animals Article Monitoring Campaign over an Edible Dormouse Population (Glis glis; Rodentia: Gliridae) in Sicily: First Report of Mesocestodiasis Giorgia Schirò 1,* , Domenico Pieri 2, Mario Lo Valvo 2 , Luigi Gradoni 3, Simone Mario Cacciò 3, Francesco Severini 3, Gianluca Marucci 3, Lucia Galuppo 1, Valentina Cumbo 1 , Roberto Puleio 1 and Guido Ruggero Loria 1 1 Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia, Via Gino Marinuzzi 3, 90129 Palermo, Italy; [email protected] (L.G.); [email protected] (V.C.); [email protected] (R.P.); [email protected] (G.R.L.) 2 STEBICEF, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Via Archirafi, 18, 90123 Palermo, Italy; [email protected] (D.P.); [email protected] (M.L.V.) 3 Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy; [email protected] (L.G.); [email protected] (S.M.C.); [email protected] (F.S.); [email protected] (G.M.) * Correspondence: [email protected] Simple Summary: In Nebrodi Park (Sicily, Italy), live many wild mammal species that move closer to human beings every day. The edible dormouse (Glis glis), in 2017 and 2018, was responsible for nut crop damage in the area. For this reason, a sanitary monitoring campaign involving 30 dormice Citation: Schirò, G.; Pieri, D.; Lo was carried out by collecting rectal and conjunctival swabs and fur and nest content, which were Valvo, M.; Gradoni, L.; Cacciò, S.M.; then processed for laboratory examinations. A large presence of fleas belonging to Monopsyllus Severini, F.; Marucci, G.; Galuppo, L.; sciurorum was found. Necropsy of a dead dormouse revealed an infection of Mesocestoides lineatus, Cumbo, V.; Puleio, R.; et al. whose cysts were found in the abdomen cavity and on the liver; this is the first report of this in Monitoring Campaign over an Edible Dormouse Population (Glis glis; this species. Further studies are necessary to identify their role in the environment, considering the Rodentia: Gliridae) in Sicily: First limited knowledge of this species in Italy. Report of Mesocestodiasis. Animals 2021, 11, 934. https://doi.org/ Abstract: This study reports on the health status of the edible dormouse (Glis glis) living in Nebrodi 10.3390/ani11040934 Park (Sicily, Italy), responsible for nut crop damage in the area. In the frame of a monitoring campaign for potential zoonotic risk involving 30 dormice, rectal and conjunctival swabs and fur and nest Academic Editors: Darryl Jones and content were collected for bacteriological and parasitological examinations, respectively. A large Luca Borrelli presence of fleas belonging to Monopsyllus sciurorum was found. Necropsy of a dead dormouse revealed an infection of Mesocestoides lineatus, whose cysts were found in the abdomen cavity and on Received: 21 January 2021 the liver; this is the first report of this in this species. Further studies are necessary to identify their Accepted: 22 March 2021 role in the environment, considering the limited knowledge of this species in Italy. Published: 25 March 2021 Keywords: dormice; Glis glis; Monopsyllus sciorum; Mesocestoides lineatus Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affil- iations. 1. Introduction This study was carried out in a Sicilian regional park, located in the Nebrodi mountains (Sicily, Italy), which still represents a sanctuary for biodiversity, hosting several animal species including a variety of micromammals. The edible dormouse (Glis glis L.; Rodentia: Copyright: © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. Gliridae), an arboreal hibernating rodent, is one of the inhabitants of this rare Mediterranean This article is an open access article landscape, still reported in the central–eastern areas of Sicily, including Madonie, Nebrodi, distributed under the terms and Peloritani, the Iblei mountains, and Mount Etna. This species usually lives in arboreal nests, conditions of the Creative Commons which are generally dug by other animals in the hollows of trees, and its mobility in the Attribution (CC BY) license (https:// environment is both vertical and horizontal [1]. Reproduction of the dormouse is directly creativecommons.org/licenses/by/ related to food availability, generally nuts from beech and oak trees [2–4]; mating, and 4.0/). consequently the lifespan of these animals, is related to the intensity and frequency of mast Animals 2021, 11, 934. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11040934 https://www.mdpi.com/journal/animals Animals 2021, 11, x FOR PEER REVIEW 2 of 10 Animals 2021, 11, 934 [2–4]; mating, and consequently the lifespan of these animals, is related to the intensity2 of 9 and frequency of mast seeding events [5]. The site fidelity of this species is well known [6–8]; nevertheless, they may move to look for better nesting sites and, moreover, availa- bility of food resources [9]. seedingAlthough events little [5 ].is Theknown site fidelityabout the of thissanitary species state is wellof edible known dormice [6–8]; nevertheless,in Europe, this they speciesmay movemay act to lookas a reservoir for better host nesting for siteszoonotic and, diseases moreover,, especially availability those of foodtransmitted resources by [ 9]. fleas andAlthough ticks [1], little but isalso known for emerging about the viral sanitary disease state, such of edible as hantavirus, dormice inmonkeypox Europe, this, andspecies polyomaviruses may act as [10 a reservoir–12]. In particular, host for zoonotic edible dormice diseases, seem especially to be, more those than transmitted any other by mammals,fleas and an ticks efficient [1], butreservoir also for host emerging for Lyme viral disease disease, spirochetes such as (Borrelia hantavirus, spp.) monkeypox, transmit- tedand by ticks polyomaviruses belonging to [the10– Ixodidae12]. In particular, family, such edible as Ixodes dormice ricinus seem [13,14 to]. be, The more prevalence than any of theother infection mammals, in this an species efficient is probably reservoir due host to for its Lymelongevity disease (average spirochetes 9 years) ( Borreliaand to thespp.) numeroustransmitted ticks by that ticks feed belonging on them [15]. to the Moreover, Ixodidae wild family, rodents such are as Ixodesan important ricinus [source13,14]. of The theprevalence transmission ofthe of Francisella infection in tularensis this species, which is probably in the last due few to itsyears longevity has been (average considered 9 years) and to the numerous ticks that feed on them [15]. Moreover, wild rodents are an important as a re-emerging zoonosis [16,17]. source of the transmission of Francisella tularensis, which in the last few years has been In the last decade, a massive increase in the dormouse population living in the considered as a re-emerging zoonosis [16,17]. Nebrodi mountains has been the source of worries and target of protests by local farmers In the last decade, a massive increase in the dormouse population living in the Nebrodi because it was believed to be responsible for huge losses of their hazelnut crop, one of the mountains has been the source of worries and target of protests by local farmers because most appreciated and valuable products in these areas. Therefore, between 2017 and 2018, it was believed to be responsible for huge losses of their hazelnut crop, one of the most the Sicilian region, together with University and Public Veterinary institutions officially appreciated and valuable products in these areas. Therefore, between 2017 and 2018, involved in management and control of the risks caused by regional fauna, implemented the Sicilian region, together with University and Public Veterinary institutions officially a survey to monitor the size of the dormouse population and to evaluate the losses due to involved in management and control of the risks caused by regional fauna, implemented a nut crop damage. In order to monitor the range of migration of the rodents in the follow- survey to monitor the size of the dormouse population and to evaluate the losses due to ing months, all trapped animals were identified by the application of a microchip. nut crop damage. In order to monitor the range of migration of the rodents in the following months,The surveillance all trapped activiti animalses wereaimed identified to understand by the applicationif the cause of of a microchip.the decrease in the hazelnutThe crop surveillances were related activities to the aimed increased to understand dormice population, if the cause and of the to decreaseevaluate inthe the eventualhazelnut relocation crops were of this related species. to For the these increased reasons, dormice the authors population, sampled and several to evaluate rodents the to monitoreventual their relocation health of status, this species. reporting For some these interesting reasons, the data authors on pathogens sampled affecting several rodents dor- miceto living monitor in this their area. health status, reporting some interesting data on pathogens affecting dormice living in this area. 2. Materials and Methods 2.1.2. Sample Materials Collection and Methods 2.1.A Sampletrapping Collection campaign was carried out from October 2017 to October 2018; a total of 30 dormiceA trapping were trapped campaign in art wasificial carried wooden out fromnests Octoberutilized 2017to monitor to October the presence 2018; a total and of density30 dormice of the werespecies trapped in the inarea artificial (Figure wooden 1A); once nests identified utilized by to monitora microchip the presenceimplanted and subcutaneouslydensity of the in species the neck, in the rectal area and (Figure conjunctival1A); once swabs identified were by immediately a microchip obtained implanted whilesubcutaneously searching for in ectop the neck,arasites rectal onand the conjunctivalrodents, which swabs were were released immediately thereafter. obtained Further- while more,searching in 2018, for one ectoparasites carcass of a on male the rodents,adult dormouse which were was releasedalso found thereafter. in a nest. Furthermore, The rodent in was2018, in a onesomewhat carcass lethargic of a male position, adult dormouse as it probably was also passed found away in a while nest.