Occurrence of eggs and oocysts of gastrointestinal parasites in passerine birds kept in captivity in Para State, Brazil/Ocorrencia de ovos e oocistos de parasitos gastrointestinais em aves Passeriformes mantidas em cativeiro no estado do Para, Brasil

The objective of this study was to detect helminth eggs and protozoan oocysts in samples of feces from birds of the order Passeriformes in Para State, Brazil. Fecal samples were collected individually from 403 passerine birds seized and kept in captivity in Para State. Samples were processed by the double centrifugation technique in saturated sucrose solution and the coccidial oocystpositive samples were submitted to sporulation in potassium dichromate 2.0%. Helminth eggs and/or protozoan oocysts were observed in 43.18% (174/403) of the fecal samples examined. Coccidial oocysts were detected in 93.68% (163/174) of the positive samples, whereas helminth eggs were observed in 10.34% (18/174) of the positive samples. Oocyst sporulation occurred in 43.56% (71/163) of the samples, and only Isospora spp. oocysts were detected. Nematode eggs of the superfamilies Trichostrongyloidea (4.60%; 8/174), Ascaridoidea (0.57%; 1/174), and Trichuroidea (0.57%; 1/174) were diagnosed in the positive samples. Cestoda eggs were diagnosed in 2.87%o (5/174), whereas Trematoda eggs were detected in 2.30% (4/174) of positive samples. Passerine birds seized and kept in captivity in the visited local presented parasitism by intestinal helminths and protozoan, with a predominance of infection with coccidia of the gender Isospora. Key words: passerine birds, endoparasites, coccidia, helminths, Brazilian Amazon. O objetivo do presente estudo foi detectar ovos de helmintos e oocistos de protozoarios em amostras de fezes de aves da ordem Passeriformes no estado do Para, Brasil. Amostras de fezes foram coletadas individualmente de 403 aves Passeriformes oriundas de apreensao e mantidas em cativeiro no estado do Para. As amostras foram processadas usando a tecnica de dupla centrifugacao em solucao saturada de sacarose e as amostras positivas para oocistos de coccidios foram submetidas a esporulacao em dicromato de potassio 2,0%. Ovos de helmintos e/ ou oocistos de protozoarios foram observados em 43,18[per thousands] (174/403) das amostras fecais examinadas. Oocistos de coccidios foram detectados em 93,68% (163/174) das amostras positivas, enquanto que ovos de helmintos foram observados em 10,34% (18/174). A esporulacao de oocistos ocorreu em 43,56% (71/163) das amostras, e somente oocistos de Isospora spp. foram detectados. Ovos de nematodeos das Superfamilias Trichostrongyloidea (4,60%; 8/174), Ascaridoidea (0,57%; 1/174) e Trichuroidea (0,57%; 1/174) foram diagnosticados nas amostras po