Large-scale molecular survey for piroplasmids in Iberian wild carnivores

Piroplasmids are vector-borne hemoprotozoan parasites belonging to the phylum Apicomplexa that are of veterinary and medical importance. Wild carnivores are hosts for diverse piroplasmids, some of which are highly pathogenic for domestic dogs and cats. A large-scale survey including samples from 244...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Millán, Javier, Checa Herráiz, Rocío, Oleaga, Álvaro, Rodríguez, Alejandro, Negre, Nieves, Llaneza, Luis, Velarde, Roser, Miró Corrales, Guadalupe
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2024
País:España
Institución:Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM)
Repositorio:Docta Complutense
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:docta.ucm.es:20.500.14352/114000
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/114000
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:579.62
Canidae
Felidae
Mustelidae
Piroplasmida
Viverridae
Microbiología (Veterinaria)
3109.05 Microbiología
Descripción
Sumario:Piroplasmids are vector-borne hemoprotozoan parasites belonging to the phylum Apicomplexa that are of veterinary and medical importance. Wild carnivores are hosts for diverse piroplasmids, some of which are highly pathogenic for domestic dogs and cats. A large-scale survey including samples from 244 individuals belonging to eleven diferent species that were opportunistically obtained between 1993 and 2015 in four Autonomous Regions in Spain were tested for piroplasmid DNA with two diferent nested-PCR assays targeting the 18S rRNA gene. Sixty of 85 Eurasian badgers (Meles meles), 11 of 42 red foxes (Vulpes vulpes), and 1 of 10 stone martens (Martes foina) resulted positive. In contrast, 46 wolves (Canis lupus), 26 genets (Genetta genetta), 22 pine martens (Martes martes), and other less-represented species were negative. Sequencing revealed that all foxes and one badger were parasitized by Babesia vulpes, and the remaining badgers and the stone marten by Babesia sp. badger type A (BBTA). The prevalence of BBTA in Catalonian badgers was signifcantly lower in Alpine than in Continental and Mediterranean climates. This study confrms that badgers and ref foxes constitute the natural hosts of BBTA and B. vulpes, respectively, with occasional spillovers to other species