Gastroenteric parasite of wild Galliformes in the Italian Alps: implication for conservation management

Abstract

This study provides insights about the diversity, prevalence and distribution of alpine wild galliformes gastrointestinal parasite community, trying to fill a gap in the scientific information currently available in scientific literature. The analysis included three host species: 77 rock partridge (Alectoris graeca saxatilis), 83 black grouse (Tetrao tetrix tetrix) and 26 rock ptarmigan (Lagopus muta helveticus) shot during the hunting seasons 2008–2015. Parasites isolated were Ascaridia compar, Capillaria caudinflata and cestodes. The rock ptarmigan was free from gastrointestinal parasites, whereas the most prevalent helminth (37%) was A. compar in both black grouse and rock partridge. C. caudinflata occurrence was significantly higher in black grouse (prevalence = 10%, mean abundance = 0.6 parasites/sampled animal) than in rock partridge (prevalence = 1.20%, mean abundance = 0.01 parasites/sampled animal). Significant differences were detected among hunting districts. A. compar was found with a significant higher degree of infestation in the hunting districts in the northern part of the study area whereas cestodes abundance was higher in Lanzo Valley. Quantitative analysis of risk factors was carried out using a generalized linear model (GLM) only on the most common parasite (A. compar). Latitude was the only factors associated with infestation risk (OR = 52.4). This study provides information on the composition and variability of the parasite community in the alpine Galliformes species.

A systematic review and meta‐analysis of Toxoplasma gondii in roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) and red deer (Cervus elaphus) in Europe

“…This is likely to be due to the climatic conditions required for sporulation and survival of oocystis (Tenter et al., 2000), with humidity and moderate temperatures playing an important role (Smith & Frenkel, 1995). Overall, this result is in accordance with other recent studies in other species, demonstrating a geographical variations of parasite infestation under different climatic condition (Fanelli et al., 2020; Rostami et al., 2017; Sanchis‐Monsonís et al., 2019).…”

Gastrointestinal parasitic infestation in the Rock ptarmiganLagopus mutain the French Alps and French Pyrenees based on long-term sampling (1987–2018)

“…Several studies have evaluated the impact of environmental factors on the development, survival and distribution of parasites characterized by a cycle with free-living stages (Stromberg, 1997;O'Connor et al, 2006); however, very few studies have been carried out on wildlife for such long period of time (Iacopelli et al, 2020). Our finding is in line with the study of Fanelli et al (2020) who found a higher prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites in wild Galliformes living at higher latitude. As in this study, these authors interpreted latitude as a proxy of the climatic and environmental conditions required for the development of free-living stages of the parasite.…”

“…Compared with Fanelli et al (2020), who have found the Rock ptarmigan living in the Italian Alps free of parasites, this study presents a parasite richness higher than the one detected by Zbdinden and Hoerning (1985) and similar, in terms of different parasite genus, to the one detected by Holmstad et al (2005) in Norway and Skirnisson et al (2012) in Iceland. However, a comparison with these studies is difficult, due to the different epidemiological situations of the ptarmigan populations, and due to the distinct population and environmental conditions.…”

“…However, a comparison with these studies is difficult, due to the different epidemiological situations of the ptarmigan populations, and due to the distinct population and environmental conditions. Making reference to the work of Fanelli et al (2020), that investigated the wild Galliformes parasite community (in three host species: L. m. helvetica, Tetrao tetrix tetrix and Alectoris graeca saxatilis) in an area very close to the French Alps, it is interesting to notice that the parasite richness at the community level in this work is significantly lower, as well as the prevalence of C. caudinflata (detected in only 1.2-10% of the host species). At the contrary, A. compar in the work of Fanelli et al (2020) was the most prevalent species.…”

Dirofilaria immitis in wolves recolonizing northern Italy: are wolves competent hosts?

“…In this study, the maximum altitude recorded for a heartworm-positive wolf was c .350 m above sea level, corresponding to hill zones at the limit with low mountains. In this regard, environment and climate influence on parasite distribution is commonly described [ 38 , 39 ]. Further explanation for the low prevalence in investigated wolves is the age structure, with juveniles (< 12 months) summing up to one third of the sample (38.1%) (Table 1 ).…”