Angiostrongylus Vasorum in Wolves in Italy

Overview

Journal Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl

Date 2014 Jun 12

PMID 24918072

Citations 16

Authors

Claudia Eleni

Claudio De Liberato

Dena Azam

Eric R Morgan

Donato Traversa

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

In the past decade, the parasitic nematode Angiostrongylus vasorum has attracted attention for its emergence in previously free areas and for the rise in clinical cases in domestic dogs. Italy is regarded as one of the countries where this potentially life-threatening parasite is spreading, especially due to bridging infections between wildlife and domestic dogs. The present article describes the presence of A. vasorum in wolves from Italy. Nematodes were observed in histological sections of three wolves found dead in Rome province, central Italy. Morphological and molecular identification of the nematodes, by polymerase chain reaction of rDNA ITS-2 and sequencing, confirmed the nematodes to be A. vasorum, with 99% genetic homology with A. vasorum from sympatric dogs. This is the second report of this species in wolves and the first in this host in Italy, and coincides with increasing records of A. vasorum in dogs and foxes in Italy. Implications for the epidemiology of this emerging parasite and for wildlife health are concisely discussed.

Citing Articles

Autochthonous Angiostrongylus cantonensis, Angiostrongylus vasorum and Aelurostrongylus abstrusus infections in native terrestrial gastropods from the Macaronesian Archipelago of Spain.

Segeritz L, Cardona A, Taubert A, Hermosilla C, Ruiz A Parasitol Res. 2021; 120(7):2671-2680.

PMID: 34180003 PMC: 8263545. DOI: 10.1007/s00436-021-07203-x.

Angiostrongylus vasorum in foxes () and wolves ( italicus) from Abruzzo region, Italy.

Tieri E, Saletti M, DAngelo A, Parisciani G, Pelini S, Cocco A Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl. 2021; 15:184-194.

PMID: 34136344 PMC: 8182381. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2021.05.003.

Canine angiostrongylosis: recent advances in diagnosis, prevention, and treatment.

Di Cesare A, Traversa D Vet Med (Auckl). 2020; 5:181-192.

PMID: 32670858 PMC: 7337173. DOI: 10.2147/VMRR.S53641.

Intermediate gastropod hosts of major feline cardiopulmonary nematodes in an area of wildcat and domestic cat sympatry in Greece.

Dimzas D, Morelli S, Traversa D, Di Cesare A, Van Bourgonie Y, Breugelmans K Parasit Vectors. 2020; 13(1):345.

PMID: 32650821 PMC: 7350685. DOI: 10.1186/s13071-020-04213-z.

Is Angiostrongylosis a Realistic Threat for Domestic Cats?.

Di Cesare A, Morelli S, Colombo M, Simonato G, Veronesi F, Marcer F Front Vet Sci. 2020; 7:195.

PMID: 32351980 PMC: 7174740. DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2020.00195.

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