Parasitology of feeding raw sheep to fitch

Authors: Heath DD, Twaalfhoven H, Lawrence SB, Dyet GD, Hunter DR
Publication: New Zealand Veterinary Journal, Volume 33, Issue 3, pp 35, Mar 1985
Publisher: Taylor and Francis

Animal type: Mustelid, Livestock, Wildlife
Subject Terms: Alimentary system/gastroenterology, Cestode, Parasites - internal, Diet/rations/food, Notifiable organisms/exotic disease, Zoonosis, Meat, Nutrition/metabolism, Public health, Infectious disease
Article class: Correspondence

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Abstract: The widespread practice of feeding macerated raw carcasses and offal of cull sheep to fitch (Mustelaputoriusfuro) prompted some concern as to whether fitch could be a definitive host of Echinococcus granulosus, Taenia hydatigena or Taenia ovis. Because mustelids do not normally feed on sheep carcasses, the lack of records of sheep parasites in mustelids does not necessarily mean that the association could not occur. Mustelids in Europe and North America harbour taeniid tapeworms, whose intermediate hosts are small rodents. Experimental infection of polecats (M.eversmanni) with E.multilocularis cysts were not successful, although worms grew in control dogs. A record of T.hydatigena in M.nivalis (weasel) seems to have been a mistake. T.tenuicollis is the common tapeworm of weasels, and the author may have confused the terminology with T. hydatigena-Cysticercus tenuicollis of the dog-sheep cycle. In order to determine whether cestodes were being transmitted to fitch by feeding raw sheep, we examined carcasses after pelting, and also attempted to establish artificial infections. Fifty fitches from a Te Awamutu farm, that had been fed regularly since weaning on macerated sheep carcasses (a period of approximately 6 months) were killed with carbon monoxide and pelted. The carcasses were immediately cooled…

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