First Record of Hepatozoon spp. in Alpine Wild Rodents: Implications and Perspectives for Transmission Dynamics across the Food Web

Ferrari, Giulia; Girardi, Matteo; Cagnacci, Francesca; Devineau, Olivier; Tagliapietra, Valentina

doi:10.3390/microorganisms10040712

Cited by 9 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 75 publications

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“…Further, wild boar is an omnivorous species with the domination of plants in its diet (93%), but it also consumes animal material, including reptiles, small rodents, and carcasses of game animals, which are known to harbour Hepatozoon spp. [ 35 , 36 ] and thus have the potential to contribute to the transmission chains of H. canis . Taking all of the above into consideration, the possibility that the grey wolf may become infected by consuming infected ticks together with prey tissue (in particular, skin) cannot be ruled out.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

High Prevalence and Genetic Variability of Hepatozoon canis in Grey Wolf (Canis lupus L. 1758) Population in Serbia

Kuručki

Tomanović

Sukara

et al. 2022

Animals

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Wild canids are globally recognised as hosts and reservoirs of a large number of ecto- and endoparasites. Data that reveal the importance of the grey wolf (Canis lupus L.1758) in the spread of hepatozoonosis are very scarce. There are a large number of different potential host species that can be infected by Hepatozoon canis, but the most common are domestic and wild carnivores, such as dogs, jackals, foxes, and wolves. In this study, the epidemiological significance of the grey wolf as a host for the pathogen was analysed for the first time in Serbia, as well as the genetic variability of H. canis. The presence of H. canis in wolf spleens has been demonstrated using molecular methods. A total of 107 wolf spleen samples from 30 localities in Serbia were analysed. The presence of H. canis was confirmed in 62 (57.94%) individuals from 26 out of 30 localities. According to the analysis, the sampled H. canis sequences were found to be characterised by a certain heterogeneity. Based on five mutated nucleotide sites in the sequences, H. canis could be divided into five sequence types, S1 to S5. The five sequence types can potentially circulate in grey wolf populations as well as among other domestic and wild canids. This study is the first confirmation of the presence of H. canis in grey wolf populations in Serbia. Considering that the role of this vector-borne disease is poorly researched in wild carnivores, it is very important to indicate the role of this species in the circulation of this pathogen in natural ecosystems.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

High Prevalence and Genetic Variability of Hepatozoon canis in Grey Wolf (Canis lupus L. 1758) Population in Serbia

Kuručki

Tomanović

Sukara

et al. 2022

Animals

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“…However, the second merogony—a phase of asexual reproduction producing cystozoites—seems pivotal for some Hepatozoon spp., as cystozoites are the infectious forms leveraging transmission through predation, thereby facilitating its spread across food webs [ 15 , 42 ]. Rodents often act as paratenic hosts in this mode of infection [ 15 , 147 , 207 , 208 ]. In fact, studies indicate that carnivores may acquire Hepatozoon infection by preying on rodents [ 147 , 207 ].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hepatozoon (Eucoccidiorida: Hepatozoidae) in wild mammals of the Americas: a systematic review

Thomas,

Santodomingo,

Saboya-Acosta

et al. 2024

Parasites Vectors

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Abstract Background The study of parasites provides insight into intricate ecological relationships in ecosystem dynamics, food web structures, and evolution on multiple scales. Hepatozoon Eucoccidiorida: Hepatozoidae) is a genus of protozoan hemoparasites with heteroxenous life cycles that switch infections between vertebrates and blood-feeding invertebrates. The most comprehensive review of the genus was published 26 years ago, and currently there are no harmonized data on the epizootiology, diagnostics, genotyping methods, evolutionary relationships, and genetic diversity of Hepatozoon in the Americas. Methods Here, we provide a comprehensive review based on the PRISMA method regarding Hepatozoon in wild mammals within the American continent, in order to generate a framework for future research. Results 11 out of the 35 countries of the Americas (31.4%) had data on Hepatozoon, with Carnivora and Rodentia orders having the most characterizations. Bats, ungulates, and shrews were the least affected groups. While Hepatozoon americanum, H. americanum-like, H. canis, H. didelphydis, H. felis, H. milleri, H. griseisciuri, and H. procyonis correspond to the identified species, a plethora of genospecies is pending for a formal description combining morphology and genetics. Most of the vectors of Hepatozoon in the Americas are unknown, but some flea, mite, and tick species have been confirmed. The detection of Hepatozoon has relied mostly on conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and the implementation of specific real time PCR for the genus needs to be employed to improve its diagnosis in wild animals in the future. From a genetic perspective, the V4 region of the 18S rRNA gene has been widely sequenced for the identification of Hepatozoon in wild animals. However, mitochondrial and apicoplast markers should also be targeted to truly determine different species in the genus. A phylogenetic analysis of herein retrieved 18S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) sequences showed two main clades of Hepatozoon: Clade I associated with small mammals, birds, and herpetozoa, and Clade II associated with Carnivora. The topology of the tree is also reflected in the haplotype network. Conclusions Finally, our review emphasizes Hepatozoon as a potential disease agent in threatened wild mammals and the role of wild canids as spreaders of Hepatozoon infections in the Americas. Graphical Abstract

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“…In a broader context, this is the first evidence in Europe that domestic cats can become infected with H. felis from genogroup II where this species is endemic in wildcats. Although different wild rodents may also take part in its transmission [ 30 ], the infection most likely happened by ingesting infected ticks in the habitat (wooded area of Aggtelek National Park) shared with wildcats.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Screening of Domestic Cats from North-Eastern Hungary for Hepatozoon felis and Cytauxzoon europaeus That Cause Infections in Local Wildcat Populations

et al. 2023

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Among vector-borne protozoa Hepatozoon felis and Cytauxzoon europaeus are considered emerging species in felids in Europe. To investigate the presence of these two protozoa 127 domestic cats and 4 wildcats were screened by PCRs targeting the 18S rRNA gene of Hepatozoon spp. and piroplasms, as well as the cytb gene of Cytauxzoon spp. The samples were collected inside and outside a region of Hungary, where both protozoan groups are endemic in wildcats. Among domestic cats, one proved to be infected with H. felis. Furthermore, spleen samples of four wildcats were also examined, among which three tested positive for H. felis, and one had co-infection with C. europaeus. Importantly, H. felis from the co-infected wildcat belonged to genogroup II, similarly to H. felis from the positive domestic cat. Based on phylogenetic evidence, this genogroup probably represents a separate species from genogroup I of H. felis, which was hitherto reported from Mediterranean countries in Europe. The two other wildcats also harbored H. felis from genogroup I. Neither Hepatozoon nor Cytauxzoon infections were detected outside the recently discovered endemic region. In conclusion, this study demonstrates for the first time in Europe that H. felis from genogroup II may emerge in free-roaming domestic cats in regions where this protozoan parasite is endemic in wildcats.

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First Record of Hepatozoon spp. in Alpine Wild Rodents: Implications and Perspectives for Transmission Dynamics across the Food Web

Cited by 9 publications

References 75 publications

High Prevalence and Genetic Variability of Hepatozoon canis in Grey Wolf (Canis lupus L. 1758) Population in Serbia

High Prevalence and Genetic Variability of Hepatozoon canis in Grey Wolf (Canis lupus L. 1758) Population in Serbia

Hepatozoon (Eucoccidiorida: Hepatozoidae) in wild mammals of the Americas: a systematic review

Screening of Domestic Cats from North-Eastern Hungary for Hepatozoon felis and Cytauxzoon europaeus That Cause Infections in Local Wildcat Populations

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