Dracunculus lutrae n. sp. (Nematoda: Dracunculoidea) from the otter, Lutra canadensis, in Ontario, Canada

Abstract

Over the interval 1969–1971, carcasses of 1147 mammals taken in Ontario, Canada, were examined for guinea worm. Dracunculus lutrae n. sp., was recovered from otter Lutra canadensis (Schreber). Dracunculus insignis (Leidy 1858) Chandler 1942, was found in raccoon Procyon lotor (L.), mink (Mustela vison Schreber), and fisher (Martes pennanti (Erxleben)). Female worms identified, in the absence of males, as Dracunculus sp. were found in muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus (L.), opossum (Didelphis marsupialis L.), and short-tailed weasel (Mustela erminea L.) from Ontario and a single badger (Taxidea taxus (Schreber)) from Manitoba.Dracunculus lutrae n, sp. is distinguished from other species of Dracunculus which parasitize mammals (namely D. medinensis (Linnaeus 1758), D. insignis, and D. fuelleborni Travassos 1934), by the greater length of males, greater length of spicules and gubernaculum, presence of three pairs of preanal papillae, and the arrangement in two transverse rows of papillae immediately posterior to the anus. A brief redescription of D. insignis from raccoon and mink is given. The taxonomic status of the species of Dracunculus parasitizing mammals is briefly discussed.

The wild world of Guinea Worms: A review of the genus Dracunculus in wildlife

“…Dracunculus lutrae was first described from specimens collected from otters from Ontario, Canada ( Table 2 ) ( Crichton and Beverly-Burton, 1973 ). A molecular study conducted on Dracunculus from various wildlife species in Ontario, Canada revealed that 18 otters were infected with D. lutrae but two other otters were infected with D. insignis ( Elsasser et al, 2009 ).…”

“…are very similar and molecular characterization is needed for definitive identification. Males are considerably smaller (16–40 mm), but they have several morphological features that can be used to distinguish the different parasite species ( Crichton and Beverly-Burton, 1973 ; Cairncross et al, 2002 ). Unfortunately, males are rarely detected and have never been described for some species.…”

“…Female nematodes will then senesce and may be pulled out of tissue by the affected animal or will retreat subcutaneously and calcify. Male and unfertilized female nematodes can survive for 330 days; however, it is proposed that this estimate is conservative ( Crichton and Beverley-Burton, 1973 , 1974 ; 1977 ; Brandt and Eberhard, 1990 ).…”

Endoparasites of American marten ( Martes americana ): Review of the literature and parasite survey of reintroduced American marten in Michigan

“…Dracunculus insignis is a parasite known to infect raccoons, dogs, mink, fishers and skunks in the United States east of the Rocky Mountains and in Ontario, Canada ( Crichton and Beverly-Burton, 1973 , Cheng, 1986 ). Experimental infections in ferrets are used as a model for human dracunculiasis ( Eberhard et al., 1988 ).…”

“…Experimental infections in ferrets are used as a model for human dracunculiasis ( Eberhard et al., 1988 ). Dracunculus lutrae infects otters in North America ( Crichton and Beverly-Burton, 1973 ). Both species have a similar life cycle to the related the Old World parasite Didelphis medinensis , commonly called the guinea worm, a zoonotic parasite.…”