Serological Evidence of Neospora caninum and Toxoplasma gondii in Gray Wolves (Canis lupus) in Poland.

Abstract

PURPOSE: The gray wolf (Canis lupus) has been protected throughout Poland since 1998, which has allowed for the rapid recovery of the species across the country. Wolves are often exposed to viral and bacterial pathogens through contact with peridomestic and domestic host species. Additionally, they may serve as hosts for a wide range of parasites due to the consumption of infected prey and exposure to environmental contamination. This investigation aimed to estimate the seroprevalence of two closely related protozoan parasites, Neospora caninum and Toxoplasma gondii, among gray wolves based on serological methods. METHODS: Muscle samples were obtained from nineteen animals that were either roadkill or found dead in forests across various regions of Poland over four years. Antibodies to N. caninum and antibodies to T. gondii were tested in meat juice collected from frozen muscle samples using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. RESULTS: Antibodies to N. caninum were detected in two out of 19 tested samples, and antibodies to T. gondii in four of the 19 samples; co-infection with two protozoan parasite species was not noted. To our knowledge, this is the first serological evidence of N. caninum and T. gondii in gray wolves in Poland. CONCLUSION: The detection of antibodies to N. caninum and T. gondii confirms the presence of these parasites in the environment and suggests their potential transmission among free-living gray wolves in Poland.