Caballero-Gómez Javier, Casais Rosa, Castro-Scholten Sabrina, Iglesias Natalia, Oleaga Álvaro, Fernández-Verón Isabel, López-López Guillermo, Mata Enrique, Nájera Fernando, Paniagua Jorge, Salcedo Javier, Montoya-Oliver Juan I, García-Bocanegra Ignacio
Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Grupo de Investigación en Sanidad Animal y Zoonosis (GISAZ), UIC Zoonosis y Enfermedades Emergentes ENZOEM, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain; Grupo de Virología Clínica y Zoonosis, Unidad de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto Maimónides de Investigación Biomédica de Córdoba (IMIBIC), Hospital Universitario Reina Sofía, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain; CIBERINFEC, ISCIII - CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
Centro de Biotecnología Animal, Servicio Regional de Investigación y Desarrollo Agroalimentario (SERIDA), Deva, Spain.
Prev Vet Med. 2025 Sep;242:106585. doi: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2025.106585. Epub 2025 May 27.
The Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) is one of the most endangered feline species in the world, and different infectious diseases, such as feline leukaemia virus, Aujeszky's disease or sarcoptic mange, have long posed a significant threat to its survival. Severe clinical disease caused by Sarcoptes scabiei have been reported in the Iberian lynx, however, the extent of S. scabiei infestations/infections in this species is unknown. In this context, we aimed (1) to assess S. scabiei exposure in Iberian lynx populations, and (2) to identify potential risk factors associated with parasite exposure. Between 2010 and 2023, 615 Iberian lynxes from captive (n = 270) and free-ranging (n = 345) populations were sampled across the Iberian Peninsula. Antibodies against S. scabiei were found in 15.4 % (95/615; 95 %CI: 12.8-18.5) of the Iberian lynxes using an in-house indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) based on the immunodominant recombinant antigen Ssλ20ΔB3. Seropositive individuals were found in the three major free-range areas under study, such as the Central, Southern and Southwestern Iberian Peninsula. A significantly higher seroprevalence was detected in free-ranging (18.0 %) than in captive (12.2 %) lynxes. Logistic regression analysis identified "age" and "free-range sampling area" as potential risk factors for parasite exposure. Anti-S. scabiei antibodies were detected in lynxes sampled in each year of the study period, except for 2023, including five free-ranging yearlings sampled in 2012, 2019, 2020 and 2022. Our results confirm that both free-ranging and captive populations are naturally exposed to the parasite. The detected seroprevalence indicates moderate S. scabiei exposure of the Iberian lynx and provides evidence of endemic, widespread, and heterogeneous circulation of the parasite in lynx populations over the last two decades, which could be of animal health and even conservation concern. Additional studies are needed to assess the impact of S. scabiei in this vulnerable felid species.
伊比利亚猞猁（Lynx pardinus）是世界上最濒危的猫科动物之一，长期以来，诸如猫白血病病毒、奥耶斯基氏病或疥螨病等各种传染病对其生存构成了重大威胁。伊比利亚猞猁身上已报告有由疥螨引起的严重临床疾病，然而，该物种中疥螨感染的程度尚不清楚。在此背景下，我们旨在：（1）评估伊比利亚猞猁种群中疥螨的接触情况，以及（2）确定与寄生虫接触相关的潜在风险因素。2010年至2023年期间，在伊比利亚半岛对来自圈养（n = 270）和自由放养（n = 345）种群的615只伊比利亚猞猁进行了采样。使用基于免疫显性重组抗原Ssλ20ΔB3的内部间接酶联免疫吸附测定（ELISA），在15.4%（95/615；95%CI：12.8 - 18.5）的伊比利亚猞猁中发现了抗疥螨抗体。在研究的三个主要自由放养区域，即伊比利亚半岛中部、南部和西南部，均发现了血清反应阳性个体。自由放养的猞猁（18.0%）的血清阳性率显著高于圈养的猞猁（12.2%）。逻辑回归分析确定“年龄”和“自由放养采样区域”为寄生虫接触的潜在风险因素。除2023年外（2023年未检测到抗体），在研究期间的每年采样的猞猁中均检测到了抗疥螨抗体（包括2012年、2019年、2020年和2022年采样的五只自由放养的一岁猞猁）。我们的结果证实，自由放养和圈养种群均自然接触到了该寄生虫。检测到的血清阳性率表明伊比利亚猞猁对疥螨有中度接触，并为过去二十年该寄生虫在猞猁种群中的地方性、广泛且异质性传播提供了证据，这可能对动物健康甚至保护工作都有影响。需要进一步的研究来评估疥螨对这种脆弱猫科动物的影响。
