Zanet Stefania, Occhibove Flavia, Capizzi Dario, Fratini Sara, Giannini Francesca, Hoida Avner Dan, Sposimo Paolo, Valentini Flaminia, Ferroglio Ezio
Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, Largo Paolo Braccini, 2, 10095 Grugliasco, Italy.
Directorate for Natural Capital, Latium Region, Parks and Protected Areas, Viale del Tintoretto 432, 00142 Rome, Italy.
Animals (Basel). 2023 Oct 20;13(20):3279. doi: 10.3390/ani13203279.
Invasive species have a detrimental impact on native populations, particularly in island ecosystems, and they pose a potential zoonotic and wildlife threat. Black rats () are invasive species that disrupt native flora and fauna on islands and serve as potential competent reservoirs for various pathogens and parasites. Microparasites screening was conducted in rat populations from small islands in central Italy (the Pontine Islands and Pianosa) with the aim of assessing the role of rats in maintaining infections, particularly in cases where key reservoir hosts were scarce or absent. We focused on microparasites of zoonotic and veterinary relevance. A total of 53 rats was kill-trapped and target tissues were analysed with molecular techniques. We observed the absence or very low prevalence of spp., while was found in rats from all locations, marking the first recorded instance of in wild rats. Data from Pianosa strongly suggest the presence of an autochthonous cycle in the Tuscan archipelago islands. was absent from all islands, even in areas where dogs, the main reservoirs, were present. was only recorded on the Pontine Islands, where genotyping is needed to shed light on infection dynamics. This study confirms that invasive species, such as rats, may be responsible for maintaining an increased parasitological threat to fauna and human communities in certain ecosystems.
入侵物种对本地种群有不利影响，尤其是在岛屿生态系统中，并且它们构成了潜在的人畜共患病和野生动物威胁。黑鼠（）是入侵物种，会扰乱岛屿上的本地动植物群落，并可能成为各种病原体和寄生虫的宿主。在意大利中部的小岛屿（蓬蒂内群岛和皮亚诺萨岛）的鼠类种群中进行了微寄生虫筛查，目的是评估鼠类在维持感染方面的作用，特别是在关键宿主稀缺或不存在的情况下。我们重点关注与人畜共患病和兽医相关的微寄生虫。总共捕杀诱捕了53只老鼠，并使用分子技术对目标组织进行了分析。我们观察到 spp.不存在或患病率极低，而在所有地点的老鼠中都发现了 ，这是野生老鼠中首次记录到 。来自皮亚诺萨岛的数据有力地表明托斯卡纳群岛存在本地的 循环。所有岛屿都没有发现 ，即使在存在主要宿主狗的地区也是如此。 仅在蓬蒂内群岛有记录，需要进行基因分型以了解感染动态。这项研究证实，诸如老鼠之类的入侵物种可能在某些生态系统中对动物和人类社区维持着增加的寄生虫学威胁。
