Diversity and prevalence of metastrongyloid nematodes infecting the red panda (Ailurus fulgens) in European zoos

Mads F. Bertelsen; Frederik Meyland-Smith; Jakob Willesen; Ryan  Jefferies; Eric R. Morgan; Jesper Monrad

doi:10.1016/j.vetpar.2010.04.043

Diversity and prevalence of metastrongyloid nematodes infecting the red panda (Ailurus fulgens) in European zoos

Mads F. Bertelsen, Frederik Meyland-Smith, Jakob Willesen, Ryan Jefferies, Eric R. Morgan, Jesper Monrad

15 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Metastrongyloid induced pneumonia has been described sporadically in the red panda (Ailurus fulgens). Early descriptions in pandas recently imported to the USA from China involved parasites morphologically similar to Angiostrongylus spp. and Crenosomatidae. More recently, four cases of severe verminous pneumonia associated with Angiostrongylus vasorum have been reported from European zoos. A coprological survey of the red panda population within European zoos was conducted in 2008. Faecal samples from 115 pandas originating from 54 zoos were collected on 3 consecutive days. Using Baermann technique, 40 animals (35%) from 20 zoos (37%) were found to shed metastrongyloid first stage larvae (L₁). Based on their morphology and size, the L₁ observed could be divided into three morphologically distinct types: (1) a Crenosoma sp. type (n=5, overall prevalence: 4.3%), (2) an A. vasorum type (n=3, 2.6%), and (3) an unidentified metastrongyloid species, similar to, but morphologically distinct from A. vasorum (n=32, 27.8%). Further confirmation of species identification was provided by PCR amplification and sequencing of the 18S rRNA gene, which confirmed three different species. The novel Crenosoma species was most genetically analogous to Crenosoma mephitidis and the unidentified metastrongyloid species was most similar to Stenurus minor and Torynurus convulutus. Routine and quarantine health care of red pandas in captivity should take account of the risk of Angiostrongylus and Crenosoma infection in endemic areas, but should also be cognisant of the widespread presence of an apparently less pathogenic species of lungworm. The identity of the two potentially novel species is subject to further work.

Original language	English
Journal	Veterinary Parasitology
Volume	172
Issue number	3-4
Pages (from-to)	299-304
Number of pages	6
ISSN	0304-4017
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2010.04.043
Publication status	Published - Sept 2010

Keywords

Former LIFE faculty

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10.1016/j.vetpar.2010.04.043

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@article{867487cb3a044917b84a217830a9abb7,

title = "Diversity and prevalence of metastrongyloid nematodes infecting the red panda (Ailurus fulgens) in European zoos",

abstract = "Metastrongyloid induced pneumonia has been described sporadically in the red panda (Ailurus fulgens). Early descriptions in pandas recently imported to the USA from China involved parasites morphologically similar to Angiostrongylus spp. and Crenosomatidae. More recently, four cases of severe verminous pneumonia associated with Angiostrongylus vasorum have been reported from European zoos. A coprological survey of the red panda population within European zoos was conducted in 2008. Faecal samples from 115 pandas originating from 54 zoos were collected on 3 consecutive days. Using Baermann technique, 40 animals (35%) from 20 zoos (37%) were found to shed metastrongyloid first stage larvae (L1). Based on their morphology and size, the L1 observed could be divided into three morphologically distinct types: (1) a Crenosoma sp. type (n=5, overall prevalence: 4.3%), (2) an A. vasorum type (n=3, 2.6%), and (3) an unidentified metastrongyloid species, similar to, but morphologically distinct from A. vasorum (n=32, 27.8%). Further confirmation of species identification was provided by PCR amplification and sequencing of the 18S rRNA gene, which confirmed three different species. The novel Crenosoma species was most genetically analogous to Crenosoma mephitidis and the unidentified metastrongyloid species was most similar to Stenurus minor and Torynurus convulutus. Routine and quarantine health care of red pandas in captivity should take account of the risk of Angiostrongylus and Crenosoma infection in endemic areas, but should also be cognisant of the widespread presence of an apparently less pathogenic species of lungworm. The identity of the two potentially novel species is subject to further work.",

keywords = "Former LIFE faculty, Red Panda, Ailurus fulgens, Angiostrongylus vasorum, Crenosoma, Prevalence, Metastrongyloidea",

author = "Bertelsen, {Mads F.} and Frederik Meyland-Smith and Jakob Willesen and Ryan Jefferies and Morgan, {Eric R.} and Jesper Monrad",

year = "2010",

month = sep,

doi = "10.1016/j.vetpar.2010.04.043",

language = "English",

volume = "172",

pages = "299--304",

journal = "Veterinary Parasitology",

issn = "0304-4017",

publisher = "Elsevier",

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}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Diversity and prevalence of metastrongyloid nematodes infecting the red panda (Ailurus fulgens) in European zoos

AU - Bertelsen, Mads F.

AU - Meyland-Smith, Frederik

AU - Willesen, Jakob

AU - Jefferies, Ryan

AU - Morgan, Eric R.

AU - Monrad, Jesper

PY - 2010/9

Y1 - 2010/9

N2 - Metastrongyloid induced pneumonia has been described sporadically in the red panda (Ailurus fulgens). Early descriptions in pandas recently imported to the USA from China involved parasites morphologically similar to Angiostrongylus spp. and Crenosomatidae. More recently, four cases of severe verminous pneumonia associated with Angiostrongylus vasorum have been reported from European zoos. A coprological survey of the red panda population within European zoos was conducted in 2008. Faecal samples from 115 pandas originating from 54 zoos were collected on 3 consecutive days. Using Baermann technique, 40 animals (35%) from 20 zoos (37%) were found to shed metastrongyloid first stage larvae (L1). Based on their morphology and size, the L1 observed could be divided into three morphologically distinct types: (1) a Crenosoma sp. type (n=5, overall prevalence: 4.3%), (2) an A. vasorum type (n=3, 2.6%), and (3) an unidentified metastrongyloid species, similar to, but morphologically distinct from A. vasorum (n=32, 27.8%). Further confirmation of species identification was provided by PCR amplification and sequencing of the 18S rRNA gene, which confirmed three different species. The novel Crenosoma species was most genetically analogous to Crenosoma mephitidis and the unidentified metastrongyloid species was most similar to Stenurus minor and Torynurus convulutus. Routine and quarantine health care of red pandas in captivity should take account of the risk of Angiostrongylus and Crenosoma infection in endemic areas, but should also be cognisant of the widespread presence of an apparently less pathogenic species of lungworm. The identity of the two potentially novel species is subject to further work.

AB - Metastrongyloid induced pneumonia has been described sporadically in the red panda (Ailurus fulgens). Early descriptions in pandas recently imported to the USA from China involved parasites morphologically similar to Angiostrongylus spp. and Crenosomatidae. More recently, four cases of severe verminous pneumonia associated with Angiostrongylus vasorum have been reported from European zoos. A coprological survey of the red panda population within European zoos was conducted in 2008. Faecal samples from 115 pandas originating from 54 zoos were collected on 3 consecutive days. Using Baermann technique, 40 animals (35%) from 20 zoos (37%) were found to shed metastrongyloid first stage larvae (L1). Based on their morphology and size, the L1 observed could be divided into three morphologically distinct types: (1) a Crenosoma sp. type (n=5, overall prevalence: 4.3%), (2) an A. vasorum type (n=3, 2.6%), and (3) an unidentified metastrongyloid species, similar to, but morphologically distinct from A. vasorum (n=32, 27.8%). Further confirmation of species identification was provided by PCR amplification and sequencing of the 18S rRNA gene, which confirmed three different species. The novel Crenosoma species was most genetically analogous to Crenosoma mephitidis and the unidentified metastrongyloid species was most similar to Stenurus minor and Torynurus convulutus. Routine and quarantine health care of red pandas in captivity should take account of the risk of Angiostrongylus and Crenosoma infection in endemic areas, but should also be cognisant of the widespread presence of an apparently less pathogenic species of lungworm. The identity of the two potentially novel species is subject to further work.

KW - Former LIFE faculty

KW - Red Panda

KW - Ailurus fulgens

KW - Angiostrongylus vasorum

KW - Crenosoma

KW - Prevalence

KW - Metastrongyloidea

U2 - 10.1016/j.vetpar.2010.04.043

DO - 10.1016/j.vetpar.2010.04.043

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 20570049

SN - 0304-4017

VL - 172

SP - 299

EP - 304

JO - Veterinary Parasitology

JF - Veterinary Parasitology

IS - 3-4

ER -

Diversity and prevalence of metastrongyloid nematodes infecting the red panda (Ailurus fulgens) in European zoos

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