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  • Detection of Tick‐Borne Pathogen Coinfections and Coexposures to Foot‐and‐Mouth Disease, Brucellosis, and Q Fever in Selected Wildlife From Kruger National Park, South Africa, and Etosha National Park, Namibia
Title: Detection of Tick‐Borne Pathogen Coinfections and Coexposures to Foot‐and‐Mouth Disease, Brucellosis, and Q Fever in Selected Wildlife From Kruger National Park, South Africa, and Etosha National Park, Namibia
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),Brucellaspp., andCoxiella burnetiiand used genetic testing to detect blood‐borne parasitic infections in the generaEhrlichia,Anaplasma,Theileria, andBabesiafrom 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 (Connochaetes taurinus). Risk factors (host species, sex, and sampling park) for infection with each pathogen were assessed, as well as the prevalence and distribution of co‐occurring infections. Results:In KNP 13/29 (45%; confidence interval [CI]: 26%–64%) kudus tested positive for FMD, but none of these reacted to SAT serotypes. For brucellosis, seropositive results were obtained for 3/29 (10%; CI: 2%–27%) kudu samples. Antibodies againstC. burnetiiwere detected in 6/29 (21%; CI: 8%–40%) kudus, 14/21 (67%; CI: 43%–85%) impalas, and 18/39 (46%; CI: 30%–63%) zebras. A total of 28/28 kudus tested positive forTheileriaspp. (100%; CI: 88%–100%) and 27/28 forAnaplasma/Ehrlichiaspp. (96%; CI: 82%–100%), whereas 12/19 impalas (63%) and 2/39 zebra (5%) tested positive forAnaplasma centrale. In ENP, only 1/29 (3%; CI: 0%–18%) wildebeest samples tested positive for FMD. None of the samples tested positive for brucellosis, whileC. burnetiiantibodies were detected in 26/30 wildebeests (87%; CI: 69%–96%), 16/40 kudus (40%; CI: 25%–57%), and 26/26 plains zebras (100%; CI: 87%–100%). A total of 60%Anaplasma/Ehrlichiaspp. and 35%Theileria/Babesiaspp. in kudu and 37% wildebeest tested positive toTheileriasp. (sable), 30% toBabesia occultans, and 3%–7% toAnaplasmaspp. The seroprevalence of Q fever was significantly higher in ENP, whileBrucellaspp.,Anaplasma,Ehrlichia,Theileria, andBabesiaspecies were significantly higher in KNP. Significant coinfections 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.  more » « less
Award ID(s):
2106221
PAR ID:
10568159
Author(s) / Creator(s):
; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;
Editor(s):
Chen, Nan-Hua
Publisher / Repository:
Transboundary and Emerging Diseases
Date Published:
Journal Name:
Transboundary and Emerging Diseases
Volume:
2024
Issue:
1
ISSN:
1865-1674
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
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