CHARACTERIZATION OF INTESTINAL ENDOPARASITES FAUNA WITH ZOONOTIC POTENTIAL OF ROAD KILLED WILD MAMMALS IN NORTHERN PARANÁ

Roads and highways are of paramount importance for national trade and transportation. Linked to this, we observe various environmental impacts, including the invasion of wildlife habitat, the roadkill of wild animals, and consequent harm to the fauna in the vicinity of the highways. The aim of the study was to characterize the intestinal parasitic fauna of wild animals killed by roadkill in Northern Paraná. Wild animals killed by roadkill were collected in situ on the main highways in the northern region of Paraná and were sent to the State University of Londrina for autopsy and biological material collection. The parasitological fecal examinations performed included Willis, Faust, and Hoffmann methods. Our results revealed a large quantity of parasites, and even though the research was conducted with a small number of animals, the results may have broader implications. Many of the parasites found have zoonotic potential, such as parasites from the classes Trematoda and Cestoda, subclass Coccidia, family Trichostrongylidae, and genera Ancylostoma spp. and Capillaria spp. It can be concluded that the identification of the intestinal parasitic fauna of wild animals killed by roadkill is a valuable tool for investigating parasites with zoonotic potential. Further studies focusing on this characterization are necessary due to the increasing interaction between humans and wild animals. This is the first report of Octosporella-like oocysts in Nasua nasua in Brazil. Molecular studies are required for confirmation.