Skip to main content
ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #321228
Title: Definitive hosts of a fatal Versteria species (Cestoda: Taeniidae) in North America

Author
item LEE, L - University Of Wisconsin
item WALLACE, R - University Of Wisconsin
item CLYDE, V - Desiderio Finamore Veterinary Research Institute (FEPAGRO)
item GENDRON-FITZPATRICK, A - University Of Wisconsin
item SIBLEY, S - University Of Wisconsin
item STUCHIN, M - Colorado State University
item LAUCK, M - University Of Wisconsin
item O'CONNOR, D - University Of Wisconsin
item NAKAO, M - Asahikawa Medical College
item LAVIKAINEN, A - University Of Helsinki
item Hoberg, Eric
item GOLDBERG, T - University Of Wisconsin

Submitted to: Emerging Infectious Diseases
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/1/2015
Publication Date: 4/20/2016
Citation: Lee, L.M., Wallace, R.S., Clyde, V.L., Gendron-Fitzpatrick, A., Sibley, S.D., Stuchin, M., Lauck, M., O'Connor, D.H., Nakao, M., Lavikainen, A., Hoberg, E.P., Goldberg, T.L. 2016. Definitive hosts of a fatal Versteria species (Cestoda: Taeniidae) in North America. Emerging Infectious Diseases. 22:707-710.

Interpretive Summary: Taeniid tapeworms are characteristic parasites in carnivores with life cycles completed through predator-prey association where larval (metacestode) parasites occur in herbivorous intermediate hosts. Infections by such metacestodes in mammalian hosts, including some in humans represent considerable health risk and may be fatal, demonstrating the need to clearly define patterns of parasite circulation and routes of infection. We previously reported a fatal metacestode infection in a captive orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus) which was attributed to a novel taeniid tapeworm, Versteria sp. Our preliminary study was designed to provide new insights about the distribution of this tapeworm and to identify potential carnivore hosts involved in its circulation. Limited survey of carnivores in Wisconsin implicated ermine (Mustela erminea) and mink (Neovison vison) as definitive North America hosts for this recently recognized species. Based on integrated molecular and morphological data the species is regarded as part of a larger complex of tapeworms, including several new to science, that occurs in North America and Eurasia. We conclude that the orangutan likely acquired the larval tapeworm infection far from where it died. Our findings demonstrate the propensity of these taeniid tapworms to infect atypical hosts, suggesting their potential as zoonotic pathogens for humans. New insights about taeniid diversity will be of importance for the medical community, wildlife biologists, and disease ecologists in identifying the potential threat for species of Versteria.

Technical Abstract: We previously reported fatal metacestode infection in a captive orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus) with a novel taeniid tapeworm, Versteria sp. Data from ermine (Mustela erminea) and mink (Neovison vison) implicate mustelids as definitive North America hosts and expand known Versteria diversity. The orangutan likely acquired the infection far from where it died.