First molecular detection of Babesia vulpes and Babesia capreoli in wild boars from southern Italy
IntroductionFollowing the increase of wild boar (Sus scrofa) populations in Europe, a potential risk of emerging infections by vector-borne pathogens may occur. Despite this, the circulation of piroplasmid species in these ungulates is still a neglected topic, particularly in the Mediterranean basin...
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| Format: | Article |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-08-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Veterinary Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2023.1201476/full |
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| author | Giovanni Sgroi Nicola D’Alessio Nicola D’Alessio Clementina Auriemma Harold Salant Amalia Gallo Marita Georgia Riccardi Flora Alfano Simona Rea Stefano Scarcelli Martina Ottaviano Claudio De Martinis Giovanna Fusco Maria Gabriella Lucibelli Vincenzo Veneziano Vincenzo Veneziano |
| author_facet | Giovanni Sgroi Nicola D’Alessio Nicola D’Alessio Clementina Auriemma Harold Salant Amalia Gallo Marita Georgia Riccardi Flora Alfano Simona Rea Stefano Scarcelli Martina Ottaviano Claudio De Martinis Giovanna Fusco Maria Gabriella Lucibelli Vincenzo Veneziano Vincenzo Veneziano |
| author_sort | Giovanni Sgroi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionFollowing the increase of wild boar (Sus scrofa) populations in Europe, a potential risk of emerging infections by vector-borne pathogens may occur. Despite this, the circulation of piroplasmid species in these ungulates is still a neglected topic, particularly in the Mediterranean basin. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the presence of Babesia/Theileria spp. in wild boars from southern Italy to assess the epidemiological role of these ungulates in the circulation of piroplasmids.MethodsBy using a citizen science approach among hunters and veterinarians, wild boar spleen samples were collected in the Campania region (southern Italy) between 2016 and 2022. A combined semi-nested PCR/sequencing analysis targeting the V4 hyper-variable region of 18S rRNA was run to detect Babesia/Theileria spp. DNA.ResultsOut of 243 boars, 15 (i.e., 6.2, 95% CI: 3.4–9.9) tested positive to Babesia/Theileria spp., Babesia vulpes (n = 13, 5.3, 95% CI: 3.1–8.9) the most prevalent, followed by Babesia capreoli (n = 2, 0.8, 95% CI: 0.2–2.9). Three different B. vulpes sequence types were identified (i.e., ST1, ST2, ST3), with the most representative as ST1 (60%), and a single B. capreoli sequence type. No statistically significant difference (p > 0.05) were found between the presence of the pathogens and boar age, sex, province and sample collection year.DiscussionData demonstrate for the first time the occurrence of B. vulpes and B. capreoli in wild boars, which may play a role in the biological cycle of piroplasmids. We emphasize the importance of monitoring these ungulates to prevent potential foci of infection. The engagement of hunters in epidemiological scientifically based surveys can constitute a technically sound control strategy of piroplasmids in a One Health perspective. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T17:00:22Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ff06a98808e44287a0e860019f656d02 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2297-1769 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T17:00:22Z |
| publishDate | 2023-08-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Veterinary Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-ff06a98808e44287a0e860019f656d022023-08-07T16:13:32ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Veterinary Science2297-17692023-08-011010.3389/fvets.2023.12014761201476First molecular detection of Babesia vulpes and Babesia capreoli in wild boars from southern ItalyGiovanni Sgroi0Nicola D’Alessio1Nicola D’Alessio2Clementina Auriemma3Harold Salant4Amalia Gallo5Marita Georgia Riccardi6Flora Alfano7Simona Rea8Stefano Scarcelli9Martina Ottaviano10Claudio De Martinis11Giovanna Fusco12Maria Gabriella Lucibelli13Vincenzo Veneziano14Vincenzo Veneziano15Department of Animal Health, Experimental Zooprophylactic Institute of Southern Italy, Portici, ItalyDepartment of Animal Health, Experimental Zooprophylactic Institute of Southern Italy, Portici, ItalyOsservatorio Faunistico Venatorio—Campania Region, Naples, ItalyDepartment of Animal Health, Experimental Zooprophylactic Institute of Southern Italy, Portici, ItalyKoret School of Veterinary Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, IsraelDepartment of Animal Health, Experimental Zooprophylactic Institute of Southern Italy, Portici, ItalyDepartment of Animal Health, Experimental Zooprophylactic Institute of Southern Italy, Portici, ItalyDepartment of Animal Health, Experimental Zooprophylactic Institute of Southern Italy, Portici, ItalyDepartment of Animal Health, Experimental Zooprophylactic Institute of Southern Italy, Portici, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, ItalyDepartment of Animal Health, Experimental Zooprophylactic Institute of Southern Italy, Portici, ItalyDepartment of Animal Health, Experimental Zooprophylactic Institute of Southern Italy, Portici, ItalyDepartment of Animal Health, Experimental Zooprophylactic Institute of Southern Italy, Portici, ItalyOsservatorio Faunistico Venatorio—Campania Region, Naples, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, ItalyIntroductionFollowing the increase of wild boar (Sus scrofa) populations in Europe, a potential risk of emerging infections by vector-borne pathogens may occur. Despite this, the circulation of piroplasmid species in these ungulates is still a neglected topic, particularly in the Mediterranean basin. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the presence of Babesia/Theileria spp. in wild boars from southern Italy to assess the epidemiological role of these ungulates in the circulation of piroplasmids.MethodsBy using a citizen science approach among hunters and veterinarians, wild boar spleen samples were collected in the Campania region (southern Italy) between 2016 and 2022. A combined semi-nested PCR/sequencing analysis targeting the V4 hyper-variable region of 18S rRNA was run to detect Babesia/Theileria spp. DNA.ResultsOut of 243 boars, 15 (i.e., 6.2, 95% CI: 3.4–9.9) tested positive to Babesia/Theileria spp., Babesia vulpes (n = 13, 5.3, 95% CI: 3.1–8.9) the most prevalent, followed by Babesia capreoli (n = 2, 0.8, 95% CI: 0.2–2.9). Three different B. vulpes sequence types were identified (i.e., ST1, ST2, ST3), with the most representative as ST1 (60%), and a single B. capreoli sequence type. No statistically significant difference (p > 0.05) were found between the presence of the pathogens and boar age, sex, province and sample collection year.DiscussionData demonstrate for the first time the occurrence of B. vulpes and B. capreoli in wild boars, which may play a role in the biological cycle of piroplasmids. We emphasize the importance of monitoring these ungulates to prevent potential foci of infection. The engagement of hunters in epidemiological scientifically based surveys can constitute a technically sound control strategy of piroplasmids in a One Health perspective.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2023.1201476/fullBabesia capreoliBabesia vulpesItalypublic healthwild boar |
| spellingShingle | Giovanni Sgroi Nicola D’Alessio Nicola D’Alessio Clementina Auriemma Harold Salant Amalia Gallo Marita Georgia Riccardi Flora Alfano Simona Rea Stefano Scarcelli Martina Ottaviano Claudio De Martinis Giovanna Fusco Maria Gabriella Lucibelli Vincenzo Veneziano Vincenzo Veneziano First molecular detection of Babesia vulpes and Babesia capreoli in wild boars from southern Italy Frontiers in Veterinary Science Babesia capreoli Babesia vulpes Italy public health wild boar |
| title | First molecular detection of Babesia vulpes and Babesia capreoli in wild boars from southern Italy |
| title_full | First molecular detection of Babesia vulpes and Babesia capreoli in wild boars from southern Italy |
| title_fullStr | First molecular detection of Babesia vulpes and Babesia capreoli in wild boars from southern Italy |
| title_full_unstemmed | First molecular detection of Babesia vulpes and Babesia capreoli in wild boars from southern Italy |
| title_short | First molecular detection of Babesia vulpes and Babesia capreoli in wild boars from southern Italy |
| title_sort | first molecular detection of babesia vulpes and babesia capreoli in wild boars from southern italy |
| topic | Babesia capreoli Babesia vulpes Italy public health wild boar |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2023.1201476/full |
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