor in the mortality
of individuals facing a disease (Hochachka and
Dhondt, 2000).
The feeding habits of birds can also be related to
parasitism. Birds that feed on fruits and grains,
such as cacique parrots, have great possibilities
of contamination during the search for food
(Costa et al., 2010), and in turn, can disperse
pathogens during foraging (Barrera-Guzmán and
Guillén-Hernández, 2008). Also, it factors like
stress, inadequate nutrition and contaminated
environments that facilitate the presence of
parasites and hosts the normal development of
their life cycle.
The treatment and subsequent control of the
affected parrots was carried out by deworming
with 6 mg of Praziquantel per kg of body weight,
in a single dose, mixed with drinking water.
This study made it possible to identify
gastrointestinal parasites such as Raillietina in
Deroptyus accipitrinus fuscifrons in captivity,
being the first record in Argentina. The fact that
other groups of gastrointestinal parasites have
not been reported may be due to the systematic
deworming plan carried out for nematodes and
coccidia by the Institution.
Conflict of interest: The author has no conflicts
of interest to declare in relation to this
manuscript.
Acknowledgments: We are grateful to the staff
of the Fauna Station ¨La Esmeralda¨ (Santa Fe,
Argentina) and the Faculty of Veterinary
Sciences of the Universidad Nacional del Litoral
(FCV-UNL, Argentina) for their guidance and
assistance during the study.
Conclusions
Wild psittaciformes are hosts for a wide variety
of parasites, including some zoonoses, and can
transmit them through fecal matter, blood,
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secretions and arthropods. The registration in this
study of Raillietina spp in the Deroptyus
accipitrinus fuscifrons analyzed acquires great
importance since, according to what has been
indicated by authors, there is the possibility of its
transmission for their owners and / or
professionals, such as veterinarians, biologists
and caregivers who contact more directly with
these birds.
The coproparasitology in these species
constitutes an important tool for the evaluation of
the sanitary conditions of the environment.
Despite the limitation of research in this field due
to the difficulty in accessing the hosts,
knowledge about diseases and their implications
are of fundamental importance for biodiversity
conservation and management programs,
highlighting the knowledge of zoonotic diseases
in their actions.
As a prophylaxis, it is recommended as a useful
measure for the control of infections by this
parasite, the control of rodents, insects and the
hygienic handling of food by the caretakers or
holders of the birds to avoid contamination of the
food to parrots.
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