Intestinal Parasites from Wild Boar Populations in Italy: Baseline Data in the Framework of the PRIN PNRR 2022 Project

INTRODUCTION: The recent expansion of wild boar (Sus scrofa) populations has raised significant concerns due to its potential negative consequences for biodiversity conservation and economically relevant human activities. while wild boar play essential roles in key ecological processes, such as predator-prey and species-habitat dynamics, our understanding of this expansion is currently fragmented, lacking integration across ecology, disease, and anthropogenic drivers. Also, data on intestinal parasites are crucial for understanding wild boar biology and ecology. within the framework of the PRIN PNRR 2022 project a specific objective will be to identify intestinal parasites on wild boar populations from different areas and analyse their prevalence and diversity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From November 2023 to April 2024, 61 faecal samples from wild boar were collected: n=7 from hunting districts of the Marche Region (MR), n=23 from the Maremma Regional Park, Tuscany, n=31 from Gran Paradiso National Park, val d’Aosta. Moreover, in a previous investigation during 2023, 46 faecal samples from the MR were analysed. Samples were collected directly from rectum or from the ground. Intestinal parasites were determined by the Mini-FLOTAC technique. Standard copro-parasitological methods (direct smear and flotation) were performed on the 46 MR faecal samples. Oocysts, cysts, eggs and larvae were photographed, measured and identified. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Overall, 90.3% of the 61 samples scored microscopically positive to parasites with different taxa detected (Eimeria spp., Eimeria suis, Eimeria scabra, Eimeria perminuta, Ascaris sp., Trichuris sp., gastrointestinal strongyles, Metastrongylus spp.). Gastrointestinal strongyles and eimeria spp. were found predominant, although differences in prevalence and intensity were observed among wild boar populations. Moreover, 47.8% of the 46 MR samples previously analysed was positive for intestinal parasites (entamoeba coli, Iodamoeba bütschlii, Balantidium/Buxtonella sp., Isospora sp., eimeria sp., Giardia sp., Blastocystis sp., Ascaris sp., Trichuris sp., gastrointestinal strongyles, Strongyloides sp., Metastrongylus spp.). Our results showed a non-negligible prevalence of intestinal parasites in wild boar. Parasites play a significant role in driving ecological dynamics within ecosystems, impacting host fitness even when clinical signs are not evident. At local scale, the varying effects of infections can differently modulate both inter- and intra- specific dynamics. This study represents a first-step approach toward understanding the ecological roles of parasites within wild boar populations across various geographical areas in Italy. Supported by Parco Nazionale del Gran Paradiso, Parco Regionale della Maremma, Parco Regionale delle Alpi Apuane, Ente Regionale Parco di veio, Ente Regionale Roma Natura, U.R.C.A. Marche Study funded by Ministero dell’Università e della Ricerca (European Union, Next Generation EU), project PRIN 2022 PNRR Prot. P20228RERY