Prevalence of sparganosis by county of origin in Florida feral swine.

Sparganosis is a parasitic infection in amphibians, reptiles and mammals including feral swine and man. It is caused by migration of the metacestode (spargana) of Spirometra. The primary objective of this study was the determination of the prevalence of gross sparganosis in Florida county of origin in slaughtered feral swine. Tracebacks to county of origin were conducted for Florida feral swine with and without gross sparganosis. Feral swine trapped in Florida and presented for slaughter in a Texas slaughter establishment from May to December 1999 was the sample population. Overall prevalence of sparganosis in Florida feral swine was 6.9%. Because Highlands county had the same prevalence, other counties were compared to it. Sparganosis was detected in 17 Florida counties. Swine originating from Osceola or Hillsborough counties (4.3 and 1.8% prevalence, respectively) had lower prevalence of sparganosis than in Highlands, whereas those from Marion county (21.7% prevalence) had a higher prevalence. Transmission to humans may occur via consumption of infected feral swine, other species of secondary intermediate hosts or the primary intermediate hosts.