BACKGROUND Knowledge about parasitic infections is crucial information for animal health, particularly of free-ranging species that might come into contact with livestock and humans. METHODS We investigated the seroprevalence of three tissue-cyst-forming apicomplexan parasites (Toxoplasma gondii, Neospora caninum and Besnoitia besnoiti) in 506 individuals of 12 wildlife species in Namibia using in-house enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (indirect ELISAs applying purified antigens) for screening and immunoblots as confirmatory tests. We included six species of the suborder Feliformia, four species of the suborder Caniformia and two species of the suborder Ruminantia. For the two species for which we had most samples and life-history information, i.e. cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus, n = 250) and leopards (Panthera pardus, n = 58), we investigated T. gondii seroprevalence in relation to age class, sex, sociality (solitary, mother-offspring group, independent sibling group, coalition group) and site (natural habitat vs farmland). RESULTS All but one carnivore species (bat-eared fox Otocyon megalotis, n = 4) were seropositive to T. gondii, with a seroprevalence ranging from 52.4% (131/250) in cheetahs to 93.2% (55/59) in African lions (Panthera leo). We also detected antibodies to T. gondii in 10.0% (2/20) of blue wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus). Adult cheetahs and leopards were more likely to be seropositive to T. gondii than subadult conspecifics, whereas seroprevalence did not vary with sex, sociality and site. Furthermore, we measured antibodies to N. caninum in 15.4% (2/13) of brown hyenas (Hyaena brunnea) and 2.6% (1/39) of black-backed jackals (Canis mesomelas). Antibodies to B. besnoiti were detected in 3.4% (2/59) of African lions and 20.0% (4/20) of blue wildebeest. CONCLUSIONS Our results demonstrate that Namibian wildlife species were exposed to apicomplexan parasites at different prevalences, depending on parasite and host species. In addition to serological work, molecular work is also needed to better understand the sylvatic cycle and the clear role of wildlife in the epidemiology of these parasites in southern Africa.

中文翻译：

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纳米比亚野生动物中弓形虫，犬新孢子虫和Besnoitia besnoiti血清阳性率的物种特异性差异。

背景技术关于寄生虫感染的知识对于动物尤其是可能与牲畜和人类接触的自由放养物种的健康是至关重要的信息。方法我们使用室内酶联免疫吸附法（采用纯化抗原的间接ELISA）进行筛查，调查了纳米比亚12种野生生物的506个个体中三种组织囊形成的apicomplexan寄生虫（弓形虫，犬新孢子虫和Besnoitia besnoiti）的血清阳性率。和免疫印迹作为验证性测试。我们包括亚种Feliformia的6种，亚种Caniformia的4种和Ruminantia亚种的2种。对于我们拥有最多样本和生活史信息的两个物种，即猎豹（Acinonyx jubatus，n = 250）和豹子（Panthera pardus，n = 58），我们调查了T。与年龄，性别，社会地位（单身，母亲-后代组，独立兄弟姐妹组，联合组）和地点（自然栖息地与农田）相关的冈地人血清阳性率。结果除一个食肉动物（蝙蝠耳狐Otocyon megalotis，n = 4）外，其他人都对弓形虫呈阳性，其血清阳性率从猎豹的52.4％（131/250）到非洲狮子的93.2％（55/59）。 （豹豹狮子座）。我们还在10.0％（2/20）的蓝色牛羚（Connochaetes taurinus）中检测到弓形虫抗体。与亚成体亚种相比，成年猎豹和豹子更可能对刚地弓形虫呈血清反应阳性，而其血清阳性率并没有因性别，社会地位和地点而异。此外，我们在棕色鬣狗（Hyaena brunnea）的15.4％（2/13）和黑背狐狼（Canis mesomelas）的2.6％（1/39）中测量了针对犬新孢子虫的抗体。B抗体。在3.4％（2/59）的非洲狮子和20.0％（4/20）的蓝色牛羚中检出besnoiti。结论我们的结果表明，纳米比亚的野生动植物物种以不同的患病率暴露于apicomplexan寄生虫，具体取决于寄生虫和寄主物种。除了血清学工作外，还需要分子工作来更好地了解南非洲的这些寄生虫的流行病学中的动荡周期和野生生物的明确作用。