New records of endoparasites and ectoparasites in free-living road-killed wild animals in the Pampa biome, Southern Brazil

Wild animals host a wide variety of parasites, and the disorders caused by these parasites are among the most prevalent and significant infectious diseases affecting wildlife. The investigation of parasitic fauna is crucial for the conservation of wild animals, domestic populations, and humans. Therefore, the aim of the study was to survey endo- and ectoparasites in free-living wildlife in southern Brazil. Carcasses of road-killed wildlife were collected from highways in the Pelotas microregion, Rio Grande do Sul. All carcasses were necropsied, and endo- and ectoparasites were collected and identified. A total of 82 animals were examined; 87.80% were infected by helminths, 51.21% infested by ectoparasites, and 48.78% were affected by both types of parasites. This study presents the first records of parasitism by Rhipicephalus microplus in Ozotoceros bezoarticus in southern Brazil, and by Ancylostoma caninum in Leopardus geoffroyi worldwide. The study contributes to the knowledge about the parasitic fauna in wild animals of the Pampa biome. The presence of parasites in these threatened species underscores the need for further research into parasitism, which is crucial for their effective management and conservation.