title: High prevalence of Trichinella pseudospiralis in Florida panthers (Puma concolor coryi).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Parasites of the genus Trichinella are zoonotic nematodes common in carnivores throughout the world. We determined the prevalence and species of Trichinella infections in Florida panthers (Puma concolor coryi).
  
  
  METHODS
  Tongues from Florida panthers were collected at necropsy and examined by pepsin-HCl artificial digestion for infection with Trichinella spp. DNA was extracted from larvae and multiplex PCR using Trichinella species-specific primers was used to genotype the worms.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Trichinella spp. larvae were detected in 24 of 112 (21.4%; 14.6%-30.3%) panthers. Sixteen of the panthers (14.3%) were infected with T. pseudospiralis, 1 (0.9%) was infected with T. spiralis, and 2 (1.8%) had mixed infections of T. pseudospiralis and T. spiralis. Trichinella spp. larvae from 5 panthers were not identified at the species level due to degraded DNA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the highest prevalence of T. pseudospiralis detected in North America up to now and suggests the Florida panther is a key mammalian reservoir of this parasite in southern Florida. Trichinella pseudospiralis can infect both mammals and birds indicating the source of infection for Florida panthers could be broader than believed; however, birds represent a small percentage (0.01%) of the cat's diet. Since wild pigs (Sus scrofa) can be parasitized by both T. pseudospiralis and T. spiralis and these swine can comprise a large portion (~40%) of a panther's diet in Florida, we believe that Florida panthers acquired these zoonotic parasites from feeding on wild pigs.
authors: Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Center for Veterinary Health Sciences, Oklahoma State University, 250 McElroy Hall, Stillwater, OK, 74078, USA. mason.reichard@okstate.edu.
authors: Mason V
authors: MV
authors: Reichard
authors: Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, 298 Sabal Palm Rd, Naples, FL, 34114, USA. marc.criffield@myfwc.com.
authors: Marc
authors: M
authors: Criffield
authors: Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Center for Veterinary Health Sciences, Oklahoma State University, 250 McElroy Hall, Stillwater, OK, 74078, USA. jennifer.e.thomas@okstate.edu.
authors: Jennifer E
authors: JE
authors: Thomas
authors: Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Center for Veterinary Health Sciences, Oklahoma State University, 250 McElroy Hall, Stillwater, OK, 74078, USA. paritte@okstate.edu.
authors: Jacqueline M
authors: JM
authors: Paritte
authors: Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, 1105 SW Williston Rd, Gainesville, FL, 32601, USA. mark.cunningham@myfwc.com.
authors: Mark
authors: M
authors: Cunningham
authors: Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, 1105 SW Williston Rd, Gainesville, FL, 32601, USA. dave.onorato@myfwc.com.
authors: Dave
authors: D
authors: Onorato
authors: Colorado Parks and Wildlife, 2300 S. Townsend Ave, Montrose, CO, 81401, USA. ken.logan@state.co.us.
authors: Kenneth
authors: K
authors: Logan
authors: Department of Infectious, Parasitic and Immunomediated Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, viale Regina Elena 299, Rome, 00161, Italy. maria.interisano@iss.it.
authors: Maria
authors: M
authors: Interisano
authors: Department of Infectious, Parasitic and Immunomediated Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, viale Regina Elena 299, Rome, 00161, Italy. gianluca.marucci@iss.it.
authors: Gianluca
authors: G
authors: Marucci
authors: Department of Infectious, Parasitic and Immunomediated Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, viale Regina Elena 299, Rome, 00161, Italy. edoardo.pozio@iss.it.
authors: Edoardo
authors: E
authors: Pozio
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005431:Florida / Q000453:epidemiology; D007814:Larva / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D046011:Puma / Q000469:parasitology*; D014234:Trichinella / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014235:Trichinellosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*
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