title: Endoparasites of the Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) in Finland.
abstract: We sampled 339 fecal samples, 296 intestines, and 82 lungs from 371 lynx hunted during the 2010-2011 season in Finland. The fecal samples were analyzed for endoparasites by a quantitative flotation method, and helminths from intestines were studied morphologically, while lungs were investigated for pulmonary parasites. From fecal samples, eggs and oocysts of at least 6 different endoparasite species were identified, with a mean of 1.5 (range 0-4) parasite species per host. In the intestines, at least 4 different helminth species were found, with the mean of 2.0 (range 1-4) species per infected host. The prevalence of eggs in feces and the prevalence of worms in intestines were 71% and 93% for Toxocara cati , 29% and 68% for Taenia spp., and 5% and 2% for Diphyllobothrium sp., respectively. Only eggs were detected for Capillaria sp. (46%) and Uncinaria sp. (0.6%) nematodes, and only adults were detected for Mesocestoides sp. cestodes (0.3%). Significant positive correlations were evident between the number of T. cati (r = 0.664; P = 0.01) and Diphyllobothrium sp. (r = 0.645; P = 0.01) eggs per gram of feces and adult worms detected in intestine. In addition to the metazoan parasites, protozoan Isospora sp. oocysts were also found (0.6%). Pulmonary samples were all negative for parasites. These data demonstrate that lynx commonly harbor various endoparasites, some of which are zoonotic.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Food Safety, Animal Health and Environment " BIOR," Lejupes Street 3, Riga, Latvia. gunita.deksne@bior.gov.lv
authors.forename: Gunita
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Deksne
authors.forename: Juha
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Laakkonen
authors.forename: Anu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Näreaho
authors.forename: Pikka
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jokelainen
authors.forename: Katja
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Holmala
authors.forename: Ilpo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kojola
authors.forename: Antti
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sukura
mesh_terms: D000723:Ancylostomatoidea / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000818:Animals; D044822:Biodiversity; D002195:Capillaria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002590:Cestode Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary; D004169:Diphyllobothriasis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary; D017189:Enoplida Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006725:Hookworm Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary; D007411:Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D021865:Isosporiasis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary; D008168:Lung / Q000469:parasitology; D046008:Lynx / Q000469:parasitology*; D008297:Male; D008645:Mesocestoides / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011156:Population Density; D015995:Prevalence; D013622:Taeniasis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary; D014120:Toxocariasis / Q000453:epidemiology