Zoonotic parasites associated with felines from the Patagonian Holocene

MARTÍN FUGASSA; MARÍA ORNELA BELTRAME; MARÍA SOL BAYER; NORMA SARDELLA

MEMóRIAS DO INSTITUTO OSWALDO CRUZ.

FUNDACO OSWALDO CRUZ

Lugar: Rio de Janeiro; Año: 2009 vol. 104 p. 1177 - 1180

0074-0276

Feline coprolites were examined for parasites with the aim of studying ancient infections that occurred in thePatagonian region during the Holocene period. Eggs compatible to Trichuris sp., Calodium sp., Eucoleus sp., Nematodirussp., Oesophagostomum sp. (Nematoda), Monoecocestus sp. (Cestoda) and Eimeria macusaniensis (Coccidia)were recovered from faecal samples. The results obtained from the analysis provide evidence of consumption byfelids of the viscera of both rodents and camelids. This knowledge allows for improved explanations as to the distributionof parasitism and its significance to the health of humans and animals inhabiting the area under study duringthe Middle Holocene.