Setaria cervi(Filarioidea, Onchocercidae) undressing in ungulates: altered morphology of developmental stages, their molecular detection and complete sequencecox1 gene

Abstract

This work introduces new morphological and molecular information on the filaroid nematode Setaria cervi (Rudolphi, 1819) obtained from 13 infected game ungulates out of 96 dissected. The hosts comprised the following: a single moose (Alces alces), ten red deer (Cervus elaphus) and two sika deer (Cervus nippon) originating from the western and northern regions of the Czech Republic. Based on the complete sequences of the gene encoding mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1), all 20 females and four males belonged to the species S. cervi. We detected three developmental female stages (adult fertile females, juvenile L5 females and L4 female larvae) differing in size and some morphological traits as the subtle structure of peribuccal crown and shape and features of tail knob. Such differences were described in detail for the first time. The phylogenetic relationships within the family Onchocercidae have been evaluated using new information on the cox1 sequence of S. cervi (maximum likelihood method, GTR + I + G model). In accordance with the latest phylogenetic studies, the present analysis confirmed the ancient separation of the subclass Setariinae from the remaining two onchocercid lineages Dirofilariinae and Onchocerinae.

Dirofilaria sp. and Blood Meal Analysis in Mosquitoes Collected in Vojvodina and Mačva, and the First Report of Setaria tundra (Issaitshikoff & Rajewskaya, 1928) in Serbia

“…Over the last decade, the populations of wild ruminants and wild boars have increased across Europe [89,90]. This expansion is accompanied by an apparent negative relationship between their abundance in the wild and their health status [91]. Considering that wild animals often enter cattle pastures and spread parasites to livestock, it is of great importance to maintain surveillance and control wildlife diseases [92].…”

<em>Dirofilaria</em> sp. and Blood Meal Analysis in Mosquitoes Collected in Vojvodina and Mačva, and the First Report of<em> Setaria tundra</em> (Issaitshikoff &Amp; Rajewskaya, 1928) in Serbia

“…Over the past decade, the populations of wild ruminants and wild boars have increased across Europe [84,85]. This expansion is accompanied by an apparent negative relationship between their abundance in the wild and their health status [86]. Considering that wild animals often enter cattle pastures and spread parasites to livestock, it is of great importance to maintain surveillance and control wildlife diseases [87].…”