Abstract:

In the period January 2013 to January 2014, carcasses from 348 wild boars originating from East Austria were tested for Alaria alata mesocercariae by means of a migration technique. Mesocercariae were detected in 21 carcasses (6%). Median number of mesocercariae was 2 per 35 g mixed tissue sample (roughly equal parts of glandular, fat und muscle tissue from the cheek – cranioventral neck region). In combination with previous studies from 2011-2012, our results indicate that the parasite is enzootic in floodplain areas along the Danube river in the Tullnerfeld, in the March-Thaya region bordering the Czech Republic and in an area of the district Oberpullendorf. Whereas seasonal and spatial variations can be explained, there are differences between years which require further study. For instance, in one hunting area in the Tullnerfeld, 2 out of 20 wild boar carcasses killed on a drive hunt tested positive in January 2013, whereas in December 2013-January 2014, none of 32 carcasses tested positive.