Nos últimos anos infecção por protozoários hemosporídeos dos gêneros Plasmodium e Haemoproteus, tem sido considerada um dos fatores mais importantes relacionados com a extinção e / ou declínio da população de várias espécies de aves em todo o mundo. No Brasil, apesar da grande biodiversidade aviária, poucos estudos foram desenvolvidos para detectar a infecção, especialmente entre as aves silvestres mantidas em cativeiro. Assim, o objetivo deste estudo foi analisar a prevalência de infecção por Plasmodium spp. e Haemoproteus spp. em aves silvestres em cativeiro na Mata Atlântica do sudeste do Brasil, utilizando microscopia convencional e reação em cadeia da polimerase. Amostras de sangue de 119 aves mantidas em cativeiro no Ibama durante o período de julho de 2011 a julho de 2012, foram coletadas. A densidade parasitária foi determinada com base apenas em leituras de esfregaços de sangue por microscopia fotônica. A prevalência média de infecção por Plasmodium spp. e Haemoproteus spp. obtida por exame microscópico de esfregaços sanguíneos e PCR foi semelhante (83,19% e 81,3%, respectivamente), com Caracara plancus e Saltator similis sendo as espécies mais parasitadas. A parasitemia média determinada pela contagem microscópica de formas evolutivas de Plasmodium spp. e Haemoproteus spp. foi de 1,51%. Os resultados obtidos neste estudo reforçam a importância do manejo de aves em cativeiro, especialmente quando serão reintroduzidas na natureza.

In recent years haemosporidian infection by protozoa of the genus Plasmodium and Haemoproteus, has been considered one of the most important factors related to the extinction and/or population decline of several species of birds worldwide. In Brazil, despite the large avian biodiversity, few studies have been designed to detect this infection, especially among wild birds in captivity. Thus, the objective of this study was to analyze the prevalence of Plasmodium spp. and Haemoproteus spp. infection in wild birds in captivity in the Atlantic Forest of southeastern Brazil using microscopy and the polymerase chain reaction. Blood samples of 119 different species of birds kept in captivity at IBAMA during the period of July 2011 to July 2012 were collected. The parasite density was determined based only on readings of blood smears by light microscopy. The mean prevalence of Plasmodium spp. and Haemoproteus spp. infection obtained through the microscopic examination of blood smears and PCR were similar (83.19% and 81.3%, respectively), with Caracara plancus and Saltator similis being the most parasitized. The mean parasitemia determined by the microscopic counting of evolutionary forms of Plasmodium spp. and Haemoproteus spp. was 1.51%. The results obtained from this study reinforce the importance of the handling of captive birds, especially when they will be reintroduced into the wild.

The objective of this study was to evaluate changes in ruminal protozoa in lambs after partial replacement of feed concentrates in their diets with Gliricidia sepium silage. Twenty-four male Santa Ines lambs with an average initial weight of 14.5 kg were used. The experimental design was completely randomized, with four treatments and six replications. Treatments (given as a percentage of dry matter) were as follows: control - corn silage (600 g kg-1 as fed) + concentrate (400 g kg-1 as fed); GS133 - corn silage (600 g kg-1 as fed) + G. sepium silage (133 g kg-1as fed) + concentrate (267 g kg-1 as fed); GS267 - corn silage (600 g kg-1 as fed) + G. sepium silage (267g kg-1as fed) + concentrate (133 g kg-1 as fed); and GS400 - corn silage (600 g kg-1 as fed) + G. sepium silage (400 g kg-1as fed). Samples of rumen contents were obtained at slaughter, and analysis revealed the presence of nine genera of rumen protozoa that were present in all animals, with the exception of Enoploplastronand Eremoplastron. There were no significant differences in the average total numbers of rumen ciliates or in the composition of species between lambs. Inclusion of up to 400 g kg-1 (as fed) G. sepium silage in the diet of lambs does not affect the diversity or density of rumen protozoa.

The objective of this study was to assess whether the straining of rumen content samples influences the estimation of protozoal density. Ninety rumen samples were obtained from 30 cattle (three samples per animal). The samples were subjected to one of three treatments at the moment of collection: 1) fixation informalin without straining(control treatment), 2) straining before fixation informalin, or 3)straining after fixation informalin.To test the hypothesis of the variation in the protozoa composition in the samples, multivariate analyses with non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) were carried out. The diversity and density of rumen protozoa were negatively affected by straining before fixation.In the pre-filtered sample, the number of ciliates from the genus Entodinium was reduced, and no individuals from the Diploplastron, Elytroplastron and Eudiplodinium genera were detected; these effects were not observed in the other two treatments. Straining after fixation did not interfere with the diversity of the ruminal community, but the abundance of protozoa was greater thanin the control treatment and significantly greater than in the samples filtered before fixation. These factors suggest that post-fixation straining is the recommended technique to analyze rumen protozoa.

In this work we investigated the quantitative aspects of the relationship between Rhinella pombali (Baldissera, Caramaschi & Haddad, 2004) tadpoles and their trichodinid ectoparasites. Specimens were collected from a small stream located at an agricultural area between rainforest fragments in southeastern Brazil. A total of 80 tadpoles were investigated. Trichodina heterodentata Duncan, 1977 was the only trichodinid ciliate species recovered. All tadpoles were naturally infested by T. heterodentata with a mean intensity of 695.14 ± 33.33 trichodinid ciliates per tadpole. A positive correlation was observed between the intensity of the infestation and tadpole weight. Intensity of infestation did not significantly influence mean trichodinid diameter in the populations studied. This is the first study investigating density-dependent effects in interspecific interactions between trichodinids and anurans.

During an ecological study of the epibiotic relationship between ciliate protists and Pomacea figulina (Spix, 1827) (Gastropoda, Ampullariidae), originating from an urban stream in southeast Brazil, a high infestation by the peritrich ciliate Carchesium polypinum (Linnaeus, 1758) Ehrenberg, 1830 (Ciliophora, Peritrichia) associated to the shell of one mollusc among 23 was observed. We provided a morphological and morphometric study of C. polypinum using observations of specimens in vivo, after protargol staining, and examined using scanning electron microscopy. The Brazilian-population of C. polypinum is characterized by: size of zooid in vivo 89 µm x 57 µm on average; colony regularly dichotomously branched with usually up to 40 zooids; macronucleus usually J-shaped; single contractile vacuole located in the upper third of body; myoneme not continuous throughout the colony; stalks contract despite the discontinuity of their individual myonemes; polykinety comprises three peniculi, each consisting of three kineties. The high infestation showed here could be related to the preference for eutrophic environments showed by C. polypinum and suggested that ciliate epibionts may be ecologically important in aquatic habitats.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi registrar ocorrências de predação e canibalismo em protozoários ciliados no rúmen de ovinos. Foram analisadas amostras de conteúdo ruminal de cinco ovinos mestiços Santa Inês, fistulados no rúmen, mantidos em pastagem natural de caatinga, no município de Sertânia, Pernambuco. Foram obtidas seis amostras de conteúdo ruminal de cada ovino, totalizando 30 amostras, as quais foram fixadas em formalina 18,5% (v/v). De cada amostra foi retirada uma alíquota de 1 ml de conteúdo ruminal ao qual se adicionaram três gotas de solução de lugol para a coloração e identificação dos protozoários ciliados. Estas alíquotas foram analisadas utilizando-se lâminas e lamínulas, em campos determinados randomicamente. Constatou-se a ocorrência de interações do tipo predador-presa entre ciliados de Ophryoscolecidae Stein, 1859, onde Elytroplastron bubali (Dogiel, 1928) apresentou comportamento predatório sobre Enoploplastron triloricatum (Dogiel, 1925) e sobre outras espécies de Epidinium Crawley, 1923 e de Entodinium Stein, 1859. Foram ainda observados casos de canibalismo entre espécimes de E. bubali, o que consiste no primeiro registro deste tipo de interação nesta espécie. Registra-se, ainda, pela primeira vez a ocorrência de E. bubali no rúmen de ovinos no Brasil.

The objective of the present study was to record the occurrence of predation and cannibalism among ciliate protozoans in the rumen of sheep. The analyzed samples consisted of ruminal contents of five fistulated Santa Inez crossbred sheep, maintained in a natural caatinga (scrubland) pasture in the municipality of Sertânia, Pernambuco. Six samples of ruminal content were obtained from each sheep (total of 30 samples) and fixed in formalin at 18.5% (v/v). One 1 ml aliquot was obtained from each sample of ruminal content and received tree drops of a lugol solution for staining and identification of protozoa ciliates. These aliquots were analyzed in slides and coverslips, at randomly determined fields. An instance of predator-prey interaction was observed among ciliates of Ophryoscolecidae Stein, 1859, where Elytroplastron bubali (Dogiel, 1928) preyed on Enoploplastron triloricatum (Dogiel, 1925) and on species of Epidinium Crawley, 1923 and Entodinium Stein, 1859. Cases of cannibalism were observed among specimens of E. bubali, which consist of the first record this type of interaction in this species. This is, moreover, the first record of occurrence of E. bubali in the rumen of sheep in Brazil.

Quatro vacas lactantes canuladas no rúmen, com 155 dias em lactação, foram dispostas em um quadrado latino 4 × 4 e alimentadas, duas vezes ao dia, com silagem de milho e concentrado (relação 55:45, base matéria seca), para se avaliarem os efeitos da monensina e do óleo de soja na dieta de vacas lactantes sobre a contagem de protozoários ciliados, além de estabelecer correlações entre os protozoários com alguns parâmetros da digestão e da fermentação ruminal. Os tratamentos consistiram da inclusão de 33 ppm de monensina sódica ou de 4% de óleo de soja na dieta, assim representados: dieta controle, sem óleo ou monensina - CT; dieta com monensina - MN; dieta com óleo - OL; combinação de 33 ppm de monensina e 4% de óleo de soja - OM. Verificou-se a ocorrência de 11 gêneros de ciliados, sendo Entodinium o predominante em todos os tratamentos. Não foi observada interação significativa óleo de soja × monensina sobre a contagem de protozoários e gêneros. Os gêneros Entodinium, Dasytricha, Eremoplastron e Isotricha foram reduzidos nas dietas com óleo, enquanto a monensina diminuiu a contagem de Dasytricha, Eremoplastron e Epidinium. O número total de protozoários e de ciliados celulolíticos foi reduzido pelos efeitos de óleo de soja e monensina, indicando efeito aditivo defaunatório quando combinados o óleo e a monensina. Os ciliados celulolíticos foram reduzidos pelo consumo de ácido linoléico e positivamente relacionados à digestibilidade ruminal da FDN e amônia ruminal. O número total de protozoários foi correlacionado à proporção de propionato no líquido ruminal, indicando que monensina e óleo de soja, pelo seu efeito defaunatório, podem reduzir a perda de metano no rúmen.

Four lactating dairy cows with ruminal cannula and 155 DIM were allotted to a 4 × 4 Latin square and fed twice daily corn silage and concentrate (55:45, %DM) to evaluate the effect of monensin and soybean oil in the diet of lactating cows on the counting of ciliate protozoa beyond establishing correlations between number of protozoa with some parameters of digestion and ruminal fermentation. The treatments consisted of the inclusion of 33 ppm of sodium monensin or soybean oil at 4% DM, as following: control diet, without oil or monensin - CT; diet with monensin - MN; diet with soybean oil - OL; diet with the combination of 33 ppm of monensin and 4% of soybean oil - OM. Occurrence of 11 ciliate genera was observed, being Entodinium the predominant in all treatments. No significant soybean oil × monensin interaction was observed on protozoa number and genera. The genera Entodinium, Dasytricha, Eremoplastron and Isotricha reduced in the diets with oil, while monensin reduced the counting of Dasytricha, Eremoplastron and Epidinium. The total number of ciliate protozoa and cellulolytics protozoa was reduced by soybean oil and monensin effects, showing a defaunatory additive effect when combined the oil and the monensin. The ciliate cellulolytics was reduced by linoleic acid intake and was related positively with NDF ruminal digestibility and ruminal ammonia. The total number of protozoa was correlated with the molar proportion of propionate in the ruminal liquid, suggesting that monensin and soybean oil, due their defaunatory effect, can reduce the loss of methane in the rumen.

O objetivo do presente trabalho foi registrar e descrever as alterações morfológicas e os mecanismos de ingestão em Frontonia leucas (Ehrenberg, 1833), conforme o tipo de alimento, e relacionar o alimento ingerido às diferentes condições ambientais de um sistema lótico, o córrego São Pedro, localizado no Município de Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brasil. Foram amostrados mensalmente, de agosto de 2002 a junho de 2003, três pontos que recebem diferentes níveis de lançamento de esgoto doméstico in natura. Foram preparados meios de cultura dos espécimes do ciliado em estudo, contendo água filtrada de cada ponto e os tipos de alimento observados no interior de F. leucas (cianobactérias, diatomáceas, desmídeas e tecamebas). Os mecanismos de ingestão de F. leucas foram observados in vivo, sob microscópio óptico de contraste de fase, utilizando-se como métodos de observação do comportamento a amostragem instantânea e a amostragem de seqüência. Registraram-se os seguintes parâmetros: teor de oxigênio dissolvido, pH, condutividade elétrica e temperatura da água. Os ciliados da espécie F. leucas foram observados ingerindo diatomáceas e desmídeas no ponto 1 de coleta e cianobactérias oscilatórias, tecamebas (Arcella e Centropyxis) e rotíferos nos pontos 2 e 3. O presente trabalho registra pela primeira vez a ingestão de tecamebas do gênero Centropyxis por F. leucas. Foram observados cinco mecanismos de ingestão realizados por F. leucas ao se alimentarem de cianobactérias e de tecamebas do gênero Centropyxis, sendo três relacionados com a ação ciliar e dois envolvendo mudanças físicas no citoplasma. Para a ingestão de diatomáceas, desmídeas e tecamebas do gênero Arcella somente os mecanismos que envolvem a ação ciliar foram suficientes para a ingestão, uma vez que estes alimentos são menores que o ciliado em estudo. Os dados de auto-ecologia registrados para F. leucas foram 1,98-8,01 mg l-1 O2, pH 6,9-8,73, 58-390 µS/cm e 19,5-26,2ºC, confirmando sua ampla valência ecológica.

The objective of this study was to record and describe the morphological changes and the ingestion mechanisms of Frontonia leucas (Ehrenberg, 1833) according to the food type and to relate the food ingested with the different environmental conditions in a lotic system, namely São Pedro stream, located in the municipality of Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil. We sampled three points on a monthly basis from August 2002 to June 2003, each of which receiving different levels of untreated sewage. We prepared culture media for the ciliate specimens containing filtered water from each point and the types of food observed inside F. leucas (cyanobacteria, diatoms, desmids and testate amoebas). We observed the ingestion mechanisms of F. leucas in vivo, under a phase contrast optical microscope, using instantaneous sampling and sequence sampling as behavior observation methods, noting the following parameters: dissolved oxygen concentration, pH, conductivity and water temperature. We noted the F. leucas ciliates ingesting diatoms and desmids at collection point 1 and filamentous cyanobacteria, testate amoebas (Arcella and Centropyxis) and rotifers at points 2 and 3. The present work records for the first time the ingestion of testate amoebas of the genus Centropyxis by F. leucas. We noted five ingestion mechanisms by F. leucas while feeding on cyanobacteria and testate amoebas of the genus Centropyxis, three of these related to the ciliary action and two involving physical changes in the cytoplasm. For ingestion of diatoms, desmid (Closterium) and Arcella, the mechanisms involving ciliary action alone were sufficient for ingestion, since these preys are smaller than the ciliate under study. The autecological data registered for F. leucas were 1.98-8.01 mg l-1 O2, pH 6.9-8.73, 58-390 µS/cm and 19.5-26.2ºC, confirming its ample ecological valence.

O objetivo do presente estudo foi realizar um levantamento dos protozoários ciliados dos táxons Peritrichia e Suctoria, epibiontes de Pomacea lineata (Spix, 1827) (Ampullariidae). Cinqüenta moluscos foram coletados em ambientes de vala de irrigação, em Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais. As conchas dos moluscos foram raspadas com bisturi e o material extraído analisado in vivo sob o microscópio de luz. Todos os moluscos examinados apresentaram ciliados epibiontes em suas conchas. Registra-se pela primeira vez ciliados epibiontes em P. lineata. Sete gêneros de ciliados: cinco peritríquios e dois suctórios foram identificados e classificados nas subclasses Peritrichia : Carchesium Ehrenberg, 1838 (Vorticellidae), Epistylis Ehrenberg, 1830 (Epistylidae), Opercularia Stein, 1854 (Operculariidae), Vaginicola Lamarck, 1816 (Vaginicolidae) e Vorticella Lìnnaeus, 1767 (Vorticellidae); e Suctoria: Acineta Ehrenberg, 1834 (Acinetidae) e Tokophrya Bütschli, 1889 (Tokophrydae). Os resultados deste estudo demonstraram que P. lineata constitui o microambiente de uma comunidade de protozoários ciliados que exibem interações tróficas complexas.

This study made a survey on the ciliate protozoans from Peritrichid and Suctorian taxa, epibionts of Pomacea lineata (Spix, 1827) (Ampullariidae). Fifty mollusks were collected in places of irrigation ditches and shell was scraped with a scalpel and the extracted material was analyzed in vivo by light microscopy. All examined mollusks presented epibiont ciliates on their shells. For the first time epibiont ciliates in P. lineata was record. Seven genera of ciliates: five peritrichids and two suctorians, were identified and classified within the subclass Peritrichia: Carchesium Ehrenberg, 1838 (Vorticellidae), Epistylis Ehrenberg, 1830 (Epistylidae), Opercularia Stein, 1854 (Operculariidae), Vaginicola Lamarck, 1816 (Vaginicolidae) and Vorticella Linnaeus, 1767 (Vorticellidae); and Suctoria: Acineta Ehrenberg,1834 (Acinetidae) and Tokophrya Bütschli,1889 (Tokophrydae). The results showed that P. lineata constitute the microenvironment of a ciliate protozoan community that presents complex trophic interactions.

Aiming at obtaining the community profile and verifying the occurrence of antagonism and association among ciliates, samples of rumen content were analysed in 100 bovines soon after their death. The animals were killed at the Juiz de Fora Municipal slaughter house (Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais State, Brazil) between August 1996 and May 1997. Ciliates occurred, respectively, in the following percents and samples number: Entodinium Stein, 1859 (50,48; 100), Diplodinium Schuberg, 1888 (5,59; 98), Eudiplodinium Dogiel, 1927 (6,91; 97), Ostracodinium Dogiel, 1927 (9,68; 95), hotricha Stein, 1859 (4,15; 93), Dasytricha Schuberg, 1888 (3,31; 93), Metadi nium Awerinzew & Mutafowa, 1914 (3,06; 90), Eremoplastron Kofoid & MacLennan. 1932 (7,39; 87), Epidinium Crawley, 1923 (5,31; 73), Charonina Strand, 1928 (1,33; 65), Eodinium Kofoid & MacLennan, 1932 (1,49; 59), Diploplastron Kofoid & MacLennan, 1932 (0,88; 24), Elytroplastron Kofoid & MacLennan, 1932 (0,36; 16), Polyplastron Dogiel, 1927 (0,04; 03) and Buetschlia Schuberg, 1888 (0,02; 01). When the antagonistic behaviour and the association were analyzed, it was observed that Eudiplodinium was detected in the absence of Polyplastron and in the presence of Epidinium in 94% and 73% of the samples, respectively. These data confirm the antagonism and the coexistence among particular populations of rumen ciliates and allowed the identification of 94% of the samples examined as being of profile type B, none of type A and 3% of mixed A-B community and of type O. It is suggested the use of the term community profile instead of population profile, as the respective types involve associations of various ciliate populations.

The present study proposes a modification of the technique described by PURSER & MOIR (1959) for the quantitative evaluation of rumen ciliate based on an adaptation described by DEHORITY (I984). The modifying process includes: the replacement of two drops of brilliant green dye, for at least four hours, by three drops of lugol solution, for at least 15 minutes. It was made a comparative evaluation of these stainings. It was concluded that lugol solution can replace the brilliant green dye showing the following advantages: staining time reduction and subsequent speeding of sample processing; evidence of skeletal plates of entodiniomorphs making its identification easier; improved observation of small ciliates and inconspicuous structures; improved total counting and generic identification of the ciliates.

The influence of the host on the population profile and on the ciliate populations of the bovine rumen was investigated using three suckling crossbred friesian-zebu (Gir) cows, with fistulas. The genera of ciliate observed in the three hosts examined have characterized the populations as type A. The occurrence of the genera of ciliate was related to the host. lt was verified that the rumen ciliate were quantitatively influenced by inherent factors in the host animais, showing a significam difference in the total of ciliate among the hosts in ali stages of the experiment.

The resulls of the protargol's technique and Feulgen's reactions on ciliates of the genus Entodinium Stetn. 1859, Diplodinium Schuberg. 1888. Eodinium Kofoid & MacLennan. 1932, Eudiplodinium Dogiel. 1927 and Ostracodinium Dogiel. 1927 are presented. The ciliates were obtained from samples of bovine's ruminal content.

Seventeen leeches obtained from armoured catfish (Hypostomus punclatus Valenciennes, 1840) infected with Trypanosoma spp. were examined. It was observed the presence of tripomastigotes, epimastigotes and amastigotes forms as well as dividing forms in the proboscis and in the stomach, different from the ones found in the vertebrate host as regards the morfometric features and developing forms. The examination of the contents of rectum did not show tripanosomes. These facts seem to demonstrate that Batracobdella gemmata (Blanchard, 1900) is an invertebrate host of trypanosomes and the transmission is done by means of inoculation.