Molecular Detection of Arthropod-Borne Pathogens in Eurasian Badgers (Meles meles) from the United Kingdom

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Blood-sucking arthropods can cause infections in domestic and wild animals, as well as in humans by transmitting pathogens while blood feeding. During the first part of the twenty-first century, diseases caused by arthropods, including ticks, have increased significantly in Europe. In this study, the presence of different types of pathogens in badgers from Great Britain was evaluated by means of molecular techniques. While no bacteria were found, a blood parasite (Babesia sp.) was identified in half of the investigated animals. The same parasite has been reported in badgers from Spain, Scotland, China and Hungary, and recently also in a wild cat in Bosnia Herzegovina, a wolf in Italy and hunting dogs in Hungary, showing its widespread occurrence and potential presence in different host species. The impact on the health of these hosts and also of other wild carnivores needs to be further investigated. ABSTRACT: Arthropod-borne diseases (ABD) are of increasing interest in veterinary and public health. Eurasian badgers (Meles meles) are known to harbor a wide range of pathogens, but information on their role as ABD reservoirs and their potential epidemiological relevance is limited. This study aimed to investigate the occurrence of arthropod-borne pathogens, specifically piroplasmids and the bacteria Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Ehrlichia canis, Coxiella burnetii, Francisella tularensis and Bartonella spp., in badgers from Great Britain (GB). Blood and heart samples from 18 badgers were examined using PCR and sequencing. A neighbour-joining (NJ) phylogram was also produced. Nine animals tested positive for Babesia sp., while none of the samples was positive for the investigated bacteria. The sequences obtained clustered with other sequences of Babesia sp. from badgers from GB and elsewhere, including China, Hungary, Spain and Italy, showing a widespread distribution of this parasite in badgers. Badger-associated Babesia DNA was also found recently in a wild cat in Bosnia Herzegovina, in a wolf in Italy and in dogs in Hungary. Further investigations are needed to understand the epidemiology of this putative pathogen and its impact on the health of wild and domestic carnivores.