New records of Trichinella patagoniensis from Argentina

Trichinella spiralis was long considered the sole Trichinella species in Argentina. However, since 2004, various Trichinella species, including the encapsulated Trichinella patagoniensis and Trichinella britovi, as well as the unencapsulated Trichinella pseudospiralis, have been detected in the country. The present study aimed to identify Trichinella ML at the species level from cougars naturally infected from Argentina. To this end, muscle tissue samples from one cougar each from Córdoba, Neuquén, and Santa Cruz Provinces were individually analysed using the artificial digestion technique. DNA extraction and molecular identification of Trichinella species were conducted on individual muscle larvae by PCR amplification of the ESV region and subsequent PCR amplification and sequencing of the COI gene. Morphological analysis revealed muscle larvae with characteristics consistent with Trichinella genus. PCR revealed a single band of approximately 127 bp for each individual muscle larva. PCR amplification of the COI gene from each isolate generated a 309 bp band. Sequencing of the mitochondrial COI gene confirmed the identity of the parasite as T. patagoniensis. The present study documents new occurrences of T. patagoniensis in Puma concolor from Argentina, including the first detection of T. patagoniensis in Puma concolor from Córdoba and Neuquén Province. These findings expand the limited knowledge of T. patagoniensis distribution in Argentina.