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Background <p>Hookworms (Ancylostomatidae) significantly impact on the health of both domestic animals and humans worldwide, with some species capable of causing zoonotic diseases. While hookworm infections in pets are frequently reported in Europe primarily through coproscopic studies, there are limited data regarding their presence in wild carnivores. To address this, this study aimed to assess the diversity, prevalence, and distribution of hookworms in wild canids and felids from Romania through both morphological and molecular analyses.</p> Methods <p>From November 2011 to February 2025, 319 carcasses belonging to six species of wild canids and felids from Romania [23&#xa0;gray wolves (<i>Canis lupus</i>), 137 golden jackals (<i>Canis aureus</i>), 79 red foxes (<i>Vulpes vulpes</i>), 2 raccoon dogs (<i>Nyctereutes procyonoides)</i>, 70 European wildcats (<i>Felis silvestris</i>), and 8 Eurasian lynxes (<i>Lynx lynx</i>)] were collected as road kills or legally hunted. Hookworms were recovered from the intestinal tract during necropsy and preserved in formalin for morphological examination and in absolute ethanol for genetic analysis. Genomic DNA was extracted and analyzed using a PCR targeting a barcode region of the second nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS-2), followed by sequencing. Sequencing results were compared with other entries from GenBank™.</p> Results <p>The overall hookworm infection rate was 14.1%, with hookworms detected in 4 wolves (17.4%), 23 golden jackals (16.8%), 11 European wildcats (15.7%), 4 red foxes (5.1%), 2 raccoon dogs (100%), and 1 lynx (12.5%). Three hookworm species were identified: <i>Uncinaria stenocephala</i>, <i>Ancylostoma caninum</i>, and <i>A. tubaeforme</i>. Molecular analysis revealed 14 unique sequences, comprising nine haplotypes of <i>U. stenocephala</i>, three of <i>A. caninum</i>, and two of <i>A. tubaeforme</i>. We report for the first time the Eurasian lynx as a host for <i>A. caninum</i>, expanding the known host range of this species.</p> Conclusions <p>This study provides the first comprehensive molecular assessment of hookworm diversity in European wild carnivores, showing new host–parasite associations and highlighting the importance of these hosts as reservoirs for domestic pets and, potentially, humans. The detected haplotypes showed high similarity to isolates from Europe, Asia, and the Americas, indicating a broad global connectivity of hookworm populations.</p> Graphical abstract <p></p>

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Ancylostomatidae in wild canids and felids from Romania: new host associations and haplotype diversity

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年2月4日

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  • Ioana Bianca Mitrea,
  • Andreea Daniela Iani,
  • Călin Mircea Gherman,
  • Cristina Daniela Cazan,
  • Angela Monica Ionică,
  • Ștefan Ovidiu Rabei,
  • Georgiana Deak,
  • Mihai Sorin Cernea,
  • Vasile Alexe,
  • Gabriel Bogdan Chișamera,
  • Mihai Marinov,
  • Andrei Daniel Mihalca

摘要

Background

Hookworms (Ancylostomatidae) significantly impact on the health of both domestic animals and humans worldwide, with some species capable of causing zoonotic diseases. While hookworm infections in pets are frequently reported in Europe primarily through coproscopic studies, there are limited data regarding their presence in wild carnivores. To address this, this study aimed to assess the diversity, prevalence, and distribution of hookworms in wild canids and felids from Romania through both morphological and molecular analyses.

Methods

From November 2011 to February 2025, 319 carcasses belonging to six species of wild canids and felids from Romania [23 gray wolves (Canis lupus), 137 golden jackals (Canis aureus), 79 red foxes (Vulpes vulpes), 2 raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides), 70 European wildcats (Felis silvestris), and 8 Eurasian lynxes (Lynx lynx)] were collected as road kills or legally hunted. Hookworms were recovered from the intestinal tract during necropsy and preserved in formalin for morphological examination and in absolute ethanol for genetic analysis. Genomic DNA was extracted and analyzed using a PCR targeting a barcode region of the second nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS-2), followed by sequencing. Sequencing results were compared with other entries from GenBank™.

Results

The overall hookworm infection rate was 14.1%, with hookworms detected in 4 wolves (17.4%), 23 golden jackals (16.8%), 11 European wildcats (15.7%), 4 red foxes (5.1%), 2 raccoon dogs (100%), and 1 lynx (12.5%). Three hookworm species were identified: Uncinaria stenocephala, Ancylostoma caninum, and A. tubaeforme. Molecular analysis revealed 14 unique sequences, comprising nine haplotypes of U. stenocephala, three of A. caninum, and two of A. tubaeforme. We report for the first time the Eurasian lynx as a host for A. caninum, expanding the known host range of this species.

Conclusions

This study provides the first comprehensive molecular assessment of hookworm diversity in European wild carnivores, showing new host–parasite associations and highlighting the importance of these hosts as reservoirs for domestic pets and, potentially, humans. The detected haplotypes showed high similarity to isolates from Europe, Asia, and the Americas, indicating a broad global connectivity of hookworm populations.

Graphical abstract