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Detection of Cryptosporidium spp. Infection in Wild Raccoons (Procyon lotor) from Luxembourg Using an ELISA Approach

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Abstract

Background

Cryptosporidium spp. are protozoan parasites that cause enteric infection in a wide range of mammals, including humans. The raccoon (Procyon lotor) is an invasive species in many parts of the world and studies have shown that they can be infected with Cryptosporidium spp. both outside and in their original distribution area. The aim of the present study was to determine the presence of Cryptosporidium spp. antigens in the faeces of raccoons in Luxembourg.

Methods

Using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), we tested 81 faeces samples, collected between 2014 and 2018, for the presence of Cryptosporidium spp. coproantigens. Samples with an optical density equal to or greater than 0.15% were considered positive.

Results

Antigens were detected in 12.35% (10/81; 95% CI 6.68–21.26) of the tested samples. There was no significant difference in the prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. infection between the sexes and age categories. Cryptosporidium spp.-positive raccoons were found in 7 of the 12 Luxembourg administrative districts (Clervaux, Diekirch, Echternach, Mersch, Remich, Vianden and Wiltz).

Conclusion

The results show that Cryptosporidium infections are not uncommon in Luxembourg raccoons and suggest possible transmission of Cryptosporidium by raccoons.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the Luxemburgish Hunting Association (FSHCL) for providing hunted and road-killed raccoons and the Luxembourgish Administration de la Nature et des Forêts for project support. Furthermore, we thank M. Leytem for providing a suitable locality for the dissection work.

Funding

Part of this study was supported by the Luxembourg National Research Fund (AFR 7484378).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Musée National d’Histoire Naturelle, 2160, Luxembourg, Luxembourg

    Mike Heddergott, Alain C. Frantz & Peter Steinbach

  2. Department of Mathematics, University of Würzburg, 97074, Würzburg, Germany

    Daniel Pohl

  3. Institute for Veterinary Sciences, Nicolaus Copernicus University, 87-100, Toruń, Poland

    Natalia Osten-Sacken

  4. Fondation Faune-Flore, 2160, Luxembourg, Luxembourg

    Natalia Osten-Sacken

  5. Faculty of Chemistry, University of Göttingen, 37077, Göttingen, Germany

    Peter Steinbach

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  1. Mike Heddergott
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  4. Natalia Osten-Sacken
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  5. Peter Steinbach
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Contributions

MH, PS and AF designed the study. MH and NOS conducted the sections. PS and MH carried out the laboratory work. DP analyzed the data. MH, AF and PS wrote the paper. All authors were involved in data analysis and interpretation and read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mike Heddergott.

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Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical Approval

As an invasive species, raccoons are not legally protected in Luxembourg and can be harvested by licensed hunters outside the closed season without special permission. No animal was killed with the aim of providing samples for this study. All hunted individuals were legally shot and made available to the authors.

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Heddergott, M., Frantz, A.C., Pohl, D. et al. Detection of Cryptosporidium spp. Infection in Wild Raccoons (Procyon lotor) from Luxembourg Using an ELISA Approach. Acta Parasit. 65, 985–989 (2020). https://doi.org/10.2478/s11686-020-00234-x

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