Biblioteca Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Umbria e delle Marche
Sanità Pubblica Veterinaria: Numero 74, Ottobre 2012 [http://www.spvet.it/] ISSN 1592-1581
Documento reperibile all'indirizzo: http://spvet.it/indice-spv.html#561

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I Lupi hanno un ruolo nella diffusione della Trichinella britovi in Italia? Una breve nota - Does Wolf have a role in the spreading of Trichinella britovi in Italy ? A short note

Gavaudan S., Barchiesi F., Morandi F., Bartozzi B., Duranti A., Antognini E., Grelloni V., Forconi P., Salvi P., Dell'Orso M., Rossetti A., Perco F.

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Abstract. Trichinellosis is one of the most studied zoonosis and its causative agent Trichinella spp. is world wide distributed. Many reservoirs are reported for each species in different countries. In the studied Area, T.britovi and T.pseudospiralis are described, but only T.britovi in carnivores. we present the Dataset of Trichinella Surveillance in wildlife (Commission Regulation EC no.2075/2005) of Istituto Zooprofilattico of Umbria and Marche referred to the period January 2008- march 2012. In this Apennines Area of Central Italy, we found positive 6 wolves out of the 65 examined as well as 2 out of the 62758 wild boars analyzed. None of 603 tested foxes were found positive (as well as others receptive species observed), notwithstanding the role of foxes as reservoir for T. britovi is well documented in literature. The spreading of woves population in Central Italy is discussed in order to the consequences for the surveillance of trichinellosis, taking into the account tat the mean life of T. britovi in wolf is longer than in wild boar, so it may represents a new epidemiological problem in our Country.

Riassunto. La Trichinellosi è una delle zoonosi più studiate e il suo agente eziologico, la Trichinella spp. è praticamente ubiquitaria. Molti serbatoi infettivi sono riportati per ciascuna specie in Paesi diversi. Nell'area studiata, sono segalate T. britovi e T. pseudospiralis, ma solo la prima è presente nei carnivori. In questo lavoro presentiamo il set di dati relativi alla sorveglianza sulla Trichinella nella fauna selvatica (regolamento CE no.2075/2005) effettuata dall'Istituto Zooprofilattico di Umbria e Marche dal Gennaio 2008 al Marzo 2012. In questa area dell'Appennino del Centro Italia, sono stati riscontrati positivi sei lupi su 65 e 2 cinghiali su 62.758 esaminati. Nessuna delle 603 volpi testate sono risultate positive (così come le altre specie suscettibili osservate), nonostante il ruolo delle volpi come serbatoio di T. britovi sia ben documentato. La diffusione della popolazione di lupi in Italia centrale è discussa in ordine alle conseguenze per la sorveglianza della trichinellosi, considerando che la vita media di T. britovi nel lupo è più a lunga che nel cinghiale, si potrebbe iptizzare un nuovo scenario epidemiologico, per questa zoonosi, nel nostro Paese.


Here we present the results of the Survey for Trichinellosis in Wildlife between the years 2008 and 2011 according to the EC Regulation 2075/2005 for the Regions Umbria and Marche (Italy). None of the test performed on slaughtered pigs or horses (not reported data) were found positive.

Introduction
In Italy Trichinella genus is endemic in Wildlife: two species are involved in two different sylvatic cycles: T. pseudospiralis in Raptors and T. britovi in Carnivores. T. pseudospiralis was found in Central Italy in Little owl (Athene noctua) (Pozio et al., 1999) and recently in Wild Boar (Sus scrofa) (Merialdi et al., 2011) while T. britovi is often detected in scavengers like Red Fox and Wolf. In the Marche and Umbria Regions, both species have been previously reported. Apennines divides the Marche from the Umbria Region (8,456 km²; Population: 906,940; 110 inhabitants/km2) with the highest point at Monte Vettore (2,476 m), in the Sibillini National Park.
Sibillini mountain chain stretches for about 40 km in the southern sector of Apennines Umbria - Marche (43 ° north 13 ° east). The Park covers an area of approximately 69,000 hectares.

The snowfall is concentrated in the months between November and April with the highest values in January and February. The vegetation is typical of the Apennines hilly area where up to 1000 m are forests of deciduous oaks (Quercus pubescens, Q. Cerris) hornbeam (Ostrya carpinifolia) and flowering ash (Fraxinus ornus) In these environments flora is very rich and has many endemic vegetation.

Most of detected T.britovi arises from dead wolves found in this area where 80 wolves are estimated living in about 1250 km². In this area there is the lower human densitity of both Regions (18,85 inhabitants/km²).

Dislocation of wolves in the area
Figure 1. Distribution of wolves and wild boars in the test area


Occurrence of the Trichinella parasites in natural environment
Pseudospiralis is a cosmopolitan species of the genus Trichinella. Raptors represent the reservoir for the specie but also mammalians are receptive and sporadically infested.
The name of this species is due to the lack collagen capsule.
This characteristic makes the larval detection within the infested flesh harder especially if trichinelloscopy is used like once. Consequently, according to the Regulation EC 2075/2005, now all domestic pigs, wild boars and slaughtered horses, must be analyzed with one of the digestive methods performed by ISO certified laboratories.

T. britovi in temperate areas is endemic in wildlife (northern limit of January isoterma -6°C); the cycle is mainly within the family of Canidae (Pozio et al., 2008).
In Italy the prevalence for trichinellosis in wildlife is higher in mountain areas (more than 500m asl) and where human density is lower (average 73 inhabitants/km2) (Pozio et al., 1996). In the Apennines, Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) and Wolf (Canis lupus) and other predators are involved in the cycle; the resistance at winter temperature and to the corruption, allows the transmission of Trichinellosis along all the year by the scavenging behaviour (Pozio et al., 1996; 1998).

In humans epidemics caused by T. britovi occurred for the consumption of cured products from wild boar or free range pigs.

Suidae contracts Trichinellosis by scavenging or cannibalism: consequently a correct management of waste is recommended were the cycle is endemic. When garbage and hunting residues are properly managed, T. britovi affects a very low percentage (prevalence <0,001%) of wild boar (Pozio et al., 1998) and it is absent in pigs.

Despite the eradication of the sylvatic cycle is impossible, nevertheless the certification of Trichinella-free pork meat can be reached if is implemented an high standard of bio-security in industrial farms.
In fact the EC Regulation 2075/2005 provides that a Surveillance for Trichinellosis in Wildlife will be conducted to detect the hosts involved and monitoring the environmental variables affecting the sylvatic cycle. Surveys should be carried out to prevent the transmission to the domestic animals and finally to avoid the zoonotic risk.


Table 1. Wildlife analyzed for Trichinella (2008-2011; Umbria and Marche, Italy)
Species No. Tests No. Positives Trichinella sp.
Raptors 64 0 -
Corvidae 450 0 -
Wild rodents 11 0 -
Mustelids 9 0 -
Red Fox 603 0 -
Wolf 67 6 (8,9%) T. britovi
Wild boar 62758 2 (0,003%) T. britovi
Others 10 0 -
totals 63972 8 T. britovi


Table 2. Wild boar analyzed for Trichinella (2008-2011; Umbria and Marche, Italy)
Source No. Test No. Positive Species
Necropsy 50 0 -
Backyard farming 291 0 -
Slaughtered 4712 1 T. britovi
Hunted or culled 57705 1 T. britovi
Total 62758 2 (0,003%) T. britovi


Consistency wolf "reservoir" in Sibillini National Park
In the park were estimated about 30 wolves on an area of 700 sq km and about 50 on a larger area outside the park of 1250 sq. km (Data Winter 2011 - 2012; methods used: wolf howling in summer snow tracking in winter and DNA analysis on feces.

Table 3. Wolves analyzed for Trichinella; cause of death, age and no. of positives. (2008-2011; Umbria and Marche, (Italy)
Class of age Sarcoptic Mange Poaching Road Accident Not conclusive
Undetected - 7 20 (2+) 5 (1+)
Juvenile 2 - 6 3
Subadult - 3 (2+) 4 -
Adult 2 5 7 (1+) 1
67 (6+) 4 15 (2+) 37 (3+) 9 (1+)


Results
This data confirm Wolf as an helpful indicator for the presence of T. britovi in wildlife. Moreover, in our experience, this specie was found positive more than Red Fox.
In fact, out of 65 wolves, six were found infested to T. britovi (prevalence 8,9%) and none out of 603 foxes have been found infested.

This survey suggests that in our environment, where the two species are sympatric, Wolf could be the main reservoir for Trichinellosis in the places or in addition to Red Fox.
However this Survey needs further evidences because of the provenience of the dead foxes: mainly came from hilly areas (and hunting districts) while the most of wolves examined became nearby Parks or mountain Areas. Just two Wild Boars out of 62,578 examined were been found infested (prevalence 0,003%) suggesting a good management of hunting and garbage dumps.

Wolf in its environment. Photo of Massimo Dell'Orso (2012)
Figure 2. Apennine wolf in its environment.
(Massimo Dell'Orso picture, 2011)


Nevertheless, increased wild boar and wolf populations, as observed in the last years, could lead Trichinellosis outside the infested area, with new endemic foci.
In our Survey at least two new areas were found (see map). This situation doesn't represent a risk itself because were not involved new ecosystems.
It confirms the necessity of continuous monitoring of Wildlife, managing of hunting, as the impact of bio-security in pig farming (both extensive and intensive), not just where a risk is expected.



References

COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 2075/2005 of 5 December 2005. Laying down specific rules on official controls for Trichinella in meat. Official Journal of the European Union 22.12.2005-L338 60-82.

Merialdi G, Bardasi L, Fontana MC, Spaggiari B, Maioli G, Conedera G, Vio D, Londero M, Marucci G, Ludovisi A, Pozio E, Capelli G. (2011). First reports of Trichinella pseudospiralis in wild boars (Sus scrofa) of Italy. Veterinary Parasitology, Jun 10;178(3-4): 370-3.

Murrell KD, Pozio E. (2011). Worldwide occurrence and impact of human trichinellosis, 1986-2009. Emerging Infectious Diseases Journal. Dec;17(12):2194-202.

Pozio E, Goffredo M, Fico R, La Rosa G. (1999). Trichinella pseudospiralis in sedentary night-birds of prey from Central Italy. The Journal of Parasitology. Aug;85(4):759-61.

Pozio E, La Rosa G, Serrano FJ, Barrat J, Rossi L. (1996). Environmental and human influence on the ecology of Trichinella spiralis and Trichinella britovi in Western Europe. Parasitology. Dec; 113: 527-33.

Pozio E, Rinaldi L, Marucci G, Musella V, Galati F, Cringoli G, Boireau P, La Rosa G. (2008). Hosts and habitats of Trichinella spiralis and Trichinella britovi in Europe. International Journal for Parasitology. 2009 Jan;39(1):71-9. Epub Jul 26.

Pozio E. (2000). Factors affecting the flow among domestic, synanthropic and sylvatic cycles of Trichinella. Veterinary Parasitology, Volume 93, Issues 3-4, 1 December, Pages 241-262,

Pozio E. (1998). Trichinellosis in the European union: epidemiology, ecology and economic impact. Parasitology Today. Jan;14(1):35-8.

Affiliation
Stefano Gavaudan1, Francesca Barchiesi1; Federico Morandi2, Barbara Bartozzi1, Anna Duranti1, Elisa Antognini1, Vincenzo Grelloni1, Paolo Forconi3, Paolo Salvi2, Massimo dell'Orso3, Alessandro Rossetti2, Franco Perco2.

1Istituto Zooprofilatico Sperimentale Umbria Marche, Perugia;
2Parco Nazionale dei Monti Sibillini, Visso;
3Studio Faunsitico, via cardarelli, 23. Macerata.

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Does Wolf have a role in the spreading of Trichinella britovi in Italy? by Stefano Gavaudan et Al., 2012 is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribuzione - Non commerciale 3.0 Italia License. Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at http://indice.spvet.it/adv.html.