Emerging Infectious Diseases (Apr 2016)

Definitive Hosts of Versteria Tapeworms (Cestoda: Taeniidae) Causing Fatal Infection in North America

  • Laura M. Lee,
  • Roberta S. Wallace,
  • Victoria L. Clyde,
  • Annette Gendron-Fitzpatrick,
  • Samuel D. Sibley,
  • Margot Stuchin,
  • Michael Lauck,
  • David H. O’Connor,
  • Minoru Nakao,
  • Antti Lavikainen,
  • Eric P. Hoberg,
  • Tony L. Goldberg

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3201/eid2204.151446
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 22, no. 4
pp. 707 – 710

Abstract

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We previously reported fatal infection of a captive Bornean orangutan with metacestodes of a novel taeniid tapeworm, Versteria sp. New data implicate mustelids as definitive hosts of these tapeworms in North America. At least 2 parasite genetic lineages circulate in North America, representing separate introductions from Eurasia.

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