Magdálek Jan, Kasič Vojtěch, Ilgová Jana, Škorpíková Lucie, Vadlejch Jaroslav
Department of Zoology and Fisheries, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, Prague Suchdol, 165 00, Czech Republic.
Department of Game Management and Wildlife Biology, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, Prague Suchdol, 165 00, Czech Republic.
BMC Vet Res. 2025 Sep 1;21(1):532. doi: 10.1186/s12917-025-04992-6.
Pathogenic blood-feeding nematodes, such as Haemonchus contortus and the invasive Ashworthius sidemi, infect a wide range of wild and domestic ruminants. While the spread of A. sidemi among European cervids has been studied, its presence in chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra) remains poorly documented. Conversely, H. contortus is known to infect chamois, but previous research has relied mainly on cross-sectional necropsy studies, offering only a limited view of infection dynamics. In this study, we used a longitudinal molecular approach to assess the seasonal occurrence and transmission patterns of H. contortus and A. sidemi in a chamois population from the northern Czech Republic. From January to December 2023, we collected faecal samples at monthly intervals from two localities. Multiplex real-time PCR was subsequently used for the detection and semi-quantification of DNA from both nematode species.
Haemonchus contortus DNA was detected in 43.3% of samples, with its presence recorded nearly year-round. Its prevalence and relative DNA quantity peaked in summer and remained high throughout autumn. Ashworthius sidemi was identified in chamois in the Czech Republic for the first time, possibly reflecting a recent spillover from red deer (Cervus elaphus). However, it was found in only 5% of samples, with its occurrence restricted to late winter and spring. The seasonal disappearance of A. sidemi coincided with the increase in H. contortus relative DNA quantity, which may indicate a possible negative interaction between these species occupying the same ecological niche.
Our findings suggest a potentialy prolonged transmission window for H. contortus, which could lengthen further under future climate change scenarios. In contrast, A. sidemi appears to be an incidental parasite in chamois, and its long-term persistence in this atypical host without continued contact with cervids remains uncertain. These insights, which are rare for wild ruminants, contribute to a better understanding of parasite epidemiology and host-parasite interactions in free-living populations.
致病性吸血线虫，如捻转血矛线虫和入侵性的西德尼阿氏线虫，感染多种野生和家养反刍动物。虽然已经研究了西德尼阿氏线虫在欧洲鹿类中的传播情况，但其在岩羚羊（岩羚羊）中的存在情况记录仍然很少。相反，捻转血矛线虫已知会感染岩羚羊，但以前的研究主要依赖横断面尸检研究，对感染动态的了解有限。在本研究中，我们采用纵向分子方法评估了捷克共和国北部一个岩羚羊种群中捻转血矛线虫和西德尼阿氏线虫的季节性发生情况和传播模式。从2023年1月到12月，我们每月从两个地点采集粪便样本。随后使用多重实时PCR检测和半定量两种线虫物种的DNA。
在43.3%的样本中检测到捻转血矛线虫DNA，几乎全年都有其存在记录。其流行率和相对DNA量在夏季达到峰值，并在整个秋季保持高位。西德尼阿氏线虫首次在捷克共和国的岩羚羊中被发现，这可能反映了最近从马鹿（马鹿）的溢出。然而，仅在5%的样本中发现了它，其出现仅限于冬末和春季。西德尼阿氏线虫的季节性消失与捻转血矛线虫相对DNA量的增加同时发生，这可能表明占据相同生态位的这些物种之间可能存在负相互作用。
我们的研究结果表明捻转血矛线虫的传播窗口可能会延长，在未来气候变化情景下可能会进一步延长。相比之下，西德尼阿氏线虫似乎是岩羚羊中的偶然寄生虫，其在这种非典型宿主中无持续与鹿类接触的情况下长期存在仍不确定。这些对于野生反刍动物来说罕见的见解有助于更好地理解自由生活种群中的寄生虫流行病学和宿主-寄生虫相互作用。
