Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41723515›Full record

ArticleParasites & vectors2026

Parasitic surveillance in wolves of central Italy: a focus on the Abruzzo region.

Sabrina Vanessa Patrizia Defourny, Mariasole Colombo, Gianluca D'Amico, Stefania Salucci, Antonio Cocco, Maria Chiara Cantelmi, Daniela Averaimo, Marco Rulli, Gianfranco Romeo, Susanna Tora and 4 more

Abstract read
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Article in Parasites & vectors, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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2 · The registry

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

14 authors.

Sabrina Vanessa Patrizia Defourny *Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise "G. Caporale", Teramo, Italy.
Mariasole Colombo *Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise "G. Caporale", Teramo, Italy.
Gianluca D'AmicoUniversity of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, Cluj-Napoca, Romania. gianluca.damico@usamvcluj.ro.
Stefania SalucciIstituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise "G. Caporale", Teramo, Italy.
Antonio CoccoIstituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise "G. Caporale", Teramo, Italy.
Maria Chiara CantelmiIstituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise "G. Caporale", Teramo, Italy.
Daniela AveraimoIstituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise "G. Caporale", Teramo, Italy.
Marco RulliIstituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise "G. Caporale", Teramo, Italy.
Gianfranco RomeoIstituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise "G. Caporale", Teramo, Italy.
Susanna ToraIstituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise "G. Caporale", Teramo, Italy.
Marina BaffoniIstituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise "G. Caporale", Teramo, Italy.
Nicola De DominicisIstituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise "G. Caporale", Teramo, Italy.
Nicola D'AlterioIstituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise "G. Caporale", Teramo, Italy.
Antonio PetriniIstituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise "G. Caporale", Teramo, Italy.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundMonitoring parasitic infections in wildlife is essential for assessing ecosystem health and pathogen dynamics, particularly in apex predators like the wolf (Canis lupus). As top-level carnivores with wide-ranging habitats and diverse interactions with prey, wolves can serve as effective sentinels for the circulation of parasitic agents within ecosystems. The present study aimed at monitoring parasitic infections, particularly those of zoonotic importance, in wolves from central Italy.

methodsThe study was conducted on 169 wolf carcasses recovered between 2018 and 2024. Leishmania spp. and Trichinella spp. infections were evaluated using molecular techniques (on 169 spleen and 150 striated muscle samples, respectively), while intestinal and extra-intestinal parasites were investigated using flotation and Baermann tests (147 fecal samples).

resultsOf the 169 wolves included in the study, 89 (52.66%) were males and 131 (77.51%) were adults. Of all analyzed carcasses, 135 (80%) tested positive for ≥ 1 parasite. Leishmania spp. were detected in 12 of 169 (7.1%) wolves and Trichinella spp. were detected in 43 of 150 (28.7%) wolves. Copromicroscopic examinations revealed infections with nematodes belonging to family Ancylostomatidae (62%), Trichuris vulpis (32%), Capillaria spp. (20.4%), helminths from Class Cestoda (8.8%), Angiostrongylus vasorum (7.5%), coccidian oocysts (4.8%), Crenosoma vulpis (2.7%) and Toxocara canis (2%).

conclusionsThe present study included the largest number of wolves when compared with previous similar parasitological surveys conducted in Europe. High parasite circulation shared by dogs and humans within the wolf population can be surmised, highlighting the potential role of wolves in pathogen transmission. Given their position at the wildlife/domestic animal/human interface, continuous parasitological surveillance is important not only for conservation efforts but also for protecting public and veterinary health.

Indexed as

Parasitic Diseases, AnimalWolvesAnimalsAnimals, WildFecesFemaleItalyLeishmaniaLeishmaniasisMaleTrichinellaZoonosesEndoparasitesLeishmania spp.WildlifeWolfZoonosesZoonoses

Identifiers

PMID41723515
PMCPMC13032661

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.