Parasitology of feeding raw sheep to fitch

Abstract

Extract

Sir:–The widespread practice of feeding macerated raw carcasses and offal of cull sheep to fitch (Mustela putorius Juro) 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.