Wildlife Surveillance in North-Eastern Italy: Diagnostic Insights and Viral Detection in Gray Wolves and Golden Jackals

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Abstract
Interfaces among humans, wildlife and domestic animals represent critical hotspots for the emergence and spread of infectious agents. The gray wolf (Canis lupus) and the golden jackal (Canis aureus) are expanding wild canid populations in Italy, whose increasing overlap with anthropized environments may facilitate pathogen transmission. This study investigated mammalian orthoreovirus (MRV), rotavirus A (RVA), canine coronavirus (CCoV), canine parvovirus (CPV2) and feline parvovirus (FPV) in wild canids from north-eastern Italy. The 101 carcasses (83 gray wolves and 18 golden jackals) obtained through passive wildlife surveillance were examined post-mortem. Tissue samples and swabs were screened using molecular assays, and positive samples were characterized and tested for virus isolation. MRV was detected in gray wolves (27.7%) and golden jackals (33.3%), representing the first report and successful isolation from both species. RVA prevalence was 60.2% in gray wolves and 61.1% in golden jackals. CCoV occurred exclusively in gray wolves (12.5%). CPV-2 was found in 10.8% of gray wolves and 35.3% of golden jackals, with FPV accounting for 66.7% of CPV-2-positive golden jackal samples. These findings provide valuable data on the circulation of MRV, RVA, CCoV, and CPV-2/FPV in free-ranging gray wolves and golden jackals and highlight the value of passive surveillance within a One Health framework overall.
Funding Information
  • Italian Ministry of Health (B23C22001060001)

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