Identification and phylogenetic analysis of Taenia spp. parasites found in wildlife in the Emilia-Romagna region, northern Italy (2017–2022)

• Published in: International journal for parasitology. Parasites and wildlife Vol. 22; pp. 20 - 27
• Main Authors: Bariselli, Simone, Maioli, Giulia, Pupillo, Giovanni, Calzolari, Mattia, Torri, Deborah, Cirasella, Letizia, Luppi, Andrea, Torreggiani, Camilla, Garbarino, Chiara, Barsi, Filippo, Rugna, Gianluca, Dottori, Michele
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 01-12-2023
• Subjects: Cestodes; Phylogenetic analysis; Wildlife parasitology
• ISSN: 2213-2244; 2213-2244
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2023.08.001

The recent expansion of the habitat of several wildlife species, comprising anthropized areas, is a relevant risk factor for many zoonotic diseases and should be considered in national and regional sanitary monitoring systems. We evaluated adult intestinal
Taenia
spp. parasites isolated from wild carnivores and cystic larval forms isolated from wild mammals analysed at the
Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia ed Emilia-Romagna
(IZSLER) as part of the regional wildlife sanitary surveillance plan. Then, we assessed parasite species through molecular analysis (multiplex PCR followed by ribosomal 12S subunit gene sequencing) in order to update the epidemiological situation on Taeniids infection in the Emilia-Romagna wildlife, reporting the prevalence of each isolated species. The most commonly isolated species was
Taenia serialis
, which we detected in both wolves and foxes as definitive hosts and in roe deer as intermediate host. More attention on the distribution of Taeniids in wildlife should be paid, considering their potential zoonotic role: several
Taenia
spp. (
Taenia solium
,
Taenia multiceps
,
Taenia serialis
,
Taenia brauni
,
Taenia glomerulatus
) are known for causing coenurosis in humans, with possible severe or fatal outcomes.
Image 1
•
The most common species in the Emilia-Romagna region are
T. serialis
and
T. hydatigena
.
•
The wolf is the main definitive host for
Taenia serialis
, while roe deer is the main intermediate host.
•
Potentially zoonotic
Taenia
spp. are present in Northern-Italian wildlife populations.