Title
Parasites of free-ranging small canids and felids in the Bolivian Chaco
Author(s)
Fiorello C.V., Robbins R.G., Maffei L., Wade S.E.
Published
2006
Publisher
Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine
Abstract
Parasite surveys of free-ranging wildlife provide important information for monitoring population health. Between March 2001 and March 2003, we sampled 10 ocelots (Leopardus pardalis), eight Geoffrey's cats (Oncifelis geoffroyi), a jaguarundi (Herpailurus yaguarondi), five pampas foxes (Pseudalopex gymnocercus), and three crab-eating foxes (Cerdocyon thous) at three sites in the Bolivian Chaco. The objective of the study was to survey the parasite fauna of these carnivores and compare prevalence of parasites among the sites. The parasite community of these carnivores was diverse, with representatives from eight genera of nematodes, two families of cestodes, two protozoan species, and six arthropod species. Fecal parasites identified from 12 of the 13 felids and five of the six canids examined included Aelurostrongylus abstrusus, Ancylostoma tubaeforme, Uncinaria sp., Crenosoma sp., Toxocara cati, Spirurida, Capillaria aerophila, Spirometra sp., Taeniidae, and Cystoisospora sp. Four tick species, Amblyomma parvum, A. tigrinum, A. ovale, and A. cajennense, and two flea species, Pulex irritans and Delostichus phyllotis, were identified. Two crab-eating foxes had serologic evidence of heartworm disease (HWD). Antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii were found in 15 of 26 animals. Although HWD was found only in canids inside the national park, parasite prevalence did not appear to differ among sites, and no evidence was found of parasite spillover from domestic to wild carnivores. Copyright 2006 by American Association of Zoo Veterinarians.
Keywords
animal; animal disease; article; Bolivia; Carnivora; disease carrier; disease transmission; feces; female; flea; health survey; intestine infection; male; parasite vector; parasitology; species difference; tick; wild animal; Animals; Animals, Wild; Arachnid Vectors; Bolivia; Carnivora; Disease Reservoirs; Feces; Female; Fleas; Insect Vectors; Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic; Male; Sentinel Surveillance; Species Specificity; Ticks; Acari; Amblyomma; Amblyomma cajennense; Amblyomma ovale; Amblyomma parvum; Amblyomma tigrinum; Ancylostoma; Ancylostoma tubaeforme; Animalia; Arthropoda; Canidae; Capillaria; Cestoda; Crenosoma; Cystoisospora; Decapoda (Crustacea); Dirofilaria immitis; Dusicyon thous; Felidae; Herpailurus yaguarondi; Leopardus pardalis; Nematoda; Oncifelis geoffroyi; Phyllotis; Protozoa; Pseudalopex gymnocercus; Pulex irritans; Siphonaptera (fleas); Spirometra; Spirurida; Taeniidae; Toxocara; Toxocara cati; Toxoplasma gondii; Uncinaria

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