Abstracts
Background: Research on disease surveillance in wildlife species is of fundamental importance for understanding the epidemiology of zoonotic diseases. Methods: Fecal samples were collected from 24 wild boars in the districts of Antakya, İskenderun, and Kırıkhan in Hatay province during the years 2018-2019. The Fülleborn flotation and Benedek sedimentation methods were applied to these samples. Additionally, feces were examined for the presence of Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts using Kinyoun acid-fast staining and nested PCR methods. Results: Microscopic examination revealed that 14 animals (58.33%) were infected with one or more parasite species. The prevalence rates of gastrointestinal parasites were as follows: Eimeria spp. 45.83%, Metastrongylus spp. 20.83%, Ascaris suum 20.83%, Strongyloides spp. 12.5%, and Oesophagostomum spp. 8.33%. Furthermore, no Cryptosporidium spp. was detected in any of the fecal samples. The infection rate was higher in male boars (64.70%) compared to females (42.85%). According to the results of Fisher’s Exact Test, there was a statistically significant difference in parasite presence among the sampled districts, while no significant difference was found between parasite presence and sex. Conclusions: In conclusion, this study indicates that wild boar populations can serve as potential reservoirs of parasites for both animals and humans.

Keywords: Ascaris suum, Cryptosporidium, Eimeria, Strongyloides, Boar