Descripción anatomopatológica de lesiones por helmintos gastrointestinales en tortugas motelo (Chelonoidis denticulata)

The present aimed to identify and describe lesions caused by helminths in motelo tortoises (Chelonoidis denticulata). Forty gastrointestinal tracts were collected at Belen market in Iquitos, Peru where this species is sold for meat consumption. The macroscopic analysis showed that 42.5, 70.0, and 100% of the stomachs, small intestine and large intestine respectively were parasitized or affected by pathological -possibly due to parasites-changes like nodules, blackish coloration areas, ulcers, perforations, thickening, congestion and hemorrhagic areas. Parasites of 11 species were collected: Labiduris gulosa, Labiduris zschokkei, Labiduris irineuta, Atractis marquezi, Klossinemella travassosi, Sauricola sauricola, Chapiniella variabilis, Angusticaecum holopterum and Ophidascaris arndti (Nematoda), and Halltrema avitellina and Helicotrema spirale (Trematoda). Histologically, an invasion of the four gastrointestinal layers by parasitic structures compatible with H. avitellina (and its eggs), C. variabilis, S. sauricola and un undetermined species of atractideus was observed mostly surrounded by inflammatory exudates formed by eosinophiles, giant cells, lymphocytes and connective tissue. Also, the presence of eosinophilic infiltrate in the mucosa was found as a response to the contact with O. arndti and H. spirale. The results showed that all animals presented parasitic lesions in the large intestine, most of them severe; whereas lesions in stomach and small intestine were mainly moderate and mild.