Research Note. Pearsonema plica and Eucoleus böhmi infections and associated lesions in wolves (Canis lupus) from Italy

Abstract

SummaryReports of Pearsonema plica and Eucoleus böhmi infections in wolves (Canis lupus) in Europe are limited and data on associated lesions are lacking. In the present study urinary bladders, nasal turbinates and faecal samples from 8 necropsied wolves were examined for P. plica and E. böhmi infections and associated lesions. P. plica was identifi ed in the bladder of four wolves. At histological examination, follicular chronic cystitis and eosinophilic cystitis were found. E. böhmi nematodes and eggs were identifi ed from the nasal turbinates and rectal faecal samples of three wolves. Worms and eggs were found embedded in the mucosa among the nasal bone laminae. Two wolves were found coinfected by P. plica and E. böhmi. This is the fi rst report of P. plica and E. böhmi infections in wolves from Italy and the fi rst description of pathological lesions associated with P. plica infection in wolves.

Pearsonema spp. (Family Capillariidae, Order Enoplida) Infection in Domestic Carnivores in Central–Northern Italy and in a Red Fox Population from Central Italy

“…However, a third urinary capillariid species, namely Capillaria travassoi, has been reported in domestic felids in North America, but it is still not clear whether P. feliscati and C. travassoi should be considered distinct species or the same species [3]. Adults of these capillariids reside in the urinary bladder and, more rarely, in the ureters and renal pelvis of domestic and wild carnivores, in which they may be responsible for urinary capillariosis [4][5][6][7][8]. The host spectrum of P. plica includes wild and domestic canids and felids, while P. feliscati only infects felids [3,9,10].…”

Urinary capillariosis in six dogs from Italy

“…P. plica is most often reported in dogs with access to outdoor environments, especially hunting dogs and kenneled dogs (Senior et al, 1980;Callegari et al, 2010). The red fox (Vulpes vulpes) is considered the wild reservoir of P. plica for domestic animals in Europe (Davidson et al, 2006;Magi et al, 2014), but the wolf (Canis lupus) is emerging as an additional reservoir (Bagrade et al, 2009;Mariacher et al, 2015). Despite the high prevalence in the red fox, urinary capillariosis has been rarely reported in dogs in Italy (Callegari et al, 2010;Maurelli et al, 2014) and the real occurrence of the disease is probably underestimated.…”

Urinary capillariosis in a free-ranging Marsican brown bear (Ursus arctos marsicanus)

“…Nevertheless, especially in case of P. plica heavy parasite burdens, the infection has been accounted for urinary clinical signs and bladder lesions, both in domestic carnivores ( Senior et al, 1980 ; Callegari et al, 2010 ; Rossi et al, 2011 ) and in wild canids. Lesions associated with P. plica infection generally consist of eosinophilic or lymphocytic infiltration of urinary bladder, kidney and ureters in foxes ( Fernandez-Aguilar et al, 2010 ; Bork-Mimm and Rinder, 2011 ; Alić et al, 2015 ), while follicular chronic cystitis has been reported in wolves ( Mariacher et al, 2015 ). In the bear of the present case, only scattered hyperemic foci in the bladder mucosa and mild cystitis were observed.…”

“…In Europe, foxes ( Vulpes vulpes ) and wolves ( Canis lupus ) are regarded as the reservoir hosts of P. plica ( Bagrade et al, 2009 ; Bork-Mimm and Rinder, 2011 ; Magi et al, 2014 ; Mariacher et al, 2015 ). Likely, the populations of red fox and wolf that live in the same area of the bear ( Di Sabatino et al, 2014 ) may have contributed to environmental contamination with P. plica eggs.…”

“…Then, the urinary bladder was pressure-washed with 70% ethanol. Under an optical microscope, the urine sample collected by cystocentesis and urinary bladder lavage fluid were examined for capillariid adult nematodes and eggs according to previously published methods ( Maurelli et al, 2014 ; Mariacher et al, 2015 ). Samples from the urinary bladder were fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin, embedded in paraffin wax, sectioned at 4 μm, stained with haematoxylin-eosin and examined for histopathological lesions.…”