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Morariu S, Sîrbu CB, Tóth AG, Dărăbuș G, Oprescu I, Mederle N, Ilie MS, Imre M, Sîrbu BAM, Solymosi N, Florea T, Imre K. First Molecular Identification of Calicophoron daubneyi (Dinnik, 1962) and Paramphistomum leydeni (Nasmark, 1937) in Wild Ruminants from Romania. Vet Sci 2023; 10:603. [PMID: 37888555 PMCID: PMC10611404 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci10100603] [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: 08/28/2023] [Revised: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 09/30/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Rumen flukes are geographically widespread trematodes affecting wild and domestic ruminants. The juvenile forms, which are found in the small intestine, are more pathogenic compared to the adults. Severe diarrhoea and weight loss are the major clinical signs, and the disease might be fatal in severely infested individuals. In the last decade, paramphistomosis has been described as an emerging parasitic disease in Europe. This study aimed to identify the rumen fluke species in wild ruminants from western Romania. Fifty-two pre-stomachs obtained from roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) that were hunted on 14 hunting grounds from Timiș and Arad counties were examined for the presence of paramphistomes. Three (9.09%) out of 33 samples were positive in Timiș County, and one (5.26%) out of 19 samples was positive in Arad County. Subsequent PCR testing revealed that three samples were positive for Calicophoron daubneyi and one for Paramphistomum leydeni. The presence of C. daubneyi and P. leydeni in roe deer has not been previously reported in Romania. Two Paramphistomum species-C. daubneyi and P. leydeni-were revealed as the main species of rumen flukes in roe deer from forests in Romania.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sorin Morariu
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Life Sciences King Mihai I, 300645 Timisoara, Romania; (S.M.); (G.D.); (I.O.); (N.M.); (M.S.I.); (M.I.); (B.A.-M.S.)
| | - Cătălin Bogdan Sîrbu
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Life Sciences King Mihai I, 300645 Timisoara, Romania; (S.M.); (G.D.); (I.O.); (N.M.); (M.S.I.); (M.I.); (B.A.-M.S.)
| | - Adrienn Gréta Tóth
- Department Centre for Bioinformatics, University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest, Budapest István u. 2, 1078 Budapest, Hungary; (A.G.T.); (N.S.)
| | - Gheorghe Dărăbuș
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Life Sciences King Mihai I, 300645 Timisoara, Romania; (S.M.); (G.D.); (I.O.); (N.M.); (M.S.I.); (M.I.); (B.A.-M.S.)
| | - Ion Oprescu
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Life Sciences King Mihai I, 300645 Timisoara, Romania; (S.M.); (G.D.); (I.O.); (N.M.); (M.S.I.); (M.I.); (B.A.-M.S.)
| | - Narcisa Mederle
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Life Sciences King Mihai I, 300645 Timisoara, Romania; (S.M.); (G.D.); (I.O.); (N.M.); (M.S.I.); (M.I.); (B.A.-M.S.)
| | - Marius Stelian Ilie
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Life Sciences King Mihai I, 300645 Timisoara, Romania; (S.M.); (G.D.); (I.O.); (N.M.); (M.S.I.); (M.I.); (B.A.-M.S.)
| | - Mirela Imre
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Life Sciences King Mihai I, 300645 Timisoara, Romania; (S.M.); (G.D.); (I.O.); (N.M.); (M.S.I.); (M.I.); (B.A.-M.S.)
| | - Beatrice Ana-Maria Sîrbu
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Life Sciences King Mihai I, 300645 Timisoara, Romania; (S.M.); (G.D.); (I.O.); (N.M.); (M.S.I.); (M.I.); (B.A.-M.S.)
| | - Norbert Solymosi
- Department Centre for Bioinformatics, University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest, Budapest István u. 2, 1078 Budapest, Hungary; (A.G.T.); (N.S.)
| | - Tiana Florea
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Life Sciences King Mihai I, 300645 Timisoara, Romania; (S.M.); (G.D.); (I.O.); (N.M.); (M.S.I.); (M.I.); (B.A.-M.S.)
| | - Kalman Imre
- Food Safety Department, University of Life Sciences King Mihai I, 300645 Timisoara, Romania;
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Zanzani SA, Villa L, Gazzonis AL, Cartagena D, Mortarino M, Bonacina E, Guadagnini D, Allievi C, Manfredi MT. The Prophylactic Effect of Ivermectin Treatments on Nematode Infections of Mammals in a Faunistic Park (Northern Italy). Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12091124. [PMID: 35565548 PMCID: PMC9099513 DOI: 10.3390/ani12091124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2022] [Revised: 04/25/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Nematode infections of mammals can spread in zoos and faunistic parks and lead to disease in humans and animals. Group treatment strategies with anthelminthic drugs are common. Still, their effectiveness should be verified by sensitive and specific copromicroscopic analyses. This study assessed longitudinal parasitological monitoring, by FLOTAC® dual technique, in mammals housed in an Italian faunistic park, in order to verify the effectiveness of the two adopted ivermectin prophylactic treatments. Twenty-one species of herbivorous mammals from ten families were treated twice per year with ivermectin in an in-feed formulation (medicated feed containing 1.7 g/ton ivermectin daily, for 30 days in March and November), while 13 species of carnivores and primates from five families were treated once a month with oral or subcutaneous administrations of ivermectin (200 μg/kg body weight (b.w.), from March to November). Fecal samples were collected in June–July and October 2019 (late spring–early summer and autumn sampling groups, respectively). All nematode infections, sustained by Nematodirus spp., Capillaria spp., Trichuris spp., Parascaris spp. and Strongylida, were detected in samples collected from herbivores, presenting prevalence rates of infection of 17.3% (9/52), 15.4% (8/52), 15.4% (8/52), 5.8% (3/52), and 3.8% (2/52), respectively. All carnivores and primates tested negative. The general linear mixed model showed that nematode eggs’ excretion in herbivores were influenced by sampling and sampling-host family interaction. Results showed that frequency and dose of prophylactic treatments in herbivores should be improved according to host and parasite taxonomic groups. The treatment adopted in carnivores and primates, together with hygienic management, was effective in nematode control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergio A. Zanzani
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Università Degli Studi di Milano, Via Dell’ Università 6, 26900 Lodi, Italy; (L.V.); (A.L.G.); (M.M.); (C.A.); (M.T.M.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-02-5033-4536
| | - Luca Villa
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Università Degli Studi di Milano, Via Dell’ Università 6, 26900 Lodi, Italy; (L.V.); (A.L.G.); (M.M.); (C.A.); (M.T.M.)
| | - Alessia L. Gazzonis
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Università Degli Studi di Milano, Via Dell’ Università 6, 26900 Lodi, Italy; (L.V.); (A.L.G.); (M.M.); (C.A.); (M.T.M.)
| | - Daniel Cartagena
- “Le Cornelle” Faunistic Park, Via Cornelle 16, 24030 Valbrembo, Italy; (D.C.); (E.B.); (D.G.)
| | - Michele Mortarino
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Università Degli Studi di Milano, Via Dell’ Università 6, 26900 Lodi, Italy; (L.V.); (A.L.G.); (M.M.); (C.A.); (M.T.M.)
| | - Eleonora Bonacina
- “Le Cornelle” Faunistic Park, Via Cornelle 16, 24030 Valbrembo, Italy; (D.C.); (E.B.); (D.G.)
| | - Davide Guadagnini
- “Le Cornelle” Faunistic Park, Via Cornelle 16, 24030 Valbrembo, Italy; (D.C.); (E.B.); (D.G.)
| | - Carolina Allievi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Università Degli Studi di Milano, Via Dell’ Università 6, 26900 Lodi, Italy; (L.V.); (A.L.G.); (M.M.); (C.A.); (M.T.M.)
| | - Maria Teresa Manfredi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Università Degli Studi di Milano, Via Dell’ Università 6, 26900 Lodi, Italy; (L.V.); (A.L.G.); (M.M.); (C.A.); (M.T.M.)
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Tangtrongsup S, Sripakdee D, Malaivijitnond S, Angkuratipakorn R, Lappin M. Intestinal Parasites and the Occurrence of Zoonotic Giardia duodenalis Genotype in Captive Gibbons at Krabokkoo Wildlife Breeding Center, Thailand. Front Vet Sci 2019; 6:110. [PMID: 31106211 PMCID: PMC6499157 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2019.00110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2018] [Accepted: 03/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Intestinal parasitic infections can have an impact on health and growth of wildlife. The current study aims were to determine the prevalence of intestinal parasites and to molecular characterize Giardia duodenalis and Cryptosporidium spp. in captive gibbons at Krabokkoo Wildlife Breeding Center, Thailand. Fifty-five gibbons, 2 agile- (Hylobates agilis), 38 lar- (Hylobates lar) and 15 pileated gibbons (Hylobates pileatus) were included in this study. Fecal samples were collected individually at Krabokkoo Wildlife Breeding Center, Chachoengsao province, eastern Thailand, in November 2013. Intestinal parasitic infections were examined by zinc sulfate centrifugation flotation and by a commercially available immunofluorescent assay (IFA) for detection of G. duodenalis and Cryptosporidium spp.. Polymerase chain reaction targeting the Giardia glutamate dehydrogenase (gdh), beta- giardin (bg), triose phosphate isomerase (tpi) genes, and the Cryptosporidium small subunit-rRNA and heat-shock protein (hsp70) following by DNA sequencing were performed on the IFA positive samples. The overall prevalence of intestinal parasitic infection in gibbons at Krabokkoo Wildlife Breeding Center was 12.7% (95%CI: 5.3–24.5), Strongyloides spp. eggs or larvae were present in all positive samples. Co-infections with G. duodenalis were detected in 1.8% (95%CI: 0.1–9.7) of the samples. Based on the sequencing results of the three genes, the IFA Giardia positive isolate typed as the zoonotic genotype B. Since the data reveals the occurrence of zoonotic Giardia genotype, good hygiene management is suggested to prevent the transmission of this pathogen from gibbon to human, and vice versa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sahatchai Tangtrongsup
- Department of Companion Animal and Wildlife Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.,Research Center of Producing and Development of Products and Innovations for Animal Health and Production, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Duanghatai Sripakdee
- Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Suchinda Malaivijitnond
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.,National Primate Research Center of Thailand, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | | | - Michael Lappin
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
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Ferreira SCM, Torelli F, Klein S, Fyumagwa R, Karesh WB, Hofer H, Seeber F, East ML. Evidence of high exposure to Toxoplasma gondii in free-ranging and captive African carnivores. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY-PARASITES AND WILDLIFE 2018; 8:111-117. [PMID: 30740303 PMCID: PMC6356113 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2018.12.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2018] [Revised: 12/17/2018] [Accepted: 12/23/2018] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is an ubiquitous intracellular protozoan parasite. Mammals and birds are intermediate hosts and felid species are definitive hosts. In most human altered habitats the domestic cat is the predominant definitive host. Current knowledge of T. gondii infection in African ecosystems is limited. This study aimed to assess exposure to T. gondii in wild carnivores in the Serengeti ecosystem in East Africa. Carnivores can be infected by the consumption of tissue cysts when feeding on infected animals and by incidental ingestion of oocysts from environmental contamination. Incidental ingestion should occur regardless of a species’ diet whereas the consumption of cysts should increase the chance of infection in carnivorous species. This predicts higher seropositivity in carnivorous than in insectivorous carnivores and lower seropositivity in juvenile carnivores with a long dependency on milk than in adults. We found high seropositivity in carnivorous species: 100% (15 of 15 samples) in adult African lions, 93% (38 of 41 samples) in adult spotted hyenas and one striped hyena sample was positive, whereas all four samples from the insectivorous bat-eared fox were negative. Juvenile hyenas (11 of 19 sera) had significantly lower seropositivity than adults (38 of 41 sera). Long-term monitoring of spotted hyenas revealed no significant difference in seropositivity between two periods (1988–1992 and 2000 to 2016). Identical results were produced in lion and hyena samples by a commercial multi-species ELISA (at serum dilution 1:10) and an in-house ELISA based on a recombinant T. gondii protein (at serum dilution 1:100), making the latter a useful alternative for small amounts of serum. We suggest that diet, age and lifetime range are factors determining seropositivity in carnivores in the Serengeti ecosystem and suggest that the role of small wild felids in the spread of T. gondii in the African ecosystem warrants investigation. Most Serengeti lions and spotted hyenas had anti-T. gondii antibodies. Spotted hyenas' seropositivity remains similar in two time periods across 28 years. The proportion of seropositive juvenile spotted hyenas was lower than in adults. No evidence of infection in 4 wild bat-eared foxes, which are insectivorous canids. An in-house ELISA permits the use of small amounts of serum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susana Carolina Martins Ferreira
- Department of Ecological Dynamics, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred Kowalke Straße 17, 10315, Berlin, Germany.,Department of Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Oertzenweg 19b, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - Francesca Torelli
- Department of Mycotic and Parasitic Agents and Mycobacteria, Robert Koch-Institut, Seestraße 10, 13353, Berlin, Germany.,Department of Biology, Humboldt University Berlin, Invalidenstraße 110, 10115, Berlin, Germany
| | - Sandra Klein
- Department of Mycotic and Parasitic Agents and Mycobacteria, Robert Koch-Institut, Seestraße 10, 13353, Berlin, Germany
| | - Robert Fyumagwa
- Serengeti Wildlife Research Centre, Tanzania, Wildlife Research Institute, Arusha, United Republic of Tanzania, PO Box 661, Arusha, Tanzania
| | - William B Karesh
- Wildlife Conservation Society, 2300 Southern Boulevard, Bronx, NY, NY, 10460, USA.,Ecohealth Alliance, 460 West 34th Street - 17th Floor, New York, NY, 10001, USA
| | - Heribert Hofer
- Department of Ecological Dynamics, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred Kowalke Straße 17, 10315, Berlin, Germany.,Department of Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Oertzenweg 19b, 14195, Berlin, Germany.,Department of Biology, Chemistry, Pharmacy, Freie Universität Berlin, Takustrasse 3, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - Frank Seeber
- Department of Mycotic and Parasitic Agents and Mycobacteria, Robert Koch-Institut, Seestraße 10, 13353, Berlin, Germany
| | - Marion L East
- Department of Ecological Dynamics, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred Kowalke Straße 17, 10315, Berlin, Germany
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Hora FS, Genchi C, Ferrari N, Morariu S, Mederle N, Dărăbuș G. Frequency of gastrointestinal and pulmonary helminth infections in wild deer from western Romania. VETERINARY PARASITOLOGY- REGIONAL STUDIES AND REPORTS 2017; 8:75-77. [PMID: 31014642 DOI: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2016.12.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2016] [Revised: 12/12/2016] [Accepted: 12/30/2016] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
A survey was carried out to assess the prevalence and the intensity of helminth infections in the roe deer (Capreolus capreolus L.), red deer (Cervus elaphus L.) and fallow deer (Dama dama L.) from 16 hunting areas in western Romania. Overall, 122 deer shot during the hunting season 2013-2015 were examined. Haemonchus contortus, Nematodirus filicollis, Oesophagostomum venulosum and Dictyocalus spp. were found in all the deer species. Trichuris spp. and Dicrocoelium dendriticum were found in the roe deer and red deer and Moniezia expansa in roe deer, only. Overall, the prevalences (<35%) and the mean intensities (<20) were quite low in the abomasums and intestine, but H. contortus in fallow deer (>50%). No >2 or 3 helminth species were found in the abomasum, small and large intestine. Lung helminthes in the roe deer and follow deer accounted for 57.1% and 71.4%, respectively. The only specie with a prevalence >50% was in the red deer. D. dendriticum was found in the liver of roe deer and fallow deer.
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Affiliation(s)
- F S Hora
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Banat's University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine "King Michael I of Romania" from Timișoara, Romania
| | - C Genchi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy
| | - N Ferrari
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy
| | - S Morariu
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Banat's University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine "King Michael I of Romania" from Timișoara, Romania
| | - N Mederle
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Banat's University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine "King Michael I of Romania" from Timișoara, Romania
| | - Gh Dărăbuș
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Banat's University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine "King Michael I of Romania" from Timișoara, Romania.
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Toxoplasma gondii Infection in Alpine Red Deer (Cervus elaphus): Its Spread and Effects on Fertility [corrected]. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0138472. [PMID: 26405785 PMCID: PMC4583299 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0138472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2015] [Accepted: 08/31/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
In contrast to the depth of knowledge on the pathological effects of parasitism in domestic animals, the impact of the vast majority of parasites on wildlife hosts is poorly understood and, besides, information from domestics is rarely usable to disclose the parasites' impact on free-ranging populations' dynamics. Here we use Toxoplasmosis as a study model since, until now, the infection process and the protozoan's effects in natural conditions has received little attention. We analysed 81 sera from red deer (Cervus elaphus) sampled in Italian Alps and through generalized linear models we evaluated (1) the epidemiological factors influencing T. gondii infection dynamics; (2) its impact on female fertility [corrected]. High seroprevalence of T. gondii infection was recorded in yearling (1 year-old; prevalence = 52.4%) and adult (>2 year-old; prevalence = 51.3%) red deer, while calves (<1 year-old) did not contract the infection suggesting horizontal transmission as the main route of infection. The stable prevalence between yearlings and adults and the higher serological titres of younger individuals lead to two alternative infection processes suggesting a difference between age classes or in acquiring the infection or in responding to the pathogen. No associations between T. gondii serological titres and pregnancy status was observed indicating no direct effect on the probability of being pregnant; nevertheless a relation between females' higher serological titres and lower foetal development emerged, suggesting potential effects of the parasite infection on deer reproduction. The results demonstrate high seroprevalence of T. gondii infection in free-ranging red deer and, furthermore, the effect on foetal development suggests the potential impact of the parasite on red deer fertility and thus on its population dynamics.
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