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This article summarizes the existing studies on the diet of the golden jackal in Europe and provides a comprehensive overview of its food spectrum and feeding behavior. The composition of the diet varies greatly depending on the region and season, indicating that the golden jackal is an extremely adaptable, opportunistic omnivore. It has been observed that golden jackals primarily consume small mammals (54% of biomass), followed by domestic animals, ungulates, and plants; together, these food components account for 90% of the golden jackal’s diet. Birds and hares were also frequently found in their diet. Domestic animals and ungulates were mainly consumed as carrion and not actively hunted or killed by golden jackals.

Lange PN et al. (2021) Diet composition of the golden jackal Canis aureus in south‐east Europe – a review. Mammal Review 51:207–213

In this study, conducted between November 2013 and January 2016, the endoparasite and ectoparasite fauna of the most common predators in Northern Germany (Schleswig-Holstein) was examined, with a focus on parasites of One Health concern. Eighty red foxes (Vulpes vulpes), 18 stone martens (Martes foina), and 9 raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides) were available for the study. The most commonly detected endoparasites in raccoon dogs were Toxocara canis (prevalence of 33.3%), Capillaria spp. (11.1%), Alaria alata (44.4%), Uncinaria stenocephala (11.1%), and Toxascaris leonina (11.1%).

Waindok P et al. (2021) Predators in northern Germany are reservoirs for parasites of One Health concern. Parasitology Research 120:4229-4239

The authors of the present study examined the prevalence of nematodes and the infection intensity in the digestive tracts of 796 American minks from Poland. The identification of parasite species was performed using molecular methods (18S rRNA) and supplemented with morphological analyses. In total, 26,852 nematodes were isolated, of which 98.6% originated from mink stomachs. Two nematode species were identified in the digestive tract of the American mink: Aonchotheca putorii and Molineus patens. The results showed that A. putorii is a dominant nematode in the invasive American mink and that it colonizes the stomach intensively and preferentially.

Kołodziej-Sobocińska M et al. (2021) Digestive tract nematode infections in non-native invasive American mink with the first molecular identification of Molineus patens. International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife 14:48-52