Filarioid infections in wild carnivores: a multispecies survey in Romania

Angela Monica Ionică,Dorin Valter Enache,Andrei Daniel Mihalca,Jana Ababii,Gianluca D'Amico,Călin Mircea Gherman,Aikaterini Alexandra Daskalaki,Ioana Adriana Matei,Attila D Sándor

doi:10.1186/s13071-017-2269-3

Abstract

BackgroundFilarioids are vector-borne parasitic nematodes of vertebrates. In Europe, eight species of filarioids, including zoonotic species, have been reported mainly in domestic dogs, and occasionally in wild carnivores. In Romania, infections with Dirofilaria spp. and Acanthocheilonema reconditum are endemic in domestic dogs. Despite the abundant populations of wild carnivores in the country, their role in the epidemiology of filarioid parasites remains largely unknown. The aim of the present study was to assess the host range, prevalence and distribution of filarioid infections in wild carnivores present in Romania.MethodsBetween May 2014 and February 2016, 432 spleen samples originating from 14 species of wild carnivores have been tested for the presence of DNA of three species of filarioids (D. immitis, D. repens and A. reconditum).ResultsOverall 14 samples (3.24%) were molecularly positive. The most prevalent species was D. immitis (1.62%), accounting for 50% (n = 7) of the positive animals. The prevalence of D. repens was 1.39%, while that of A. reconditum was 0.23%. No co-infections were detected. Dirofilaria immitis DNA was detected in five golden jackals, Canis aureus (7.58%), one red fox, Vulpes vulpes (0.33%), and one wildcat, Felis silvestris (10%). The presence of D. repens DNA was detected in two red foxes (0.66%), two golden jackals (3.03%), one grey wolf (7.14%), and one least weasel, Mustela nivalis (33.33%). Acanthocheilonema reconditum DNA was found only in one red fox (0.33%).ConclusionThe present study provides molecular evidence of filarial infections in wild carnivore species in Romania, suggesting their potential epidemiological role and reports a new host species for D. repens.

Highlights

Filarioids are vector-borne parasitic nematodes of vertebrates
Most of the research has been focused on the zoonotic species, namely D. immitis, which causes a severe and life-threatening cardio-pulmonary disease in dogs [2], D. repens, which resides in the subcutaneous tissues
Dirofilaria immitis DNA was detected in the spleen of five golden jackals, Canis aureus, one red fox, Vulpes vulpes, and one wildcat, Felis silvestris (Table 1)

Summary

Introduction

Filarioids are vector-borne parasitic nematodes of vertebrates. In Europe, eight species of filarioids, including zoonotic species, have been reported mainly in domestic dogs, and occasionally in wild carnivores. The aim of the present study was to assess the host range, prevalence and distribution of filarioid infections in wild carnivores present in Romania. The country is characterized by a high diversity of habitats and biodiversity, having a rich wild carnivore fauna comprising 18 species belonging to 5 families: Mustelidae (10 species), Canidae (4 species), Felidae (2 species), Ursidae (1 species) and Phocidae (1 species) [36]. Despite this large diversity and abundance of wild carnivores present in the country, their role in the epidemiology of filarioid parasites remains unknown.

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