DISEASE SUMMARY PAGE

Acanthocephalan Infection in Bears

Summary Information
Diseases / List of Parasitic Diseases / Disease summary
Alternative Names  
Disease Agents
  • Macracanthorhynchus ingens (a common parasite of raccoons). (J1.14.w10)
Infectious Agent(s) --
Non-infectious Agent(s) --
Physical Agent(s) --
General Description
  • The pathological impact of Macracanthorhynchus ingens in bears is unknown but "the large size and powerful hooks on the proboscis of M. ingens undoubtedly cause serious pathological changes in the wall of the intestine. " (J381.50.w1)
  • Macracanthorhynchus ingens may be of pathological significance in Ursus americanus - American black bears in Florida, USA (B419.14.w14)
Further Information
  • The acanthocephalan Macracanthorhynchus ingens (a common parasite of raccoons) was detected in the small intestine of 21% of bears during a survey of Ursus americanus - American black bear from six states in the southeastern USA, July 1973-November 1976. It was found in 50% of bears from the coastal plane but only 8% of those in the mountains. In one individual a worm was attached to the serosal side of the small intestine, but there was no associated inflammatory reaction. The intermediate hosts are scarabeid beetles. (J1.14.w10)
  • Macracanthorhynchus ingens were detected in the intestines of 80.4% of 46 Ursus americanus - American black bear examined during a survey in Florida, October 1976-April 1981. (J381.50.w1)
  • Macracanthorhynchus ingens were found in the small intestines of eight of 22 bears (36%) 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, with one to 22 acanthocephalans per bear (mean 8.1). (J11.90.w2)
Associated Techniques
Host taxa groups /species

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