Prevalence of Trichinella in Muscles of Some Domestic and Wild Mammals in Lithuania and their Impact on the Organism

Abstract

A survey of the research into trichinellosis among 13 species of sylvatic and domestic animals conducted in 1987–2000 in Lithuania is presented herein. Muscle samples of 66 wild predators representing seven species: wolf (Canis lupus), red fox (Vulpes vulpes), raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides), pine marten (Martes martes), stone marten (Martes foina), weasel (Mustela nivalis), European polecat (Putorius putorius) and 105 domestic carnivores were examined. The investigations also included 156 wild boars (Sus scrofa), 1,383 domestic pigs, 43 brown rats (Rattus norvegicus) and 21 black rats (R. rattus). The highest extensiveness of infection with encapsulated Trichinella larvae was established among red foxes (9/27), raccoon dogs (3/11) and pine martens (5/8). These parasites were also detected in the muscles of one wolf, one European polecat, two out of the 156 (1.3%) wild boars and four out of the 86 (4.6%) stray cats. Pathogenicity and virulence of Trichinella isolate extracted from the wild boar to ...