Morphological and molecular analyses of two Taenia species in wild canids in northern Iran

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

Zahra Sharifi Darvazeh

Elahe Ebrahimzadeh

Hassan Borji

Moein Abolhasani Darounkola

Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran.

10.22067/ijvst.2026.97199.1629

Abstract

Wild canids play a significant role in dissemination of parasitic helminth ova and may serve as a potential source of infection in humans and animals. Therefore, monitoring the helminth fauna of these species is essential for both veterinary and public health. The present cross-sectional study was conducted to assess cestode infection and to reveal the molecular characterization and phylogenetic status of large Taenia in wild canids in Iran. Descriptive statistics (frequencies and percentages) were used to summarize the data, and the Chi-square test was employed to evaluate differences in parasite distribution among different variables. For this aim, the intestines of 93 wild canids, including 69 jackals, 22 red foxes, and two wolves, were examined in northern, northeastern, and northwestern regions of Iran for tapeworms. Additionally, the identity of some helminths was confirmed using PCR and DNA sequencing. Based on our findings, 54.5% of red foxes and 47.8% (95% CI: 36.5-59.3%) of jackals were infected, among which single infections with Mesocestoides were highly prevalent (33.3% , 95% CI: 24.5-43.4%), followed by T. hydatigena (4.3%, 95% CI: 1.7-10.5%), D. caninum (2.2% 95%, CI: 0.6-7.5%%), and T. polyacantha (1.1%, 95% CI: 0.2-5.8%). Also, mixed infections were demonstrated in 13.6% of foxes (Mesocestoides + T. polyacantha) and 5.8% of jackals (Mesocestoides + T. hydatigena). Overall, cestode infection rate in wild carnivores was 48.4%. Molecular analysis with universal primers amplified a 450-bp fragment of the mitochondrial cox1 gene. Sequencing also demonstrated 100% and more than 99% identity between the sequences of T. hydatigena (n = 8) and T. polyacantha (n = 4) isolates and their corresponding GenBank reference sequences. This study represents the third report and the first molecularly confirmation of T. polyacantha in foxes in Iran. These findings emphasize the importance of monitoring cestode infections in wild canids for epidemiological and public health purposes.

Keywords

Cestode

Wild canids

Taenia polyacantha

Taenia hydatigena

Iran

Subjects

• Parasitology

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