Endoparasites of the Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) in Finland

J Parasitol. 2013 Apr;99(2):229-34. doi: 10.1645/GE-3161.1. Epub 2012 Sep 27.

Abstract

We sampled 339 fecal samples, 296 intestines, and 82 lungs from 371 lynx hunted during the 2010-2011 season in Finland. The fecal samples were analyzed for endoparasites by a quantitative flotation method, and helminths from intestines were studied morphologically, while lungs were investigated for pulmonary parasites. From fecal samples, eggs and oocysts of at least 6 different endoparasite species were identified, with a mean of 1.5 (range 0-4) parasite species per host. In the intestines, at least 4 different helminth species were found, with the mean of 2.0 (range 1-4) species per infected host. The prevalence of eggs in feces and the prevalence of worms in intestines were 71% and 93% for Toxocara cati , 29% and 68% for Taenia spp., and 5% and 2% for Diphyllobothrium sp., respectively. Only eggs were detected for Capillaria sp. (46%) and Uncinaria sp. (0.6%) nematodes, and only adults were detected for Mesocestoides sp. cestodes (0.3%). Significant positive correlations were evident between the number of T. cati (r = 0.664; P = 0.01) and Diphyllobothrium sp. (r = 0.645; P = 0.01) eggs per gram of feces and adult worms detected in intestine. In addition to the metazoan parasites, protozoan Isospora sp. oocysts were also found (0.6%). Pulmonary samples were all negative for parasites. These data demonstrate that lynx commonly harbor various endoparasites, some of which are zoonotic.

MeSH terms

  • Ancylostomatoidea / isolation & purification
  • Animals
  • Biodiversity
  • Capillaria / isolation & purification
  • Cestode Infections / epidemiology
  • Cestode Infections / veterinary
  • Diphyllobothriasis / epidemiology
  • Diphyllobothriasis / veterinary
  • Enoplida Infections / epidemiology
  • Enoplida Infections / veterinary
  • Feces / parasitology
  • Female
  • Finland / epidemiology
  • Hookworm Infections / epidemiology
  • Hookworm Infections / veterinary
  • Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / epidemiology
  • Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / parasitology
  • Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / veterinary*
  • Isosporiasis / epidemiology
  • Isosporiasis / veterinary
  • Lung / parasitology
  • Lynx / parasitology*
  • Male
  • Mesocestoides / isolation & purification
  • Population Density
  • Prevalence
  • Taeniasis / epidemiology
  • Taeniasis / veterinary
  • Toxocariasis / epidemiology

Supplementary concepts

  • Toxocara canis infection (canine roundworms)