First report of Setaria tundra in roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) from the Iberian Peninsula inferred from molecular data: epidemiological implications.

Samer Angelone-Alasaad,Michael J Jowers,Ana Pérez-Creo,Pablo Díez-Baños,Gerardo Pajares,Rosario Panadero,Ramón C Soriguer,Patrocinio Morrondo

doi:10.1186/s13071-016-1793-x

Abstract

BackgroundFilarioid nematode parasites are major health hazards with important medical, veterinary and economic implications. Recently, they have been considered as indicators of climate change.FindingsIn this paper, we report the first record of Setaria tundra in roe deer from the Iberian Peninsula. Adult S. tundra were collected from the peritoneal cavity during the post-mortem examination of a 2 year-old male roe deer, which belonged to a private fenced estate in La Alcarria (Guadalajara, Spain). Since 2012, the area has suffered a high roe deer decline rate (75 %), for unknown reasons. Aiming to support the morphological identification and to determine the phylogenetic position of S. tundra recovered from the roe deer, a fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) gene from the two morphologically identified parasites was amplified, sequenced and compared with corresponding sequences of other filarioid nematode species. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that the isolate of S. tundra recovered was basal to all other formely reported Setaria tundra sequences. The presence of all other haplotypes in Northern Europe may be indicative of a South to North outbreak in Europe.ConclusionsThis is the first report of S. tundra in roe deer from the Iberian Peninsula, with interesting phylogenetic results, which may have further implications in the epidemiological and genetic studies of these filarioid parasites. More studies are needed to explore the reasons and dynamics behind the rapid host/geographic expansion of the filarioid parasites in Europe.

Highlights

Filarioid nematode parasites are major health hazards with important medical, veterinary and economic implications
This is the first report of S. tundra in roe deer from the Iberian Peninsula, with interesting phylogenetic results, which may have further implications in the epidemiological and genetic studies of these filarioid parasites
The aims of the present study were to: (i) Report for the first time S. tundra in the roe deer Capreolus capreolus from the Iberian Peninsula, and (ii) examine the phylogenetic position of the newly-found S. tundra, based on sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 gene

Summary

Introduction

Filarioid nematode parasites are major health hazards with important medical, veterinary and economic implications. They have been considered as indicators of climate change. Filarioid nematode parasites are major health hazards with significant medical, veterinary and economic implications, with millions of people and animals globally affected [1]. Haematophagous arthropods are the vectors of these parasites [2], which have recently been considered as indicators of climate change [3, 4]. The phylogenetic relationships of filarioid parasites have been assessed on morphological characters [6, 7]. Setaria tundra is considered as a common parasite in the northern hemisphere, especially in Finland, where

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion