Massive Taenia hydatigena Cysticercosis in a Wild Boar (Sus scrofa) from Italy

Sgroi, Giovanni; Varcasia, Antonio; Dessì, Giorgia; D’Alessio, Nicola; Pacifico, Laura; Buono, Francesco; Neola, Benedetto; Fusco, Giovanna; Santoro, Mario; Toscano, Valerio; Fioretti, Alessandro; Veneziano, Vincenzo

doi:10.2478/s11686-019-00110-3

Cited by 15 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…This hunting practice supports the hypothesis that main cause of infection in boar could be due to the ingestion of muscles containing bradyzoites from infected animals (omnivorous and carnivores) (Battisti et al., 2018; Ferroglio et al., 2014). In addition to the fact that hunters frequently leave boar's offal and muscle pieces on the ground during the evisceration in the field (Sgroi, Varcasia, Dessì, et al, 2019; Sgroi, Varcasia, Dessi, et al, 2019), several wild boar that may have been involuntary injured could die a long away from the hunting area, thus providing prey for other wild animals.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Genotyping of Toxoplasma gondii in wild boar (Sus scrofa) in southern Italy: Epidemiological survey and associated risk for consumers

Sgroi

Viscardi

Santoro

et al. 2020

Zoonoses and Public Health

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Toxoplasma gondii is a widespread protozoan parasite (phylum Apicomplexa), which causes a zoonotic parasitic disease, known as toxoplasmosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the occurrence and genotypes of T. gondii in wild boars of southern Italy and thus to assess the risk of infection for consumers. The boars were inspected during the hunting season within the regional project 'Wild Boar Emergency Plan in Campania', and molecular analyses were performed on 338 boars analysing a total number of 884 matrices (263 brains, 310 hearts and 311 masseter muscles). Toxoplasma gondii was detected in 134 out of 338 boars (39.6%). No significant statistical difference between genders was found (χ 2 = 0.15 p = .70). The prevalence was 47.1%, 39.3% and 39.2% in piglets, yearlings and adults, respectively (χ 2 = 0.41; p = .81). The highest prevalence of T. gondii was found in masseter muscles (74/311, 23.8%), followed by the heart (70/310, 22.6%) and brain (58/263, 22.0%), respectively. Microsatellite (MS) analysis of 11 samples revealed eleven T. gondii genotypes (nine atypical, one belonging to type II one to type III). Most of the genotypes found were thus atypical and may be virulent in humans. Hierarchical clustering analysis showed the presence of three distinct clusters, with the majority of atypical genotypes in the GII-GIII cluster. The high prevalence of infection in masseters highlights the potential risk for public health, considering that this muscle is commonly used to prepare raw meat products ('guanciale' and sausages), which may be a source of T. gondii infection in humans. Wild boars may act as an interface role between wildlife, livestock and humans. Our data highlight the urgent need to minimize the risk of infection for animals and humans by setting up a surveillance programme and preventive strategies in a One Health approach to wildlife species.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Genotyping of Toxoplasma gondii in wild boar (Sus scrofa) in southern Italy: Epidemiological survey and associated risk for consumers

Sgroi

Viscardi

Santoro

et al. 2020

Zoonoses and Public Health

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“…In this study, massive T. hydatigena infections were uncommon in the animals examined, with only a single case reported. This finding is similar to a previous study when up to 265 cysts were found in a single boar from the studied area (Sgroi et al ., 2019 a ). The above case could be due to the fact that the animal was used by hunters as a captive boar to train hunting dogs which could potentially shed in their feces a high amount of T. hydatigena eggs, contaminating the soil in a delimited enclosure, therefore perpetuating the massive infection (Sgroi et al ., 2019 a ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This finding is similar to a previous study when up to 265 cysts were found in a single boar from the studied area (Sgroi et al ., 2019 a ). The above case could be due to the fact that the animal was used by hunters as a captive boar to train hunting dogs which could potentially shed in their feces a high amount of T. hydatigena eggs, contaminating the soil in a delimited enclosure, therefore perpetuating the massive infection (Sgroi et al ., 2019 a ). Regarding cyst localization, most of the positive boars showed cysticerci in the liver, as previously reported (Paoletti et al ., 2019).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…19.0% in lambs) due to massive hepatic and pulmonary infections (Scala et al ., 2016). The risk factors involved in the occurrence of metacestodosis include access of stray dogs to sheep pastures, extensive grazing methods, home slaughtering practices and improper disposal of offal; these factors may also favour the spread of cysticercosis and other important metacestodoses, such as coenurosis and cystic echinococcosis, not only in domestic animals (Varcasia et al ., 2009, 2011; Scala et al ., 2016) but also in wildlife species, such as red foxes and wild boar (Varcasia et al ., 2015; Sgroi et al ., 2019 a , b ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Taenia hydatigenacysticercosis in wild boar (Sus scrofa) from southern Italy: an epidemiological and molecular survey

et al. 2020

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Taenia hydatigena cysticercosis is a widespread parasitic disease of wild and domestic animals. In Europe, the increase in wild boar population may potentially contribute to the spread of this parasitic infection. To determine the occurrence of cysticerci (metacestodes) in wild boar population from southern Italy, carcasses were inspected during three hunting seasons (2016–2018). Out of 3363 wild boar examined, 229 (6.8%) harboured cysticerci with 188 (82.1%) infected by a single cyst, vs 41 (17.9%) boars having more than one. Most of the positive animals (187; 81.7%) showed cysts on the liver, whereas a multiple localization of cysticerci was reported in 10 (4.4%) wild boar. The total number of cysts retrieved from positive animals was 301 (average 1.3). Molecular analysis revealed the occurrence of a common haplotype (Hap 8) shared between wild boar and domestic animals. Our findings suggest the presence of a T. hydatigena semi-domestic life cycle in which wild boar may play an important role, due to a large number of offal available to hunting dogs, wolves and foxes during hunting seasons. Hunters may be players in the management of wildlife species to control and prevent the circulation of parasitic diseases.

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“…The adult parasites reside in the intestine of the definitive hosts such as dogs and other carnivores such as foxes, wolves, jackals, lynx, raccoons, bears and cats [4]. The intermediate hosts, generally small ruminants and, less frequently pigs, cattle, deer and other wild species, get infected by ingesting eggs from contaminated pasture [5][6][7]. After the eggs hatch in the small intestine of the intermediate hosts, developing cysticerci migrate to reach the liver, and occasionally other organs such as the lungs and kidneys [8].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Αcute visceral cysticercosis caused by Taenia hydatigena in lambs: ultrasonographic findings

et al. 2020

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Background Cysticercosis caused by cysticercus tenuicollis is a metacestode infection that affects several species of ungulates. It is caused by the larval stage of Taenia hydatigena, an intestinal tapeworm in dogs and wild canids. In the intermediate host, the mature cysticerci are usually found in the omentum, mesentery, and peritoneum, and less frequently in the pleura and pericardium. The migrating larvae can be found mostly in the liver parenchyma causing traumatic hepatitis in young animals. Most infections are chronic and asymptomatic, and are diagnosed at the abattoir. The acute form of infection is unusual in sheep and reports of death in lambs are rare. Methods In March 2018, fifteen female lambs presented anorexia, weakness, lethargy, and death secondary to acute visceral cysticercosis. Twelve of them underwent hepatic ultrasonography. Examinations were performed on standing or left lateral recumbent animals. Results Livers of affected animals presented rounded margins and a thickened, irregular and hyperechoic surface. Hepatic parenchyma appeared to be wholly or partially affected by lesions characterized by heterogeneous areas crossed by numerous, irregular, anechoic tracts ranging from 1 to 2 cm in length and 0.1 to 0.2 cm in width. Superficial and intraparenchymal cystic structures were also visualized. The presence of lesions was confirmed by anatomopathological examination, and T. hydatigena cysticerci was identified by morphological and molecular characterization of isolates. Conclusions Our results highlighted that hepatic ultrasonography is effective for an intra-vitam diagnosis of acute cysticercosis in lambs.

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Massive Taenia hydatigena Cysticercosis in a Wild Boar (Sus scrofa) from Italy

Cited by 15 publications

References 19 publications

Genotyping of Toxoplasma gondii in wild boar (Sus scrofa) in southern Italy: Epidemiological survey and associated risk for consumers

Genotyping of Toxoplasma gondii in wild boar (Sus scrofa) in southern Italy: Epidemiological survey and associated risk for consumers

Taenia hydatigenacysticercosis in wild boar (Sus scrofa) from southern Italy: an epidemiological and molecular survey

Αcute visceral cysticercosis caused by Taenia hydatigena in lambs: ultrasonographic findings

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