Large-scale molecular survey for piroplasmids in Iberian wild carnivores.

ABSTRACT: Piroplasmids are vector-borne hemoprotozoan parasites belonging to the phylum Apicomplexa that are of veterinary and medical importance. Wild carnivores are hosts for diverse piroplasmids, some of which are highly pathogenic for domestic dogs and cats. A large-scale survey including samples from 244 individuals belonging to eleven different species that were opportunistically obtained between 1993 and 2015 in four Autonomous Regions in Spain were tested for piroplasmid DNA with two different nested-PCR assays targeting the 18S rRNA gene. Sixty of 85 Eurasian badgers (Meles meles), 11 of 42 red foxes (Vulpes vulpes), and 1 of 10 stone martens (Martes foina) resulted positive. In contrast, 46 wolves (Canis lupus), 26 genets (Genetta genetta), 22 pine martens (Martes martes), and other less-r

SUBMITTER: Millan J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11645313 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature