Tick- and fly-borne bacteria in ungulates: the prevalence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum, haemoplasmas and rickettsiae in water buffalo and deer species in Central Europe, Hungary

Abstract

BackgroundHunting constitutes an important industry in Europe. However, data on the prevalence of vector-borne bacteria in large game animal species are lacking from several countries. Blood or spleen samples (239 and 270, respectively) were taken from red, fallow and roe deer, as well as from water buffaloes, mouflons and wild boars in Hungary, followed by DNA extraction and molecular analyses for Anaplasma phagocytophilum, haemoplasmas and rickettsiae.ResultsBased on blood samples, the prevalence rate of A. phagocytophilum infection was significantly higher in red deer (97.9%) than in fallow deer (72.7%) and roe deer (60%), and in all these compared to mouflons (6.3%). In addition, 39.2% of the spleen samples from wild boars were PCR positive for A. phagocytophilum, but none of the buffalos. Based on blood samples, the prevalence rates of both Mycoplasma wenyonii (Mw) and ‘Candidatus M. haemobos’ (CMh) infections were significantly higher in buffaloes (Mw: 91.2%; CMh: 73.3%) than in red deer (Mw: 64.6%; CMh: 45.8%), and in both of them compared to fallow deer (Mw: 30.3%; CMh: 9.1%) and roe deer (Mw: 20%; CMh: 1.5%). The prevalence of Mw and CMh infection significantly correlated with the body sizes of these hosts. Furthermore, Mw was significantly more prevalent than CMh in buffaloes, red and roe deer. Mycoplasma ovis was detected in mouflons, M. suis in wild boars, R. helvetica in one fallow deer and one mouflon, and an unidentified Rickettsia sp. in a fallow deer.ConclusionsForest-dwelling game animal species were found to be important carriers of A. phagocytophilum. In contrast, animals grazing grassland (i.e. buffaloes) were less likely to get infected with this Ixodes ricinus-borne pathogen. Water buffaloes, deer species, mouflons and wild boars harbored haemoplasmas that may affect domestic ungulates. Evaluated animals with larger body size had significantly higher prevalence of infection with haemoplasmas compared to smaller deer species. The above host species rarely carried rickettsiae.

Molecular Detection of Rickettsia spp. and Coxiella burnetii in Cattle, Water Buffalo, and Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus Ticks in Luzon Island of the Philippines

“…Whereas none of the blood samples from the water buffaloes tested positive for R. helvetica or other rickettsiae, R. helvetica was detected in a blood sample and a spleen sample from a deer. Moreover, a deer spleen sample also tested positive for an unknown Rickettsia [44]. A recent study in Cameroon showed the successful detection of Rickettsia in cattle using conventional PCR targeting the 16s rDNA gene, with a prevalence of 14.3% [45].…”

“…The same reason may explain the negative results obtained in this study. A study on the detection of vector-borne pathogens, including Rickettsia in ungulates in Hungary, was conducted using real-time PCR targeting 23S rRNA and gltA for R. helvetica and other Rickettsia, respectively [44]. Whereas none of the blood samples from the water buffaloes tested positive for R. helvetica or other rickettsiae, R. helvetica was detected in a blood sample and a spleen sample from a deer.…”

Frequent Prescribed Fires Can Reduce Risk of Tick-borne Diseases

“…Although no studies have evaluated the potential for white-tailed deer to become bacteremic with R. amblyommatis , other Rickettsia spp. have been detected in the blood of cervids 48–51 . (3) Because long-term prescribed fire alters habitat, it also affects the microclimate at these sites.…”

First detection and molecular identification of the zoonotic Anaplasma capra in deer in France

“…The prevalence of A . phagocytophilum infection in wild red deer varies widely across Europe, from 1.5% in Austria, 10.9% in Portugal, 40–75% in Italy, 80.8% in Spain, and 97.9 to 100% in central Europe (respectively in Slovakia and Hungary) [15–21]. Captive deer are probably less prone to tick bites than wild deer due to grazing area management.…”