Zoonotic <i>Giardia duodenalis</i> Genotypes and Other Gastrointestinal Parasites in a Badger Population Living in an Anthropized Area of Central Italy
The Eurasian badger (<i>Meles meles</i>) is widespread in Italy and occupies different habitats. The occurrence and species of gastrointestinal parasites were evaluated in a free-ranging badger population living in a highly anthropic area in central Italy. A total of 43 fecal samples wer...
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MDPI AG
2022-08-01
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| Series: | Pathogens |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/11/8/906 |
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| author | Michela Maestrini Federica Berrilli Alessia Di Rosso Francesca Coppola Isabel Guadano Procesi Alessia Mariacher Antonio Felicioli Stefania Perrucci |
| author_facet | Michela Maestrini Federica Berrilli Alessia Di Rosso Francesca Coppola Isabel Guadano Procesi Alessia Mariacher Antonio Felicioli Stefania Perrucci |
| author_sort | Michela Maestrini |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The Eurasian badger (<i>Meles meles</i>) is widespread in Italy and occupies different habitats. The occurrence and species of gastrointestinal parasites were evaluated in a free-ranging badger population living in a highly anthropic area in central Italy. A total of 43 fecal samples were examined using the flotation test, the Mini-FLOTAC and Baermann techniques, and a rapid immunoassay for the detection of <i>Giardia duodenalis</i> and <i>Cryptosporidium</i> spp. fecal antigens. Molecular investigations were also performed that aimed at identifying <i>Giardia</i> genotypes. Overall, 37/43 samples (86%) were found positive. Specifically, 48.8% (21 samples) were positive for <i>G.</i><i>duodenalis</i>, 23.2% (10/43) for <i>Cryptosporidium</i> spp., and 7% (3/43) for coccidian oocysts. <i>Strongyloides</i> sp. nematode larvae were detected in 3/43 samples (7%). Ascarid (1/43, 2.3%), capillariid (1/43, 2.3%), and strongyle-type eggs (76.7%, 33/43) were also identified. Among the 11 readable sequences of samples that were positive for <i>G. duodenalis</i> by end-point PCR (18/21), the zoonotic assemblage A sub-assemblage AII and mixed assemblage A and B were identified. This is the first report of zoonotic <i>G. duodenalis</i> genotypes in the Eurasian badger. Moreover, most of identified parasites have zoonotic potential and/or potential impact on the population health of wild badgers and other wild and domestic animals. |
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| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T12:49:30Z |
| publishDate | 2022-08-01 |
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| series | Pathogens |
| spelling | doaj.art-e846fd79510c482db5fa488be15d17262023-11-30T22:09:28ZengMDPI AGPathogens2076-08172022-08-0111890610.3390/pathogens11080906Zoonotic <i>Giardia duodenalis</i> Genotypes and Other Gastrointestinal Parasites in a Badger Population Living in an Anthropized Area of Central ItalyMichela Maestrini0Federica Berrilli1Alessia Di Rosso2Francesca Coppola3Isabel Guadano Procesi4Alessia Mariacher5Antonio Felicioli6Stefania Perrucci7Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, Viale delle Piagge n. 2, 56124 Pisa, ItalyDepartment of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, 00133 Rome, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, Viale delle Piagge n. 2, 56124 Pisa, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, Viale delle Piagge n. 2, 56124 Pisa, ItalyDepartment of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, 00133 Rome, ItalyIstituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Regioni Lazio e Toscana, 58100 Grosseto, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, Viale delle Piagge n. 2, 56124 Pisa, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, Viale delle Piagge n. 2, 56124 Pisa, ItalyThe Eurasian badger (<i>Meles meles</i>) is widespread in Italy and occupies different habitats. The occurrence and species of gastrointestinal parasites were evaluated in a free-ranging badger population living in a highly anthropic area in central Italy. A total of 43 fecal samples were examined using the flotation test, the Mini-FLOTAC and Baermann techniques, and a rapid immunoassay for the detection of <i>Giardia duodenalis</i> and <i>Cryptosporidium</i> spp. fecal antigens. Molecular investigations were also performed that aimed at identifying <i>Giardia</i> genotypes. Overall, 37/43 samples (86%) were found positive. Specifically, 48.8% (21 samples) were positive for <i>G.</i><i>duodenalis</i>, 23.2% (10/43) for <i>Cryptosporidium</i> spp., and 7% (3/43) for coccidian oocysts. <i>Strongyloides</i> sp. nematode larvae were detected in 3/43 samples (7%). Ascarid (1/43, 2.3%), capillariid (1/43, 2.3%), and strongyle-type eggs (76.7%, 33/43) were also identified. Among the 11 readable sequences of samples that were positive for <i>G. duodenalis</i> by end-point PCR (18/21), the zoonotic assemblage A sub-assemblage AII and mixed assemblage A and B were identified. This is the first report of zoonotic <i>G. duodenalis</i> genotypes in the Eurasian badger. Moreover, most of identified parasites have zoonotic potential and/or potential impact on the population health of wild badgers and other wild and domestic animals.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/11/8/906Eurasian badger (<i>Meles meles</i>)anthropogenic settlementgastrointestinal parasiteszoonotic <i>Giardia duodenalis</i> genotypescentral Italy |
| spellingShingle | Michela Maestrini Federica Berrilli Alessia Di Rosso Francesca Coppola Isabel Guadano Procesi Alessia Mariacher Antonio Felicioli Stefania Perrucci Zoonotic <i>Giardia duodenalis</i> Genotypes and Other Gastrointestinal Parasites in a Badger Population Living in an Anthropized Area of Central Italy Pathogens Eurasian badger (<i>Meles meles</i>) anthropogenic settlement gastrointestinal parasites zoonotic <i>Giardia duodenalis</i> genotypes central Italy |
| title | Zoonotic <i>Giardia duodenalis</i> Genotypes and Other Gastrointestinal Parasites in a Badger Population Living in an Anthropized Area of Central Italy |
| title_full | Zoonotic <i>Giardia duodenalis</i> Genotypes and Other Gastrointestinal Parasites in a Badger Population Living in an Anthropized Area of Central Italy |
| title_fullStr | Zoonotic <i>Giardia duodenalis</i> Genotypes and Other Gastrointestinal Parasites in a Badger Population Living in an Anthropized Area of Central Italy |
| title_full_unstemmed | Zoonotic <i>Giardia duodenalis</i> Genotypes and Other Gastrointestinal Parasites in a Badger Population Living in an Anthropized Area of Central Italy |
| title_short | Zoonotic <i>Giardia duodenalis</i> Genotypes and Other Gastrointestinal Parasites in a Badger Population Living in an Anthropized Area of Central Italy |
| title_sort | zoonotic i giardia duodenalis i genotypes and other gastrointestinal parasites in a badger population living in an anthropized area of central italy |
| topic | Eurasian badger (<i>Meles meles</i>) anthropogenic settlement gastrointestinal parasites zoonotic <i>Giardia duodenalis</i> genotypes central Italy |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/11/8/906 |
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