Determinação de hemogregarina em Boa constrictor constrictor mantidos em cativeiro

Abstract

We aimed to determine hemogregarines presence in snakes of the Boidae family kept in captivity in Pará (PA), Brazil, and to relate it with sex, clinical and hematological and ectoparasitism. This study had authorization from Sisbio/IBAMA to be done. Nineteen Boa constrictor snakes were used, belonging to the "Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi" (Belém/ PA) and "Xerimbabo Farm" (Santo Antônio do Tauá/PA). Blood smears were examined with 400x magnifiication, while the parasitemia percentage was determined by counting 550 red blood cells with 1000x magnification. From the snakes studied (n=19), nine were parasitized (47.36%) and there was no correlation between hemogregarines presence, sex, clinical and hematological changes. Hemoparasitosis correlation was detected only with the ectoparasites presence; however further studies are needed to determine the real hemogregarines prevalence in snakes kept in captivity in Pará, since there is a huge gap of data in the veterinary specialized literature about the fauna of the Amazon region.