Toxoplasmosis in the European brown hare : pathology, strain genotyping and population exposure within the Iberian distribution range
Estruch Morente, Josep (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals)
Salas-Fajardo, Martha Y. (Universidad Complutense de Madrid. Departamento de Salut Animal)
Calero-Bernal, Rafael (Universidad Complutense de Madrid. Departamento de Salut Animal)
Castro-Scholten, Sabrina (Universidad de Córdoba. Departamento de Sanidad Animal)
García-Bocanegra, Ignacio (Instituto de Salud Carlos III)
Alzaga, Vanesa (Gestión Ambiental de Navarra)
Lavín González, Santiago (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals)
Rouco, Carlos (Universidad de Sevilla. Departamento Biología Vegetal y Ecología)
Velarde, Roser (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals)

Date:	2025
Abstract:	The European brown hare (Lepus europaeus), widely distributed across Eurasia, is a key prey species for many vertebrates. Toxoplasma gondii, a globally distributed zoonotic protist, can infect all homoeothermic animals, including lagomorphs. Hares are highly susceptible, with sporadic toxoplasmosis cases reported in central and northern Europe, but its impact on southern populations remains unclear. Lethal toxoplasmosis was confirmed in two European brown hares from Catalonia, northeastern Spain (2018 and 2021). Samples were collected for histopathology and molecular analyses. Necropsy showed good body condition but revealed splenomegaly, liver necrosis, and pulmonary oedema. Microscopically, necrotizing multiorgan lesions with protozoan-like structures were observed. Toxoplasma gondii DNA was detected in spleen, with microsatellites-genotyping identifying a type II specific variant of the ToxoDB#3 genotype. In addition, 231 serum samples from passive and active surveillance (2013-2023) from Catalonia (n = 205) and other northern Spanish regions (n = 28) were tested for anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies using an indirect ELISA kit, showing a seroprevalence of 1. 73% (4/231; 95% CI: 0. 05-3. 41). These are the first clinical toxoplasmosis cases reported in European brown hares from southern Europe, highlighting their unusual susceptibility. The low seroprevalence, consistent with Mediterranean reports, raises questions about exposure frequency. Further studies are needed to assess the impact of T. gondii on European brown hare populations.
Grants:	Agencia Estatal de Investigación PID2023-151954NB-I00 Agencia Estatal de Investigación PID2022-138673OB-C21 Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades FPU19/06026 Instituto de Salud Carlos III CB2021/13/00083
Note:	Altres ajuts: acords transformatius de la UAB
Rights:	Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial, la distribució, la comunicació pública de l'obra i la creació d'obres derivades, fins i tot amb finalitats comercials, sempre i quan es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió publicada
Subject:	Apicomplexa ; Lagomorphs ; Mortality ; Seroprevalence ; Toxoplasma gondii
Published in:	European Journal of Wildlife Research, Vol. 71 Núm. 5 (october 2025) , p. 90, ISSN 1439-0574

DOI: 10.1007/s10344-025-01966-9

10 p, 2.3 MB

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Research literature > UAB research groups literature > Research Centres and Groups (research output) > Health sciences and biosciences > Research group Wildlife Ecology & Health
Articles > Research articles
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