Molecular and histopathological characterization of Spirocerca sp. in culpeo fox (Lycalopex culpaeus) in Chile

SOPHIA DI CATALDO; MARIO ALVARADO; AITOR CEVIDANES; ANDREA CHIRIFE; CARLA BARRÍA; JAVIERA CONSTANZO; JAVIER MILLÁN

Florida

Conferencia; 67th Annual international Conference Wildlife Disease Association; 2018

Wildlife Disease Association (WDA)

Spirocerca lupi is a heteroxenous nematode parasitizing dogs and other carnivores. It forms nodules in the walls of the esophagus and the stomach and can migrate through the aorta causing ossifying spondylitis of the thoracic vertebrae and aneurisms. In South America, it was described in domestic dogs in Brazil and in a bush dog (Speothos venaticus) in Argentina. In this work, two male adult culpeo foxes (Lycalopex culpaeus) from central Chile were necropsied revealing the presence of nodular structures in the wall of their stomachs. Eleven and three intact worms were respectively recovered and identified by light microscopy. Histological examination of the cysts revealed multiple foci of lymphoplasmacytic inflammatory infiltrate in the mucosa and a dense fibrous connective tissue surrounding the nodule. These pathological observations are consistent with those previously reported in dogs and wild carnivores. Nine parasites were analyzed by a set of primers targeting the cox1 gene. PCR amplicons were sequenced, confirming the presence of five haplotypes that showed around 95% identity with sequences of S. lupi from the GeneBank. This is the first report of S. lupi in Chile both for domestic and wild carnivores. Thepresence of this parasite in foxes should rise awareness among parasitologists, wildlife researchers, and veterinary practitioners in the country. The abundant population of free-ranging dogs may be acting as a source of parasites for wildlife.