Acta Parasitologica, Vol. 50, No. 3, 2005, 263-266 Pablo M. Beldomenico(1,2)*, John M. Kinsella(2), Marcela M. Uhart(3), Gabriela L. Gutierrez(1), Javier Pereira(3,4), Hebe del Valle Ferreyra(3) and Carolina A. Marull(3) - Helminths of Geoffroy's cat, Oncifelis geoffroyi (Carnivora, Felidae) from the Monte desert, central Argentina
(1)Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, RP Kreder 2805 (3080) Esperanza, Argentina; (2)HelmWest Laboratory, 2108 Hilda Avenue, Missoula, MT 59801, U.S.A.; (3)Proyecto Gatos del Monte, Field Veterinary Program, Estivariz 197,
Puerto Madryn (9120), (4)Asociacion para la Conservacion y el Estudio de la Naturaleza, Ibera 1575 8° B, Buenos Aires; Argentina
*Corresponding author: pbeldome@fcv.unl.edu.ar
ABSTRACT
Gastrointestinal parasites were collected from 7 free-ranging Geoffroy's cats, Oncifelis geoffroyi from Lihue Calel National Park, Argentina. Also, fecal samples were analyzed from these animals and 3 other sympatric ones. The helminths were identified as Vigosospirura potekhina, Didelphonema longispiculata, Pterygodermatites cahirensis, Trichuris campanula, Ancylostoma tubaeforme, Toxocara cati, and Taenia sp. Fecal analysis revealed the presence of eggs of Capillaria sp. and an unidentified anoplocephalid tapeworm, and coccidian oocysts. The findings of V. potekhina, D. longispiculata, P. cahirensis,
and T. campanula represent first records of these species in O. geoffroyi. Further, the former three had never been reported in South America.
KEY WORDS: Gastrointestinal parasites, Oncifelis geoffroyi, Felidae, Argentina