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Distribution of Borrelia species identified in examined carnivores.

Distribution of Borrelia species identified in examined carnivores.

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Wild living mesocarnivores, both introduced and native species, are able to adapt well to peri-urban environments, facilitating cross-species pathogen transmission with domestic animals, and potentially humans. Individual tissue samples derived from 284 specimens of six carnivore species, i.e., raccoon, raccoon dog, red fox, European badger, pine m...

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... all tested carnivores was 8.8%, considering skin samples (25/284) ( Table 2), and the infection rates varied significantly between these host species. Almost all consensus sequences of the partial flaB gene which were analyzed with the BLAST method revealed shared identity with a sequence of specific Borrelia species, i.e., B. afzelii (23), B. garinii (1) and B. burgdorferi (1) (Figure 1). ...
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... all tested carnivores was 8.8%, considering skin samples (25/284) ( Table 2), and the infection rates varied significantly between these host species. Almost all consensus sequences of the partial flaB gene which were analyzed with the BLAST method revealed shared identity with a sequence of specific Borrelia species, i.e., B. afzelii (23), B. garinii (1) and B. burgdorferi (1) (Figure 1). ...

Citations

... [71], Borrelia spp. [128], Coxiella burnetii [129], Francisella tularensis [130], Mycobacterium spp. [21], Bartonella spp. ...
... In Poland, different Borreliella spp. were identified in both raccoon dogs and raccoons [38,51]. In one study, B. garinii was found to be most frequent species detected in raccoon dogs, followed by B. afzelii; both pathogens are described as the dominant spirochetes found in ticks in Europe [38]. ...
... In one study, B. garinii was found to be most frequent species detected in raccoon dogs, followed by B. afzelii; both pathogens are described as the dominant spirochetes found in ticks in Europe [38]. In the second study, B. afzelii was the only species found in both, raccoon dogs and raccoons, with prevalences of 2.0% and 23.5%, respectively [51]. In our study, one raccoon dog and one raccoon were positive for Borreliella spp., which could be identified as B. afzelii in the raccoon. ...
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Raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides) and raccoons (Procyon lotor) are invasive alien species originating from East Asia and North America, respectively. They are discussed as vectors and reservoirs for various infectious diseases, including vector-borne and zoonotic pathogens, and are therefore a potential threat to human and domestic animal health, as well as to biodiversity and conservation. In the years 2021 and 2022, 110 raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides) and 30 raccoons (Procyon lotor) were screened via qPCR for the presence of Leptospira spp., Rickettsia spp. and Borreliella spp. in the German federal state of Schleswig-Holstein as part of a health and risk assessment study. Borreliella spp. were confirmed in one raccoon dog and one raccoon, identified as Borreliella afzelii in the raccoon. Leptospira spp. were found in 21 (19.44%) raccoon dogs and 2 (6.90%) raccoons. In five raccoon dogs, Leptospira spp. were identified as Leptospira borgpetersenii, Leptospira kirschneri and Leptospira interrogans.
... In contrast to the limited data regarding TBRF in wild carnivores, the occurrence of Lyme borreliosis in those animals was more comprehensively studied, and evidence of infection with Borrelia burgdorferi, B. afzelii, and Borrelia garinii was demonstrated in several wild carnivore species, including the raccoon (Procyon lotor), red fox, raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides), European badger, pine marten (Martes martes), and stone marten (M. foina) [59]. Control and management programs aim to reduce infection rates of various infectious agents, including Lyme borreliosis, in wild carnivores through oral vaccination programs. ...
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Background Borrelia persica causes tick-borne relapsing fever in Israel, the eastern Mediterranean basin, and Asia. Relapsing fever is associated with severe illness and potentially death in humans and animals. Since B. persica infection has rarely been described in wild animals, the aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of infection with B. persica in wild carnivores in Israel. Methods Spleen and blood clot samples from wild carnivores, which underwent necropsy, were tested for the presence of Borrelia DNA by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). PCR products were sequenced, and the spirochete loads were quantified using a specific quantitative PCR (qPCR). Results A total of 140 samples from 74 wild carnivores were analyzed for the presence of Borrelia DNA. Six out of the 74 (8.1%) animals were found positive for B. persica by PCR and sequencing of the flagellin B gene, of which 4/74 (5.4%) were also positive by PCR for the glycerophosphodiester phosphodiesterase (glpQ) gene. Positive samples were obtained from three European badgers, and one striped hyena, golden jackal, and red fox each. All B. persica-positive animals were young males (P < 0.0001). Quantifiable results were obtained from 3/5 spleen and 4/5 blood samples. The spirochete loads in the blood were significantly higher than those found in the spleen (P = 0.034). Conclusions The prevalence of B. persica infection found in wild carnivores brought for necropsy was unexpectedly high, suggesting that this infection is widespread in some wild animal species in Israel. This is the first report of B. persica infection in the European badger and striped hyena. These carnivores have a wide geographical range of activity, and the results of this survey raise the possibility that they may serve as reservoir hosts for B. persica. Graphical Abstract
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Germany is harbouring the majority of Europe's raccoon population, which are considered as invasive neozoa. Many zoonotic pathogens are found in wild raccoons worldwide, but there is a lack of eco-epidemiological data for most of Germany's raccoon populations concerning tick-borne pathogens (TBPs). This is why tissue samples of 485 free-ranging raccoons originating from ten federal states of Germany between the years of 2017 and 2021 were examined for the presence of five TBPs (Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, Rickettsia spp., Bartonella spp., Babesia spp. and Neoehrlichia mikurensis) with zoonotic relevance using molecular methods. Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato was detected in 21 (6.3 %) raccoons, Rickettsia spp. were found in 26 (7.8 %) and Bartonella spp. in 3 (0.6 %) raccoons. Babesia spp. and Neoehrlichia mikurensis were not detected.
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Dirofilaria repens is an expanding vector-borne zoonotic parasite of canines and other carnivores. Sub-clinically infected dogs constitute the most important reservoir of the parasite and the source of infection for its mosquito vectors. However, occurrence of D. repens infection in wild animals may contribute to the transmission of the parasite to humans and may explain the endemicity of filariae in newly invaded regions. The aim of the current study was to determine the occurrence of D. repens in 511 blood and spleen samples from seven species of wild carnivores (wolves, red foxes, Eurasian badgers, raccoons , raccoon dogs, stone martens, and pine martens) from different regions of Poland by means of a PCR protocol targeting the 12S rDNA gene. Dirofilaria repens-positive hosts were identified in seven of fourteen voivodeships in four of the seven regions of Poland: Masovia, Lesser Poland, Pomerania and Warmia-Masuria. The highest prevalence was found in Masovia region (8%), coinciding with the highest previously recorded prevalence in dogs in Central Poland. The DNA of Dirofilaria was detected in 16 samples of three species (total prevalence 3.13%). A low and similar percentage of positive samples (1.9%, 4.2% and 4.8%) was recorded among badgers, red foxes, and wolves, respectively. Dirofilaria repens-positive hosts were identified in seven of fourteen voivodships. Based on detection in different voivodeships, D. repens-positive animals were recorded in four out of the seven regions of Poland: in Masovia, Lesser Poland, Pomerania, and Warmia-Masuria. The highest prevalence of filariae was found in Masovia region (8%), reflecting the highest previously recorded prevalence in dogs (12-50%) in Central Poland. In summary, we conducted the first comprehensive study on the epidemiology of D. repens in seven species of wild hosts in all seven regions of Poland and identified the first case of D. repens infection in Eurasian badgers in Poland and the second in Europe.