IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library |
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| Kagendo, D.; Magambo, J.; Agola, E.L.; Njenga, S.M.; Zeyhle, E.; Mulinge, E.; Gitonga, P.; Mbae, C.; Muchiri, E.; Wassermann, M.; Kern, P.; Romig, T. | |
| A survey for _Echinococcus _spp. of carnivores in six wildlife conservation areas in Kenya | |
| 2014 Parasitology International (63): 604-611 | |
To investigate the presence of _Echinococcus_ spp. in wild mammals of Kenya, 832 faecal samples from wild carnivores (lions, leopards, spotted hyenas, wild dogs and silver-backed jackals) were collected in six different conservation areas of Kenya (Meru, Nairobi, Tsavo West and Tsavo East National Parks, Samburu and Maasai Mara National Reserves). Taeniid eggs were found in 120 samples (14.4%). In total, 1160 eggs were isolated and further analysed using RFLP-PCR of the nad1 gene and sequencing. 38 of these samples contained eggs of _Echinococcus_ spp., which were identified as either _Echinococcus felidis_ (n = 27) or _Echinococcus granulosus sensu stricto_ (n = 12); one sample contained eggs from both taxa. E. felidis was found in faeces from lions (n =20) and hyenas (n=5) while _E. granulosus_ in faeces from lions (n=8), leopards (n=1) and hyenas (n = 3). The host species for two samples containing _E. felidis_ could not be identified with certainty. As the majority of isolated eggs could not be analysed with the methods used (no amplification), we do not attempt to give estimates of faecal prevalences. Both taxa of _Echinococcus_ were found in all conservation areas except Meru (only _E. felidis_) and Tsavo West (only _E. granulosus_). Host species identification for environmental faecal samples, based on field signs, was found to be unreliable. All samples with taeniid eggs were subjected to a confirmatory host species RLFP-PCR of the cytochrome B gene. 60% had been correctly identified in the field. Frequently, hyena faeces weremistaken for lion and vice versa, and none of the samples from jackals and wild dogs could be confirmed in the tested sub-sample. This is the first molecular study on the distribution of _Echinococcus_ spp. in Kenyan wildlife. The presence of _E. felidis_ is confirmed for lions and newly reported for spotted hyenas. Lions and hyenas are newly recognized hosts for _E. granulosus_ s.s., while the role of leopards remains uncertain. These data provide the basis for further studies on the lifecycles and the possible link between wild and domestic cycles of cystic echinococcosis in eastern Africa. |
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