Retrospective Molecular Survey on Bacterial and Protozoan Abortive Agents in Roe Deer (<i>Capreolus capreolus</i>) from Central Italy
2022
Valentina Virginia Ebani | Chiara Trebino | Lisa Guardone | Fabrizio Bertelloni | Giulia Cagnoli | Iolanda Altomonte | Paolo Vignola | Paolo Bongi | Francesca Mancianti
Bacterial and protozoan agents can determine abortion and other reproductive disorders in domestic ruminants, but data regarding their occurrence in wild ruminants are scanty worldwide, including in Italy. The aim of this retrospective study was to verify the occurrence of the main bacterial and protozoan abortive agents in 72 spleen samples previously collected from roe deer (<i>Capreolus capreolus</i>) living in mountain areas of Central Italy. All samples were collected and submitted to DNA extraction for other investigations. Molecular analyses were carried out on the DNA samples to detect <i>Brucella</i> spp., <i>Chlamydia abortus</i>, <i>Coxiella burnetii, Salmonella enterica, Listeria monocytogenes, Neospora caninum,</i> and <i>Toxoplasma gondii.</i> Three (4.16%) roe deer resulted PCR positive for <i>C. burnetii</i> and one (1.38%) for <i>T. gondii</i>. These findings suggest that roe deer living in the investigated areas do not act as important reservoirs of the searched agents. However, the tested animals lived in a closed area without contact with domestic animals that are usually involved in the epidemiology of the investigated pathogens. Monitoring of wild ruminants is pivotal to verify changes in the epidemiological scenario from a One Health perspective, too.
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