Helminths of the Wild Boar (Sus scrofa) from Units of Conservation Management and Sustainable Use of Wildlife Installed in the Eastern Economic Region of Mexico

Abstract

Wild boars (Sus scrofa) were introduced in Mexico for sport hunting and meat trading for human consumption, but the available data regarding their role in pathogen transmission are limited. This research and field work aimed to identify the helminths of the wild boar produced in three units of conservation management and sustainable use of wildlife placed in the eastern economic region of Mexico. Samples of feces and serum were collected from 90 animals that came from three different ranches. Stool examination and antibody determination to Fasciola hepatica, Taenia crassciceps, Ascaris suum, Toxocara canis (ELISA), and Trichinella spiralis (Western blot) were performed. In addition, 30 diaphragm samples from one ranch were obtained for artificial digestion. Eggs of Strongyloides sp. (72.2%), Metastrongylus sp. (57.7%), Oesophagostomum sp. (53.3%), and Trichuris sp. (37.7%) were found in addition to oocysts of Eimeria sp. (75.6%). Antibodies to Fasciola (8.9%), Taenia (4.4%), Ascaris (32.2%), Toxocara (20%), and Trichinella (5.5%) were found. The eggs of Strongyloides and Oesophagostomum were associated to female hosts. One nematode larva was found by artificial digestion. This is the first report to identify helminths from wild boars in Mexico. In addition, this study identifies the potential risk of the wild boar as a transmission channel of parasites that can have an impact on public health.

Zoonotic Parasites in Artiodactyls with Emphasis on the Feral Boar in the Atlantic Forest, State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

“…On the other hand, Metastrongylus spp. were found not only in this study but have also been reported in material from feral pigs in national reserves in Spain, in provinces in Iran, private reserves in Brazil, and conservation units in Mexico [43,[46][47][48]. The discovery of Metastrongylus spp.…”

“…These samples were generally found in disturbed forest and trampled ground, containing several separate pieces of scat. Like in this forest park, S. scrofa has also been reported in parasitological surveys carried out in other conservation units in Brazil, Mexico, Spain, Portugal, and Iran [20,[43][44][45][46][47][48]. Although other species of artiodactyls such as Tayassu tajacu (collared peccary) and Tayassu pecari (white-lipped peccary) have already been recorded on several occasions in the park, the predominance of S. scrofa as the host of most of the fecal samples in this study suggests a rather alarming situation given that this animal, popularly known as feral boar or feral pigs, is considered to be one of the biggest bioinvaders in South America [49].…”

“…This was the case of artiodactyl feces collected in other conservation units in Brazil, including the Private Reserve of Natural Heritage of SESC Pantanal (SESC/RPPN) in the state of Mato Grosso, and in Itatiaia National Park, located in the states of Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais, where positivity rates of 73.2% (41/56) and 87.1% (27/31) for gastrointestinal parasites were detected by spontaneous sedimentation and using both sedimentation and flotation techniques, respectively [20,46]. Case records also show higher parasite positivity rates in feral boar in Federal Conservation units in Mexico, where 84.4% (76/90) positivity was found using direct examination and centrifuge technique flotation and 100% (60/60) positivity in feces of several species of deer using the flotation technique, as well as in fecal matter from free-living wild boar in Iran, 61.9% (13/21) by the techniques of sedimentation and flotation, and 67% (8/12) using direct examination and centrifugal sedimentation [48,[54][55][56].…”

Search for antibodies against Trichinella in two synanthropic Procyonidae species from southeast Mexico: white-nosed coatis (Nasua narica) and raccoons (Procyon lotor)

“…An in-House enzyme-linked Immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was performed as a screening test, and the Western blot (WB) as confirmatory test. Both tests were previously optimized by our research group for the diagnosis of trichinellosis (de-la-Rosa-Arana et al 2021 ). To evidence the antigen–antibody reaction in the procyonid system, protein A peroxidase were used (Sigma-Aldrich St. Louis, MO, USA).…”

A walk on the wild side: A review of the epidemiology of Toxocara canis and Toxocara cati in wild hosts

“…No eggs were detected in the faeces of the wild boar ( Sus scrofa ) from Mexico but utilising ELISA, 20% of the sampled animals were found to be seropositive for T . canis ( de la Rosa Arana et al, 2021 ). In contrast, T .…”