Helminths of zoonotic importance in Tayassuidae and Suidae in Brazilian Midwest: risks for human and domestic animal health.

Abstract

Common peccaries (Tayassu pecari), wild boars (Sus scrofa) and collared peccaries (Dicotyles tajacu) are species that have gained attention in Brazil because of their close relationship with human beings, their influence on the environment and the parasitic fauna they host, which is common in free-ranging animals. In this study, we obtained the carcasses S. scrofa (n = 4), T. pecari (n = 12) and D. tajacu (n = 1) that were killed by hunting (only wild boars), or by being run over or burned. The animals were necropsied and searched for parasites. The parasites found in the gastrointestinal tract were fixed in ethanol for morphological identification. The parasites identified were Ascaris suum, Monodontus rarus, Monodontus semicircularis, Strongyloides spp., Lagochilascaris minor, Eucyathostomum dentatum, Oligacanthorhynchus major and Ascarops strongylina. In addition to observing the occurrence of different species of parasites in tayassuids and suids, we also aimed to raise awareness among the population about the dangers of consuming these animals, as well as the importance of ecological relationships for the propagation of parasitic fauna. Our results indicate that parasites are host switching, possibly related to the adaptation of L. minor and M. rarus.