COPROPARASITOLOGIC SURVEY OF GASTROINTESTINAL PARASITES IN WILD CARNIVORES FROM NORTHEASTERN TÜRKIYE

Rezumat

Parasitic infections in wildlife represent a significant concern for animal health, ecosystem stability, and public health due to their zoonotic potential. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and taxonomic diversity of gastrointestinal parasites in wild carnivores admitted to a wildlife rescue and rehabilitation center in northeastern Türkiye, a transboundary region within the Caucasus biodiversity hotspot. A total of 57 wild carnivores belonging to six species and originating from five provinces of Türkiye were examined using standard qualitative coproparasitologic methods, including flotation, sedimentation, and modified acid-fast staining techniques. Prevalence rates were calculated descriptively with exact 95% confidence intervals. Overall, 35% (20/57) of the carnivores were positive for at least one gastrointestinal parasite. Eight parasite taxa were identified, including nematodes (Toxascaris leonina, Toxocara canis, Trichuris spp., Capillaria spp., Strongyloides sp., and Ascarid-type eggs), trematodes (Alaria spp.), and cestodes (Taeniid-type eggs). Toxascaris leonina was the most prevalent species (14%), predominantly detected in red foxes (Vulpes vulpes). Several detected taxa, including Alaria spp., Taenia spp., Toxocara canis, and other helminths, are of recognized veterinary and zoonotic importance. This study provides baseline epidemiological data on gastrointestinal parasites in wildlife admitted to a rehabilitation center in northeastern Türkiye and highlights the potential role of wild carnivores as reservoirs contributing to environmental contamination and parasite transmission at the wildlife-domestic animal-human interface. These findings support the need for integrated One Health–based surveillance strategies in transboundary ecosystems.