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Wild terrestrial carnivores play a crucial role as reservoir, maintenance, and spillover hosts for a wide parasite variety. They may harbor, shed, and transmit zoonotic parasites and parasites of veterinary importance for domestic hosts. Although wild carnivores are globally distributed and comprise many different species, some living in close proximity to human settlements, only a few studies have investigated parasites of wild terrestrial carnivores using non-specific techniques. Access to samples of wild carnivores may be challenging as some species are protected, and others are secretive, possibly explaining the data paucity. Considering the importance of wild carnivores’ health and ecological role, combined with the lack of specific diagnostic methodologies, this review aims to offer an overview of the diagnostic methods for parasite investigation in wild terrestrial carnivores, providing the precise techniques for collection and analysis of fecal, blood, and tissue samples, the environmental impact on said samples, and the limitations researchers currently face in analyzing samples of wild terrestrial carnivores. In addition, this paper offers some crucial information on how different environmental factors affect parasite detection postmortem and how insects can be used to estimate the time of death with a specific highlight on insect larvae. The paper contains a literature review of available procedures and emphasizes the need for diagnostic method standardization in wild terrestrial carnivores. Graphical Abstract

Mesocarnivores are small- or mid-sized carnivore species that display a variety of ecologies and behaviours. In Europe, wild mesocarnivores are represented by the red fox (Vulpes vulpes), the golden jackal (Canis aureus), the European wildcat (Felis silvestris), the Mustelidae of the genera Meles, Martes, Mustela, Lutra, the invasive species of raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides), raccoons (Procyon lotor), and American mink (Neogale vison). These abundant animals thrive in various habitats and often develop their activity close to human settlements. Thus, they may play an important role in the introduction, maintenance, and transmission of major parasitic zoonoses and promote bridging infections with domestic animals. Against this background, this article reports and discusses some of the most important endoparasites of wild mesocarnivores living in Europe, on the basis of their actual role as reservoirs, spreaders, or sentinels. The data derived from epizootiological studies in different European countries, and the proven or speculated implications of the detected endoparasites in human and domestic animals’ health, are discussed. Through older and recent literature review, the state-of-the-art knowledge on the occurrence and prevalence of the parasites under consideration is presented, showing further, warranted investigations and the need for surveillance and vigilance.

Background Ticks are obligate hematophagous arthropods with a world-wide distribution that are extremely important not only in terms of human and animal health but also economically. In Algeria, information on tick species is scarce. Methods A systematic literature review was performed using online databases. The information extracted from the databases was was supplemented by information from an original study. Ticks were collected from various hosts and by flagging from January 2018 to December 2019. Results To date, in Algeria a total of 36 valid tick species belonging to two families have been recorded: (1) family Argasidae, with three Argas species and nine Ornithodoros species recorded; and (ii) family Ixodidae, with one Dermacentor species, three Haemaphysalis species, 10 Hyalomma species, four Ixodes species and six Rhipicephalus species recorded. The geographical distribution for each species was determined and listed. Eight new tick-host associations were recorded: four for Ixodes inopinatus sensu Estrada-Peña et al. 2014, one for Rhipicephalus bursa , one for R. turanicus, one for Hyalomma marginatum and one for Hy. lusitanicum . To our best knowledge, this study is the first to report the presence of I. inopinatus sensu Estrada-Peña et al. 2014 in Algeria. We also report here for the first time all tick species (Argasidae and Ixodidae) known to be present in Algeria. Conclusion This article represents a tool for students and scientists who work in the field of ticks and provides important new data on the distribution of ticks in Algeria. Graphical Abstract

Background The Silk Road connected the East and West for over 1500 years. Countries in Central Asia are valuable in addressing the hypothesis that parasites on domestic animals were introduced along the Silk Road. Adult fleas are obligate parasites, having worldwide distribution. In dogs, Ctenocephalides canis , C. felis and C. orientis are the most common species identified. The distribution of the Oriental cat flea, C. orientis , is restricted to southeast Asia. The purpose of this study was to determine the diversity of dog fleas from Uzbekistan, a country in Central Asia, with particular reference to C. orientis . Methods Fleas were collected from 77 dogs from 5 locations in Uzbekistan. The cox1 gene sequences from Ctenocephalides spp. were compared to global collection of Ctenocephalides cox1 haplotypes. Landmark-based geometric morphometrics have been applied to the head and curvature to compare C. canis and C. canis using canonical variate analysis and discriminant function analysis . Results Overall, 199 fleas were collected and identified as C. canis ( n  = 115, 58%), C. orientis ( n  = 53, 27%) and Pulex irritans ( n  = 22, 11%). None of the fleas were C. felis . All Ctenocephalides spp. fleas were subject to cox1 amplification and 95% (166/175) yielded DNA sequence. There were 25 cox1 haplotypes; 14 (22/25, 88%) were C. canis cox1 haplotypes and 3 (3/25, 12%) were C. orientis cox1 haplotypes. Molecular analysis confirmed the absence of C. felis . Four (4/22) and one (1/3) cox1 haplotypes were identical to cox1 haplotypes belonging to C. canis and C. orientis cox1 haplotypes identified elsewhere, respectively. Overall morphometric analysis confirmed significant differences between the head shape of C. canis and C. orientis and improved four–fivefold the species identification compared to traditional morphological key. Conclusion We report for the first time the presence of C. orientis in Uzbekistan. Differentiation of C. orientis from C. canis and C. felis remains difficult in regions where these species coexist. Studies in Central and Southeast Asia should confirm species identity using cox1 locus to enable retracing of the distribution of the Ctenocephalides in Asia. The presence of C. orientis suggests that this species may have been introduced from the east along the ancient Silk Road. Graphical Abstract

The present Research Topic was edited by parasitologists from different geographical areas (Romania, Canada, Costa Rica, and Iran), who managed to gather an impressive number of papers focused on wildlife parasitology from various countries, contributing to the extension of the knowledge in this field as well as highlighting the importance of research in this research area. [...]Lykins et al.reported encysted larvae Pterygodermatites whartoni in invasive Cuban treefrogs (Osteopilus septentrionalis) in Central Florida, United States. Articles on protozoan parasites Wild boars have a wide geographical distribution and are susceptible to many parasitic infections, representing an important reservoir for pathogen transmission to animals and humans. Conflict of interest The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Background Angiostrongylus vasorum (Nematoda, Metastrongyloidea) is a vascular nematode that resides in the pulmonary arteries and the right side of the heart of a wide variety of carnivores, with an indirect life cycle using coprophagic gastropods as intermediate hosts. For domestic dogs, the infection with A. vasorum can be asymptomatic, but more frequently, it is associated with a wide range of clinical manifestations like cardio-respiratory signs, bleedings, neurological signs, and ocular problems which can lead to death when not treated accordingly. Angiostrongylosis was confirmed for the first time in Romania in red foxes ( Vulpes vulpes ) in 2017 and two years later a seroepidemiologic study was conducted among domestic dogs. However, to this date, no clinical canine angiostrongylosis cases were published in Romania. The aim of the present paper was to evaluate the knowledge about canine angiostrongylosis among veterinarians in Romania and to update the distribution of this disease using a national wide anonymous questionnaire. Results Overall, 147 unique responses were submitted, from 31 out of 42 counties. Twelve veterinarians (8%) from 8 counties (26%) acknowledged diagnosing a case of angiostrongylosis including 5 from the Bucharest and 1 from each of the remaining seven counties. All affected dogs had respiratory distress, 75% suffered cardiopathy, 16% coagulopathies and 8% neurological signs. Case diagnosis was based mostly on larval detection by coprology (67%) and serological antigen detection test (42%). Conclusions Romanian veterinarians are aware of canine angiostrongylosis and a significant number have clinical experience with the disease. Epidemiological studies are now needed to assess its distribution in the country, and further efforts are required to improve understanding of the disease, its diagnostic and treatment methods among veterinarians.

In our dynamic world, borders of different sorts are being rapidly altered or even erased [...]

Background Canine vector‐borne diseases (CVBDs) include various illnesses affecting dogs. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of major CVBDs in domestic dogs in Bucharest, Romania's largest urban centre, which is situated along the Dâmbovița River in the southeastern region. Material and methods The present study included 317 dogs presented to a veterinary hospital for routine health examinations or specialised consultations between August 2020 and August 2024. Two rapid serological tests (SNAP 4Dx Plus and SNAP Leishmania) were used to assess infection rates. Results The findings revealed an overall seroprevalence of 8.8% for CVBDs, with Dirofilaria immitis exhibiting a prevalence of 12.62%. The seroprevalence of Ehrlichia spp. fluctuated over the years, peaking at 8.33% in 2022, resulting in an overall prevalence of 4.73%. An increase in Ehrlichia spp. seroprevalence during the 4 years was correlated with the presence of Rhipicephalus species in the region. Anaplasma spp. also showed a rising trend, with an overall prevalence of 4.42% and an increase from 2.94% in 2020 to 8.33% in 2024. In contrast, Borrelia burgdorferi exhibited low seroprevalence, and no positive cases for Leishmania spp. were detected. Conclusion This study assesses Bucharest's status as an endemic area for ehrlichial diseases and dirofilariosis, highlighting significant public health concerns. Globalisation, tourism and climate change are factors that influence vector biology, and it is crucial to develop a strategic management plan for the prevention and control of vector‐borne diseases. Serological testing of 317 dogs in Bucharest (2020‐2024) revealed an overall Canine vector‐borne diseases (CVBD) seroprevalence of 8.8%, with Dirofilaria immitis (12.62%) being the most common. Shelter and older dogs had higher infection rates. Climate change and vector expansion may influence pathogen spread, underscoring the need for enhanced surveillance and preventive measures.

Background Angiostrongylus vasorum , commonly known as the “French heartworm,” is a nematode belonging to the Metastrongyloidea superfamily. This parasite was first identified in Toulouse, France in 1853 infecting the pulmonary arteries and the right side of the heart of a Pointer dog. Angiostrongylosis is an important infection due its severe clinical signs and potential for causing high morbidity and mortality in domestic dogs. This nematode has not been studied in Algeria. The aim of this study was investigate the presence of lungworms among different mammal species in a number of Algerian regions. Methods Between February 2022 and September 2023, 47 road-killed animals were collected from six administrative units (departments) in Algeria. All carcasses underwent a full parasitological necropsy, and lung tissues were preserved in 10% buffered formalin and concentrated ethanol for further study. All collected samples were subjected to histological and PCR (cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 gene) analyses for lungworm identification. Results Histological examination revealed the presence of nematode eggs and larvae in the alveolar space and chronic obstructive vascular changes were detected in a single golden African wolf ( Canis lupaster ) collected from the department of Constantine. First-stage larvae were collected and morphologically identified as Angiostrongylus spp. The molecular identification confirmed the presence of A. vasorum . All other animals tested were negative for lungworms. Conclusions To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of A. vasorum infection in an African golden wolf ( Canis lupaster ). We report a new host association, highlighting the importance of further studies to update the geographical distribution of A. vasorum and its epidemiology across Algeria. Graphical Abstract

Background The extraordinary Galapagos Islands, with an impressive number of endemic and native species, maintain the interest and curiosity for researchers from all over the world. The native species are known to be vulnerable to new pathogens, cointroduced with their invasive hosts. In the case of invasive parasitic arthropods, their evolutionary success is related to the association with other invasive hosts (such as domestic animals). These associations could become a significant driver of change, as occasionally they can seek another hosts and have the capacity to transmit pathogens between domestic and wild animals. The current study aims to identify the distribution and abundance of canine vector-borne parasites in the Galapagos Islands based on the possibility that some of them could spill over to endemic mammals. Methods A total of 1221 blood samples were randomly collected from privately owned dogs on San Cristóbal, Isabela, Santa Cruz, and Floreana Islands during the years 2021 and 2022. All samples were examined for vector-borne pathogens using the modified Knott’s test and conventional, nested, and multiplex polymerase chain reactions (PCRs), followed by sequencing. Results The PCR and Knott tests confirmed the presence of Dirofilaria immitis (2%, 25/1221) in all islands. While molecular analyses showed heartworm DNA only in dogs from the San Cristóbal (3.3%) and Isabela (2.4%) Islands. Moreover, other pathogens Babesia vogeli (3%, 37/1221) and Hepatozoon canis (0.2%, 2/1221) were detected for the first time by molecular analyses. Conclusions Dogs from Galapagos are hosts to various pathogens, of which some are potentially zoonotic while some other could be spill-over to endemic endangered carnivores, such as sea lions. To understand and limit their impact, long-term surveillance, control, and awareness is needed. Graphical abstract