Cossu, C.A., Ochai, S., Troskie, M., Hartmann, A., Godfroid, J., de Klerk, L.-M., Turner, W.C., Kamath, P.L., van Schalkwyk, L. O., Cassini, R., Bhoora, R., van Heerden, H. Detection of tick-borne pathogen coinfections and coexposure to foot-and-mouth disease, brucellosis and Q fever in selected wildlife from Kruger National Park, South Africa, and Etosha National Park, Namibia, Transboundary and Emerging Diseases, 2417717. https://doi.org/10.1155/tbed/2417717
Abstract
Background: Although the rate of emerging infectious diseases that originate in wildlife has been increasing globally in recent decades, there is currently a lack of epidemiological data from wild animals.
Methodology: We used serology to determine prior exposure to foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV), Brucella spp., and Coxiella burnetii, and used genetic testing to detect blood-borne parasitic infections in the genera Ehrlichia, Anaplasma, Theileria and Babesia from wildlife in two national parks, Kruger National Park (KNP), South Africa and Etosha National Park (ENP), Namibia. Serum and whole blood samples were obtained from free-roaming plains zebra (Equus quagga), greater kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros), impala (Aepyceros melampus) and blue wildebeest (Connachaetes taurinus). Risk factors (host species, sex, sampling park) of infection for each pathogen were assessed, as well as the prevalence and distribution of co-occurring infections.
Results: In KNP, none of the 13/29 (45%; CI: 26-64%) kudu that tested positive for FMD. For brucellosis, seropositive results were obtained for 3/29 (10%; CI: 2-27%) kudu samples. Antibodies against C. burnetii were detected in 6/29 (21%; CI: 8-40%) kudu, 14/21 (67%; CI: 43-85%) impala and 18/39 (46%; CI: 30-63%) zebra. A total of 28/28 kudu tested positive for Theileria spp. (100%; CI: 88-100%) and 27/28 to Anaplasma/Ehrlichia spp. (96%; CI: 82-100%) whereas 12/19 impalas (63%) and 2/39 zebra (5%) tested positive for Anaplasma centrale. In ENP, only 1/29 (3%; CI: 0-18%) wildebeest samples tested positive for FMD. None of the samples tested positive for brucellosis while C. burnetii antibodies were detected in 26/30 wildebeest (87%; CI: 69-96%), 16/40 kudu (40%; CI: 25-57%) and 26/26 plains zebra (100%; CI: 87-100%). A total of 60% Anaplasma/Ehrlichia spp. and 35% Theileria/Babesia spp. in kudu; 37% wildebeest tested positive to Theileria sp. (sable), 30% to Babesia occultans, 3-7% to Anaplasma spp. The seroprevalence of Q fever was significantly higher in ENP, while Brucella spp., Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, Theileria and Babesia species were significantly higher in KNP. Significant co-infections were also identified.
Conclusion: This work provided baseline serological and molecular data on 40+ pathogens in four wildlife species from two national parks in southern Africa.
Methodology: We used serology to determine prior exposure to foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV), Brucella spp., and Coxiella burnetii, and used genetic testing to detect blood-borne parasitic infections in the genera Ehrlichia, Anaplasma, Theileria and Babesia from wildlife in two national parks, Kruger National Park (KNP), South Africa and Etosha National Park (ENP), Namibia. Serum and whole blood samples were obtained from free-roaming plains zebra (Equus quagga), greater kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros), impala (Aepyceros melampus) and blue wildebeest (Connachaetes taurinus). Risk factors (host species, sex, sampling park) of infection for each pathogen were assessed, as well as the prevalence and distribution of co-occurring infections.
Results: In KNP, none of the 13/29 (45%; CI: 26-64%) kudu that tested positive for FMD. For brucellosis, seropositive results were obtained for 3/29 (10%; CI: 2-27%) kudu samples. Antibodies against C. burnetii were detected in 6/29 (21%; CI: 8-40%) kudu, 14/21 (67%; CI: 43-85%) impala and 18/39 (46%; CI: 30-63%) zebra. A total of 28/28 kudu tested positive for Theileria spp. (100%; CI: 88-100%) and 27/28 to Anaplasma/Ehrlichia spp. (96%; CI: 82-100%) whereas 12/19 impalas (63%) and 2/39 zebra (5%) tested positive for Anaplasma centrale. In ENP, only 1/29 (3%; CI: 0-18%) wildebeest samples tested positive for FMD. None of the samples tested positive for brucellosis while C. burnetii antibodies were detected in 26/30 wildebeest (87%; CI: 69-96%), 16/40 kudu (40%; CI: 25-57%) and 26/26 plains zebra (100%; CI: 87-100%). A total of 60% Anaplasma/Ehrlichia spp. and 35% Theileria/Babesia spp. in kudu; 37% wildebeest tested positive to Theileria sp. (sable), 30% to Babesia occultans, 3-7% to Anaplasma spp. The seroprevalence of Q fever was significantly higher in ENP, while Brucella spp., Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, Theileria and Babesia species were significantly higher in KNP. Significant co-infections were also identified.
Conclusion: This work provided baseline serological and molecular data on 40+ pathogens in four wildlife species from two national parks in southern Africa.