Trichinella spiralis in a cougar (Puma concolor) hunted by poachers in Chile.

Diana Maritza Echeverry,Richard Said Thomas,Carlos Landaeta-Aqueveque,María Carolina Silva-De La Fuente,Adriana Milena Santodomingo Santodomingo,Jorge González-Ugás,Pablo Oyarzún-Ruiz

doi:10.1590/s1984-29612021033

Diana Maritza Echeverry, Richard Said Thomas + Show 5 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/s1984-29612021033

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Abstract

Trichinellosis is a zoonosis caused by nematodes of the Trichinella genus, of which 10 species have been described. Species identification when larvae is found is only possible using molecular tools. Meat from pigs and game animals not subjected to veterinary inspection are the main sources of human infections. The hunting of native carnivores is prohibited in Chile due to conservation issues and the fact that those animals favor pest control. The illegal hunting of a cougar (Puma concolor) occurred in September 2020. Herein, the molecular identification of Trichinella larvae, by analyzing nuclear (expansion segment V) and mitochondrial (cytochrome C oxidase subunit I) sequences are described. Both the amplification of the expansion segment V region and the phylogenetic analysis of a segment of a fragment of the cytochrome c-oxidase subunit I sequence confirmed that the larvae belonged to T. spiralis. The case described herein represents the first evidence of illegal hunting of a protected mammal infected with Trichinella in Chile, highlighting the 'One Health' perspective to face this disease in the rural-sylvatic interphase.

Highlights

Trichinellosis is a disease present in all continents except Antarctica (Korhonen et al, 2016)
The molecular identification of Trichinella larvae, by analyzing nuclear and mitochondrial sequences are described. Both the amplification of the expansion segment V region and the phylogenetic analysis of a segment of a fragment of the cytochrome c-oxidase subunit I sequence confirmed that the larvae belonged to T. spiralis
Two Trichinella species are circulating in South America, mainly in Argentina: T. spiralis and T. patagoniensis (Ribicich et al, 2020)

Summary

Introduction

Trichinellosis is a disease present in all continents except Antarctica (Korhonen et al, 2016). Two main cycles have been described: first is the domestic cycle, which encompasses pigs, dogs, cats, and rats as the main hosts; second, the wild cycle maintained in nature by wild carnivore and omnivore animals by predation, scavenging and cannibalism. Both cycles can be connected by ubiquitous species such as rats and other synanthropic animals (Pozio, 2000); as well, some species in the wild cycle can serve as the direct source of infection for humans after hunting and consuming game animals (García et al, 2005; Tryland et al, 2014; Fichi et al, 2015). Trichinella patagoniensis is the only species in South America that has not been found in the domestic environment; the cougar is its sole reported host species (Krivokapich et al, 2008, 2012)

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