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31 January 2022 Tissue and Gastrointestinal Parasites of Colonizing Nine-Banded Armadillos at the Edge of Their Northern Range
Carly J. Haywood, Abigail M. Jordon, Maria Pena, Clayton K. Nielsen, F. Agustín Jiménez
Author Affiliations +
Abstract

Originally endemic to South America, the nine-banded armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus) has recently expanded its range northward to Illinois. With this range expansion comes concern regarding potential incoming pathogens; our research, conducted during 2012–2020, consisted of screening armadillos for the presence of helminths, Trypanosoma cruzi, and Mycobacterium leprae. We screened for the presence of T. cruzi and M. leprae, 2 pathogens known to infect humans, using polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. All 80 samples screened for T. cruzi and all 25 samples screened for M. leprae were negative. No parasite specific to the nine-banded armadillo, such as Aspidodera sogandaresi, was detected. This lack of infection is consistent with the idea that animals may be isolated from their common parasites during periods of range expansion. Lack of infection by T. cruzi in an endemic area suggests that these mammals may not be exposed to the infective stages at this early phase of their colonization. Presently, the armadillo has become established in Illinois, yet they have not introduced their parasites into the area. Our study represents the first effort to document the parasitological record of the expanding armadillo within 30 yr of their initial record in Illinois and the American Midwest. This helminthological record of armadillos in Illinois sets the timeline to observe the establishment of A. sogandaresi in the Midwest.

© American Society of Parasitologists 2022
Carly J. Haywood, Abigail M. Jordon, Maria Pena, Clayton K. Nielsen, and F. Agustín Jiménez "Tissue and Gastrointestinal Parasites of Colonizing Nine-Banded Armadillos at the Edge of Their Northern Range," Journal of Parasitology 108(1), 57-63, (31 January 2022). https://doi.org/10.1645/21-76
Published: 31 January 2022
KEYWORDS
Brachylaemus virginianus
Chagas' disease
Dasypus novemcintus
Hansen's disease
Leprosy
Mycobacterium leprae
nine-banded armadillo
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