Infecção experimental em Podocnemis expansa (Testudines, Podocnemididae) e importância social da espécie no Rio Javaés, Tocantins, Brasil

Abstract

The species Podocnemis expansa has great importance for traditional and indigenous communities in the Amazon region. Has the title of largest chelonian of freshwater in South America and can weigh up to 60 kg, predominantly herbivorous animal can accept meat and fish in your diet in captivity. Like other organisms, they are susceptible to various parasites, and the most common endoparasites nematodes, trematodes, monógenos, cestodes and protozoa and ectoparasites from the leeches. This research aims to verify the experimental transmission of hemoparasites Haemogregarina sp. and Sauroplasma sp. for Podocnemis expansa by repast of Unoculubranchiobdella expansa leech and the social importance of chelonian in the river Javaés, Tocantins. They were captured 37 specimens of P. expansa, 17 adults and 20 young newly hatched but 11 pups died during the experiment. Leeches found were removed from the animals with the aid of a spatula and identified by morphological characters in a stereomicroscope (40x). 454 leech species Unoculubranchiobdella expansa were viewed in 17 animals captured in Javaés river. Individuals captured showed prevalence of 100% for parasitism by leeches and 64.7% of the study population was parasitized by Sauroplasma sp. The intensity of leech was significantly correlated with body condition score (n = 17; rs = 0.812, p ≤ 0.001). There was no significant correlation between the prevalence and intensity leech (χ2 = 2.1604, df = 1, p = 0.1416). The chicks were infected, all presented Sauroplasma sp, no infection hemogregarine sp. The social research were interviewed 20 people over 18 years living in the settlement Café da Roca, near the Javaés river. About 75% of respondents claim to know someone who has the habit or who likes to eat turtles within the settlement, 15% said they eat or eat turtle eggs. As for medical use, 30% make use of turtles. The medicinal use reported by parties is the Lard Amazon Turtle, commonly used by women to combat varicose veins, scars, bronchitis, flu and cramp. It was found that 45% of respondents did not know the turtle project of Bananal Island, but 95% of respondents agreed that the turtles need to be protected. It was observed that the community of Roca coffee settlement uses the meat and the Amazon turtle as an alternative food rich in protein in place of beef.