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

Objective The aim of this study was to identify Echinococcus species by morphological and molecular means. Methods A dead gray wolf (Canis lupus) was found near Erzurum province and brought to the parasitology laboratory. Sedimentation and counting technique (SCT) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis were conducted. Results The SCT implications indicated that the wolf had a substantial worm burden (62,720 and 49,280 parasites) due to a co-infection of E. granulosus s.l. and E. multilocularis. Genus/species-specific PCR was used to analyze DNA extracted from adult worms and confirmed as E. granulosus s.s. and E. multilocularis, utilizing COI and 12S rRNA gene sequence analysis, respectively. Conclusion This report presents the first co-detection of E. granulosus s.s. and E. multilocularis in a gray wolf found in an urban area in a highly endemic area for human echinococcosis in northeastern Turkey. The results emphasize that AE is not only a problem of rural areas, but also occurs in urban areas, which may pose a threat to public health. Therefore, surveillance in urban areas is crucial. The need to develop new control strategies for domestic and wildlife in the study area is also highlighted.

Journal

ACTA PARASITOLOGICA

Year

2024

Volume

69

Issue

2

Pages

1319-1323

ISSN

1230-2821

eISSN

1896-1851

DOI

10.1007/s11686-024-00842-x

WoS UID

WOS:001208256000002