Contribution of tick-borne diseases to mortality in juvenile free-living cervids.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE

Reports on tick-borne infections in free-living juvenile animals and their impact on survival of cervids in nature are lacking. The aim of the study was to detect and identify the and species/ecotypes that may have contributed to the death of juvenile animals from a wildlife rescue centre in spring 2020.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

PCR amplification and sequencing of two genetic markers (18S rDNA and for , 16S rDNA and groEL for ) were used for screening eleven samples derived from juvenile animals which died in a rescue centre (seven roe deer , one elk , one red squirrel , one European beaver , one red fox ). Phylogenetic analysis of full-length 18S rDNA sequence was performed to enable differentiation between two closely-related species infecting wild ungulates, and (zoonotic).

RESULTS

The occurrence of the typical SNPs of at two discriminating positions in the 18S rRNA gene allowed identification of infection in a roe deer calf. In two calves, ecotype 2 was identified, including the same calf co-infection. No Babesia DNA was amplified in an elk calf treated for babesiosis. Splenomegaly was recorded in roe deer calves with and + infection.

CONCLUSIONS

The study revealed that tick-borne infections are common among juvenile, free-living cervids and may contribute to their mortality.