Preparing Collared Peccary (<i>Pecari tajacu</i> Linnaeus, 1758) for Reintroduction into the Wild: A Screening for Parasites and Hemopathogens of a Captive Population
Júlia Angélica Gonçalves da Silveira,
Simone Magela Moreira,
Ariane Flávia do Nascimento,
Marco Miguel de Oliveira,
Hudson Andrade dos Santos,
Letícia Gracielle Tôrres de Miranda Estevam,
Carine Rodrigues Pereira,
Anna Gabriela Guimarães Oliveira,
Mirella Lauria D’Elia,
Andreina de Carvalho Araujo,
Juliana Macedo Magnino Silva
Affiliations
Júlia Angélica Gonçalves da Silveira
Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary School, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, MG, Brazil
Simone Magela Moreira
Department of Agrarian Sciences, Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Minas Gerais-Campus Bambuí, Bambuí 38900-000, MG, Brazil
Ariane Flávia do Nascimento
Department of Agrarian Sciences, Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Minas Gerais-Campus Bambuí, Bambuí 38900-000, MG, Brazil
Marco Miguel de Oliveira
Biological Science, State University of Minas Gerais-Unit Ituiutaba, Ituiutaba 38302-192, MG, Brazil
Hudson Andrade dos Santos
Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biological Science, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, MG, Brazil
Letícia Gracielle Tôrres de Miranda Estevam
Study Group on Leishmaniases, Fiocruz-Research Center Renê Rachou, Belo Horizonte 30190-002, MG, Brazil
Carine Rodrigues Pereira
Department of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Lavras, Lavras 37203-202, MG, Brazil
Anna Gabriela Guimarães Oliveira
Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary School, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, MG, Brazil
Mirella Lauria D’Elia
Aiuká-Consultancy for Environmental Solutions, Praia Grande 11725-000, SP, Brazil
Andreina de Carvalho Araujo
Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biological Science, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, MG, Brazil
Juliana Macedo Magnino Silva
Fauna Protection Coordination of State Forest Institute-IEF, Belo Horizonte 38400-186, MG, Brazil
The reintroduction of captive animals to the wild helps restore endangered species, but it risks pathogen transmission, harming wild populations. Such transmission can impact the genetic diversity and long-term viability of these populations. This study assessed parasite diversity and load in captive Pecari tajacu, a species native to the Americas and culturally significant to Brazilian indigenous culture, prior to reintroduction. Samples from 24 peccaries were analyzed for ectoparasites, hemopathogens, and stool parasites with direct and molecular analysis. Findings showed that various parasites were present. Two peccaries (8.3%) were infested by the adult tick Amblyomma sculptum. Six (25.0%) tested positive for Trypanosoma evansi, four (16.7%) for hemobacteria of the family Anaplasmataceae, twelve (50.0%) for hemotropic Mycoplasma, and seven (29.2%) for Leishmania braziliensis. Stool samples indicated multiple parasites, with sixteen (66.7%) peccaries infected by Strongylida order parasites, Spiruridae in three (12.5%), and Ascaris suum in one (4.2%) animal. Cysts of Balantidium sp. were found in twenty (83.3%), Entamoeba polecki in five (20.8%), and Iodamoeba bütschlii in two (8.3%) peccaries. To our current knowledge, this is the first global report of Leishmania braziliensis, Iodamoeba bütschlii, and Entamoeba polecki in P. tajacu, irrespective of the environment, including both captivity and wild conditions. Some of these parasites are common in domestic animals, and others are zoonotic, indicating potential interspecies pathogen transmission.
