Using a top predator as a sentinel for environmental contamination with pathogenic bacteria: the Iberian wolf and leptospires

Abstract

The Iberian wolf (Canis lupus) is the top predator in the Iberian environments in which it lives, feeding on a wide range of species, thus encountering a wide range of disease agents. Therefore, the wolf can serve as sentinel of environmental contamination with pathogens. We investigated the exposure of free-living wolves to 14 serovars of Leptospira interrogans sensu lato. Kidney samples from 49 wolves collected from 2010-2013 in northwestern Spain were analysed by culture, direct immunofluorescence and polymerase chain reaction. Tissue fluids were analysed for antibodies by a microscopic agglutination test. Ten wolves (observed prevalence: 20%, 95% confidence interval = 11-33%) showed evidence of contact with leptospires, eight through direct detection and nine through serology (7 wolves were positive according to both techniques). Titres below the cut-off level were also detected in seven cases. Serovars confirmed were Canicola (n = 4), Icterohaemorrhagiae (n = 3) and Sejroë, Ballum and Grippotyphosa (n = 1 each), indicating that wolves were infected with serovars for which dogs, rodents and ungulates, are the natural hosts and supporting the utility of the wolf and other large predators as environmental sentinels for pathogens.

Canine distemper virus may affect European wild cat populations in Central Spain

“…L. interrogans infection has been detected in different natural areas of Spain in free-roaming cats (Millán et al, 2009a), and in large wild carnivores such as the wolf (Millán et al, 2014), but our findings show the first detection anywhere in the world of exposure of wildcats to different serovars of this spirochete. We detected an immune response to the Ballum serovars in an adult female and to Icterohaemorrhagiae in the two juveniles studied.…”

Environmental Exposure of Wild Carnivores to Zoonotic Pathogens: Leptospira Infection in the First Free Living Wolf (Canis lupus Linnaeus, 1758) Found Dead in the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region

“…In consideration of lacking data on Leptospira in wild boars in the study area, serological investigations in this species may give further insights into the epidemiology of leptospirosis. In Spain, the Iberian wolf ( Canis lupus signatus ) has been suggested as an environmental sentinel for serovars for which rodents, ungulates, and dogs are natural hosts [ 19 ]. In contrast, a survey including 43 wolf sera resulted negative in Central Italy [ 20 ].…”

Leishmania in wolves in northern Spain: A spreading zoonosis evidenced by wildlife sanitary surveillance

“…The Autonomous Community of Asturias (northern Spain) is, to-gether with the bordering Communities of Galicia, Castilla y León and Cantabria, home to the largest population of wolves in Western Europe, and a population of more than 2000 individuals was estimated in this area in 2008 (Blanco et al, 2008). The detection of diseases or pa-thogen agents in the wolves studied in Sanitary Surveillance Programs provides valuable information for wolf management and conservation, and it has also been suggested that it may be an interesting source of information as regards the different pathogens shared with sympatric domestic animals and even humans (Aguirre, 2009;Millán et al, 2014b).…”