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TRICHINELLA AND AT LEAST THREE SPECIES OF SARCOCYSTIS PARASITIZE THE MUSCLES OF BOBCATS (LYNX RUFUS) FROM MISSISSIPPI.
- Source :
-
The Journal of parasitology [J Parasitol] 2024 Jul 01; Vol. 110 (4), pp. 402-411. - Publication Year :
- 2024
-
Abstract
- Muscles of 25 bobcats (Lynx rufus) from remote areas of Mississippi in 2017 were tested for parasites. Testing for Sarcocystis infections included microscopic examination of fresh unstained muscle squashes, pepsin digestion of hearts and tongues, and histological sections of paraffin-embedded tissues. Sarcocystis spp. infections were detected in the muscles of 21 (84%) by a combination of methods. Sarcocysts were detected in the unstained tongue squashes of 2 bobcats. Sarcocystis sp. bradyzoites were detected in the pepsin digests of 3 of 19 hearts, and 12 of 19 tongues. In paraffin-embedded histological sections, sarcocysts were detected in 7 of 25 hearts, 17 of 25 tongues, and 5 of 23 limb muscles. Based on the character of the cyst wall, at least 3 morphologic types of sarcocysts were detected: those with small spikes on the cyst wall, corresponding to Sarcocystis felis, those with long villar protrusions, corresponding to Sarcocystis neurona, and those lacking visible cyst wall protrusions, representing an unidentified type of sarcocyst. Myositis associated with sarcocysts was seen in the tongues of 3, and in the limb muscles of 1 bobcat. Multilocus genotyping of the DNA extracted from paraffin-embedded sections from 2 bobcats, employing 18S, 28S, COI, ITS-1, and 5.8S and rpoB genes, diagnosed Sarcocystis caninum, S. felis, Sarcocystis lutrae, and S. neurona. An encapsulated species of Trichinella was identified in the tongue of 1; it represents the first documented occurrences in bobcats from Mississippi. Taken together, these observations suggest intensive exposure of these wild carnivores to Trichinella tissue cysts, implies predation or scavenging on these tissues promotes parasite transmission, and raises caution concerning zoonotic risk when such meat is rendered for human consumption.<br /> (© American Society of Parasitologists 2024.)
- Subjects :
- Animals
Mississippi
Female
Male
Heart parasitology
Muscle, Skeletal parasitology
DNA, Protozoan isolation & purification
DNA, Protozoan chemistry
Prevalence
Sarcocystosis veterinary
Sarcocystosis parasitology
Sarcocystis classification
Sarcocystis isolation & purification
Sarcocystis genetics
Lynx parasitology
Trichinellosis veterinary
Trichinellosis parasitology
Trichinella isolation & purification
Trichinella classification
Trichinella genetics
Tongue parasitology
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1937-2345
- Volume :
- 110
- Issue :
- 4
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- The Journal of parasitology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 39169852
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1645/24-6