An inventory of parasites infecting the jaguar (Panthera onca) across its distribution range is relevant for the conservation of this threatened big cat. In this study, we report the occurrence of helminths in a jaguar from Mexico using morphological techniques (cleared and stained mounts and scanning electron microscopy) and partial sequences of the 28S ribosomal RNA (28S rRNA) gene and the cytochrome c oxidase 1 mitochondrial (COI) gene. We also provide an updated list of helminth species reported in jaguars in the Americas. Three helminth taxa are identified in the jaguar examined from Mexico: Toxocara cati, Physaloptera sp., and Taenia sp. The new 28S rRNA sequences of To. cati, Physaloptera sp., and Taenia sp. and the COI sequence of Taenia sp. corroborate the identity of the helminths isolated from this host. One hundred and twenty-nine records of helminths parasitizing jaguars from 49 studies up to May 2023 were identified in the Americas. In most of these studies (73.6%), helminths were identified using coproparasitological techniques. Sixteen helminths (7 nematodes, 5 cestodes, 3 acanthocephalans, and 1 trematode) were identified at the species level in free-ranging and captive jaguars. The study demonstrates the value of an integrative taxonomy approach to increase the accuracy of parasite identification in wildlife, especially when helminth specimens are scarce or poorly fixed.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
---|---|
http://dx.doi.org/10.1645/23-56 | DOI Listing |
Folia Parasitol (Praha)
January 2025
State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, and Laboratory of Fish Diseases, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, Hubei Province, People's Republic of China *Address for correspondence: Frantisek Moravec, Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Branisovska 31, 370 05 Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic. E-mail: ORCID: 0000-0003-1086-1181.
The present paper comprises a systematic survey of trematodes and acanthocephalans based on helminthological examinations of 64 specimens of 14 species of freshwater fishes, belonging to six families of four fish orders, mostly from localities in Hubei Province, central China, collected in the autumn of 2002. A total of 15 trematode species (in 12 families) and 5 acanthocephalan species (in four families) was recorded. Almost all parasites are briefly described and illustrated and problems concerning their morphology, taxonomy, hosts and geographical distribution are discussed.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAm J Trop Med Hyg
December 2024
Department of Parasitology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.
To identify potential sources of hookworm infections in a Ghanaian community of endemicity that could be targeted to interrupt transmission, we tracked the movements of infected and noninfected persons to their most frequented locations. Fifty-nine participants (29 hookworm positives and 30 negatives) wore GPS trackers for 10 consecutive days. Their movement data were captured in real time and overlaid on a community grid map.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFParasite Epidemiol Control
February 2025
Centre for Research on Health and Priority Pathologies, Institute of Medical Research and Medicinal Plants Studies, PO box 13033 Yaoundé, Cameroon.
Background: Urbanization coupled with poverty has promoted the exploitation of risk zones like flood-prone areas in the city of Yaoundé. The overcrowding and poor hygiene observed in these areas are responsible for the unsmiling variations in environmental cleanliness, exploitation of river water for domestic purposes thus putting them at risk for parasitic disease transmissions. This study was conducted in order to assess the risks of human helminthiases outbreaks in relation to water physico-chemical factors in the city of Yaoundé.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Helminthol
January 2025
Institute of Biology, University of Graz, Universitätsplatz 2, Graz8010, Austria.
Surface flow of freshwater on Adriatic islands is rare due to the extreme permeability of the karst terrain. Hence, most helminthological studies of freshwater fishes in the Adriatic drainage have focused on mainland freshwater systems, while data from islands are scarce. We collected minnow, (Schinz, 1840), specimens in the Suha Ričina stream on Krk Island and screened them for helminth ectoparasites.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Vet Res
December 2024
Department of Parasitology and Invasive Diseases, National Veterinary Research Institute, 24-100 Puławy, Poland.
Introduction: The aim of this study was to estimate the occurrence of spp. and other helminth infections in grey wolves in south-eastern Poland.
Material And Methods: Overall, 74 samples of wolf faeces were examined with a multiplex PCR and a system of real-time quantitative PCR methods to detect and identify spp.
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!