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

• Published in: Pathogens
• Main Authors: Donato Antonio Raele, Antonio Petrella, Pasquale Troiano, Maria Assunta Cafiero
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2022
• Subjects: Linguatula serrata; Canid wolf; Italy; zoonosis; linguatulosis; Medicine; R; Nares; Canis lupus; gray wolf
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens11121523; https://doaj.org/article/265abd9d98b348a3b1ea3fc4c8667259

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.