Hostname: page-component-76fb5796d-wq484 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-29T07:19:36.862Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Trichinella zimbabwensis in a naturally infected mammal

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 July 2009

L.J. La Grange ,
G. Marucci  and
E. Pozio
L.J. La Grange*
Affiliation:
Chief Directorate Veterinary Services, Department of Agriculture and Land Administration, Nelspruit, South Africa
G. Marucci
Affiliation:
Department of Infectious, Parasitic and Immunomediated Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
E. Pozio
Affiliation:
Department of Infectious, Parasitic and Immunomediated Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
*
*Fax +27 13 741 5087 E-mail: louis@nelvet1.agric.za
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Trichinella zimbabwensis has been detected in wild and farmed Nile crocodiles (Crocodylus niloticus) and in wild monitor lizards (Varanus niloticus) of several African countries, but it has never been detected in mammals in nature, in spite of its infectivity to rodents, pigs, foxes and monkeys under laboratory conditions. The aim of this work was to describe the first detection of T. zimbabwensis in a naturally infected lion (Panthera leo) of the Kruger National Park (KNP) of South Africa. The sequence of the expansion segment V, a highly variable non-coding sequence of the large subunit ribosomal RNA of the genus Trichinella, of larvae from the lion was identical to that of larvae of T. zimbabwensis collected from a Nile crocodile originating from the same locality as the lion, suggesting a possible transmission of this parasite between mammals and reptiles. The KNP proves to be a very interesting area for parasites of the genus Trichinella since three taxa (Trichinella nelsoni, Trichinella T8 and T. zimbabwensis) circulate among the wildlife of this protected area.

Type
Research Papers
Information
Journal of Helminthology , Volume 84 , Issue 1 , March 2010 , pp. 35 - 38
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2009

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

La Grange, L.J., Marucci, G. & Pozio, E. (2009) Trichinella zimbabwensis in wild Nile crocodiles (Crocodylus niloticus) of South Africa. Veterinary Parasitology 161, 88–91.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
La Rosa, G. & Pozio, E. (2000) Molecular investigation of African isolates of Trichinella reveals genetic polymorphism in Trichinella nelsoni. International Journal for Parasitology 30, 663–667.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Marucci, G., La Grange, L.J., La Rosa, G. & Pozio, E. (2009) Trichinella nelsoni and Trichinella T8 mixed infection in a lion (Panthera leo) of the Kruger National Park (South Africa). Veterinary Parasitology 159, 225–228.Google Scholar
Mukaratirwa, S., Dzoma, B.M., Matenga, E., Ruziwa, S.D., Sacchi, L. & Pozio, E. (2008) Experimental infections of baboons (Papio spp.) and vervet monkeys (Cercopithecus aethiops) with Trichinella zimbabwensis and successful treatment with ivermectin. Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Research 75, 181–188.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Nöckler, K. & Kapel, C.M.O. (2007) Detection and surveillance for Trichinella: meat inspection hygiene, and legislation. pp. 69–97in Dupouy-Camet, J. & Murrell, K.D. (Eds) FAO/WHO/OIE guidelines for the surveillance, management, prevention and control of trichinellosis. Paris, World Organisation for Animal Health Press.Google Scholar
Pozio, E. & La Rosa, G. (2003) PCR-derived methods for the identification of Trichinella parasites from animal and human samples. Methods in Molecular Biology 216, 299–309.Google ScholarPubMed
Pozio, E. & Murrell, K.D. (2006) Systematics and epidemiology of Trichinella. Advances in Parasitology 63, 367–439.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Pozio, E., Verster, A., Braack, L., De Meneghi, D. & La Rosa, G. (1994) Trichinellosis south of the Sahara. pp. 527–532in Campbell, C.W., Pozio, E. & Bruschi, F. (Eds) Trichinellosis. Rome, Istituto Superiore di Sanità Press.Google ScholarPubMed
Pozio, E., De Meneghi, D., Roelke-Parker, M.E. & La Rosa, G. (1997) Trichinella nelsoni in carnivores from the Serengeti ecosystem, Tanzania. Journal of Parasitology 83, 1195–1198.Google Scholar
Pozio, E., Foggin, C.M., Marucci, G., La Rosa, G., Sacchi, L., Corona, S., Rossi, P. & Mukaratirwa, S. (2002) Trichinella zimbabwensis n.sp. (Nematoda), a new non-encapsulated species from crocodiles (Crocodylus niloticus) in Zimbabwe also infecting mammals. International Journal for Parasitology 32, 1787–1799.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Pozio, E., Marucci, G., Casulli, A., Sacchi, L., Mukaratirwa, S., Foggin, C.M. & La Rosa, G. (2004) Trichinella papuae and Trichinella zimbabwensis induce infection in experimentally infected varans, caimans, pythons and turtles. Parasitology 128, 333–342.Google Scholar
Pozio, E., Pagani, P., Marucci, G., Zarlenga, D.S., Hoberg, E.P., De Meneghi, D., La Rosa, G. & Rossi, L. (2005) Trichinella britovi etiological agent of sylvatic trichinellosis in the Republic of Guinea (West Africa) and a reevaluation of geographical distribution for encapsulated species in Africa. International Journal for Parasitology 35, 955–960.Google Scholar
Pozio, E., Foggin, C.M., Gelanew, T., Marucci, G., Hailu, A., Rossi, P. & Gomez Morales, M.A. (2007) Trichinella zimbabwensis in wild reptiles of Zimbabwe and Mozambique and farmed reptiles of Ethiopia. Veterinary Parasitology 143, 305–310.Google Scholar
Young, E. & Kruger, S.P. (1967) Trichinella spiralis (Owen, 1935) Railliet, 1895. Infestation of wild carnivores and rodents in South Africa. Journal of South Africa Veterinary Association 38, 441–443.Google Scholar
Zarlenga, D.S. & Dame, J.B. (1992) The identification and characterization of a break within the large subunit ribosomal RNA of Trichinella spiralis: comparison of gap sequences within the genus. Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology 51, 281–289.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed