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Filaria martis Gmelin 1790 (Spirurida, Filariidae) affecting beech marten (Martes foina): morphological description and molecular characterisation of the cytochrome oxidase c subunit I

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Abstract

Filaria martis causes a poorly known subcutaneous filariosis in mustelids. Few information is available about lesions that F. martis causes in beech martens, on its morphology, biology and the occurrence of the infection. From 1997 to 2006, 29 beech martens from two sites of southern Italy (Sites A and B) have been necropsied. Ectoparasites and nematodes were collected and morphologically identified. A variable region of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) of F. martis has been characterised to compare females presenting caudal tips smooth without spines (i.e. Morphotype 1—Mrph. 1) and with spines (i.e. Mrph. 2). All ticks collected were identified as Haemaphysalis erinacei. Eleven animals from Site A were found infected by F. martis nematodes in subcutaneous tissue in both membranous capsules or free under the inner skin surface. The most important morphological characters of F. martis have been reported and discussed. The molecular analysis showed 100% homology among cox1 sequences from Mrph. 1 and 2 thus indicating that the shape of female posterior edge may vary among specimens of F. martis. The results here presented provide new insights into the biology, ecology and morphological characteristics of this scantly known nematode.

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Acknowledgment

The authors wish to dedicate this work in memory of Prof. Roy Anderson who kindly provided suggestions at the beginning of this research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Animal Health and Welfare of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari, Strada Provinciale per Casamassima Km. 3, 70010, Valenzano, Bari, Italy

    Domenico Otranto, Riccardo Paolo Lia & Cinzia Cantacessi

  2. Department of Public Animal Health of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy

    Emanuele Brianti & Salvatore Giannetto

  3. Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy

    Donato Traversa

Authors
  1. Domenico Otranto
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  2. Riccardo Paolo Lia
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  3. Cinzia Cantacessi
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  4. Emanuele Brianti
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  5. Donato Traversa
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  6. Salvatore Giannetto
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Correspondence to Domenico Otranto.

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Otranto, D., Lia, R.P., Cantacessi, C. et al. Filaria martis Gmelin 1790 (Spirurida, Filariidae) affecting beech marten (Martes foina): morphological description and molecular characterisation of the cytochrome oxidase c subunit I. Parasitol Res 101, 877–883 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-007-0554-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-007-0554-3

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