Identification of protozoa and helminths in feces samples of capybara (hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) that inhabit the lagoa maior in tres Lagoas, Brazil

The capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) a semi-aquatic generalist herbivores found in South American. The objective was to evaluate the presence of parasites in wild capybara species that inhabit the Lagoa Maior region in Tres Lagoas Brazil. Four stool samples were collected totaling 20 samples per collection (2 in dry periods and 2 in rainy periods). Stool samples were processed using standardized parasitological techniques and the observation and identification of the parasitic forms was carried out through optical microscopy and morphological and morphometric evaluation. Twelve gastrointestinal parasites were identified, 4 protozoa: Neobalantidium coli cysts, Entamoeba spp. cysts, Eimeria spp. oocysts, and cysts of Giardia spp.; and 8 metazoans, from the Nematoda classes: eggs of Protozoophaga obese (5%), eggs and larvae of Strongyloides spp. (51.3%), eggs of Capillaria spp. (Echinocoleushydrochoeris) (27.5%), eggs of Trichuris spp. (28.8%), eggs from members of the Trichostrongyloidea family (22.5%) and the order Ascaridida (27.5%); Trematoda: eggs of Taxorchisschistocotyle (28.8%) and Cestoda: eggs of Monoecocestus spp. (2.5%). The identification of these parasites is extremely important, due to the probability of infection among capybaras causing serious health problems and can be transmitted to both domestic animals and humans that frequent this environment.