Abstract
The aim of this work was to evaluate the influence of sex, seasonality and infections by Trypanosoma cruzi and Trypanosoma evansi on the hematological values of crab-eating foxes (Cerdocyon thous) that inhabit the Pantanal from Mato Grosso do Sul. Between November of 2015 and October of 2016, 48 animals were sampled. The hematological values measured were erythrocyte and leukocyte counts, globular volume and mean corpuscular volume. We considered as parasitized the positive animals for T.cruzi and T. evansi in any of diagnostic tests used. We observed that seven (14.5%) of the crab-eating foxes were parasitized only by T.cruzi, seven by T. evansi, and nine (19%) were coinfected. The parasitized animals by T.cruzi showed a significant increase in leukocyte counts (14.7 x 103) compared to non-parasitized animals (10.4 x 103), parasitized by T. evansi (12.4 x 103) and coinfected (12.9 x 103). We observed a significant difference in relation to mean erythrocyte and mean corpuscular volume values between wet and dry periods: 2.6 x 106 and 165, and 3.4 x 106 and 132, respectively. All presented morphologically unconfirmed macrocytosis.
Keywords:
Crab-eating Fox; Hematology; Sylvan; Trypanosoma