DISEASE SUMMARY PAGE

Sparganosis in Bears and Lagomorphs

Summary Information
Diseases / List of Parasitic Diseases / Disease summary
Alternative Names	See also: Cysticercosis in Bears Tapeworm Cyst Infection in Lagomorphs
Disease Agents	Spirometra mansonoides in bears(J1.14.w10) *Sparganum cuniculi* and Sparganum sp. in lagomorphs (J11.89.w1)
	Infectious Agent(s)	Spirometra mansonoides (Pseudophyllidea - (Order))
	Non-infectious Agent(s)	--
	Physical Agent(s)	--
General Description	About 200 viable spargana of a cestode were found in the muscle and subcutaneous tissues of one bear during a survey of 53 Ursus americanus - American black bear from six states in the southeastern USA, July 1973-November 1976. Additionally, there were many small pustules associated with degenerating worms. (J1.14.w10) *Sparganum cuniculi* has been detected in Oryctolagus cuniculus - European rabbit in the Iberian Peninsula and Sparganum sp. has been detected in the Palearctic. (J11.89.w1) Diagnosis Feeding of spargana larvae from an Ursus americanus - American black bear to cestode-free cats resulted in development of adult cestodes identified as Spirometra mansonoides. (J1.14.w10)
Further Information	Zoonotic potential It is possible that human sparganosis may occasionally result from consumption of meat of wild animals containing viable spargana. (J1.14.w10)
Associated Techniques	History & Documentation Physical Examination of Mammals Necropsy of Mammals Environmental Assessment Treatment and Care Environmental and Population Management Preventative Medicine for Mammals Chapter 2 - B36 Field Manual of Wildlife Diseases - Specimen Collection and Preservation Chapter 3 - B36 Field Manual of Wildlife Diseases - Specimen shipment Appendix A - B36 Field Manual of Wildlife Diseases - Sample specimen history form
Host taxa groups /species	Further information on Host species has only been incorporated for species groups for which a full Wildpro "Health and Management" module has been completed (i.e. for which a comprehensive literature review has been undertaken). Bears (Ursidae - Bears (Family)) Ursus americanus - American black bear Oryctolagus cuniculus - European rabbit (List does not contain all other species groups affected by this infectious agent)
Disease Author	Dr Debra Bourne MA VetMB PhD MRCVS (V.w5)
Referees	Lord Soulsby of Swaffham Prior MA,PhD,DSc (H c: Mult) , AM(H c),DVM&S (H.c),DVMS(H.c) ,DVM(H,c) F.Med Sci.,Hon FRCVS F.Inst Biol. F.R.C.Path (H.c), DVSM, MRCVS (V.w135)

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