Prevalencia de hemoparásitos de la familia Haemogregarinidae en caimanes (Caiman crocodilus) de un centro de rescate de fauna silvestre.

Abstract

Alligators are currently classified as species of “least concern” on conservation lists; however, indiscriminate hunting and the progressive deterioration of their habitat highlight the need for a reevaluation of their conservation status, as well as for greater knowledge about the pathologies to which they are susceptible. For this reason, the purpose of this project was to determine the presence of blood parasites in 20 spectacled caimans from a wildlife rescue center through direct identification in fresh blood smears, applying a quantitative, non-experimental, and descriptive method. A prevalence of 10 % of Hepatozoon spp. was obtained in reptiles 18 and 19. In addition, hematological measurements were performed, revealing a strongly direct relationship between total red blood cell count and hematocrit, a result that validates the procedures carried out at the institution as diagnostically reliable. Overall, the results contribute to the understanding of the health status of Caiman crocodilus in captivity and support the importance of strengthening epidemiological studies in wildlife species under human management.