title: Taeniid species of the Iberian wolf (Canis lupus signatus) in Portugal with special focus on Echinococcus spp.
abstract: Taeniid species represent relevant pathogens in human and animals, circulating between carnivorous definitive hosts and a variety of mammalian intermediate hosts. In Portugal, however, little is known about their occurrence and life cycles, especially in wild hosts. An epidemiological survey was conducted to clarify the role of the Iberian wolf as a definitive host for taeniid species, including Echinococcus spp. Wolf fecal samples (n = 68) were collected from two regions in Northern Portugal. Taeniid eggs were isolated through a sieving-flotation technique, and species identification was performed using multiplex-PCR followed by sequencing of the amplicons. Taenia hydatigena (in 11.8% of the samples), Taenia serialis (5.9%), Taenia pisiformis (2.9%), Taenia polyacantha (1.5%) and Echinococcus intermedius (Echinococcus granulosus 'pig strain', G7) (1.5%) were detected. This is the first study to characterize the taeniid species infecting the Portuguese Iberian wolf, with the first records of T. polyacantha and E. intermedius in this species in the Iberian Peninsula. Iberian wolves can be regarded as relevant hosts for the maintenance of the wild and synanthropic cycles of taeniids in Portugal.
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Research Centre on Animal Health (CIISA), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Technical University of Lisbon, Avenida da Universidade Técnica, 1300-477 Lisbon, Portugal ; Institute of Parasitology, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 266a, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Diogo
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Guerra
authors.affiliation: Institute of Parasitology, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 266a, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Maria Teresa
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Armua-Fernandez
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Research Centre on Animal Health (CIISA), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Technical University of Lisbon, Avenida da Universidade Técnica, 1300-477 Lisbon, Portugal.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Research Centre on Animal Health (CIISA), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Technical University of Lisbon, Avenida da Universidade Técnica, 1300-477 Lisbon, Portugal.
authors.forename: Inês
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bravo
authors.affiliation: Life and Health Sciences Research Institute, School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal ; ICVS/3B's, PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal.
authors.forename: Nuno
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.affiliation: Institute of Parasitology, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 266a, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Deplazes
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Research Centre on Animal Health (CIISA), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Technical University of Lisbon, Avenida da Universidade Técnica, 1300-477 Lisbon, Portugal.
authors.forename: Luís Manuel Madeira de
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Carvalho
keywords: Echinococcus intermedius; Iberian wolf; Portugal; Taenia spp.