Trichinella spiralis in a cougar (Puma concolor) hunted by poachers in Chile

Abstract

Trichinellosis is a zoonosis caused by nematodes of the Trichinella genus, of which 10 species have been described. Species identification when larvae is found is only possible using molecular tools. Meat from pigs and game animals not subjected to veterinary inspection are the main sources of human infections. The hunting of native carnivores is prohibited in Chile due to conservation issues and the fact that those animals favor pest control. The illegal hunting of a cougar (Puma concolor) occurred in September 2020. Herein, the molecular identification of Trichinella larvae, by analyzing nuclear (expansion segment V) and mitochondrial (cytochrome C oxidase subunit I) sequences are described. Both the amplification of the expansion segment V region and the phylogenetic analysis of a segment of a fragment of the cytochrome c-oxidase subunit I sequence confirmed that the larvae belonged to T. spiralis. The case described herein represents the first evidence of illegal hunting of a protected mammal infected with Trichinella in Chile, highlighting the ‘One Health’ perspective to face this disease in the rural-sylvatic interphase.