Helminths of mountain lions (Felis concolor) from southwestern Texas, with a redescription of Cylicospirura subaequalis (Molin, 1860) Vevers, 1922

Abstract

Nine nematode and two cestode species were recovered from the viscera of 53 mountain lions (Felis concolor) collected from four counties in southwestern Texas. The distribution patterns of the common (> 20% prevalence) helminth species (Taenia omissa, Physaloptera praeputialis, Physaloptera rara, Cylicospirura subaequalis, Ancylostoma tubaeforme, Toxascaris leonina, Metathelazia californica, and Vogeloides felis) were overdispersed and did not change with host age or sex. Abundances of the common helminth species were examined relative to sex and age-groups of the lions. Significant differences were found for abundances of T. omissa, C. subaequalis, and T. leonina between host age-groups, and for T. omissa between host sexes. Only 2 of 29 species were shared among the helminth communities of mountain lions from Texas, Oregon, and Florida, indicating a basic disparity of species common to this host across its geographic range in North America. Taenia omissa is regarded as the single core species across this host's range in North America. New host records are reported for the occurrence of Taenia multiceps, P. rara, Gnathostoma procyonis, A. tubaeforme, and V. felis. Cylicospirura subaequalis is redescribed and compared with Cylicospirura felineus, a species commonly found in Felis lynx and Felis rufus. In addition to previously described bifid versus trifid teeth in C. subaequalis and C. felineus, respectively, differences were noted in the length of spicules in males and the location of the vulva in females.

Helminths of the Ocelot from Southern Texas

“…Carcasses were collected between 22 October 1987 through 20 October 1998. The majority (nϭ11) of these Waid and Pence (1988). Tongues from four of 15 ocelots were examined for Trichinella spp.…”

“…as previously described (Posio et al, 2001). Helminths were identified by comparison with voucher specimens from the previous studies on the helminths of bobcats by Stone and Pence (1978) and mountain lions by Waid and Pence (1988) and using Yamaguti (1958-63). Representative species of helminths collected from ocelots in this study are deposited in the US National Parasite Collection (Beltsville, Maryland, USA; USNPC Assession numbers 092444.00-092454.00).…”

“…Metathelazid lungworms, V. felis and/or M. californica, are very common parasites of bobcats and mountain lions (Waid and Pence, 1988) in Texas. At high intensities they are pathogenic in bobcats (Pence and Stone, 1977) and perhaps also in mountain lions (Waid and Pence, 1988).…”

“…At high intensities they are pathogenic in bobcats (Pence and Stone, 1977) and perhaps also in mountain lions (Waid and Pence, 1988). Because lungworms occur in such low abundances, they probably have little impact on this endangered population.…”

“…The hookworm, A. tubaeformae, and stomachworm, C. chevreuxi, occur in bobcats and mountain lions (Waid and Pence, 1988). Mesocestoides lineatus (ϭM.…”