title: Mesocestoides sp. (Eucestoda, Mesocestoididae) parasitizing four species of wild felines in Southern Brazil.
abstract: Leopardus colocolo, Leopardus geoffroyi, Leopardus tigrinus and Puma yagouaroundi are wild feline species endangered mainly due to habitat destruction and vehicle run overs. Seventeen felines hit on the roads were collected in Southern Brazil and examined for parasites. Cestodes were identified as Mesocestoides sp. The parasites were found in the small intestine of the hosts with a prevalence of 66.7% (L. colocolo and L. tigrinus), 60% (P. yagouaroundi) and 50% (L. geoffroyi). Rodents and lizards were found in the stomach contents and they possibly were intermediate hosts of Mesocestoides sp. This is the first report of Mesocestoides sp. in wild felines in Brazil.
authors: Laboratório de Zoologia dos Invertebrados, Departamento de Biologia,Museu de Ciências Naturais, Universidade Luterana do Brazil, Av. Farroupilha 8001, Bairro São José, Canoas, RS, Brazil. mgallas24@yahoo.com.br
authors: Moisés
authors: M
authors: Gallas
authors: Eliane Fraga da
authors: EF
authors: Silveira
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil; D008645:Mesocestoides / Q000502:physiology*; D046009:Panthera / Q000469:parasitology*; D046011:Puma / Q000469:parasitology*