Primeiro relato de Cryptosporidium spp. em emas (Rhea americana) cativas de zoológico no Brasil

the aim of this study was to evaluate the occurrence of cryptosporidium spp. oocysts in common rhea (rhea americana) living in captivity in the zoological park of the zoobotanical foundation of the state of rio grande do sul, southern brazil. cryptosporidium spp. oocysts were detected in fecal smears of common rhea and in water samples by using the modified ziehl-neelsen staining method. the morphometric analysis of coccidia revealed small spherical oocysts, measuring, on average, 4.91 [im x 4.91 fim, and a length/width ratio of 1. the detection of cryptosporidium spp. oocysts in fecal and water samples is important as it can indicate the transmission and maintenance of cryptosporidiosis in susceptible hosts. this is the first report of cryptosporidium spp. in r. americana in brazil.