Metazoan and protozoan pathology of wild opossums (Didelphis virginiana) in Mexico

The aim was to describe the incidence and lesions caused by metazoan and protozoan parasites in Didelphis virginiana opossums in Mexico. From 2019 to 2021, twenty D. virginiana were collected from the state of Colima, Mexico. Post mortem, parasitological, and histopathological studies were performed to identify and describe their lesions and findings. All opossums(20/20) presented at least one type of parasite of the twelve found; the most abundant were nematodes 58.33% (7/12) Didelphostrongylus hayesi, Turgida turgida, Cruzia sp., Viannaia sp., Trichuris didelphis, Trichostrongylidae and Gnathostoma sp. Protozoa 25% (3/12), including Sarcocystis sp., Besnoitia sp., and Sarcocystis sp. A single specimen of Mathevotaenia sp., 8.3% (1/12), and Paragonimus mexicanus 8.3%, were identified (1/12). The most affected systems were the digestive, respiratory, and musculoskeletal. The most abundant parasites were Turgida turgida (20/20) 100%, Cruzia sp., (16/20) 80%, and Viannaia sp. (6/20) 30%, followed by Sarcocystis sp. cysts, (6/20) 30%. The associated parasitic lesions were: D. hayesi produce eosinophilic granulomatous bronchopneumonia, P. mexicanus eosinophilic focal granulomatous pneumonia, and Besnoitia sp., focal eosinophilic lymphoplasmacytic interstitial pneumonia. Gnathostoma and T. turgida caused severe eosinophilic granulomatous focal gastritis. Viannaia sp., Sarcocystis sp., Mathevotaenia sp., and Trichostrongylidae; caused diffuse eosinophilic mucosal enteritis. Cruzia sp., and T. didelphis, induced diffuse eosinophilic mucosal typhlitis. Sarcocystis sp. cysts were detected in the cytoplasm of muscle fibers without histological changes. RESUMO: O objetivo deste artigo foi descrever a frequência e as lesões causadas por parasitas metazoários e protozoários em gambás (Didelphis virginiana) no México. De 2019 a 2021, vinte Gambás (D. virginiana) foram coletados no estado de Colima, México. Estudos post mortem, parasitológicos e histopatológicos foram realizados para identificar e descrever suas lesões. Todos os gambás (20/20) apresentaram pelo menos um tipo de parasita dos doze encontrados, os mais abundantes foram os nematóides 58,33% (7/12) Didelphostrongylus hayesi, Turgida turgida, Cruzia sp., Viannaia sp., Trichuris didelphis, Trichostrongylidae e Gnathostoma sp. Protozoários 25% (3/12) Sarcocystis sp., Besnoitia sp. e Sarcocystis sp. Só uma única espécie de Mathevotaenia sp., 8,3% (1/12) e Paragonimus mexicanus 8,3% (1/12). Os sistemas mais acomet