TRICHOMONIASIS IN Bothrops jararaca (SERPENTES, VIPERIDAE)

F. C. VILELA(1), M. G. da SILVA(2), T. H. BARRELLA(1), R. J. da SILVA(3)

(1)Centro de Estudos de Venenos e Animais Peçonhentos (CEVAP), Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Botucatu, São Paulo, Brasil; (2)Departamento de Patologia, Faculdade de Medicina, UNESP, Botucatu, São Paulo, Brasil; (3)Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Biociências, UNESP, Botucatu, São Paulo, Brasil.

ABSTRACT: We describe a case of trichomoniasis in a Bothrops jararaca (Serpentes, Viperidae) donated to the Center for the Study of Venoms and Venomous Animals - CEVAP/UNESP. The animal had diarrhea with great quantity of flagellated protozoa in the feces. Microscopic examination of fecal smears stained with Giemsa revealed the presence of trichomonads, morphologically similar to Trichomonas acosta. Trichomonads were not detected in fecal exams after treatment with a single dose of 40 mg/kg metronidazole (Flagyl®).

KEY WORDS: Trichomoniasis, Trichomonas sp., Bothrops jararaca, treatment, metronidazole.

CORRESPONDENCE TO:

T. H. BARRELLA – Centro de Estudos de Venenos e Animais Peçonhentos (CEVAP), Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Distrito de Rúbião Junior, S/N, Caixa Postal 577, 18618-000, Botucatu, São Paulo, Brasil. Phone/fax: 55 14 68026054 or 68213963 Email thomaz@cevap.org.br