PATHOGENICITY OF THE HOOKWORM, ANCYLOSTOMA-PLURIDENTATUM, IN A FLORIDA PANTHER (FELIS-CONCOLOR-CORYI) KITTEN

We evaluated clinical signs and administered anthelmintic treatment to a wild-caught, captive Florida panther (Felis concolor coryi) kitten from Big Cypress National Preserve, Florida (USA) infected with the ho okworm, Ancylostoma pluridentatum. Clinical signs observed included po or body condition, lethargy, and below normal red blood cell numbers, hemoglobin concentration, and packed cell volume, and elevated eosinop hil numbers. In addition, a maximum of 936 Ancylostoma sp. eggs/g of f eces were found on Day 11 of captivity. Following oral administration of 20 mg/kg pyrantel pamoate on Day 11, 26 A. pluridentatum were colle cted from the feces. Based on the resolution of clinical signs, cessat ion of egg shedding, and a return to normal hematologic values followi ng anthelmintic treatment, we believe that infection with A. plurident atum was the primary cause of the stressed conditions in the panther k itten.