title: Intestinal helminth parasites of the grey wolf (Canis lupus L.) in Serbia.
abstract: The grey wolf (Canis lupus L.) is the most widespread large carnivore in Europe with large populations in the Eastern part of Europe and the Balkan Peninsula. In this study, a total of 102 wolves were examined for intestinal helminth parasites. The carcasses were collected within the Serbian part of the wolf's range during the period 2009-2014. Nine helminth species were found: one nematode, Toxocara canis (3.9%), one trematode, Alaria alata (1.0%), and seven cestodes, Taenia pisiformis (1.0%), T. hydatigena (9.8%), T. polyacantha (2.9%), T. taeniaeformis (2.0%), T. (syn. Multiceps) multiceps (3.9%), T. serialis (1.0%) and Mesocestoides litteratus (1.0%). Taenia (syn. Hydatigera) taeniaeformis has been registered for the first time in a wolf from Europe. An overall moderate prevalence (16.7%) of infected wolves was recorded. There was no statistically significant difference in prevalence between sexes. Of the years studied, the highest prevalence was found in 2014 (57.1%). The maximum number of helminth species per host specimen was four.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade , Studentski trg 16, 11000 Belgrade , Serbia.
authors.forename: Duško
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ćirović
authors.forename: Ivan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pavlović
authors.forename: Aleksandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Penezić
keywords: Canis lupus L.; Grey wolf; Serbia; helminths; intestinal parasites