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Infections in Invasive Alien Species:

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1 Infections in Invasive Alien Species:
Ecological and Sanitary impacts Dr. Nicola Ferrari Assistant Professor in Ecoparasitology Faculty of Veterinary Medicine

2 Impact of infection in IAS
Influence on establishment & spread Parasite Release Parasite-mediated competition -Introduction of alien parasites -> Spillover to native species -Acquisition of local parasites -> Spillback to native species (Torchin et al Nature) Sanitary consequences - Transmission to humans (zoonoses) - Transmission to domestic animals -> economic costs for control/eradication

3 Grey Squirrel in Italy First introduction in 1948 Today established in
Piedmont, Lombardy, Liguria, Umbria Martinoli et al. (2010) Hystrix NAT/IT/ EC-SQUARE Eradication and Control of Grey Squirrel: Action for Preservation of Biodiversity in Forest Ecosystems

4 Grey squirrel – Macroparasite Community
N=279 (from 8 populations) Arthropod richness (prevalence>5%): USA=7, ITALY=2 Helminth richness (prevalence>5%): USA=8, ITALY=2 PARASITE LOSS Introduction of alien nematode S. robustus SPILLOVER TO RED? Acquisition of native flea C. sciurorum SPILL-BACK TO RED? Romeo et al. (2014) PLoS ONE

5 Parasite infection in red squirrels
Macroparasite Spillover in Red Squirrels Parasite infection in red squirrels Romeo et al. (2015) Parasitol Res

6 Impact on wildlife & domestic animals
Grey squirrel Microparasites Microparasite N Prevalence Impact on humans Toxoplasma gondii 151 7% Cryptosporidium spp. 162 3% Salmonella spp. 0% Francisella tularensis Borrelia spp. Mycobacterium spp. Rickettsia spp. Ljungan virus 49 Impact on wildlife & domestic animals Squirrelpox virus 363 Adenovirus 232 1% West Nile virus Encephalitozoon cuniculi Hepatozoon spp. 156

7 Impact of parasites of Grey Squirrel
Parasite Loss Enemy Release -> Potential for increased population growth No Squirrelpox but Introduction of an alien helminth Spillover to red squirrel Parasite mediated competition: faster replacement by grey squirrel Higher infection in Red co-occurring with Grey Indirect effect Few zoonotic infections Marginal risk for humans

8 Current Involvements Advisor for Regional Government (Lombardy):
-Working Group: Control/eradication of Coypu -Monitoring Racoon

9 Starting projects: IAS Disease Risk Analysis
Build a database of infections in IAS Perform a Risk Assessment Species Consequence Conservation Zoonotic Domestic/ economic Grey Squirrel High/moderate Low Coypu Negligible Racoon High Disease Risk Analysis to guide (EU Regulation on IAS): -List of invasive specie of Union Concern -Risk assessment -Management Measures: minimizations of impacts

10 Thanks for your attention
Dr. Nicola Ferrari Assistant Professor in Ecoparasitology Faculty of Veterinary Medicine


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