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. 2018 Jul 28;55(3):240–246. doi: 10.2478/helm-2018-0017

First Report of Athesmia Foxi Goldberger and Crane, 1911 (Digenea, Dicrocoeliidae) from Chrysocyon Brachyurus (Illiger, 1815) (Carnivora, Canidae) and Pathological Findings

N B Ederli 1,*, I De Oliveira C Demarque 2, S S Mello Gallo 2, H J Leandro 3, L S Da Silveira 3, F C R De Oliveira 2
PMCID: PMC6662010  PMID: 31662652

Summary

Chrysocyon brachyurus, the largest South American canid, is a native species of the Brazilian cerrado. The present study is aimed to report the occurrence of the trematode, Athesmia foxi, in the liver of a new host, C. brachyurus, and to describe its morphology and pathology. One C. brachyurus individual was necropsied and examined for the presence of parasites. Worms were collected from the bile ducts and based on morphological and morphometrical characteristics, such as a relatively large, slender, aspinose, elongated shape with vitellarium present on the upper left side of the body were identified as A. foxi. On the host, hepatic lesions limited to the bile ducts and periportal regions, were characterized as chronic-active cholangitis, biliary hyperplasia, and fibrosis . This is the first report of A. foxi parasitizing C. brachyurus, demonstrating that this parasite has no host specificity and can be widely distributed. A. foxi lesions noted in C. brachyurus are similar to those noted in various other mammalian hosts.

Keywords: Digenea, Dicrocoeliidae, Athesmia foxi, Canidae, Chrysosyon, histopathology, Brazil

Introduction

The maned wolf, Chrysocyon brachyurus (Illiger, 1815), is the largest canid from South America and is the only species of its genus. It is a native species of the Brazilian cerrado, where it feeds on small animals and wild fruits (Nowak, 1991). The maned wolf is listed as near threatened in the IUCN’s Red List of 2017. The decline in the population of this species is due to poaching and habitat destruction (Cavinato, 1999).

The taxonomy of the genus Athesmia needs to be better clarified. There are 12 species in the genus, being ten reported in birds and two in mammals. These species have morphological similarities that make it difficult to differentiate between them. There are conflicts over the validity of many of these species. Travassos (1944) considered the separation of the species according to geographic distribution in a broad sense, combined with their individual hosts. However, Freitas (1962) and Byrd et al. (1967) consider the genus as monotypic, with A. heterolechithodes being the unique species of the genus, considering all other proposed species within this one.

The present study aimed to report the occurrence of A. foxi in the liver of a new host, C. brachyurus, and to describe its morphology and pathology.

Material and Methods

One maned wolf, C. brachyurus, from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, was necropsied and examined for the presence of endohelminths. Trematodes found in the bile ducts were collected and relaxed in saline solution. The worms were fixed in hot AFA (93 parts of 70 % ethanol; 5 parts formaldehyde; 2 parts glacial acetic acid) for 48 h, and then stored in 70 % ethanol. Digeneans were stained with Semichon’s carmine, dehydrated using a graded ethanol series, cleared in glove oil, and mounted in Dammar gum. Measurements were performed on only three relaxed specimens because the other seven specimens were wrinkled, what might interfere with proper evaluation. Measurements of eggs (n=20) were taken from normal-appearing eggs in flat profile from the distal end of the uterus. Measurements are given in micrometers (unless otherwise stated), with mean ± standard deviation followed by a range in parentheses. Measurements were performed using an Axioplan Zeiss light microscope (Carl Zeiss, Germany) equipped with a Canon Power-Shot A640 digital camera (Canon, China), and Zeiss AxionVision Sample Images Software (Carl Zeiss, Germany) was used for the image analysis. Drawings were performed with the aid of an Axioplan Zeiss light microscope (Carl Zeiss, Germany) equipped with a camera lucida and were digitized using Adobe Photoshop Elements 8.0 software with the aid of an Intuos4 Wacon® pen tablet (Wacon Co. Ltd, Japan).

Specimens were deposited in the Helminthological Collection of the Oswaldo Cruz Institute (CHIOC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (CHIOC no 38867 a-c).

Ethical Approval and/or Informed Consent

The research was complied with all the relevant national regulations and institutional policies for the care and use of animals, according to federal resolution of veterinary medicine no 829, from April, 25th, 2006. The maned-wolf was received by the Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminese’s Veterinary Hospital after being hit by a motor vehicle on a highway, where he died.

Results

Flukes collected from the bile ducts of a C. brachyurus were identified as A. foxi (Fig. 1) based on morphological and morphometrical characteristics (Table 1). Worms were characterized with a relatively large, slender, aspinose, elongated body (Fig. 1A) The following measurements were obtained: body length 10.1 ± 1.3 (8.8 – 11.3) mm; maximum width 851 ± 58 (785 - 890) measured at midbody level; oral sucker 452 ± 135 (322 – 592) long by 427 ± 149 (310 – 594) wide (ratio 1:1); distance from oral sucker to anterior extremity 1,637 ± 411 (1,257 – 2,074); ratio of pharynx width to oral sucker width approximately 1:3; ventral sucker 295 ± 32 (264 – 328) long by 316 ± 69 (265 - 395) wide (ratio 1:1); prepharynx absent; pharynx 124 ± 3 (122 – 127) long by 101 ± 13 (91 – 116) wide; esophagus 408 ± 88 (334 - 505) long. Cecal bifurcation was near to midlevel of forebody and anterior to genital pore (Fig. 1a) Ceca were similar in length, ending after the posterior end of vitellaria. Testes were lobed, tandem, and situated at midlevel of the upper half of the body. Anterior testes measured 494 ± 104 (424 – 615) long by 388 ± 58 (322 – 433) wide. Posterior testes were longer than they were wide, 662 ± 101 (584 – 775) long by 393 ± 45 (357 – 443) wide. Medial cirrus sacs measured 557 ± 120 (443 – 683) long by 101 ± 10 (89 – 107) wide, measured at the base, situated between the cecal bifurcation and ventral sucker, short cirrus and short ejaculatory duct and were surrounded by prostate cells (Fig. 1b) Intertesticular distance was 235 ± 90 (167 – 337). Genital pore near cecal bifurcation (Fig. 1b) was noted on the midline of the body. Distance of the posterior testes to the ovary was 547 ± 51 (491 – 591), representing 5.4 % of total body length. The ovary was lobed (Fig. 1c) measuring 430 ± 115 (308 – 537) long by 358 ± 44 (334 – 417) wide, was post-testicular and was located approximately at the midlevel of the body. The seminal receptacle was rounded and located posterior to the ovary (Fig. 1c) Laurer’s canal was present, arising from the oviduct across from the seminal receptacle, with the opening not observed. There was a single dendritic vitelline field (Fig. 1a) and vitellarium were present on the left side of the body, located in the upper half of the posterior half of the body, measuring 2,129 ± 253 (1,868 – 2,374) long and representing 21 % of total body length. Mehlin gland was present, located posterior to the ovary, at the anterior end of the vitelline field. The distance from the posterior end of the vitelline field to the posterior end of the body was 2,811 ± 350 (2,578 – 3,213). The uterus was large, highly coiled, and postacetabular, filling most of the hindbody (Fig. 1a) Numerous operculated eggs were noted, measuring approximately 37 ± 1 (36 – 39) long by 20 ± 0.8 (18 – 21) wide. Excretory vesicle was long, extending to the midbody region, and I-shaped; with a terminal excretory pore.

Fig. 1.

Fig. 1

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Athesmia foxi from the maned Wolf, Chrysocyon brachyurus Illiger, 1815 (Carnivora, Canidae), from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (a) Ventral view of fully mature adult; (b) Cirrus sac and seminal vesicle in ventral view; (c) Female ge nital complex, ventral view. os - oral sucker; f– pharynx; o– oesophagus; gp – genital pore; cs – cirrus sac; vs – ventral sucker; u– uterus; at – anterior testis; pt – posterior testis; ov – ovarium; v– vitellaria; c– cecum; ev – excretory vesicle; pg – prostate gland; sv – seminal vesicle; vd – vas deferens; sr – seminal receptacle; l– Lauren’s gland; m– Mehlin’s gland.

Table 1.

Comparisons of measurements in μm of Athesmia foxi Goldberger and Crane, 1911.

Characteristic Athesmia foxi
Present study Goldberg; Crane, 1911 Stunkard, 1923
Total body length 10,144 (8,800 – 11,300) 6,600 – 8,000 7,000 – 10,000
Body width 851 (785 – 890) 855 500 – 750
Oral sucker length 452 (322 – 592) 262 240 – 290
Oral sucker width 427 (310 – 594) – 230 – 260
Pharynx length 124 (122 – 127) 82 80 – 100
Esophagus length 408 (334 – 505) 180 – 340 –
Ventral sucker length 295 (264 – 328) 340 200 – 230
Ventral sucker width 316 (265 – 395) 210 – 220 180 – 210
Cirrus sac length 557 (443 – 683) 1/6 of body 875 – 1,250
Cirrus sac width 101 (89 – 107) – 200 – 270
Anterior testis length 494 (424 – 615) – 40 – 50
Anterior testis width 388 (322 – 433) 510 – 540 430 – 600
Posterior testis length 662 (584 – 775) 420 – 520 360 – 500
Posterior testis width 393 (347 – 443) 480 – 540 430 – 600
Ovary length 430 (308 – 537) 460 – 520 360 – 500
Ovary width 368 (334 – 417) – 270 – 370
Eggs length 37 (36 – 39) 34 27
Eggs width 20 (18 – 21) 20 19
Host Chrysosyon brabhyurus Cebus capucinus Cebus apella
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Histopathology

Histopathologic examination revealed hepatic lesions limited to the bile ducts and periportal regions. The bile ducts were widely distended and thickened due to proliferation of fibroblasts, fibrocytes and intense collagen deposition. Some ducts were occluded by up to six parasites filled with eggs, while other ducts contained free eggs and cell debris from the ductal epithelium. The epithelium was proliferative and reactive. There were formations of several ducts surrounding the main duct. Chronic-active inflammation was characterized by the presence of marked eosinophils and rare lymphocytes in the biliary epithelium and ductal wall. In this way, we can infer that A. foxi causes chronic-active cholangitis, biliary hyperplasia and fibrosis in the liver of C. brachyurus.

Fig. 2.

Fig. 2

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Histological finding from Chrysocyon brachyurus Illiger, 1815 (Carnivora, Canidae) liver. (a) Bile duct containing several trematodes (*), showing formations of several ducts around the main duct (thin arrow) and fibrosis (large arrow); (b) Details of a bile duct showing formations of several ducts (thin arrow), fibrosis (large arrow) and parasites filled with eggs.

Discussion

Athesmia foxi was the first species of its genus described to infect mammals, and was noted for the first time in the liver of the South American primate Cebus capucinus. Subsequently, another species, A. parkeri, was described from a frugivorous bat, Artibeus jamaicensis. All other 10 species of the genus are reported to infect birds. Athesmia foxi has been seen in several mammal species South America, mainly in primates such as C. capucinus (Goldberger and Crane, 1911; Sawyer and Cheever, 1962; Faust, 1967), Cebus apella (Stunkard, 1923; Faust, 1967), Callicebus cupreus (Strong et al., 1926), Chiropotes albinas (Freitas, 1962), Oedipomidas oedipus (Caballero et al., 1952; Faust, 1967), Saimiri sciurea and Cebus albifrons (Faust, 1967). In addition, other non-primate mammals such as Procyon cancrivorus (Freitas, 1962) and Rattus argenticenter (Lee, 1965) have been reported as infected by A. foxi. Travassos (1942) established the genus Pseudoathesmia for specimens collected from the bile ducts of the canid Cerdocyon thous. In this genus, the vitellaria has a limited extension, not exceeding the intestinal cecum, which ends in the post-ovarian region, differing from the genus Athesmia that has a long cecum that extends beyond the post-ovarian region, and vitellaria extending along and surpassing the cecum (Travassos, 1944), concordant with the specimens collected from C. brachyurus in the present study.

The specimens collected from C. brachyurus and described by Faust (1967) appear to be different from A. foxi noted in this study, as well as from the reports of other authors. It is due the distribution of the uterus characterized in his study, which does not reach the posterior region of the body and ends approximately at the level of the end of the cecum. In the original description and in other studies regarding A. foxi (Stunkard, 1923; Travassos, 1944), the uterus occupies the region between the ventral sucker and the posterior extremity of the body (Fig. 1a)

Dronen (2014) divided the species of the genus Athesmia into two groups based on the posterior extension of the cecum in relation to the field occupied by the vitellaria: the attilae body type, in which the cecum is unequal, but both extend to at least near the level of the posterior end of the vitelline field or surpass it posteriorly (A. attillae, A. butensis, A. ralli, A. reelfooti, A. wehri). This is apart of the heterolechithodes body type, in which the cecum on the side of the vitelline field ends at the posterior margin of the vitelline field, usually near its anterior margin, whereas the opposing side’s cecum extends to at least the level of the posterior margin of the vitelline field, generally surpassing it posteriorly (A. foxi, A. parkeri, A. heterolechithodes, A. jolliei, A. kassimovi). According to Dronen (2014), the two species of the genus Athesmia that infect mammals (A. foxi and A. parkeri) present the heterolechithodes body type, i.e., with different cecum lengths, one longer than other. However, in the original description and in other studies performed on A. foxi (Stunkard, 1923; Travassos, 1944), both caeca exceed the vitelline field, characteristic of the attilae body type described by Dronen (2014).

Stunkard (1923) collected A. foxi from Cebus apella and described differences in the extent of the cecum in some specimens. Usually, one side of the cecum extends more posteriorly than the other. However, Stunkard (1923) stated that either cecum may be longer, and both may exceed the vitelline field. In a specimen collected by Stunkard (1923), the cecum on the vitelline side ends 0.74 mm before the caudal margin of the vitellaria, whereas the cecum on the opposite side extends 0.12 mm caudally to the vitellaria. In another specimen, the cecum on the vitelline side extends 0.54 mm posterior to the vitellaria field, while the cecum on the opposite side extends 0.63 mm anteriorly to the caudal margin of the vitellaria. In a third specimen, both cecum extend caudally to the vitellaria. The cecum on the vitellaria side exceeds the margin by 0.24 mm and the cecum on the opposite side by 0.15 mm. Thus, we do not consider extension of the cecum as a valid distinguishing characteristic between species of the genus Athesmia. In our study, all specimens collected from C. brachyurus were similar, with sub-equal cecum that both exceed the vitelline field, which differs from the identification key for the species of the genus Athesmia elaborated by Dronen (2014).

Travassos (1944), in his review of the family Dicrocoeliidae, when analyzing several characteristics of the parasites described in the genus Athesmia, considered it impossible to distinguish the different species based only on morphology. The only exemption are A. wehri and A. parkeri, because these two species have a relatively larger body than the others. The other species, according to Travassos (1944), were distinguished according to the geographic distribution and diversity of the hosts, which the author considered to be poor distinguishing characteristics. The same author considered only the following as valid species: A. heterolechithodes as a parasite of birds of the old world; A. rudecta as parasites of neotropic birds, considering A. attilae, A. pricei and A. butensis as synonyms thereof; A. foxi as a parasite of South American mammals; A. wehri as a parasite of neoartic birds with a relatively wide body; and A. parkeri as a parasite of Chiroptera, also with a wide body. In his review of the genus Athesmia, Travassos (1944) analyzed specimens of several hosts, concluding that they were all similar, but reiterated the species cited above, separated based on their hosts and distribution.

Byrd et al. (1967), after analyzing types, paratypes and additional specimens of A. heterolechithodes, A. wehri and A. jollieie deposited in the USNM Helminthological Collection, along with several specimens studied by their group, concluded that the genus Athesmia is monotypic. Athesmia heterolechithodes is reported to infect terrestrial hosts, including desert environments, in addition to aquatic and semi-aquatic hosts (birds), suggesting that this parasite has no specificity for its definitive or for its intermediate hosts, which, according to these authors, may be an indication that this parasite infects both birds and mammals, with A. heterolechithodes being the unique species of the genus, in agreement with Freitas (1962).

Yamaguti (1971) recognized 11 species belonging to the genus Athesmia, with nine species being parasites of birds (A. heterolechithodes, A. attilae, A. butensis, A. jolleie, A. kassimovi, A. pricei, A. reelfooti, A. rudecta and A. wehri) and only two species being parasites of mammals (A. foxi and A. parkeri). Recently, another species of the genus Athesmia was described from a bird, Rallus longirostris (Gruiformes, Rallidae), named A. ralli Dronen, 2014, thus totaling 12 species of the genus Athesmia.

Dronen (2014) presented two identification keys for 11 species of the genus Athesmia, not including the species A. rudecta. In one of the keys, Dronen (2014) separates the species according to the body types described by him (atillae body type and heterolechithodes body type) and according second identification key, the author groups all species together, identifying them by morphological characteristics, mainly by the length and width of the eggs. According to several authors, the specimens collected by them in the same host may show differences in body size and internal organs (Faust, 1967; Byrd et al., 1967). However, Dronen (2014) considers that several authors (Freitas, 1963; Mettrick and Dunkley, 1968; Nasir and Díaz, 1971; Dronen et al., 2012) have noted that egg size is one of the least variable characteristics in groups of trematodes when it is considered to differentiate species.

Considering the great similarities between the species of the genus Athesmia, described by Travassos (1944), Freitas (1962), Faust (1967) and Byrd et al. (1967), who affirm that the species of the genus Athesmia have discrete morphological and morphometric differences; even when collected from the same hosts, molecular studies have become necessary to confirm the validity of the several species already described from this genus. However, based on the study of Travassos (1944) and Yamaguti (1971), who consider A. foxi and A. parkeri (wide body) the two parasitic species of mammals, we can infer that according to their morphology and morphometry, the specimens collected from C. brachyurus in the present study belong to the species A. foxi.

Research on the lesions caused by trematodes of the genus Athesmia is scarce. Kumar et al. (1980) described the histopathology of the liver of two monkeys, Cebus albifrons, infected with A. foxi, and reported that one of the monkeys had changes in tissue structure and necrosis, which were not observed in the liver of C. brachyurus from the present study. However, this monkey had a concomitant infection with pseudotuberculosis, which may have resulted in these necrotic changes. In the second monkey analyzed by Kumar et al. (1980) as well as in C. brachyurus in our study, the infection appears to have a proliferative and reactive aspect, but without necrosis such as those observed in the aforementioned monkey. All of the lesions observed in the liver of C. brachyurus are similar to those observed by Kumar et al. (1980) in C. albifrons. Except for the presence of evident hemorrhage in the hepatic parenchyma and the presence of macrophages in periductal cell infiltrates, which were not observed in the histological sections from recent study.

This is the first report of A. foxi parasitizing C. brachyurus, demonstrating that this parasite has no host specificity and is widely distributed. In addition, A. foxi lesions are similar across the various species of mammalian hosts. Thus, the present study shows important data related to a new parasitosis that affects C. brachyurus, an animal listed as near threatened in the IUCN Red List. The impact of this parasitosis on the health of these wild canids is unknown.

Acknowledgments

This study was supported by Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq), and Fundação Carlos Chagas Filho do Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ).

Footnotes

Conflict of interest

Authors state no conflict of interest.

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