title: Parasitic and Bacterial Infections of Myocastor coypus in a Metropolitan Area of Northwestern Italy.
abstract: Coypus (Myocastor coypus) are widespread throughout Europe. In northern Italy, they are abundant in the flatland areas, and their high population densities can cause economic loss and ecosystem damage. We examined 153 coypus for selected parasitic and bacterial infections. We found Strongyloides myopotami (63.4% prevalence), Trichostrongylus duretteae (28.1%), Eimeria coypi (86.3%), and Eimeria seideli (6.8%), but did not find Giardia duodenalis or Cryptosporidium spp. We also isolated Staphylococcus aureus (10.1%), Escherichia coli (4.5%), and Streptococcus spp. (3.4%) from lung samples; no Salmonella spp. were isolated from fecal samples. Coypus had antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii (28.9%) and to four serovars of Leptospira interrogans (44.9%); Australis/Bratislava was the serovar most frequently detected. It is clear that coypu can be infected with pathogens of human and veterinary importance.
authors.affiliation: 1  Department of Veterinary Science and Public Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 10, 20133 Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Sergio A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Zanzani
authors.affiliation: 1  Department of Veterinary Science and Public Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 10, 20133 Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Annarita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Di Cerbo
authors.affiliation: 1  Department of Veterinary Science and Public Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 10, 20133 Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessia L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Gazzonis
authors.affiliation: 1  Department of Veterinary Science and Public Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 10, 20133 Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Epis
authors.affiliation: 2  Istituto Zooprofilattico della Lombardia e Emilia Romagna, Via Celoria 12, 20133 Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Invernizzi
authors.affiliation: 3  Istituto Zooprofilattico della Lombardia e Emilia Romagna, National Reference Laboratory for Leptospirosis, Via Bianchi 9, 25124 Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tagliabue
authors.affiliation: 1  Department of Veterinary Science and Public Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 10, 20133 Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Manfredi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D003048:Coccidiosis / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary; D004539:Eimeria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008168:Lung / Q000382:microbiology; D010273:Parasitic Diseases, Animal / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012376:Rodent Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology; D012377:Rodentia / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013321:Strongyloides / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013322:Strongyloidiasis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary; D014253:Trichostrongylosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary; D014254:Trichostrongylus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014505:Urban Population
keywords: Bacteria; Leptospira interrogans; Myocastor coypus; Toxoplasma gondii; coypu; nematode; parasite; protozoa