title: Pathogenicity of the hookworm, Ancylostoma pluridentatum, in a Florida panther (Felis concolor coryi) kitten.
abstract: We evaluated clinical signs and administered anthelmintic treatment to a wild-caught, captive Florida panther (Felis concolor coryi) kitten from Big Cypress National Preserve, Florida (USA) infected with the hookworm, Ancylostoma pluridentatum. Clinical signs observed included poor body condition, lethargy, and below normal red blood cell numbers, hemoglobin concentration, and packed cell volume, and elevated eosinophil numbers. In addition, a maximum of 936 Ancylostoma sp. eggs/g of feces were found on Day 11 of captivity. Following oral administration of 20 mg/kg pyrantel pamoate on Day 11, 26 A. pluridentatum were collected from the feces. Based on the resolution of clinical signs, cessation of egg shedding, and a return to normal hematologic values following anthelmintic treatment, we believe that infection with A. pluridentatum was the primary cause of the stressed conditions in the panther kitten.
authors.affiliation: Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission, Wildlife Research Laboratory, Gainesville 32601.
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Dunbar
authors.forename: G S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: McLaughlin
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: M W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Cunningham
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000722:Ancylostoma / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D000724:Ancylostomiasis / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D000818:Animals; D002335:Carnivora / Q000469:parasitology*; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000166:cytology; D004906:Erythrocyte Count / Q000662:veterinary; D004909:Erythrocyte Indices / Q000662:veterinary; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D005431:Florida; D006400:Hematocrit / Q000662:veterinary; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D007958:Leukocyte Count / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D010270:Parasite Egg Count / Q000662:veterinary; D011716:Pyrantel Pamoate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins; D011716:Pyrantel Pamoate