title: Molecular survey on the presence of zoonotic arthropod-borne pathogens in wild red deer (Cervus elaphus).
abstract: To estimate the prevalence of some zoonotic tick-borne pathogens in red deer (Cervus elaphus) living in Italian areas with high risk of arthropod exposure, blood samples from 60 red deer were tested by PCR for A. phagocytophilum, Borrelia burgdorferi s.l., Coxiella burnetii, Francisella tularensis, and piroplasms. Thirty-four (56.67%) animals resulted positive for one or more pathogens. In particular, 24 (40%) red deer were positive for A. phagocytophilum, 16 (26.67%) for Babesia divergens, 6 (10%) for C. burnetii, 2 (3.33%) for B. burgdorferi s.l. No positive reaction was observed for F. tularensis. Thirteen (21.67%) animals resulted co-infected by two or three pathogens. Red deer is confirmed as competent reservoir of A. phagocytophilum and B. divergens, but not of B. burgdorferi. This is the first report of C. burnetii-positive red deer in central Italy. Hunters may be at risk of infection both through infected ticks and during the infected cervids carcasses dressing.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Science, University of Pisa, Viale delle Piagge 2, 56124 Pisa, Italy. Electronic address: valentina.virginia.ebani@unipi.it.
authors.forename: Valentina Virginia
authors.initials: VV
authors.lastname: Ebani
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Science, University of Pisa, Viale delle Piagge 2, 56124 Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rocchigiani
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Science, University of Pisa, Viale delle Piagge 2, 56124 Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bertelloni
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Science, University of Pisa, Viale delle Piagge 2, 56124 Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nardoni
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Science, University of Pisa, Viale delle Piagge 2, 56124 Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Leoni
authors.affiliation: D.R.E. Am. Italia Soc. Coop. Agr. For., Via Garibaldi 3, 52015 Pratovecchio, Arezzo, Italy.
authors.forename: Sandro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nicoloso
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Science, University of Pisa, Viale delle Piagge 2, 56124 Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mancianti
mesh_terms: D041081:Anaplasma phagocytophilum / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity; D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild; D001403:Babesia / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity; D025065:Borrelia burgdorferi / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity; D016997:Coxiella burnetii / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity; D003670:Deer / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D004197:Disease Reservoirs; D016873:Ehrlichiosis / Q000097:blood / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary; D005604:Francisella tularensis / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D018884:Ixodes / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017282:Tick-Borne Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D015047:Zoonoses
keywords: Anaplasma phagocytophilum; Babesia divergens; Borrelia burgdorferi s.l; Coxiella burnetii; Red deer (Cervus elaphus); Zoonoses