Morphological and molecular characterisation of the nematode parasite Graphidioides affinis (Secernentea: Trichostrongylidae) in Patagonian maras, Dolichotis patagonum , kept in a zoo in Sofia, Bulgaria
, and 
Published Online: Aug 09, 2024
Page range: 363 - 371
Received: Jan 08, 2024
Accepted: Aug 01, 2024
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/jvetres-2024-0045
Keywords
© 2024 M. Panayotova-Pencheva et al., published by Sciendo
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.
Introduction
Patagonian maras, rodents endemic to South America, are classified as a near-threatened species. Various factors affect their health including parasitic diseases. The aim of this study was to perform morphometric, molecular and phylogenetic characterisation of one such parasitic disease agent, the nematode
Material and Methods
In March 2023, 18 Patagonian maras kept at the Sofia Zoo in Bulgaria were investigated with the use of coprological methods. Following the investigation, the animals were dewormed with the use of albendazole. Dead adult nematodes found in the faeces of dewormed maras were collected and preserved in 70% ethanol, and morphometrically, molecularly and phylogenetically analysed.
Results
The morphometric analyses confirmed the nematodes to be
Conclusion
The Patagonian maras kept in a European zoo retained their original parasitofauna which are related to South America.