Abstract
Wildlife plays an important role in the epidemiological cycle of Toxoplasma gondii. The European wild rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) can be a source of infection to wild and domestic hosts, including human beings. Additionally, as an herbivorous animal, the European wild rabbit may also be a sentinel of environmental contamination with T. gondii and, consequently, an indicator of the potential transmission of this parasite. The purpose of the present work was to detect T. gondii DNA in European wild rabbit from central Portugal, as well as the possible implications for public health. Heart and diaphragm samples were obtained from 28 rabbits hunted in central Portugal. Nested PCR separately amplified the 5′ and 3′ ends of the surface antigen 2 (SAG2) gene. T. gondii DNA was detected in 19 out of the 28 sampled animals, resulting in a prevalence of 67.9%. These results show that T. gondii infection occurs in European wild rabbit and therefore may pose a potential risk for humans if consumed as raw or undercooked meat. Measures should be taken in order to prevent infection by this zoonotic parasite and for the conservation of wildlife. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study performed by means of PCR on T. gondii in European wild rabbit meat samples.
Highlights
The European wild rabbit (Oryctolagus cunniculus) is native to the Iberian Peninsula [1]
From a total of 28 wild rabbits, T. gondii DNA was detected in 19 (67.9%) (Figure 2), suggesting a relevant prevalence in meat samples from the European wild rabbit hunted in the central geographical region of Portugal
The results from the present study suggest that wild rabbit is an important reservoir of T. gondii and other parasites and can be an appropriate choice as a sentinel to evaluate environmental contamination, taking into account that it is an herbivorous animal
Summary
The European wild rabbit (Oryctolagus cunniculus) is native to the Iberian Peninsula [1]. In Iberian ecosystems, it is considered a keystone species, taking into account its importance as a prey of two highly endangered species, the Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) and the imperial eagle (Aquila adalbertii) [2]. In addition to its ecological importance, the wild rabbit is one of the most appreciated small game species [3]. Wild rabbit populations have suffered a considerable decrease in the Iberian Peninsula [4]. Several factors have contributed to this decline, including habitat loss, changes in land use, overhunting, natural predation pressure, and two viral diseases, namely, myxomatosis and rabbit hemorrhagic disease [5]. The species is classified as endangered in its native range by the International Union for Conservation of Nature [6]
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