Molecular Identification of Nematodes (Superfamily: Strongylida) Traced in Herbivores Excrement Found in Wildlife from Western Iran.

BACKGROUND

In wildlife, the identification of parasitic infections should be pursued seriously in countries facing endangered species of animals in their geographical territories. We aimed to increase understanding of the possible role of wildlife herbivore reservoirs in the emergence of helminth infections in Kermanshah Province, western Iran.

METHODS

Sixty-five feces from Gazelle (Gazella subgutturosa) (N = 36 samples) and wild goat (Capra aegagrus) (N = 14 samples) were investigated. The samples were microscopically examined for gastrointestinal helminth eggs, and genomic DNA was extracted from the identified eggs. The internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) region of ribosomal DNA was amplified and sequenced. Phylogenetic analysis of the nucleotide sequences confirmed the species identity.

RESULTS

The most common species circulating in the hosts were Teladorsagia circumcincta, Marshallagia spp., and Nematodirus oiratianus, all of which are reported in the wildlife in western Iran for the first time.

CONCLUSION

These findings emphasize the importance of continuously assessing the parasite status of wildlife and similar routine surveillance in domestic environments to detect and manage potential zoonotic parasite species.