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Umhang G, Frantz AC, Ferté H, Fournier Chambrillon C, Gautrelet M, Gritti T, Thenon N, Le Loc'h G, Isère-Laoué E, Egal F, Caillot C, Lippert S, Heddergott M, Fournier P, Richomme C. Surveys on Baylisascaris procyonis in two of the three French wild raccoon populations. Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2024; 23:100928. [PMID: 38586580 PMCID: PMC10998084 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2024.100928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2024] [Revised: 03/20/2024] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
Human infection by Baylisascaris procyonis can result in larva migrans syndromes, which can cause severe neurological sequelae and fatal cases. The raccoon serves as the definitive host of the nematode, harboring adult worms in its intestine and excreting millions of eggs into the environment via its feces. Transmission to paratenic hosts (such as rodents, birds and rabbits) or to humans occurs by accidental ingestion of eggs. The occurrence of B. procyonis in wild raccoons has been reported in several Western European countries. In France, raccoons have currently established three separate and expanding populations as a result of at least three independent introductions. Until now the presence of B. procyonis in these French raccoon populations has not been investigated. Between 2011 and 2021, 300 raccoons were collected from both the south-western and north-eastern populations. The core parts of the south-western and north-eastern French raccoon populations were free of B. procyonis. However, three worms (molecularly confirmed) were detected in a young raccoon found at the edge of the north-eastern French raccoon population, close to the Belgian and Luxemburg borders. Population genetic structure analysis, genetic exclusion tests and factorial correspondence analysis all confirmed that the infected raccoon originated from the local genetic population, while the same three approaches showed that the worms were genetically distinct from the two nearest known populations in Germany and the Netherlands. The detection of an infected raccoon sampled east of the northeastern population raises strong questions about the routes of introduction of the roundworms. Further studies are required to test wild raccoons for the presence of B. procyonis in the area of the index case and further east towards the border with Germany.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gérald Umhang
- ANSES Nancy Laboratory for Rabies and Wildlife, National Reference Laboratory for Echinococcus spp., Malzeville, France
| | | | - Hubert Ferté
- Université de Reims Champagne–Ardenne, Reims, France
| | | | - Manon Gautrelet
- Université de Reims Champagne–Ardenne, Reims, France
- GREGE, Villandraut, France
| | | | | | | | | | - Fabien Egal
- Association Départementale des Piégeurs Agréés de Gironde, Mongauzy, France
| | - Christophe Caillot
- ANSES Nancy Laboratory for Rabies and Wildlife, National Reference Laboratory for Echinococcus spp., Malzeville, France
| | | | | | | | - Céline Richomme
- ANSES Nancy Laboratory for Rabies and Wildlife, National Reference Laboratory for Echinococcus spp., Malzeville, France
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Alsarraf M, Carretón E, Ciuca L, Diakou A, Dwużnik-Szarek D, Fuehrer HP, Genchi M, Ionică AM, Kloch A, Kramer LH, Mihalca AD, Miterpáková M, Morchón R, Papadopoulos E, Pękacz M, Rinaldi L, Alsarraf M, Topolnytska M, Vismarra A, Zawistowska-Deniziak A, Bajer A. Diversity and geographic distribution of haplotypes of Dirofilaria immitis across European endemic countries. Parasit Vectors 2023; 16:325. [PMID: 37700369 PMCID: PMC10498598 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-023-05945-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/14/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Dirofilaria immitis, also known as heartworm, is one of the most important parasitic nematodes of domestic dogs, causing a potentially serious disease, cardiopulmonary dirofilariosis, which can be lethal. This species seems to be less 'expansive' than its sister species Dirofilaria repens, and it is believed that climate change facilitates the spread of this parasite to new non-endemic regions. METHODS In total, 122 heartworm isolates were analysed from nine endemic countries in Europe (Portugal, Spain, Italy, Greece, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia, and Ukraine) and a single isolate from Bangladesh by amplification and sequencing of two mitochondrial (mt) DNA markers: cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COI) and dehydrogenase subunit 1 (NADH). The main aim of the current study was to determine the genetic diversity of D. immitis and compare it with D. repens haplotype diversity and distribution. DNA was extracted from adult heartworms or microfilariae in blood. Most isolates originated from dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) while 10 isolates originated from wildlife species from Romania, including eight isolates from golden jackals (Canis aureus), one isolate from a Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) and one isolate from a red fox (Vulpes vulpes). RESULTS Median spanning network analysis was based on the combined sequence (1721 bp) obtained from two mt markers and successfully delineated nine haplotypes (Di1-Di9). Haplotype Di1 was the dominant haplotype encompassing 91 out of the 122 sequences (75%) from all nine countries and four host species. Haplotype Di2 was the second most common haplotype, formed solely by 13 isolates from Italy. The remaining sequences were assigned to Di3-Di9 haplotypes, differing by 1-4 SNPs from the dominant Di1 haplotype. There was evidence for geographical segregation of haplotypes, with three unique haplotypes associated with Italy and four others associated with certain countries (Di4 and Di7 with Slovakia; Di8 with Greece; Di6 with Hungary). CONCLUSION Diversity in D. immitis mt haplotypes was lower by half than in D. repens (9 vs. 18 haplotypes in D. immitis and D. repens, respectively), which may be associated with the slower expansion of heartworm in Central and NE Europe. NADH gene appears to be conserved in Dirofilaria sp. by showing lower genetic diversity than the analysed COI gene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mustafa Alsarraf
- Department of Eco-Epidemiology of Parasitic Diseases, Institute of Developmental Biology and Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Miecznikowa 1, 02-096 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Elena Carretón
- Internal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Campus Arucas, Arucas, 35413 Las Palmas, Spain
| | - Lavinia Ciuca
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Napoli Federico II, Via Delpino 1, 80137 Naples, Italy
| | - Anastasia Diakou
- Laboratory of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Dorota Dwużnik-Szarek
- Department of Eco-Epidemiology of Parasitic Diseases, Institute of Developmental Biology and Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Miecznikowa 1, 02-096 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Hans-Peter Fuehrer
- Institute of Parasitology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinaerplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria
| | - Marco Genchi
- Department of Veterinary Science, Parasitology Unit, University of Parma, strada del Taglio, 10, 43126 Parma, Italy
| | - Angela Monica Ionică
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, Calea Manastur 3-5, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Agnieszka Kloch
- Institute of Functional Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Miecznikowa 1, 02-096 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Laura Helen Kramer
- Department of Veterinary Science, Parasitology Unit, University of Parma, strada del Taglio, 10, 43126 Parma, Italy
| | - Andrei D. Mihalca
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, Calea Manastur 3-5, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Martina Miterpáková
- Institute of Parasitology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Hlinkova 3, 040 01 Košice, Slovakia
| | - Rodrigo Morchón
- Zoonotic Diseases and One Health Group, IBSAL-CIETUS (Biomedical Research Institute of Salamanca-Research Centre for Tropical Diseases University of Salamanca), Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
| | - Elias Papadopoulos
- Laboratory of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Mateusz Pękacz
- Division of Parasitology, Department of Preclinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences-SGGW, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Laura Rinaldi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Napoli Federico II, Via Delpino 1, 80137 Naples, Italy
| | - Mohammed Alsarraf
- Department of Eco-Epidemiology of Parasitic Diseases, Institute of Developmental Biology and Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Miecznikowa 1, 02-096 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Mariia Topolnytska
- Department of Eco-Epidemiology of Parasitic Diseases, Institute of Developmental Biology and Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Miecznikowa 1, 02-096 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Alice Vismarra
- Department of Veterinary Science, Parasitology Unit, University of Parma, strada del Taglio, 10, 43126 Parma, Italy
| | - Anna Zawistowska-Deniziak
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Functional Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Miecznikowa 1, 02-096 Warsaw, Poland
- Department of Immunology, Institute of Functional Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Miecznikowa 1, 02-096 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Anna Bajer
- Department of Eco-Epidemiology of Parasitic Diseases, Institute of Developmental Biology and Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Miecznikowa 1, 02-096 Warsaw, Poland
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Heddergott M, Lippert S, Schliephake A, Gaede W, Schleimer A, Frantz AC. Spread of the Zoonotic Nematode Baylisascaris procyonis into a Naive Raccoon Population. ECOHEALTH 2023; 20:263-272. [PMID: 37971598 PMCID: PMC10757695 DOI: 10.1007/s10393-023-01655-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Revised: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
The raccoon roundworm (Baylisascaris procyonis), a gastrointestinal nematode of the raccoon (Procyon lotor), may cause a severe form of larva migrans in humans, which can lead to death or permanent neurological damage. Although roundworms were inadvertently introduced to Europe alongside their raccoon hosts, the parasite is not present in every raccoon population. It is important to understand the geographic distribution of B. procyonis, as early and rapid treatment can prevent severe pathologies in humans. We present evidence for the roundworm spreading into a naive raccoon population through natural dispersal of infected raccoons. We sampled 181 raccoons from Saxony-Anhalt, a German federal state containing contact zones of different raccoon populations, two of which were previously free of the parasite. We screened the raccoons for roundworms and used microsatellite-based assignment tests to determine the genetic origin of the raccoons and their parasites. We detected roundworms in 16 of 45 raccoons sampled in a previously roundworm-free area in the northern part of the state. The largest proportion of the genetic ancestry (≥ 0.5) of the 16 raccoon hosts was assigned to the previously naive raccoon population. Conversely, the genetic ancestry of almost all the roundworms was assigned to the nearest roundworm population in the southern part of the state. Infected raccoons have, therefore, spread to the north of the state, where they interbred with and infected local raccoons. It seems likely that the roundworms will continue to spread. Health authorities should consider continuous surveillance programmes of naive populations and raise public awareness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mike Heddergott
- Musée National d'Histoire Naturelle, 25 rue Muenster, L-2160, Luxembourg, Luxembourg
| | - Stéphanie Lippert
- Musée National d'Histoire Naturelle, 25 rue Muenster, L-2160, Luxembourg, Luxembourg
| | - Annette Schliephake
- Department for Veterinary Medicine, State Institute for Consumer Protection of Saxony-Anhalt, Haferbreiter Weg 132-135, 39576, Stendal, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Gaede
- Department for Veterinary Medicine, State Institute for Consumer Protection of Saxony-Anhalt, Haferbreiter Weg 132-135, 39576, Stendal, Germany
| | - Anna Schleimer
- Musée National d'Histoire Naturelle, 25 rue Muenster, L-2160, Luxembourg, Luxembourg
- Fondation Faune Flore, 24 rue Muenster, L-2160, Luxembourg, Luxembourg
| | - Alain C Frantz
- Musée National d'Histoire Naturelle, 25 rue Muenster, L-2160, Luxembourg, Luxembourg.
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Reinhardt NP, Wassermann M, Härle J, Romig T, Kurzrock L, Arnold J, Großmann E, Mackenstedt U, Straubinger RK. Helminths in Invasive Raccoons ( Procyon lotor) from Southwest Germany. Pathogens 2023; 12:919. [PMID: 37513766 PMCID: PMC10384161 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12070919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2023] [Revised: 07/02/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
As hosts of numerous zoonotic pathogens, the role of raccoons needs to be considered in the One Health context. Raccoons progressively expand their range as invasive alien species in Europe. This study aimed to investigate the intestinal helminth fauna of raccoons in Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany, as no such screening had ever been conducted there. In total, we obtained 102 animals from hunters in 2019 and 2020. Intestinal helminths were retrieved using the SSCT (segmented sedimentation and counting technique) and identified morphologically and by PCR-based Sanger sequencing. Fecal samples were assessed using the ELISA PetChekTM IP assay (IDEXX, Germany) and flotation technique. The artificial digestion method was employed for analyzing muscle tissue. We detected species of four nematode genera (Baylisascaris procyonis, Toxocara canis, Capillaria spp., and Trichuris spp.), three cestode genera (Atriotaenia cf. incisa/procyonis, Taenia martis, and Mesocestoides spp.), and three trematode genera (Isthmiophora hortensis/melis, Plagiorchis muris, and Brachylaima spp.). Echinococcus spp. and Trichinella spp. were not found. The invasive behavior and synanthropic habits of raccoons may increase the infection risk with these helminths in wildlife, domestic and zoo animals, and humans by serving as a connecting link. Therefore, it is crucial to initiate additional studies assessing these risks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nico P Reinhardt
- Bacteriology and Mycology, Institute for Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Department of Veterinary Sciences, LMU Munich, 85764 Oberschleißheim, Germany
| | - Marion Wassermann
- Parasitology Unit, Institute of Biology, University of Hohenheim, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Jessica Härle
- Parasitology Unit, Institute of Biology, University of Hohenheim, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Thomas Romig
- Parasitology Unit, Institute of Biology, University of Hohenheim, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Lina Kurzrock
- IDEXX Laboratories, Vet Med Labor GmbH, 70806 Kornwestheim, Germany
| | - Janosch Arnold
- Wildlife Research Unit, Agricultural Centre Baden-Wuerttemberg (LAZBW), 88326 Aulendorf, Germany
| | - Ernst Großmann
- Aulendorf State Veterinary Diagnostic Centre (STUA), 88326 Aulendorf, Germany
| | - Ute Mackenstedt
- Parasitology Unit, Institute of Biology, University of Hohenheim, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Reinhard K Straubinger
- Bacteriology and Mycology, Institute for Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Department of Veterinary Sciences, LMU Munich, 85764 Oberschleißheim, Germany
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5
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Frantz AC, Lippert S, Heddergott M. Microsatellite profiling of hosts from parasite-extracted DNA illustrated with raccoons (Procyon lotor) and their Baylisascaris procyonis roundworms. Parasit Vectors 2023; 16:76. [PMID: 36841791 PMCID: PMC9960475 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-023-05703-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Important information on movement pathways and introduction routes of invasive parasites can be obtained by comparing the genetic makeup of an invader with its spatial genetic structure in other distribution areas. Sometimes, the population genetic structure of the host might be more informative than that of the parasite itself, and it is important to collect tissue samples of both host and parasite. However, host tissue samples are frequently not available for analysis. We aimed to test whether it is possible to generate reliable microsatellite profiles of host individuals by amplifying DNA extracted from a nematode parasite, using the raccoon (Procyon lotor) and the raccoon roundworm (Baylisascaris procyonis) as a test case. METHODS Between 2020 and 2021, we collected tissue as well as a single roundworm each from 12 raccoons from central Germany. Both the raccoon and the roundworm DNA extracts were genotyped using 17 raccoon-specific microsatellite loci. For each roundworm DNA extract, we performed at least eight amplification reactions per microsatellite locus. RESULTS We extracted amplifiable raccoon DNA from all 12 roundworms. We obtained at least two amplification products for 186 of the 204 possible genotypes. Altogether 1077 of the 1106 genotypes (97.4%) matched the host-DNA derived reference genotypes and thus did not contain genotyping errors. Nine of the 12 roundworm-derived genetic profiles matched the reference profiles from the raccoon hosts, with one additional genetic profile containing genotyping errors at a single locus. The remaining two genetic profiles were deemed unsuitable for downstream analysis because of genotyping errors and/or a high proportion of missing data. CONCLUSIONS We showed that reliable microsatellite-based genetic profiles of host individuals can be obtained by amplifying DNA extracted from a parasitic nematode. Specifically, the approach can be applied to reconstruct invasion pathways of roundworms when samples of the raccoon hosts are lacking. Further research should assess whether this method can be replicated in smaller species of parasitic nematodes and other phyla of parasites more generally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alain C. Frantz
- grid.507500.7Musée National d’Histoire Naturelle, Luxembourg, Luxembourg
| | - Stéphanie Lippert
- grid.507500.7Musée National d’Histoire Naturelle, Luxembourg, Luxembourg
| | - Mike Heddergott
- grid.507500.7Musée National d’Histoire Naturelle, Luxembourg, Luxembourg
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6
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Maas M, Tatem-Dokter R, Rijks JM, Dam-Deisz C, Franssen F, van Bolhuis H, Heddergott M, Schleimer A, Schockert V, Lambinet C, Hubert P, Redelijk T, Janssen R, Cruz APL, Martinez IC, Caron Y, Linden A, Lesenfants C, Paternostre J, van der Giessen J, Frantz AC. Population genetics, invasion pathways and public health risks of the raccoon and its roundworm Baylisascaris procyonis in northwestern Europe. Transbound Emerg Dis 2021; 69:2191-2200. [PMID: 34227236 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.14218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2021] [Revised: 06/30/2021] [Accepted: 07/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
The geographic range of the zoonotic raccoon roundworm (Baylisascaris procyonis) is expanding together with the range of its host, the raccoon (Procyon lotor). This creates a new public health risk in parts of Europe where this parasite was previously absent. In the Netherlands, a raccoon population is becoming established and incidental findings of B. procyonis have been reported. To assess the risk to public health, the prevalence of B. procyonis was determined in the province of Limburg, where currently the largest Dutch raccoon population is present, as well as in the adjoining region of southern Belgium. Furthermore, genetic methods were employed to assess invasion pathways of both the raccoon and B. procyonis to aid in the development of control measures. Macroscopic analysis of intestinal content and testing of faecal samples were performed to detect B. procyonis adults and eggs. The population genetics of both B. procyonis and its raccoon host were analysed using samples from central and northwestern Europe. B. procyonis was found in 14/23 (61%, 95% CI: 41%-78%) raccoons from Limburg, but was not detected in 50 Belgian raccoons. Genetic analyses showed that the majority of the Dutch raccoons and their roundworms were introduced through ex-captive individuals. As long as free-living raccoon populations originate from captivity, population control methods may be pursued. However, natural dispersal from the border regions will complicate prolonged population control. To reduce the public health risk posed by B. procyonis, public education to increase awareness and adapt behaviour towards raccoons is key.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miriam Maas
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control (CIb), National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | - Rea Tatem-Dokter
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control (CIb), National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | - Jolianne M Rijks
- Dutch Wildlife Health Centre (DWHC), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Cecile Dam-Deisz
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control (CIb), National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | - Frits Franssen
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control (CIb), National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | | | | | - Anna Schleimer
- Musée National d'Histoire Naturelle, Luxembourg, Luxembourg
| | - Vinciane Schockert
- Unité de Recherches zoogéographiques, Département de Biologie, Ecologie et Evolution, Faculté des Sciences, Université de Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Clotilde Lambinet
- Unité de Recherches zoogéographiques, Département de Biologie, Ecologie et Evolution, Faculté des Sciences, Université de Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Pauline Hubert
- Centre de Recherche et de Formation en Éco-éthologie, Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, Boult-aux-Bois, France
| | | | | | | | - Irène Campos Martinez
- Unité de Recherches zoogéographiques, Département de Biologie, Ecologie et Evolution, Faculté des Sciences, Université de Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Yannick Caron
- Parasitologie et Pathologie des Maladies Parasitaires, Département des Maladies infectieuses et parasitaires, Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Annick Linden
- Service de Santé et Pathologie de la Faune sauvage, Département des Maladies infectieuses et parasitaires, Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Christophe Lesenfants
- Service de Santé et Pathologie de la Faune sauvage, Département des Maladies infectieuses et parasitaires, Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Julien Paternostre
- Service de Santé et Pathologie de la Faune sauvage, Département des Maladies infectieuses et parasitaires, Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Joke van der Giessen
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control (CIb), National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | - Alain C Frantz
- Musée National d'Histoire Naturelle, Luxembourg, Luxembourg
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7
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Heddergott M, Steinbach P, Schwarz S, Anheyer-Behmenburg HE, Sutor A, Schliephake A, Jeschke D, Striese M, Müller F, Meyer-Kayser E, Stubbe M, Osten-Sacken N, Krüger S, Gaede W, Runge M, Hoffmann L, Ansorge H, Conraths FJ, Frantz AC. Geographic Distribution of Raccoon Roundworm, Baylisascaris procyonis, Germany and Luxembourg. Emerg Infect Dis 2021; 26:821-823. [PMID: 32187005 PMCID: PMC7101099 DOI: 10.3201/eid2604.191670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Infestation with Baylisascaris procyonis, a gastrointestinal nematode of the raccoon, can cause fatal disease in humans. We found that the parasite is widespread in central Germany and can pose a public health risk. The spread of B. procyonis roundworms into nematode-free raccoon populations needs to be monitored.
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8
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Carlson CR, Schutz CL, Pagan C, Camp LE, Nadler SA. PHYLOGEOGRAPHY OF BAYLISASCARIS PROCYONIS (RACCOON ROUNDWORM) IN NORTH AMERICA. J Parasitol 2021; 107:411-420. [PMID: 34030177 DOI: 10.1645/21-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase 1 (COI) gene of 115 Baylisascaris procyonis individuals from 13 U.S. states and 1 Canadian province were obtained from 44 raccoon hosts to assess genetic variation and geographic structure. The maximum genetic distance between individuals was low (1.6%), consistent with a single species. Moderate COI haplotype (h = 0.60) and nucleotide (π = 0.0053) diversity were found overall. Low haplotype diversity was found among samples east of the Mississippi River (h = 0.036), suggesting that historical growth and expansion of raccoon populations in this region could be responsible for high parasite gene flow or a selective sweep of B. procyonis mtDNA. There was low genetic structure (average Φst = 0.07) for samples east of the continental divide, but samples from Colorado showed higher diversity and differentiation from midwestern and eastern samples. There was marked genetic structure between samples from east and west of the continental divide, with no haplotypes shared between these regions. There was no significant isolation by distance among any of these geographic samples. The phylogeographic patterns for B. procyonis are similar to genetic results reported for their raccoon definitive hosts. The phylogeographic divergence of B. procyonis from east and west of the continental divide may involve vicariance resulting from Pleistocene glaciation and associated climate variation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Curtis R Carlson
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of California Davis, Davis, California 95616
| | - Cora L Schutz
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of California Davis, Davis, California 95616
| | - Christopher Pagan
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of California Davis, Davis, California 95616
| | - Lauren E Camp
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of California Davis, Davis, California 95616
| | - Steven A Nadler
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of California Davis, Davis, California 95616
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9
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Solarczyk P, Dabert M, Frantz AC, Osten-Sacken N, Trzebny A, Wojtkowiak-Giera A, Heddergott M. Zoonotic Giardia duodenalis sub-assemblage BIV in wild raccoons (Procyon lotor) from Germany and Luxembourg. Zoonoses Public Health 2021; 68:538-543. [PMID: 33749156 DOI: 10.1111/zph.12826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2020] [Revised: 03/01/2021] [Accepted: 03/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Giardia duodenalis is a cosmopolitan flagellate that causes giardiasis, one of the most significant gastrointestinal diseases in humans. This parasite can be a serious threat to public health because it can cause waterborne outbreaks as well as sporadic infections in humans. Invasive raccoons (Procyon lotor) may play a role in disseminating Giardia into the environment and transmitting it to humans and domestic animals because they live in high densities and deposit their faces in latrines near areas used by humans. While Giardia infections have been reported from raccoons in North America, it is unknown whether they carry G. duodenalis with zoonotic assemblage A and B, which have the potential to cause illness in humans. We collected faecal samples from 66 legally harvested raccoons in Germany and Luxembourg and examined for Giardia using molecular techniques. Using a quantitative PCR based on primers specific to Giardia genetic assemblages A and B, we detected the presence of zoonotic assemblage B in 27% (95% CI, 17.0-39.6) of all examined faecal samples from raccoons, including animals sampled in buildings. We did not detect genetic assemblage A in any of the samples. Sequences obtained from the glutamate dehydrogenase and beta-giardin gene fragments from a selection of three of the positive samples showed that raccoons carried a zoonotic G. duodenalis genotype belonging to sub-assemblage BIV, which is commonly found in humans and animals worldwide. Our results suggest that free-ranging raccoons have the potential to play an increasingly important role in the epidemiology of Giardia and pose a threat to public health in Europe and other regions where this species is common and lives in close association with humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piotr Solarczyk
- Department of Biology and Medical Parasitology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland
| | - Miroslawa Dabert
- Molecular Biology Techniques Laboratory, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznan, Poland
| | - Alain C Frantz
- Musée National d'Histoire Naturelle, Luxembourg, Luxembourg
| | - Natalia Osten-Sacken
- Fondation Faune-Flora, Luxembourg, Luxembourg.,Centre for Veterinary Sciences, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Toruń, Poland
| | - Artur Trzebny
- Molecular Biology Techniques Laboratory, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznan, Poland
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10
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Duscher GG, Frantz AC, Kuebber-Heiss A, Fuehrer HP, Heddergott M. A potential zoonotic threat: First detection of Baylisascaris procyonis in a wild raccoon from Austria. Transbound Emerg Dis 2020; 68:3034-3037. [PMID: 33345448 PMCID: PMC9292055 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.13963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2020] [Revised: 12/17/2020] [Accepted: 12/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Baylisascaris procyonis is a common gastrointestinal parasite of raccoons (Procyon lotor) in their native range, and both have been introduced to Europe. Humans may ingest ascarid eggs shed via the racoons’ faeces, and this could lead to severe infections affecting the central nervous system. Here, we report the first occurrence of B. procyonis in Austria. The parasite was detected in a two‐year‐old male raccoon that was road‐killed in November 2019 near Hittisau (Vorarlberg). Genetic profiling provided strong evidence that the raccoon (and its parasite) originated from the nearest German raccoon population. The first finding in Austria highlights the need for monitoring the parasite and information of the public and practitioners.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alain C Frantz
- Musée National d'Histoire Naturelle, Luxembourg, Luxembourg
| | - Anna Kuebber-Heiss
- Department of Interdisciplinary Life Sciences, Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Hans-Peter Fuehrer
- Department of Pathobiology, Institute of Parasitology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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11
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Rentería-Solís Z, Meyer-Kayser E, Obiegala A, Ackermann F, Król N, Birka S. Cryptosporidium sp. skunk genotype in wild raccoons (Procyon lotor) naturally infected with Baylisascaris procyonis from Central Germany. Parasitol Int 2020; 79:102159. [PMID: 32574726 DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2020.102159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2020] [Revised: 05/06/2020] [Accepted: 06/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Cryptosporidium spp. are apicomplexan parasites of public health concern. They are one of the main causes of intestinal diseases in humans and animals. Contaminated water is among the main sources of infection for humans and mammals. Raccoons are an introduced species in Germany. They are anthropogenic adapters with a natural affinity for water bodies. We collected samples from wild raccoons in the Federal States of Saxony and Thuringia, Central Germany. Through molecular genotyping, we found Cryptosporidium sp. skunk genotype in one raccoon from Saxony (1/24) and in one animal from Thuringia (1/27). Both raccoons were also infected with the zoonotic nematode Baylisascaris procyonis. This is the first report of co-infection with these two parasites in raccoons from Germany. Our study highlights the potential of these animals as carriers of zoonotic pathogens. Since raccoons can thrive in human settlements, this study provides data that can be used as a baseline for preventive programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zaida Rentería-Solís
- Institute for Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Leipzig, An den Tierkliniken 35, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
| | - Elisabeth Meyer-Kayser
- Thuringian State Office for Consumer Protection, Tennstedter Str. 8/9, 99947 Bad Langensalza, Germany
| | - Anna Obiegala
- Institute of Animal Hygiene and Veterinary Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Leipzig, An den Tierkliniken 1, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Franziska Ackermann
- Institute for Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Leipzig, An den Tierkliniken 35, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Nina Król
- Institute of Animal Hygiene and Veterinary Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Leipzig, An den Tierkliniken 1, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Stefan Birka
- Institute for Food Hygiene, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Leipzig, An den Tierkliniken 1, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
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12
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Pérez SD, Grummer JA, Fernandes-Santos RC, José CT, Medici EP, Marcili A. Phylogenetics, patterns of genetic variation and population dynamics of Trypanosoma terrestris support both coevolution and ecological host-fitting as processes driving trypanosome evolution. Parasit Vectors 2019; 12:473. [PMID: 31604471 PMCID: PMC6790053 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-019-3726-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2019] [Accepted: 09/16/2019] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND A considerable amount of evidence has favored ecological host-fitting, rather than coevolution, as the main mechanism responsible for trypanosome divergence. Nevertheless, beyond the study of human pathogenic trypanosomes, the genetic basis of host specificity among trypanosomes isolated from forest-inhabiting hosts remains largely unknown. METHODS To test possible scenarios on ecological host-fitting and coevolution, we combined a host capture recapture strategy with parasite genetic data and studied the genetic variation, population dynamics and phylogenetic relationships of Trypanosoma terrestris, a recently described trypanosome species isolated from lowland tapirs in the Brazilian Pantanal and Atlantic Forest biomes. RESULTS We made inferences of T. terrestris population structure at three possible sources of genetic variation: geography, tapir hosts and 'putative' vectors. We found evidence of a bottleneck affecting the contemporary patterns of parasite genetic structure, resulting in little genetic diversity and no evidence of genetic structure among hosts or biomes. Despite this, a strongly divergent haplotype was recorded at a microgeographical scale in the landscape of Nhecolândia in the Pantanal. However, although tapirs are promoting the dispersion of the parasites through the landscape, neither geographical barriers nor tapir hosts were involved in the isolation of this haplotype. Taken together, these findings suggest that either host-switching promoted by putative vectors or declining tapir population densities are influencing the current parasite population dynamics and genetic structure. Similarly, phylogenetic analyses revealed that T. terrestris is strongly linked to the evolutionary history of its perissodactyl hosts, suggesting a coevolving scenario between Perissodactyla and their trypanosomes. Additionally, T. terrestris and T. grayi are closely related, further indicating that host-switching is a common feature promoting trypanosome evolution. CONCLUSIONS This study provides two lines of evidence, both micro- and macroevolutionary, suggesting that both host-switching by ecological fitting and coevolution are two important and non-mutually-exclusive processes driving the evolution of trypanosomes. In line with other parasite systems, our results support that even in the face of host specialization and coevolution, host-switching may be common and is an important determinant of parasite diversification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergio D Pérez
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.,Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad del Tolima, Ibagué, Colombia
| | - Jared A Grummer
- Department of Zoology and Biodiversity Research Center, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Renata C Fernandes-Santos
- Lowland Tapir Conservation Initiative (LTCI), Institute for Ecological Research (IPÊ), Campo Grande, Brazil.,Tapir Specialist Group (TSG), Species Survival Commission (SSC), International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Houston, USA.,Brazilian Institute for Conservation Medicine (TRÍADE), Campo Grande, Brazil
| | - Caroline Testa José
- Lowland Tapir Conservation Initiative (LTCI), Institute for Ecological Research (IPÊ), Campo Grande, Brazil
| | - Emília Patrícia Medici
- Lowland Tapir Conservation Initiative (LTCI), Institute for Ecological Research (IPÊ), Campo Grande, Brazil.,Tapir Specialist Group (TSG), Species Survival Commission (SSC), International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Houston, USA.,Escola Superior de Conservação Ambiental e Sustentabilidade (ESCAS/IPÊ), Nazaré Paulista, Brazil
| | - Arlei Marcili
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. .,Masters program in Medicine and Animal Welfare, Santo Amaro University, São Paulo, Brazil.
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13
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Otranto D, Deplazes P. Zoonotic nematodes of wild carnivores. Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2019; 9:370-383. [PMID: 31338295 PMCID: PMC6626844 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2018.12.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2018] [Revised: 12/29/2018] [Accepted: 12/31/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
For a long time, wildlife carnivores have been disregarded for their potential in transmitting zoonotic nematodes. However, human activities and politics (e.g., fragmentation of the environment, land use, recycling in urban settings) have consistently favoured the encroachment of urban areas upon wild environments, ultimately causing alteration of many ecosystems with changes in the composition of the wild fauna and destruction of boundaries between domestic and wild environments. Therefore, the exchange of parasites from wild to domestic carnivores and vice versa have enhanced the public health relevance of wild carnivores and their potential impact in the epidemiology of many zoonotic parasitic diseases. The risk of transmission of zoonotic nematodes from wild carnivores to humans via food, water and soil (e.g., genera Ancylostoma, Baylisascaris, Capillaria, Uncinaria, Strongyloides, Toxocara, Trichinella) or arthropod vectors (e.g., genera Dirofilaria spp., Onchocerca spp., Thelazia spp.) and the emergence, re-emergence or the decreasing trend of selected infections is herein discussed. In addition, the reasons for limited scientific information about some parasites of zoonotic concern have been examined. A correct compromise between conservation of wild carnivores and risk of introduction and spreading of parasites of public health concern is discussed in order to adequately manage the risk of zoonotic nematodes of wild carnivores in line with the 'One Health' approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Domenico Otranto
- Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Universita’ degli Studi di Bari, 70010, Valenzano, Italy
| | - Peter Deplazes
- Institute of Parasitology, University of Zürich, 8057, Zürich, Switzerland
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14
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Cole R, Viney M. The population genetics of parasitic nematodes of wild animals. Parasit Vectors 2018; 11:590. [PMID: 30424774 PMCID: PMC6234597 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-018-3137-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2018] [Accepted: 10/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Parasitic nematodes are highly diverse and common, infecting virtually all animal species, and the importance of their roles in natural ecosystems is increasingly becoming apparent. How genes flow within and among populations of these parasites - their population genetics - has profound implications for the epidemiology of host infection and disease, and for the response of parasite populations to selection pressures. The population genetics of nematode parasites of wild animals may have consequences for host conservation, or influence the risk of zoonotic disease. Host movement has long been recognised as an important determinant of parasitic nematode population genetic structure, and recent research has also highlighted the importance of nematode life histories, environmental conditions, and other aspects of host ecology. Commonly, factors influencing parasitic nematode population genetics have been studied in isolation, such that an integrated view of the drivers of population genetic structure of parasitic nematodes is still lacking. Here, we seek to provide a comprehensive, broad, and integrative picture of these factors in parasitic nematodes of wild animals that will be a useful resource for investigators studying non-model parasitic nematodes in natural ecosystems. Increasingly, new methods of analysing the population genetics of nematodes are becoming available, and we consider the opportunities that these afford in resolving hitherto inaccessible questions of the population genetics of these important animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Cole
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TQ, UK.
| | - Mark Viney
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TQ, UK
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15
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First detection of Baylisascaris procyonis in wild raccoons (Procyon lotor) from Leipzig, Saxony, Eastern Germany. Parasitol Res 2018; 117:3289-3292. [DOI: 10.1007/s00436-018-5988-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2018] [Accepted: 06/21/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
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