Original scientific paper

Gastrointestinal parasites and the first report of Giardia spp. in a wild population of European brown bears (Ursus arctos) in Croatia.

Mahdis Aghazadeh orcid.org/0000-0002-7687-5351 ; School of Veterinary Science, University of Queensland, Gatton, Australia; The Royal Veterinary College, The University of London, Hawkshead Lane, North Mymms, Hertfordshire, UK
Jocelyn Elson-Riggins ; The Royal Veterinary College, The University of London, Hawkshead Lane, North Mymms, Hertfordshire, UK
Slaven Reljić orcid.org/0000-0002-8110-384X ; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Marco De Ambrogi ; The Royal Veterinary College, The University of London, Hawkshead Lane, North Mymms, Hertfordshire, UK
Đuro Huber ; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Dario Majnarić ; Croatian Forests, Delnice Forestry Office, Delnice, Croatia
Carlos Hermosilla ; Institute of Parasitology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany; The Royal Veterinary College, The University of London, Hawkshead Lane, North Mymms, Hertfordshire, UK

Abstract

Ninety-four European brown bear (Ursus arctos) faecal samples, collected in three counties of Croatia, were examined for the presence of gastrointestinal parasites. Five genera were identified, including the nematodes Baylisascaris transfuga and Syngamus sp., and the protozoan enteropathogens Cryptosporidium sp., Eimeria sp., and Giardia sp. Ancylostomatid eggs were also recovered. Cestodes, trematodes and acanthocephalan eggs were absent from all samples. This is the first parasite survey of brown bears in Croatia in thirty years and the first report of Giardia in this species from the region.

Keywords

brown bear; Ursus arctos; gastrointestinal parasites; Giardia; Croatia

Hrčak ID:

138531

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/138531

Publication date:

27.5.2015.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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