Cited by 67Parasitic Diseases Research and TreatmentHelminth infection and controlResearch on Leishmaniasis Studies

Filarioid infections in wild carnivores: a multispecies survey in Romania

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Ionică, Angela Monica, Matei, Ioana Adriana, D’Amico, Gianluca, Ababii, Jana, Daskalaki, Aikaterini Alexandra, Sándor, Attila D., Enache, Dorin Valter, Gherman, Călin Mircea +1 more·2017·Parasites & Vectors

Abstract

BACKGROUND: 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. 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. METHODS: Between 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). RESULTS: Overall 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%). CONCLUSION: The 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.

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  • Wild animals in which Dirofilaria infections were identified were predominantly canids like red foxes, golden jackals, and grey wolves.

    “Furthermore, there are some wild animals in which Dirofilaria infections were identified, predominantly in canids like red foxes [4, 5, 51–62], golden jackals [52–55, 63, 64], and grey wolves [2, 3, 51, 52, 55, 65, 66].”
  • In the last decade, epidemiological and seroepidemiological studies and clinical reporting have shown that dirofilariasis has been introduced into the countries of the Balkans peninsula.

    “In addition, in the last decade, different epidemiological and seroepidemiological studies, alongside clinical reporting, have shown that dirofilariasis has been introduced into the countries of the Balkans peninsula (1, 3, 4, 11, 19).”

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  1. [41]Florea CI, Olaru S, Dobrica A, Tudor P. Epidemiologically study about natural infestation with Dirofilaria in shelters located in the Southern part of Romania. In: Proceedings of the Fourth European Dirofilaria and Angiostrongylus Days (FEDAD). Budapest: ESDA; 2014. p. 43.

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Authors
Ionică, A. M., Matei, I. A., D’Amico, G., Ababii, J., Daskalaki, A. A., Sándor, A. D., Enache, D. V., Gherman, C. M., & Mihalca, A. D.
Affiliations
  • University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca (RO)
  • Transilvania University of Brașov (RO)
Corresponding author
Ionică, Angela Monica
Venue
Parasites & Vectors
Published
2017-07-13
Volume
10
Issue
1
Pages
332-332
ISSN
1756-3305 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2735867145
Cited by
66
References
46
Citations by year
2026: 7 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 12 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 10 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 2
FWCI
4.42
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
cc-by
Locations
  • Parasites & Vectors (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders
CNCS-UEFISCDI (TE299/2015)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Infectious Diseases › Parasitic Diseases Research and Treatment
  • Health Sciences › Veterinary › Small Animals › Helminth infection and control
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Research on Leishmaniasis Studies
Keywords
wild carnivores, Dirofilaria immitis, Dirofilaria repens, Acanthocheilonema reconditum, host range, prevalence, golden jackal, red fox, wildcat, grey wolf, least weasel, zoonotic parasites
MeSH terms
Animals, Animals, Wild, Carnivora, Dirofilaria immitis, Dirofilariasis, Romania, Spleen, Prevalence, Polymerase Chain Reaction, Dirofilaria repens, Acanthocheilonemiasis, Acanthocheilonema

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