Endoparasites in wild birds in the Brazilian Amazon

Wild birds host a wide variety of endoparasites. These endoparasites are important because they cancause serious infections in birds. The present study aimed to conduct a copro-parasitological survey inwild birds captured in the Cazumba-Iracema Extractive Reserve (Resex) located in the county of SenaMadureira, State of Acre, in northern Brazil. In order to capture these birds, ornithological mist nets wereplaced in different ecosystems of the Resex. Captured birds were identified and held in cloth sacks for30 min. Fecal samples, from each bird, were collected if available. Direct examination and spontaneoussedimentation were used to analyze these samples. The prevalence rate of endoparasite infections in thefecal samples examined was 70.58% (72/102). Oocysts and cysts of protozoa were detected in 69.44%(50/72) of the samples, whereas helminth eggs were seen in 75.00% (54/72) of these specimens. To date,the southwest of the Amazon rainforest, northern Brazil, is a poorly explored area that warrants furtherresearch on the parasitic fauna of wildlife.