ANATOMOPATHOLOGICAL DESCRIPTIONOF LESIONS OF GASTROINTESTINAL HELMINTHS IN MOTELO TORTOISES (Chelonoidis denticulata)

Abstract

The present aimed to identify and describe lesions caused by helminths in motelo tortoises(Chelonoidis denticulata). Forty gastrointestinal tracts were collected at Belen market inIquitos, Peru where this species is sold for meat consumption. The macroscopic analysisshowed that 42.5, 70.0, and 100% of the stomachs, small intestine and large intestinerespectively were parasitizedor affected by pathological –possibly due to parasites–changes like nodules, blackish coloration areas, ulcers, perforations, thickening,congestion and hemorrhagic areas. Parasites of 11 species were collected: Labidurisgulosa, Labiduris zschokkei, Labiduris irineuta, Atractis marquezi, Klossinemellatravassosi, Sauricola sauricola, Chapiniella variabilis, Angusticaecum holopterumand Ophidascaris arndti (Nematoda), and Halltrema avitellina and Helicotrema spirale(Trematoda). Histologically, an invasion of the four gastrointestinal layers by parasiticstructures compatible with H. avitellina (and its eggs), C. variabilis, S. sauricola and unundetermined species of atractideus was observed mostly surrounded by inflammatoryexudates formed by eosinophiles, giant cells, lymphocytes and connective tissue. Also,the presence of eosinophilic infiltrate in the mucosa was found as a response to thecontact with O. arndti and H. spirale. The results showed that all animals presentedparasitic lesions in the large intestine, most of them severe; whereas lesions in stomachand small intestine were mainly moderate and mild.