Trichinella infections in wildlife from Pennsylvania: variation in exposure among coyote (Canis latrans), gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus), and red fox (Vulpes vulpes)

Authors: Dubey, Jitender; DE ARAUJO, LARISSA - Oak Ridge Institute For Science And Education (ORISE); GUPTA, ADITYA - Oak Ridge Institute For Science And Education (ORISE); Thompson, Peter; ANKRAH, AKO - Oak Ridge Institute For Science And Education (ORISE); BATTLE, JAQUIN - Oak Ridge Institute For Science And Education (ORISE); VAN WHY, KYLE - US Department Of Agriculture (USDA); BROWN, JUSTINE - Pennsylvania State University

Submitted to: Journal of Parasitology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/11/2024
Publication Date: 12/11/2024
Citation: Dubey, J.P., De Araujo, L., Gupta, A., Thompson, P.C., Ankrah, A., Battle, J., Van Why, K., Brown, J. 2024. Trichinella infections in wildlife from Pennsylvania: variation in exposure among coyote (Canis latrans), gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus), and red fox (Vulpes vulpes). Journal of Parasitology. 110(6): 666-669. https://doi.org/10.1645/24-108 .
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1645/24-108

Interpretive Summary: Trichinellosis is a parasitic disease occurring worldwide. Human trichinellosis has been known for more than two centuries; extreme cases can cause death. Uncooked pork was the main source of human infection until successful control efforts relegated most cases to consumption of wild game. Thirteen species/subspecies/genotypes of Trichinella have thus far been identified; of these, Trichinella spiralis poses the greatest risk as a human pathogen, given its ability to establish long-lasting and intense infections in pigs. Development of better farm practices has reduced Trichinella infections in domestic pigs to almost negligible. However, clinical trichinellosis continues to occur in the USA, mainly due to other zoonotic species of Trichinella in wildlife. Here, the authors found rare Trichinella infections in 1 of 76 coyotes, 1 of 46 grey fox but high prevalence in red fox (7 of 21) from Pennsylvania, all sampled at the same time. Results indicate that Trichinella continue to circulate in wild canids in Pennsylvania and hunters need to be aware of the public health importance of the parasite. This information will be of interest to biologists, wildlife scientists, hunters, parasitologists and veterinarians.

Technical Abstract: During a survey for Sarcocystis infections in Pennsylvania in wild canids, muscles were examined microscopically for sarcocysts. Between February 9-11, 2024, muscle samples were collected from 76 coyotes, 46 gray foxes, and 21 red foxes from Pennsylvania that were harvested during an organized predator hunt. Around 5 g of muscle was examined microscopically by compression between glass slide and coverslip. Trichinella sp. larvae were detected in 1 of 76 coyotes (Canis latrans), 1 of 46 gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) and in 7 of 21 red fox (Vulpes vulpes) muscles. This is the first report of Trichinella infection in coyotes from Pennsylvania. The reasons for differences in Trichinella species could have been due to inherent susceptibility or the area sampled.