Table 1. Gastrointestinal parasites of sloths.
Eggs characterized as GI parasites were grouped into morphotypes and identified to the finest taxonomic level possible within three phyla and five families. Representative photos are shown in Figs. 2 and 3, along with mean length × width measurements (with parentheses indicating the number of eggs measured), shapes, general descriptions, habitat, and prevalence.
| Host | Egg morphotype | Phylum | Size (μm) | Shape | Description | Prevalence (%) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Primary Forest | Urban | Total | ||||||
|
Bradypus variegatus NPrimary forest = 12 NUrban = 10 NTotal = 22 |
Spirocercidae egg morphotype 1 (Fig. 2A) |
Nematoda | 38.8 × 18.6 (1) | Oval | Thin shell, larval eggs | 0.0 | 10.0 | 4.2 |
| Spirurida egg morphotype (Fig. 2B) | Nematoda | 50.0 × 23.7 (12) | Oval | Thick, smooth shell, larval eggs | 16.7 | 40.0 | 27.3 | |
| Subuluroidea egg morphotype (Fig. 2C) |
Nematoda | 40.5 × 24.1 (2) | Oval | Smooth thin shell, no larval development | 8.3 | 0.0 | 4.2 | |
| Ascaridida egg morphotype (Fig. 2D) |
Nematoda | 77.9 × 63.0 (2) | Rounded | Thick shell, larva visible inside, | 16.7 | 0.0 | 9.1 | |
| Coccidia cyst morphotype 1 (Fig. 2E) |
Apicomplexa | 25.4 × 23.4 (10) | Round | Thin shell | 25.0 | 40.0 | 31.9 | |
|
Choloepus hoffmanni NPrimary forest = 5 NUrban = 11 NTotal = 16 |
Anoplocephalidae morphotype 1 (Fig. 3A) |
Platyhelminthes | 47.8 × 36.1 (12) | Triangular to oval | Thick wall, visible pyriform apparatus | 60.0 | 36.4 | 43.8 |
| Spirocercidae egg morphotype 2 (Fig. 3B) |
Nematoda | 49.0 × 23.6 (2) | Oval | Thin double shell | 20.0 | 0.0 | 6.3 | |
| Coccidia cyst morphotype 2 (Fig. 3C) |
Apicomplexa | 22.3 × 18.7 (16) | Rounded | Thin shell | 80.0 | 36.6 | 56.3 | |