CYSTICERCOSIS IN LEPUS EUROPAEUS HUNTED IN PLAIN AREAS OF BOLOGNA PROVINCE (EMILIA ROMAGNA REGION, ITALY)

In the Bologna province, Emilia-Romagna region, a rapid hare population decline was noticeable from 2008: the captured hare for restocking in protected areas dropped from about 7,000 in 2007- ‘08 to 1,891 in 2014-’15. In the same period hunters (and mass-media) reported a sudden increase of hares infected by Taenia sp. larvae, whose appearance was consistent with T.pisiformis cysticerci. The aim of the survey was: i)to quantify the prevalence and abundance of cysticerci in hunted hares; ii)to identify the parasites through morphological features and molecular techniques; iii)to describe pathological aspects of parasite-induced lesions; iv)to evaluate possible genetic characters useful to assess the origin of the isolated hare parasites. In 2013, from September 15th to October 5th, the viscera of 54 hares haunted in agro-ecosystems of the Po Plain (province of Bologna, ATC BO2) were collected. Peritoneum, liver and lungs were examined for cysticercosis; abundance was estimated counting superficial parasites in liver; parasites were microscopically identified by shape and measure of both large and small hooks. One cysticercus from each hare was analized by a PCR targeting Taeniid species (Trachsel et al, 2007, Parasitology, 134:911-920) and then sequenced. Classical histologycal techniques were used. The sex and the weight of animals were recorded by hunters; age class was assigned observing foreleg Stroh’s tubercle. Generalized linear models were used for statistical analysis. T. pisiformis was isolated in 8 hares (prevalence 14.8%; abundance range: 0-400; mean abundance 17.8). Identification was confirmed by both morphology and PCR. Infection was significantly related with female sex, adult age and low full-weight. Severe hepatitis was present in 1 infected hares only. The sequencing confirmed T.pisiformis in all samples. The sequences were all identical each-other and showed a 99% of similarity with a sequence from Japan, 97% with one from California and 94% with two from Germany and China, respectivey