Browsing by Subject "Iberian ibex"

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    Blastocystis in free-ranging wild ruminant species across the Iberian Peninsula
    (BioMed Central, 2025-07-09) Figueiredo, Ana M.; Dashti, Alejandro; Maloney, Jenny G.; Molokin, Aleksey; George, Nadja S.; Köster, Pamela C.; Bailo, Begoña; Sánchez de las Matas, Ana; Habela, Miguel Ángel; Rivero Juarez, Antonio; Vicente, Joaquín; Serrano, Emmanuel; Arnal, María C.; Fernández de Luco, Daniel; Morrondo, Patrocinio; Armenteros, José A.; Balseiro, Ana; Cardona, Guillermo A.; Martínez-Carrasco Pleite, Carlos; Torres, Rita T.; Fonseca, Carlos; Mysterud, Atle; Carvalho, João; Calero-Bernal, Rafael; González Barrio, David; Santín, Mónica; Carmena, David; Sanidad Animal; Facultades de la UMU::Facultad de Veterinaria
    The growing wild ungulate populations across Europe represents an increasingly important source for the spread of zoonotic pathogens. Blastocystis is a common intestinal protist observed in humans and animals worldwide. Studies on Blastocystis occurrence and subtype (ST) diversity in free-ranging wild ruminants are lacking globally, and more data are needed to understand the epidemiological scenario in wild European ruminants. We collected 833 faecal samples from free-ranging wild angulates across Spain (n = 699) and Portugal (n = 134) between 1998 and 2021. Using conventional PCR and nextgeneration amplicon sequencing, Blastocystis was found in 13.8% (115/833; 95% CI: 11.5–16.3) of the wild ruminants analysed. Its occurrence was significantly higher in Portugal (38.1%, 51/134; 95% CI 29.8–46.8) than in Spain (9.2%, 64/699; 95% CI: 7.1–11.5). Fifteen Blastocystis STs, fourteen previously recognised (ST2, ST5, ST10, ST13, ST14, ST21, ST23–ST26, ST30, and ST42–ST44), and one novel (named ST49), were detected among the surveyed wild ruminant populations. Novel ST49 was described using Oxford Nanopore sequencing to produce full-length reference sequences of the small subunit ribosomal RNA gene. A greater ST diversity was observed in Spanish samples. Mixed infections were found in 58.3% (67/115) of the total Blastocystis-positive samples. Our results have enhanced the knowledge regarding Blastocystis occurrence and ST diversity and host preference present in wild ruminants from the Iberian Peninsula, which will assist in clarifying the relationships between the sylvatic and domestic cycles of this protist and may ultimately provide tools to help manage future public health epidemiological scenarios.
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    Seronegativity of Iberian ibex (Capra pyrenaica) against Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum is consistent with eco-epidemiological and environmental features in Mediterranean mountainous areas
    (Elsevier, 2025-01-07) Cano Manuel, Alejandro; Granados, José Enrique; Álvarez García, Gema; Huertas López, Ana; Diezma Díaz, Carlos; Cano Manuel, Francisco Javier; Ortega Mora, Luis Miguel; Fandos, Paulino; Mentaberre, Gregorio; López Olvera, Jorge Ramón; Martínez-Carrasco Pleite, Carlos; Sanidad Animal; Facultades de la UMU::Facultad de Veterinaria
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    Spatio-temporal patterns of sarcoptic mange in red deer and Iberian ibex in a multi-host natural park
    (Elsevier Ltd., 2019-11-27) Iacopelli, F.; Fanelli, A.; Tizzani, P.; Berriatua, E.; Prieto, P.; Martinez-Carrasco, C.; León-Vizcaíno, L.; Rossi, L.; Candela, M. G.; Sanidad Animal; Management of Environment and Forests, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Bari, 70100 Bari, Italy; Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, 10090 Grugliasco, Italy
    The reliance on multiple hosts to survive is what makes the management and control of multi-host infectious agents challenging. Sarcoptes scabiei causes sarcoptic mange in a wide range of mammal species with ungulates being an important host. Little is known about the role different ungulates play in sustaining endemic transmission of the disease and no study has yet to describe the long-term multi-host sarcoptic infestation dynamics in free-ranging wildlife. Here, we explore 24 years of sarcoptic mange infestation data for two Mediterranean ungulate species, red deer and Iberian ibex, living in the Sierras de Cazorla, Segura y Las Villas Natural Park of southern Spain. The temporal analysis showed a clear seasonal pattern of infestation in both ungulates with a peak in early spring and a decline throughout the summer. The spatial analysis, however, showed that caprinae rather than cervidae is the most competent host for sarcoptic mange spreading and persistence. Considering that few studies have described the spatio-temporal pattern of mange outbreaks for long periods of time, the information reported in this work aims to improve our understanding of sarcoptic mange epizootic in wild ruminant populations.
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    Toxic and essential element concentrations in Iberian Ibex (Capra pyrenaica) from the Sierra Nevada Natural Park (Spain): reference intervals in whole blood
    (Springer, 2015-12-21) Ráez-Bravo, Arián; Granados, José Enrique; Cano-Manuel, Francisco Javier; Soriguer, Ramón C.; Fandos, Paulino; Pérez, Jesús M.; Pavlov, Igor Y.; Romero García, Diego; Ciencias Sociosanitarias
    Iberian ibex (Capra pyrenaica) blood samples from the Sierra Nevada Natural Park (Spain) were analyzed to establish concentrations of toxic and essential elements. Samples (whole blood from 32 males and 34 females) were taken from wild animals and the concentrations of inorganic elements considered as (1) non-essential and toxic (Pb, Cd and As), (2) essential but potentially toxic (Cu, Zn and Mn) and (3) occasionally beneficial (B, Cr, Al and Ni), as well as (4) essential minerals (Ca, Na, K, P, Mg, S, Co and Fe), were analyzed. The low concentration of Pb and Cd indicated that there is no heavy metal contamination in this geographical area for these elements. The concentration of elements in this ibex population was defined for different genders and ages. Significant differences between genders were only found for Mg and Cu, while significant differences in concentrations of Ca, Cr, Fe, Mn, P, S and Zn were found between ages.