Occurrence and molecular genotyping of Giardia duodenalis and Cryptosporidium spp. in wild mesocarnivores in Spain

Publication date: Available online 20 January 2017 Source:Veterinary Parasitology Author(s): Marta Mateo, Marta Hernández de Mingo, Aida de Lucio, Lucía Morales, Ana Balseiro, Alberto Espí, Marta Barral, José Francisco Lima Barbero, Miguel Ángel Habela, José L. Fernández-García, Rafael Calero Bernal, Pamela C. Köster, Guillermo A. Cardona, David Carmena There is a surprisingly scarce amount of epidemiological and molecular data on the prevalence, frequency, and diversity of the intestinal protozoan parasites Giardia duodenalis and Cryptosporidium spp. in wildlife in general and mesocarnivore species in particular. Consequently, the extent of the cyst/oocyst environmental contamination attributable to these wild host species and their potential implications for public veterinary health remain largely unknown. In this molecular epidemiological survey a total of 193 individual faecal samples from badgers (Meles meles, n =70), ferrets (Mustela putorius furo, n =2), genets (Genetta genetta, n =6), Iberian lynxes (Lynx pardinus, n =6), beech martens (Martes foina, n =8), mongooses (Herpestes ichneumon, n =2), otters (Lutra lutra, n =2), polecats (Mustela putorius, n =2), red foxes (Vulpes vulpes, n =87), wildcats (Felis silvestris, n =2), and wolves (Canis lupus, n =6) were obtained from road-killed, hunted, and accidentally found carcasses, and from camera-trap surveys or animals entering rescue shelters, during the period December 2003–April 2016. Inves...
Source: Veterinary Parasitology - Category: Veterinary Research Source Type: research