The European Badger As a New Host for and an Update on the Distribution of the Heartworm in Wild Carnivores from Romania

Overview

Journal Pathogens

Date 2022 Apr 23

PMID 35456095

Authors

Angela Monica Ionica

Georgiana Deak

Radu Boncea

Calin Mircea Gherman

Andrei Daniel Mihalca

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

is an important mosquito-borne nematode, being of both veterinary and public health concern. The typical final host is represented by the domestic dog, , but it is able to infect a large variety of mammalian species. During the present study (March 2016-February 2022), a total of 459 wild carnivore carcasses belonging to 17 species, from Romania, were evaluated for the presence of adult by necropsy. Overall, 20 animals (4.36%) were positive: twelve golden jackals, (19.05%); four red foxes, (6.67%); one raccoon dog, ; two wild cats, (4.65%); and one European badger, (0.87%). This study provides further evidence of the occurrence of the canine heartworm, , in Romania, expanding the known host spectrum, reports a new host species for this parasite, the European badger, and a new host for Europe, the raccoon dog.

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