Coproparasitological survey of white-eared opossums belonging to urban and rural areas of Canoinhas city, Northern Santa Catarina

Abstract

The opossums are synanthropic mammals belonging to the genus Didelphis. They have a generalized diet, and this behavior exposes them to the chance of infection by several parasitic agents. Their close relationship with the human makes them act as disseminators of pathogens. The objective of the study was to evaluate the diversity of endoparasites infecting D. albiventris sampled in Canoinhas, Northern Santa Catarina. Thirty-eigth fecal samples were macro and microscopically analyzed, and of these 89.47% showed positivity for at least one endoparasite, 89.47% (34/38) for helminths and 60.52% (23/38) for protozoa. Nematode eggs of the order Strongylida and the genera Cruzia, Trichuris, Aspidodera, Physaloptera, Capillaria and Strongyloides were observed, as well as trematode eggs and oocysts of protozoa. In 38.3% of the animals four parasite types were detected, showing high occurrence of endoparasites and that multiparasitism is frequent in this species.