Abstract
BackgroundWildlife can act as reservoir of different tick-borne pathogens, such as bacteria, parasites and viruses. The aim of the present study was to assess the presence of tick-borne bacteria and protozoa with veterinary and zoonotic importance in cervids and wild boars from the Centre and South of Portugal.MethodsOne hundred and forty one blood samples from free-ranging ungulates including 73 red deer (Cervus elaphus), 65 wild boars (Sus scrofa) and three fallow deer (Dama dama) were tested for the presence of Anaplasma marginale/A. ovis, A. phagocytophilum, Anaplasma/Ehrlichia spp., Babesia/Theileria spp., Borrelia burgdorferi (sensu lato) (s.l.), and Rickettsia spp. DNA by PCR.ResultsAnaplasma spp. DNA was detected in 33 (43.4 %) cervids (31 red deer and two fallow deer) and in two (3.1 %) wild boars while Theileria spp. were found in 34 (44.7 %) cervids (32 red deer and two fallow deer) and in three (4.6 %) wild boar blood samples. Sequence analysis of msp4 sequences identified A. marginale, A. ovis, while the analysis of rDNA sequence data disclosed the presence of A. platys and A. phagocytophilum and T. capreoli and Theileria sp. OT3. Anaplasma spp./Theileria spp. mixed infections were found in 17 cervids (22.4 %) and in two wild boars (3.1 %). All samples were negative for Babesia sp., B. burgdorferi (s.l.), Ehrlichia sp. or Rickettsia sp.ConclusionsThis is the first detection of Anaplasma marginale, A. ovis, A. phagocytophilum, A. platys, Theileria capreoli and Theileria sp. OT3 in cervids and wild boars from Portugal. Further studies concerning the potential pathogenicity of the different species of Anaplasma and Theileria infecting wild ungulates, the identification of their vector range, and their putative infectivity to domestic livestock and humans should be undertaken.
Highlights
Wildlife can act as reservoir of different tick-borne pathogens, such as bacteria, parasites and viruses
DNA was detected in 33 (43.4 % confidence intervals (CI): 32.1–55.3 %) cervids (31 red deer and two fallow deer) and in two (3.1 % CI: 0.4–10.7 %) wild boars using a set of general primers that target 16S rDNA
Seventeen sequences obtained from red deer and two from wild boars showed 99–100 % identity with A. platys previously described in dogs from Portugal (LC018182-3; [26]), Argentina (JX261979; [27]) and in a goat from Cyprus (EU090182; [28])
Summary
Wildlife can act as reservoir of different tick-borne pathogens, such as bacteria, parasites and viruses. Wildlife can harbor a high density of ticks that can transmit several pathogens, such as bacteria, parasites and viruses. In addition to their veterinary importance, many of these tick-borne pathogens can affect the human population as a result of their zoonotic potential. Piroplasmoses in cattle is caused by tick-borne protozoan parasites comprising several Theileria and Babesia species. These diseases are a serious health problem, being responsible for important economic losses to the cattle industry. Several pathogenic species of Babesia (B. bovis, B. divergens and B. bigemina) have been reported in cattle from central and southern Portugal [6, 7]. Human babesiosis caused by B. divergens, B. microti or B. venatorum have been reported in several European countries [8], including one fatal case due to B. divergens in Portugal [9]
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