First record of Dioctophyme renale (Goeze, 1782) in the pampas fox (Lycalopex gymnocercus, Fischer, 1814) (Carnivora: Canidae).

Dioctophyme renale (Goeze 1782) has not previously been reported in the pampas fox (Lycalopex gymnocercus) (Fisher 1814), the most abundant canid of southern South America. A wild adult pampas fox female was found dead due to unknown causes in Santa Fe province, Argentina. Post-mortem examination revealed three red worms measuring 10, 11 and 15 cm long, each with an approximate width of 5 mm. All of them were found free in the abdominal cavity. The worms were all male and were identified through morphological examination and molecular analysis as D. renale. No worm was found in the kidneys. This study reports the first case of dioctophymatosis in the pampas fox in Argentina, increasing the range of wild aberrant host species infected by the giant kidney worm in the Neotropical region.

Ecological and molecular associations between neotropical wild felids and Taenia (Cestoda: Taeniidae) in the Atlantic Forest: a new report for Taenia omissa.

Ecological associations between wild felids and parasites from the Taeniidae family are related to predator-prey interactions, where felids act as definitive hosts while their prey, herbivores and/or omnivores, act as intermediate hosts. In the Atlantic Forest, six neotropical felid species coexist in sympatry, but the ecological parasite-host interactions remain poorly studied. Taenia omissa is a tapeworm that parasitizes cougars (Puma concolor) as its only definitive host and their ungulate prey as intermediate hosts. The aim of this study was to identify tapeworms present in road-killed fauna using both molecular and morphological characteristics and their predator-prey relationship. Adult tapeworms found in a cougar, a jaguarundi (Herpailurus yagouaroundi), and two ocelots (Leopardus pardalis); and metacestodes found in a red brocket deer (Mazama americana) and a wild guinea pig (Cavia aperea) were analyzed. Through morphological analysis of rostellar hooks and molecular analysis of the mitochondrial genetic marker cox1, Taenia omissa adult individuals were identified in the cougar, and metacestodes in the red brocket deer, proving the existence of a full host-parasite life cycle in the Atlantic Forest region. This new report reveals the southernmost record of T. omissa and broadens its geographic distribution. In addition, isolates of the Taenia genus divergent from those described so far in molecular databases were reported and suggested a wild cycle that involves the jaguarundi and agouti (Dasyprocta asarae) as definitive and intermediate hosts, respectively. These results highlight the complexity of the tapeworm population in the region and the need to study it with both morphological and molecular approaches.

First identification and molecular phylogeny of Sparganum proliferum from endangered felid (Panthera onca) and other wild definitive hosts in one of the regions with highest worldwide biodiversity.

After decades of being neglected, broad tapeworms now attract growing attention thanks to the increasing number of reports from humans but also thanks to many advancements achieved by application of molecular methods in diagnosis and epidemiological studies. Regarding sparganosis, unfortunately general uniformity of most species, their high intraspecific variability and lack of agreement among researchers has led to confusion about the classification of Spirometra/Sparganum species. For the first time we determined adult, eggs and plerocercoid life cycle stages and the molecular phylogeny of Sparganum proliferum obtained from endangered wild felids (Panthera onca, Leopardus pardalis, Leopardus guttulus and Herpailurus yagoauroundi) in one of the largest continuous remnants of worldwide biodiversity, the Atlantic Forest from South America. Our results showed that at least 57% of total species of wild felids in this natural area could act as definitive hosts of Sparganum proliferum. We conclude that the availability of more morphological characteristics are needed in order to secure reliable characterization and diagnosis of sparganosis. The integration of these data with molecular analysis of mitochondrial DNA sequences will be useful for species discrimination.