Molecular Confirmation of Taenia crassiceps Cysticercosis in a Captive Ring-Tailed Lemur (Lemur catta) in Poland

Abstract

(1) Background: Taenia crassiceps is a cosmopolitan tapeworm endemic to the northern hemisphere with an indirect lifecycle. Its definitive hosts are carnivores, and its intermediate hosts are rodents and rabbits. Nonhuman primates in zoos appear to be highly susceptible to T. crassiceps cysticercosis. The aim of this study was to confirm the presence and the molecular characterization of T. crassiceps cysts isolated from a captive ring-tailed lemur. (2) Methods: Surgery revealed multifocal, transparent saccules containing several thin-walled tapeworm cysticerci. In some of the metacestodes, single or multiple exogenous buds from daughter cysticerci were spotted. A molecular analysis was performed to confirm our morphological examinations, using two protocols to obtain the partial nad1 and cox1 genes of the Taenia sp. (3) Results: On the basis of morphological features and molecular analysis, the cysticerci were identified as T. crassiceps metacestodes, and products taken from the PCRs were sequenced. With respect to interpreting the sequencing results of the obtained amplicons, we compared them with data in the GenBank database, proving that, in this case, the causative agent was indeed T. crassiceps. (4) Conclusions: The received data can be used to supplement descriptions of this species. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of cysticercosis caused by T. crassiceps in a nonhuman primate in Poland.

Comprehensive Diagnosis, Treatment, and Outcome of Taenia crassiceps Cysticercosis in a Ring-Tailed Lemur (Lemur catta) from a Croatian Zoo: No Longer Unusual?

“…In this article, a case similar to those found in the latter countries is described. However, the lesions in our case manifested as exclusive subcutaneous infection, which was successfully treated surgically, resulting in complete recovery of the animal, which is consistent with the case in Poland [34].…”

“…As can be seen in the phenogram ( Figure 5 ), our sequence of T. crassiceps genotype belongs to the same group as the sequences of T. crassiceps isolated from the following animals: Galago senegalensis (Czech Republic, KY321321.1), Canis lupus familiaris (Czech Republic, KY321319.1), Lemur catta (Italy, OR350516.1), Lemur catta (Italy, OR350515.1), and Lemur catta (Poland, OM996999.1). Echinococcus canadensis (accession number EU151431.1) was used as an outgroup [ 34 , 43 ]. The tree was drawn to scale, with branch lengths in the same units as those of the evolutionary distances used to infer the phylogenetic tree.…”

“…Recently, cysticercosis of T. crassiceps has been described more frequently in ring-tailed lemurs, an atypical intermediate host, in European zoos [ 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 ], many of which were fatal [ 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 ]. This article describes the first documented report of subcutaneous cysticercosis in a ring-tailed lemur in Croatia.…”

“…This article describes the first documented report of subcutaneous cysticercosis in a ring-tailed lemur in Croatia. In Bosnia and Herzegovina [ 37 ], Italy [ 38 ] and Austria [ 39 ], no subcutaneous lesions were observed, unlike the cases reported in Poland [ 34 ], Serbia [ 35 ] and Spain [ 36 ]. In this article, a case similar to those found in the latter countries is described.…”

“…Cysticercosis caused by T. crassiceps has also been reported in captive non-human primates in zoos [ 17 ]. Ring-tailed lemurs ( Lemur catta ) have been found to be infected with other metacestodes in addition to C. longicollis [ 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 ], indicating a high susceptibility to infection with larval stages of tapeworms in lemurs in general [ 17 ].…”