Parasites of the genus Cryptosporidium Tyzzer, 1910 are one of the most common protistan parasites of vertebrates. Faecal samples from 179 red foxes (Vulpes vulpes [Linnaeus]), 100 grey wolves (Canis lupus Linnaeus), 11 golden jackals (Canis aureus Linnaeus), and 63 brown bears (Ursus arctos Linnaeus) were collected in the Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia. Samples were examined for the presence of Cryptosporidium spp. using microscopy and PCR/sequence analysis. Phylogenetic analysis based on the small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU), actin and 60-kDa glycoprotein (gp60) genes using the maximum likelihood method revealed the presence of Cryptosporidium tyzzeri Ren, Zhao, Zhang, Ning, Jian et al., 2012 (n = 1) and C. andersoni Lindsay, Upton, Owens, Morgan, Mead et Blackburn, 2000 (n = 2) in red foxes, C. canis Fayer, Trout, Xiao, Morgan, Lai et Dubey, 2001 (n = 2) and C. ubiquitum Fayer, Santín et Macarisin, 2010 (n = 2) in grey wolves, and C. galli Pavlásek, 1999 in brown bears (n = 1) and red foxes (n = 1). Subtyping of isolates of C. ubiquitum and C. tyzzeri based on sequence analysis of gp60 showed that they belong to the XIId and IXa families, respectively. The presence of specific DNA of C. tyzzeri, C. andersoni and C. galli, which primarily infect the prey of carnivores, is probably the result of their passage through the gastrointestinal tract of the carnivores. Finding C. ubiquitum XIId in wolves may mean broadening the host spectrum of this subtype, but it remains possible this is the result of infected prey passing through the wolf - in this case deer, which is a common host of this parasite. The dog genotype of C. canis was reported for the first time in wolves.
- Klíčová slova
- Czech Republic, PCR, Poland, SSU, Slovakia, carnivores, genotyping, gp60, microscopy,
- MeSH
- Carnivora parazitologie MeSH
- Cryptosporidium * genetika izolace a purifikace MeSH
- feces parazitologie MeSH
- fylogeneze MeSH
- genetická variace MeSH
- genotypizační techniky MeSH
- kryptosporidióza epidemiologie MeSH
- lišky parazitologie MeSH
- malé podjednotky ribozomu genetika MeSH
- medvědovití parazitologie MeSH
- prevalence MeSH
- protozoální DNA genetika MeSH
- protozoální geny MeSH
- psi parazitologie MeSH
- šakali parazitologie MeSH
- vlci parazitologie MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- psi parazitologie MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Česká republika epidemiologie MeSH
- Evropa epidemiologie MeSH
- Polsko epidemiologie MeSH
- Slovenská republika epidemiologie MeSH
- Názvy látek
- protozoální DNA MeSH
BACKGROUND: Jackals are medium-sized canids from the wolf-like clade, exhibiting a unique combination of ancestral morphotypes, broad trophic niches, and close phylogenetic relationships with the wolf and dog. Thus, they represent a potential host of several pathogens with diverse transmission routes. Recently, populations of the Eurasian golden jackal Canis aureus have expanded into the Western Palaearctic, including most of Europe. The aim of our study was to examine Eurasian golden jackals from Romania, Czech Republic and Austria for a wide spectrum of vector-borne protists and to evaluate the role of this species as a reservoir of disease for domestic dogs and/or humans. RESULTS: Diagnostic polymerase chain reaction (PCR) DNA amplifications revealed 70% of jackals to be positive for Hepatozoon, 12.5% positive for piroplasms, and one individual positive for Leishmania infantum. Phylogenetic analyses of partial 18S rDNA sequences invariably placed sequenced isolates of Hepatozoon into the H. canis clade. For piroplasms, both the 18S and cox1 sequences obtained confirmed the presence of Babesia canis and "Theileria annae" in 5 and 2 individuals, respectively, providing the first records of these two piroplasmids in Eurasian golden jackals. A single animal from Dolj County (Romania) was PCR-positive for L. infantum, as confirmed also by sequencing of ITS1-5.8S. CONCLUSIONS: Apparently, expanding populations of jackals can play a significant role in spreading and maintaining new Babesia canis foci in Central Europe. The role of jackals in the epidemiology of "Theileria annae" and H. canis is probably similar to that of red foxes and should be taken into account in further research on these parasites. Also the presence of L. infantum deserves attention. Our study confirms that once established, the populations of Eurasian golden jackals constitute natural reservoirs for many canine vector-borne diseases, analogous to the role of the coyotes in North America.
- Klíčová slova
- Babesia, Eurasian golden jackal, Hepatozoon, Leishmania, “Theileria annae”,
- MeSH
- fylogeneze MeSH
- infekce přenášené vektorem * MeSH
- mezerníky ribozomální DNA chemie genetika MeSH
- paraziti klasifikace izolace a purifikace MeSH
- protozoální DNA chemie genetika MeSH
- protozoální infekce zvířat epidemiologie parazitologie MeSH
- psi MeSH
- ribozomální DNA chemie genetika MeSH
- RNA ribozomální 18S genetika MeSH
- šakali parazitologie MeSH
- sekvenční analýza DNA MeSH
- shluková analýza MeSH
- zdroje nemoci * MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- psi MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Evropa MeSH
- Názvy látek
- mezerníky ribozomální DNA MeSH
- protozoální DNA MeSH
- ribozomální DNA MeSH
- RNA ribozomální 18S MeSH
