ABSTRACT The study aimed to detect the presence of endoparasites in faecal samples of Trachemys scripta elegans from private households in the Maule Region, Chile. The sampling was conducted to determine the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites in 35 individuals (22 females and 13 males), using the Teuscher coproparasitic technique. Only one sample of a female turtle was positive (2.85%), corresponding to an undetermined species of coccidia.

RESUMEN El estudio tuvo como objetivo detectar la presencia de formas parasitarias en heces de Trachemys scripta elegans provenientes de hogares particulares de la Región del Maule, Chile. Se realizó un muestreo dirigido para analizar la prevalencia de parásitos gastrointestinales en 35 individuos (22 hembras y 13 machos), a través de la técnica coproparasitaria de Teuscher. Solo una muestra de una tortuga hembra resultó positiva (2.85%), correspondiendo a una especie no determinada de coccidia.

Resumo O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a associação da distância das fezes mais próximas, o tipo de substrato a ser estudado (fezes, solo, grama) e se as áreas foram licenciadas ou não, com a presença de ovos de helmintos zoonóticos em Concepción, Chile. Um total de 256 amostras colhidas no fecais, no solo ou na grama e a 10, 50 e 100 cm de fezes (incluindo 16 áreas públicas), foram examinadas quanto à presença de parasitas usando a técnica de flotação de sulfato de zinco. A associação de variáveis com a presença de ovos foi avaliada com regressões logísticas multifatoriais. Os 24,21% das amostras apresentaram pelo menos um ovo. As chances mais altas de ovos de Toxocara foram associadas positivamente ao ‘tipo de área’ licenciado e ao ‘tipo de amostra’ do solo (em comparação com as fezes). As chances de ovos de Ancylostomatidae também foram positivamente associadas ao ‘tipo de área’ licenciado, mas negativamente associadas ao ‘tipo de amostra’ do solo (em comparação com as fezes). Os resultados sugerem que o achado de ovos deve ser interpretado de maneira diferente em relação às espécies de parasitas e ao substrato a ser analisado, e que a presença de cães parasitados parece ser mais importante do que a frequência de limpeza das fezes do solo.

Abstract The aim of this study was to assess the association between the distance to the nearest feces, the type of substrate to be studied (feces, soil, grass), and whether a given area was licensed or not with the presence of helminth eggs in Concepción, Chile. A total of 256 samples taken from feces and either from soil or grass at 10 cm, 50 cm, and 100 cm from feces (including 16 public areas), were examined for the presence of parasites using the ZnSO4 technique. The association between variables with the presence of eggs was assessed with multifactorial logistic regressions. 24.21% of samples presented at least one egg. The higher odds of Toxocara egg presence was positively associated with the licensed ‘area type’ and the soil ‘sample type’ (when compared with feces). The odds of Ancylostomatidae egg presence was positively associated with the licensed ‘area type’, but negatively associated with the soil ‘sample type’ (compared with feces). The results suggest that finding eggs must be interpreted differently based on the parasite species and substrate to be analyzed, and that the presence of parasitized dogs is a more important contributing factor than the frequency with which the ground is cleaned of feces.

ABSTRACT The study of parasitism in penguins is relevant because it offers information on the biology and ecology of this host. This study reports the parasitism of 156 specimens of Spheniscus humboldti rescued from beaches of the south-central coast of Chile, between January 2006 and June 2015, describing their potential forms of transmission and pathogenicity. The parasitic infection was determined by coproparasitic methods in live specimens and by necropsy in dead penguins. The gastrointestinal helminths Tetrabothrius eudyptidis (Lönnberg, 1896), Cardiocephaloides physalis (Lutz, 1926), Contracaecum pelagicum (Johnston & Mawson, 1942) and Cosmocephalus obvelatus (Creplin, 1825) were identified by both methods. Parasitism was observed in 29.57% of live specimens and 51.76% of necropsied birds. All the parasites identified corresponded to genera already informed in S. humboldti. The richness of the S. humboldti parasitic fauna was lower than that reported for other species of penguins. The results demonstrate the participation of S. humboldti as a definitive host in the life cycles of the parasites reported in this study. Being S. humboldti a vulnerable species, it is necessary to continue with parasitological studies in this penguin to clarify the role of parasites in the health of these birds.

Introduction: The contamination of public squares and parks with dog feces poses a risk to the population, since it may contain parasitic elements of zoonotic importance. Aim: To identify human pathogenic parasites in samples of dog feces collected from parks and public squares. Methods: 452 fecal dog samples collected from 65 squares and public parks were analyzed using the technique of Burrows. Results: 60% (39/65) of the samples contained some parasitic forms with a zoonotic potential. Parasitic taxa with zoonotic risk were Toxocara sp., Ancylostoma sp., Dipylidium caninum, Giardia sp., Taenia sp., Toxascaris sp., Strongyloides sp., and Uncinaria sp. Conclusion: The detected parasites present a risk to human health, so it seems necessary to implement health education activities in the community, develop deworming plans, and control the canine overpopulation.

Introducción: La contaminación de plazas y parques con heces de perros representa un riesgo para la población, ya que éstas pueden contener elementos o estadios parasitarios de importancia zoonótica. Objetivo: Identificar formas parasitarias de posible riesgo para el ser humano, en muestras de heces caninas recolectadas desde el suelo de parques y plazas públicas. Material y Métodos: Se recolectaron 452 muestras fecales de perros (Canis lupus familiaris) en 65 plazas y parques públicos, las que fueron analizadas utilizando la técnica de Burrows. Resultados: Se obtuvo que 60% (39/65) de las muestras analizadas se encontraban contaminadas con alguna forma parasitaria con potencial zoonótico. Las taxas parasitarias con riesgo zoonótico diagnosticadas fueron Toxocara sp., Ancylostoma sp., Dipylidium caninum, Giardia sp., Taenia sp., Toxascaris sp., Strongyloides sp. y Uncinaria sp. Conclusión: La prevalencia de parásitos de importancia zoonótica representa un riesgo para la salud humana, por lo que se hace necesario implementar acciones de educación sanitaria a la comunidad, elaborando planes de desparasitación y control de la sobrepoblación canina.

S. marcescens, cepa tolerante a cromato, presenta la capacidad de formar biopeliculas y transformar el 95 % de cromato presente en el medio a Cr(III), compuesto menos tóxico, después de 48h de incubación, a una velocidad de transformación de 1.67 mg L-1 h-1. S. marcescens puede ser utilizado en biorremediation de residuos contaminados con cromato.

This report offers a macroscopic and histological description of ulcerative gastric lesions in Humboldt penguins associated with the presence of Contracaecum pelagicum. Parasites of this genus have been isolated from different species of marine mammals and birds, including penguins, demonstrating its capacity to generate ulcerative lesions in the gastrointestinal tracts of many hosts. A bibliographic review revealed no publications on gastric ulceration by nematodes in Humboldt penguins. Studies carried out in Chile concerning gastrointestinal parasitism by nematodes of the Contracaecum genus in S. humboldti only established the parasite's taxonomy. This is the first pathological description of a parasitic ulcerative manifestation in the stomach of S. humboldti in the world. The Humboldt penguin is a vulnerable species. Therefore, this study is relevant as it offers a better understanding of the diseases that affect S. humboldti and facilitates the development of strategies intended to recover the population.

El presente trabajo ofrece una descripción macroscópica e histológica de lesiones gástricas de tipo ulcerativas en el pingüino de Humboldt asociadas a la presencia de Contracaecum pelagicum. Parásitos del género Contracaecum han sido aislados de diferentes especies de mamíferos y aves marinas, incluyendo pingüinos, en gran parte del mundo, demostrando una gran capacidad de generar lesiones ulcerativas en un número importante de hospederos. La revisión bibliográfica reveló la ausencia de publicaciones relativas a cuadros ulcerativos gástricos causados por nemátodos en el pingüino de Humboldt. Los estudios realizados en Chile concernientes a parasitismo gastrointestinal por nemátodos del género Contracaecum en S. humboldti sólo han abordado aspectos taxonómicos. Esta publicación constituye la primera descripción patológica de un cuadro de ulceraciones gástricas parasitarias en el pingüino de Humboldt. S. humboldti está catalogado como especie vulnerable por lo que este estudio es relevante en cuanto a incrementar el entendimiento de las patologías que afectan a la especie facilitando el desarrollo de estrategias tendientes a la recuperación de la población.