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Case Reports
. 2023 Sep 5;12(9):1132.
doi: 10.3390/pathogens12091132.

The First Identification of Trichinella britovi in the Raccoon Dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides) in Romania

Ana-Maria Marin  1 , Dan-Cornel Popovici  2 , Gheorghe Dărăbuș  1 , Cătălin Marian  3 , Diana Nițușcă  3 , Narcisa Mederle  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

The First Identification of Trichinella britovi in the Raccoon Dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides) in Romania

Ana-Maria Marin et al. Pathogens. .

Abstract

Trichinella spp. are nematodes distributed throughout the world that affect an impressive number of host animals (mammals, birds, and reptiles) involved in the evolution of two cycles, the domestic and the sylvatic. The raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides) is an omnivorous mammal with great ecological plasticity. The expansion of the raccoon dog in Europe is associated with the risk of the introduction and spread of different pathogens, especially zoonotic ones (Trichinella, Echinococcus). Currently, the raccoon dog's range in Romania is limited to the Danube Delta area, the Lower Danube Meadow, and the Prut Meadow. The aim of this study was to examine the presence of Trichinella larvae isolated from the muscles of raccoon dog from six hunting funds of Giurgeni, Ialomița County, Romania. The muscle samples were examined via artificial digestion, and the obtained larvae were processed via multiplex PCR. The PCR-amplified ESV and ITS1 DNA fragments were then sequenced for species confirmation. The species Trichinella britovi, which is the most common species identified in wild carnivores in temperate zones, was confirmed. Although T. britovi has been reported in several host animals in Romania, this case report confirms its presence in the raccoon dog for the first time.

Keywords: Romania; Trichinella spp.; raccoon dog.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The map shows the study area from which the carcass of the raccoon dog was taken.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Evaluation of the main morphological parameters: weight—(a), length—(b), and age estimation based on the degree of dentition wear—(c).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Evaluation of the main morphological parameters: weight—(a), length—(b), and age estimation based on the degree of dentition wear—(c).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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