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<p>The survival of endangered wildlife can be threatened by infectious agents including vector-borne pathogens (VBPs), which can compromise their health and reproductive success. Understanding the prevalence of these pathogens in under-studied areas, such as Nepal, is crucial for conservation efforts. In the current study, bacterial and protozoan VBPs in rescued endangered wild felids [Bengal tigers (<i>Panthera tigris tigris</i>) (<i>n</i> = 20) and leopards <i>(Panthera pardus</i>) (<i>n</i> = 15)] in Nepal, were screened by species- or group-specific molecular assays. A total of 33 (94%) felids were infected with at least one VBP, with 26 (74%) being co-infected with more than one. The overall infection rate of <i>Theileria bicornis</i>, <i>Cytauxzoon</i> sp., <i>Babesia panickeri</i>, <i>Candidatus</i> Mycoplasma haemominutum, and <i>Mycoplasma haemofelis</i> were 57% (<i>n</i> = 20), 31% (<i>n</i> = 11), 9% (<i>n</i> = 3), 60% (<i>n</i> = 21), and 17% (<i>n</i> = 6), respectively. All samples tested negative for <i>Hepatozoon</i>, <i>Anaplasma</i>, <i>Ehrlichia</i>, <i>Bartonella</i>, and <i>Borrelia</i>. Infections by <i>T. bicornis</i> were higher in leopards, while those caused by <i>Cytauxzoon</i> sp. and <i>Mycoplasma</i> spp. were higher in tigers. The difference in infection rate of <i>T. bicornis</i>, <i>Cytauxzoon</i> sp., and <i>Mycoplasma</i> spp. among the wild felids species was statistically significant. This high infection rate of VBPs highlights the need for comprehensive surveillance of VBPs to assess interspecies transmission among wild animals sharing common habitat and the potential for these pathogens to spread to domestic animals and humans.</p>

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What’s bugging Himalayan big cats: vector-borne pathogens of wild tigers and leopards in Nepal

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年8月7日

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  • Gita Sadaula Pandey,
  • Amir Sadaula,
  • Abdelbaset Eweda Abdelbaset,
  • Prajwol Manandhar,
  • Pradeepa Silwal,
  • Bijaya Kumar Shrestha,
  • Yuki Ohsugi,
  • Yongjin Qiu,
  • Mackenzie L. Kwak,
  • Naoki Hayashi,
  • Nariaki Nonaka,
  • Ryo Nakao

摘要

The survival of endangered wildlife can be threatened by infectious agents including vector-borne pathogens (VBPs), which can compromise their health and reproductive success. Understanding the prevalence of these pathogens in under-studied areas, such as Nepal, is crucial for conservation efforts. In the current study, bacterial and protozoan VBPs in rescued endangered wild felids [Bengal tigers (Panthera tigris tigris) (n = 20) and leopards (Panthera pardus) (n = 15)] in Nepal, were screened by species- or group-specific molecular assays. A total of 33 (94%) felids were infected with at least one VBP, with 26 (74%) being co-infected with more than one. The overall infection rate of Theileria bicornis, Cytauxzoon sp., Babesia panickeri, Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum, and Mycoplasma haemofelis were 57% (n = 20), 31% (n = 11), 9% (n = 3), 60% (n = 21), and 17% (n = 6), respectively. All samples tested negative for Hepatozoon, Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, Bartonella, and Borrelia. Infections by T. bicornis were higher in leopards, while those caused by Cytauxzoon sp. and Mycoplasma spp. were higher in tigers. The difference in infection rate of T. bicornis, Cytauxzoon sp., and Mycoplasma spp. among the wild felids species was statistically significant. This high infection rate of VBPs highlights the need for comprehensive surveillance of VBPs to assess interspecies transmission among wild animals sharing common habitat and the potential for these pathogens to spread to domestic animals and humans.