Compara o da infec o por protozoários em chinchila (Chinchilla lanigera) de uma cria o comercial do município de Viam o-RS, Brasil, e de chinchilas no seu habitat natural, Chile COMPARISON OF PROTOZOAN INFECTION BETWEEN CHINCHILLAS (Chinchilla lanigera) FROM A COMMERCIAL BREEDING FACILITY IN SOUTHERN BRAZIL AND CHINCHILLAS FROM A NATURAL RESERVE IN CHILE

Chinchilla lanígera é um roedor proveniente do Chile e sua cria o é com fins comerciáis. As doencas parasitarias, principalmente giardíase podem causar problemas clínicos e sanitarios, causando perdas produtivas e económicas. Foram colhidas amostras de fezes de 220 chinchilas de urna cria o comercial no sul do Brasil e 35 amostras de chinchilas da Reserva Nacional las Chinchillas no Chile, e submetidas o método de Faust e colaboradores. O total de amostras positivas para cistos de Giardia sp. foi de 31,37%(80/255); da cria o comercial foi de 36,36%(80/220). O número de amostras que apresentaram mais de 5 cistos/campo foi 4,55%(10/220). Todas as amostras dos animáis da Reserva foram negativas. N o houve associa o entre a positividade e a faixa etária dos animáis analisados. Chinchilla lanígera is a rodent native to Chile which is bred for commercial purposes. Parasitic diseases, mainly giardiasis, may cause clinical and sanitary problems and lead to production and economic losses. Fecal samples were collected from 220 chinchillas pertaining to a commercial breeding facility in southern Brazil and from 35 chinchillas from Las Chinchillas National Reserve in Chile. All samples were analyzed using the method proposed by Faust et al. Positive samples for Giardia cysts amounted to 31.37% (80/255); 36.36% (80/220) was recovered from the commercial breeding facility. The rate of samples with over 5 cysts/field was equivalent to 4.55% (10/220). All of the samples collected from the National Reserve were negative for Giardia sp. No association was found between positive rates for Giardia sp. and the age of chinchillas.