News

In recent decades, a rapid expansion of the golden jackal (Canis aureus) into Northern and Western Europe has been observed. In order to assess its potential spread, the authors used an ensemble forecasting approach in a niche modeling study to project the future climatic suitability of the golden jackal’s habitat in Europe. The study’s findings clearly indicate that areas with climatic conditions similar to the current core distribution range of the golden jackal in Europe will significantly expand northward and westward in the coming decades.

Cunze S & Klimpel S (2022) From the Balkan towards Western Europe: Range expansion oft he golden jackal (Canis aureus) – A climatic niche modeling approach. Ecology and Evolution 12:e9141 https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.9141

As part of a broader study on the ecology of the golden jackal (Canis aureus) in Serbia, two female animals were found to be infected with heartworms (Dirofilaria immitis) in 2020. The adult parasites were located in the right atrium of the heart and, unusually, in the caudal vena cava. These are the first reported cases of D. immitis in the caudal vena cava of golden jackals in Europe.

Penezić A et al. (2022) Heartworm Disease in Jackals: Unusual Location of Dirofilaria immitis. Acta Parasitologica https://doi.org/10.1007/s11686-022-00567-9

A one-year-old female golden jackal (Canis aureus) in good nutritional condition was legally hunted in Jakovo near Belgrade, Serbia. During the autopsy, the presence of the fox tapeworm (Echinococcus multilocularis) was detected for the first time in a golden jackal. The fox tapeworm is a parasite that infects carnivores (canids, felids) as definitive hosts. In its life cycle, small mammals, particularly rodents, serve as intermediate hosts. Other animal species and humans can also be affected by this parasite.

Marinković D et al. (2022) First Report of Alveolar Hydatid Disease (Echinococcus multilocularis) in a Golden Jackal (Canis aureus). Acta Parasitologica https://doi.org/10.1007/s11686-022-00556-y