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Spirorchidiasis is one of the most common diseases in green turtles. Eggs and the adult form of trematodes are mainly found in the heart, liver, lung, spleen, and gastrointestinal tract. The present study aimed to describe the pathological aspects of Spirorchiidae trematode infection in green turtles (Chelonia mydas) in the Campos Basin, Rio de Janeiro. The current study was based on the necropsy of 99 green turtles (Chelonia mydas, Chelonidae) from April to December 2021. Epidemiological data were obtained from the Aquatic Biota Monitoring Information System (SIMBA). A histopathological examination was performed at the “Setor de Anatomia Patológica” (SAP) from “Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro” (UFRuralRJ). Tissue fragments (buccal papilla, esophagus, trachea, lung, heart, kidney, bladder, stomach, liver, spleen, intestines, gonads, adrenal, thyroid, pancreas, salt glands, muscle, and skin) were sampled for histological examination. The green turtles had lesions compatible with parasitic infection in 89% (88/99) cases. Out of 88 turtles, 87 were juveniles (99%), 75% (66/88) were females, and 25% (22/88) were males. Adult parasites and their eggs were found to cause granulomatous tissue reactions in 14% (12/88) of turtles. Egg-associated granulomatous inflammation was found in 86% (76/88) of the turtles. The organs with the highest number of egg-associated granulomas in order of occurrence were: the spleen, small intestine, adrenal gland, pancreas, and lungs. The adult trematodes were observed in histological lesions in order of occurrence, mainly in the esophagus, stomach, and small intestine. Out of the total number of turtles parasitized, 33% (29/88) of deaths occurred due to multiple causes such as fractures, interaction with fishing, predation, and fibropapillomas. The other 67% (59/88) presented multisystemic granulomatous disease caused by Spirorchiidae infection as a cause of death. Evidence is presented that spirorchidiasis is highly prevalent in young green turtles, is responsible for extensive chronic lesions, and responsible for significant debilitation and mortality. RESUMO: A espirorquidíase é uma das doenças mais comuns em tartarugas verdes. Os ovos e a forma adulta dos trematódeos são encontrados principalmente no coração, fígado, pulmão, baço e trato gastrointestinal. O objetivo do presente estudo foi descrever os aspectos patológicos da infecção por trematódeos Spirorchiidae em tartarugas verdes (Chelonia mydas) na Bacia de Campos, Rio de Janeiro. O presente trabalho foi baseado na necropsia de 99 tartarugas verdes (Chelonia mydas, Chelonidae) no período de abril a dezembro de 2021. Os dados epidemiológicos foram obtidos do Sistema de Informação de Monitoramento da Biota Aquática (SIMBA). Realizou-se exame histopatológico no Setor de anatomia Patológica (SAP) da Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro (UFRuralRJ). Os fragmentos de tecidos (papila bucal, esôfago, traqueia, pulmão, coração, rim, bexiga, estômago, fígado, baço, intestinos, gônadas, adrenal, tireoides, pâncreas, glândulas de sal, músculo e pele) foram coletados e fixados em formalina a 10% tamponada, processados rotineiramente para exame histológico. Em 89% (88/99) dos casos, as tartarugas-verdes apresentaram lesões compatíveis com infecção parasitária. Das 88 tartarugas, 87 eram jovens (99%), 75% (66/88) correspondiam a fêmeas, 25% (22/88) a machos. Em 14% (12/88) das tartarugas foram encontrados parasitas adultos e seus ovos causando inflamação granulomatosa. Em 86,4% (76/88) das tartarugas foram encontradas lesões granulomatosas associadas aos ovos dos trematódeos. Os órgãos com maior quantidade de granulomas associados a ovos foram: baço, intestino delgado, adrenal, pâncreas e pulmões. Trematódeos adultos foram principalmente observados nas lesões histológicas, em ordem de ocorrência, no esôfago, estômago e intestino delgado. Do total de tartarugas parasitadas, 33% (29/88) das mortes ocorreram em consequência de múltiplas causas como fraturas, interação com pesca, predação e fibropapilomas. As outras 67% (59/88) apresentaram como causa de morte a doença granulomatosa multissistêmica causada pela infecção por trematódeo da família Spirorchiidae. São apresentadas evidências de que a espiroquidiase é altamente prevalente em tartarugas verdes jovens no Rio de Janeiro, responsável por extensas lesões crônicas, quadro clínico de debilidade e mortalidade significativas.

Two new species of Pavanelliella (Dactylogyridae) were described and some details about the morphology of Pavanelliella pavanellii Kritsky & Boeger, 1998 were added based on specimens collected from pimelodid fishes from Mogi Guaçu River, Brazil. Pavanelliella takemotoi sp. n., collected from nasal cavities of Pimelodus maculatus Lacepède, 1803 differs from its congeners by having a male copulatory organ (MCO) with 2–5 rings, vaginal canal sinuous without loops in distal portion of vaginal canal and anteriorly directed vagina containing five irregular rings around the vestibule. Pavanelliella laertei sp. n. collected from P. heraldoi Azpelicueta, 2001 is separated from the other species of the genus by lacking a vaginal vestibule and by distal end shape of accessory piece, which resemble flames or is bifurcated with one flank hooked in P. laertei sp. n. The specimens of P. pavanellii examined in this study showed morphological variations especially on MCO, vaginal canal and vagina morphology with respect to the holotype and paratype and are noted in this paper. Significant differences among the described species were confirmed on the light of multivariate morphometric statistical analysis. Initially a Principal Component Analysis (PCA) showed the multivariate distinction between the three species and after a Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA) revealed that the Maximum number of MCO ring and the MCO length fairly contributed to the discrimination between all Pavanelliella species (Wilk´s lambda = 0.006; p

Here, we performed a quantitative analysis of the parasite communities in 21 species of fish from Guandu River, Brazil; we evaluated the effects of some host traits (body size, social behavior, fish's habitat, trophic category and ability to migration) on the diversity of their communities of metazoan parasites. To measure quantitative diversity, we used parasite species richness, as well as the average taxonomic distinctness of the assemblage and its variance. The parasite species richness, the taxonomic distinctness and the variance were unaffected by the number of host individuals examined per species. Fish body length proved to be the main predictor of parasite species richness, although it did not correlate with parasite taxonomic distinctiveness. The mains host features associated with the taxonomic diversity of parasites were schooling behavior and omnivores trophic category. Parasite communities found in fish from Guandu River isolationist communities. En el presente trabajo, se realiza un análisis comparativo de las comunidades de parásitos de 21 especies de peces en el río Guandu, Brasil y se evaluó el efecto de algunas de las características del huésped (tamaño corporal, comportamiento social, hábitat de los peces, categoría trófica y capacidad de migrar) en la diversidad de sus comunidades de parásitos metazoarios. Como una medida de diversidad, hemos utilizado la riqueza de especies de parásitos y la diversidad taxonómica. La riqueza de especies de parásitos y la diversidad taxonómica no se vieron afectados por el número de los espécimenes examinados por especie. El tamaño del cuerpo de los peces mostró una correlación significativa con la riqueza de especies de parásitos, aunque no hay correlación con la diversidad taxonómica de los parásitos. Las principales características asociadas a la diversidad taxonómica de los parásitos son la formación de cardúmenes y la categoría trófica omnívora. Las comunidades de parásitos de peces en el río Guandu presentaron comunidades parasitarias aisladas.