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Choi JH, Kim SL, Yoo DK, Yi MH, Oh S, Kim M, Yun S, Yong TS, Choe S, Lee JK, Kim JY. Metabarcoding of pathogenic parasites based on copro-DNA analysis of wild animals in South Korea. Heliyon 2024; 10:e30059. [PMID: 38707283 PMCID: PMC11066388 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e30059] [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: 05/09/2023] [Revised: 04/17/2024] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Four species of dominant wild animals, namely, Prionailurus bengalensis euptilurus, Nyctereutes procyonoides koreensis, Hydropotes inermis argyropus, and Sus scrofa coreanus, are hosts of potential infectious agents, including helminths and protozoa. Therefore, it is necessary to analyze the infectious agents present in these wild animals to monitor and control the spread of pathogens. In the present study, fecal samples from 51 wild animals were collected from the mountains of Yangpyeong, Hoengseong, and Cheongyang in South Korea and metabarcoding of the V9 region of the 18S rRNA gene was performed to identify various parasite species that infect these wild animals. Genes from nematodes, such as Metastrongylus sp., Strongyloides spp., Ancylostoma sp., and Toxocara sp., were detected in the fecal samples from wild animals. In addition, platyhelminthes, including Spirometra sp., Echinostomatidae gen. sp., Alaria sp., Neodiplostomum sp., and Clonorchis sp., and protozoa, including Entamoeba sp., Blastocystis sp., Isospora sp., Tritrichomonas sp., Pentatrichomonas sp., and Cryptosporidium sp., were detected. In the present study, various parasites infecting wild animals were successfully identified using metabarcoding. Our technique may play a crucial role in monitoring parasites within wild animals, especially those causing zoonoses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Ho Choi
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Institute of Tropical Medicine, and Arthropods of Medical Importance Resource Bank, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Yonsei-ro 50-1, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Soo Lim Kim
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Institute of Tropical Medicine, and Arthropods of Medical Importance Resource Bank, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Yonsei-ro 50-1, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Dong Kyun Yoo
- Division of Life Science, Incheon National University, 119 Academy-ro, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon, 22012, Republic of Korea
| | - Myung-hee Yi
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Institute of Tropical Medicine, and Arthropods of Medical Importance Resource Bank, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Yonsei-ro 50-1, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Singeun Oh
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Institute of Tropical Medicine, and Arthropods of Medical Importance Resource Bank, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Yonsei-ro 50-1, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Myungjun Kim
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Institute of Tropical Medicine, and Arthropods of Medical Importance Resource Bank, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Yonsei-ro 50-1, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Sohyeon Yun
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Institute of Tropical Medicine, and Arthropods of Medical Importance Resource Bank, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Yonsei-ro 50-1, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Tai-Soon Yong
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Institute of Tropical Medicine, and Arthropods of Medical Importance Resource Bank, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Yonsei-ro 50-1, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Seongjun Choe
- Department of Parasitology, School of Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, 28644, Republic of Korea
| | - Jong Koo Lee
- Division of Life Science, Incheon National University, 119 Academy-ro, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon, 22012, Republic of Korea
| | - Ju Yeong Kim
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Institute of Tropical Medicine, and Arthropods of Medical Importance Resource Bank, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Yonsei-ro 50-1, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea
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Hering R, Hauptfleisch M, Jago M, Smith T, Kramer-Schadt S, Stiegler J, Blaum N. Don't stop me now: Managed fence gaps could allow migratory ungulates to track dynamic resources and reduce fence related energy loss. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.907079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In semi-arid environments characterized by erratic rainfall and scattered primary production, migratory movements are a key survival strategy of large herbivores to track resources over vast areas. Veterinary Cordon Fences (VCFs), intended to reduce wildlife-livestock disease transmission, fragment large parts of southern Africa and have limited the movements of large wild mammals for over 60 years. Consequently, wildlife-fence interactions are frequent and often result in perforations of the fence, mainly caused by elephants. Yet, we lack knowledge about at which times fences act as barriers, how fences directly alter the energy expenditure of native herbivores, and what the consequences of impermeability are. We studied 2-year ungulate movements in three common antelopes (springbok, kudu, eland) across a perforated part of Namibia's VCF separating a wildlife reserve and Etosha National Park using GPS telemetry, accelerometer measurements, and satellite imagery. We identified 2905 fence interaction events which we used to evaluate critical times of encounters and direct fence effects on energy expenditure. Using vegetation type-specific greenness dynamics, we quantified what animals gained in terms of high quality food resources from crossing the VCF. Our results show that the perforation of the VCF sustains herbivore-vegetation interactions in the savanna with its scattered resources. Fence permeability led to peaks in crossing numbers during the first flush of woody plants before the rain started. Kudu and eland often showed increased energy expenditure when crossing the fence. Energy expenditure was lowered during the frequent interactions of ungulates standing at the fence. We found no alteration of energy expenditure when springbok immediately found and crossed fence breaches. Our results indicate that constantly open gaps did not affect energy expenditure, while gaps with obstacles increased motion. Closing gaps may have confused ungulates and modified their intended movements. While browsing, sedentary kudu's use of space was less affected by the VCF; migratory, mixed-feeding springbok, and eland benefited from gaps by gaining forage quality and quantity after crossing. This highlights the importance of access to vast areas to allow ungulates to track vital vegetation patches.
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