The golden jackal Canis aureus as a new species in the fauna of Baltic countries

Abstract

Golden jackal (Canis aureus) was recorded for the first time in Baltic countries in Estonia in 28.02.2013 and three specimens of golden jackal were hunted in Latvia in 2014. In Lithuania the first golden jackal was found in 07.02.2015. The species was identified using morphological and mitochondrial DNA control region (CR1) analysis. The golden jackal has already been declared an invasive species in Baltic States. In Lithuania, hunting of these animals has been permitted from 15 October till 1 April. Few studies in the past have revealed golden jackal potential role as carriers of zoonotic diseases and intestinal helminthes parasites. In present study presence of parasites in golden jackal specimen have been investigated. No tick-borne pathogens (Anaplasma phagocylophilum, Babesia sp., Bartonella sp.) were found in spleen of golden jackal. However, the flukes Apophallus donicus, nematodes Uncinaria slenocephala, and unidentified individuals of class Cestoda have been detected. Helminths A. donicus and U. stenocephala are not new species for Lithuania and/ or neighboring territories. The diet of jackal consists of plants, invertebrates and vertebrates.