Ioana Bianca Mitrea , Andreea Daniela Iani , Călin Mircea Gherman , Cristina Daniela Cazan , Angela Monica Ionică , Georgiana Deak , Andrada Negoescu , Ștefan Ovidiu Rabei , Mihai Sorin Cernea , Vasile Alexe , Gabriel Bogdan Chișamera , Mihai Marinov , Andrei Daniel Mihalca
{"title":"金豺是罗马尼亚血管圆线虫的新宿主","authors":"Ioana Bianca Mitrea , Andreea Daniela Iani , Călin Mircea Gherman , Cristina Daniela Cazan , Angela Monica Ionică , Georgiana Deak , Andrada Negoescu , Ștefan Ovidiu Rabei , Mihai Sorin Cernea , Vasile Alexe , Gabriel Bogdan Chișamera , Mihai Marinov , Andrei Daniel Mihalca","doi":"10.1016/j.vprsr.2025.101335","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Angiostrongylus vasorum</em>, commonly known as the French heartworm, is a metastrongyloid nematode infecting domestic and wild carnivores. While red foxes (<em>Vulpes vulpes</em>) are known as the primary reservoir hosts in Europe, recent studies suggest that golden jackals (<em>Canis aureus</em>) could also be considered as important reservoir hosts. Due to the rapid expansion of golden jackals in Europe, their role in the epidemiology of <em>A. vasorum</em> remains insufficiently explored. This study aimed to assess the occurrence of <em>A. vasorum</em> in golden jackals from Romania. Between October 2013 and November 2024, a total of 137 golden jackals were collected from 21 counties in Romania through legal hunting or roadkill. A full parasitological necropsy was performed (other data presented elsewhere), with the cardiorespiratory tract dissected for adult nematodes. First-stage larvae (L1) were isolated using the Baermann method. Morphological examination of nematodes and larvae was conducted using standard microscopy. Molecular identification of adult nematodes was carried out using PCR targeting the ITS-2 region, followed by sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. Additionally, histopathological analysis was performed on lung tissue. <em>A. vasorum</em> was identified in the pulmonary arteries of 2 out of 137 golden jackals (1.45 %). The presence of first-stage larvae in lung tissue confirmed their role as definitive hosts. Molecular sequencing revealed 100 % identity with <em>A. vasorum</em> isolated from Europe. Histopathological examination showed granulomatous pneumonia with parasitic eggs, larvae, and vascular changes associated with the infection. This study confirms golden jackals as suitable hosts for <em>A. vasorum</em> in Romania, indicating their potential role as reservoir hosts. Given the increasing overlap between jackals, domestic dogs, and red foxes, further surveillance is needed to understand the epidemiological implications of <em>A. vasorum</em> in wildlife and domestic animal health.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23600,"journal":{"name":"Veterinary parasitology, regional studies and reports","volume":"64 ","pages":"Article 101335"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4000,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":"{\"title\":\"Golden jackals (Canis aureus) as novel hosts for Angiostrongylus vasorum in Romania\",\"authors\":\"Ioana Bianca Mitrea , Andreea Daniela Iani , Călin Mircea Gherman , Cristina Daniela Cazan , Angela Monica Ionică , Georgiana Deak , Andrada Negoescu , Ștefan Ovidiu Rabei , Mihai Sorin Cernea , Vasile Alexe , Gabriel Bogdan Chișamera , Mihai Marinov , Andrei Daniel Mihalca\",\"doi\":\"10.1016/j.vprsr.2025.101335\",\"DOIUrl\":null,\"url\":null,\"abstract\":\"<div><div><em>Angiostrongylus vasorum</em>, commonly known as the French heartworm, is a metastrongyloid nematode infecting domestic and wild carnivores. While red foxes (<em>Vulpes vulpes</em>) are known as the primary reservoir hosts in Europe, recent studies suggest that golden jackals (<em>Canis aureus</em>) could also be considered as important reservoir hosts. Due to the rapid expansion of golden jackals in Europe, their role in the epidemiology of <em>A. vasorum</em> remains insufficiently explored. This study aimed to assess the occurrence of <em>A. vasorum</em> in golden jackals from Romania. Between October 2013 and November 2024, a total of 137 golden jackals were collected from 21 counties in Romania through legal hunting or roadkill. A full parasitological necropsy was performed (other data presented elsewhere), with the cardiorespiratory tract dissected for adult nematodes. First-stage larvae (L1) were isolated using the Baermann method. Morphological examination of nematodes and larvae was conducted using standard microscopy. Molecular identification of adult nematodes was carried out using PCR targeting the ITS-2 region, followed by sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. Additionally, histopathological analysis was performed on lung tissue. <em>A. vasorum</em> was identified in the pulmonary arteries of 2 out of 137 golden jackals (1.45 %). The presence of first-stage larvae in lung tissue confirmed their role as definitive hosts. Molecular sequencing revealed 100 % identity with <em>A. vasorum</em> isolated from Europe. Histopathological examination showed granulomatous pneumonia with parasitic eggs, larvae, and vascular changes associated with the infection. This study confirms golden jackals as suitable hosts for <em>A. vasorum</em> in Romania, indicating their potential role as reservoir hosts. Given the increasing overlap between jackals, domestic dogs, and red foxes, further surveillance is needed to understand the epidemiological implications of <em>A. vasorum</em> in wildlife and domestic animal health.</div></div>\",\"PeriodicalId\":23600,\"journal\":{\"name\":\"Veterinary parasitology, regional studies and reports\",\"volume\":\"64 \",\"pages\":\"Article 101335\"},\"PeriodicalIF\":1.4000,\"publicationDate\":\"2025-09-01\",\"publicationTypes\":\"Journal Article\",\"fieldsOfStudy\":null,\"isOpenAccess\":false,\"openAccessPdf\":\"\",\"citationCount\":\"0\",\"resultStr\":null,\"platform\":\"Semanticscholar\",\"paperid\":null,\"PeriodicalName\":\"Veterinary parasitology, regional studies and reports\",\"FirstCategoryId\":\"1085\",\"ListUrlMain\":\"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405939025001431\",\"RegionNum\":0,\"RegionCategory\":null,\"ArticlePicture\":[],\"TitleCN\":null,\"AbstractTextCN\":null,\"PMCID\":null,\"EPubDate\":\"\",\"PubModel\":\"\",\"JCR\":\"Q3\",\"JCRName\":\"PARASITOLOGY\",\"Score\":null,\"Total\":0}","platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Veterinary parasitology, regional studies and reports","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405939025001431","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"PARASITOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
Golden jackals (Canis aureus) as novel hosts for Angiostrongylus vasorum in Romania
Angiostrongylus vasorum, commonly known as the French heartworm, is a metastrongyloid nematode infecting domestic and wild carnivores. While red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) are known as the primary reservoir hosts in Europe, recent studies suggest that golden jackals (Canis aureus) could also be considered as important reservoir hosts. Due to the rapid expansion of golden jackals in Europe, their role in the epidemiology of A. vasorum remains insufficiently explored. This study aimed to assess the occurrence of A. vasorum in golden jackals from Romania. Between October 2013 and November 2024, a total of 137 golden jackals were collected from 21 counties in Romania through legal hunting or roadkill. A full parasitological necropsy was performed (other data presented elsewhere), with the cardiorespiratory tract dissected for adult nematodes. First-stage larvae (L1) were isolated using the Baermann method. Morphological examination of nematodes and larvae was conducted using standard microscopy. Molecular identification of adult nematodes was carried out using PCR targeting the ITS-2 region, followed by sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. Additionally, histopathological analysis was performed on lung tissue. A. vasorum was identified in the pulmonary arteries of 2 out of 137 golden jackals (1.45 %). The presence of first-stage larvae in lung tissue confirmed their role as definitive hosts. Molecular sequencing revealed 100 % identity with A. vasorum isolated from Europe. Histopathological examination showed granulomatous pneumonia with parasitic eggs, larvae, and vascular changes associated with the infection. This study confirms golden jackals as suitable hosts for A. vasorum in Romania, indicating their potential role as reservoir hosts. Given the increasing overlap between jackals, domestic dogs, and red foxes, further surveillance is needed to understand the epidemiological implications of A. vasorum in wildlife and domestic animal health.
期刊介绍:
Veterinary Parasitology: Regional Studies and Reports focuses on aspects of veterinary parasitology that are of regional concern, which is especially important in this era of climate change and the rapid and often unconstrained travel of people and animals. Relative to regions, this journal will accept papers of the highest quality dealing with all aspects of disease prevention, pathology, treatment, epidemiology, and control of parasites within the field of veterinary medicine. Also, case reports will be considered as they add to information related to local disease and its control; such papers must be concise and represent appropriate medical intervention. Papers on veterinary parasitology from wildlife species are acceptable, but only if they relate to the practice of veterinary medicine. Studies on vector-borne bacterial and viral agents are suitable, but only if the paper deals with vector transmission of these organisms to domesticated animals. Studies dealing with parasite control by means of natural products, both in vivo and in vitro, are more suited for one of the many journals that now specialize in papers of this type. However, due to the regional nature of much of this research, submissions may be considered based upon a case being made by the author(s) to the Editor. Circumstances relating to animal experimentation must meet the International Guiding Principles for Biomedical Research Involving Animals as issued by the Council for International Organizations of Medical Sciences (obtainable from: Executive Secretary C.I.O.M.S., c/o W.H.O., Via Appia, CH-1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland).