Investigation of Dioctophyma renale infection in Gray Wolves (canis lupus) of Mazandaran Province, Iran: Ecopathological Finding

Background: This case report documents the first finding of the giant kidney worm, Dioctophyma renale (D. renale), in a gray wolf from Mazandaran Province, Iran. Method: A necropsy of a road-killed wolf revealed a pair of adult worms in the severely damaged right kidney. The female worm was substantially larger (۶۰ cm long) than the male (۲۰ cm long), but both exhibited the typical reddish-brown, cylindrical morphology. Result: This finding confirms presence D. renale in a region with favorable conditions for its transmission and highlights a potential zoonotic risk previously overlooked in Iran's wildlife. Conclusion: The case report confirms the first presence of the giant kidney worm, D. renale, in a gray wolf from Mazandaran Province, Iran. A ۶۰ cm female and a ۲۰ cm male worm were recovered from the wolf's right kidney, which was grossly enlarged and destroyed, with only the fibrous capsule remaining. This pathology resulted from the parasite's feeding activity, causing complete renal failure, while the left kidney showed compensatory hypertrophy. The transmission of D. renale depends on in wolf urine are ingested by aquatic oligochaetes, where they develop into infective larvae. The humid environment of Mazandaran is ideal for these earthworms. The lifecycle is amplified by paratenic hosts like frogs and fish, which consume the earthworms and accumulate the larvae. Wolves then become infected by eating these fish. This patent infection in a top carnivore confirms an active transmission cycle in the region and establishes the gray wolf as a competent definitive host. It also highlights a significant zoonotic threat, as domestic dogs and humans consuming raw or undercooked local fish are at risk. This finding underscores the need for increased awareness and targeted surveillance of D. renale infections among wild and domestic carnivores in Iran.

کلیدواژه ها:

Giant kidney worm ، Kidney pathology ، Wildlife parasitology ، Zoonosis