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Prevalence and intensity of Alaria alata (Goeze, 1792) in water frogs and brown frogs in natural conditions

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Abstract

In the last 15 years, the mesocercariae of Alaria alata have frequently been reported in the wild boar during routine Trichinella inspections made compulsory for the trade of venison meat in Europe. If these studies have focused primarily on mesocercariae isolated from meat, few works have been done so far to understand the circulation of the parasite in natural conditions especially in the intermediate hosts. This study focuses on the second intermediate hosts of this parasite assessing the suitability of two amphibian groups—brown frogs and water frogs sensu lato—for mesocercarial infection on an area where A. alata has already been identified in water snails and wild boars. During this study, both groups showed to be suitable for mesocercarial infection, with high prevalence and parasite burdens. Prevalence was higher in the brown frog group (56.9 versus 11.54 % for water frogs) which would indicate that it is a preferential group for infection on the study area, though reasons for this remain to be investigated. No significant difference among prevalences was observed between tadpoles and frogs. This study, the first focusing on A. alata in these amphibians in Europe, provides further information on circulation of this parasite in natura.

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Acknowledgments

For this study, the authorization to collect and test brown and water frogs was given by an agreement from the regional direction for environment (DREAL Champagne-Ardenne, France). Financial support was forthcoming in the form of a PhD grant from the French National Hunting Federation (Fédération Nationale des Chasseurs, FNC). Financial support for this study was also provided by the French Game and Wildlife Agency (Office National de la Chasse et de la Faune Sauvage, ONCFS). The authors would like to thank, Yves Maupoix and the staff of the DER ONCFS reserve. We are grateful to Scott Harris for having kindly reviewed the manuscript.

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  1. EA 4688 – USC Anses « VECPAR », UFR de Pharmacie, Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, 51 rue Cognacq-Jay, 51096, Reims, France

    Cécile Patrelle, Julien Portier, Damien Jouet & Hubert Ferté

  2. Sciences&Faunes, Le Moulin, 14470, Marsangle, France

    Julien Portier

  3. Office National de la Chasse et de la Faune Sauvage, Direction nord-Est, 57160, Moulins les Metz, France

    Daniel Delorme

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  1. Cécile Patrelle
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Correspondence to Cécile Patrelle.

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Patrelle, C., Portier, J., Jouet, D. et al. Prevalence and intensity of Alaria alata (Goeze, 1792) in water frogs and brown frogs in natural conditions. Parasitol Res 114, 4405–4412 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-015-4680-z

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