Browsing by Subject "Wild ungulates"

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
  • Thumbnail Image
    Publication
    Restricted
    Occurrence and limited zoonotic potential of Cryptosporidium spp., Giardia duodenalis, and Balantioides coli infections in free-ranging and farmed wild ungulates in Spain
    (Elsevier, 2023-04-27) Dashti, Alejandro; Köster, Pamela C.; Bailo, Begoña; Sánchez de las Matas, Ana; Habela, Miguel Ángel; Rivero-Juarez, Antonio; Vicente Ibáñez, Joaquín; Serrano, Emmanuel; Arnal, María C.; Fernández de Luco, Daniel; Morrondo, Patrocinio; Armenteros, José A.; Balseiro, Ana; Cardona, Guillermo A.; Martínez-Carrasco Pleite, Carlos; Ortiz, José Antonio; Carpio, Antonio José; Calero Bernal, Rafael; González-Barrio, David; Carmena, David; Sanidad Animal; Facultad de Veterinaria
    Little information is currently available on the occurrence and molecular diversity of the enteric protozoan parasites Cryptosporidium spp., Giardia duodenalis, and Balantioides coli in wild ungulates and the role of these host species as potential sources of environmental contamination and consequent human infections. The presence of these three pathogens was investigated in eight wild ungulate species present in Spain (genera Ammotragus, Capra, Capreolus, Cervus, Dama, Ovis, Rupicapra, and Sus) by molecular methods. Faecal samples were retrospectively collected from free-ranging (n = 1058) and farmed (n = 324) wild ungulates from the five Spanish bioregions. Overall infection rates were 3.0% (42/1382; 95% CI: 2.1–3.9%) for Cryptosporidium spp., 5.4% (74/1382; 95% CI: 4.2–6.5%) for G. duodenalis, and 0.7% (9/1382; 95% CI: 0.3–1.2%) for B. coli. Cryptosporidium infection was detected in roe deer (7.5%), wild boar (7.0%) and red deer (1.5%), and G. duodenalis in southern chamois (12.9%), mouflon (10.0%), Iberian wild goat (9.0%), roe deer (7.5%), wild boar (5.6%), fallow deer (5.2%) and red deer (3.8%). Balantioides coli was only detected in wild boar (2.5%, 9/359). Sequence analyses revealed the presence of six distinct Cryptosporidium species: C. ryanae in red deer, roe deer, and wild boar; C. parvum in red deer and wild boar; C. ubiquitum in roe deer; C. scrofarum in wild boar; C. canis in roe deer; and C. suis in red deer. Zoonotic assemblages A and B were detected in wild boar and red deer, respectively. Ungulateadapted assemblage E was identified in mouflon, red deer, and southern chamois. Attempts to genotype samples positive for B. coli failed. Sporadic infections by canine- or swine-adapted species may be indicative of potential cross-species transmission, although spurious infections cannot be ruled out. Molecular evidence gathered is consistent with parasite mild infections and limited environmental contamination with (oo)cysts. Free-ranging wild ungulate species would not presumably play a significant role as source of human infections by these pathogens. Wild ruminants do not seem to be susceptible hosts for B. coli.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Publication
    Open Access
    Zoonotic Enterocytozoon bieneusi genotypes in free-ranging and farmed wild ungulates in Spain
    (Oxford University Press, 2022-09-12) Dashti, Alejandro; Santín, Mónica; Köster, Pamela C.; Bailo, Begoña; Ortega, Sheila; Imaña, Elena; Habela, Miguel Ángel; Rivero Juarez, Antonio; Vicente, Joaquín; WE&H group; Arnal, María C.; Fernández de Luco, Daniel; Morrondo, Patrocinio; Armenteros, José A.; Balseiro, Ana; Cardona, Guillermo A.; Martínez-Carrasco Pleite, Carlos; Ortiz, José Antonio; Calero Bernal, Rafael; Carmena, David; González Barrio, David; Sanidad Animal; Facultades de la UMU::Facultad de Veterinaria
    Microsporidia comprises a diverse group of obligate, intracellular, and spore-forming parasites that infect a wide range of animals. Among them, Enterocytozoon bieneusi is the most frequently reported species in humans and other mammals and birds. Data on the epidemiology of E. bieneusi in wildlife are limited. Hence, E. bieneusi was investigated in eight wild ungulate species present in Spain (genera Ammotragus, Capra, Capreolus, Cervus, Dama, Ovis, Rupicapra, and Sus) by molecular methods. Faecal samples were collected from free-ranging (n = 1058) and farmed (n = 324) wild ungulates from five Spanish bioregions. The parasite was detected only in red deer (10.4%, 68/653) and wild boar (0.8%, 3/359). Enterocytozoon bieneusi infections were more common in farmed (19.4%, 63/324) than in wild (1.5%, 5/329) red deer. A total of 11 genotypes were identified in red deer, eight known (BEB6, BEB17, EbCar2, HLJD-V, MWC_d1, S5, Type IV, and Wildboar3) and three novel (DeerSpEb1, DeerSpEb2, and DeerSpEb3) genotypes. Mixed genotype infections were detected in 15.9% of farmed red deer. Two genotypes were identified in wild boar, a known ( Wildboar3 ) and a novel (W ildboarSpEb1) genot ypes. All genot ypes identified belonged to E. bieneusi zoonotic Groups 1 and 2. This study provides the most comprehensive epidemiological study of E. bieneusi in Spanish ungulates to date, representing the first evidence of the parasite in wild red deer populations worldwide. Spanish wild boars and red deer are reservoir of zoonotic genotypes of E. bieneusi and might play an underestimated role in the transmission of this microsporidian species to humans and other animals.