Sylvatic vector-borne pathogens including Cytauxzoon europaeus in the European wildcat (Felis silvestris) from southwestern Germany.

IF 3 2区医学 Q1 PARASITOLOGY Parasites & Vectors Pub Date : 2024-08-24 DOI:10.1186/s13071-024-06428-w

Anna Obiegala, Luisa Fischer, Sara Weilage, Nina Król, Katharina M Westhoff, Saskia Nemitz, Michael Lierz, Johannes Lang, Martin Pfeffer, Zaida Renteria-Solís

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Abstract

Background: European wildcats (Felis silvestris) are widely distributed in Europe and a strictly protected species in Germany. Lately, anthropogenic protective efforts lead to increasing numbers of wildcats in southwestern Germany. Moreover, in recent years the numbers of domestic cats are increasing. Thus, the contact between domestic and wildcats may lead to the spread of zoonotic pathogens in both animal species. As data on vector-borne pathogens (VBPs) in wildcats from Germany are limited to date, the objective of this study was to investigate the presence and current distribution of VBPs in wildcats from southwestern Germany.

Methods: Skin and spleen samples from 117 European wildcats, originating from a regional carcass-monitoring program in southwestern Germany, were examined by real-time and conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the presence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Neoehrlichia mikurensis, Rickettsia spp., Bartonella spp., and Piroplasmida.

Results: In total, 6.8% (n = 8) of the wildcats were Rickettsia-positive, specified as R. helvetica. Three wildcats were positive for A. phagocytophilum (2.6%), one for Bartonella spp., namely B. taylorii (0.8%), and 84 for Cytauxzoon spp. (71.8%). Out of these 84 samples, 23 were further sequenced revealing very high identity levels (99.84-100%) to C. europaeus, which is considered to be pathogenic for domestic cats. All wildcats were negative for the presence of N. mikurensis DNA.

Conclusions: European wildcats in southwestern Germany are hosting several VBPs. With the exception of Cytauxzoon spp., low prevalence rates of most examined pathogens suggest that wildcats are primarily incidental hosts for sylvatic pathogens associated with rodents, in contrast to domestic cats. However, the high prevalence of the cat-associated pathogen C. europaeus suggests that wildcats in southwestern Germany may serve as reservoirs for this pathogen.

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德国西南部的欧洲野猫（Felis silvestris）体内包括 Cytauxzoon europaeus 在内的西尔维特病媒传播的病原体。

背景：欧洲野猫（Felis silvestris）广泛分布于欧洲，在德国是受严格保护的物种。最近，人为的保护努力导致德国西南部野猫的数量不断增加。此外，近年来家猫的数量也在不断增加。因此，家猫和野猫之间的接触可能会导致人畜共患病病原体在这两种动物中传播。由于迄今为止有关德国野猫体内病媒传播病原体（VBPs）的数据有限，本研究旨在调查德国西南部野猫体内 VBPs 的存在和当前分布情况：方法：通过实时和传统聚合酶链反应（PCR）检测了 117 只欧洲野猫的皮肤和脾脏样本，这些样本来自德国西南部的一个地区性胴体监测项目，目的是检测是否存在噬细胞嗜血杆菌、米库雷氏新埃希氏菌、立克次体属、巴顿氏菌属和螺旋体：共有 6.8%（n = 8）的野猫为立克次体阳性，即螺旋立克次体。3只野猫的噬菌体（2.6%）呈阳性，1只野猫的巴顿氏菌（即泰勒氏巴氏杆菌）呈阳性（0.8%），84只野猫的赛陶尊属菌（71.8%）呈阳性。在这 84 个样本中，有 23 个样本经过进一步测序，发现与被认为对家猫具有致病性的 C. europaeus 具有极高的同一性（99.84%-100%）。所有野猫的 N. mikurensis DNA 均为阴性：结论：德国西南部的欧洲野猫寄生着几种VBPs。除 Cytauxzoon spp.外，大多数受检病原体的流行率都很低，这表明野猫主要是与啮齿类动物相关的啮齿类病原体的偶然宿主，这与家猫不同。不过，与猫有关的病原体 C. europaeus 的高流行率表明，德国西南部的野猫可能是这种病原体的贮藏地。

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来源期刊

Parasites & Vectors 医学-寄生虫学

CiteScore

6.30

自引率

9.40%

发文量

433

审稿时长

1.4 months

期刊介绍： Parasites & Vectors is an open access, peer-reviewed online journal dealing with the biology of parasites, parasitic diseases, intermediate hosts, vectors and vector-borne pathogens. Manuscripts published in this journal will be available to all worldwide, with no barriers to access, immediately following acceptance. However, authors retain the copyright of their material and may use it, or distribute it, as they wish. Manuscripts on all aspects of the basic and applied biology of parasites, intermediate hosts, vectors and vector-borne pathogens will be considered. In addition to the traditional and well-established areas of science in these fields, we also aim to provide a vehicle for publication of the rapidly developing resources and technology in parasite, intermediate host and vector genomics and their impacts on biological research. We are able to publish large datasets and extensive results, frequently associated with genomic and post-genomic technologies, which are not readily accommodated in traditional journals. Manuscripts addressing broader issues, for example economics, social sciences and global climate change in relation to parasites, vectors and disease control, are also welcomed.