Helminths of the Wild Boar (Sus scrofa) from Units of Conservation Management and Sustainable Use of Wildlife Installed in the Eastern Economic Region of Mexico.

Jorge-Luis De-La-Rosa-Arana,Jesús-Benjamín Ponce-Noguez,Andrea-Paloma Zepeda-Velázquez,Víctor-Manuel Martínez-Juárez,Vicente Vega-Sánchez,Fabián-Ricardo Gómez-De-Anda,Nydia-Edith Reyes-Rodríguez

doi:10.3390/ani11010098

Jorge-Luis De-La-Rosa-Arana, Jesús-Benjamín Ponce-Noguez + Show 5 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11010098

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Abstract

Simple SummaryWild boars (Sus scrofa) were introduced in Mexico for sport hunting and meat trading for human consumption, but their role in the transmission of diseases to human or domestic animals is limited. Thus, we did research looking for parasitic worms in wild boars that live in three units of conservation management and sustainable use of wildlife installed in the eastern economic region of Mexico. Samples of feces and serum were collected from 90 animals that came from three different ranches. Stool examination and antibody determination were performed. Eggs of Strongyloides sp. (72.2%), Metastrongylus sp. (57.7%), Oesophagostomum sp. (53.3%), and Trichuris sp. (37.7%) were found in addition to oocysts of Eimeria sp. (75.6%). Antibodies to Fasciola (8.9%), Taenia (4.4%), Ascaris (32.2%), Toxocara (20%), and Trichinella (5.5%) were found. This is the first report of parasitic worms of wild boar produced in Mexico. The importance of the results is based on the limited data available about the impact of wild boar and feral pigs on the transmission of diseases to domestic animals. This study identifies the potential risk of wild boar as a transmission channel of diseases than can have an impact on public health.Wild boars (Sus scrofa) were introduced in Mexico for sport hunting and meat trading for human consumption, but the available data regarding their role in pathogen transmission are limited. This research and field work aimed to identify the helminths of the wild boar produced in three units of conservation management and sustainable use of wildlife placed in the eastern economic region of Mexico. Samples of feces and serum were collected from 90 animals that came from three different ranches. Stool examination and antibody determination to Fasciola hepatica, Taenia crassciceps, Ascaris suum, Toxocara canis (ELISA), and Trichinella spiralis (Western blot) were performed. In addition, 30 diaphragm samples from one ranch were obtained for artificial digestion. Eggs of Strongyloides sp. (72.2%), Metastrongylus sp. (57.7%), Oesophagostomum sp. (53.3%), and Trichuris sp. (37.7%) were found in addition to oocysts of Eimeria sp. (75.6%). Antibodies to Fasciola (8.9%), Taenia (4.4%), Ascaris (32.2%), Toxocara (20%), and Trichinella (5.5%) were found. The eggs of Strongyloides and Oesophagostomum were associated to female hosts. One nematode larva was found by artificial digestion. This is the first report to identify helminths from wild boars in Mexico. In addition, this study identifies the potential risk of the wild boar as a transmission channel of parasites that can have an impact on public health.

Highlights

Wild boar (Sus scrofa) is a wildlife animal highly used for food and sport hunting all over the world [1]; hunting without appropriate hygiene measures during the handling of meat and offal can become a potential risk for pathogen transmission to humans and other domestic animals
Wild boar meat is sought as a nutrients source because wild boars have a greater loin area and greater amount of fat compared to domestic pigs; between wild boars and domestic pigs, the variance in the composition of fatty acids contributes to differentiate taste in the cooked meat [1]
Given the need to identify the potential risk of wild boar (Sus scrofa) from units of conservation management and the sustainable use of wildlife installed in the eastern economic region of Mexico as a transmitter of diseases, this research and field work aimed to search for helminths with high relevance in public health

Summary

Introduction

Wild boar (Sus scrofa) is a wildlife animal highly used for food and sport hunting all over the world [1]; hunting without appropriate hygiene measures during the handling of meat and offal can become a potential risk for pathogen transmission to humans and other domestic animals. Wild boar and feral pig (both of genus Sus scrofa) are considered invasive animals, due to their fast reproduction rate (on average three to five cubs per litter and two litters per year), and the absence of predators influences the habitat modification and the competition with regional animal species. In many countries of the world, the populations of feral pigs, wild boars, and hybrids are continuously studied to identify the risk of pathogen transmission [4,5,6]. Wild boar meat is sought as a nutrients source because wild boars have a greater loin area and greater amount of fat compared to domestic pigs; between wild boars and domestic pigs, the variance in the composition of fatty acids contributes to differentiate taste in the cooked meat [1]

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