Environmental Exposure of Wild Carnivores to Zoonotic Pathogens: Leptospira Infection in the First Free Living Wolf (Canis lupus Linnaeus, 1758) Found Dead in the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region

Leptospirosis is a worldwide-spread zoonosis causing disease and death in dogs humans. A Leptospiral infection has been recorded several wild carnivore species Europe, but tissue pathological changes were not commonly described. The Grey wolf (Canis lupus) expanding its distribution range north-eastern Italy during the last decade. young wolf, representing first individual handled region, was found road-killed then submitted to necropsy. Pathological included erosive lesions of gingival mucosa, mild liver enlargement, multifocal degenerative-necrotic areas along with hyperemic reactive lesions; interstitial nephritis lung hemorrhages observed. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) able detect pathogenic Leptospira performed on kidney sample positive. Serological reactions for serogroup Gryppotyphosa (1:6400), Pomona (1:800), Icterohaemorrhagiae (1:200) evidenced by MAT. Genotyping Multilocus Sequence Typing (MLST) detected characterized it as belonging Type (ST) 117, which refers L. kirschneri, Pomona, serovar Mozdok. Regardless role an eventual predisposing factor road killing this best authors’ knowledge, report Leptospira-induced pathology Europe. Surveys free-ranging wildlife should be pursued order achieve further epidemiological knowledge circulation strain.