Encephalitozoon cuniculi, Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum infection in invasive Eastern Cottontail Rabbits Sylvilagus floridanus in Northwestern Italy.
Sylvilagus floridanus is a lagomorph introduced for hunting purposes from North America to Europe where, in certain areas like Northern Italy, its population reached high densities. Brain, kidney and skeletal muscle of 144 Eastern Cottontail Rabbits S. floridanus were examined by PCR for Encephalitozoon cuniculi, Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum. DNA of E. cuniculi was found with a prevalence of 9.72% (CI 95% 0.058-0.156). T. gondii and N. caninum DNA was detected in 2.08% (CI 95% 0.0071-0.0595) and 2.78% (CI 95% 0.0109-0.0692) of the samples examined, respectively. This is the first report of E. cuniculi infection in a lagomorph species other than in its natural host Oryctolagus cuniculus, and this is also the first time N. caninum is found to naturally infect S. floridanus. E. cuniculi, T. gondii and N. caninum infect S. floridanus at low but relevant prevalences, considered the important role that these pathogens could play in both animal and human health.
['Zanet|S|S|', 'Palese|V|V|', 'Trisciuoglio|A|A|', 'Cantón Alonso|C|C|', 'Ferroglio|E|E|']
D000818:Animals D003048:Coccidiosis D009670:Encephalitozoon cuniculi D016890:Encephalitozoonosis D058865:Introduced Species D007558:Italy D018688:Neospora D011817:Rabbits D014122:Toxoplasma D014124:Toxoplasmosis, Animal
Encephalitozoon cuniculi Toxoplasma gondii Neospora caninum Sylvilagus floridanus PCR Invasive species