title: The occurrence of Trichinella species in the cougar Puma concolor couguar from the state of Colorado and other regions of North and South America.
abstract: Trichinella species are zoonotic nematodes that infect wild carnivores and omnivores throughout the world. We examined the prevalence and species of Trichinella infections in cougars (Puma concolor couguar) from Colorado, United States. Tongues from cougars were examined by pepsin-HCl artificial digestion to detect Trichinella spp. larvae. The species or genotype of individual worms was identified by multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Trichinella spp. larvae were detected in 17 of 39 cougars (43.6% (28.7-59.5%)). Five of the cougars (12.8%) were infected with T. murrelli, 3 (7.7%) were infected with T. pseudospiralis, and 1 (2.6%) had Trichinella genotype T6. Trichinella spp. larvae from eight cougars were not identified at the species level, due to degraded DNA. The high prevalence of Trichinella spp. in cougars from Colorado and reports of the parasite in other populations of Puma spp. suggest that this large predator is a key mammalian reservoir.
authors: Department of Veterinary Pathobiology,Center for Veterinary Health Sciences,Oklahoma State University,250 McElroy Hall,Stillwater,OK 74078,USA.
authors: M V
authors: MV
authors: Reichard
authors: Mammals Research Colorado Parks and Wildlife,2300 S. Townsend Ave.,Montrose,CO 81401,USA.
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Logan
authors: Fish and Wildlife Research Institute,Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission,298 Sabal Palm Road,Naples,FL 34114,USA.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Criffield
authors: Department of Veterinary Pathobiology,Center for Veterinary Health Sciences,Oklahoma State University,250 McElroy Hall,Stillwater,OK 74078,USA.
authors: J 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.
authors: J M
authors: JM
authors: Paritte
authors: Department of Veterinary Pathobiology,Center for Veterinary Health Sciences,Oklahoma State University,250 McElroy Hall,Stillwater,OK 74078,USA.
authors: D M
authors: DM
authors: Messerly
authors: Department of Infectious,Parasitic and Immunomediated Diseases,Istituto Superiore di Sanità,viale Regina Elena 299,00161 Rome,Italy.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Interisano
authors: Department of Infectious,Parasitic and Immunomediated Diseases,Istituto Superiore di Sanità,viale Regina Elena 299,00161 Rome,Italy.
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Marucci
authors: Department of Infectious,Parasitic and Immunomediated Diseases,Istituto Superiore di Sanità,viale Regina Elena 299,00161 Rome,Italy.
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Pozio
mesh_terms: D000569:Americas / Q000453:epidemiology; D000818:Animals; D007814:Larva / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics; D060885:Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015995:Prevalence; D046011:Puma / Q000469:parasitology*; D014059:Tongue / Q000469:parasitology; D014234:Trichinella / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014235:Trichinellosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*