Seroprevalence of <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> in Wild European and American Mink (<i>Mustela lutreola</i> and <i>Neogale vison</i>) from Spain
Toxoplasmosis, caused by the intracellular parasite <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i>, affects a wide range of warm-blooded animals, including humans. Domestic and wild felines serve as definitive hosts, excreting oocysts that contaminate the environment. Intermediate hosts, such as the endangere...
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MDPI AG
2025-04-01
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| author | María Eugenia Lebrero José Villora María Asunción Gómez Madis Podra María del Carmen Aranda Sergio Villanueva-Saz Antonio Fernández Patricia Lizarraga Pablo Quilez Álex Gómez Diana Marteles |
| author_facet | María Eugenia Lebrero José Villora María Asunción Gómez Madis Podra María del Carmen Aranda Sergio Villanueva-Saz Antonio Fernández Patricia Lizarraga Pablo Quilez Álex Gómez Diana Marteles |
| author_sort | María Eugenia Lebrero |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Toxoplasmosis, caused by the intracellular parasite <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i>, affects a wide range of warm-blooded animals, including humans. Domestic and wild felines serve as definitive hosts, excreting oocysts that contaminate the environment. Intermediate hosts, such as the endangered European mink (<i>Mustela lutreola</i>) and the non-native American mink (<i>Neogale vison</i>), can become infected primarily through the ingestion of tissue cysts present in prey, while the ingestion of oocysts from contaminated soil or water plays a secondary role. This study analyzed the seroprevalence of <i>T. gondii</i> in 179 mink specimens (137 American mink and 42 European mink) collected in northern Spain from 2014 to 2020. Using an optimized indirect immunofluorescence assay, antibodies against <i>T. gondii</i> were detected in 47 samples (37 American mink and 10 European mink). Seroprevalence was higher in the Ebro basin than in the Cantabrian region, although the difference was not statistically significant. No significant associations were observed between seropositivity and species, sex, or habitat. These findings suggest environmental contamination by <i>T. gondii</i> oocysts in northern Spain and underscore the potential value of invasive American mink as sentinel species for monitoring public health risks associated with this parasite. The study also highlights the importance of wildlife surveillance in assessing environmental contamination and understanding transmission dynamics of infectious diseases in ecosystems. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-8185be9e58324dbaa6bb6875c5b76773 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2076-0817 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Pathogens |
| spelling | doaj-art-8185be9e58324dbaa6bb6875c5b767732025-08-20T02:33:58ZengMDPI AGPathogens2076-08172025-04-0114542710.3390/pathogens14050427Seroprevalence of <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> in Wild European and American Mink (<i>Mustela lutreola</i> and <i>Neogale vison</i>) from SpainMaría Eugenia Lebrero0José Villora1María Asunción Gómez2Madis Podra3María del Carmen Aranda4Sergio Villanueva-Saz5Antonio Fernández6Patricia Lizarraga7Pablo Quilez8Álex Gómez9Diana Marteles10Department of Animal Pathology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, Calle Miguel Servet, 177, 50013 Zaragoza, SpainDepartment of Animal Pathology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, Calle Miguel Servet, 177, 50013 Zaragoza, SpainTragsatec, Tragsatec, Division of Environmental Services, Julian Camarillo 6A-4A Planta, Sector B, 28037 Madrid, SpainTragsatec, Tragsatec, Division of Environmental Services, Julian Camarillo 6A-4A Planta, Sector B, 28037 Madrid, SpainTragsatec, Tragsatec, Division of Environmental Services, Julian Camarillo 6A-4A Planta, Sector B, 28037 Madrid, SpainDepartment of Animal Pathology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, Calle Miguel Servet, 177, 50013 Zaragoza, SpainDepartment of Animal Pathology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, Calle Miguel Servet, 177, 50013 Zaragoza, SpainCentro de Recuperación de Fauna de Martioda, Martioda Entitatea, 3, 01191 Martioda, SpainDepartment of Animal Pathology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, Calle Miguel Servet, 177, 50013 Zaragoza, SpainDepartment of Animal Pathology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, Calle Miguel Servet, 177, 50013 Zaragoza, SpainDepartment of Animal Pathology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, Calle Miguel Servet, 177, 50013 Zaragoza, SpainToxoplasmosis, caused by the intracellular parasite <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i>, affects a wide range of warm-blooded animals, including humans. Domestic and wild felines serve as definitive hosts, excreting oocysts that contaminate the environment. Intermediate hosts, such as the endangered European mink (<i>Mustela lutreola</i>) and the non-native American mink (<i>Neogale vison</i>), can become infected primarily through the ingestion of tissue cysts present in prey, while the ingestion of oocysts from contaminated soil or water plays a secondary role. This study analyzed the seroprevalence of <i>T. gondii</i> in 179 mink specimens (137 American mink and 42 European mink) collected in northern Spain from 2014 to 2020. Using an optimized indirect immunofluorescence assay, antibodies against <i>T. gondii</i> were detected in 47 samples (37 American mink and 10 European mink). Seroprevalence was higher in the Ebro basin than in the Cantabrian region, although the difference was not statistically significant. No significant associations were observed between seropositivity and species, sex, or habitat. These findings suggest environmental contamination by <i>T. gondii</i> oocysts in northern Spain and underscore the potential value of invasive American mink as sentinel species for monitoring public health risks associated with this parasite. The study also highlights the importance of wildlife surveillance in assessing environmental contamination and understanding transmission dynamics of infectious diseases in ecosystems.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/14/5/427<i>Toxoplasma gondii</i>European minkAmerican minkindirect immunofluorescence |
| spellingShingle | María Eugenia Lebrero José Villora María Asunción Gómez Madis Podra María del Carmen Aranda Sergio Villanueva-Saz Antonio Fernández Patricia Lizarraga Pablo Quilez Álex Gómez Diana Marteles Seroprevalence of <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> in Wild European and American Mink (<i>Mustela lutreola</i> and <i>Neogale vison</i>) from Spain Pathogens <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> European mink American mink indirect immunofluorescence |
| title | Seroprevalence of <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> in Wild European and American Mink (<i>Mustela lutreola</i> and <i>Neogale vison</i>) from Spain |
| title_full | Seroprevalence of <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> in Wild European and American Mink (<i>Mustela lutreola</i> and <i>Neogale vison</i>) from Spain |
| title_fullStr | Seroprevalence of <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> in Wild European and American Mink (<i>Mustela lutreola</i> and <i>Neogale vison</i>) from Spain |
| title_full_unstemmed | Seroprevalence of <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> in Wild European and American Mink (<i>Mustela lutreola</i> and <i>Neogale vison</i>) from Spain |
| title_short | Seroprevalence of <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> in Wild European and American Mink (<i>Mustela lutreola</i> and <i>Neogale vison</i>) from Spain |
| title_sort | seroprevalence of i toxoplasma gondii i in wild european and american mink i mustela lutreola i and i neogale vison i from spain |
| topic | <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> European mink American mink indirect immunofluorescence |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/14/5/427 |
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