Patterns of parasite eggs, oocysts and larvae shedding by moose in the Biebrza marshland (NE Poland)

Sex-biased polyparasitism in moose (Alces alces) based on molecular analysis of faecal samples

“…cervi ) from DNA samples extracted from moose faeces according to different protocols carried out in this study showed that standard DNA extraction and purification method using even a small fragment of a faecal dropping has potential applicability for diagnosis of parasitosis in wild ungulates. The study showed that molecular methods are more effective than microscopic ones, as they determine the occurrence of rare endoparasite species such as D. capreolus , which was not recognized in the faecal samples by Filip-Hutsch et al (2020) by microscopic methods in the analyzed moose population from the Biebrza valley. We were able to identify different species of Moniezia sp., Elaphostrongylus sp.…”

“…In many cases, helminth parasites are characterized by subclinical effects, but particularly in overpopulation they are key to bottom-up population control and can cause a decline in population size ( Davidson et al, 2015 ; Filip and Demiaszkiewicz, 2016 ). Although moose are characterized by relatively high susceptibility to parasitic diseases, studies on parasite species richness in moose population in Poland have been scarce ( Filip-Hutsch et al, 2020 ) when compared with other ungulate species such as the European bison ( Bison bonasus ; Karbowiak et al, 2014a , 2014b ; Kołodziej-Sobocińska et al, 2018 ; Krzysiak et al, 2020 ) or red deer ( Cervus elaphus ; Pilarczyk et al, 2005 ; Kowal et al, 2015 ; Pyziel et al, 2017 ; Demiaszkiewicz et al, 2018 ). This study is the first attempt at molecular identification of endoparasite species in one of the densest, non-harvested moose populations in Central Europe (the Biebrza valley, NE Poland).…”

“…We were able to identify different species of Moniezia sp., Elaphostrongylus sp. and Dictyocaulus sp., which were usually identified at genus level based on morphological characteristics of their eggs and larvae ( Davidson et al, 2015 ; Filip-Hutsch et al, 2020 ).…”

“…Although endoparasites can considerably affect wildlife population dynamics by influencing host fecundity and survival, little is known about this group of parasites in the Polish moose populations. The only two previous population studies, based on microscopic observation of eggs, oocysts, and larvae shedding, allowed Kuligowska et al (2014) and Filip-Hutsch et al (2020) to detect several species or groups of endoparasites from moose faeces collected in the Polesie National Park and the Biebrza valley (E and NE Poland).…”

“…Distinct endoparasite species have different properties regarding localization in a host, pathogenicity, prepatent period, and fecundity, but their eggs, oocysts, larvae or tissues usually are excreted in host faeces. Conventional identification based on macroscopic methods is labour-intensive and time-consuming, and requires specialized expertise due to the overlapping morphological characteristics among different species, and hence may be error-prone ( Davidson et al, 2015 ; Filip-Hutsch et al, 2020 ). The prevalence and intensity of parasitic infections differ depending on the season and climate conditions.…”