Mesocestoides sp . ( Eucestoda , Mesocestoididae ) parasitizing four species of wild felines in Southern Brazil Mesocestoides sp . ( Eucestoda , Mesocestoididae ) parasitando quatro espécies de felinos silvestres no Sul do Brasil

Leopardus colocolo, Leopardus geoffroyi, Leopardus tigrinus and Puma yagouaroundi are wild feline species endangered mainly due to habitat destruction and vehicle run overs. Seventeen felines hit on the roads were collected in Southern Brazil and examined for parasites. Cestodes were identified as Mesocestoides sp. The parasites were found in the small intestine of the hosts with a prevalence of 66.7% (L. colocolo and L. tigrinus), 60% (P. yagouaroundi) and 50% (L. geoffroyi). Rodents and lizards were found in the stomach contents and they possibly were intermediate hosts of Mesocestoides sp. This is the first report of Mesocestoides sp. in wild felines in Brazil.

Mesocestoides sp. are found in different hosts (birds and carnivore mammals) in different geographic regions.However, the majority of these hosts are animals protected by law, limiting the studies about this group of helminths.Roads cause great changes in ecosystems, reducing populations of various species.When found killed on roads these species can be studied in research studies.In this context, some species of felines are included in the list of endangered species of extinction (INDRUSIAK;EIZIRIK, 2003).This is the first report of Mesocestoides sp. in felines of the species The viscera were analyzed and the cestodes found were processed according to the techniques described by Amato et al. (1991).Ecological terms were used according to Bush et al. (1997).For each character, there were presented the minimum and maximum values, followed by the mean, standard deviation and number of specimens measured indicated in parentheses.Morphometric data was measured in micrometers, or indicated otherwise.
Drawings were made using a microscope equipped with draw tube.Representative specimens were deposited in the "Coleção Helmintológica do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz" (CHIOC), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
The specimens found were compared with the species presented by Witenberg (1934).They are similar to M. perlatus due to the shape of mature proglottids and the position of the testes.However, M. perlatus has ovary with separate lobes, and the species found in the present study has an ovary with contiguous lobes; furthermore M. perlatus is reported as parasite of birds.For the identification at specific level, the analysis of more specimens collected from trampled hosts that are not in process of putrefaction is required.
The prevalence of cestodes ranged among the felines: 66.7% (L.colocolo and L. tigrinus), 60% (P.yagouaroundi) and 50% (L.geoffroyi).The intensity and abundance of infections were 12. 5 and 8.33 in L. colocolo; 9.33 and 4.67 in L. geoffroyi; 70 and 23.3 in L. tigrinus; 15.6 and 9.4 in P. yagouaroundi, respectively.The high prevalence of helminths in the feline species studied indicates persistent ingestion of hosts infected by Mesocestoides sp.larvae, a characteristic related to the diet of felines and the life cycle of helminth species.The felines have diurnal and nocturnal habits and their diet consists of small vertebrates, mainly rodents, birds and lizards (SUNQUIST; SUNQUIST, 2002).
In the analysis of the stomach contents parts of rodents and lizards were found.These data suggest that mammals and reptiles could be the possible intermediate hosts of Mesocestoides sp. in Rio Grande do Sul.Our study contributes to the knowledge of the helminth parasites of endangered wild felines in Brazil.