Protostrongylus caprae Zdzitowiecki et Boev, 1971 (Nematoda: Protostrongylidae) – First record in Alpine ibex (Capra ibex Linnaeus, 1758) from Europe

• Published in: International journal for parasitology. Parasites and wildlife 2023-12, Vol.22, p.199-204
• Main Authors: Panayotova-Pencheva, Mariana, Visser, Martin, Rehbein, Steffen
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alpine ibex; Europe; Protostrongylidae; Protostrongylus caprae
• ISSN: 2213-2244; 2213-2244
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2023.10.009

In the course of a survey of the endoparasites of Alpine ibex (Capra ibex) from Austria, examination of the lungs revealed male Protostrongylus nematodes presenting morphological characters which differed from those of the three Protostrongylus species previously reported from this host. Fragments of 16 adult male and 4 adult female nematodes extracted from the lung tissue of two female ibex following peptic digestion were subjected to close microscopic examination. Based on their morphology, the lungworms were identified as Protostrongylus caprae Zdzitowiecki et Boev, 1971. This species was originally described from Siberian ibex (Capra sibirica) in Asia and previously only reported from this host from Kazakhstan and Mongolia. The identification of P. caprae in Alpine ibex represents a new host and geographical record and reinforces the interest to further study the parasite diversity of wild ungulates for a better understanding of complex host-parasite associations and biogeography. [Display omitted] •Lungworms of the species Protostrongylus caprae were found for the first time in Alpine ibex from Austria.•Detailed morphometric description and illustration of the species on material of Alpine ibex.•Alpine ibex represents a new host and Europe a new geographical record for Protostrongylus caprae.