A molecular survey of spotted fever group rickettsiae in introduced raccoons (Procyon lotor)
Abstract Background The raccoon Procyon lotor (Linnaeus, 1758) (Carnivora; Procyonidae) is one of the most important and most intensively studied invasive mammal species in Europe. Within the last 30 years the raccoon has spread at an increasing rate, resulting in the establishment of local populati...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2022-05-01
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| Series: | Parasites & Vectors |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-022-05280-0 |
| _version_ | 1818191245334282240 |
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| author | Joanna Hildebrand Agnieszka Perec-Matysiak Marcin Popiołek Dorota Merta Izabella Myśliwy Katarzyna Buńkowska-Gawlik |
| author_facet | Joanna Hildebrand Agnieszka Perec-Matysiak Marcin Popiołek Dorota Merta Izabella Myśliwy Katarzyna Buńkowska-Gawlik |
| author_sort | Joanna Hildebrand |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The raccoon Procyon lotor (Linnaeus, 1758) (Carnivora; Procyonidae) is one of the most important and most intensively studied invasive mammal species in Europe. Within the last 30 years the raccoon has spread at an increasing rate, resulting in the establishment of local populations in various regions of Europe. In these newly colonised areas, gaps in knowledge of the raccoon’s biology concern not only most aspects of its ecology in a broad sense, but also its pathogens and parasites. Most micropathogens recorded hitherto in the raccoons that have colonised Europe have documented epizootic and zoonotic potential. Thus, it is considered especially important to investigate the role played by the raccoon in the spread of pathogens through both animal-animal and animal-human pathways. Methods Tissue samples of raccoons from Poland and Germany were examined in this study. In total, 384 tissue samples from 220 raccoons (170 spleen samples, 82 liver biopsies, 132 ear biopsies) were examined using molecular methods. The presence of Rickettsia spp. DNA was screened through amplification of a fragment of the gltA gene. Samples that were PCR positive for gltA were tested for other rickettsial genes, ompB and a 17-kDa antigen. For taxonomic purposes, the obtained sequences were compared with corresponding sequences deposited in GenBank using the Basic Local Alignment Search Tool, and phylogenetic analyses were conducted using Bayesian inference implemented in MrBayes software. Results Rickettsia DNA was confirmed only in skin biopsies; no isolates from the spleen or liver were positive for Rickettsia DNA. With the exception of one sample from Germany, which was positive for Rickettsia helvetica DNA, all the samples positive for Rickettsia DNA derived from the Polish population of raccoons. DNA of Rickettsia spp. was detected in 25 samples, i.e. 11.4% of the tested raccoons, and R. helvetica was confirmed in 52% of the positive samples. Additionally, single cases of Rickettsia monacensis, Rickettsia raoultii, and Candidatus Rickettsia kotlanii-like were found, and in 32% of all the positive samples similarity was shown to different Rickettsia endosymbionts. Out of the samples that tested positive for gltA, amplicons of ompB and 17 kDa were successfully sequenced from 14 and three samples, respectively. Conclusions To the best of our knowledge, this study provides, for the first time, evidence of the occurrence of Rickettsia pathogens and endosymbionts in the European population of raccoons. Further, broader research on different species of wild vertebrates, and ticks, as potential vectors and hosts for tick-borne pathogens, in natural as well as in peri-urban environments, is therefore required. Graphical abstract |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T00:11:32Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5f35fdf4392f464b90444689a604f0d0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1756-3305 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T00:11:32Z |
| publishDate | 2022-05-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
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| series | Parasites & Vectors |
| spelling | doaj.art-5f35fdf4392f464b90444689a604f0d02022-12-22T00:44:57ZengBMCParasites & Vectors1756-33052022-05-011511810.1186/s13071-022-05280-0A molecular survey of spotted fever group rickettsiae in introduced raccoons (Procyon lotor)Joanna Hildebrand0Agnieszka Perec-Matysiak1Marcin Popiołek2Dorota Merta3Izabella Myśliwy4Katarzyna Buńkowska-Gawlik5Department of Parasitology, University of WrocławDepartment of Parasitology, University of WrocławDepartment of Parasitology, University of WrocławDepartment of Ecology and Environmental Protection, Institute of Biology, Pedagogical University of KrakówDepartment of Parasitology, University of WrocławDepartment of Parasitology, University of WrocławAbstract Background The raccoon Procyon lotor (Linnaeus, 1758) (Carnivora; Procyonidae) is one of the most important and most intensively studied invasive mammal species in Europe. Within the last 30 years the raccoon has spread at an increasing rate, resulting in the establishment of local populations in various regions of Europe. In these newly colonised areas, gaps in knowledge of the raccoon’s biology concern not only most aspects of its ecology in a broad sense, but also its pathogens and parasites. Most micropathogens recorded hitherto in the raccoons that have colonised Europe have documented epizootic and zoonotic potential. Thus, it is considered especially important to investigate the role played by the raccoon in the spread of pathogens through both animal-animal and animal-human pathways. Methods Tissue samples of raccoons from Poland and Germany were examined in this study. In total, 384 tissue samples from 220 raccoons (170 spleen samples, 82 liver biopsies, 132 ear biopsies) were examined using molecular methods. The presence of Rickettsia spp. DNA was screened through amplification of a fragment of the gltA gene. Samples that were PCR positive for gltA were tested for other rickettsial genes, ompB and a 17-kDa antigen. For taxonomic purposes, the obtained sequences were compared with corresponding sequences deposited in GenBank using the Basic Local Alignment Search Tool, and phylogenetic analyses were conducted using Bayesian inference implemented in MrBayes software. Results Rickettsia DNA was confirmed only in skin biopsies; no isolates from the spleen or liver were positive for Rickettsia DNA. With the exception of one sample from Germany, which was positive for Rickettsia helvetica DNA, all the samples positive for Rickettsia DNA derived from the Polish population of raccoons. DNA of Rickettsia spp. was detected in 25 samples, i.e. 11.4% of the tested raccoons, and R. helvetica was confirmed in 52% of the positive samples. Additionally, single cases of Rickettsia monacensis, Rickettsia raoultii, and Candidatus Rickettsia kotlanii-like were found, and in 32% of all the positive samples similarity was shown to different Rickettsia endosymbionts. Out of the samples that tested positive for gltA, amplicons of ompB and 17 kDa were successfully sequenced from 14 and three samples, respectively. Conclusions To the best of our knowledge, this study provides, for the first time, evidence of the occurrence of Rickettsia pathogens and endosymbionts in the European population of raccoons. Further, broader research on different species of wild vertebrates, and ticks, as potential vectors and hosts for tick-borne pathogens, in natural as well as in peri-urban environments, is therefore required. Graphical abstracthttps://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-022-05280-0RickettsiaSpotted fever group rickettsiaeRaccoons |
| spellingShingle | Joanna Hildebrand Agnieszka Perec-Matysiak Marcin Popiołek Dorota Merta Izabella Myśliwy Katarzyna Buńkowska-Gawlik A molecular survey of spotted fever group rickettsiae in introduced raccoons (Procyon lotor) Parasites & Vectors Rickettsia Spotted fever group rickettsiae Raccoons |
| title | A molecular survey of spotted fever group rickettsiae in introduced raccoons (Procyon lotor) |
| title_full | A molecular survey of spotted fever group rickettsiae in introduced raccoons (Procyon lotor) |
| title_fullStr | A molecular survey of spotted fever group rickettsiae in introduced raccoons (Procyon lotor) |
| title_full_unstemmed | A molecular survey of spotted fever group rickettsiae in introduced raccoons (Procyon lotor) |
| title_short | A molecular survey of spotted fever group rickettsiae in introduced raccoons (Procyon lotor) |
| title_sort | molecular survey of spotted fever group rickettsiae in introduced raccoons procyon lotor |
| topic | Rickettsia Spotted fever group rickettsiae Raccoons |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-022-05280-0 |
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