AUTHOR=Sgroi Giovanni , D’Alessio Nicola , Auriemma Clementina , Salant Harold , Gallo Amalia , Riccardi Marita Georgia , Alfano Flora , Rea Simona , Scarcelli Stefano , Ottaviano Martina , De Martinis Claudio , Fusco Giovanna , Lucibelli Maria Gabriella , Veneziano Vincenzo 

TITLE=First molecular detection of Babesia vulpes and Babesia capreoli in wild boars from southern Italy

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Veterinary Science

VOLUME=10

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/veterinary-science/articles/10.3389/fvets.2023.1201476

DOI=10.3389/fvets.2023.1201476

ISSN=2297-1769

ABSTRACT=<sec id="sec1"><title>Introduction</title><p>Following the increase of wild boar (<italic>Sus scrofa</italic>) populations in Europe, a potential risk of emerging infections by vector-borne pathogens may occur. Despite this, the circulation of piroplasmid species in these ungulates is still a neglected topic, particularly in the Mediterranean basin. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the presence of <italic>Babesia</italic>/<italic>Theileria</italic> spp. in wild boars from southern Italy to assess the epidemiological role of these ungulates in the circulation of piroplasmids.</p></sec><sec id="sec2"><title>Methods</title><p>By using a <italic>citizen science</italic> approach among hunters and veterinarians, wild boar spleen samples were collected in the Campania region (southern Italy) between 2016 and 2022. A combined semi-nested PCR/sequencing analysis targeting the V4 hyper-variable region of <italic>18S</italic> rRNA was run to detect <italic>Babesia</italic>/<italic>Theileria</italic> spp. DNA.</p></sec><sec id="sec3"><title>Results</title><p>Out of 243 boars, 15 (i.e., 6.2, 95% CI: 3.4–9.9) tested positive to <italic>Babesia</italic>/<italic>Theileria</italic> spp., <italic>Babesia vulpes</italic> (<italic>n</italic> = 13, 5.3, 95% CI: 3.1–8.9) the most prevalent, followed by <italic>Babesia capreoli</italic> (<italic>n</italic> = 2, 0.8, 95% CI: 0.2–2.9). Three different <italic>B. vulpes</italic> sequence types were identified (i.e., ST1, ST2, ST3), with the most representative as ST1 (60%), and a single <italic>B. capreoli</italic> sequence type. No statistically significant difference (<italic>p</italic> &gt; 0.05) were found between the presence of the pathogens and boar age, sex, province and sample collection year.</p></sec><sec id="sec4"><title>Discussion</title><p>Data demonstrate for the first time the occurrence of <italic>B. vulpes</italic> and <italic>B. capreoli</italic> in wild boars, which may play a role in the biological cycle of piroplasmids. We emphasize the importance of monitoring these ungulates to prevent potential foci of <italic>infection</italic>. The engagement of hunters in epidemiological scientifically based surveys can constitute a technically sound control strategy of piroplasmids in a One Health perspective.</p></sec>