Protozoan and helminth parasite fauna of free-living Croatian wild wolves (Canis lupus) analyzed by scat collection. 2017

Carlos Hermosilla, and Sonja Kleinertz, and Liliana M R Silva, and Jörg Hirzmann, and Djuro Huber, and Josip Kusak, and Anja Taubert
Institute of Parasitology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, 35392 Giessen, Germany. Electronic address: Carlos.R.Hermosilla@vetmed.uni-giessen.de.

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.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D003457 Cryptosporidiosis Intestinal infection with organisms of the genus CRYPTOSPORIDIUM. It occurs in both animals and humans. Symptoms include severe DIARRHEA. Cryptosporidium Infection,Cryptosporidioses,Cryptosporidium Infections,Infection, Cryptosporidium
D003458 Cryptosporidium A genus of coccidian parasites of the family CRYPTOSPORIDIIDAE, found in the intestinal epithelium of many vertebrates including humans. Cryptosporidiums
D005243 Feces Excrement from the INTESTINES, containing unabsorbed solids, waste products, secretions, and BACTERIA of the DIGESTIVE SYSTEM.
D005872 Giardia A genus of flagellate intestinal EUKARYOTES parasitic in various vertebrates, including humans. Characteristics include the presence of four pairs of flagella arising from a complicated system of axonemes and cysts that are ellipsoidal to ovoidal in shape. Lamblia,Giardias,Lamblias
D005873 Giardiasis An infection of the SMALL INTESTINE caused by the flagellated protozoan GIARDIA. It is spread via contaminated food and water and by direct person-to-person contact. Lambliasis,Giardia Infection,Giardia duodenalis Infection,Giardia intestinalis Infection,Giardia lamblia Infection,Giardia Infections,Giardia duodenalis Infections,Giardia intestinalis Infections,Giardia lamblia Infections,Giardiases,Infection, Giardia,Infection, Giardia duodenalis,Infection, Giardia intestinalis,Infection, Giardia lamblia,Infections, Giardia,Infections, Giardia duodenalis,Infections, Giardia intestinalis,Infections, Giardia lamblia,Lambliases
D006374 Helminthiasis, Animal Infestation of animals with parasitic worms of the helminth class. The infestation may be experimental or veterinary. Animal Helminthiases,Animal Helminthiasis,Helminthiases, Animal
D006376 Helminths Commonly known as parasitic worms, this group includes the ACANTHOCEPHALA; NEMATODA; and PLATYHELMINTHS. Some authors consider certain species of LEECHES that can become temporarily parasitic as helminths. Aschelminthes,Gordius,Nematomorpha,Parasitic Worms,Worms, Parasitic,Aschelminthe,Helminth,Nematomorphas,Parasitic Worm,Worm, Parasitic
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D015995 Prevalence The total number of cases of a given disease in a specified population at a designated time. It is differentiated from INCIDENCE, which refers to the number of new cases in the population at a given time. Period Prevalence,Point Prevalence,Period Prevalences,Point Prevalences,Prevalence, Period,Prevalence, Point,Prevalences
D017523 Croatia Created 7 April 1992 as a result of the division of Yugoslavia.

Related Publications

Carlos Hermosilla, and Sonja Kleinertz, and Liliana M R Silva, and Jörg Hirzmann, and Djuro Huber, and Josip Kusak, and Anja Taubert
January 2017, Frontiers in veterinary science,
Carlos Hermosilla, and Sonja Kleinertz, and Liliana M R Silva, and Jörg Hirzmann, and Djuro Huber, and Josip Kusak, and Anja Taubert
December 1993, Parassitologia,
Carlos Hermosilla, and Sonja Kleinertz, and Liliana M R Silva, and Jörg Hirzmann, and Djuro Huber, and Josip Kusak, and Anja Taubert
August 1959, The Journal of parasitology,
Carlos Hermosilla, and Sonja Kleinertz, and Liliana M R Silva, and Jörg Hirzmann, and Djuro Huber, and Josip Kusak, and Anja Taubert
December 2010, Journal of helminthology,
Carlos Hermosilla, and Sonja Kleinertz, and Liliana M R Silva, and Jörg Hirzmann, and Djuro Huber, and Josip Kusak, and Anja Taubert
February 2019, Parasitology research,
Carlos Hermosilla, and Sonja Kleinertz, and Liliana M R Silva, and Jörg Hirzmann, and Djuro Huber, and Josip Kusak, and Anja Taubert
September 2006, Molecular ecology,
Carlos Hermosilla, and Sonja Kleinertz, and Liliana M R Silva, and Jörg Hirzmann, and Djuro Huber, and Josip Kusak, and Anja Taubert
February 2000, Parasitology research,
Carlos Hermosilla, and Sonja Kleinertz, and Liliana M R Silva, and Jörg Hirzmann, and Djuro Huber, and Josip Kusak, and Anja Taubert
January 2012, Parazitologiia,
Carlos Hermosilla, and Sonja Kleinertz, and Liliana M R Silva, and Jörg Hirzmann, and Djuro Huber, and Josip Kusak, and Anja Taubert
December 1998, Journal of zoo and wildlife medicine : official publication of the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians,
Carlos Hermosilla, and Sonja Kleinertz, and Liliana M R Silva, and Jörg Hirzmann, and Djuro Huber, and Josip Kusak, and Anja Taubert
March 2014, Veterinary parasitology,
Copied contents to your clipboard!