PREVALENCE OF TRICHINELLA-NATIVA IN LYNX (FELIS-LYNX) FROM ALASKA, 1988-1993

Lynx (Felis lynx) carcasses were collected during the 1989 to 1990 thr ough 1992 to 1993 trapping seasons in Alaska (USA). Seven areas were r epresented. Tongue samples were removed from 1,065 carcasses. Specimen s were examined for the presence of Trichinella nativa larvae by means of enzymatic digestion. Overall prevalence was 21%. Both prevalence a nd number of larvae per gram of host tissue were directly related to a ge of the host. Age-specific prevalence ranged from 4% for kittens up to 59% for lynx 5 yr of age and older. For infected lynx, intensity ra nged from 0.27 larvae per gram of host tissue for kittens up to 2.35 l arvae per gram for lynx 3 yr of age and older. Location-specific preva lence ranged from 19% to 27%. Year-specific prevalence ranged from 13% to 26%. Prevalence in both males and females was 21%.