A survey of hemoparasite infections in free-ranging mammals and reptiles in French Guiana

Blood smears of 1,353 free-ranging mammals (35 species) and 112 reptiles (3 1 species) from French Guiana were examined for hemoparasites. Parasites fr om 3 major groups were recorded: Apicomplexa (including hemogregarines, pir oplasms, and Plasmodium spp.), Trypanosomatidae, and Filaroidea. Fifty perc ent of the individuals (86% of the species) were infected by parasites from at least 1 group. Hemogregarines, identified as Hepatozoon sp., infected n umerous snakes with high prevalences (30-100%); infection is reported for t he first time in 5 host genera of snakes: Clelia, Oxybelis, Pseustes, Rhino botryum, and Bothriopsis. Infections were also observed in 4 marsupial spec ies and 1 rodent. Hepatozoon spp. recorded in Didelphis albiventris (Marsup ialia) and Coendou prehensilis (Rodentia) may be new species. Plasmodium sp . were observed in 2 snake species, Dipsas indica (Colubridae) and Bothrops atrox (Viperidae). Plasmodium brasilianum was recorded in all 5 primate sp ecies examined. Piroplasms were observed in all mammal orders except primat es. Large terrestrial rodents were the main hosts of members of the Babesid ae; 42% of Myoprocta acouchy, 36% of Dasyprocta agouti, and 44% of Agouti p aca were infected. Trypanosomes were common in mammals and were recorded in 70% of the examined genera. Trypanosoma cruzi-like infections were reporte d in 21 mammal species, including sloths, rodents, carnivores, and primates . Microfilariae were also widespread, with higher prevalences in sloths, an teaters, and porcupines (>40% of the individuals infected) and in tamarins (95% infected). This survey highlights some potential anthropozoonotic risk s due to the recent further evidence of Plasmodium brasilianum and P. malar iae as a single species and to the increased diversity of hosts for Trypano soma cruzi.