Arthropod-borne pathogens in European bison Bison bonasus (Linnaeus, 1758)
2025
Grzegorz Karbowiak | Daniel Klich | Joanna Werszko | Magdalena Świsłocka-Cutter | Kateryna Slivinska | Marlena Wojciechowska | Marta Kloch | Marek Asman | Wanda Olech
The prevalence of vector-borne pathogens in 81 European bison (Bison bonasus) was determined by nested PCR and DNA sequencing. Trypanosoma sp. Infections were detected in blood from 66.67 % of the studied animals, with the highest prevalence in Knyszyn Forest (82.67 %). Anaplasma phagocytophilum infections were found in 38.27 % of cases, with the highest prevalence in Białowieża Forest (45.45 %). Anaplasma infection rates were influenced by location and age, with older animals showing lower prevalence. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed that Trypanosoma sequences obtained from European bison were closely related to T. theileri, suggesting T. wrublewskii may be a synonym. This study provides new insights into the distribution of vector-borne pathogens in European bison, emphasizing their high prevalence in free-ranging populations. These findings contribute to a better understanding of European bison health and potential disease transmission risks in European ecosystems.
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