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Martínez-Carrasco C, Moroni B, García-Garrigós A, Robetto S, Carella E, Zoppi S, Tizzani P, Gonzálvez M, Orusa R, Rossi L. Wolf Is Back: A Novel Sensitive Sentinel Rejoins the Trichinella Cycle in the Western Alps. Vet Sci 2023; 10:vetsci10030206. [PMID: 36977245 PMCID: PMC10055899 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci10030206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2023] [Revised: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Trichinella is a foodborne parasite whose wildlife reservoirs are represented by carnivores and omnivores with predatory and scavenger behavior. The aim of the present study was to investigate the occurrence of Trichinella infection in grey wolves (Canis lupus) that recolonized the Western Alps from the end of the past century, and discuss the epidemiological role played by this apex predator in the early phases of its return. During the period 2017–2022, diaphragm samples were obtained from 130 individuals collected in the frame of a wolf mortality survey. Trichinella larvae were found in 15 wolves (11.53%) with a parasite intensity of 11.74 larvae per gram. Trichinella britovi was the only species identified. This is the first prevalence survey of Trichinella in wolves recolonizing the Alps. Results suggest that, in this particular biotope, the wolf has rejoined the Trichinella cycle and has the potential to play an increasingly important role as maintenance host. Arguments in favor and against this perspective are discussed and knowledge gaps highlighted. The calculated Trichinella larval biomass in the estimated wolf population roaming in Northwest Italy will serve as baseline value to explore possible shifts in the relative importance of wolves as Trichinella reservoir within the regional carnivore community. Finally, wolves re-colonizing the Alps already appear as sensitive sentinels to monitor the risk of Trichinella zoonotic transmission by infected wild boar meat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Martínez-Carrasco
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Campus de Excelencia Internacional Regional “Campus Mare Nostrum”, Universidad de Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain
| | - Barbara Moroni
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale di Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d’Aosta, Via Bologna 148, 10154 Torino, Italy
- Correspondence: (B.M.); (E.C.)
| | - Anna García-Garrigós
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Campus de Excelencia Internacional Regional “Campus Mare Nostrum”, Universidad de Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain
| | - Serena Robetto
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale di Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d’Aosta, Centro di Referenza Nazionale Malattie Animali Selvatici (CERMAS), Località Amerique 7G, 11020 Quart, Italy
| | - Emanuele Carella
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale di Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d’Aosta, Via Bologna 148, 10154 Torino, Italy
- Correspondence: (B.M.); (E.C.)
| | - Simona Zoppi
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale di Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d’Aosta, Via Bologna 148, 10154 Torino, Italy
| | - Paolo Tizzani
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, Largo Paolo Braccini 2, 10095 Grugliasco, Italy
| | - Moisés Gonzálvez
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Campus de Excelencia Internacional Regional “Campus Mare Nostrum”, Universidad de Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Grupo de Investigación en Sanidad Animal y Zoonosis (GISAZ), Universidad de Córdoba, 14014 Córdoba, Spain
| | - Riccardo Orusa
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale di Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d’Aosta, Centro di Referenza Nazionale Malattie Animali Selvatici (CERMAS), Località Amerique 7G, 11020 Quart, Italy
| | - Luca Rossi
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, Largo Paolo Braccini 2, 10095 Grugliasco, Italy
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Kalén C, Andrén H, Månsson J, Sand H. Using citizen data in a population model to estimate population size of moose (Alces alces). Ecol Modell 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2022.110066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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