Wild boars (
Wild boars have also an important role in the epizootiology and circulation of some major infections (African Swine Fever; Classical
Swine Fever) and some zoonotic parasites. They can also transmit zoonotic helminths and protozoa to humans living in rural communities where wild boars roam freely around the villages. There is a lack of data regarding helminths in the gastrointestinal and hepatic systems of wild boar populations in Primorsky Krai. We focused our work on this area of research through by microscopic fecal examination.
Between December 2017 and January 2018, fecal samples were taken from 66 wild boars in Primorsky Krai. Totally investigated of 34 males and 32 females. These samples were collected from 10 areas, in hunting areas including Anuchinskii, Mihailovskii, Ussuriiskii, Spasskii, Partizanskii, Pogranichnii, Yakovlevskii, Krasnoarmeiskii, Pozharskii and Chuguevskii districts. Each sample was placed in plastic jar that labeled with records of the animal’s age and sex. The age of each boar has been determined through examination of the teeth, as described by Sáez-Royuela
Map of research area (Primorye region).
Wild boars investigated.
Host parameter | Totally examined | Infected | Prevalence, % |
---|---|---|---|
Sex | |||
Female | 32 | 10 | 31.3 |
Male | 34 | 10 | 29.4 |
Total | 66 | 20 | 30.3 |
Age | |||
Piglets | 23 | 5 | 21.7 |
1-2 years of ages | 13 | 7 | 53.8 |
2-3 years of ages | 7 | 2 | 28.6 |
3-4 years of ages | 21 | 6 | 28.6 |
Elder than 4 years of ages | 2 | 0 | - |
Year | |||
2017 | 38 | 9 | 23.7 |
2018 | 28 | 11 | 39.3 |
All the fecal samples were examined through light microscope for the presence of helminths eggs, proglottids and protozoan cysts. All of them placed to the Far Eastern Bank of Biological Materials (Shchelkanov
The data analyzed using Stata/MP 14.1. Correlations between infection and wild boars’ age and sex were determine using Fisher’s exact test. Bivariate logistic regression was used to assess associations between infection and the animals’ characteristics. Odds ratios (OR) and 95 % confidence intervals (CI) were calculated and p < 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant.
This research relating to animals complied with all the relevant national regulations and institutional policies for the care and use of animals (Federal Act entitled “The animal world” (1995); Far Eastern Federal University ethical statement).
This study received approval from a research committee at the Far Eastern Federal University, under protocol number 612-004, dated December 10, 2017.
Intestinal parasites were found in 20 (30.3 %) of the 66 wild boars studied. In total six parasite genera/species were found. The most parasites belongs to Nematoda (66.6 %) and some of them belongs to Protozoa (33.3 %). The most prevalent parasites were
Infection was present in 31.3 % of the females and 29.4 % of the males. In total six parasite species were found in the females. The most prevalent parasites in females were
Results of parasitological examination.
Species | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Female | 3(15.0%) | 2(10.0%) | 1(5.0%) | 1(5.0%) | 2(10.0%) | 1(5.0%) |
Male | 6(30.0%) | 4 (20.0%) | ||||
Piglets | 4 (20.0%) | 1(5.0%) | ||||
1-2 years of ages | 2(10.0%) | 2(10.0%) | 1(5.0%) | 1(5.0%) | 1(5.0%) | |
2-3 years of ages | 1(5.0%) | 1(5.0%) | ||||
3-4 years of ages | 2(10.0%) | 2(10.0%) | 1 (5.0%) | 1 (5.0%) | ||
Elder than 4 years of ages | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2017 | 7(35.0%) | 2(10.0%) | ||||
2018 | 2(10.0%) | 2(10.0%) | 1(5.0%) | 3(15.0%) | 2(10.0%) | 1(5.0%) |
The highest parasite prevalence was among wild boars aged 1 – 2 years (53.8 %), followed by those aged 2 – 3 years (28.6 %) and 3 – 4 years (28.6 %), then piglets (21.7 %). Parasite infections were not found in boars older than 4 years.
Seven out of ten of the areas investigated were positive for infected wild boars. The highest parasite prevalences appeared in Anuchinskii (80 %), Pogranichnii (62.5 %) Spasskii (55.5 %) and Chuguevskii (50 %) districts.
The prevalence of wild boar intestinal parasites in Primorye region.
Higher parasite prevalences were recorded in 2018 (Table 2). A positive correlation found between parasite prevalence and sex (p < 0.05). The prevalence was higher in males.
No found correlations between prevalence and other parameters (age and area investigated).
The aim of the present study was to investigate wild boar parasites in the Primorye region. There are few researches about wild boar parasites in Russia. Our study was the first to highlight the prevalence of parasites in wild boars in Primorsky Krai.
The six genera of parasites found, included four genera/species of nematodes and twor protozoan genera/species. Some have zoonotic potential such as
Previously found the lungworm
The species
Although fecal examination is a simple method, it is also less effective than parasitological autopsy. Some studies based on examination of fecal samples from wild boars have been conducted (Moretta
In Bulgaria, eleven parasite genera were found based on fecal examination.
Host factors such as age and sex can influence the presence of parasite infection (Krasnov
In conclusion, the present study showed that wild boars are infected with a broad spectrum of parasites. This is one of the first studies to investigate the parasites of wild boars in Primorsky Krai. Therefore, further comparative studies to determine the population dynamics, prevalence, intensity and abundance of helminths would help in assessing the relationship between these parasite communities and their host populations.