Morphological and molecular analyses of two Taenia species in wild canids in northern Iran

Wild canids play a significant role in dissemination of parasitic helminth ova and may serve as a potential source of infection in humans and animals. Therefore, monitoring the helminth fauna of these species is essential for both veterinary and public health. The present cross-sectional study was conducted to assess cestode infection and to reveal the molecular characterization and phylogenetic status of large Taenia in wild canids in Iran. Descriptive statistics (frequencies and percentages) were used to summarize the data, and the Chi-square test was employed to evaluate differences in parasite distribution among different variables. For this aim, the intestines of ۹۳ wild canids, including ۶۹ jackals, ۲۲ red foxes, and two wolves, were examined in northern, northeastern, and northwestern regions of Iran for tapeworms. Additionally, the identity of some helminths was confirmed using PCR and DNA sequencing. Based on our findings, ۵۴.۵% of red foxes and ۴۷.۸% (۹۵% CI: ۳۶.۵-۵۹.۳%) of jackals were infected, among which single infections with Mesocestoides were highly prevalent (۳۳.۳% , ۹۵% CI: ۲۴.۵-۴۳.۴%), followed by T. hydatigena (۴.۳%, ۹۵% CI: ۱.۷-۱۰.۵%), D. caninum (۲.۲% ۹۵%, CI: ۰.۶-۷.۵%%), and T. polyacantha (۱.۱%, ۹۵% CI: ۰.۲-۵.۸%). Also, mixed infections were demonstrated in ۱۳.۶% of foxes (Mesocestoides + T. polyacantha) and ۵.۸% of jackals (Mesocestoides + T. hydatigena). Overall, cestode infection rate in wild carnivores was ۴۸.۴%. Molecular analysis with universal primers amplified a ۴۵۰-bp fragment of the mitochondrial cox۱ gene. Sequencing also demonstrated ۱۰۰% and more than ۹۹% identity between the sequences of T. hydatigena (n = ۸) and T. polyacantha (n = ۴) isolates and their corresponding GenBank reference sequences. This study represents the third report and the first molecularly confirmation of T. polyacantha in foxes in Iran. These findings emphasize the importance of monitoring cestode infections in wild canids for epidemiological and public health purposes.

کلیدواژه ها:

Cestode ، Wild canids ، Taenia polyacantha ، Taenia hydatigena ، Iran