Ferreira Andrade, D

Ghirardi, M

Gualtiero, L

Meneguz, Pier Giuseppe

Molinar Min, Annarita

Negri, E

Peano, Andrea

Silvestri, E

Tizzani, Paolo

English

MOLINAR MIN, Annarita

Institutional Research Information System University of Turin

Description of the helminth parasitofauna in an isolated population of wild rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in Alessandria, Italy. Tizzani P¹, Ferreira Andrade D.¹,2, Silvestri E¹, Ghirardi M¹, Molinar Min A¹, Gualtiero L¹, Peano A¹, Negri E.3, Meneguz PG¹.¹Dipartimento di Scienze Veterinarie, Università di Torino. 2 Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto.  3 Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di StazzanoAIM: The wild rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus is a widespread lagomorph in Europe, Australia, South America and some Pacific Islands. This specie prefers a mixed habitat of Mediterranean oak savanna or scrub-forest and open areas (Ward 2005. IUCN). There is a bibliographic blank in what concerns to the parasitofauna of the wild rabbit in Italy. Until now, most of the studies refer to the Iberian Peninsula and Macaronesia islands (Molina et al., 1999, J Helminthology, 73: 221-225; Foronda et al., 2003, J Parasitology, 89: 952-957), to the United Kingdom (Allan et al., 1999, J Helminthology, 73: 289-294). The stomach nematode Graphidium strigosum is its most common intestinal parasite (Dunsmore, 1966, Australian J Zoology, 14: 625-634). Other nematodes frequently described are Trichostrongylus retortaeformis and Passarulus ambiguus (Foronda et al., 2003, J Parasitology, 89: 952-957). One of the few Italian work on sanitary status of wild rabbit was carried out in the province of Turin, Italy (Rossi et al.,1986, Ann Ist Sup Sanità, 22: 341-344). It reported one cestode (Cysticercus pisiformis), one trematode (Fasciola hepatica) and two nematodes (G. strigosum and Tr. retortaeformis). The aim of this study was to increase the epidemiological data regarding the parasitofauna of the wild rabbit in Italy.MATERIALS AND METHODS: The gastrointestinal systems of 10 wild rabbits from the province of Alessandria (Northwestern Italy) were analysed. Usual techniques were used for analysis, collection and preservation of the nematodes (MAFF, 1986, Manual of Veterinary Diagnostic Technics, Ref Book 418). We used the identification key from Skrjabin (Skrjabin et al, 1954, Essential of nematodology, Trichostrongylids of animals and man, 3: 526).RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Two nematodes were found: Obeliscoides cuniculi was present in 80% of the samples while Trichostrongylus calcaratus in 100% (Prevalence, Intensity and Abundance are reported in table 1). No parasites were reported from the large intestine. No one of the parasites previously described in O. cuniculi was found. The two species are commonly reported in American lagomorphs (i.e. Andrews et al, J Wildl Diseases 16: 395-401) and represent a first report for the free ranging European wild rabbit population. Previous studies have demonstrated that Sylvilagus floridanus introduced in Italy a great number of exotic parasites among which the two nematodes here reported (Tizzani et al. 2011 Paras Research, 109: 963-966). CONCLUSIONS: considering that i) these exotic nematodes are reported to infect the European hare (Tizzani et al. 2011, Paras Research, 109: 963-966) and ii) in our study area wild rabbits are in sympatry with S. floridanus (Silvano et al., 2000, Hystrix, 11: 75-78), it seems that a cross infestation between Eastern cottontail and wild rabbit occur, with an adaptation of those parasites to develop on a new host. Considering our preliminary results, an extinction of the autochtonous wild rabbit gastrointestinal parasites seems to have occurred.	P	CI_L_95	CI_U_95	I	SD	A	min	maxOb. cuniculi	80%	0.55	1.05	62.13	17.99	49.7	8	196T. calcaratus	100%	1.00	1.00	221.4	72.63	221.4	4	870Table 1 - Prevalence (P), Confidence Interval (CI), Intensity (I), Standard Deviation (SD), Abundance (A) and Range (min-max) of the two nematodes reported.

Description of the helminth parasitofauna in an isolated population of wild rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in Alessandria, Italy.

https://iris.unito.it/bitstream/2318/153631/1/Oryctolagus.doc

Description of the helminth parasitofauna in an isolated population of wild rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in Alessandria, Italy.

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