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Matas-Méndez P, Ávalos G, Caballero-Gómez J, Dashti A, Castro-Scholten S, Jiménez-Martín D, González-Barrio D, Muñoz-de-Mier GJ, Bailo B, Cano-Terriza D, Mateo M, Nájera F, Xiao L, Köster PC, García-Bocanegra I, Carmena D. Detection and Molecular Diversity of Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia duodenalis in the Endangered Iberian Lynx ( Lynx pardinus), Spain. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:340. [PMID: 38275800 PMCID: PMC10812403 DOI: 10.3390/ani14020340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2023] [Revised: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia duodenalis are the main non-viral causes of diarrhoea in humans and domestic animals globally. Comparatively, much less information is currently available in free-ranging carnivore species in general and in the endangered Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) in particular. Cryptosporidium spp. and G. duodenalis were investigated with molecular (PCR and Sanger sequencing) methods in individual faecal DNA samples of free-ranging and captive Iberian lynxes from the main population nuclei in Spain. Overall, Cryptosporidium spp. and G. duodenalis were detected in 2.4% (6/251) and 27.9% (70/251) of the animals examined, respectively. Positive animals to at least one of them were detected in each of the analysed population nuclei. The analysis of partial ssu rRNA gene sequences revealed the presence of rodent-adapted C. alticolis (n = 1) and C. occultus (n = 1), leporid-adapted C. cuniculus (n = 2), and zoonotic C. parvum (n = 2) within Cryptosporidium, and zoonotic assemblages A (n = 5) and B (n = 3) within G. duodenalis. Subgenotyping analyses allowed for the identification of genotype VaA19 in C. cuniculus (gp60 locus) and sub-assemblages AI and BIII/BIV in G. duodenalis (gdh, bg, and tpi loci). This study represents the first molecular description of Cryptosporidium spp. and G. duodenalis in the Iberian lynx in Spain. The presence of rodent/leporid-adapted Cryptosporidium species in the surveyed animals suggests spurious infections associated to the Iberian lynx's diet. The Iberian lynx seems a suitable host for zoonotic genetic variants of Cryptosporidium (C. parvum) and G. duodenalis (assemblages A and B), although the potential risk of human transmission is regarded as limited due to light parasite burdens and suspected low excretion of infective (oo)cysts to the environment by infected animals. More research should be conducted to ascertain the true impact of these protozoan parasites in the health status of the endangered Iberian lynx.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo Matas-Méndez
- Faculty of Veterinary, Alfonso X El Sabio University (UAX), 28691 Villanueva de la Cañada, Spain;
| | - Gabriel Ávalos
- Parasitology Reference and Research Laboratory, Spanish National Centre for Microbiology, Health Institute Carlos III, 28220 Majadahonda, Spain; (G.Á.); (A.D.); (D.G.-B.); (B.B.); (D.C.)
| | - Javier Caballero-Gómez
- Department of Animal Health, Animal Health and Zoonosis Research Group (GISAZ), UIC Zoonoses and Emerging Diseases (ENZOEM), University of Córdoba, 14014 Córdoba, Spain; (S.C.-S.); (D.J.-M.); (D.C.-T.); (I.G.-B.)
- Infectious Diseases Unit, Maimonides Institute for Biomedical Research (IMIBIC), University Hospital Reina Sofía, University of Córdoba, 14004 Córdoba, Spain
- CIBERINFEC, ISCIII—CIBER Infectious Diseases, Health Institute Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Alejandro Dashti
- Parasitology Reference and Research Laboratory, Spanish National Centre for Microbiology, Health Institute Carlos III, 28220 Majadahonda, Spain; (G.Á.); (A.D.); (D.G.-B.); (B.B.); (D.C.)
| | - Sabrina Castro-Scholten
- Department of Animal Health, Animal Health and Zoonosis Research Group (GISAZ), UIC Zoonoses and Emerging Diseases (ENZOEM), University of Córdoba, 14014 Córdoba, Spain; (S.C.-S.); (D.J.-M.); (D.C.-T.); (I.G.-B.)
| | - Débora Jiménez-Martín
- Department of Animal Health, Animal Health and Zoonosis Research Group (GISAZ), UIC Zoonoses and Emerging Diseases (ENZOEM), University of Córdoba, 14014 Córdoba, Spain; (S.C.-S.); (D.J.-M.); (D.C.-T.); (I.G.-B.)
| | - David González-Barrio
- Parasitology Reference and Research Laboratory, Spanish National Centre for Microbiology, Health Institute Carlos III, 28220 Majadahonda, Spain; (G.Á.); (A.D.); (D.G.-B.); (B.B.); (D.C.)
| | - Gemma J. Muñoz-de-Mier
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Alfonso X El Sabio University (UAX), 28691 Villanueva de la Cañada, Spain;
| | - Begoña Bailo
- Parasitology Reference and Research Laboratory, Spanish National Centre for Microbiology, Health Institute Carlos III, 28220 Majadahonda, Spain; (G.Á.); (A.D.); (D.G.-B.); (B.B.); (D.C.)
| | - David Cano-Terriza
- Department of Animal Health, Animal Health and Zoonosis Research Group (GISAZ), UIC Zoonoses and Emerging Diseases (ENZOEM), University of Córdoba, 14014 Córdoba, Spain; (S.C.-S.); (D.J.-M.); (D.C.-T.); (I.G.-B.)
- CIBERINFEC, ISCIII—CIBER Infectious Diseases, Health Institute Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Marta Mateo
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Fernando Nájera
- Karen C. Drayer Wildlife Health Center, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA;
| | - Lihua Xiao
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China;
| | - Pamela C. Köster
- Parasitology Reference and Research Laboratory, Spanish National Centre for Microbiology, Health Institute Carlos III, 28220 Majadahonda, Spain; (G.Á.); (A.D.); (D.G.-B.); (B.B.); (D.C.)
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Alfonso X El Sabio University (UAX), 28691 Villanueva de la Cañada, Spain;
- Faculty of Medicine, Alfonso X El Sabio University (UAX), 28691 Villanueva de la Cañada, Spain
| | - Ignacio García-Bocanegra
- Department of Animal Health, Animal Health and Zoonosis Research Group (GISAZ), UIC Zoonoses and Emerging Diseases (ENZOEM), University of Córdoba, 14014 Córdoba, Spain; (S.C.-S.); (D.J.-M.); (D.C.-T.); (I.G.-B.)
- CIBERINFEC, ISCIII—CIBER Infectious Diseases, Health Institute Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - David Carmena
- Parasitology Reference and Research Laboratory, Spanish National Centre for Microbiology, Health Institute Carlos III, 28220 Majadahonda, Spain; (G.Á.); (A.D.); (D.G.-B.); (B.B.); (D.C.)
- CIBERINFEC, ISCIII—CIBER Infectious Diseases, Health Institute Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
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