Diagnóstico parasitológico e molecular de Trypanosoma theileri em bovinos amostrados na zona sul do município de São Paulo, SP, Brasil

OBJECTIVE: Trypanosoma theileri is the type species of the subgenus Megatrypanum, first registered in cattle in South Africa and East Africa. Cattle farms in the extreme south of the municipality of São Paulo and Embu-Guaçu, are characterized as subsistence, on small properties, and 500 head of cattle were registered in 2019. This work aimed to evaluate the occurrence of T. theileri in cattle from family farms in the extreme south of the city of São Paulo and in the municipality of Embu-Guaçu, SP, Brazil. METHODS: Parasitological and molecular diagnoses were carried out on samples taken from 68 cattle in small farms in the extreme south of São Paulo. RESULTS: The specific molecular diagnosis of T. theileri was 17.6% positive (12/68) and the parasitological diagnosis was 5.8% (4/68). CONCLUSION: Although considered non-pathogenic, its presence in the host may favor other parasitic and infectious diseases.