Endoparasites found in European brown hares (Lepus europaeus) hunted in Macedonia, Greece

Abstract

345 SummaryThe European brown hare (Lepus europaeus) is widespread throughout Europe with population declines in some countries. Parasites can be one of the natural regulative factors of hare population. The information about the prevalence of endoparasites of European hares in Southern Europe is limited while relevant data from Greece are lacking. Gastrointestinal tracts of 84 Lepus europaeus, hunted in Macedonia, Greece, were examined for endoparasites. Sixty two (73.8 %) of the animals were parasitized by one or multiple parasitic species. Eimeria spp. was found in 54 (64.28 %) of the gastrointestinal tracts, Trichostrongylus retortaeformis in 42 (50 %), Trichuris leporis in 18 (21.42 %), Dicrocoelium dentriticum in 8 (9.52 %), Passalurus ambiguus in 4 (4.76 %) and Protostrongylus spp. in 2 (1.22 %). Moreover, Linguatula serrata larvae were found in 16 (19.04 %) animals and Dirofilaria scapiceps in one. Mixed infections were significantly more common than single infections. Although the parasites found do not represent a threat for other animal species, under certain conditions, they may play an important role in the health status of hares.

Endoparasites of Wild Mammals Sheltered in Wildlife Hospitals and Rehabilitation Centres in Greece

“…Nymphs of the pentastomid parasite Linguatula serrata were found on the intestines of an examined hare. This is a rather common finding in this animal species as it was found on the intestinal serosa in 19% of the hares examined in Northern Greece ( 12 ). Carnivores are the definitive host of this parasite and in wolves in Central Greece, eggs of the parasite were found in 18.4% of the samples examined ( 10 ).…”

“…Capillaria bovis , a nematode parasite of the small intestine in many species of wild and domestic ruminants ( 54 – 56 ) was found in fallow dear in this study. The nematode of the genus Trichostrongylus found in hares here was very likely T. retortaeformis as it was the only species of this genus found in necropsied hares in Greece ( 12 ). This nematode can also infect domestic rabbits.…”

“…Parasites and parasitic diseases of wild mammals in Greece have been studied to a relatively small extent, in individual cases or confined animal populations ( 6 – 12 ). Globally, one of the most significant challenges of carrying out a wildlife parasitological survey is the collecting of biological material from wild animals, which is usually not an easy task.…”

Linguatula serrata-Befall bei einem Importhund aus Rumänien

“…nach Abschlucken mit dem Kot ausgeschieden werden. Als Zwischenwirte dienen in der Regel Herbivoren wie Rinder, Schafe und Ziegen, aber beispielsweise auch Hasen (7,22), in denen sich nach Aufnahme der Eier im Verlauf von 6-7 Monaten über mehrere Entwicklungsstadien abgekapselte Terminallarven in inneren Organen oder seltener in der Muskulatur entwickeln, die das für den Endwirt infektiöse Stadium darstel-len. Nach der Aufnahme dieser Terminallarven mit rohem oder ungenügend erhitztem Fleisch oder Innereien werden die Parasiten im Magen des Endwirts freigesetzt und migrieren innerhalb einiger Stunden über den Ösophagus in den Nasopharynx, wo sie sich schließlich innerhalb von ca.…”

Trichostrongylus retortaeformis (Zeder, 1800) (Nematoda, Trichostrongyloidea) in Lepus europaeus (Pallas, 1778) in southern Brazil

“…Reports on endoparasites in hares are sporadic (especially recently), with none from southern Brazil. The European hare was found naturally infected with T.retortaeformis in many countries in Europe (BORDES et al, 2007;CHROUST et al, 2012;LUKEŠOVÁ et al, 2012;DIAKOU et al, 2014). In Chile (South America), 60% of hares found were naturally infected with T.retortaeformis (GONZÁLEZ-ACUÑA et al, 2005).…”