HELMINTHS OF Chelonia mydas (GREEN SEA TURTLES) RESCUED ON THE SOUTH COAST OF SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL

Abstract

The objective was to carry out a survey of gastrointestinal helminths of Chelonia mydas (green turtles) rescued on the south coast of São Paulo, Brazil. For this, 118 reports of coproparasitological and anatomopathological exams performed by the Biopesca Institute between 2018 and 2019, from the Aquatic Biota Monitoring Information System, were analyzed, obtaining the number of parasitized animals, species of gastrointestinal helminths found, the parasitized organ and the presence of mono or polyparasitism. The parasitic ecological indices of prevalence, average intensity and average abundance were calculated. The results revealed 102 animals housed endoparasites, with a prevalence of 86.44% of parasitized C. mydas. The most affected organs were the small intestine (63.06%) and stomach (63.06%). 13 species of the Trematoda Class were identified and the highest prevalences were observed for the helminths Cricocephalus albus (75.49%), Metacetabulum invaginatum (42.15%) and Pronocephalus obliquus (28.43%). The most abundant helminth was C. albus (11.86), followed by M. invaginatum (11.61) and P. obliquus (4.50). The highest mean intensity found was of the species M. invaginatum (31.88), and then for P. obliquus (18.34) and for C. albus (18.18). Among the parasitized turtles, 42.37% had monoparasitism and 51.69% had polyparasitism, with an association between two to eight species of parasites. The gastrointestinal helminths of Chelonia mydas rescued on the south coast of São Paulo are predominantly trematodes, with a high prevalence, intensity and average mean when compared to the existing literature.