Molecular survey of Besnoitia spp. (Apicomplexa) in faeces from European wild mesocarnivores in Spain. Short running title: Molecular survey of Besnoitia spp in faeces from wild carnivores.

Abstract

Numerous studies have unsuccessfully tried to unravel the definitive\nhost of the coccidian parasite Besnoitia besnoiti. Cattle\ninfections by B. besnoiti cause a chronic and debilitating\ncondition called bovine besnoitiosis that has emerged in Europe during\nthe last two decades, mainly due to limitations in its control\nassociated to the absence of vaccines and therapeutical tools. Although\nthe exact transmission pathway of B. besnoiti is currently\nunknown, it is assumed that the parasite might have an indirect life\ncycle with a carnivore as definitive host. Current lack of studies in\nwildlife might underestimate the importance of free-living species in\nthe epidemiology of B. besnoiti. Thus, the aim of the present\nstudy is to assess the presence of Besnoitia spp. in free-ranging\nmesocarnivores in Spain. DNA was searched by PCR on faeces collected\nfrom wild carnivores as a first approach to determine which species\ncould be considered as potential definitive host candidates in further\nresearch. For this purpose, a total of 352 faecal samples from 12\nfree-living wild carnivore species belonging to the Canidae, Felidae,\nHerpestidae, Mustelidae, Procyonidae, and Viverridae families were\ncollected in seven Spanish regions. PCR testing showed that\nBesnoitia spp. DNA was present in four faecal samples from red\nfoxes collected in western Spain, an area with the greatest density of\nextensively reared cattle and associated to high incidence of bovine\nbesnoitiosis in the country. To date, this is the first report of a\nBesnoitia besnoiti-like sequence (99.57% homology) from\ncarnivore faeces in a worldwide context. Red foxes might contribute to\nthe epidemiology of B. besnoiti, although further studies, mostly\nbased on bioassay, would be needed to elucidate the accuracy and extent\nof these interesting findings.