A molecular survey of Piroplasmida and Hepatozoon isolated from domestic and wild animals in Burgos (northern Spain)

Gimenez, Consuelo; Casado, N.; Criado–Fornelio, A.; Miguel, Florencio Álvarez de; Domínguez-Peñafiel, Gerardo

doi:10.1016/j.vetpar.2009.02.021

Cited by 73 publications

(49 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…The high prevalence of 50% found in this study and in this population is therefore not surprising and reflects a similar situation in Germany with 46.4% [10], Portugal with 69.2% [5] and Spain with 14% to 50% [8].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 82%

“…Babesia microti-like parasites -also known as Babesia sp., Babesia annae or Theileria annae -are frequently found in foxes in countries such as Croatia [7], Portugal [5] and Spain [8]. The common assumption is that Ixodes hexagonus is involved in the transmission cycle [9], and a recent study identified I. ricinus and I. canisuga as carriers and therefore as potential vectors [10].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Fox on the run ¿ molecular surveillance of fox blood and tissue for the occurrence of tick-borne pathogens in Austria

Duscher

Fuehrer

Kübber‐Heiss

2014

Parasites & Vectors

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Background: The red fox (Vulpes vulpes) is a widespread species, harbouring many pathogens relevant for humans and pets. Indeed, Anaplasma spp., Ehrlichia canis and Rickettsia spp. among the bacteria and Hepatozoon canis as well as Babesia sp. among the parasites have been the focus of several studies. Findings: In a cohort of 36 foxes shot on one day in the north-eastern part of Austria, Babesia microti-like pathogens were found in 50%, while H. canis was detected in 58.3% of the samples. The spleen was more useful for detection of H. canis, whereas B. microti-like parasites were more frequently found in the blood. Bacteria could not be confirmed in any of the cases to demonstrate the occurrence of such tick-borne pathogens using PCR and sequencing on blood and spleen samples. Conclusions: The occurrence of B. microti-like and H. canis parasites raised many questions, because these infections have never been found autochthonously in dogs. Furthermore in the case of H. canis the main vector tick, Rhipicephalus sanguineus, is absent in the sampling area, leaving space for further hypotheses for transmission such as vertical transmission, transmission via ingestion of prey animals or other vector ticks. Further studies are needed to evaluate the risks for pets in this area. PCRs delivered differing results with the different tissues, suggesting the use of both spleen and blood to obtain an integral result.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 82%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fox on the run ¿ molecular surveillance of fox blood and tissue for the occurrence of tick-borne pathogens in Austria

Duscher

Fuehrer

Kübber‐Heiss

2014

Parasites & Vectors

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“…In contrast to ungulates, information on the occurrence and prevalence of piroplasmids in wild canids is limited [34]. In Europe, a continent where the Red fox is present at high densities [35], B. microti -like piroplasms were molecularly confirmed in foxes from Central and Northern Spain [9,36,37], Croatia [38] and Portugal [34]. In Portugal, a single fox was also found infected with B. canis [34].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Piroplasmosis in wildlife: Babesia and Theileria affecting free-ranging ungulates and carnivores in the Italian Alps

et al. 2014

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BackgroundPiroplasmosis are among the most relevant diseases of domestic animals. Babesia is emerging as cause of tick-borne zoonosis worldwide and free-living animals are reservoir hosts of several zoonotic Babesia species. We investigated the epidemiology of Babesia spp. and Theileria spp. in wild ungulates and carnivores from Northern Italy to determine which of these apicomplexan species circulate in wildlife and their prevalence of infection.MethodsPCR amplification of the V4 hyper-variable region of the 18S rDNA of Babesia sp./Theileria sp was carried out on spleen samples of 1036 wild animals: Roe deer Capreolus capreolus (n = 462), Red deer Cervus elaphus (n = 52), Alpine Chamois Rupicapra rupicapra (n = 36), Fallow deer Dama dama (n = 17), Wild boar Sus scrofa (n = 257), Red fox Vulpes vulpes (n = 205) and Wolf Canis lupus (n = 7). Selected positive samples were sequenced to determine the species of amplified Babesia/Theileria DNA.ResultsBabesia/Theileria DNA was found with a mean prevalence of 9.94% (IC95% 8.27-11.91). The only piroplasms found in carnivores was Theileria annae, which was detected in two foxes (0.98%; IC95% 0.27-3.49). Red deer showed the highest prevalence of infection (44.23%; IC95% 31.6-57.66), followed by Alpine chamois (22.22%; IC95% 11.71-38.08), Roe deer (12.55%; IC95% 9.84-15.89), and Wild boar (4.67%; IC95% 2.69-7.98). Genetic analysis identified Babesia capreoli as the most prevalent piroplasmid found in Alpine chamois, Roe deer and Red deer, followed by Babesia bigemina (found in Roe deer, Red deer and Wild boar), and the zoonotic Babesia venatorum (formerly Babesia sp. EU1) isolated from 2 Roe deer. Piroplasmids of the genus Theileria were identified in Wild boar and Red deer.ConclusionsThe present study offers novel insights into the role of wildlife in Babesia/Theileria epidemiology, as well as relevant information on genetic variability of piroplasmids infecting wild ungulates and carnivores.

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“…Hepatozoonosis has been detected where its tick vector is present in red foxes ( Vulpes vulpes ) in the following European countries: France [12], Portugal [13], Spain [14,15], Croatia [16], and Italy [17]. Infected foxes were also described in Japan [18] and Israel [19].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

First molecular evidence of Hepatozoon canis infection in red foxes and golden jackals from Hungary

et al. 2014

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BackgroundRecently, Hepatozoon canis infection has been detected among shepherd, hunting and stray dogs in the southern part of Hungary, which is considered to be free of Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato and close to the border with Croatia. The aim of this study was to acquire information on the possibility that red foxes and/or golden jackals could play a role in the appearance and spread of H. canis in Hungary.MethodsA conventional PCR was used to amplify a 666 bp long fragment of the Hepatozoon 18S rRNA gene from blood samples collected from 334 foxes shot in 231 locations in 16 counties and 15 golden jackals shot in 9 locations in two southwestern counties close to Croatia. A second PCR assay was performed in some of the samples positive by the first PCR to amplify a larger segment (approximately 1500 bp) of the 18S rRNA gene of Hepatozoon spp. for further phylogenetic analysis.ResultsHepatozoon infection was detected in canids shot in 30 locations and 9 counties. Altogether 26 foxes (8.0%, 95% CI: 5-11%) and 9 jackals (60%, 95% CI: 33-81%) were PCR positive. Hepatozoon canis sequences were obtained from 12 foxes and 7 jackals. DNA sequences from 16 animals were 99-100% similar to H. canis from Croatian foxes or dogs while two of the sequences were 99% similar to an Italian fox. Half (13/26) of the infected red foxes and all golden jackals were shot in the two southwestern counties.ConclusionsThis is the first report on molecular evidence of H. canis in red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and golden jackals (Canis aureus) from Hungary, which is considered free from the tick vector of H. canis, R. sanguineus. Although no R. sanguineus sensu lato had been found on infected or non-infected wild canids, the detection of authochnous canine hepatozoonosis in Hungary might imply that the range of R. sanguineus sensu lato has reached this country.

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A molecular survey of Piroplasmida and Hepatozoon isolated from domestic and wild animals in Burgos (northern Spain)

Cited by 73 publications

References 20 publications

Fox on the run ¿ molecular surveillance of fox blood and tissue for the occurrence of tick-borne pathogens in Austria

Fox on the run ¿ molecular surveillance of fox blood and tissue for the occurrence of tick-borne pathogens in Austria

Piroplasmosis in wildlife: Babesia and Theileria affecting free-ranging ungulates and carnivores in the Italian Alps

First molecular evidence of Hepatozoon canis infection in red foxes and golden jackals from Hungary

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