Evidence ofin Neural and Cardiac Tissues of Wild Rodents in Lithuania.

Abstract

, a widespread parasite, poses significant public health concerns. It infects humans and animals, with rodents serving as important intermediate hosts. The present study investigated the prevalence and geneticdiversity of.in wild rodents from Lithuania. A total of 469 rodents from eight species were captured across various regions, and DNA from neural and cardiac tissues was analyzed using nested PCR. Overall prevalence of.was 26.2% (95% CI = 22.3-30.5). The prevalence of infection varied among rodent species (0-50.0%) and across geographic locations. A mere few rodents exhibited concurrent infections in both tissues examined.was detected more frequently in the brains ofand hearts of, and in the males of. A total of 19 distinctgenotypes were identified, including 17 novel ones; Genotype 1 was the most prevalent and widely distributed. Phylogenetic and network analyses revealed a star-like topology centered on Genotype 1 and confirmed the accurate identification ofin Lithuanian rodents. This study provides the first evidence ofin wild rodents in Lithuania, highlighting the need for further research on its prevalence and potential impact on public health and wildlife.