Emerging Host, Emerging Parasites: Cardiopulmonary Nematodes in Italian Golden Jackals (Canis aureus)
- 1Department of Animal Medicine Production and Health University of Padova Legnaro Italy unipd.it
- 2Department of Agricultural Food Environmental and Animal Sciences University of Udine Udine Italy uniud.it
Abstract
Cardiopulmonary nematodes of canids are important veterinary pathogens, and their distribution across Europe is expanding, a trend driven by climate change and shifting wildlife dynamics. The golden jackal (Canis aureus), a highly adaptable mesocarnivore, could function as a key reservoir and intermediary host at the boundary between wild and domestic animals. This study provides a comprehensive, long‐term assessment of the cardiopulmonary nematode community in golden jackals from Northeastern Italy (Friuli Venezia Giulia [FVG]). From 2009 to 2025, 109 jackal carcasses were necropsied. The nematodes recovered were identified morphometrically and confirmed by PCR (targeting mtCOI, 18S rRNA and 12S rRNA genes). The infection parameters and the influence of host characteristics on infection probability were calculated. Spatial modelling was applied in order to assess how environmental and anthropogenic factors influence the probability of infection. Overall, 52 jackals (47.7%) were positive for at least one parasite species. The prevalence of Angiostrongylus vasorum was the highest (34.9%), followed by Eucoleus aerophilus (13.8%), Crenosoma vulpis (12.8%) and Dirofilaria immitis (4.6%). Host sex had a significant effect on the prevalence and abundance of C. vulpis, with higher rates in males. Mean annual precipitation and the extent of agricultural land cover (AGR) were significant positive predictors of A. vasorum and E. aerophilus infections. Our findings suggest that the golden jackal may serve as a reservoir for veterinary and zoonotic pathogens. As jackals increasingly exploit human‐dominated habitats, their role in maintaining and spreading these nematodes in the environment may become more relevant. Given the species’ ongoing westward expansion, integrated One Health surveillance programmes are essential to monitor pathogen spread within multispecies landscapes.
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BibTeX
@article{ferraro2026emerging,
title = {{Emerging Host, Emerging Parasites: Cardiopulmonary Nematodes in Italian Golden Jackals (Canis aureus)}},
author = {Elisabetta Ferraro and Lorenzo Frangini and Erica Marchiori and Giulia Simonato and Rudi Cassini and Stefano Pesaro and Paola Beraldo},
journal = {Transboundary and Emerging Diseases},
year = {2026},
month = nov,
doi = {10.1155/tbed/9093298},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1155/tbed/9093298},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Emerging Host, Emerging Parasites: Cardiopulmonary Nematodes in Italian Golden Jackals (Canis aureus)
AU - Elisabetta Ferraro
AU - Lorenzo Frangini
AU - Erica Marchiori
AU - Giulia Simonato
AU - Rudi Cassini
AU - Stefano Pesaro
AU - Paola Beraldo
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/11/04
JO - Transboundary and Emerging Diseases
DO - 10.1155/tbed/9093298
UR - https://doi.org/10.1155/tbed/9093298
AB - Cardiopulmonary nematodes of canids are important veterinary pathogens, and their distribution across Europe is expanding, a trend driven by climate change and shifting wildlife dynamics. The golden jackal (Canis aureus), a highly adaptable mesocarnivore, could function as a key reservoir and intermediary host at the boundary between wild and domestic animals. This study provides a comprehensive, long‐term assessment of the cardiopulmonary nematode community in golden jackals from Northeastern Italy (Friuli Venezia Giulia [FVG]). From 2009 to 2025, 109 jackal carcasses were necropsied. The nematodes recovered were identified morphometrically and confirmed by PCR (targeting mtCOI, 18S rRNA and 12S rRNA genes). The infection parameters and the influence of host characteristics on infection probability were calculated. Spatial modelling was applied in order to assess how environmental and anthropogenic factors influence the probability of infection. Overall, 52 jackals (47.7%) were positive for at least one parasite species. The prevalence of Angiostrongylus vasorum was the highest (34.9%), followed by Eucoleus aerophilus (13.8%), Crenosoma vulpis (12.8%) and Dirofilaria immitis (4.6%). Host sex had a significant effect on the prevalence and abundance of C. vulpis, with higher rates in males. Mean annual precipitation and the extent of agricultural land cover (AGR) were significant positive predictors of A. vasorum and E. aerophilus infections. Our findings suggest that the golden jackal may serve as a reservoir for veterinary and zoonotic pathogens. As jackals increasingly exploit human‐dominated habitats, their role in maintaining and spreading these nematodes in the environment may become more relevant. Given the species’ ongoing westward expansion, integrated One Health surveillance programmes are essential to monitor pathogen spread within multispecies landscapes.
SN - 1865-1674
SN - 1865-1682
ER -