Molecular Detection of Babesia spp. (Apicomplexa: Piroplasma) in Free-Ranging Canids and Mustelids From Southern Italy
Babesiosis is an emerging tick-borne disease caused by apicomplexan parasites with widespread geographical distribution and various wildlife species as reservoir hosts. The aims of this study were to investigate the prevalence and assess the role of free-ranging canids and mustelids in the maintenan...
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Veröffentlicht in: | Frontiers in veterinary science 2019-08, Vol.6, p.269 |
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Sprache: | eng |
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Zusammenfassung: | Babesiosis is an emerging tick-borne disease caused by apicomplexan parasites with widespread geographical distribution and various wildlife species as reservoir hosts. The aims of this study were to investigate the prevalence and assess the role of free-ranging canids and mustelids in the maintenance of
spp. in southern Italy. PCR analysis of splenic samples targeting the 18S rRNA gene revealed the presence of
spp. in 36 of 82 (43.9%) red foxes (
) including 29 (58%) from Campania region and seven (21.8%) from Calabria region, in seven of 13 (53.8%) Eurasian badgers (
), and in one of 13 (7.7%) gray wolves (
). Samples from other host species including 9 Eurasian otters (
), 1 stone marten (
), 1 least weasel (
), and 1 European polecat (
) tested
spp. negative. Sequence analysis of the 18S rRNA gene demonstrated the presence of
in the red fox and two sequence types of badger-associated
spp. in the Eurasian badger. The
sp. sequence detected in the gray wolf was identical to a badger-associated
sp. This study shows that the number of
spp. infecting free-ranging carnivores in Italy is higher than currently believed, and suggests that these hosts may play an important role in the maintenance of the sylvatic cycle of these parasites. It is the first report of badger-associated
spp. in Italy and in a gray wolf. |
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ISSN: | 2297-1769 2297-1769 |
DOI: | 10.3389/fvets.2019.00269 |