_version_ 1868266270330191874
author Ortega, Sheila
Figueiredo, Ana M
Moroni, Barbara
Abarca, Nadia
Dashti, Alejandro
Köster, Pamela C
Bailo, Begoña
Cano-Terriza, David
Gonzálvez, Moisés
Fayos, Manena
Oleaga, Álvaro
Martínez-Carrasco, Carlos
Velarde, Roser
Torres, Rita T
Ferreira, Eduardo
Hipólito, Dário
Barros, Tânia
Lino, Ana
Robetto, Serena
Rossi, Luca
Muñoz-de-Mier, Gemma J
Ávalos, Gabriel
Calero-Bernal, Rafael
González-Barrio, David
Sánchez, Sergio
García-Bocanegra, Ignacio
Carmena, David
author_facet Ortega, Sheila
Figueiredo, Ana M
Moroni, Barbara
Abarca, Nadia
Dashti, Alejandro
Köster, Pamela C
Bailo, Begoña
Cano-Terriza, David
Gonzálvez, Moisés
Fayos, Manena
Oleaga, Álvaro
Martínez-Carrasco, Carlos
Velarde, Roser
Torres, Rita T
Ferreira, Eduardo
Hipólito, Dário
Barros, Tânia
Lino, Ana
Robetto, Serena
Rossi, Luca
Muñoz-de-Mier, Gemma J
Ávalos, Gabriel
Calero-Bernal, Rafael
González-Barrio, David
Sánchez, Sergio
García-Bocanegra, Ignacio
Carmena, David
Ortega, Sheila
Figueiredo, Ana M
Moroni, Barbara
Abarca, Nadia
Dashti, Alejandro
Köster, Pamela C
Bailo, Begoña
Cano-Terriza, David
Gonzálvez, Moisés
Fayos, Manena
Oleaga, Álvaro
Martínez-Carrasco, Carlos
Velarde, Roser
Torres, Rita T
Ferreira, Eduardo
Hipólito, Dário
Barros, Tânia
Lino, Ana
Robetto, Serena
Rossi, Luca
Muñoz-de-Mier, Gemma J
Ávalos, Gabriel
Calero-Bernal, Rafael
González-Barrio, David
Sánchez, Sergio
García-Bocanegra, Ignacio
Carmena, David
collection PubMed - marine biology
contents Free-Ranging Wolves (Canis lupus) are Natural Reservoirs of Intestinal Microeukaryotes of Public Health Significance in Southwestern Europe. Ortega, Sheila Figueiredo, Ana M Moroni, Barbara Abarca, Nadia Dashti, Alejandro Köster, Pamela C Bailo, Begoña Cano-Terriza, David Gonzálvez, Moisés Fayos, Manena Oleaga, Álvaro Martínez-Carrasco, Carlos Velarde, Roser Torres, Rita T Ferreira, Eduardo Hipólito, Dário Barros, Tânia Lino, Ana Robetto, Serena Rossi, Luca Muñoz-de-Mier, Gemma J Ávalos, Gabriel Calero-Bernal, Rafael González-Barrio, David Sánchez, Sergio García-Bocanegra, Ignacio Carmena, David Animals Wolves Feces Disease Reservoirs Public Health Zoonoses Europe Cryptosporidium Portugal Animals, Wild Retrospective Studies Italy Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic Spain Intestinal microeukaryote parasites are major contributors to the burden of diarrhoea in humans and domestic animals, but their epidemiology in wildlife is not fully understood. We investigated the frequency, genetic diversity and zoonotic potential of protists of animal and public health significance in free-ranging grey wolf (Canis lupus) populations in south-western Europe. Individually formed faecal samples collected from necropsied wolves or scat trails in Italy (n = 47), Portugal (n = 43) and Spain (n = 225) during the period 2011-2023 were retrospectively analysed using molecular (PCR and Sanger sequencing) methods. Complementary epidemiological data were gathered when available. Giardia duodenalis was the most frequent microeukaryote found (40.3%, 127/315; 95% CI: 34.9-46.0), followed by Cryptosporidium spp. (3.5%, 11/315; 95% CI: 1.8-6.2), Enterocytozoon bieneusi and Encephalitozoon spp. (1.6%, 5/315; 95% CI: 0.5-3.7 each). Blastocystis was not identified in any of the faecal samples analysed. Sequence analyses confirmed the presence of canine-adapted assemblage D within G. duodenalis (n = 7). Three Cryptosporidium species were identified, namely canine-adapted C. canis (n = 9), zoonotic C. parvum (n = 1) and primarily anthroponotic C.hominis (n = 1). Genotyping tools enabled the identification of subtype family XXe2 within C. canis. Among microsporidia, the canine-adapted genotype PtEb IX was identified within E. bieneusi. Two samples were confirmed as Enc. intestinalis and three more as Enc. cuniculi genotype IV. This is the first record of Enc. intestinalis and Enc. cuniculi in the grey wolf globally. Silent carriage of intestinal microeukaryotes seems common in free-ranging grey wolves in southwestern Europe. Wolves can contribute to environmental contamination through the transmission stages (cysts, oocysts, spores) of species/genotypes potentially infective to humans. Individuals in close contact with wolf carcasses or their faecal material may be at potential risk of infection by microeukaryotic pathogens.
format Artículo científico
id pubmed_39648658
institution PubMed
language en
publishDate 2025
publisher Zoonoses and public health
record_format pubmed
spellingShingle Free-Ranging Wolves (Canis lupus) are Natural Reservoirs of Intestinal Microeukaryotes of Public Health Significance in Southwestern Europe.
Ortega, Sheila
Figueiredo, Ana M
Moroni, Barbara
Abarca, Nadia
Dashti, Alejandro
Köster, Pamela C
Bailo, Begoña
Cano-Terriza, David
Gonzálvez, Moisés
Fayos, Manena
Oleaga, Álvaro
Martínez-Carrasco, Carlos
Velarde, Roser
Torres, Rita T
Ferreira, Eduardo
Hipólito, Dário
Barros, Tânia
Lino, Ana
Robetto, Serena
Rossi, Luca
Muñoz-de-Mier, Gemma J
Ávalos, Gabriel
Calero-Bernal, Rafael
González-Barrio, David
Sánchez, Sergio
García-Bocanegra, Ignacio
Carmena, David
Animals
Wolves
Feces
Disease Reservoirs
Public Health
Zoonoses
Europe
Cryptosporidium
Portugal
Animals, Wild
Retrospective Studies
Italy
Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic
Spain
Free-Ranging Wolves (Canis lupus) are Natural Reservoirs of Intestinal Microeukaryotes of Public Health Significance in Southwestern Europe. Ortega, Sheila Figueiredo, Ana M Moroni, Barbara Abarca, Nadia Dashti, Alejandro Köster, Pamela C Bailo, Begoña Cano-Terriza, David Gonzálvez, Moisés Fayos, Manena Oleaga, Álvaro Martínez-Carrasco, Carlos Velarde, Roser Torres, Rita T Ferreira, Eduardo Hipólito, Dário Barros, Tânia Lino, Ana Robetto, Serena Rossi, Luca Muñoz-de-Mier, Gemma J Ávalos, Gabriel Calero-Bernal, Rafael González-Barrio, David Sánchez, Sergio García-Bocanegra, Ignacio Carmena, David Animals Wolves Feces Disease Reservoirs Public Health Zoonoses Europe Cryptosporidium Portugal Animals, Wild Retrospective Studies Italy Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic Spain Intestinal microeukaryote parasites are major contributors to the burden of diarrhoea in humans and domestic animals, but their epidemiology in wildlife is not fully understood. We investigated the frequency, genetic diversity and zoonotic potential of protists of animal and public health significance in free-ranging grey wolf (Canis lupus) populations in south-western Europe. Individually formed faecal samples collected from necropsied wolves or scat trails in Italy (n = 47), Portugal (n = 43) and Spain (n = 225) during the period 2011-2023 were retrospectively analysed using molecular (PCR and Sanger sequencing) methods. Complementary epidemiological data were gathered when available. Giardia duodenalis was the most frequent microeukaryote found (40.3%, 127/315; 95% CI: 34.9-46.0), followed by Cryptosporidium spp. (3.5%, 11/315; 95% CI: 1.8-6.2), Enterocytozoon bieneusi and Encephalitozoon spp. (1.6%, 5/315; 95% CI: 0.5-3.7 each). Blastocystis was not identified in any of the faecal samples analysed. Sequence analyses confirmed the presence of canine-adapted assemblage D within G. duodenalis (n = 7). Three Cryptosporidium species were identified, namely canine-adapted C. canis (n = 9), zoonotic C. parvum (n = 1) and primarily anthroponotic C.hominis (n = 1). Genotyping tools enabled the identification of subtype family XXe2 within C. canis. Among microsporidia, the canine-adapted genotype PtEb IX was identified within E. bieneusi. Two samples were confirmed as Enc. intestinalis and three more as Enc. cuniculi genotype IV. This is the first record of Enc. intestinalis and Enc. cuniculi in the grey wolf globally. Silent carriage of intestinal microeukaryotes seems common in free-ranging grey wolves in southwestern Europe. Wolves can contribute to environmental contamination through the transmission stages (cysts, oocysts, spores) of species/genotypes potentially infective to humans. Individuals in close contact with wolf carcasses or their faecal material may be at potential risk of infection by microeukaryotic pathogens.
title Free-Ranging Wolves (Canis lupus) are Natural Reservoirs of Intestinal Microeukaryotes of Public Health Significance in Southwestern Europe.
topic Animals
Wolves
Feces
Disease Reservoirs
Public Health
Zoonoses
Europe
Cryptosporidium
Portugal
Animals, Wild
Retrospective Studies
Italy
Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic
Spain
url https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39648658/