Prevalence of <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> in Wild American Mink (<i>Neogale vison</i>): The First Serological Study in Germany and Poland
<i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> is an obligate intracellular protozoan that causes toxoplasmosis in warm-blooded animals. Although most infections in humans and animals are subclinical, an infection can nevertheless be fatal. One of the important characteristics in the epidemiology of this para...
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MDPI AG
2024-02-01
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| Series: | Pathogens |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/13/2/153 |
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| author | Mike Heddergott Jutta Pikalo Franz Müller Natalia Osten-Sacken Peter Steinbach |
| author_facet | Mike Heddergott Jutta Pikalo Franz Müller Natalia Osten-Sacken Peter Steinbach |
| author_sort | Mike Heddergott |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> is an obligate intracellular protozoan that causes toxoplasmosis in warm-blooded animals. Although most infections in humans and animals are subclinical, an infection can nevertheless be fatal. One of the important characteristics in the epidemiology of this parasite is waterborne transmission. The American mink (<i>Neogale vison</i>), a mammal closely adapted to freshwater ecosystems, is a potential sentinel for <i>T. gondii</i>. We analysed meat juice from the heart of 194 wild minks collected between 2019 and 2022 in five study areas from Germany and Poland and tested for the presence of antibodies against <i>T. gondii</i>. The analysis was performed using a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay test (ELISA). Antibodies were detected in 45.36% (88/194, 95% confidence interval (CI): 38.39–52.41%) of the analysed animals. While the prevalence values ranged from 37.50% to 49.30%, there was no significant difference in seroprevalence between the study areas. Juveniles were less likely to carry <i>T. gondii</i> antibodies than adults (odds ratio: 0.216), whereas there was no significant difference in prevalence between the sexes (odds ratio: 0.933). The results of our study show that contact with <i>T. gondii</i> is widespread in minks, and the parasite is common in inland freshwater ecosystems in Germany and Poland. This indicates that watercourses play an important role in the spread of <i>T. gondii</i> oocysts. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T22:18:44Z |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-0817 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T22:18:44Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Pathogens |
| spelling | doaj.art-7abb506aa0164c479a0431c91edf61272024-02-23T15:30:22ZengMDPI AGPathogens2076-08172024-02-0113215310.3390/pathogens13020153Prevalence of <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> in Wild American Mink (<i>Neogale vison</i>): The First Serological Study in Germany and PolandMike Heddergott0Jutta Pikalo1Franz Müller2Natalia Osten-Sacken3Peter Steinbach4Department of Zoology, Musée National d’Histoire Naturelle, 2160 Luxembourg, LuxembourgInstitute of Parasitology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, AustriaWildlife Biology Working Group, Justus-Liebig-University of Giessen, 35392 Giessen, GermanyInstitute for Veterinary Sciences, Nicolaus Copernicus University, 87-100 Toruń, PolandDepartment of Zoology, Musée National d’Histoire Naturelle, 2160 Luxembourg, Luxembourg<i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> is an obligate intracellular protozoan that causes toxoplasmosis in warm-blooded animals. Although most infections in humans and animals are subclinical, an infection can nevertheless be fatal. One of the important characteristics in the epidemiology of this parasite is waterborne transmission. The American mink (<i>Neogale vison</i>), a mammal closely adapted to freshwater ecosystems, is a potential sentinel for <i>T. gondii</i>. We analysed meat juice from the heart of 194 wild minks collected between 2019 and 2022 in five study areas from Germany and Poland and tested for the presence of antibodies against <i>T. gondii</i>. The analysis was performed using a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay test (ELISA). Antibodies were detected in 45.36% (88/194, 95% confidence interval (CI): 38.39–52.41%) of the analysed animals. While the prevalence values ranged from 37.50% to 49.30%, there was no significant difference in seroprevalence between the study areas. Juveniles were less likely to carry <i>T. gondii</i> antibodies than adults (odds ratio: 0.216), whereas there was no significant difference in prevalence between the sexes (odds ratio: 0.933). The results of our study show that contact with <i>T. gondii</i> is widespread in minks, and the parasite is common in inland freshwater ecosystems in Germany and Poland. This indicates that watercourses play an important role in the spread of <i>T. gondii</i> oocysts.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/13/2/153<i>Toxoplasma gondii</i>enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)American mink<i>Neogale vison</i>wildlifeinvasive species |
| spellingShingle | Mike Heddergott Jutta Pikalo Franz Müller Natalia Osten-Sacken Peter Steinbach Prevalence of <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> in Wild American Mink (<i>Neogale vison</i>): The First Serological Study in Germany and Poland Pathogens <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) American mink <i>Neogale vison</i> wildlife invasive species |
| title | Prevalence of <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> in Wild American Mink (<i>Neogale vison</i>): The First Serological Study in Germany and Poland |
| title_full | Prevalence of <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> in Wild American Mink (<i>Neogale vison</i>): The First Serological Study in Germany and Poland |
| title_fullStr | Prevalence of <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> in Wild American Mink (<i>Neogale vison</i>): The First Serological Study in Germany and Poland |
| title_full_unstemmed | Prevalence of <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> in Wild American Mink (<i>Neogale vison</i>): The First Serological Study in Germany and Poland |
| title_short | Prevalence of <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> in Wild American Mink (<i>Neogale vison</i>): The First Serological Study in Germany and Poland |
| title_sort | prevalence of i toxoplasma gondii i in wild american mink i neogale vison i the first serological study in germany and poland |
| topic | <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) American mink <i>Neogale vison</i> wildlife invasive species |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/13/2/153 |
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