Molecular analysis of feces reveals gastrointestinal nematodes in reintroduced wild asses of the Negev desert.

ABSTRACT: Reintroduced animals face disease risks, potentially impacting both the reintroduced and the local wildlife/domestic populations. This study focuses on the Asiatic wild asses (Equus hemionus) reintroduced to the Negev desert in southern Israel. Despite potential threats of disease spill-over to and from domesticated donkeys and horses in the area, there are no records of the gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) of the wild ass population. We used DNA metabarcoding on fecal samples of wild asses collected across seasons and habitats, near water sources that they frequently use. Ten GIN species were detected in the feces, nine belonging to the family Strongylidae, which commonly infects and causes disease in equids worldwide, such as horses, zebras, and donkeys. Some of these Strongylidae

SUBMITTER: Forman R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11402423 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature