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Abstract Background Dictyocaulosis is a parasitic disease caused by pulmonary nematodes from genus Dictyocaulus affecting various ungulate hosts. It can cause verminous bronchopneumonia and for heavily infected individuals, fatal outcomes can occur. Case presentation The study describes the case of a male European bison which died three months after relocation from Slovakia to one of the reintroduction areas in Nucșoara village, Făgăraș Mountains, Romania. Necropsy revealed the presence of pulmonary nematodes in the respiratory tract. Morphology and molecular diagnosis was performed and Dictyocaulus viviparus was identified. Conclusion Rigorous health monitoring is essential to assure the success of reintroduction programs, understanding and preventing infectious diseases and limiting their impact on population health.

Background: Platyhelminthes are common parasites of diurnal birds of prey, including common buzzard (Buteo buteo). They are widely distributed in Europe. Despite the extensive study of flatworms across the continent, this study represents the first report for Romania and extends the biogeographic knowledge of Platyhelminthes in diurnal raptors. It also identifies common buzzards as a new host of Parastrigea flexilis in Europe. Materials and methods: Between 2017 and 2020, 63 common buzzards (Buteo buteo) found road killed or dead due to other causes were collected from Romania. All specimens were necropsied and examined for internal helminths, which were preserved in ethanol for molecular identification and formaldehyde for morphological identification. Results: Species identified included Cestoda: Cladotaenia globifera (33.3%) and five species of Trematoda: Neodiplostomum attenuatum (12.7%), Strigea falconis (6.4%), Parastrigea flexilis (3.2%), Neodiplostomum spathoides (3.2%) and Brachylaima fuscata (1.6%). Conclusions: This study provides new data about diversity, phylogenetics and geographical distribution of Platyhelminthes parasitizing Buteo buteo in Romania. To our best knowledge, it identifies B. buteo as a new host of Parastrigea flexilis and reports the first genetic sequence of Neodiplostomum spathoides.

Abstract Background Fleas are important hematophagous insects, infesting mammals and birds with a worldwide distribution. Fleas of medical importance have been reported from various carnivores worldwide, such as felids, canids, or mustelids. Romania hosts a wide carnivore diversity, but very little is known about flea species that parasitize these animals in Romania. This study aimed to provide a better understanding of the fleas’ diversity and their distribution in a relatively large and diverse number of wild carnivore hosts from Romania. Methods From 2013 to 2021, 282 carcasses of wild carnivores from different locations in Romania were collected and examined for the presence of ectoparasites. All collected fleas were morphologically identified using specific keys and descriptions. An analysis of the co-occurrence networks was performed. Results A total of 11 flea species were identified: Pulex irritans (41.09%), Paraceras melis (20.11%), Ctenocephalides felis (7.33%), Ctenocephalides canis (7.83%), Monopsyllus sciurorum (11.11%), Chaetopsylla trichosa (21.96%), Chaetopsylla homoea (5.5%), Chaetopsylla tuberculaticeps (100%), Chaetopsylla rothschildi (13.33%), Chaetopsylla sp. (14.34%), Chaetopsylla globiceps (5.12%), Echidnophaga gallinacea (10%). The statistical analyses showed a significant difference between the infestation of Martes foina with females being more frequently infected than males (66% versus 33%). Paraceras melis infesting Meles meles had a significantly higher prevalence in female badgers than in males (× 2 = 7.7977, P