Occurrence of Endoparasites in Wild Songbirds from Illegal Wildlife Trade

Abstract

Trafficking in wild animals represents one of the main illicit activities in the world. In Brazil, among the main trafficked species the songbirds of the Passeriform Order stand out. The distress to which these birds are exposed, especially the newly caught ones, and the unhealthy conditions to which they are subjected, cause, in addition to the damage to well-being, an important drop in resistance, which exacerbates infectious and parasitic conditions. Clinical assessments and coproparasitological examinations were carried out using the Willis-Mollay method on 102 passerines from apprehension in western Paraná. Of the total number of animals evaluated, 76% (78/102) had hyperkeratosis in the pelvic limbs, 55% (56/102) were infested with mites on remiges and 54% (52/102) had changes in warping. The results indicated 94% (96/102) of positivity for endoparasites, of which 96% (92/96) were for coccidian oocysts, 1% (1/96) for tenia eggs and 3% (3/96) for mixed infection (coccid oocysts and tenia eggs). These findings corroborate that the poor conditions of hygiene, nutrition and the high stocking density observed in illegal housing can predispose birds to more severe clinical manifestations.