RESUMO
Trichinella spiralis has been documented in wild animals in Argentina, including puma, armadillos, rats and wild boars. In 2008, molecular analysis identified Trichinella T12 from a naturally infected puma (Puma concolor) from Patagonia. The aim of the present work was to study the relationship between the infectivity and pathology of Trichinella T12 in the puma and in domestic cats, and the possible risks that may be present for transmission among these animals. Two cats (A and B) were orally-infected with 3300 and 1850 Trichinella T12 muscle larvae, respectively; one additional cat was used as a control. During the 54 days post-infection, a daily examination was performed which included monitoring body temperature, and cardiac and respiration rates; the animals were then euthanized. Hematological studies included hematocrit (%), hemoglobin (g/dl), and white cell, neutrophil, lymphocyte and eosinophil counts. Blood biochemistry included urea, creatinine, AST, ALT, CK, LDH and ALP. An ELISA assay was also performed. At necropsy, organs (liver, spleen, brain, cerebellum and kidney), nails and muscle samples were obtained for histopathology studies and artificial digestion. The muscles that were studied included the diaphragm, massetter, cutaneous, temporal, intercostals, lumbar, tongue, limbs, neck and tail. Clinical signs, such as anorexia, diarrhea, vomiting, shaggy hair, decay and muscle pain, were observed in both cats. The eosinophil counts were elevated in both cats A and B. Trichinella larvae were recovered from all of the muscles analyzed where the histopathology showed larvae in several muscles without degenerative reaction. Neither larvae nor lesions were observed in non-muscular organs. Cat A had a maximum of 246 larvae per gram (lpg) in the temporal muscle and a minimum of 80 lpg in the tongue, while cat B had a maximum of 65 lpg in muscles of the leg and a minimum of 10 lpg in tail muscles. This study represents the first record of experimental infection of cats with Trichinella T12.
Assuntos
Anticorpos Anti-Helmínticos/sangue , Doenças do Gato/parasitologia , Puma/parasitologia , Trichinella spiralis/imunologia , Triquinelose/veterinária , Animais , Argentina , Análise Química do Sangue , Doenças do Gato/imunologia , Doenças do Gato/patologia , Doenças do Gato/transmissão , Gatos , Ensaio de Imunoadsorção Enzimática , Larva , Músculos/parasitologia , Triquinelose/imunologia , Triquinelose/parasitologia , Triquinelose/patologiaRESUMO
The purpose of this work was to assess the clinical, haematological and biochemical responses of pigs experimentally inoculated with Trichinella spiralis. Groups of three pigs were inoculated per os with 100, 500 and 5000 T. spiralis muscle larvae, two pigs were used as control. Clinical evaluation of disease in pigs included daily examination, rectal temperature measurements and cardiac and respiration rates. Haematological studies included: hematocrit (%), hemoglobin (g/dl), and white cell, neutrophil, lymphocyte and eosinophil counts. Blood biochemistry included: bun (mg/dl), creatinine (mg/dl), AST (UI/l), ALT (UI/l), CPK (UI/l) and ALP (UI/l). No significant differences were observed in rectal temperature and in cardiac and respiration rates between inoculated animals and the control group (p> or =0.05). Significant differences were detected (p< or =0.05) in the values of % hemoglobin, and eosinophils, as well as in the values of CK, ALP, AST and ALT. The variations observed in some cases were related to the number of T. spiralis larvae inoculated and varied with the number of days post-infection. Inoculated pigs showed significant differences (p< or =0.05) in weight gain when compared with uninoculated controls. This study has clinical, haematological, and enzyme alterations in Trichinella infected pigs provides a better understanding of acute and chronic trichinellosis in pigs.