First record of Trichinella in Leopardus guigna (Carnivora, Felidae) and Galictis cuja (Carnivora, Mustelidae): new hosts in Chile

PeerJ

article

Diana Maritza Echeverry¹  AnaLía Henríquez²  Pablo Oyarzún-Ruiz¹  Maria Carolina Silva-de la Fuente³  Rene Ortega¹  Daniel Sandoval¹  Carlos Landaeta-Aqueveque¹ 

[1] Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Concepción;Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria, Universidad San Sebastián;Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Austral de Chile

关键词: Trichinella;    Wildlife;    Neotropics;    Reservoir;    Felidae;    Mustelidae;    Chile;    Zoonoses;    Mammals;   

DOI  :  10.7717/peerj.11601

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: Inra

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundTrichinellosis is a zoonotic disease with a worldwide distribution. It is caused by several species of nematodes in the genus Trichinella. Trichinella spp. are transmitted through predation or carrion consumption and occur in domestic and sylvatic cycles. In humans trichinellosis occurs due to the consumption of raw or undercooked, infected meat and is mainly associated with the household slaughter of pigs or the consumption of game animals without veterinary inspection, a cultural practice that is difficult to resolve. Therefore, knowledge of this parasite’s reservoir is relevant for better implementing public health strategies. The aim of this study was to assess the presence of Trichinella sp. in several carnivore and omnivore vertebrates in central-southern Chile.MethodsWe collected muscle tissue from a total of 53 animals from 15 species and were digested to detect Trichinella larvae which were further identified to species level using molecular techniques.ResultsWe detected Trichinella larvae in Leopardus guigna (Felidae) and Galictis cuja (Mustelidae). We identified the larvae collected from L. guigna as Trichinella spiralis, but we were unable to molecularly characterize the larvae from G. cuja. This is the first record of Trichinella in a native mustelid of South America and the first record of T. spiralis in L. guigna. This study identified two novel hosts; however, further work is needed to identify the role that these and other hosts play in the cycle of Trichinella in Chile.

【 授权许可】

CC BY