Jh. Theis et al., DNA-CONFIRMED TAENIA-SOLIUM CYSTICERCOSIS IN BLACK BEARS (URSUS-AMERICANUS) FROM CALIFORNIA, The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene, 55(4), 1996, pp. 456-458
Citations number
14
Categorie Soggetti
Public, Environmental & Occupation Heath","Tropical Medicine
Three cases of cysticercosis in black bears (Ursus americanus) in thre
e northern California counties between 1990 and 1994 have been identif
ied as due to the tapeworm Taenia solium. Both morphologic characteris
tics as well as the presence of T. solium mitochondria cytochrome oxid
ase I gene sequences, as detected by the polymerase chain reaction, co
nfirmed the diagnosis. The number and geographic separation of the cas
es suggests that infection of the bears was not due to a single contam
ination. Humans infected with the definitive stage of T. solium are th
e probable source of cysticercosis for bears, as well as other humans,
This is the first confirmation of cysticercosis due to T. solium in a
black bear in North America.