TY - JOUR
T1 - Seroprevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and tick-borne encephalitis virus in zoo animal species in the Czech Republic
AU - Širmarová, Jana
AU - Tichá, Lucie
AU - Golovchenko, Marina
AU - Salát, Jiří
AU - Grubhoffer, Libor
AU - Rudenko, Nataliia
AU - Nowotny, Norbert
AU - Růžek, Daniel
N1 - Funding Information:
We thank Prof. Jan Kopecký for general support of the study. We acknowledge financial support by the Czech Science Foundation projects nos. P502/11/2116 and 14-29256S , and the Admire Vet project no. CZ.1.05./2.1.00/01.006 ( ED006/01/01 ).
PY - 2014/9
Y1 - 2014/9
N2 - This study was conducted to evaluate the prevalence of antibodies against Borrelia bugdorferi (Bb) s.l. and tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) in zoo animals in the Czech Republic. We collected 133 serum samples from 69 animal species from 5 zoos located in different parts of the country. The samples were obtained from even-toed ungulates (n= 78; 42 species), odd-toed ungulates (n= 32; 11 species), carnivores (n= 13; 9 species), primates (n= 2, 2 species), birds (n= 3; 2 species), and reptiles (n= 5; 3 species). A high antibody prevalence (60%) was observed for Bb s.l. On the other hand, only two animals had TBEV-specific antibodies: a markhor (Capra falconeri) and a reindeer (Rangifer tarandus), both from the same zoo, located in an area endemic for TBEV. Both of these animals were also positive for Bb s.l. antibodies. Our results indicate that a high number of animal species in the Czech zoos were exposed to Bb s.l. and that TBEV infection occurred at least in one of the investigated zoos. Considering the pathogenic potential of these two tick-borne pathogens, clinical and serological monitoring should be continued, and therapeutic and preventive measures should be taken when necessary.
AB - This study was conducted to evaluate the prevalence of antibodies against Borrelia bugdorferi (Bb) s.l. and tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) in zoo animals in the Czech Republic. We collected 133 serum samples from 69 animal species from 5 zoos located in different parts of the country. The samples were obtained from even-toed ungulates (n= 78; 42 species), odd-toed ungulates (n= 32; 11 species), carnivores (n= 13; 9 species), primates (n= 2, 2 species), birds (n= 3; 2 species), and reptiles (n= 5; 3 species). A high antibody prevalence (60%) was observed for Bb s.l. On the other hand, only two animals had TBEV-specific antibodies: a markhor (Capra falconeri) and a reindeer (Rangifer tarandus), both from the same zoo, located in an area endemic for TBEV. Both of these animals were also positive for Bb s.l. antibodies. Our results indicate that a high number of animal species in the Czech zoos were exposed to Bb s.l. and that TBEV infection occurred at least in one of the investigated zoos. Considering the pathogenic potential of these two tick-borne pathogens, clinical and serological monitoring should be continued, and therapeutic and preventive measures should be taken when necessary.
KW - Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato
KW - Lyme borreliosis
KW - Seroprevalence
KW - Tick-borne encephalitis virus
KW - Zoo animals
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U2 - 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2014.03.008
DO - 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2014.03.008
M3 - Article
C2 - 24889036
AN - SCOPUS:84904063312
SN - 1877-959X
VL - 5
SP - 523
EP - 527
JO - Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases
JF - Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases
IS - 5
ER -