Infection status of the estuarine turtles Kinosternon integrum and Trachemys scripta with Gnathostoma binucleatum in Sinaloa, Mexico

Human gnathostomosis, a serious public health issue in Mexico, is endemic to Sinaloa. The disease is mainly caused by consumption of the raw meat of freshwater or estuarine fishes infected with the advanced third stage larvae of Gnathostoma binucleatum. A total of 23 Trachemys scripta and 5 Kinosternon integrum from Sinaloa, Mexico were analyzed for the presence of Gnathostoma larvae. Results showed that both turtles harbored G. binucleatum; identification was achieved by morphology and also by PCR/sequencing of the ITS2 region of ribosomal DNA of the larvae. Infection prevalence was higher for K. integrum (80%) than for T. scripta (69.6%), but heavier infection was observed in the largest individuals of T. scripta. Consumption of the raw meat of these turtles represents a risk to acquire the disease.