| Summary Information |
| Diseases /
List of Parasitic Diseases
/ Disease summary |
| Alternative Names |
Intestinal
trematode infection
|
| Disease Agents |
- Nanophyetus salmonica (B64.26.w5)
- Echinostoma revolutum (J345.3.w3)
- Pharyngostomoides procyonis (J381.50.w1)
|
| Infectious
Agent(s) |
-- |
| Non-infectious
Agent(s) |
-- |
| Physical
Agent(s) |
--
|
| General Description |
- Various trematodes have been found in bears, but infections appear
to be asymptomatic. (B64.26.w5)
Diagnosis
- Trematode ova in the faeces. (B64.26.w5)
- Detection of flukes in the intestines at necropsy. (J11.69.w1,
J381.50.w1)
Treatment
- Good hygiene and nutrition interferes with the life cycle (which
requires intermediate hosts) and reduces re-infection. (B16.9.w9)
- Give parenteral oxytetracycline to eliminate associated rickettsial
infection. (B64.26.w5)
|
| Further Information |
- Bears may become infected with Nanophyetus salmonica by
eating raw or improperly frozen fish. (P507.2005.w5)
- Infection with Nanophyetus salmonica is important because
these flukes harbor Neorickettsia helminthocca, the
aetiological agent of salmon poisoning; bears harbouring these
trematodes therefore may be a potential health hazard to canids. (B16.9.w9,
B64.26.w5)
Occurrence
- Nanophyetus salmonica has been found in the Alaskan brown
bear (Ursus arctos - Brown bear)
and the Asiatic black bear Selenarctos tibetanus (Ursus thibetanus - Asiatic black bear).
(B272.8.w8)
- Pharyngostomoides procyonis (a single specimen) was detected in the intestines of
one of 46 Ursus americanus - American black bear
examined during a survey in Florida, October 1976-April 1981. (J11.69.w1,
J381.50.w1)
- Echinostoma revolutum was found in 2/66 bears (3.03%) during
a study of grizzly bears (Ursus arctos - Brown bear)
from Montana and Wyoming. Average intensity of infection was 6.5 (six
flukes in one bear, seven in the other).[1976](J345.3.w3)
- Alaria americana (nine flukes) were found in one bear (1.2%
of 83 bears examined) during a survey of Ursus
americanus - American black bears in central Ontario, Canada,
1975-1977. This was probably an incidental infection due to ingestion
of an infected mouse, frog or snake. It was noted that Alaria alata
had been reported once in a Yugoslavian Ursus arctos - Brown bear (J30.56.w4)
- Alaria marcinae were found in the small intestines of two of
22 bears during a survey of 22 Florida black bears
Ursus americanus floridanus (Ursus americanus - American black bear)
cubs (up to 12 months old) between 1998 and 2003. There were four
flukes in on cub, nine in the other. (J11.90.w2)
- Brachylaima virginianum were found (11 flukes) in the small
intestines of one of 22 bears during a survey of 22 Florida black bears
Ursus americanus floridanus (Ursus americanus - American black bear)
cubs (up to 12 months old) between 1998 and 2003. This parasite had not been reported previously in
Ursus americanus. (J11.90.w2)
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| Associated Techniques |
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| Host taxa groups /species |
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