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Sylvatic trichinellosis in Texas
D B Pence1, G La Rosa, F Mancini Barbieri
1Department of Pathology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, 3601 4th Street, Lubbock, Texas 79430, USA.
Parasite (Paris, France)
|August 4, 2001
Summary
Sylvatic trichinellosis, a parasitic disease, was detected in Texas wildlife for the first time. Coyotes were found to be infected with Trichinella murrelli, indicating a new sylvatic cycle in the region.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Parasitology
- Wildlife Epidemiology
- Molecular Diagnostics
Background:
- No prior reports of domestic or sylvatic trichinellosis existed in Texas.
- Understanding parasite distribution in wildlife is crucial for public health and ecological assessments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the presence of Trichinella species in potential wildlife reservoirs in southern Texas.
- To establish the first report of sylvatic trichinellosis in Texas.
Main Methods:
- Collection of tongues from 211 wild mammals (coyotes, bobcats, raccoons, opossums, ocelots, wild boars) in southern Texas (1998-1999).
- Artificial digestion to detect Trichinella spp. larvae.
- Multiple-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis for species identification.
Main Results:
- Trichinella spp. infection was confirmed in nine (5.8%) coyotes.
- Larvae from seven infected coyotes were identified as Trichinella murrelli.
- This marks the first documented instance of sylvatic trichinellosis in Texas.
Conclusions:
- Sylvatic trichinellosis, specifically Trichinella murrelli, is present in the coyote population of southern Texas.
- The findings establish a previously unreported sylvatic transmission cycle of Trichinella in Texas.
- This highlights the importance of ongoing wildlife surveillance for parasitic diseases.