What is the most appropriate wild species for surveying the sylvatic cycle of Trichinella spp. in the Northwest of the Iberian Peninsula

Abstract:

During the period 2006–2014, a total of 6 046 wild mammalian species have been examined for monitoring the presence of Trichinella spp. in Galicia (NW Spain). Animals belonged to seven wild carnivorous and omnivorous species, including autochthonous (4 533 wild boars, 1 195 red foxes, 96 Iberian wolves, 28 badgers and 12 European otters) and allochthonous species (150 American mink and 32 raccoons). Larvae of Trichinella were isolated by artificial digestion from 13 muscle samples (one wild boar, nine foxes and three wolves), with a global prevalence of 0.22%. Our results suggest that, among the wild mammalians present in northeast areas of the Iberian Peninsula, red fox is the recommended species for surveying the sylvatic cycle of Trichinella spp., because it is a common and abundant game species and, for this reason, the possibility to obtain a large number of samples is easier than in other hosts. In addition, this wild canid is widely distributed, adapted to sylvatic and synanthropic habitats and, moreover, capable to use a varied range of trophic resources, including rodents and carrions.

Año de publicación:

2015

Keywords:

Fuente:

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