EVALUATION OF TRICHINELLA PSEUDOSPIRALIS AND TOXOPLASMA GONDII INFECTION IN FREE RANGING CORVIDS FROM THE PROVINCE OF PISA

Magpies (Pica pica) and hooded crows (Corvus corone cornix) are scavenger birds feeding on carcasses, arthropods, vegetables, small preys and food waste. In Italy, they tend to remain in the same territory and establish large populations both in urban and rural environments. For these reasons, these birds have a potential role as sentinels for the spread of Toxoplasma gondii in a given area. Trichinella pseudospiralis has been previously reported in corvids. In the present study, 798 free ranging corvids, including 678 magpies and 120 hooded crows deceased following a program of population size reduction of the province of Pisa, were examined for T. pseudospiralis and T. gondii infections. More specifically, sera from 651 magpies and 120 hooded crows were examined by IFAT for antibodies specific to T. gondii. In seropositive birds, the heart was homogenized and DNA was extracted to perform a nested polymerase chain reaction (nPCR) detection method for B1 gene of T. gondii and genotyping for SAG. In the case of Trichinella, breast muscle samples (50 g each) from 678 magpies and 91 hooded crows were tested by an artificial digestion method. After digestion, eventually recovered larvae were processed for molecular typing. Data were statistically analysed (p <0.05). Forty-five, 41 magpies and 4 hooded crows, out of the 771 examined animals (5.8%) scored positive for T. gondii with antibody titers ranging from 1: 25 to 1:100. Seropositivity to T. gondii was not statistically different between magpies and hooded crows. T. gondii DNA was detected in 15 out of 45 heart samples and the occurrence of genotypes II and III of T. gondii was evidenced. No Trichinella larvae were detected in muscle samples. This is the first report of T. gondii infection in corvids in Italy.