Li Bing, Zhai Jun-Qiong, Wu Ya-Jiang, Shan Fen, Zou Jie-Jian, Hou Fang-Hui, Que Teng-Cheng, Chen Wu
School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Bioactive Substances, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, China.
Guangzhou Zoo & Guangzhou Wildlife Research Center, Guangzhou, China.
PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2024 Nov 22;18(11):e0012667. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0012667. eCollection 2024 Nov.
The traditional concept of "tonic food" and demand for traditional Chinese medicine make pangolins the largest population of illegally smuggled mammals in the world. Illegal hunting and trade are not only responsible for the sharp decline in pangolin populations but also provide conditions for pathogenic transmission. In 2021, we rescued 21 confiscated unhealthy Malayan pangolins, none of which survived. This study aimed to investigate the reasons for their unexpected deaths and the potential pathogens that may be transmitted during smuggling. Physical examination found that more than 80% pangolins were parasitized with A. javanense ticks. Autopsy and pathological staining analysis revealed multiple organ damage in the deceased pangolins. Pathogens nucleic acid detection of 33 tick samples showed that the positive rate of Rickettsia spp., Anaplasma spp., Ehrlichia spp. Babesia spp., and Colpodella spp. were 90.91%, 6.06%, 6.06%, 15.15% and 18.18%, respectively. Furthermore, pangolin samples were positive for Rickettsia spp. (42.86%, 9/21), Ehrlichia sp. (4.76%, 1/21), and Babesia sp. (4.76%, 1/21). This study confirmed that spotted fever triggered by Rickettsia spp. from A. javanense might accelerate the most death of confiscated pangolins, while Ehrlichia sp., and Babesia sp. infection potentially accelerating a few deaths. Of note, A. javanense ticks carrying Colpodella spp. were detected for the first time in Malayan pangolins. However, whether Colpodella spp. are pathogenic to pangolins is unknown. Further research on the diagnosis, treatment, surveillance, and elimination of ticks and tick-borne diseases in humans, livestock, and wildlife should provide insight into wildlife conservation and zoonotic disease prevention.
“滋补食品”的传统观念以及对传统中药的需求，使得穿山甲成为全球非法走私数量最多的哺乳动物。非法捕猎和贸易不仅导致穿山甲数量急剧下降，还为病原体传播创造了条件。2021年，我们救助了21只没收的健康状况不佳的马来穿山甲，无一存活。本研究旨在调查它们意外死亡的原因以及走私过程中可能传播的潜在病原体。体格检查发现，超过80%的穿山甲感染了爪哇硬蜱。尸检和病理染色分析显示，死亡穿山甲存在多器官损伤。对33个蜱虫样本进行病原体核酸检测，结果显示立克次体属、无形体属、埃立克体属、巴贝斯虫属和锥体虫属的阳性率分别为90.91%、6.06%、6.06%、15.15%和18.18%。此外，穿山甲样本中立克次体属（42.86%，9/21）、埃立克体属（4.76%，1/21）和巴贝斯虫属（4.76%，1/21）呈阳性。本研究证实，爪哇硬蜱携带的立克次体属引发的斑点热可能加速了没收穿山甲的大部分死亡，而埃立克体属和巴贝斯虫属感染可能加速了少数穿山甲的死亡。值得注意的是，在马来穿山甲中首次检测到携带锥体虫属的爪哇硬蜱。然而，锥体虫属对穿山甲是否致病尚不清楚。对人类、家畜和野生动物蜱虫及蜱传疾病的诊断、治疗、监测和消除的进一步研究，应为野生动物保护和人畜共患病预防提供见解。
