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Abstract
As the second-largest Neotropical carnivore, cougars (Puma concolor) are especially important for maintenance of the biodiversity and ecosystem health. Five wild adult cougars (Puma concolor), found roadkilled in highways in the Northeastern region of São Paulo, were evaluated in search for parasites. Ten species representing nine families were identified. The most prevalent helminths were Uncinaria bidens, Lagochilascaris major, Spirometra sp., and Oncicola canis, followed by Cylicospirura subaequalis, Toxascaris leonina, Taenia omissa, Echinococcus sp., Filaroides sp. and Oncicola oncicola. It is important to note that some helminths found in this study, such as L. major, Spirometra sp., O. oncicola, O. canis, Echinococcus sp., T. leonina, C. subaequalis, and Filaroides sp. are known to affect domestic carnivores, which may indicate interaction between wild and domestic hosts. This study represents a new host record for four of the species found in cougars, U. bidens, L. major, O. canis, and Filaroides sp., and new locality records for U. bidens, T. leonina, C. subaequalis, and Filaroides sp.
Highlights
As the second-largest Neotropical carnivore, cougars (Puma concolor) are especially important for maintenance of the biodiversity and ecosystem health
The Northeastern region of São Paulo State is covered by Cerrado savanna and Atlantic rainforest, both strongly affected by deforestation, resulting in a highly fragmented landscape, composed of some large stretches and several small patches of natural vegetation surrounded by plantations of sugarcane and eucalyptus, cattle farms, and roads and highways (Miotto et al, 2012)
There is little information on parasites affecting cougars in São Paulo State, one of the Brazilian States most affected by human action, leading to the destruction and fragmentation of the original Atlantic rainforest cover
Summary
As the second-largest Neotropical carnivore, cougars (Puma concolor) are especially important for maintenance of the biodiversity and ecosystem health. Os helmintos mais prevalentes foram Uncinaria bidens, Lagochilascaris major, Spirometra sp., e Oncicola canis, seguidos por Cylicospirura subaequalis, Toxascaris leonina, Taenia omissa, Echinococcus sp., Filaroides sp.
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