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Case Reports
. 2022 Dec 12;11(12):1523.
doi: 10.3390/pathogens11121523.

Linguatula serrata (Fröhlich, 1789) in Gray Wolf (Canis lupus) from Italy: A Neglected Zoonotic Parasite

Donato Antonio Raele  1 , Antonio Petrella  1 , Pasquale Troiano  1 , Maria Assunta Cafiero  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

Linguatula serrata (Fröhlich, 1789) in Gray Wolf (Canis lupus) from Italy: A Neglected Zoonotic Parasite

Donato Antonio Raele et al. Pathogens. .

Abstract

Linguatula serrata, Frohlich, 1789, is a cosmopolitan zoonotic worm-like parasite of carnivores and other vertebrates including herbivores and omnivores. The adult form of the parasite typically inhabits the upper respiratory system, nares, and frontal sinuses of dogs, wolves, and cats. Infective eggs may be spread by sneezing, nasal secretions, and stool. The immature stages of the parasite are localized in the visceral organs of intermediated hosts, usually ruminants or rodents, and they are orally transmitted to predators during the ingestion of infested viscera. This paper reports the morphological identification and the molecular characterization of L. serrata specimen collected from a gray wolf in the Apulia region (southern Italy) and it also provides epidemiological information on this rarely reported zoonosis.

Keywords: Canid wolf; Italy; Linguatula serrata; linguatulosis; zoonosis.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Post mortem examination of a gray wolf: a worm-like parasite (black arrow) firmly attached to the right nasal mucosa of the animal.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Ventral view of anterior end of Linguatula serrata with mouth (yellow arrow) and four hooks (blue arrows).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Linguatula serrata eggs contained in the ovaries of the collected specimen (A) in the stools (B) and nasal mucus (C) of the gray wolf.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Phylogenetic relationship of L. serrata isolates based on partial sequence of COX1 gene. Distance is shown at branches.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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