Ectopic migration of Dirofilaria immitis in a Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) in Korea

AbstractThe helminth fauna in 109 Eurasian otters (Lutra lutra L.) from France, Portugal and Spain was analysed, together with 56 faecal samples collected in Portugal and 23 fresh stools from otters included in a reintroduction programme. Seven helminth species were found in L. lutra in southwest Europe: Phagicola sp. (Trematoda), Aonchotheca putorii, Eucoleus schvalovoj, Strongyloides lutrae, Anisakis (third stage larvae) and Dirofilaria immitis (Nematoda), and Gigantorhynchus sp. (Acanthocephala). Eucoleus schvalovoj was the dominant species throughout southwest Europe. Strongyloides lutrae was significantly more prevalent in the Iberian Peninsula than in France. Apart from these two dominant nematodes and A. putorii, the other helminth species were incidental parasites of L. lutra in southwest Europe. The helminth fauna of L. lutra in southwest Europe is, in general, poorer than that reported in eastern Europe and in all other aquatic mustelids in southwest Europe. Phagicola specimens are reported for the first time in a non-marine wild carnivore in Europe. The prevalences of E. schvalovoj and S. lutrae obtained by necropsy were higher than those observed by coprological analysis using a formalin-ether concentration method (Ritchie). Nevertheless, the culture of fresh faeces appears to be the best method to study infection of L. lutra by Strongyloides.

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Pulmonary hair embolism in a rescued free-ranging Eurasian otter Lutra lutra in Kinmen, Taiwan

Diseases of Aquatic Organisms ◽

10.3354/dao03532 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 142 ◽

pp. 55-61

Author(s):

WT Li ◽

YL Chiang ◽

TY Chen ◽

CL Lai

Keyword(s):

Foreign Body ◽

Traumatic Injury ◽

Lung Parenchyma ◽

Giant Cells ◽

Hair Shaft ◽

Lutra Lutra ◽

Lung Lobe ◽

Eurasian Otter ◽

Foreign Body Giant Cells ◽

Free Ranging

Eurasian otters Lutra lutra are listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List and are imperiled by habitat loss, water pollution, and poaching. Harassment and attacks by stray animals are also recognized threats to the health of wild Eurasian otters. Pulmonary hair embolism is a possible complication in animals with deep traumatic injury, but to date no cases have been reported in wildlife. A free-ranging, adult male Eurasian otter was rescued due to severe emaciation and multiple bite wounds. The otter died 3 d after rescue and was necropsied. Grossly, a 1.5 × 1.5 × 1.5 cm firm nodule was observed in the left cranial lung lobe. Histologically, a fragment of hair shaft surrounded by multinucleated foreign body giant cells was observed in a medium-sized vein, and extensive eosinophilic infiltration was noted in the adjacent vascular wall and lung parenchyma. Based on the gross and histological findings, the pulmonary lesion was consistent with eosinophilic pneumonia and vasculitis induced by hair embolism. The presence of well-formed multinucleated foreign body giant cells and eosinophils may imply a late stage of foreign body reaction, and thus the presumptive source of hair embolism is an animal bite. This is the first report of pulmonary hair embolism associated with animal bite in a rescued free-ranging Eurasian otter.

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Distribution and diet of recovering Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) along the natural-to-urban habitat gradient (river Segura, SE Spain)

Urban Ecosystems ◽

10.1007/s11252-021-01109-3 ◽

2021 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Ettore Emanuele Dettori ◽

Alessandro Balestrieri ◽

Victor Manuel Zapata-Perez ◽

Daniel Bruno ◽

Nuria Rubio-Saura ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Urban Habitat ◽

Lutra Lutra ◽

Se Spain ◽

Eurasian Otter ◽

Habitat Gradient

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Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) diet as an early indicator of recovery in defaunated river communities

Ecological Indicators ◽

10.1016/j.ecolind.2020.106547 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 117 ◽

pp. 106547

Author(s):

Marta Narváez ◽

Sonia Cabezas ◽

Francisco Blanco-Garrido ◽

Raquel Baos ◽

Miguel Clavero ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Lutra Lutra ◽

Early Indicator ◽

Eurasian Otter ◽

River Communities

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A barcoding‐based scat‐analysis assessment of Eurasian otter Lutra lutra diet on Kinmen Island

Ecology and Evolution ◽

10.1002/ece3.7712 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Nian‐Hong Jang‐Liaw

Keyword(s):

Lutra Lutra ◽

Scat Analysis ◽

Eurasian Otter

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Hydrological stability and otter trophic diversity: a scale-insensitive pattern?

Canadian Journal of Zoology ◽

10.1139/z08-094 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 86 (10) ◽

pp. 1152-1158 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

M. Clavero ◽

J. Prenda ◽

F. Blanco-Garrido ◽

M. Delibes

Keyword(s):

Iberian Peninsula ◽

Fish Consumption ◽

Aquatic Ecosystems ◽

Fish Populations ◽

Lutra Lutra ◽

Mediterranean Streams ◽

Diet Diversity ◽

Trophic Diversity ◽

Eurasian Otter ◽

The Stability

Two recent works related Eurasian otter ( Lutra lutra (L., 1758)) trophic patterns over large areas with the stability of aquatic ecosystems. Higher levels of instability lead to reduced availability and (or) predictability of fish, and consequently, to a decrease in fish consumption by otters. The aim of the present study is to test these macrogeographical patterns in otter diet at regional and local scales. We analysed otter diet in Mediterranean streams in southwestern Iberian Peninsula where clear hydrological stability gradients (related to drainage area or distance to the sea) could be defined. Hydrological stability was directly related to fish consumption and inversely to otter diet diversity in terms of occurrence and biomass, both at regional and local scales. The level of stability of aquatic ecosystems appears to be a critical indirect factor that modulates otter diet through its effects on fish populations. The resulting trophic patterns are maintained from local to macrogeographical scales.

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Factors influencing genotyping success and genotyping error rate of Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) faeces collected in temperate Central Europe

European Journal of Wildlife Research ◽

10.1007/s10344-020-01444-4 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 67 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Marcia Sittenthaler ◽

Eva Maria Schöll ◽

Christoph Leeb ◽

Elisabeth Haring ◽

Rosemarie Parz-Gollner ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Influential Factors ◽

Lutra Lutra ◽

Sample Treatment ◽

Success Rates ◽

Sample Collection ◽

Allelic Dropout ◽

Non Invasive ◽

Eurasian Otter ◽

Faecal Samples ◽

Elusive Species

AbstractThe use of non-invasively collected DNA source material for genetic and genomic applications is usually characterized by low target DNA concentration and quality, genotyping errors and cost-intensive lab procedures. However, for otters (Lutrinae) as elusive species of conservation concern, genetic non-invasive sampling has become an important tool to study their ecology and demography. To increase cost-efficiency of monitoring programmes and to promote the expansion of genomic approaches to non-invasive samples, we aimed to refine sample collection and preparation. Therefore, we examined the effects of intrinsic sample characteristics (including diet), environmental conditions in the field and sample treatment in the molecular laboratory on the success of genotyping and allelic dropout (ADO) rates using microsatellite markers in 1970 fresh Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) scats. Using fresh samples only, we probably eliminated one of the most important impediments of genotyping DNA from otter faecal samples beforehand. But, we observed higher genotyping success and lower ADO rates for anal glad secretions and faecal samples containing high proportions of mucus. Moist conditions during sample collection may promote DNA degradation and PCR inhibition, leading to decreased genotyping success rates. ADO was further affected by the type of extraction kit. However, a high proportion of variance remaining unexplained by our models implied that additional parameters were acting (amount of PCR inhibitors, non-uniform distribution of intestinal cells, efficiency of PCRs, specific microclimate at marking sites). We summarized influential factors maximizing genotyping quality of otter scats and give recommendations for sample collection, storage and DNA extraction based on our results and current literature.

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