Pulmonary protostrongyliasis in a mountain hare from Italy

J Wildl Dis. 2000 Apr;36(2):367-9. doi: 10.7589/0090-3558-36.2.367.

Abstract

An adult male mountain hare (Lepus timidus), shot during the hunting season on the slopes of Mt. Civetta (eastern Alps, Veneto, northeastern Italy), was eviscerated and diffuse nodular lesions of verminous pneumonia were observed. Adult helminths were collected and male specimens were identified as Protostrongylus pulmonalis. Histologically, a non-purulent interstitial pneumonia and a desquamative bronchiolitis and alveolitis, along with thickening of alveolar septa, were apparent in the nodules. In several enlarged alveoli, a large number of eggs and larvae of nematodes were found. This is the first recorded case of protostrongyliasis in mountain hares from Italy and from an alpine population.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Italy
  • Lagomorpha / parasitology*
  • Lung Diseases, Parasitic / parasitology
  • Lung Diseases, Parasitic / pathology
  • Lung Diseases, Parasitic / veterinary*
  • Male
  • Metastrongyloidea / isolation & purification*
  • Pneumonia / parasitology
  • Pneumonia / pathology
  • Pneumonia / veterinary*
  • Strongylida Infections / parasitology
  • Strongylida Infections / pathology
  • Strongylida Infections / veterinary*