Abstract
ABSTRACT. Rodrigues J. da S., Meireles G.S. de, Flausino W. & Lopes C.W.G. The japanense quail (Corturnix japonica): a new intermediated host for Cystoisospora felis (Wenyon, 1923) Frenkel, 1977 (Apicomplexa: Cystoisosporinae). [A codorna japonesa (Coturnix japonica): um novo hospedeiro para Cystoisospora felis (Wenyon 1923) Frenkel 1977 (Apicomplexa: Cystoisosporinae)]. Revista Brasileira de Medicina Veterinária, 34(1):14-18, 2012. Curso de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Veterinárias, Instituto de Veterinária, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, BR 465 km 7, Seropédica, RJ 23890-000, Brasil. E-mail: lopescwg@ufrrj.br Cystoisospora felis is an obligatory intracellular parasite that infects several species of felines. Infection is transmitted by either ingesting sporulated oocysts directly, or consuming an intermediated host harboring monozoic cysts. In this study, 10 Japanese quails (Corturnix japonica) were infected with a pure inoculum of C. felis (106 sporulated oocysts/ml); after 60 days post infection, liver, spleen, and cloacal bursa were removed from each quail and were separately fed to 3 kittens. A forth kitten was infected with 106 sporulated oocysts/ml orally. Fecal samples were collected from each kitten daily and evaluated for the presence of oocysts; the percent sporulation of resulting oocysts was calculated daily. In addition, 50 sporulated oocysts from each infected individual were measured in µm, and evaluated for length, width and shape index. Kitten fed on liver had an average oocyst length of 44.30 (39.53 – 48.84), width of 31.30 (27.44 – 36.05) and shape index of 1.40 (1.16 – 1.58); while the kitten fed on spleen had an average length of 46.30 (41.40– 50.71), width of 32.90 (29.30 – 37.20) and shape índex of 1.40 (1.22 – 1.71). The kitten fed on cloacal bursa had an average length of 44.80 (40.00 – 49.31), width of 31.20 (27.91 – 36.5) and shape index of 1.40 (1.18 – 1.60); and the kitten infected with sporulated oocysts orally had an average length of 43.60 (40.30 – 47.58), width of 30.80 (26.66 – 34.22) and shape index of 1.40 (1.23 – 1.58). Furthermore the prepatent and patent periods were determined for C. felis in the quail that serves as an experimental model for working in experimental conditions.