DOI: 10.5061/dryad.q573n5tmd
title: Balantioides coli in other zoonotic parasites detected in noninvasive fecal samples of artiodactyls with emphasis on the bioinvasive in a state park in Brazil

description: Background: Over the years the mammalian fauna, including artiodactyls,
 has been decreasing and changing due to the entry of bioinvaders into
 Conservation Units, highlighting, the free-living pig, Sus scrofa, also
 called feral pig or wild boar. As it is an exotic animal, it is relevant
 to analyze the gastrointestinal parasites, highlighting those with
 zoonotic potential that may be infecting these animals and native
 artiodactyls. To expand this information, this study aims to evaluate the
 gastrointestinal parasites of artiodactyls in fecal samples collected in
 the Pedra Selada State Park and in its buffer zones in Rio de Janeiro.
 Methodology/Main Findings: Between 2020 and 2021, 101 fecal samples were
 collected with morphology compatible with artiodactyls in different areas
 of the Park. All collection points were georeferenced and plotted on maps.
 Part of the fecal material was submitted to identification of the host
 species by means of macroscopic and molecular analysis from PCR with
 primers that amplify the DNA fragment of the COI gene. The other part was
 submitted to parasite research by qualitative and quantitative
 coproparasitological techniques. The fecal samples that presented cysts of
 the Phylum Ciliophora were analyzed with primers that amplify a DNA
 fragment from the ITS1.5.8S.ITS2 region. Of the 101 samples collected, 72
 (71.3%) were found in the covered areas of Pavão Valley, 24 (23.8%) in
 Grama Valley and 5 (4.9%) in Redondo Mountain. In general, it can be seen
 that the average length of stool varied very little. Regarding the average
 values of the weights, it can be seen that they varied a lot, highlighting
 a diversity of artiodactyls possibly associated with different age groups
 and sizes of the animals. Morphologically, the feces presented brownish
 coloration, were in the form of pellets, were rounded and slightly
 pointed, characteristics that are typically associated with the Order
 Artiodactyla. Regarding host identification through molecular analysis
 with the COI gene, 79 samples were identified as belonging to Sus scrofa
 and 2 as belonging to Mazama gouazoubira. In general, forms of protozoa
 are more evident than helminths. Protozoan cysts of the Phylum Ciliophora
 were the most detected forms of parasites, being present in 40 (39.6%)
 fecal samples. These structures were found only in the feces of Sus
 scrofa. In addition to these, other parasites were also identified in the
 feces of these animals, such as non-sporulated coccidian oocyst (2.9%),
 Ascaris spp. (1.8%), Metrastrongylus spp. (5.9%), strongylid eggs (3.9%),
 Trichuris spp. (3.9%), nematode larvae (7.9%) and taxonomically
 unidentified nematode egg (1%). Of the 40 samples in which cysts were
 detected, nucleotide sequences of protozoa of the Phylum Ciliophora
 originated from 26 can be interpreted, all of which are compatible with
 Balantioides coli. Of these, 13 were classified as genetic variant of type
 B0, one of type B1, 11 of type A0 and were only characterized as type A,
 not being fully framed in any of the pre-established subtypes.
 Conclusions/Significance: It should be noted that parasites with zoonotic
 potential such as B. coli, highlighting the genetic variant of A0, were
 identified in the samples collected from Park and their buffer zones, this
 being the first study in Brazil that phylogenetically characterized this
 protozoan in free-living S. scrofa feces, placing this bioinvader as one
 of the reservoirs of this parasite.