Epidemiology and Integrative Taxonomy of Helminths of Invasive Wild Boars, Brazil

Abstract

Wild boars (Sus scrofa) are a significant invasive species in Brazil. We evaluated the helminth diversity of 96 wild boars in São Paulo state. Helminth infection descriptors were calculated, the species were identified and their 18S, 28S rDNA and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions were amplified for phylogenetic analyses. Ascarops strongylina, Strongyloides ransomi, Globocephalus urosubulatus, Oesophagostomum dentatum, Trichuris suis, Metastrongylus salmi, Metastrongylus pudendotecus, Ascaris suum and Stephanurus dentatus and Macracanthorhynchus hirudinaceus were identified. Globocephalus urosubulatus had the highest prevalence and mean abundance, and most animals had mixed infections with three parasite species. There was no association between parasite intensity and prevalence and host sex and body condition index (p > 0.05). Novel DNA sequences were obtained from G. urosubulatus, A. strongylina, and S. dentatus. This is the first study on the helmint diversity of non-captive wild boars in Brazil, and the first report of the occurrence of M. hirudinaceus, G. urosubulatus and S. dentatus in Brazilian wild boars. Non-captive wild boars of São Paulo State did not act as capture hosts for native helminth species but maintained their typical parasites, common to domestic pigs. They may act as parasite dispersers for low-tech subsistence pig farming and for native Tayassuidae.

Integrative taxonomy of Metastrongylus spp. in wild boars from Brazil

“…The prevalence of Metastrongylus spp. observed in the present study was higher when compared with studies with wild boars from commercial breeding [ 32 , 33 ] and free-ranging animals [ 34 ] from Brazil. However, the percentage is lower compared to European countries, where prevalence values are greater than 80% [ 35 ].…”

“…A study with wild boars in commercial breeding in southern Brazil observed a predominance of M. apri (52.5%), followed by M. salmi (20%), and M. pudendotectus (7.5%) [ 33 ]. In two properties of São Paulo state, wild boars were infected with M. salmi (50% and 15.2%) and M. pudendotectus (5.6% and 3%) [ 32 ], and in another survey in wild boars from the municipality of Monte Azul, one of the sampling sites present in this study, M. salmi (82.9%) and M. pudendotectus (11.4%) [ 34 ] were recovered. This variation may be restricted to a local level since, in the present study, only M. salmi was found in the São Paulo municipalities, and in other studies, two different species were reported [ 32 , 33 ].…”

Comparative Analysis of Ascaris suum and Macracanthorhynchus hirudinaceus Infections in Free-Ranging and Captive Wild Boars (Sus scrofa) in Hungary

“…The Sardinian studies showed the smallest differences in incidence; the difference was only −0.75% (Tables 4-6). Cameroon pig farm 0.2% 2022 [35] Italy (Sardinia) woodland area wild boar 13.6% 2022 [45] Brazil woodland area wild boar 1.04% 2023 [38] Research data on M. hirudinaceus from different parts of the world. Occurrence of A. suum and M. hirudinaceus by country, differences compared to Hungarian data.…”