Abstract

Species ranked within the genus Baylisascaris (Ascaridida, Ascarididae) have been implicated in clinical and subclinical intestinal diseases in their natural hosts (e.g., raccoons and bears) as well as in life-threatening larva migrans syndromes in a number of incidental hosts, including humans. Following the diagnosis of Baylisascaris transfuga infestation in two captive polar bears, living in the zoo park of Pistoia (Tuscany, Italy), nematodes (n=300; both sexes) have been characterized by morphological and molecular methods by sequencing and analysing ribosomal (large ribosomal DNA (28S) and internal transcribed spacer region 1 and 2 (ITSs)) and mitochondrial (cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) and cytochrome c oxidase subunit 2 (cox2)) target regions. In addition, seven faecal samples were collected from the animal enclosure and submitted to copromicroscopic and molecular examination. All nematodes were morphologically identified as B. transfuga and their main distinctive features are here presented. No variation in size and nucleotide polymorphisms was detected within each target sequence among all samples analysed. These data contribute to facilitate an accurate diagnosis of this little known nematode infestation in order to apply appropriate anthelmintic strategies.

Autore Pugliese

• Otranto Domenico , Lia Riccardo Paolo

Tutti gli autori

• PARISI A.;OTRANTO D.;TRAVERSA D.;DANTAS TORRES F.;TESTINI G.;LIA R.P.

Titolo volume/Rivista

Non Disponibile

Anno di pubblicazione

2011

ISSN

0304-4017

ISBN

Non Disponibile

Numero di citazioni Wos

35

Ultimo Aggiornamento Citazioni

Non Disponibile

Numero di citazioni Scopus

35

Ultimo Aggiornamento Citazioni

Non Disponibile

Settori ERC

Non Disponibile

Codici ASJC

Non Disponibile