Giardia duodenalis in sympatric wild reindeer and domestic sheep in Norway

Wild and semi-domesticated reindeer graze freely on natural pastures in Norway, often sharing these with domestic sheep and other domestic and wild ruminants. In this study, faecal samples from wild reindeer and domestic sheep were collected from two areas in southern Norway and analysed to assess t...

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Main Authors: Kjersti Selstad Utaaker, Tsegabirhan Kifleyohannes, Bjørnar Ytrehus, Per-Anders Robertsen, Olav Strand, Lucy J. Robertson
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2024-12-01
Series:International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213224424001007
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author Kjersti Selstad Utaaker
Tsegabirhan Kifleyohannes
Bjørnar Ytrehus
Per-Anders Robertsen
Olav Strand
Lucy J. Robertson
author_facet Kjersti Selstad Utaaker
Tsegabirhan Kifleyohannes
Bjørnar Ytrehus
Per-Anders Robertsen
Olav Strand
Lucy J. Robertson
author_sort Kjersti Selstad Utaaker
collection DOAJ
description Wild and semi-domesticated reindeer graze freely on natural pastures in Norway, often sharing these with domestic sheep and other domestic and wild ruminants. In this study, faecal samples from wild reindeer and domestic sheep were collected from two areas in southern Norway and analysed to assess the occurrence and assemblage of Giardia duodenalis. Among 162 wild reindeer samples, 25 (15%) were positive for Giardia, showing high infection intensities, with most of the samples belonging to sub-assemblage AI, which has zoonotic potential. Interestingly, this study did not detect subassemblage AIII, known to be found in wild ruminants. Among 45 sheep samples, 13 (29%) were Giardia-positive, with most belonging to assemblage E.The finding of predominantly assemblage AI in the reindeer was surprising, particularly given the large proportion of sheep shedding assemblage E Giardia cysts. As the number of sheep on these natural pastures far outnumbers the wild reindeer, it is intriguing that they do not seem to share Giardia assemblages.
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publisher Elsevier
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series International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife
spelling doaj-art-9ebed14b24dc45d29057e0bae0f2c9532025-08-20T02:50:25ZengElsevierInternational Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife2213-22442024-12-012510100410.1016/j.ijppaw.2024.101004Giardia duodenalis in sympatric wild reindeer and domestic sheep in NorwayKjersti Selstad Utaaker0Tsegabirhan Kifleyohannes1Bjørnar Ytrehus2Per-Anders Robertsen3Olav Strand4Lucy J. Robertson5Faculty of Bioscience and Aquaculture, Nord University, Bodø, Norway; Norwegian Veterinary Institute, Ås, Norway; Corresponding author. Faculty of Bioscience and Aquaculture, Nord University, Bodø, Norway.Parasitology, Department of Paraclinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway; Norwegian Veterinary Institute, Ås, NorwayFaculty of Bioscience and Aquaculture, Nord University, Bodø, Norway; Norwegian Veterinary Institute, Ås, NorwayDepartment of Forestry and Wildlife Management, Hedmark University of Applied Sciences, Campus Evenstad, NO-2418, Elverum, NorwayNorwegian Institute for Nature Research, Trondheim, NorwayParasitology, Department of Paraclinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, NorwayWild and semi-domesticated reindeer graze freely on natural pastures in Norway, often sharing these with domestic sheep and other domestic and wild ruminants. In this study, faecal samples from wild reindeer and domestic sheep were collected from two areas in southern Norway and analysed to assess the occurrence and assemblage of Giardia duodenalis. Among 162 wild reindeer samples, 25 (15%) were positive for Giardia, showing high infection intensities, with most of the samples belonging to sub-assemblage AI, which has zoonotic potential. Interestingly, this study did not detect subassemblage AIII, known to be found in wild ruminants. Among 45 sheep samples, 13 (29%) were Giardia-positive, with most belonging to assemblage E.The finding of predominantly assemblage AI in the reindeer was surprising, particularly given the large proportion of sheep shedding assemblage E Giardia cysts. As the number of sheep on these natural pastures far outnumbers the wild reindeer, it is intriguing that they do not seem to share Giardia assemblages.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213224424001007Giardia duodenalisRangifer tarandusOvis ariesNorway
spellingShingle Kjersti Selstad Utaaker
Tsegabirhan Kifleyohannes
Bjørnar Ytrehus
Per-Anders Robertsen
Olav Strand
Lucy J. Robertson
Giardia duodenalis in sympatric wild reindeer and domestic sheep in Norway
International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife
Giardia duodenalis
Rangifer tarandus
Ovis aries
Norway
title Giardia duodenalis in sympatric wild reindeer and domestic sheep in Norway
title_full Giardia duodenalis in sympatric wild reindeer and domestic sheep in Norway
title_fullStr Giardia duodenalis in sympatric wild reindeer and domestic sheep in Norway
title_full_unstemmed Giardia duodenalis in sympatric wild reindeer and domestic sheep in Norway
title_short Giardia duodenalis in sympatric wild reindeer and domestic sheep in Norway
title_sort giardia duodenalis in sympatric wild reindeer and domestic sheep in norway
topic Giardia duodenalis
Rangifer tarandus
Ovis aries
Norway
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213224424001007
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