Descrição taxonômica de Cruzia sp. nov. e Aspidodera sp. nov. (Nematoda, Ascaridida), parasitas de intestino grosso de Philander opossum Linnaeus, 1758, Marsupial de Carajás-Pará, Brasil

Abstract

The Brazil possesses the biggest biodiversity of the planet, presenting important ecosystems, such as the Amazonian Forest, Atlantic Forest, Cerrado, Pantanal and the Caatinga. The Amazon region for its geographic and partner-economic characteristics propitiates the occurrence of some „emerging‟ and „re-emerging‟ infectious and parasitic illnesses. The objective of this work is to carry taxonomic studies on the helminthes found in the digestive system of marsupials of the Philander opossum species, deriving from the National Forest of Tapirapé-Aquiri - Mountain range of the Carajás. This wild animal from the Didelphimorfia order and Didelphidae family presents nocturnal habits; it fed on small fruits; is important for dispersion of the seeds and it is common in urban environments. The Philander opossum is a wild reservoir of pathogenic protozoa, such as Trypanosoma cruzi, Nuttallia brasiliensis and many worms. Preliminary analyses of the intestine of this host, showed numerous nematodes that had been analyzed by light Scanning Electronic Microscopy for species identification. The capture of nematodes was made in PBS (Phosphate Buffer Saline) and the parasites were transferred to fixing solution (EAGERNESS) (Alcohol 70%, Formol P.A and ascetic acid P.A.), posteriormenty these helminthes were processed with: dehydration in increasing etanolic series, clarification with Lactophenol of Aman, mounting between blade and coverslip. Analyses, desingns and photographs were made in the microscope Olympus BX 41 with draying and also processed in Scanning Electronic microscopy (SEM). The results indicated the presence of parasites from the thick intestine of P. opossum from Carajás-Pará, belowging to Kathlaniidae and Aspidoderidae families, and according the morphologic data, these parasites are new species from the genus Cruzia and Aspidodera.