Trachemys dorbigni, the Brazilian slider turtle, is native to Uruguay, Argentina and Brazil. In Brazil the species is abundant in the southern region. This research investigated the helminth fauna of this species. We examined sixty chelonians from aquatic environments of urban and rural areas in two municipalities in the State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. During the research we found Telorchis achavali and Telorchis corti (Digenea). This is the first record of T. achavali in Brazil.

This study collected records of 135 taxa of parasitic helminths (Nematoda, Trematoda, Cestoda, Monogenoidea and Acanthocephala) and ectosimbionts (Temnocephalida) associated with continental Testudines from South America. Eighty-nine helminths were identified at the species level while others were identified up to genus or family levels. The greatest diversity of helminths associated with Testudines was reported in Brazil. Chelidae was the family with the largest number of helminth species. Regarding the conservation status, 17 Testudines species with helminth records are cited in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Knowledge of helminth biodiversity and of relations between these organisms and Testudines can provide important data on host biology. Therefore, information generated by studies of helminths can contribute to research which aims at the conservation of organims and their...

Se estudió la asociación entre los helmintos epibiontes de Temnocephalidae y la tortuga de agua dulce Trachemys dorbigni (Duméril & Bibron, 1835), comparando los ambientes urbano y rural, y el género sexual de las tortugas. Sesenta especímenes de T. dorbigni fueron recolectadas en canales urbanos y lagos de la zona rural de dos localidades de Rio Grande do Sul, extremo sur de Brasil. Los epibiontes, Temnocephala pereirai Volonterio, 2010 y Temnocephala sp. (Temnocephalidae), fueron encontrados solamente en las tortugas de la zona rural. Se observó una relación positiva entre helmintos epibiontes y los machos de T. dorbigni, sugiriendo que la dinámica poblacional de los helmintos esté relacionada con el comportamiento y la condición reproductiva de T. dorbigni.

Dioctophyme renale (Goeze, 1782) se ha reportado en varias especies de carnívoros silvestres y en perros domésticos. Los oligoquetos acuáticos son hospedadores intermedios, ranas y los peces actúan como hospedadores paraténicos. Contracaecum spp. es parásito de aves y mamíferos que alimentan de peces, invertebrados actúan como hospedadores intermedios, y los peces actúan como hospedadores intermediarios y paraténicos. Este trabajo tiene como objetivo registrar larvas de D. renale y Contracaecum sp. en tortugas de agua dulce. Se examinaron nueve Phrynops hilarii (Duméril & Bibron, 1835) y 21 Acanthochelys spixii (Duméril & Bibron, 1835), colectados in Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil. Cuatro ejemplares de P. hilarii estuvieron infectados por larvas de tercer estadio de D. renale y una A. spixii estuvo infectada por larvas de tercer estadio de Contracaecum sp. Este es el primer regist...

The life cycle of species belonging to Strigea remains complex and poorly understood, especially in the Neotropical region, where information about their intermediate hosts is scarce. Rallidae birds are known for their adaptability to aquatic and semi-aquatic environments since they exhibit ability to disperse and adjust to a wide range of ecological conditions. In this study, we examined seventeen specimens of Pardirallus maculatus  (Boddaert, 1783) and one of Pardirallus sanguinolentus (Swainson, 1838) collected in southern Brazil in search for Strigea sp. metacercariae. Metacercariae occurred in 11.1% (2/18) of birds with infection intensity of 12 (Strigea sp. 2) and 28 (Strigea sp. 1) helminths found in P. sanguinolentus and P. maculatus, respectively. Metacercariae were found exclusively in the pectoralis muscle region, beneath subcutaneous tissue. These findings suggest the po...

Physaloptera liophis Vicente & Santos, 1974 was described as parasite of snake in southeastern Brazil; however, some morphological aspects need updating. In the study of helminths associated with Rhinella dorbignyi (Duméril & Bibron, 1841) (Anura: Bufonidae) in the south of the country, specimens of P. liophis were found and used for the redescription presented by this paper. Thirteen out of 100 anurans under analysis were parasitized by P. liophis. Redescription provides new information on the number of papillae of males and on morphological characteristics of the reproductive system of females.

Specimens and eggs of Temnocephala pereirai Volonterio, 2010 found on Trachemys dorbigni (Duméril & Bibron, 1835), were reported for the first time extending the known geographical distribution of T. pereirai from Uruguay to southern Brazil. Sixteen turtles were collected from a dam at 'Centro Agropecuário da Palma', Universidade Federal de Pelotas (UFPel), Municipality of Capão do Leão, State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The helminthes were fixed according to our standard protocols. Juvenile and adult temnocephalans were translucent and without the red-eye pigmentation. The worms were living in the inner corners of the plastron, near the legs, together with the eggs, and in the center of the plastron. Eggs were elongated, thick-shelled, with a small and subpolar filament. The most distinctive features of this species were: 1. cirrus's introvert proximal portion with spines from...

The objective of the study was to record the occurrence of Dioctophyma renale (Goeze, 1782) Collet- Meygret, 1802 in Galictis cuja Molina, 1782 in southern Brazil. Three specimens of G. cuja were found dead by running over on highways in the city of Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil and sent to the Laboratory of Parasitology of Wild Animals of the Federal University of Pelotas. Helminths were collected from the kidneys and the abdominal cavity with a mean intensity of infection of 4.66 helminths / host. In Brazil, D. renale had been reported parasitizing G. cuja only in the state of Paraná. Dioctophyma renale is reported for the first time in G. cuja in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.