The First Record of Echinococcus ortleppi (G5) Tapeworms in Grey Wolf (Canis lupus)

Abstract

The aim of this study is to confirm the presence and molecular identification of Echinococcus tapeworms in wolves from south-eastern Poland. An investigation was carried out on the intestines of 13 wolves from south-eastern Poland. The small intestines were divided into three equal segments. Each segment was separately examined using the sedimentation and counting technique (SCT). The detected Echinococcus tapeworms were isolated and identified by PCRs and sequencing (nad1 and cox1 genes). Additionally, DNA isolated from the feces of wolves positive for Echinococcus tapeworms was examined with two diagnostic PCRs. The intestines of one wolf were positive for E. granulosus s.l. when assessed by SCT; the intestine was from a six-year-old male wolf killed in a communication accident. We detected 61 adult tapeworms: 42 in the anterior, 14 in the middle, and 5 in the posterior parts of the small intestine. The PCRs conducted for cox1 and nad1 produced specific products. A sequence comparison with the GenBank database showed similarity to the deposited E. ortleppi (G5) sequences. An analysis of the available phylogenetic sequences showed very little variation within the species of E. ortleppi (G5), and identity ranged from 99.10% to 100.00% in the case of cox1 and from 99.04 to 100.00% in the case of nad1. One of the two diagnostic PCRs used and performed on the feces of Echinococcus-positive animals showed product specific for E. granulosus. This study showed the presence of adult E. ortleppi tapeworms in wolves for the first time.

Global distribution of Echinococcus granulosus genotypes in domestic and wild canids: a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…Our study indicated that the other remaining genotypes were isolated from dogs in the UK (G4), Kenya and Brazil (G5). Curiously, in a recently published paper, G5 was isolated for the first time from grey wolves in Poland (Karamon et al ., 2021); however, this study was published after the time period of the systematic search for the current study, hence it could not be included. Today, G4 is known as an independent species, E. equinus , which appears to be exclusive for the family Equidae as intermediate hosts (donkeys, horses and zebras) without infectivity traits for humans (Smyth, 1977; Nakao et al ., 2013; Rojas et al ., 2014).…”

“…In this sense, several influential factors have been determined regarding canine echinococcosis, including feeding on raw/contaminated offal, being a young dog and lack of deworming treatment by dog owners (Otero-Abad and Torgerson, 2013). There, also, exist sylvatic life cycles involving wild canids, mainly wolves ( Canis lupus ) and jackals ( Canis aureus ), and wild ungulates as intermediate hosts (Romig et al ., 2017; Karamon et al ., 2021).…”

Echinococcus granulosus Sensu Stricto and Echinococcus multilocularis in a Gray Wolf (Canis lupus) in Turkey: Further Evidence for Increased Risk of Alveolar Echinococcosis in Urban Areas

“…Previous reports on wolves showed that the prevalence rate of E. granulosus s.l. was 15% (18/120) in Italy [ 17 ], 15% (4/27) in Spain [ 18 ], 1.5% (1/68) in Portugal [ 19 ], 7.6% (1/13) in Poland [ 8 ], 3.8% (1/26) in Estonia [ 20 ], 4.2% (5/118) in Mongolia [ 9 ], 100% (1/1) in Iran [ 21 ], 27% (25/93) in Canada [ 10 ], and 62.6% (77/123) in the USA [ 22 ]. The prevalence of E. multilocularis was 0.3% (3/911) in France [ 23 ], 35.7% (40/112) in Slovakia [ 7 ], 5.9% (34/200) in Latvia [ 24 ], 3.4% (4/118) in Mongolia [ 9 ], 100% (1/1) in Iran [ 21 ], and 13% (12/93) in Canada [ 10 ].…”

“…The distribution of AE is restricted to the northern hemisphere, and Turkey, particularly the northeastern part, is highly endemic for AE in terms of human cases, ranking third in the world [ 5 , 6 ]. Echinococcosis has been reported in wolves worldwide; in Europe [ 7 , 8 ], Asia [ 9 ], and the America [ 10 ]. In Turkey, there is only one report of E. equinus and E. canadensis (G6/7) in gray wolves [ 11 ].…”

Co-infection of Echinococcus equinus and Echinococcus canadensis (G6/7) in a gray wolf in Turkey: First report and genetic variability of the isolates

“…The mt-NAD1 and CO1 gene regions of the collected worm's were amplified and then sequenced. Finally, E. ortleppi (G5) was first time reported in a wolf in Poland ( Karamon et al, 2021 ). In Mongolia, 118 wolves were examined and E. multilocularis was found in four wolves, whereas E. canadensis (G6/7) was defined in two and E. canadensis (G6/7) in three wolves ( Ito et al, 2013 ).…”