Pathogens (Mar 2023)

First Morphological and Molecular Identification of <i>Demodex injai</i> in Golden Jackal (<i>Canis aureus</i> Linnaeus, 1758) in Romania

  • Sorin Morariu,
  • Florica Morariu,
  • Ana-Maria Marin,
  • Maria Monica Florina Moraru,
  • Dan-Cornel Popovici,
  • Mirela Imre,
  • Violeta Igna,
  • Narcisa Mederle

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens12030412
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 12, no. 3
p. 412

Abstract

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Demodicosis is one of the most important external parasitic diseases found in carnivores. Three species of the Demodex mite inhabit the skin of dogs and related species, D. canis being the most prevalent. This paper describes the first case of infestation with D. injai in a golden jackal in Romania. An emaciated golden jackal female body found in Timiș County, western Romania, was examined at Parasitology Department of Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Timișoara. The gross lesions were present on different regions of the body: feet, tail, axillary and inguinal areas, and skin folds as well, consisting of erythema, extensive severe alopecia with lichenification, seborrhea, and scaling. In order to establish diagnosis, microscopic examination of skin scrapes, trichogram (hair plucking), acetate tape test (impression), fungal culture, and PCR were performed. Both microscopic measurements and PCR analysis have confirmed the presence of D. injai.

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