The European badger, Meles meles, as a new host for Trichinella britovi in Romania

Highlights

• European badgers from Romania are exposed to Trichinella spp. infestation.

• The presence of Trichinella britovi is confirmed by multiplex PCR.

• European badgers have a minor epidemiological role in the parasites’ life cycle.

Abstract

The European badger, Meles meles (Carnivora, Mustelidae) is a widespread opportunistic omnivorous mammal. Its food spectrum comprises a wide variety of plants and small animals, occasionally including rodents, such as mice or rats. Considering that rodents are known to play a key role in the life cycle of Trichinella spp., the aims of this study were to investigate the occurrence of these parasites in badgers from Romania and to identify the species. Overall, 61 badgers originating from 14 counties were examined by trichinoscopy and artificial digestion. For species determination, the positive muscle samples, and the larvae recovered from the artificial digestion were used for DNA isolation, and further processed by multiplex PCR. A single badger, originating from Sibiu County, Central Romania, was found positive for Trichinella spp. Five cysts were identified using trichinoscopy: four in the diaphragm and one in the foreleg muscles. Artificial digestion revealed an infection rate of 70 larvae/100 g of muscle. The PCR indicated the occurrence of T. britovi, which is the most commonly detected species in wild carnivores in temperate areas. Although T. britovi has previously been reported in Romania, this represents the first report of its occurrence in the European badger in the country. However, the low prevalence indicates a minor reservoir role of this species.

Introduction

Nematodes of genus Trichinella are cosmopolitan zoonotic parasites and are among the most widespread parasites of domestic and wild omnivores and predatory animals (Pozio et al., 2009). In Romania, the first epidemiological studies on Trichinella spp. in domestic and wildlife hosts took place in 1960 (Lupașcu et al. 1970). The risk of infection with Trichinella spp. is a major concern in Romania, due to local eating habits (Blaga et al., 2007). The Mustelidae represents the most diverse family within the order Carnivora, and includes 67 species of small- to medium-sized animals, with an elongated, slender body and short extremities, and having an almost worldwide distribution, excepting Australia and Antarctica (Nascimento, 2014; Akdesir et al., 2018). In Europe, the Mustelidae family should also be taken in to account when considering the epidemiology and distribution of Trichinella spp. (Hurníková et al., 2009). In some regions, European badgers, Meles meles, form stable social groups and are solitary foragers, displaying a high degree of behavioral plasticity (Woodroffe and Macdonald, 1993). Based on their dietary habits, the European badgers could act as potential hosts for Trichinella spp. (Remonti et al., 2011).

Considering that previous studies in Romania have shown the presence of Trichinella spp. in various domestic and wild animal species, our research aimed to investigate the occurrence of these parasites in badgers and to identify the involved Trichinella species.