Banca de DEFESA: MARIA IZABEL FERNANDES GOUVEIA PEREIRA

Uma banca de DEFESA de MESTRADO foi cadastrada pelo programa.
STUDENT : MARIA IZABEL FERNANDES GOUVEIA PEREIRA
DATE: 26/02/2026
TIME: 14:00
LOCAL: Videoconferência
TITLE:

Morphological and Molecular Investigation of Hemoparasites in Testudines Batsch, 1788, and Evaluation of the Impact of Anticoagulants on Diagnostic Quality.

KEY WORDS:

Non-conventional pets, molecular biology, conservation, spectrophotomet

PAGES: 66
BIG AREA: Ciências Agrárias
AREA: Medicina Veterinária
SUBÁREA: Medicina Veterinária Preventiva
SPECIALTY: Doenças Parasitárias de Animais
SUMMARY:

The growth of the non-conventional pet market has resulted in an increase in the often irregular breeding of wild species, especially from the Order Testudines. Consequently, a rising number of animals have been seized by the Brazilian Institute of the Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (IBAMA), leading to the overcrowding of Wild Animal Triage Centers (CETAS). In this context, species such as the red-footed tortoise (Chelonoidis carbonaria) and the d'Orbigny's slider (Trachemys dorbigni) are among the reptiles most frequently sent to these institutions. In these locations, as well as in some zoos, animals are kept at high population densities, conditions that favor high parasitemia and demand rigorous sanitary control due to direct contact with human beings. In the marine environment, Brazil plays a central role in the conservation of sea turtles, harboring five of the seven species in the world, all of which are under some degree of threat. There is a clear need for studies on the hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata), the species with the lowest volume of data in the country and the world. The present study aimed to detect, through morphological and
molecular analyses, the presence of hemoparasites in animals of the Order Testudines from Rio de Janeiro (RJ) and Rio Grande do Norte (RN), in addition to comparing the efficiency of EDTA and HEPARIN anticoagulant tubes for molecular biology. In RN, 28 samples were collected from free-ranging sea turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata and Chelonia mydas). In RJ, 95 samples were obtained: 25 from zoos (Trachemys dorbigni and Chelonoidis carbonaria), 52 from CETAS (Chelonoidis carbonaria), and 18 from Rehabilitation and Depredation Centers (Chelonia mydas and Caretta caretta). Blood was collected from the jugular vein and placed in tubes with EDTA and HEPARIN. The methodology included blood smears
performed immediately after blood collection, with the production of 3 to 5 slides per animal. After natural drying, the slides were fixed in methanol for 5 minutes and stained with Giemsa for 40 minutes for analysis under light microscopy (100x). Genomic DNA was extracted (PureLink™ Genomic DNA Mini Kit) and subjected to PCR for the detection of Haemosporidians, Trypanosoma spp., Piroplasmids, Hepatozoon spp. And Hemogregarines. Microscopic examination revealed inclusions suggestive of hemoparasites, however all PCR results were negative. Evaluation via spectrophotometry (NanoDrop™) showed that, although Heparin is traditionally recommended for Testudines, samples in EDTA showed greater stability, less variability, and better purity indices. It is concluded that EDTA proved to be more effective for molecular biology analyses, representing an important methodological recommendation for genomic studies in these species.

COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
Presidente - 3247559 - BRUNA DE AZEVEDO BAETA
Interno - ***.781.297-** - CARLOS LUIZ MASSARD - UFRRJ
Externo à Instituição - ADLILTON PACHECO DE OLIVEIRA - IFES
Externo à Instituição - BÁRBARA SOUZA NEIL MAGALHÃES - UNIG
Externo à Instituição - PAULO CÉSAR MAGALHÃES MATOS - IFAP