Prevalence of Trichinella infection in three sympatric large carnivores: effects of the host's sex and age

摘要: It has been suggested that the higher parasite prevalence for mammalian males might be due to differences in diet between sexes or a lower immunocompetence of males. We examined how large intracellular parasite, Trichinella spp., varies by sex and age brown bear Ursus arctos, grey wolf Canis lupus Eurasian lynx Lynx Finland. Data were obtained from 801 bears, 312 wolves 1958 lynxes killed during licensed hunting autumn winter. In all species, was than females highest adults. bears lynxes, difference two increased with age. bear, almost exclusively adults infected Trichinella, three times more frequent adult females. wolf, classes, but <1-year-old did not differ sex. According our macroscopic stomach analysis, raccoon dog Nyctereutes procyonoides red fox Vulpes vulpes, major reservoirs uncommon winter prey wolves, dogs frequently consumed male female lynxes. suggest feeding habits explain (at least bear), though we could exclude immunocompetence.