Endoparasitos da Jararaca do Norte Bothrops atrox (Serpentes: Viperidae) na Amazônia Oriental

Abstract

Parasitological studies in snakes are fundamental for understanding parasite diversity, identifying infection sites, and associating specific pathologies. This study focuses on the characterization of endoparasites in snakes and is presented in two chapters, contributing to the knowledge of parasite ecology and its implications for wildlife conservation. The first chapter reports the first instance of parasitism by cestodes of the genus Crepidobothrium in the lancehead Bothrops atrox. The research was conducted in the Tapajós National Forest, located in the western region of the state of Pará, Brazil. Thirty-six specimens of B. atrox were analyzed, of which thirteen were found to be infected, yielding a total of 147 cestodes. The majority of the parasites were located in the small intestine (88.4%), followed by the large intestine (9.52%) and the stomach (2%). Ecological parameters revealed a prevalence of 36.1%, with a mean abundance of 4.1 and a mean intensity of infection of 11.3 parasites per infected host. The cestodes were identified as belonging to the genus Crepidobothrium, although detailed species identification was not possible due to the preservation condition of the material. This study expands the knowledge of parasites in B. atrox, emphasizing the importance of further research to investigate intermediate hosts, infection pathways, and the ecological implications of this parasitic relationship. The second chapter explores pentastomid infections in Neotropical snakes and their respective infection sites. The snakes used in the study were collected in Flona da Tapajós (2009 – 2011)) and the municipalities of Santarém and Belterra (2023-2024), in the state of Pará. Sixteen snakes belonging to six different species were dissected, with Raillietiella furcocerca identified in four specimens of B. atrox. A total of 48 parasites was recorded, resulting in a prevalence of 12.5%. The pentastomids were predominantly located in the coelomic cavity, near the liver, small and large intestines, as well as in cloacal adipose tissue and the lungs. Notable lesions were observed, including partial destruction of pulmonary tissue and hemorrhaging. These findings underscore the wide distribution of R. furcocerca in B. atrox and report new infection sites outside the respiratory tract, contributing to a better understanding of the ecology and parasitic impacts of this genus in Neotropical hosts.