The first description of Setaria tundra (Issaitshikoff & Rajewskaya, 1928) in roe deer from Croatia

SummaryGenus Setaria, Viborg 1795, comprises 46 species that parasitize in the peritoneal cavity of Artiodactyla, Perissodactyla and Hyracoidea. The majority of these infections pass unnoticed, but occasionally they can induce severe peritonitis or neurological signs in aberrant hosts and, rarely, even in humans. In this paper we describe for the first time the finding of Setaria tundra in roe deer in Croatia. We examined 45 roe deer and determined the presence of Setaria nematodes in 24.4% of samples, which were subsequently diagnosed as Setaria tundra using molecular methods.

New findings of Setaria tundra and Setaria cervi in the red deer (Cervus elaphus) in Poland

Our study aimed at examining the phylogenetic position of the newly-found Setaria nematodes obtained from the red deer (Cervus elaphus) based on sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COX-1). Alignment and phylogenetic analyses, as well as SEM microscopic analysis, revealed the presence of two Setaria species: S. cervi and S. tundra. Setaria tundra was noted in only one individual, a calf of the red deer, while S. cervi was observed in three stages, two hinds and one calf of the red deer. According to our knowledge, it is the first case of S. cervi in the red deer in Poland confirmed in molecular studies and also the first case of S. tundra infection in the red deer.

Xenomonitoring of Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) for the Presence of Filarioid Helminths in Eastern Austria

Information on mosquito-borne filarioid helminths in Austria is scarce, but recent discoveries of Dirofilaria repens indicate autochthonous distribution of this parasite in Eastern Austria. In the current xenomonitoring study, more than 48,000 mosquitoes were collected in Eastern Austria between 2013 and 2015, using different sampling techniques and storage conditions, and were analysed in pools with molecular tools for the presence of filarioid helminth DNA. Overall, DNA of D. repens, Setaria tundra, and two unknown filarioid helminths were documented in twenty mosquito pools within the mitochondrial cox1 gene (barcode region). These results indicate that S. tundra, with roe deer as definite hosts, is common in Eastern Austria, with most occurrences in floodplain mosquitoes (e.g., Aedes vexans). Moreover, DNA of D. repens was found in an Anopheles plumbeus mosquito close to the Slovakian border, indicating that D. repens is endemic in low prevalence in Eastern Austria. This study shows that xenomonitoring is an adequate tool to analyse the presence of filarioid helminths, but results are influenced by mosquito sampling techniques, storage conditions, and molecular protocols.

Internal parasites in roe deer of the Lubartów Forest Division in postmortem studies

The aim of the study was to analyze endoparasitic fauna in roe deer of a selected area of south-western Poland using coproscopic studies and postmortem studies of internal organs (lungs, livers and digestive tracts). Microscopic methods included flotation and the McMaster method. In May and June 2015, 53 culled male roe deer were examined. Parasites were found in 96.2% (n=51, SD=19.2) of the studied animals, but the invasion intensity was diversified. From 1 to 7 different taxa (families or genera) of parasites were found in each studied animal. Oocysts of Eimeria (3 species (E. capreoli, E. panda, E. rotunda) were found with the following invasion prevalence: 45.28%, low OPG level, in the range of 350-700. In three samples, the OPG amounted to 2800–4500. Cysts of Buxtonella sulcata 9.4% (CPG in the range of 300–100). Fasciola hepatica (prevalence 3.77%), intensity: 2–3 specimens, Dicrocoelium dendriticum (5.66%), intensity: 2–5 specimens. Moniezia expansa (7.54%), intensity: 3–8 tapeworms. Nematodes from the family Trichostrongylidae (58.49%, genera: Ostertagia, Spiculopteragia, Haemonchus, Trichostrongylus and Nematodiurus from the family Molineidae), low invasion intensity (8–55 nematodes), only in 7 deer intensities of 346–140 nematodes). Capillaria bovis (7.54%) intensity ranging from 2 to 14 nematodes. Oesophagostomum venulosum (15.09 %) invasion intensity: 7–23 nematodes, Trichuris globulosa (9.43%), invasion intensity 2–4 nematodes. Dictyocaulus eckerti (11.32%), invasion intensity ranging from 6 to 34 nematodes. Setaria tundra (5.66%) invasion intensity ranging from 1 to 3 nematodes.