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Juozaitytė-Ngugu E, Maziliauskaitė E, Kirjušina M, Prakas P, Vaitkevičiūtė R, Stankevičiūtė J, Butkauskas D. Identification of Sarcocystis and Trichinella Species in Muscles of Gray Wolf ( Canis lupus) from Lithuania. Vet Sci 2024; 11:85. [PMID: 38393103 PMCID: PMC10892562 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci11020085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2023] [Revised: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Apicomplexan Sarcocystis and Trichinella nematodes are food-borne parasites whose life cycle is carried-out in various wildlife and domestic animals. The gray wolf (Canis lupus) is an apex predator acting as an ecosystem engineer. This study aimed to identify the species of Sarcocystis and Trichinella found in the muscles of gray wolves in Lithuania. During the 2017-2022 period, diaphragm, heart, and hind leg samples of 15 animals were examined. Microscopical analysis showed the presence of two types of Sarcocystis parasites in 26.7% of the analyzed muscle samples. Based on the sequencing of five loci, nuclear 18S rDNA, 28S rDNA, ITS1, mitochondrial cox1, and apicoplast rpoB, S. arctica, and S. svanai were identified. The current work presents the first report of S. svanai in gray wolf. Phylogenetically, S. svanai clustered together with S. lutrae, infecting various carnivorans, and S. arctica was most closely related to S. felis from domestic cats. Trichinella spp. were found in 12 gray wolves (80%). For the first time, Trichinella species were molecularly identified in gray wolves from Lithuania. Trichinella britovi was confirmed in all of the isolated Trichinella larvae using a multiplex PCR. Gray wolves in Lithuania may serve as a major source of zoonotic pathogens due to the presence of these parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Muza Kirjušina
- Department of Ecology, Institute of Life Sciences and Technology, Daugavpils University, Parādes 1, 5401 Daugavpils, Latvia
| | - Petras Prakas
- Nature Research Centre, Akademijos 2, 08412 Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Rasa Vaitkevičiūtė
- Agriculture Academy, Vytautas Magnus University, Studentų 11, Akademija, 53361 Kaunas, Lithuania
| | - Jolanta Stankevičiūtė
- Agriculture Academy, Vytautas Magnus University, Studentų 11, Akademija, 53361 Kaunas, Lithuania
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Bauer C, Lider LA, Ussenbayev AE, Seitkamzina DM, Zhanabayev AA, Maksimov P, Knaus M. Toxascaris leonina in dogs - A nematode species of high prevalence in some regions of Eurasia. Vet Parasitol Reg Stud Reports 2024; 48:100986. [PMID: 38316504 DOI: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2024.100986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Revised: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024]
Abstract
A recent meta-analysis of studies from around the world had shown a global prevalence of Toxascaris leonina in stray dogs of about 7%. However, studies from Eurasian regions, where higher percentages of positive dogs were often found, were under-represented in this meta-analysis. This prompted the present study. Its main objective was to examine free-roaming dogs from the capital city of Kazakhstan to obtain information on the current occurrence of T. leonina egg shedding compared to Toxocara spp. Faecal samples from 500 free-roaming dogs from the city of Astana and its suburbs were collected 1-2 days after admission to the municipal animal shelter during three time periods (May to October 2019, September 2020, and April 2021). Samples were examined by a saline flotation method. Nematode egg-positive samples were subjected to a modified McMaster method to determine the number of eggs per gram of faeces (EPG). Toxascaris leonina eggs were found in 53.8% and Toxocara spp. eggs in 14.8% of the dogs examined. The prevalence of T. leonina egg shedding was significantly associated with age class but not with sex: dogs aged between 6 months and 2 years were more likely to be T. leonina egg positive than puppies. The intensity of T. leonina egg shedding was also age dependent: dogs aged between 6 months and 2 years had significantly higher EPGs compared to younger or older animals. In contrast, the prevalence of Toxocara spp. egg shedding was associated with both age class and sex: dogs older than 2 years were less likely to shed Toxocara spp. eggs than puppies, and females were less likely to be Toxocara spp. egg positive compared to males. The present results confirm those of other studies in Eurasian regions. It is therefore reasonable to assume that the global prevalence of T. leonina infection has been underestimated and should be revised accordingly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Bauer
- Institute of Parasitology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Schubertstrasse 81, 35392 Giessen, Germany; S. Seifullin Kazakh Agro Technical Research University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Husbandry Technology, 62 Zhenis Avenue, 010011 Astana, Kazakhstan.
| | - Lyudmila A Lider
- S. Seifullin Kazakh Agro Technical Research University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Husbandry Technology, 62 Zhenis Avenue, 010011 Astana, Kazakhstan
| | - Altay E Ussenbayev
- S. Seifullin Kazakh Agro Technical Research University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Husbandry Technology, 62 Zhenis Avenue, 010011 Astana, Kazakhstan
| | - Dinara M Seitkamzina
- S. Seifullin Kazakh Agro Technical Research University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Husbandry Technology, 62 Zhenis Avenue, 010011 Astana, Kazakhstan
| | - Asylbek A Zhanabayev
- S. Seifullin Kazakh Agro Technical Research University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Husbandry Technology, 62 Zhenis Avenue, 010011 Astana, Kazakhstan
| | - Pavlo Maksimov
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Epidemiology, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Martin Knaus
- Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica GmbH, Kathrinenhof Research Center, 83101 Rohrdorf, Germany
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Holland CV. A walk on the wild side: A review of the epidemiology of Toxocara canis and Toxocara cati in wild hosts. Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2023; 22:216-228. [PMID: 37964985 PMCID: PMC10641444 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2023.10.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2023] [Revised: 10/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/15/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023]
Abstract
Toxocara species are cosmopolitan nematode parasites of companion, domestic and wild hosts. Of the 26 known species of Toxocara, only Toxocara canis and Toxocara cati are definitively zoonotic. The significance of wild carnivores as definitive hosts of T. canis and T. cati respectively, has received far less attention compared to domestic dogs and cats. Complex environmental changes have promoted increasing contact between wildlife, domestic animals and humans that can enhance the risk of pathogen spillover. This review lists a total of 19 species of wild canid host that have been shown to act as definitive hosts for T. canis and a total of 21 species of wild felid host. In general, the number of publications focusing on felid host species is fewer in number, reflecting the general paucity of data on T. cati. The wild canids that have received the most attention in the published literature include the red fox (Vulpes vulpes), the wolf (Canis lupus), and the golden jackal (Canis aureus). The wild felid species that has received the most attention in the published literature is the Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx). Some non-canid and non-felid hosts also act as definitive hosts of Toxocara species. Certainly, red foxes would appear to be the most significant wild species in terms of their potential to transmit Toxocara to domestic dogs and humans via environmental contamination. This can be explained by their increasing population densities, encroachment into urban areas and their dietary preferences for a wide range of potential paratenic hosts. However, a major challenge remains to assess the relative importance of wild hosts as contributors to environmental contamination with Toxocara ova. Furthermore, one major constraint to our understanding of the significance of wildlife parasitism is a lack of access to samples, particularly from rare host species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Celia V. Holland
- Department of Zoology, School of Natural Sciences, Trinity College, Dublin 2, Ireland
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Umhang G, Duchamp C, Boucher JM, Caillot C, Legras L, Demerson JM, Lucas J, Gauthier D, Boué F. Gray wolves as sentinels for the presence of Echinococcus spp. and other gastrointestinal parasites in France. Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2023; 22:101-107. [PMID: 37780970 PMCID: PMC10539616 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2023.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2023] [Revised: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
Over the past 30 years, the gray wolf population has recovered in France, initially to wolves from Italy passing through the Alps. The population is carefully monitored, but little information is available on their helminth fauna, which includes parasites of public health importance: Echinococcus multilocularis and Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato. Capitalizing on the availability of 911 fecal samples collected for the noninvasive genetic monitoring of French wolf populations, along with the intestines from 15 dead wolves, the presence of Echinococcus species among others helminth species was evaluated in French wolves. A copro-PCR approach amplifying a large spectrum of parasites was used for fecal samples while intestines were analyzed using SCT. The fecal occurrences of E. granulosus sensu stricto (2.4%) and E. multilocularis (0.3%), and indeedother parasitic species, are similar to those of other European wolf populations including Taenia hydatigena (7.2%), Taenia krabbei (2.4%), Uncinaria stenocephala (2.4%), Mesocestoides litteratus (1.9%), Taenia ovis (0.3%), Taenia multiceps (0.1%), and Toxascaris leonina (0.1%). The three most abundant species were also found in the intestines. Infections by E. granulosus sensu stricto are in accordance with the overlap of wolf pack areas and sheep breeding pastoral units. However, the wolf does not appear to play a significant role in the lifecycle of E. granulosus sensu stricto. The availability of this opportunistic fecal sampling of wolves in southeastern France means that they can be used as sentinels for the surveillance of E. multilocularis in the context of its southward expansion observed in recent years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gérald Umhang
- ANSES LRFSN, Wildlife Surveillance and Eco-epidemiology Unit, National Reference Laboratory for Echinococcus spp., Malzéville, France
| | - Christophe Duchamp
- OFB (French Biodiversity Agency), Research Department, Predator and Depredator Unit, Gap, France
| | - Jean-Marc Boucher
- ANSES LRFSN, Wildlife Surveillance and Eco-epidemiology Unit, National Reference Laboratory for Echinococcus spp., Malzéville, France
| | - Christophe Caillot
- ANSES LRFSN, Wildlife Surveillance and Eco-epidemiology Unit, National Reference Laboratory for Echinococcus spp., Malzéville, France
| | - Léo Legras
- ANSES LRFSN, Wildlife Surveillance and Eco-epidemiology Unit, National Reference Laboratory for Echinococcus spp., Malzéville, France
| | - Jean-Michel Demerson
- ANSES LRFSN, Wildlife Surveillance and Eco-epidemiology Unit, National Reference Laboratory for Echinococcus spp., Malzéville, France
| | - Jérémie Lucas
- OFB (French Biodiversity Agency), Research Department, Predator and Depredator Unit, Gap, France
| | | | - Franck Boué
- ANSES LRFSN, Wildlife Surveillance and Eco-epidemiology Unit, National Reference Laboratory for Echinococcus spp., Malzéville, France
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Crotti S, Brustenga L, Cruciani D, Bonelli P, D'Avino N, Felici A, Morandi B, Sebastiani C, Spina S, Gobbi M. Molecular Screening of Echinococcus spp. and Other Cestodes in Wild Carnivores from Central Italy. Vet Sci 2023; 10:vetsci10050318. [PMID: 37235401 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci10050318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2023] [Revised: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Tapeworm infections are among the most relevant parasitic diseases in humans and animals. Tapeworms from the Genus Echinococcus are particularly important as they can cause cystic or alveolar echinococcosis. A molecular screening was performed on 279 fecal samples collected from carcasses of wild carnivores from Central Italy using PCR targeting diagnostic fragments of nad1, rrnS, and nad5 genes. Samples positive for either Taenia spp. or Echinococcus granulosus were sequenced to taxonomically identify the parasitic DNA. Of the 279 samples, 134 (48.0%) gave positive results in the multiplex PCR. Only one (0.4%) sample from an Apennine wolf tested positive for Echinococcus granulosus sensu stricto (genotype G3), whereas no sample tested positive for E. multilocularis. The most frequently detected tapeworms were: Mesocestoides corti (syn M. vogae) (12.9%), M. litteratus (10.8%), Taenia serialis (9.3%), and T. hydatigena (6.5%), other tapeworms were rarely detected. The results suggest that Echinococcus infections in Central Italy do not seem to be sustained by sylvatic cycles, confirming the absence of E. multilocularis in Central Italy. The survey corroborates, yet again, the importance of passive surveillance of wild animals that can serve as reservoirs for zoonotic pathogens, especially on wild canids that in other areas are strongly implicated in the transmission of E. granulosus and E. multilocularis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Crotti
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Umbria e delle Marche "Togo Rosati" (IZSUM), Via G. Salvemini 1, 06126 Perugia, Italy
| | - Leonardo Brustenga
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Via San Costanzo 6, 06126 Perugia, Italy
| | - Deborah Cruciani
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Umbria e delle Marche "Togo Rosati" (IZSUM), Via G. Salvemini 1, 06126 Perugia, Italy
| | - Piero Bonelli
- OIE Reference Laboratory for Echinococcosis, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sardegna "G. Pegreffi", Via Vienna 2, 07100 Sassari, Italy
- Centro Nazionale di Referenza per l'Echinococcosi/Idatidosi (Ce.NRE), Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sardegna "G. Pegreffi", Via Vienna 2, 07100 Sassari, Italy
| | - Nicoletta D'Avino
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Umbria e delle Marche "Togo Rosati" (IZSUM), Via G. Salvemini 1, 06126 Perugia, Italy
| | - Andrea Felici
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Umbria e delle Marche "Togo Rosati" (IZSUM), Via G. Salvemini 1, 06126 Perugia, Italy
| | - Benedetto Morandi
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Umbria e delle Marche "Togo Rosati" (IZSUM), Via G. Salvemini 1, 06126 Perugia, Italy
| | - Carla Sebastiani
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Umbria e delle Marche "Togo Rosati" (IZSUM), Via G. Salvemini 1, 06126 Perugia, Italy
| | - Sara Spina
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Umbria e delle Marche "Togo Rosati" (IZSUM), Via G. Salvemini 1, 06126 Perugia, Italy
| | - Marco Gobbi
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Umbria e delle Marche "Togo Rosati" (IZSUM), Via G. Salvemini 1, 06126 Perugia, Italy
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Jarošová J, Antolová D, Iglodyová A, Königová A, Dolinská MU, Víchová B. Molecular identification of Taenia hydatigena from domestic and free-living animals in Slovakia, Central Europe. Parasitol Res 2022; 121:1345-1354. [PMID: 35278128 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-022-07481-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 03/06/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Taenia hydatigena is a cosmopolitan tapeworm that uses canids or felines as definitive hosts, while the larval stage (metacestode), formerly referred to as cysticercus tenuicollis, infects a wide variety of intermediate hosts, in particular ruminants. In the present study, we used partial nucleotide sequences of the cox1 and nad1 genes of T. hydatigena from different animal species to analyse the intraspecies genetic diversity of this economically important parasite. Twenty-four samples of metacestodes or adults of T. hydatigena from infected sheep, chamois, roe deer, fallow deer, wild boar, and dogs from Slovakia were collected and further analysed. Several haplotypes of T. hydatigena were identified with unique mutations that have not been previously recorded in Slovakia. Analysis of nucleotide polymorphism revealed the existence of 9 and 13 haplotypes, with relatively low nucleotide pairwise divergence ranging between 0.3-1.3 and 0.2-1.8% for the Hcox and Hnad haplotypes, respectively. In general, low nucleotide and high haplotype diversities in the overall population of T. hydatigena from the study indicate a high number of closely related haplotypes within the explored population; nucleotide diversity per site was low for cox1 (Pi = 0.00540) and slightly higher for nad1 (Pi = 0.00898). A molecular study confirmed the existence of genetic variation within T. hydatigena isolates from Slovakia. However, further investigations with more samples collected from different intermediate and definitive hosts are required in order to investigate the epidemiological significance of the apparent genetic differences observed in this study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Júlia Jarošová
- Institute of Parasitology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, 040 01, Košice, Slovakia
| | - Daniela Antolová
- Institute of Parasitology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, 040 01, Košice, Slovakia
| | - Adriana Iglodyová
- University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Košice, 041 81, Košice, Slovakia
| | - Alžbeta Königová
- Institute of Parasitology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, 040 01, Košice, Slovakia
| | | | - Bronislava Víchová
- Institute of Parasitology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, 040 01, Košice, Slovakia.
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Bouchard É, Schurer JM, Kolapo T, Wagner B, Massé A, Locke SA, Leighton P, Jenkins EJ. Host and geographic differences in prevalence and diversity of gastrointestinal helminths of foxes ( Vulpes vulpes), coyotes ( Canis latrans) and wolves ( Canis lupus) in Québec, Canada. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY-PARASITES AND WILDLIFE 2021; 16:126-137. [PMID: 34552844 PMCID: PMC8441108 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2021.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2021] [Revised: 09/02/2021] [Accepted: 09/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Abstract
Wild canids are hosts to a wide range of parasites and can play a role in transmission of zoonoses. As many parasites are transmitted through food webs, and wild canids are at high trophic levels, parasite prevalence and diversity in wild canids can serve as excellent indicators of ecosystem health. Our main objectives were to update knowledge on the composition of gastrointestinal helminths in wild canids from Québec, Canada, and to describe differences in parasite prevalence and diversity among canid species and regions. Hunters and trappers provided whole carcasses of red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) (N = 176), and intestinal tracts of coyotes (Canis latrans) (N = 77) and gray wolves (Canis lupus) (N = 23) harvested for non-research purposes over the winter of 2016-2017. A modified Stoll's centrifugation sucrose flotation on feces of 250 wild canids was used, and eggs of one family and eight genera of parasitic helminths were recovered: diphyllobothriids, Taenia/Echinococcus spp., Capillaria spp., Toxascaris sp., Toxocara sp., Trichuris sp., Uncinaria sp., and Metorchis sp. Adult Taenia spp. cestodes were recovered from 61 of 276 (22%) canids. Six different species (T. hydatigena, T. twitchelli, T. crassiceps, T. polyacantha, T. krabbei, and T. pisiformis-"like") were differentiated based on DNA sequenced from 65 individual adult cestodes using primers for the nicotinamide adenosine dinucleotide dehydrogenase subunit 1 (ND1) and cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (CO1) mitochondrial DNA loci. Alaria sp. trematodes infected 89 of 276 canids (32%). A subset were identified as A. americana at the CO1 locus. The marine trematode Cryptocotyle lingua was reported for the first time in foxes in the province of Québec. These results help us understand more fully the predator-prey relationships within this group of canids. This baseline data in regional parasite prevalence and intensity is critical in order to detect future changes following ecological disturbances due to climate and landscape alterations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Émilie Bouchard
- University of Saskatchewan, Department of Veterinary Microbiology, 52 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5B4, Canada.,Research Group on Epidemiology of Zoonoses and Public Health (GREZOSP), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Université de Montréal, 3200 Rue Sicotte, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC, J2S 2M2, Canada
| | - Janna M Schurer
- University of Global Health Equity, Center for One Health, Kigali, Rwanda
| | - Temitope Kolapo
- University of Saskatchewan, Department of Veterinary Microbiology, 52 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5B4, Canada
| | - Brent Wagner
- University of Saskatchewan, Department of Veterinary Microbiology, 52 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5B4, Canada
| | - Ariane Massé
- Ministère des Forêts, de La Faune et des Parcs, 880 Chemin Sainte-Foy, Québec, QC, G1S 4X4, Canada.,Research Group on Epidemiology of Zoonoses and Public Health (GREZOSP), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Université de Montréal, 3200 Rue Sicotte, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC, J2S 2M2, Canada
| | - Sean A Locke
- University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez, Department of Biology, Box 9000, Mayagüez 00681, 9000, Puerto Rico
| | - Patrick Leighton
- Research Group on Epidemiology of Zoonoses and Public Health (GREZOSP), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Université de Montréal, 3200 Rue Sicotte, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC, J2S 2M2, Canada
| | - Emily J Jenkins
- University of Saskatchewan, Department of Veterinary Microbiology, 52 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5B4, Canada
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The genome of the thin-necked bladder worm Taenia hydatigena reveals evolutionary strategies for helminth survival. Commun Biol 2021; 4:1004. [PMID: 34429506 PMCID: PMC8384839 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-021-02536-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2020] [Accepted: 08/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Taenia hydatigena is a widespread gastrointestinal helminth that causes significant health problems in livestock industry. This parasite can survive in a remarkably wide range of intermediate hosts and affects the transmission dynamics of zoonotic parasites. T. hydatigena is therefore of particular interest to researchers interested in studying zoonotic diseases and the evolutionary strategies of parasites. Herein we report a high-quality draft genome for this tapeworm, characterized by some hallmarks (e.g., expanded genome size, wide integrations of viral-like sequences and extensive alternative splicing during development), and specialized adaptations related to its parasitic fitness (e.g., adaptive evolutions for teguments and lipid metabolism). Importantly, in contrast with the evolutionarily close trematodes, which achieve gene diversification associated with immunosuppression by gene family expansions, in T. hydatigena and other cestodes, this is accomplished by alternative splicing and gene loss. This indicates that these two classes have evolved different mechanisms for survival. In addition, molecular targets for diagnosis and intervention were identified to facilitate the development of control interventions. Overall, this work uncovers new strategies by which helminths evolved to interact with their hosts.
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First Parasitological Data on a Wild Grey Wolf in Turkey with Morphological and Molecular Confirmation of the Parasites. Acta Parasitol 2021; 66:687-692. [PMID: 33222110 DOI: 10.1007/s11686-020-00311-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2020] [Accepted: 11/07/2020] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The grey wolf (Canis lupus) is the natural host of many parasites. These animals travel quite long distances to search for prey and nests, causing parasites to spread over large areas; therefore, determination of the parasites carried by grey wolves is important. METHODS In this study, we used both morphological and molecular methods for parasitological identification of helminth species. For this purpose, the material obtained after necropsy was examined by macroscopic, microscopic, and molecular (multiplex PCR and DNA sequencing) methods. RESULTS No pathological lesions and parasites were detected in the macroscopic examination of the trachea, lungs, heart, liver, spleen, stomach, and kidneys. The parasites collected from the intestines and diaphragm muscles were identified as Taenia hydatigena, Mesocestoides litteratus and Trichinella britovi. CONCLUSION The aim of this study was to determine the helminth species in a dead grey wolf from wildlife. To the best of our knowledge, with this study, Taenia hydatigena, Mesocestoides litteratus and Trichinella britovi were detected for the first time in a grey wolf in Turkey.
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Bagrade G, Králová-Hromadová I, Bazsalovicsová E, Radačovská A, Kołodziej-Sobocińska M. The first records of Spirometra erinaceieuropaei (Cestoda: Diphyllobothriidae), a causative agent of human sparganosis, in Latvian wildlife. Parasitol Res 2021; 120:365-371. [PMID: 33174072 PMCID: PMC7846523 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-020-06957-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2020] [Accepted: 11/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Diphyllobothriid tapeworms of the genus Spirometra are causative agents of sparganosis, food-borne zoonotic parasitic disease. They have been recorded in broad spectrum of hosts, including humans, in all continents except Antarctica. Spirometra tapeworms have been intensively studied in several Asian countries; however, they have been rather neglected in Europe. The aim of this study was to provide a pilot screening of Spirometra spp. in Latvia, where data on sparganosis are not available. Tapeworms morphologically identified as diphyllobothriid species were isolated from grey wolves Canis lupus and Eurasian lynxes Lynx lynx from Latvia during the hunting periods 2013-2019. The parasites were subjected to molecular genotyping using sequences of the partial large (LSU rDNA; 615 bp) and small (SSU rDNA; 720 bp) subunits of the nuclear ribosomal RNA gene and complete (1566 bp) cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene of the mitochondrial DNA (cox1 mtDNA). Analyses of both ribosomal subunits of 13 tapeworms revealed no intraspecific variation within the respective rDNA subunits. On the other hand, sequence analysis of mitochondrial cox1 revealed intraspecific polymorphism displayed by 12 cox1 haplotypes. Comparison of the current data with sequences of the corresponding DNA regions deposited in the GenBank revealed 99.3-99.5% (LSU rDNA), 99.2% (SSU rDNA) and 99.6-100% (cox1 mtDNA) identity of studied tapeworms with Spirometra erinaceieuropaei, which provided the first confirmation of this diphyllobothriid tapeworm in Latvia. Since S. erinaceieuropaei is probably prevalent in Latvian wildlife and may also occur in other potential host species, further studies are needed in order to acquire complex data on its geographic distribution and transmission in the natural environment of Latvia, as well as on the spectrum of its intermediate, paratenic, and definitive hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guna Bagrade
- Latvian State Forest Research Institute "Silava", Rigas 111, Salaspils, LV-2169, Latvia
| | | | - Eva Bazsalovicsová
- Institute of Parasitology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Hlinkova 3, 040 01, Kosice, Slovakia
| | - Alžbeta Radačovská
- Institute of Parasitology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Hlinkova 3, 040 01, Kosice, Slovakia
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11
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Ozoliņa Z, Deksne G, Pupins M, Gravele E, Gavarane I, Kirjušina M. Alaria alata mesocercariae prevalence and predilection sites in amphibians in Latvia. Parasitol Res 2020; 120:145-152. [PMID: 33210196 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-020-06951-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2020] [Accepted: 10/28/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Alaria alata is known as a trematode with a complex life cycle. The trematode Alaria alata infects amphibians as second intermediate hosts. In the present study, we examined 390 amphibians-European water frogs Pelophylax esculentus complex (n = 335), common frogs Rana temporaria (n = 19), moor frogs Rana arvalis (n = 3), and common toads Bufo bufo (n = 30) collected from randomly selected wetland habitats in Latvia. Out of all examined specimens, 80 were tadpoles and 310 were adult amphibians. Mesocercariae of A. alata was detected in 108 specimens from all examined amphibian species, except the common toad, reaching the overall prevalence of 27.7%. Tadpoles were found to be more frequently infected with A. alata, when compared with adults, 58.8% and 22.4%, respectively. The results showed that mesocercariae accumulate in visceral membranes, different internal organs, and muscles in the head area. This is a comprehensive study to identify A. alata mesocercariae predilection sites in amphibians.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zanda Ozoliņa
- Institute of Food Safety Animal Health and Environment "BIOR", Lejupes Street 3, Riga, LV-1076, Latvia.
| | - Gunita Deksne
- Institute of Food Safety Animal Health and Environment "BIOR", Lejupes Street 3, Riga, LV-1076, Latvia.,Faculty of Biology, University of Latvia, Jelgavas Street 1, Riga, LV-1004, Latvia
| | - Mihails Pupins
- Institute of Life Sciences and Technology, Daugavpils University, Parādes Street 1A, Daugavpils, LV-5401, Latvia
| | - Evita Gravele
- Institute of Life Sciences and Technology, Daugavpils University, Parādes Street 1A, Daugavpils, LV-5401, Latvia
| | - Inese Gavarane
- Institute of Life Sciences and Technology, Daugavpils University, Parādes Street 1A, Daugavpils, LV-5401, Latvia
| | - Muza Kirjušina
- Institute of Life Sciences and Technology, Daugavpils University, Parādes Street 1A, Daugavpils, LV-5401, Latvia
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12
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Molnar B, Ciucci P, Mastrantonio G, Betschart B. Correlates of parasites and pseudoparasites in wolves ( Canis lupus) across continents: A comparison among Yellowstone (USA), Abruzzo (IT) and Mercantour (FR) national parks. Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2019; 10:196-206. [PMID: 31667082 PMCID: PMC6812024 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2019.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2019] [Revised: 09/09/2019] [Accepted: 09/09/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Little is known about the impact of infectious diseases on large carnivores. We investigated factors structuring the helminth and protozoan infections of wolves (Canis lupus) by using coprological analyses. Faecal samples (n = 342) were analysed from 11 wolf packs belonging to three different geographical and ecological settings in Italy (Abruzzo, Lazio e Molise National Park, PNALM: 4 packs, 88 samples), in France (Mercantour National Park, PNM: 4 packs, 68 samples) and in the U.S.A. (Yellowstone National Park, YNP: 3 packs, 186 samples). Parasites were found in 29.4%-88.6% of the samples and parasite taxa ranged from four to ten in each study area. Taeniidae (Taenia/Echinococcus), Sarcocystis spp. and Toxascaris leonina were most common in faecal samples from YNP, whereas Capillaria spp., Taeniidae and Uncinaria stenocephala were predominant in PNALM. We used generalised linear mixed models to assess the relationship between parasite infection or the number of parasite taxa and selected ecological drivers across study areas. Significant effects illustrated the importance of the ecological factors such as occurrence of free-ranging dogs, diet composition and wolf density, as well as the ancestry of the wolf populations, in shaping parasite-wolf communities. Additional investigations are needed to elucidate the impact of parasitic infections on wolf populations, as well as the role of anthropogenic factors in facilitating parasitic diffusion to apex predators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Molnar
- Institute of Biology, University of Neuchâtel, Rue Emile-Argand 11, CH-2000, Neuchâtel, Switzerland
| | - Paolo Ciucci
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies “Charles Darwin”, Sapienza University, Viale Dell’ Università, 32 I-00185, Roma, Italy
| | - Gianluca Mastrantonio
- Department of Mathematics (DISMA), G. L. Lagrange, Politecnico di Torino, Duca Degli Abruzzi 24, I- 10129, Turin, Italy
| | - Bruno Betschart
- Institute of Biology, University of Neuchâtel, Rue Emile-Argand 11, CH-2000, Neuchâtel, Switzerland
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Gastrointestinal helminths of wolves ( Canis lupus Linnaeus, 1758) in Piedmont, north-western Italy. J Helminthol 2019; 94:e88. [PMID: 31537202 DOI: 10.1017/s0022149x19000841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Free-ranging grey wolves (Canis lupus), which are presently recolonizing Italy, can be parasitized by a diversity of helminths, but have rarely been subject to studies of their parasites. Therefore, this study aims to determine the prevalence of gastrointestinal helminths of road-killed grey wolves from the Piedmont region of Italy. Forty-two wolves were collected and examined for the presence of helminths. We recorded 12 helminth species: nine Nematoda and three Cestoda. The nematodes were: Ancylostoma caninum (7.1%), Capillaria sp. (2.4%), Molineus sp. (2.4%), Pterygodermatites affinis (11.9%), Physaloptera sibirica (9.5%), Toxocara canis (9.5%), Toxascaris leonina (2.4%) and Uncinaria stenocephala (26.2%); the cestodes were: Dipylidium caninum (4.8%), Mesocestoides sp. (4.8%) and Taenia multiceps (76.2%). Physaloptera sibirica had the highest mean intensity and T. multiceps had the highest prevalence. Based on age and sex, no differences in the intensity or prevalence of helminth species were found among the hosts. Molineus sp. was recorded for the first time in wolves from the Palearctic region; P. affinis and P. sibirica are respectively reported for the first time in wolves from Europe and Italy.
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Craig PS, Giraudoux P, Wang ZH, Wang Q. Echinococcosis transmission on the Tibetan Plateau. ADVANCES IN PARASITOLOGY 2019; 104:165-246. [PMID: 31030769 DOI: 10.1016/bs.apar.2019.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Since the mid-1990s detailed studies and field investigations on the Tibetan Plateau have revealed human echinococcosis to be an under-reported major public health problem, particularly in the dominant pastoral communities in the eastern and central regions. Human prevalence surveys showed that cystic echinococcosis (CE, caused by Echinococcus granulosus) and alveolar echinococcosis (AE, caused by Echinococcus multilocularis) are co-endemic with higher burdens of each disease than other endemic world regions. Epidemiological investigations identified some major risk factors for human CE and AE including dog ownership, husbandry practices and landscape features. Dogs appear to be the major zoonotic reservoir for both E. granulosus and E. multilocularis, but the latter is also transmitted in complex wildlife cycles. Small mammal assemblages especially of vole and pika species thrive on the Plateau and contribute to patterns of E. multilocularis transmission which are influenced by landscape characteristics and anthropogenic factors. Tibetan foxes are a principal definitive host for both E. multilocularis and E. shiquicus. In 2006 a national echinococcosis control programme was initiated in Tibetan communities in northwest Sichuan Province and rolled out to all of western China by 2010, and included improved surveillance (and treatment access) of human disease and regular deworming of dogs with annual copro-testing. Control of echinococcosis in Tibetan pastoral communities poses a difficult challenge for delivery and sustainability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phil S Craig
- School of Environment and Life Sciences, University of Salford, Greater Manchester, United Kingdom.
| | - Patrick Giraudoux
- Department of Chrono-Environment, UMR UFC/CNRS, Université de Franche-Comté, Besancon, France; Laboratory of Wildlife Management and Ecosystem Health, Yunnan University of Finance and Economics, Kunming, China.
| | - Zheng Huan Wang
- School of Life Sciences, and Shanghai Key Laboratory of Urbanization and Ecological Restoration, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China; Joint Translational Science and Technology Research Institute, Shanghai, China
| | - Qian Wang
- Sichuan Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Chengdu, China
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Wildlife-transmitted Taenia and Versteria cysticercosis and coenurosis in humans and other primates. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY-PARASITES AND WILDLIFE 2019; 9:342-358. [PMID: 31338294 PMCID: PMC6626850 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2019.03.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2019] [Revised: 03/18/2019] [Accepted: 03/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Wild mustelids and canids are definitive hosts of Taenia and Versteria spp. while rodents act as natural intermediate hosts. Rarely, larval stages of these parasites can cause serious zoonoses. In Europe, four cases of Taenia martis cysticercosis have been diagnosed in immunocompetent women, and two cases in zoo primates since 2013. In North America, a zoonotic genotype related but distinct from Versteria mustelae has been identified in 2014, which had caused a fatal infection in an orangutan and liver- and disseminated cysticercoses in two severely immune deficient human patients in 2018, respectively. Additionally, we could attribute a historic human case from the USA to this Versteria sp. by reanalysing a published nucleotide sequence. In the last decades, sporadic zoonotic infections by cysticerci of the canid tapeworm Taenia crassiceps have been described (4 in North America, 8 in Europe). Besides, 3 ocular cases from North America and one neural infection from Europe, all in immunocompetent patients, 6 cutaneous infections were described in severely immunocompromised European patients. Correspondingly, besides oral infections with taeniid eggs, accidental subcutaneous oncosphere establishment after egg-contamination of open wounds was suggested, especially in cases with a history of cutaneous injuries at the infection site. Taenia multiceps is mainly transmitted in a domestic cycle. Only five human coenurosis cases are published since 2000. In contrast, T. serialis coenurosis (1 human case since 2000) is primarily transmitted by wild canids. The etiological diagnosis of exotic cysticercoses is challenging. Usually, clinical material does not allow for a morphological identification, and serological tests are not available. These limitations have partly been overcome by molecular tools. Without claiming any dramatic emergence of cysticercoses and coenuroses transmitted by wild carnivores, further sporadic cases of such ‘exotic’ infections have to be expected. Wild canids and mustelids transmit rare but potentially fatal cysticercoses and coenuroses. Martens and weasels can rarely transmit dangerous parasitic infections. Tapeworm eggs may contaminate wounds and develop locally. In North America, the mustelid tapeworm Versteria causes severe human infections. Molecular analyses from minute clinical material allows for a specific diagnosis.
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Parasite survey on a captive wolf population using classical techniques and ELISA coproantigen detection, USA. VETERINARY PARASITOLOGY- REGIONAL STUDIES AND REPORTS 2019; 16:100285. [PMID: 31027601 DOI: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2019.100285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2018] [Revised: 02/05/2019] [Accepted: 03/13/2019] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
As laws change around the United States, wildlife that were once kept as companion animals are now often confiscated by local authorities. They are then euthanized unless a home is found for them at a sanctuary. Wolf sanctuaries are, therefore, becoming increasingly important for their conservation and management. However, little data is available on best practices for the health management of captive wolves, including data on parasitic diseases. Our objective was to assess the prevalence of parasites of captive wolves combining classical coprological techniques and immunoassays based on the detection of coproantigen of selected canid parasites. Fecal samples of 39 animals were collected upon observation of individual animals defecating. All samples were processed using the Fecal Dx® tests, a suite of coproantigen ELISAs for detection of ascarid, hookworm, whipworm, and Giardia (IDEXX Laboratories Inc.). Out of the 39 samples, 38 were processed using the double-centrifugation sugar flotation (DCSF) and 34 using a modification of the Baermann technique. Twenty-eight samples (71.8%) were positive for hookworm, and none positive for the other parasites tested using coproantigen ELISA. Ancylostoma sp. (26, 68.4%), Eucoleus boehmi (13, 34.2%), and Trichuris sp. (2; 5.3%), and Sarcocystis sp. (13, 34.2%) were detected using DCSF. No metastrongyloid lungworm larvae were found. The Cohen's kappa index (0.97) showed excellent agreement between the hookworm coproantigen ELISA and the DCSF using feces preserved in ethanol for a short period of time. This study provides a baseline on the parasites of captive wolves, and shows that recent innovative diagnostics in veterinary parasitology, developed and optimized for dogs, may be used for assessing the health of wolves.
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Kumar S, Sundararaj P, Kumara HN, Pal A, Santhosh K, Vinoth S. Prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites in bonnet macaque and possible consequences of their unmanaged relocations. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0207495. [PMID: 30440026 PMCID: PMC6237399 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0207495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2018] [Accepted: 10/31/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Relocation is one of the mitigating measures taken by either local people or related officers to reduce the human-bonnet macaque Macaca radiata conflict in India. The review on relocations of primates in India indicates that monkeys are unscreened for diseases or gastrointestinal parasites (henceforth endoparasites) before relocation. We collected 161 spatial samples from 20 groups of bonnet macaque across their distribution range in south India and 205 temporal samples from a group in Chiksuli in the central Western Ghats. The isolation of endoparasite eggs/cysts from the fecal samples was by the centrifugation flotation and sedimentation method. All the sampled groups, except one, had an infection of at least one endoparasite taxa, and a total of 21 endoparasite taxon were recorded. The number of helminth taxon (16) were more than protozoan (5), further, among helminths, nematodes (11) were more common than cestodes (5). Although the prevalence of Ascaris sp. (26.0%), Strongyloides sp. (13.0%), and Coccidia sp. (13.0%) were greater, the load of Entamoeba coli, Giardia sp., Dipylidium caninum and Diphyllobothrium sp. were very high. Distant groups had more similarity in composition of endoparasites taxon than closely located groups. Among all the variables, the degree of provisioning was the topmost determinant factor for the endoparasite taxon richness and their load. Temporal sampling indicates that the endoparasite infection remains continuous throughout the year. Monthly rainfall and average maximum temperature in the month did not influence the endoparasite richness. A total of 17 taxon of helminths and four-taxon of protozoan were recorded. The prevalence of Oesophagostomum sp., and Strongyloides sp., and mean egg load of Spirurids and Trichuris sp. was higher than other endoparasite taxon. The overall endoparasite load and helminth load was higher in immatures than adults, where, adult females had the highest protozoan load in the monsoon. The findings indicate that relocation of commensal bonnet macaque to wild habitat can possible to lead transmission of novel endoparasites that can affect their population. Thus, we suggest avoidance of such relocations, however, if inevitable the captured animals need to be screened and treated for diseases and endoparasites before relocations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shanthala Kumar
- Unit of Nematology-Department of Zoology, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Palanisamy Sundararaj
- Unit of Nematology-Department of Zoology, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Honnavalli N. Kumara
- Department of Conservation Biology, Sálim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Arijit Pal
- Department of Conservation Biology, Sálim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - K. Santhosh
- Department of Conservation Biology, Sálim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - S. Vinoth
- Department of Conservation Biology, Sálim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India
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The host age related occurrence of Alaria alata in wild canids in Latvia. Parasitol Res 2018; 117:3743-3751. [PMID: 30218314 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-018-6074-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2018] [Accepted: 09/04/2018] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
The trematode Alaria alata has a complex life cycle in which carnivore mammals may become infected by feeding on mesocercariae-infected, second intermediate hosts or paratenic hosts. Afterwards, young flukes migrate through various organs of the definitive host, including the diaphragm and the lungs, before reaching the small intestine. The aim of the present study was to establish the prevalence and infection intensity of A. alata in carnivore mammals, the host age and related occurrence of different A. alata development stages in particular animals in Latvia. Overall, samples from 992 animals (539 red foxes, 411 raccoon dogs and 42 grey wolves) were examined using sedimentation and counting techniques to observe the presence of A. alata metacercariae and adult trematodes in each particular host. The present study, based on data collected over five hunting seasons (2010/2011-2014/2015), is a comprehensive study on the circulation of A. alata in wild canids in Latvia. A. alata was present in all species examined and the overall prevalence reached 86.2%. A significant positive correlation was observed between the burden of A. alata metacercariae and adult trematodes in raccoon dogs (rs = 0.27, p = 0.001) and red foxes (rs = 0.17, p = 0.0002). A significantly higher (p = 0.003) A. alata metacercariae mean intensity was observed in juvenile raccoon dogs compared to the one observed in adult raccoon dogs and red foxes from both age groups. The presence of both A. alata development stages in a particular animal concurrently and at different intensity levels may indicate primary infection and re-cured infection of the host.
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Gastrointestinal helminths of gray wolves (Canis lupus lupus) from Sweden. Parasitol Res 2018; 117:1891-1898. [PMID: 29696393 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-018-5881-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2018] [Accepted: 04/16/2018] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
As the Scandinavian wolf population is limited in size, it is only rarely subject to systematic studies on its disease biology, especially gastrointestinal parasites. Therefore, this study aims to describe the prevalence of gastrointestinal helminths of gray wolves hunted on a limited license as a part of a wildlife management program. Helminths of 20 wolves were examined post mortem by macroscopy and coprology. Intestinal worms of five species were recovered from 18 wolves (90%): Uncinaria stenocephala (90%), Taenia spp. (45%), Alaria alata (25%), and Mesocestoides spp. (5%). Of the taeniid specimens typed by multiplex PCR and sequencing of the cox1 gene, 25% belonged to Taenia hydatigena and 25% to Taenia krabbei. The overall species diversity was low compared to findings from wolves of the northern hemisphere. Fecal eggs of Eucoleus boehmi were detected in 12 wolves (60%). Fecal metastrongylid larvae were found in seven individuals (39%), but PCR analyses specific for Angiostrongylus vasorum were negative. The wolves were in good body condition suggesting that the parasite infestation had no negative impact on the general health of the examined wolves. Although some of the recovered parasite species have zoonotic or veterinary impact, it is not likely that the spare wolf population pose substantial threat to human or veterinary health.
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Lesniak I, Heckmann I, Franz M, Greenwood AD, Heitlinger E, Hofer H, Krone O. Recolonizing gray wolves increase parasite infection risk in their prey. Ecol Evol 2018; 8:2160-2170. [PMID: 29468033 PMCID: PMC5817143 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.3839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2017] [Revised: 11/19/2017] [Accepted: 12/08/2017] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The recent recolonization of Central Europe by the European gray wolf (Canis lupus) provides an opportunity to study the dynamics of parasite transmission for cases when a definitive host returns after a phase of local extinction. We investigated whether a newly established wolf population increased the prevalence of those parasites in ungulate intermediate hosts representing wolf prey, whether some parasite species are particularly well adapted to wolves, and the potential basis for such adaptations. We recorded Sarcocystis species richness in wolves and Sarcocystis prevalence in ungulates harvested in study sites with and without permanent wolf presence in Germany using microscopy and DNA metabarcoding. Sarcocystis prevalence in red deer (Cervus elaphus) was significantly higher in wolf areas (79.7%) than in control areas (26.3%) but not in roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) (97.2% vs. 90.4%) or wild boar (Sus scrofa) (82.8% vs. 64.9%). Of 11 Sarcocystis species, Sarcocystis taeniata and Sarcocystis grueneri occurred more often in wolves than expected from the Sarcocystis infection patterns of ungulate prey. Both Sarcocystis species showed a higher increase in prevalence in ungulates in wolf areas than other Sarcocystis species, suggesting that they are particularly well adapted to wolves, and are examples of "wolf specialists". Sarcocystis species richness in wolves was significantly higher in pups than in adults. "Wolf specialists" persisted during wolf maturation. The results of this study demonstrate that (1) predator-prey interactions influence parasite prevalence, if both predator and prey are part of the parasite life cycle, (2) mesopredators do not necessarily replace the apex predator in parasite transmission dynamics for particular parasites of which the apex predator is the definitive host, even if meso- and apex predators were from the same taxonomic family (here: Canidae, e.g., red foxes Vulpes vulpes), and (3) age-dependent immune maturation contributes to the control of protozoan infection in wolves.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ines Lesniak
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife ResearchBerlinGermany
| | - Ilja Heckmann
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife ResearchBerlinGermany
| | - Mathias Franz
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife ResearchBerlinGermany
| | - Alex D. Greenwood
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife ResearchBerlinGermany
- Department of Veterinary MedicineFreie Universität BerlinBerlinGermany
| | - Emanuel Heitlinger
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife ResearchBerlinGermany
- Ecology and Evolution of Molecular Parasite Host InteractionsHumboldt–Universität zu BerlinBerlinGermany
| | - Heribert Hofer
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife ResearchBerlinGermany
- Department of Veterinary MedicineFreie Universität BerlinBerlinGermany
- Department of Biology, Chemistry, PharmacyFreie Universität BerlinBerlinGermany
| | - Oliver Krone
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife ResearchBerlinGermany
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21
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Bindke JD, Springer A, Böer M, Strube C. Helminth Fauna in Captive European Gray Wolves ( Canis lupus lupus) in Germany. Front Vet Sci 2017; 4:228. [PMID: 29312968 PMCID: PMC5743660 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2017.00228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2017] [Accepted: 12/12/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Captive as well as free-ranging wolves, which are currently recolonizing Germany, may harbor a variety of gastrointestinal parasites. This study investigated endoparasites in captive European gray wolves (Canis lupus lupus) using coproscopical methods. Fecal samples were collected monthly between October 2012 and November 2013 from 18 wolf enclosures in 14 German zoological gardens, representing 72 individual wolves. In total, 1,041 fecal samples including 26 bulk samples were analyzed by the sedimentation and flotation method. The most frequently detected egg morphotypes included five nematodes [Ancylostomatidae (Ancylostoma or Uncinaria spp.), Toxocara canis, Toxascaris leonina, Trichuris vulpis, and Capillaria/Eucoleus spp.], one cestode (Taeniidae) and one trematode (Alaria alata). 44.76% of all samples were positive for at least one of these egg morphotypes. Overall, Ancylostomatidae showed the highest frequency (30.84% of all samples), followed by Capillaria/Eucoleus spp. (19.88%), Toxocara canis (5.19%), taeniids (3.75%), Trichuris vulpis and Alaria alata (3.65% each), and Toxascaris leonina (1.25%). As fecal samples were collected from the environment and could not be assigned to individual wolves, sample results were combined per zoo and month. General linear mixed models were employed to analyze the effect of season and management factors on the occurrence of Ancylostomatidae, Capillaria/Eucoleus spp., Toxocara canis and taeniids. No statistically significant effect of season was found, whereas anthelmintic treatment negatively affected Ancylostomatidae egg excretion. Detected parasites and their prevalences are comparable to previous studies on wolf parasitism conducted elsewhere in Europe. As many of the most prevalent helminths are of zoonotic importance, routine anthelmintic treatment of captive wolves should be recommended.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johanna Daniela Bindke
- Institute for Parasitology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany
| | - Andrea Springer
- Institute for Parasitology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany
| | | | - Christina Strube
- Institute for Parasitology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany
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22
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Petersen HH, Al-Sabi MNS, Larsen G, Jensen TK, Chriél M. First report of Taenia ovis infection in Danish sheep (Ovis aries). Vet Parasitol 2017; 251:3-6. [PMID: 29426473 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2017.12.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2017] [Revised: 12/11/2017] [Accepted: 12/13/2017] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
We report Taenia ovis infection in Danish sheep for the first time. In spring 2016, the metacestode stage of T. ovis was at slaughter observed in heart muscles, diaphragm and skeletal muscles from approx. a third of all sheep from one specific farm localised in South Jutland. The diagnosis was confirmed by molecular typing of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I (cox1) gene. Three newly imported dogs were suspected but the definitive host was unidentifiable. The finding is not regulated in the meat control procedures. However, infected meat is usually condemned due to aesthetic reasons causing economic losses. Thus, finding of T. ovis is of concern to sheep meat producers in the area, as the infection could have spread further on to other farms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heidi H Petersen
- Section for Diagnostics and Scientific Advice, National Veterinary Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet, 2800 Kgs., Lyngby, Denmark.
| | - Mohammad N S Al-Sabi
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty pf Pharmacology, Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan, Queen Alia Airport St. 594, Amman, P.O. Box: 11733, Jordan
| | - Gitte Larsen
- Section for Diagnostics and Scientific Advice, National Veterinary Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet, 2800 Kgs., Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Tim K Jensen
- Section for Diagnostics and Scientific Advice, National Veterinary Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet, 2800 Kgs., Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Mariann Chriél
- Section for Diagnostics and Scientific Advice, National Veterinary Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet, 2800 Kgs., Lyngby, Denmark
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Seguel M, Gottdenker N. The diversity and impact of hookworm infections in wildlife. Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2017; 6:177-194. [PMID: 28765810 PMCID: PMC5526439 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2017.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2017] [Revised: 03/23/2017] [Accepted: 03/31/2017] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Hookworms are blood-feeding nematodes that parasitize the alimentary system of mammals. Despite their high pathogenic potential, little is known about their diversity and impact in wildlife populations. We conducted a systematic review of the literature on hookworm infections of wildlife and analyzed 218 studies qualitative and quantitatively. At least 68 hookworm species have been described in 9 orders, 24 families, and 111 species of wild mammals. Black bears, red foxes, and bobcats harbored the highest diversity of hookworm species and Ancylostoma pluridentatum, A. tubaeforme, Uncinaria stenocephala and Necator americanus were the hookworm species with the highest host diversity index. Hookworm infections cause anemia, retarded growth, tissue damage, inflammation and significant mortality in several wildlife species. Anemia has been documented more commonly in canids, felids and otariids, and retarded growth only in otariids. Population- level mortality has been documented through controlled studies only in canines and eared seals although sporadic mortality has been noticed in felines, bears and elephants. The main driver of hookworm pathogenic effects was the hookworm biomass in a population, measured as prevalence, mean burden and hookworm size (length). Many studies recorded significant differences in prevalence and mean intensity among regions related to contrasts in local humidity, temperature, and host population density. These findings, plus the ability of hookworms to perpetuate in different host species, create a dynamic scenario where changes in climate and the domestic animal-human-wildlife interface will potentially affect the dynamics and consequences of hookworm infections in wildlife.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mauricio Seguel
- Department of Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, 501 DW Brooks Dr, Athens, GA 30602, USA
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24
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Lesniak I, Franz M, Heckmann I, Greenwood AD, Hofer H, Krone O. Surrogate hosts: Hunting dogs and recolonizing grey wolves share their endoparasites. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY-PARASITES AND WILDLIFE 2017; 6:278-286. [PMID: 28951833 PMCID: PMC5605491 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2017.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2017] [Revised: 08/28/2017] [Accepted: 09/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Understanding how closely related wildlife species and their domesticated counterparts exchange or share parasites, or replace each other in parasite life cycles, is of great interest to veterinary and human public health, and wildlife ecology. Grey wolves (Canis lupus) host and spread endoparasites that can either directly infect canid conspecifics or their prey serving as intermediate hosts of indirectly transmitted species. The wolf recolonization of Central Europe represents an opportunity to study parasite transmission dynamics between wildlife and domestic species for cases when a definitive host returns after local extinction – a situation equivalent to a ‘removal experiment’. Here we investigate whether the re–appearance of wolves has increased parasite pressure on hunting dogs – a group of companion animals of particular interest as they have a similar diet to wolves and flush wolf habitats when hunting. We compared prevalence (P) and species richness (SR) of helminths and the protozoan Sarcocystis to determine whether they were higher in hunting dogs from wolf areas (ndogs = 49) than a control area (ndogs = 29) without wolves. Of particular interest were S. grueneri and S. taeniata, known as ‘wolf specialists’. Five helminth and 11 Sarcocystis species were identified, of which all helminths and eight Sarcocystis species were shared between dogs and wolves. Overall prevalence and species richness of helminths (P:38.5% vs. 24.1%; SRmean:0.4 vs. 0.3 species) and Sarcocystis (P:63.3% vs. 65.5%, SRmean:2.1 vs. 1.8 species) did not differ between study sites. However, hunting dogs were significantly more likely to be infected with S. grueneri in wolf areas (P:45.2% vs. 10.5%; p = 0.035). The findings suggest that wolves indirectly increase S. grueneri infection risk for hunting dogs since cervids are intermediate hosts and occasionally fed to dogs. Furthermore, a periodic anthelminthic treatment of hunting dogs may be an effective measure to control helminth infections regardless of wolf presence. General parasite burden in hunting dogs is not increased by wolves. General Sarcocystis burden in hunting dogs is high due to raw feeding. ‘Wolf specialist’ parasite S. grueneri more prevalent in hunting dogs from wolf areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ines Lesniak
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Straße 17, 10315 Berlin, Germany
| | - Mathias Franz
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Straße 17, 10315 Berlin, Germany
| | - Ilja Heckmann
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Straße 17, 10315 Berlin, Germany
| | - Alex D Greenwood
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Straße 17, 10315 Berlin, Germany
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Oertzenweg 19b, 14163 Berlin, Germany
| | - Heribert Hofer
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Straße 17, 10315 Berlin, Germany
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Oertzenweg 19b, 14163 Berlin, Germany
- Department of Biology, Chemistry, Pharmacy, Freie Universität Berlin, Takustraße 3, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Oliver Krone
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Straße 17, 10315 Berlin, Germany
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25
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Lesniak I, Heckmann I, Heitlinger E, Szentiks CA, Nowak C, Harms V, Jarausch A, Reinhardt I, Kluth G, Hofer H, Krone O. Population expansion and individual age affect endoparasite richness and diversity in a recolonising large carnivore population. Sci Rep 2017; 7:41730. [PMID: 28128348 PMCID: PMC5269671 DOI: 10.1038/srep41730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2016] [Accepted: 12/28/2016] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The recent recolonisation of the Central European lowland (CEL) by the grey wolf (Canis lupus) provides an excellent opportunity to study the effect of founder events on endoparasite diversity. Which role do prey and predator populations play in the re-establishment of endoparasite life cycles? Which intrinsic and extrinsic factors control individual endoparasite diversity in an expanding host population? In 53 individually known CEL wolves sampled in Germany, we revealed a community of four cestode, eight nematode, one trematode and 12 potential Sarcocystis species through molecular genetic techniques. Infections with zoonotic Echinococcus multilocularis, Trichinella britovi and T. spiralis occurred as single cases. Per capita endoparasite species richness and diversity significantly increased with population size and changed with age, whereas sex, microsatellite heterozygosity, and geographic origin had no effect. Tapeworm abundance (Taenia spp.) was significantly higher in immigrants than natives. Metacestode prevalence was slightly higher in ungulates from wolf territories than from control areas elsewhere. Even though alternative canid definitive hosts might also play a role within the investigated parasite life cycles, our findings indicate that (1) immigrated wolves increase parasite diversity in German packs, and (2) prevalence of wolf-associated parasites had declined during wolf absence and has now risen during recolonisation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ines Lesniak
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Straße 17, 10315 Berlin, Germany
| | - Ilja Heckmann
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Straße 17, 10315 Berlin, Germany
| | - Emanuel Heitlinger
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Straße 17, 10315 Berlin, Germany.,Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Ecology and Evolution of Molecular Parasite Host Interactions, Philippstraße 13, 10115 Berlin, Germany
| | - Claudia A Szentiks
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Straße 17, 10315 Berlin, Germany
| | - Carsten Nowak
- Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum Frankfurt, Clamecystrasse 12, 63571 Gelnhausen, Germany
| | - Verena Harms
- Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum Frankfurt, Clamecystrasse 12, 63571 Gelnhausen, Germany
| | - Anne Jarausch
- Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum Frankfurt, Clamecystrasse 12, 63571 Gelnhausen, Germany
| | - Ilka Reinhardt
- LUPUS Institute for Wolf Monitoring and Research in Germany, Dorfstraße 20, 02979 Spreewitz, Germany
| | - Gesa Kluth
- LUPUS Institute for Wolf Monitoring and Research in Germany, Dorfstraße 20, 02979 Spreewitz, Germany
| | - Heribert Hofer
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Straße 17, 10315 Berlin, Germany
| | - Oliver Krone
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Straße 17, 10315 Berlin, Germany
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26
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Poglayen G, Gori F, Morandi B, Galuppi R, Fabbri E, Caniglia R, Milanesi P, Galaverni M, Randi E, Marchesi B, Deplazes P. Italian wolves ( Canis lupus italicus Altobello, 1921) and molecular detection of taeniids in the Foreste Casentinesi National Park, Northern Italian Apennines. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY-PARASITES AND WILDLIFE 2017; 6:1-7. [PMID: 28180084 PMCID: PMC5284487 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2017.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2016] [Revised: 12/21/2016] [Accepted: 01/16/2017] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
After centuries of massive decline, the recovery of the wolf (Canis lupus italicus) in Italy is a typical conservation success story. To learn more about the possible role of parasites in the wolves' individual and population health and conservation we used non-invasive molecular approaches on fecal samples to identify individual wolves, pack membership, and the taeniids present, some of which are zoonotic. A total of 130 specimens belonging to 54 wolves from eight packs were collected and examined. Taeniid eggs were isolated using a sieving/flotation technique, and the species level was identified by PCR (gene target: 12S rRNA and nad1). Taeniid prevalence was 40.7% for Taenia hydatigena, 22.2% for T. krabbei, 1.8% for T. polyachanta and 5.5% for Echinococcus granulosus. The prevalence of E. granulosus is discussed. Our results show that the taeniid fauna found in wolves from the Foreste Casentinesi National Park is comparable to that described for other domestic and wild Italian canids and provides insights into the wolves’ diet and their relationship with the environment. Non-invasive techniques were used to identify individual wolves and their taeniids. The taeniids detected could be linked to individual wolves and to packs. The taeniids detected provided information on the wolves' diet and on zoonotic risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Poglayen
- Alma Mater Studiorum, Department of Veterinary Medical Science, Via Tolara di Sopra, 50-40064, Ozzano dell'Emilia, Bologna, Italy
| | - Francesca Gori
- Institute of Parasitology, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 266a, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Benedetto Morandi
- Alma Mater Studiorum, Department of Veterinary Medical Science, Via Tolara di Sopra, 50-40064, Ozzano dell'Emilia, Bologna, Italy
| | - Roberta Galuppi
- Alma Mater Studiorum, Department of Veterinary Medical Science, Via Tolara di Sopra, 50-40064, Ozzano dell'Emilia, Bologna, Italy
| | - Elena Fabbri
- Genetics Laboratory, Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA), Ozzano dell'Emilia, Bologna, Italy
| | - Romolo Caniglia
- Genetics Laboratory, Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA), Ozzano dell'Emilia, Bologna, Italy
| | - Pietro Milanesi
- Genetics Laboratory, Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA), Ozzano dell'Emilia, Bologna, Italy
| | - Marco Galaverni
- Genetics Laboratory, Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA), Ozzano dell'Emilia, Bologna, Italy
| | - Ettore Randi
- Genetics Laboratory, Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA), Ozzano dell'Emilia, Bologna, Italy
| | - Barbara Marchesi
- Alma Mater Studiorum, Department of Veterinary Medical Science, Via Tolara di Sopra, 50-40064, Ozzano dell'Emilia, Bologna, Italy
| | - Peter Deplazes
- Institute of Parasitology, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 266a, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland
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27
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Fiocchi A, Gustinelli A, Gelmini L, Rugna G, Renzi M, Fontana MC, Poglayen G. Helminth parasites of the red fox Vulpes vulpes (L., 1758) and the wolf Canis lupus italicus Altobello, 1921 in Emilia-Romagna, Italy. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2016. [DOI: 10.1080/11250003.2016.1249966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- A. Fiocchi
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Ozzano Emilia, Italy
| | - A. Gustinelli
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Ozzano Emilia, Italy
| | - L. Gelmini
- Lombardy and Emilia Romagna Experimental Zooprophylactic Institute, Modena, Italy
| | - G. Rugna
- Lombardy and Emilia Romagna Experimental Zooprophylactic Institute, Modena, Italy
| | - M. Renzi
- Lombardy and Emilia Romagna Experimental Zooprophylactic Institute, Bologna, Italy
| | - M. C. Fontana
- Lombardy and Emilia Romagna Experimental Zooprophylactic Institute, Bologna, Italy
| | - G. Poglayen
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Ozzano Emilia, Italy
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28
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Hermosilla C, Kleinertz S, Silva LMR, Hirzmann J, Huber D, Kusak J, Taubert A. Protozoan and helminth parasite fauna of free-living Croatian wild wolves (Canis lupus) analyzed by scat collection. Vet Parasitol 2016; 233:14-19. [PMID: 28043382 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2016.11.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2016] [Revised: 11/08/2016] [Accepted: 11/10/2016] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
The European wolf (Canis lupus) is a large carnivore species present in limited areas of Europe with several small populations still being considered as endangered. Wolves can be infected by a wide range of protozoan and metazoan parasites with some of them affecting free-living wolf health condition. On this account, an epidemiological survey was conducted to analyze the actual parasite fauna in Croatian wild wolves. In total, 400 individual faecal samples were collected during field studies on wolf ecology in the years 2002-2011. Parasite stages were identified by the sodium acetate acetic acid formalin (SAF)-technique, carbolfuchsin-stained faecal smears and Giardia/Cryptosporidium coproantigen-ELISAs. A subset of taeniid eggs-positive wolf samples was additionally analyzed by PCR and subsequent sequencing to identify eggs on Echinococcus granulosus/E. multilocularis species level. In total 18 taxa of parasites were here detected. Sarcocystis spp. (19.1%) occurred most frequently in faecal samples, being followed by Capillaria spp. (16%), ancylostomatids (13.1%), Crenosoma vulpis (4.6%), Angiostrongylus vasorum (3.1%), Toxocara canis (2.8%), Hammondia/Neospora spp. (2.6 %), Cystoisospora ohioensis (2.1%), Giardia spp. (2.1%), Cystoisospora canis (1.8%), Cryptosporidium spp. (1.8%), Trichuris vulpis (1.5%), Taenia spp. (1.5%), Diphyllobothrium latum (1.5%), Strongyloides spp. (0.5%), Opisthorchis felineus (0.5%), Toxascaris leonina (0.3%), Mesocestoides litteratus (0.3%) and Alaria alata (0.3%). Some of the here identified parasites represent relevant pathogens for wolves, circulating between these carnivorous definitive hosts and a variety of mammalian intermediate hosts, e. g. Taenia spp. and Sarcocystis spp., while others are considered exclusively pathogenic for canids (e.g. A. vasorum, C. vulpis, T. vulpis, Cystoisospora spp.). This study provides first records on the occurrence of the two relevant anthropozoonotic parasites, Giardia spp. and Cryptosporidium spp., in wild wolves from Croatia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Hermosilla
- Institute of Parasitology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, 35392 Giessen, Germany.
| | - Sonja Kleinertz
- Institute of Parasitology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, 35392 Giessen, Germany
| | - Liliana M R Silva
- Institute of Parasitology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, 35392 Giessen, Germany
| | - Jörg Hirzmann
- Institute of Parasitology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, 35392 Giessen, Germany
| | - Djuro Huber
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Josip Kusak
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Anja Taubert
- Institute of Parasitology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, 35392 Giessen, Germany
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29
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Schurer JM, Pawlik M, Huber A, Elkin B, Cluff HD, Pongracz JD, Gesy K, Wagner B, Dixon B, Merks H, Bal MS, Jenkins EJ. Intestinal parasites of gray wolves (Canis lupus) in northern and western Canada. CAN J ZOOL 2016. [DOI: 10.1139/cjz-2016-0017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Gray wolves (Canis lupus L., 1758) are mobile opportunistic predators that can be infected by a wide range of parasites, with many acquired via predator–prey relationships. Historically, many of these parasites were identified only to genus or family, but genetic tools now enable identification of parasite fauna to species and beyond. We examined 191 intestines from wolves harvested for other purposes from regions in the Northwest Territories, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. Adult helminths were collected from intestinal contents for morphological and molecular identification, and for a subset of wolves, fecal samples were also analyzed to detect helminth eggs and protozoan (oo)cysts. Using both detection methods, we found that 83% of 191 intestines contained one or more parasite species, including cestodes (Taenia spp., Echinococcus spp., and Diphyllobothrium sp.), nematodes (Uncinaria stenocephala Railliet, 1884, Trichuris spp., Physaloptera spp., and Toxascaris leonina (von Linstow, 1902)), a trematode (Alaria sp.), and protozoa (Sarcocystis spp., Giardia sp., and Cryptosporidium spp.). Molecular characterization identified one species of Diphyllobothrium (Diphyllobothrium latum (L., 1758) Cobbold, 1858), three species of Taenia (Taenia krabbei Moniez, 1879, Taenia hydatigena Pallas, 1766, and Taenia multiceps Leske, 1786), and two Giardia duodenalis (Davaine) Deschiens, 1921 assemblages (B and C). These results demonstrate the diverse diet of wolves and illustrate the possibility of parasite spillover among wildlife, domestic animals, and people.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janna M. Schurer
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology, University of Saskatchewan, 52 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5B4, Canada
| | - Michael Pawlik
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology, University of Saskatchewan, 52 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5B4, Canada
| | - Anna Huber
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology, University of Saskatchewan, 52 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5B4, Canada
| | - Brett Elkin
- Wildlife Division, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Government of the Northwest Territories, 600, 5102–50th Avenue, Yellowknife, NT X1A 3S8, Canada
| | - H. Dean Cluff
- Wildlife Division, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Government of the Northwest Territories, 600, 5102–50th Avenue, Yellowknife, NT X1A 3S8, Canada
| | - Jodie D. Pongracz
- Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Government of the Northwest Territories, Inuvik Region, Box 2749, Inuvik, NT X0E 0T0, Canada
| | - Karen Gesy
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology, University of Saskatchewan, 52 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5B4, Canada
| | - Brent Wagner
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology, University of Saskatchewan, 52 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5B4, Canada
| | - Brent Dixon
- Bureau of Microbial Hazards, Food Directorate, Health Canada, 251 Sir Frederick Banting Driveway, P.L. 2204E, Ottawa, ON K1A 0K9, Canada
| | - Harriet Merks
- Bureau of Microbial Hazards, Food Directorate, Health Canada, 251 Sir Frederick Banting Driveway, P.L. 2204E, Ottawa, ON K1A 0K9, Canada
| | - Mandeep S. Bal
- Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana 141004, India
| | - Emily J. Jenkins
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology, University of Saskatchewan, 52 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5B4, Canada
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30
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Friesen OC, Roth JD. Alternative prey use affects helminth parasite infections in grey wolves. J Anim Ecol 2016; 85:1265-74. [PMID: 27155132 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.12544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2015] [Accepted: 04/12/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Predators affect prey populations not only through direct predation, but also by acting as definitive hosts for their parasites and completing parasite life cycles. Understanding the affects of parasitism on prey population dynamics requires knowing how their predators' parasite community is affected by diet and prey availability. Ungulates, such as moose (Alces americanus) and white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), are often important prey for wolves (Canis lupus), but wolves also consume a variety of alternative prey, including beaver (Castor canadensis) and snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus). The use of alternative prey, which may host different or fewer parasites than ungulates, could potentially reduce overall abundance of ungulate parasites within the ecosystem, benefiting both wolves and ungulate hosts. We examined parasites in wolf carcasses from eastern Manitoba and estimated wolf diet using stable isotope analysis. Taeniidae cestodes were present in most wolves (75%), reflecting a diet primarily comprised of ungulates, but nematodes were unexpectedly rare. Cestode abundance was negatively related to the wolf's δ(13) C value, indicating diet affects parasite abundance. Wolves that consumed a higher proportion of beaver and caribou (Rangifer tarandus), estimated using Bayesian mixing models, had lower cestode abundance, suggesting the use of these alternative prey can reduce parasite loads. Long-term consumption of beavers may lower the abundance of adult parasites in wolves, eventually lowering parasite density in the region and ultimately benefiting ungulates that serve as intermediate hosts. Thus, alternative prey can affect both predator-prey and host-parasite interactions and potentially affect food web dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olwyn C Friesen
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, R3T 2N2, Canada
| | - James D Roth
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, R3T 2N2, Canada
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31
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Gori F, Armua-Fernandez MT, Milanesi P, Serafini M, Magi M, Deplazes P, Macchioni F. The occurrence of taeniids of wolves in Liguria (northern Italy). INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY-PARASITES AND WILDLIFE 2015; 4:252-5. [PMID: 26042204 PMCID: PMC4443502 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2015.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2015] [Revised: 04/22/2015] [Accepted: 04/23/2015] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Wolves are considered as definitive hosts for Echinococcus granulosus in Liguria, Italy. Scats were examinated and taeniid eggs isolated. Molecular species identification was performed through PCR analysis and sequencing. Taeniid species diagnosed document domestic, semi-domestic and wildlife cycles.
Canids are definitive hosts of Taenia and Echinococcus species, which infect a variety of mammals as intermediate or accidental hosts including humans. Parasite transmission is based on domestic, semi-domestic and wildlife cycles; however, little is known of the epidemiological significance of wild large definitive hosts such as the wolf. In this study, 179 scats of wolves (Canis lupus italicus) collected throughout the Italian region of Liguria were analyzed for the detection of taeniid infection. Taeniid egg isolation was performed using a sieving/flotation technique, and the species level was identified by PCR (gene target: 12S rRNA and nad 1) followed by sequence analyses. Based on sequence homologies of ≥99%, Taenia hydatigena was identified in 19.6%, Taenia krabbei in 4.5%, Taenia ovis in 2.2%, Taenia crassiceps in 0.6%, Hydatigera taeniaeformis in 0.6% and Echinococcus granulosus in 5.6% of the samples. According to these results, Canis lupus italicus can be considered as involved in the wild (including cervids and rodents) and semi-domestic cycles (including sheep and goats) of taeniids in this area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Gori
- Department of Veterinary Science, Via Livornese (Lato Monte), 56122, San Piero a Grado Pisa, Italy ; Institute of Parasitology, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 266a, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | | | - Pietro Milanesi
- Parco Naturale Regionale dell'Antola, Via XX Aprile 17, Villa Borzino, 16012, Busalla (GE), Italy
| | - Matteo Serafini
- Parco Naturale Regionale dell'Antola, Via XX Aprile 17, Villa Borzino, 16012, Busalla (GE), Italy
| | - Marta Magi
- Department of Veterinary Science, Via Livornese (Lato Monte), 56122, San Piero a Grado Pisa, Italy
| | - Peter Deplazes
- Institute of Parasitology, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 266a, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Fabio Macchioni
- Department of Veterinary Science, Via Livornese (Lato Monte), 56122, San Piero a Grado Pisa, Italy
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32
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Otranto D, Cantacessi C, Dantas-Torres F, Brianti E, Pfeffer M, Genchi C, Guberti V, Capelli G, Deplazes P. The role of wild canids and felids in spreading parasites to dogs and cats in Europe. Part II: Helminths and arthropods. Vet Parasitol 2015; 213:24-37. [PMID: 26049678 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2015.04.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 123] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2015] [Accepted: 04/22/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Over the last few decades, ecological factors, combined with everchanging landscapes mainly linked to human activities (e.g. encroachment and tourism) have contributed to modifications in the transmission of parasitic diseases from domestic to wildlife carnivores and vice versa. In the first of this two-part review article, we have provided an account of diseases caused by protozoan parasites characterised by a two-way transmission route between domestic and wild carnivore species. In this second and final part, we focus our attention on parasitic diseases caused by helminth and arthropod parasites shared between domestic and wild canids and felids in Europe. While a complete understanding of the biology, ecology and epidemiology of these parasites is particularly challenging to achieve, especially given the complexity of the environments in which these diseases perpetuate, advancements in current knowledge of transmission routes is crucial to provide policy-makers with clear indications on strategies to reduce the impact of these diseases on changing ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Domenico Otranto
- Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Universita' degli Studi di Bari, 70010 Valenzano, Italy.
| | - Cinzia Cantacessi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, CB3 0ES Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Filipe Dantas-Torres
- Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Universita' degli Studi di Bari, 70010 Valenzano, Italy; Departamento de Imunologia, Centro de Pesquisas Aggeu Magalhães, Fiocruz-PE, Recife, Brazil
| | - Emanuele Brianti
- Dipartimento di Scienze Veterinarie, Universita' degli Studi di Messina, 98168 Messina, Italy
| | - Martin Pfeffer
- Institute of Animal Hygiene & Veterinary Public Health, University of Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Claudio Genchi
- Dipartimento di Scienze Veterinarie e Sanita' Pubblica, Universita' degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Vittorio Guberti
- Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale, 40064 Ozzano dell'Emilia, Italy
| | - Gioia Capelli
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, 35020 Legnaro, Italy
| | - Peter Deplazes
- Institute of Parasitology, University of Zürich, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland
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Niskanen AK, Kennedy LJ, Ruokonen M, Kojola I, Lohi H, Isomursu M, Jansson E, Pyhäjärvi T, Aspi J. Balancing selection and heterozygote advantage in major histocompatibility complex loci of the bottlenecked Finnish wolf population. Mol Ecol 2014; 23:875-89. [DOI: 10.1111/mec.12647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2013] [Revised: 12/19/2013] [Accepted: 12/20/2013] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- A. K. Niskanen
- Department of Biology; University of Oulu; PO Box 3000 FI-90014 Oulu Finland
| | - L. J. Kennedy
- Centre for Integrated Genomic Medical Research; University of Manchester; Stopford Building Oxford Road Manchester M13 9PT UK
| | - M. Ruokonen
- Department of Biology; University of Oulu; PO Box 3000 FI-90014 Oulu Finland
| | - I. Kojola
- Finnish Game and Fisheries Research Institute; Paavo Havaksen tie 3 PO Box 413 FI-90014 Oulu Finland
| | - H. Lohi
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences; Research Programs Unit; Molecular Neurology; Folkhälsan Institute of Genetics; Biomedicum Helsinki; University of Helsinki; PO Box 63 FI-00014 Helsinki Finland
| | - M. Isomursu
- Fish and Wildlife Health Research Unit; Finnish Food Safety Authority Evira; PO Box 517 FI-90101 Oulu Finland
| | - E. Jansson
- Department of Biology; University of Oulu; PO Box 3000 FI-90014 Oulu Finland
| | - T. Pyhäjärvi
- Department of Biology; University of Oulu; PO Box 3000 FI-90014 Oulu Finland
| | - J. Aspi
- Department of Biology; University of Oulu; PO Box 3000 FI-90014 Oulu Finland
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Echinococcus multilocularis and Echinococcus canadensis in wolves from western Canada. Parasitology 2013; 141:159-63. [DOI: 10.1017/s0031182013001716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
SUMMARYEchinococcus species are important parasites of wildlife, domestic animals and people worldwide; however, little is known about the prevalence, intensity and genetic diversity of Echinococcus tapeworms in Canadian wildlife. Echinococcus tapeworms were harvested from the intestines of 42% of 93 wolves (Canis lupus) from five sampling regions in the Northwest Territories, Manitoba and Saskatchewan, and visually identified to genus level by microscopic examination. Genetic characterization was successful for tapeworms from 30 wolves, and identified both Echinococcus canadensis and Echinococcus multilocularis in all sampling locations. Mixed infections of E. canadensis/E. multilocularis, as well as the G8/G10 genotypes of E. canadensis were observed. These findings suggest that wolves may be an important definitive host for both parasite species in western Canada. This represents the first report of wolves naturally infected with E. multilocularis in North America, and of wolves harbouring mixed infections with multiple species and genotypes of Echinococcus. These observations provide important information regarding the distribution and diversity of zoonotic species of Echinococcus in western North America, and may be of interest from public health and wildlife conservation perspectives.
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DeWolf BD, Peregrine AS, Jones-Bitton A, Jansen JT, Menzies PI. Taenia ovisinfection and its control: a Canadian perspective. N Z Vet J 2013; 62:1-7. [DOI: 10.1080/00480169.2013.832109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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Otero-Abad B, Torgerson PR. A systematic review of the epidemiology of echinococcosis in domestic and wild animals. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2013; 7:e2249. [PMID: 23755310 PMCID: PMC3674998 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0002249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 168] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2012] [Accepted: 04/23/2013] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Human echinococcosis is a neglected zoonosis caused by parasites of the genus Echinococcus. The most frequent clinical forms of echinococcosis, cystic echinococcosis (CE) and alveolar echinococcosis (AE), are responsible for a substantial health and economic burden, particularly to low-income societies. Quantitative epidemiology can provide important information to improve the understanding of parasite transmission and hence is an important part of efforts to control this disease. The purpose of this review is to give an insight on factors associated with echinococcosis in animal hosts by summarising significant results reported from epidemiological studies identified through a systematic search. METHODOLOGY AND PRINCIPAL FINDINGS The systematic search was conducted mainly in electronic databases but a few additional records were obtained from other sources. Retrieved entries were examined in order to identify available peer-reviewed epidemiological studies that found significant risk factors for infection using associative statistical methods. One hundred studies met the eligibility criteria and were suitable for data extraction. Epidemiological factors associated with increased risk of E. granulosus infection in dogs included feeding with raw viscera, possibility of scavenging dead animals, lack of anthelmintic treatment and owners' poor health education and indicators of poverty. Key factors associated with E. granulosus infection in intermediate hosts were related to the hosts' age and the intensity of environmental contamination with parasite eggs. E. multilocularis transmission dynamics in animal hosts depended on the interaction of several ecological factors, such as hosts' population densities, host-prey interactions, landscape characteristics, climate conditions and human-related activities. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE Results derived from epidemiological studies provide a better understanding of the behavioural, biological and ecological factors involved in the transmission of this parasite and hence can aid in the design of more effective control strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Belen Otero-Abad
- Vetsuisse-Faculty, University of Zurich, Section for Veterinary Epidemiology, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Paul R. Torgerson
- Vetsuisse-Faculty, University of Zurich, Section for Veterinary Epidemiology, Zurich, Switzerland
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Guerra D, Armua-Fernandez MT, Silva M, Bravo I, Santos N, Deplazes P, Carvalho LMMD. Taeniid species of the Iberian wolf (Canis lupus signatus) in Portugal with special focus on Echinococcus spp. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY-PARASITES AND WILDLIFE 2012; 2:50-3. [PMID: 24533315 PMCID: PMC3862541 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2012.11.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2012] [Revised: 11/27/2012] [Accepted: 11/30/2012] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Taeniid species represent relevant pathogens in human and animals, circulating between carnivorous definitive hosts and a variety of mammalian intermediate hosts. In Portugal, however, little is known about their occurrence and life cycles, especially in wild hosts. An epidemiological survey was conducted to clarify the role of the Iberian wolf as a definitive host for taeniid species, including Echinococcus spp. Wolf fecal samples (n = 68) were collected from two regions in Northern Portugal. Taeniid eggs were isolated through a sieving-flotation technique, and species identification was performed using multiplex-PCR followed by sequencing of the amplicons. Taenia hydatigena (in 11.8% of the samples), Taenia serialis (5.9%), Taenia pisiformis (2.9%), Taenia polyacantha (1.5%) and Echinococcus intermedius (Echinococcus granulosus ‘pig strain’, G7) (1.5%) were detected. This is the first study to characterize the taeniid species infecting the Portuguese Iberian wolf, with the first records of T. polyacantha and E. intermedius in this species in the Iberian Peninsula. Iberian wolves can be regarded as relevant hosts for the maintenance of the wild and synanthropic cycles of taeniids in Portugal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diogo Guerra
- Interdisciplinary Research Centre on Animal Health (CIISA), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Technical University of Lisbon, Avenida da Universidade Técnica, 1300-477 Lisbon, Portugal
- Institute of Parasitology, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 266a, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | | | - Marta Silva
- Interdisciplinary Research Centre on Animal Health (CIISA), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Technical University of Lisbon, Avenida da Universidade Técnica, 1300-477 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Inês Bravo
- Interdisciplinary Research Centre on Animal Health (CIISA), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Technical University of Lisbon, Avenida da Universidade Técnica, 1300-477 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Nuno Santos
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute, School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B’s, PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Peter Deplazes
- Institute of Parasitology, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 266a, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland
- Corresponding author. Tel.: +41 044 635 85 01; fax: +41 044 635 89 07.
| | - Luís Manuel Madeira de Carvalho
- Interdisciplinary Research Centre on Animal Health (CIISA), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Technical University of Lisbon, Avenida da Universidade Técnica, 1300-477 Lisbon, Portugal
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Abdybekova A, Torgerson P. Frequency distributions of helminths of wolves in Kazakhstan. Vet Parasitol 2012; 184:348-51. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2011.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2011] [Revised: 09/01/2011] [Accepted: 09/06/2011] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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The prevalence and distribution of Alaria alata, a potential zoonotic parasite, in foxes in Ireland. Parasitol Res 2012; 111:283-90. [PMID: 22350672 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-012-2835-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2011] [Accepted: 01/17/2012] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
The digenean trematode Alaria alata, an intestinal parasite of wild canids is widely distributed in Europe. The recent finding of the mesocercarial life cycle stage in the paratenic wild boar host suggests that it may potentially infect humans Mohl et al. (Parasitol Res 105:1-15, 2009). Over 500 foxes were examined during a wildlife survey for zoonotic diseases in 2009 and 2010. The prevalence of A. alata ranged from 21% to 26% in 2009 and 2010, and the intensity of infection varied, with the majority of foxes having between one and ten trematodes, but a small number of animals had parasitic burdens greater than 500. The location of foxes was geo-referenced and mapped using a geographic information system. The results of the spatial analysis suggest that A. alata may have a limited distribution being confined mainly to areas of pasture especially in the central plain and north Munster. Hot spot analysis indicated a clustering and that the level of parasitism was greatest in foxes from those areas where the prevalence of infection was highest.
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Seasonal and biogeographical patterns of gastrointestinal parasites in large carnivores: wolves in a coastal archipelago. Parasitology 2012; 139:781-90. [DOI: 10.1017/s0031182011002319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
SUMMARYParasites are increasingly recognized for their profound influences on individual, population and ecosystem health. We provide the first report of gastrointestinal parasites in gray wolves from the central and north coasts of British Columbia, Canada. Across 60 000 km2, wolf feces were collected from 34 packs in 2005–2008. At a smaller spatial scale (3300 km2), 8 packs were sampled in spring and autumn. Parasite eggs, larvae, and cysts were identified using standard flotation techniques and morphology. A subset of samples was analysed by PCR and sequencing to identify tapeworm eggs (n=9) andGiardiacysts (n=14). We detected ⩾14 parasite taxa in 1558 fecal samples.Sarcocystissporocysts occurred most frequently in feces (43·7%), followed by taeniid eggs (23·9%),Diphyllobothriumeggs (9·1%),Giardiacysts (6·8%),Toxocara caniseggs (2·1%), andCryptosporidiumoocysts (1·7%). Other parasites occurred in ⩽1% of feces. Genetic analyses revealedEchinococcus canadensisstrains G8 and G10,Taenia ovis krabbei, Diphyllobothrium nehonkaiense,andGiardia duodenalisassemblages A and B. Parasite prevalence differed between seasons and island/mainland sites. Patterns in parasite prevalence reflect seasonal and spatial resource use by wolves and wolf-salmon associations. These data provide a unique, extensive and solid baseline for monitoring parasite community structure in relation to environmental change.
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Hartson RB, Orlofske SA, Melin VE, Dillon RT, Johnson PTJ. Land use and wetland spatial position jointly determine amphibian parasite communities. ECOHEALTH 2011; 8:485-500. [PMID: 22071719 DOI: 10.1007/s10393-011-0715-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2010] [Revised: 09/29/2011] [Accepted: 10/10/2011] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Land use change is one of the most commonly cited contributing factors to infectious disease emergence, yet the mechanisms responsible for such changes and the spatial scales at which they operate are rarely identified. The distributions of parasites with complex life cycles depend on interactions between multiple host species, suggesting the net effects of land use on infection patterns may be difficult to predict a priori. Here, we used an information-theoretic approach to evaluate the importance of land use and spatial scale (local, watershed, and regional) in determining the presence and abundance of multi-host trematodes of amphibians. Among 40 wetlands and 160 hosts sampled, trematode abundance, species richness, and the presence and abundance of pathogenic species were strongly influenced by variables at the watershed and regional scales. Based on model averaging results, overall parasite richness and abundance were higher in forested wetlands than in agricultural areas; however, this pattern was influenced by a wetland's proximity to the Mississippi Flyway at the regional scale. These patterns likely reflect the activity of trematode definitive hosts, such as mammals and especially birds, such that infections decreased with increasing distance from the Mississippi River. Interestingly, despite lower mean infections, agricultural wetlands had higher variances and maximum infections. At the wetland scale, phosphorus concentrations and the abundances of intermediate hosts, such as snails and larval amphibians, positively affected parasite distributions. Taken together, these results contribute to our understanding of how altered landscapes affect parasite communities and inform further research on the environmental drivers of amphibian parasite infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard B Hartson
- Department of Water Resources, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83843, USA
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Lavikainen A, Laaksonen S, Beckmen K, Oksanen A, Isomursu M, Meri S. Molecular identification of Taenia spp. in wolves (Canis lupus), brown bears (Ursus arctos) and cervids from North Europe and Alaska. Parasitol Int 2011; 60:289-95. [PMID: 21571090 DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2011.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2011] [Revised: 04/27/2011] [Accepted: 04/28/2011] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Taenia tapeworms of Finnish and Swedish wolves (Canis lupus) and Finnish brown bears (Ursus arctos), and muscle cysticerci of Svalbard reindeer (Rangifer tarandus platyrhynchus), Alaskan Grant's caribou (Rangifer tarandus granti) and Alaskan moose (Alces americanus) were identified on the basis of the nucleotide sequence of a 396 bp region of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 gene. Two species were found from wolves: Taenia hydatigena and Taenia krabbei. The cysticerci of reindeer, caribou and one moose also represented T. krabbei. Most of the cysticercal specimens from Alaskan moose, however, belonged to an unknown T. krabbei-like species, which had been reported previously from Eurasian elks (Alces alces) from Finland. Strobilate stages from two bears belonged to this species as well. The present results suggest that this novel Taenia sp. has a Holarctic distribution and uses Alces spp. as intermediate and ursids as final hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antti Lavikainen
- Department of Bacteriology and Immunology, Haartman Institute, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
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Molecular identification of the causative agent of human strongyloidiasis acquired in Tanzania: Dispersal and diversity of Strongyloides spp. and their hosts. Parasitol Int 2010; 59:407-13. [DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2010.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2010] [Revised: 05/10/2010] [Accepted: 05/27/2010] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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A faecal analysis of helminth infections in wild and captive wolves, Canis lupus L., in Poland. J Helminthol 2010; 84:415-9. [PMID: 20236557 DOI: 10.1017/s0022149x10000106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
One hundred and three samples of faeces of reared grey wolves from four locations (Stobnica Park and Zoological Gardens in Bydgoszcz, Wrocław and Cracow) and twenty-six samples of faeces from two free-roaming packs of grey wolf (Canis lupus L.) in Piła (Forest Divisions: Borne Sulinowo, Czarnobór, Jastrowo) and Zielona Góra (Forest Divisions: Torzym, Krosno Odrzańskie) were collected between 2005 and 2007. Helminth eggs were detected in 78.6% of faecal samples of reared grey wolves and in 88.4% of those of free-roaming wolves. The trematode Alaria alata (80.1%) and nematodes Eucoleus aerophilus (23.1%) and Spirocerca lupi (11.5%) were only detected from wild packs of wolves and the nematodes Ancylostoma caninum (35.9%), Trichuris vulpis (15.5%) and Toxocara canis (3.9%) were only detected from reared wolves. Differences were observed in the prevalence and composition of helminth fauna between reared and wild grey wolves and our results are compared with those from studies within Poland and elsewhere in Europe.
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Abstract
AbstractThirty-four wolves were collected between 2003 and 2008 from throughout Latvia and examined for helminths. A total of 17 helminth species were recorded: the trematodeAlaria alata(85.3%); the cestodesDiphyllobothrium latum(2.9%),Echinococcus granulosus(2.9%),Echinococcus multilocularis(5.9%),Mesocestoides lineatus(5.9%),Taenia crassiceps(8.8%),Taenia hydatigena(41.2%),Taenia (ovis) krabbei(8.8%),Taenia multiceps(47.1%),Taenia pisiformis(20.6%),Taenia polyacantha(11.8%),Taeniaspp. (8.8%); and the nematodesAncylostoma caninum(2.9%),Crenosoma vulpis(9.1%),Eucoleus aerophilus(36.4%),Pearsonema plica(41.4%),Trichinellaspp. (69.7%),Toxocara canis(5.8%), andUncinaria stenocephala(41.2%).Alaria alatapresented the highest mean intensity (403.8). All animals were infected with at least one species of parasite, while the maximum recorded in one specimen was eight. No differences in the intensity or prevalence of any helminth species were found among the host based on age and gender, except forT. multicepswhich was more prevalent in adults than in juveniles.
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Darimont CT, Reimchen TE, Bryan HM, Paquet PC. Faecal-Centric Approaches to Wildlife Ecology and Conservation; Methods, Data and Ethics. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2008. [DOI: 10.2461/wbp.2008.4.7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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Helminth infections in faecal samples of wolves Canis lupus L. from the western Beskidy Mountains in southern Poland. J Helminthol 2008; 81:339-44. [PMID: 18251025 DOI: 10.1017/s0022149x07821286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Eighty-nine samples of grey wolf (Canis lupus L.) faeces were collected between 2002 and 2004 from two areas in the western Beskidy Mts (south Poland). Helminth eggs were observed in 56.2% of faeces examined. These included: Alaria alata (2.2%), taeniid eggs (11.2%), Toxocara canis (5.6%), Toxascaris leonina (1.1%), Eucoleus aerophilus (14.6%), Ancylostoma caninum (12.3%), Uncinaria stenocephala (37%) and unidentified roundworm eggs of the family Strongyloididae (1.1%). Eucoleus aerophilus is recorded for the first time from Poland. The results are compared with the helminth fauna of other wolf populations in Europe.
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Craig PS, Budke CM, Schantz PM, Li T, Qiu J, Yang Y, Zeyhle E, Rogan MT, Ito A. Human Echinococcosis: A Neglected Disease? Trop Med Health 2007. [DOI: 10.2149/tmh.35.283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
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