title: Molecular identification of cryptic cysticercosis: Taenia ovis krabbei in wild intermediate and domestic definitive hosts.
abstract: The complex life cycle of taeniids represents an ideal model of a multi-host system. The complexity of these parasites can therefore cover the epidemiological issues of the interface between wild and domestic animals, especially once spatial overlap between wild and domestic definitive and intermediate hosts occurs. Here we use the occurrence of Taenia ovis krabbei in two model areas as an example of this epidemiological complexity. In two contiguous areas in the Italian northern Apennines, two hunted roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) showed numerous cysticerci in the muscles of their whole body and an adult tapeworm was recorded in a semi-stray dog (Canis lupus familiaris). Through molecular typing of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I (cox1) gene, cysticerci and the adult tapeworm of T. krabbei were identified. Taenia krabbei cysticercosis was recorded for the first time in Italy. Although the role of dogs in the parasite's life cycle emerges, the overlap between wild and domestic definitive hosts and the increase of wild population densities raise concerns about the temporal (old or new) introduction and the spread of this parasite by one of these canid species (wolf (Canis lupus) or dog). Although T. krabbei is not a public health issue, economic concerns emerged for hunters and meat producers, related to the damage of carcasses by cysticerci. Therefore, there is a need to evaluate the spread of T. krabbei in the intermediate and definitive host populations, and to ensure the relevant sanitary education for hunters in order to avoid practices that could favour the spread and maintenance of its life cycle.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine,Università degli Studi di Milano,via Celoria 10,20133 Milan,Italy.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Formenti
authors.affiliation: Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia Romagna 'Bruno Ubertini',Department of Brescia,via Bianchi 7/9,25124 Brescia,Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chiari
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine,Università degli Studi di Milano,via Celoria 10,20133 Milan,Italy.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Trogu
authors.affiliation: Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia Romagna 'Bruno Ubertini' (IZSLER),Department of Bergamo,via Rovelli 53,I-24100 Bergamo,Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gaffuri
authors.affiliation: Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia Romagna 'Bruno Ubertini',Department of Piacenza,strada della Faggiola 1,29027 Gariga di Podenzano (PC),Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Garbarino
authors.affiliation: Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia Romagna 'Bruno Ubertini',Department of Brescia,via Bianchi 7/9,25124 Brescia,Italy.
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Boniotti
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Practitioner,Via Bosco 1,Scandiano (RE),Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Corradini
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine,Università degli Studi di Milano,via Celoria 10,20133 Milan,Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lanfranchi
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine,Università degli Studi di Milano,via Celoria 10,20133 Milan,Italy.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ferrari
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000829:Animals, Domestic / Q000469:parasitology; D000835:Animals, Wild / Q000469:parasitology*; D003551:Cysticercosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary*; D003670:Deer / Q000469:parasitology; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000635:transmission; D004285:Dogs / Q000469:parasitology; D050259:Genes, Mitochondrial / Q000235:genetics; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008018:Life Cycle Stages; D012756:Sheep / Q000469:parasitology; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000635:transmission; D013621:Taenia / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000502:physiology; D019596:Wolves / Q000469:parasitology