Thelazia callipaeda infects the eyes of carnivores and humans in Far Eastern Asiatic
and European countries. Studies have demonstrated the occurrence of T. callipaeda
in foxes from areas where canine thelaziosis is endemic. However, there is little
information on the role of wild carnivores as hosts of this nematode. From May 2003
to May 2009, a total of 130 carcasses of red foxes (Vulpes vulpes; n=75), wolves (Canis
lupus; n=2), beech martens (Martes foina; n=22), brown hares (Lepus europaeus; n=13),
Eurasian badgers (Meles meles; n=10), and wild cats (Felis silvestris; n=8) were examined
in an area of southern Italy where canine thelaziosis is highly prevalent. At necropsy,
animals were examined and nematodes were collected from the conjunctival sacs of both
eyes. All nematodes were morphologically identified and at least five specimens from
each of the five host species were molecularly processed by PCR amplification and
sequencing of a partial mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 gene (cox1).
Five out of the six wild animal species examined were found to be infected with eyeworms.
The overall infection rate, excluding the Eurasian badgers that were all negative,
was 39.1%. All the 189 adult nematodes collected (intensity of infection=4+/-2.2)
were morphologically identified as T. callipaeda. The molecular analysis confirmed
that the only haplotype of T. callipaeda circulating in Europe (i.e., haplotype 1)
is present in that area. The competence of red foxes, wolves, beech martens, brown
hares, and wild cats as definitive hosts for T. callipaeda is discussed in relationship
to their ecology and their likely exposure to the vector Phortica variegata in the
study area. The role the wild fauna plays in maintaining and spreading eyeworm infection
in humans and domestic animals is also discussed.