Helminth parasites of the Eurasian otter Lutra lutra in southwest Europe
Abstract
The helminth fauna in 109 Eurasian otters (Lutra lutra L.) from France, Portugal and Spain was analysed, together with 56 faecal samples collected in Portugal and 23 fresh stools from otters included in a reintroduction programme. Seven helminth species were found in L. lutra in southwest Europe:Phagicola sp. (Trematoda),Aonchotheca putorii,Eucoleus schvalovoj,Strongyloides lutrae,Anisakis(third stage larvae) and Dirofilaria immitis(Nematoda), and Gigantorhynchus sp. (Acanthocephala).Eucoleus schvalovoj was the dominant species throughout southwest Europe.Strongyloides lutrae was significantly more prevalent in the Iberian Peninsula than in France. Apart from these two dominant nematodes and A. putorii, the other helminth species were incidental parasites of L. lutra in southwest Europe. The helminth fauna of L. lutra in southwest Europe is, in general, poorer than that reported in eastern Europe and in all other aquatic mustelids in southwest Europe.Phagicola specimens are reported for the first time in a non-marine wild carnivore in Europe. The prevalences of E. schvalovoj and S. lutrae obtained by necropsy were higher than those observed by coprological analysis using a formalin-ether concentration method (Ritchie). Nevertheless, the culture of fresh faeces appears to be the best method to study infection of L. lutra by Strongyloides.
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In Portugal, no study of prevalence in the south has been published in the last 15 years, although D. immitis was found in two of five Eurasian otters from Alentejo.
“In the last 15 years there is not published any study of prevalence in the south of Portugal, although a study carried out on five Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) from Alentejo, found D. immitis in two of them (Torres et al., 2004).”
From Heartworm Disease (Dirofilaria immitis) and Their Vectors in Europe – New Distribution Trends (2012) · cites this paper as Torres et al., 2004
A study carried out in Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra), 48 Eurasian otters from different regions of the Iberian Peninsula were examined, finding D. immitis prevalence of 2.1%.
“Finally, a study carried out in Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra), 48 Eurasian otters from different regions of the Iberian Peninsula were examined, finding D. immitis prevalence of 2.1% (Torres et al., 2004).”
From Heartworm Disease (Dirofilaria immitis) and Their Vectors in Europe – New Distribution Trends (2012) · cites this paper as Torres et al., 2004
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- Authors
- Torres, J., Feliu, C., Fernández-Morán, J., Ruíz-Olmo, J., Rosoux, R., Santos-Reis, M., Miquel, J., & Fons, R.
- Affiliations
- Universitat de Barcelona (ES)
- University of Lisbon (PT)
- Observatoire Océanologique de Banyuls-sur-Mer (FR)
- Corresponding author
- Torres, J.
- ORCID
- Venue
- Journal of Helminthology
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press (CUP)
- Published
- 2004-12
- Volume
- 78
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 353-359
- ISSN
- 0022-149X (ISSN-L)
- 1475-2697
- OpenAlex
- W2035663473
- Cited by
- 39
- References
- 52
- Citations by year
- 2025: 4 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 2 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 1 · 2015: 2 · 2014: 3 · 2013: 3 · 2012: 1
- FWCI
- 0.60
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Helminthology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Ministry of Environment
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecology › Parasite Biology and Host Interactions
- Health Sciences › Veterinary › Small Animals › Helminth infection and control
- Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Parasitology › Bird parasitology and diseases
- Keywords
- Lutra lutra, helminths, parasite prevalence, Anisakis, Dirofilaria immitis, Acanthocephala, fecal egg detection, coprological analysis, Southwest Europe
- MeSH terms
- Acanthocephala, Animals, Animals, Wild, Feces, France, Helminthiasis, Animal, Helminths, Nematoda, Otters, Parasite Egg Count, Parasitology, Portugal, Spain, Strongyloides, Trematoda
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