Case report : first report of potentially zoonotic Gongylonema pulchrum in a free-living roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) in Slovenia

Bandelj, Petra (author), Žele-Vengušt, Diana (author), Vengušt, Gorazd (author), Kušar, Darja (author)

Adult female and male Gongylonema nematodes were found in the oesophagus of a free-living roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) in Slovenia during passive health surveillance of wildlife. The genus Gongylonema was determined by light microscopy based on the genus-specific cuticular bosses in the anterior part of the parasite. Molecular methods were used to confirm the species Gongylonema pulchrum, which has zoonotic potential. Although Gongylonema species are considered common and distributed worldwide, this is the first report of G. pulchrum in an animal on the territory of Slovenia and the first molecular report in a roe deer worldwide. The parasite is likely to be underdiagnosed, misdiagnosed or goes unnoticed as the animals show little or no clinical signs and minor pathological lesions. Slaughterhouse workers, hunters and veterinarians should be aware of this elusive parasite. Examination and evisceration of the upper digestive tract of animals should therefore be carried out more carefully.

• Language: English
• Keywords: Gongylonema pulchrum, nematode, zoonosis, roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), oesophagus, sequencing, spiruroidea, Polymerase Chain Reaction, PCR, animals, wild, deer
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: VF - Veterinary Faculty
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2024
• Number of pages: 6 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 11, art. 1444614
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-159824
• UDC: 636.09:616
• ISSN on article: 2297-1769
• DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1444614
• COBISS.SI-ID: 202901763
• Publication date in RUL: 26.07.2024

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Frontiers in veterinary science
• Shortened title: Front. vet. sci.
• Publisher: Frontiers Media S.A.
• ISSN: 2297-1769
• COBISS.SI-ID: 3969402

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.
• Licensing start date: 26.07.2024

Projects

• Funder: ARIS - Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency
• Project number: P4-0092
• Name: Zdravje živali, okolje in varna hrana