Prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in Endangered Wild Felines (Felis silvestris and Lynx pardinus) in Spain

Abstract

The wildcat (Felis silvestris) and the Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) are important species in Spain, considered as near-threatened and endangered, respectively. Both can be infected by Toxoplasma gondii, a parasite that can cause morbidity and mortality in transplacentally-infected or immunocompromised mammals. The data on the prevalence of this parasite in wild populations of these species in Spain are outdated. The objective of this study was to update information and evaluate the role of these felines in parasite epidemiology and the potential impact of the parasite on their conservation. Blood and fecal samples were collected from captured animals, as well as the tongue, diaphragm, and spleen, from animals killed in road accidents in central Spain. An indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) was used to detect parasite antibodies in serum, microscopy and molecular analysis were used to detect oocysts in feces, and molecular analysis was used to determine the existence of tissue cysts. Seroprevalence was 85% in wildcats and 45% in lynx, and parasite DNA was detected in the feces of one wildcat and in tissue samples from 10 wildcats and 11 Iberian lynxes. These results highlight the epidemiological importance and high risk of T. gondii infection in animals and humans in the studied areas. Considering feline susceptibility to infection, monitoring programs are needed to assess the health status of wild felines.

Revealing the Prevalence of Toxoplasma in Sierra Morena’s Wild Boar: An ELISA-Based Study Using Meat Juice

“…In the case of Badajoz, the cause could be in the presence of wildcat populations. These felids have been identified in central Spain, which may also contribute to the epidemiology of Toxoplasma , as their contact with the parasite has been demonstrated by PCR, and their ability to eliminate oocysts, albeit in small numbers, has also been identified [ 60 ]. The ingestion of cysts present in intermediate hosts is a key factor.…”

Detection and Molecular Diversity of Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia duodenalis in the Endangered Iberian Lynx (Lynx pardinus), Spain

“…Among the latter, clinical cases and mortality reported during the last two decades have been associated to bacterial (e.g., Mycobacterium bovis, Streptococcus canis) [45,46], viral (e.g., feline leukaemia virus, feline herpes virus, feline calicivirus, pseudorabies virus) [47,48], and parasitic (e.g., Neospora caninum, Toxoplasma gondii, Cystoisospora spp.) [49][50][51][52] pathogens. Although the development of conservation programs has reversed the trend, allowing for an increase in the Iberian lynx population to over 1600 free-ranging animals in 2022 [53], the monitoring of pathogens that could affect captive and free-ranging animals is still a key component of ongoing conservation programs [54,55].…”