{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,11,5]],"date-time":"2026-11-05T06:32:26Z","timestamp":1793860346351,"version":"4.6.1"},"reference-count":49,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"3","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2023,3,16]],"date-time":"2023-03-16T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1678924800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Ministry of Health of the Italian Republic","award":["IZSME 06\/22 RC"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["IZSME 06\/22 RC"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Pathogens"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Systematic wildlife surveillance is important to aid the prevention of zoonotic infections that jeopardize human health and undermine biodiversity. Toxoplasma gondii is an opportunistic zoonotic protozoan that can infect all endothermic vertebrates, causing severe disease in immunocompromised humans and cases of congenital transmission. Humans can be infected by ingestion of raw meat containing bradyzoites or water contaminated by oocysts. In our study, we assessed the potential circulation of Toxoplasma gondii in wild mammals by performing surveillance in the Campania region (southern Italy) and surveyed its presence from 2020 to 2022 within the framework of the Regional Plans for Wildlife Surveillance. In detail, 211 individuals belonging to five wild mammals (wolf, fox, wild boar, badger, and roe deer) underwent necropsy and the organs were analyzed by real-time PCR for the detection of the parasite. Toxoplasma gondii was found in 21.8% (46\/211) of the subjects examined. No statistically significant differences were noticed between the prevalence and the host\u2019s trophic level or age, rejecting the hypotheses that Toxoplasma gondii will have a higher prevalence in top predators and adult individuals, respectively. Our work emphasized the high circulation of Toxoplasma gondii in wildlife and remarked on the critical role of anthropized areas where domestic cats and wildlife may come into contact, urging a systematic surveillance.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/pathogens12030471","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2023,3,17]],"date-time":"2023-03-17T02:59:26Z","timestamp":1679021966000},"page":"471","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":16,"title":["Molecular Survey of Toxoplasma gondii in Wild Mammals of Southern Italy"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"12","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-7835-9051","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Hiba","family":"Dakroub","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation (AnEcoEvo), Department of Agriculture, University of Naples Federico II, 80055 Portici, Italy"},{"name":"Department of Animal Health, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno, 80055 Portici, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Giovanni","family":"Sgroi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Animal Health, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno, 80055 Portici, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Nicola","family":"D\u2019Alessio","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Animal Health, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno, 80055 Portici, Italy"},{"name":"Osservatorio Faunistico Venatorio of Campania Region, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno, 80055 Portici, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-1934-7130","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Danilo","family":"Russo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation (AnEcoEvo), Department of Agriculture, University of Naples Federico II, 80055 Portici, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Francesco","family":"Serra","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Animal Health, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno, 80055 Portici, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2496-4034","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Vincenzo","family":"Veneziano","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Osservatorio Faunistico Venatorio of Campania Region, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno, 80055 Portici, Italy"},{"name":"Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Naples Federico II, 80137 Naples, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Simona","family":"Rea","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Animal Health, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno, 80055 Portici, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Alessia","family":"Pucciarelli","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Animal Health, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno, 80055 Portici, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Maria Gabriella","family":"Lucibelli","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Animal Health, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno, 80055 Portici, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-7883-1283","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Esterina","family":"De Carlo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Animal Health, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno, 80055 Portici, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3139-7672","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Giovanna","family":"Fusco","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Animal Health, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno, 80055 Portici, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-8663-7445","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Maria Grazia","family":"Amoroso","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Animal Health, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno, 80055 Portici, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2023,3,16]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Bokaba, R.P., Dermauw, V., Morar-Leather, D., Dorny, P., and Neves, L. (2022). Toxoplasma gondii in African Wildlife: A Systematic Review. Pathogens, 11.","DOI":"10.3390\/pathogens11080868"},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1505","DOI":"10.1007\/s00436-021-07086-y","article-title":"First nationwide survey of the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in wild boars in Japan","volume":"120","author":"Kobayashi","year":"2021","journal-title":"Parasitol. Res."},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"839","DOI":"10.1111\/mmi.14634","article-title":"Host sensing and signal transduction during Toxoplasma stage conversion","volume":"115","author":"Augusto","year":"2021","journal-title":"Mol. Microbiol."},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e00037","DOI":"10.1016\/j.fawpar.2019.e00037","article-title":"Toxoplasma gondii infection and toxoplasmosis in farm animals: Risk factors and economic impact","volume":"15","author":"Stelzer","year":"2019","journal-title":"Food Waterborne Parasitol."},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1257","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijpara.2008.03.007","article-title":"Toxoplasma gondii Infection in humans and animals in the United States","volume":"38","author":"Dubey","year":"2008","journal-title":"Int. J. Parasitol."},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"190","DOI":"10.1016\/j.pt.2010.01.009","article-title":"Toxoplasma gondii: Epidemiology, feline clinical aspects, and prevention","volume":"26","author":"Elmore","year":"2010","journal-title":"Trends Parasitol."},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"183","DOI":"10.14745\/ccdr.v45i78a03","article-title":"Toxoplasma gondii: How an Amazonian parasite became an inuit health issue","volume":"45","author":"Reiling","year":"2019","journal-title":"Can. Commun. Dis. Rep."},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"959","DOI":"10.1016\/j.pt.2020.08.005","article-title":"Toxoplasma gondii: An underestimated threat?","volume":"36","author":"Milne","year":"2020","journal-title":"Trends Parasitol."},{"key":"ref_9","unstructured":"Dubey, J.P. (2020). Toxoplasma gondii, Academic Press."},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Gazzonis, A.L., Villa, L., Lubian, E., Ressegotti, S., Grilli, G., Raimondi, S., Zanzani, S.A., and Manfredi, M.T. (2021). Molecular survey on Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora Caninum Infection in wild birds of prey admitted to recovery centers in northern Italy. Microorganisms, 9.","DOI":"10.3390\/microorganisms9040736"},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Salinas-ramos, V.B., Mori, E., Bosso, L., Ancillotto, L., and Russo, D. (2021). Zoonotic risk: One more good reason why cats should be kept away from bats. Pathogens, 10.","DOI":"10.3390\/pathogens10030304"},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1189","DOI":"10.1111\/geb.13096","article-title":"Interaction of diet and habitat predicts Toxoplasma gondii infection rates in wild birds at a global scale","volume":"29","author":"Wilson","year":"2020","journal-title":"Glob. Ecol. Biogeogr."},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"8","DOI":"10.1016\/j.vetpar.2013.12.017","article-title":"Toxoplasma gondii prevalence in cats from Lisbon and in pigs from centre and south of Portugal","volume":"200","author":"Esteves","year":"2014","journal-title":"Vet. Parasitol."},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"98","DOI":"10.1590\/S1984-29612014015","article-title":"Seroprevalence and risk factors for Toxoplasma gondii infection in pigs in southern Piau\u00ed","volume":"23","author":"Farias","year":"2014","journal-title":"Rev. Bras. De Parasitol. Veterin\u00e1ria"},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Formenti, N., Trogu, T., Pedrotti, L., Gaffuri, A., Lanfranchi, P., and Ferrari, N. (2015). Toxoplasma gondii infection in alpine red deer (Cervus elaphus): Its spread and effects on fertility. PLoS ONE, 10.","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0142357"},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3842","DOI":"10.1038\/s41467-021-24092-x","article-title":"Toxoplasma gondii infections are associated with costly boldness toward felids in a wild host","volume":"12","author":"Gering","year":"2021","journal-title":"Nat. Commun."},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e00049","DOI":"10.1016\/j.fawpar.2019.e00049","article-title":"Environmental transmission of Toxoplasma gondii: Oocysts in water, soil and food","volume":"15","author":"Shapiro","year":"2019","journal-title":"Food Waterborne Parasitol."},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"180","DOI":"10.1016\/j.prevetmed.2006.06.005","article-title":"Management of feral domestic cats in the urban environment of Rome (Italy)","volume":"77","author":"Natoli","year":"2006","journal-title":"Prev. Vet. Med."},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"271","DOI":"10.1016\/j.vetpar.2007.07.020","article-title":"Toxoplasma gondii in sheep from the Campania region (Italy)","volume":"149","author":"Fusco","year":"2007","journal-title":"Vet. Parasitol."},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"217","DOI":"10.1177\/026119290203002S36","article-title":"Directive 86\/609\/EEC on the protection of animals used for experimental and other scientific purposes","volume":"30","author":"Louhimies","year":"2002","journal-title":"ATLA Altern. Lab. Anim."},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1142","DOI":"10.1080\/10495398.2021.1876081","article-title":"Detection and whole genome sequencing of murine norovirus in animal facility in Italy","volume":"33","author":"Tofani","year":"2022","journal-title":"Anim. Biotechnol."},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"543","DOI":"10.1128\/AEM.01039-07","article-title":"Detection of murine norovirus 1 by using plaque assay, transfection assay, and real-time reverse transcription-PCR before and after heat exposure","volume":"74","author":"Baaert","year":"2008","journal-title":"Appl. Environ. Microbiol."},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Amoroso, M.G., Serra, F., Esposito, C., D\u2019Alessio, N., Ferrara, G., Cioffi, B., Anzalone, A., Pagnini, U., de Carlo, E., and Fusco, G. (2021). Prevalence of Infection with Porcine Circovirus Types 2 and 3 in the Wild Boar Population in the Campania Region (Southern Italy). Animals, 11.","DOI":"10.3390\/ani11113215"},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"805","DOI":"10.1111\/zph.12762","article-title":"Genotyping of Toxoplasma gondii in wild boar (Sus scrofa) in southern Italy: Epidemiological survey and associated risk for consumers","volume":"67","author":"Sgroi","year":"2020","journal-title":"Zoonoses Public Health"},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"41","DOI":"10.1023\/A:1013558718057","article-title":"Gas-chromatographic analyses of the subcaudal gland secretion of the European badger (Meles meles) Part I: Chemical Differences Related to Individual Parameters","volume":"28","author":"Buesching","year":"2002","journal-title":"J. Chem. Ecol."},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"601","DOI":"10.1111\/zph.12702","article-title":"Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in wild boar and deer in Brandenburg, Germany","volume":"67","author":"Bier","year":"2020","journal-title":"Zoonoses Public Health"},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"111341","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jenvman.2020.111341","article-title":"Optimal harvesting in the presence of predation: An age-structured modelling approach","volume":"277","author":"Skonhoft","year":"2021","journal-title":"J. Environ. Manag."},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"233","DOI":"10.7589\/2013-09-233","article-title":"Prevalence and genotype identification of Toxoplasma gondii in wild animals from southwestern Spain","volume":"51","author":"Saugar","year":"2015","journal-title":"J. Wildl. Dis."},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2","DOI":"10.1186\/1756-3305-7-196","article-title":"Toxoplasma gondii in sympatric wild herbivores and carnivores: Epidemiology of infection in the western Alps","volume":"7","author":"Ferroglio","year":"2014","journal-title":"Parasites Vectors"},{"key":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"15","DOI":"10.7589\/0090-3558-31.1.15","article-title":"Prevalence mammals and of antibodies of Missouri to toxoplasma and central in Kansas: Biologic and ecologic considerations of transmission","volume":"31","author":"Smith","year":"1995","journal-title":"J. Wildl. Dis."},{"key":"ref_31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Ossi, F., Ranc, N., Moorcroft, P., Bonanni, P., and Cagnacci, F. (2020). Ecological and behavioral drivers of supplemental feeding use by roe deer Capreolus capreolus in a peri-urban context. Animals, 10.","DOI":"10.3390\/ani10112088"},{"key":"ref_32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"145593","DOI":"10.1016\/j.scitotenv.2021.145593","article-title":"Wild boar in the city: Phenotypic responses to urbanisation","volume":"773","author":"Mentaberre","year":"2021","journal-title":"Sci. Total Environ."},{"key":"ref_33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Torretta, E., Corradini, A., Pedrotti, L., Bani, L., Bisi, F., and Dondina, O. (2022). Hide-and-seek in a highly human-dominated landscape: Insights into movement patterns and selection of resting sites of rehabilitated wolves (Canis lupus) in northern Italy. Animals, 13.","DOI":"10.3390\/ani13010046"},{"key":"ref_34","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"293","DOI":"10.4098\/AT.arch.91-31","article-title":"The diet of the European badger in a Mediterranean coastal area","volume":"36","author":"Pigozzi","year":"1991","journal-title":"Acta Theriol."},{"key":"ref_35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"195","DOI":"10.1080\/03949370.2011.577814","article-title":"Changes of wolf (Canis lupus) diet in Italy in relation to the increase of wild ungulate abundance","volume":"23","author":"Meriggi","year":"2011","journal-title":"Ethol. Ecol. Evol."},{"key":"ref_36","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"124","DOI":"10.1111\/mam.12015","article-title":"A review of wild boar Sus scrofa diet and factors affecting food selection in native and introduced ranges","volume":"44","author":"Ballari","year":"2014","journal-title":"Mammal Rev."},{"key":"ref_37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"52","DOI":"10.1016\/j.vetpar.2016.05.010","article-title":"Toxoplasma gondii: Pig seroprevalence, associated risk factors and viability in fresh pork meat","volume":"224","author":"Herrero","year":"2016","journal-title":"Vet. Parasitol."},{"key":"ref_38","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"148966","DOI":"10.1016\/j.scitotenv.2021.148966","article-title":"Differences in wild boar spatial behaviour among land uses and management scenarios in Mediterranean ecosystems","volume":"796","author":"Laguna","year":"2021","journal-title":"Sci. Total Environ."},{"key":"ref_39","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"107","DOI":"10.1007\/s10344-011-0548-4","article-title":"Sex effect on habitat selection in response to hunting disturbance: The study of wild boar","volume":"58","author":"Tolon","year":"2012","journal-title":"Eur. J. Wildl. Res."},{"key":"ref_40","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"9","DOI":"10.1007\/s10344-016-1060-7","article-title":"What does the wild boar mean to the wolf?","volume":"63","author":"Mori","year":"2017","journal-title":"Eur. J. Wildl. Res."},{"key":"ref_41","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"466","DOI":"10.1111\/brv.12807","article-title":"Patterns and determinants of dispersal in grey wolves (Canis lupus)","volume":"97","author":"Quevedo","year":"2022","journal-title":"Biol. Rev."},{"key":"ref_42","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"95","DOI":"10.33899\/ijvs.2020.164336","article-title":"Investigate the Toxoplasma gondii infection in the consumed beef in al-diwaniyah province","volume":"34","author":"Sakban","year":"2020","journal-title":"Iraqi J. Vet. Sci."},{"key":"ref_43","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1331","DOI":"10.1007\/s00436-019-06229-6","article-title":"Isolation of viable Toxoplasma gondii from organs and Brazilian commercial meat cuts of experimentally infected pigs","volume":"118","author":"Alves","year":"2019","journal-title":"Parasitol. Res."},{"key":"ref_44","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"12","DOI":"10.1016\/j.vetpar.2017.07.013","article-title":"The global seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii among wild boars: A systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"244","author":"Rostami","year":"2017","journal-title":"Vet. Parasitol."},{"key":"ref_45","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1007\/s12560-019-09405-0","article-title":"Detection of Hepatitis E virus in livers and muscle tissues of wild boars in Italy","volume":"12","author":"Amoroso","year":"2020","journal-title":"Food Environ. Virol."},{"key":"ref_46","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Pepe, P., Bosco, A., Capuano, F., Baldi, L., Giordano, A., Mancusi, A., Buonanno, M., Morena, L., Pinto, R., and Sarnelli, P. (2021). Towards an integrated approach for monitoring toxoplasmosis in southern Italy. Animals, 11.","DOI":"10.3390\/ani11071949"},{"key":"ref_47","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1375","DOI":"10.3201\/eid0911.030143","article-title":"Toxoplasma gondii and schizophrenia","volume":"9","author":"Torrey","year":"2003","journal-title":"Emerg. Infect. Dis."},{"key":"ref_48","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"983","DOI":"10.1093\/schbul\/sby082","article-title":"Toxoplasma gondii: Biological parameters of the connection to schizophrenia","volume":"44","author":"Xiao","year":"2018","journal-title":"Schizophr. Bull."},{"key":"ref_49","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3693","DOI":"10.1007\/s10530-022-02888-2","article-title":"A science-based policy for managing free-roaming cats","volume":"24","author":"Lepczyk","year":"2022","journal-title":"Biol. Invasions"}],"container-title":["Pathogens"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2076-0817\/12\/3\/471\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,10]],"date-time":"2025-10-10T18:57:06Z","timestamp":1760122626000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2076-0817\/12\/3\/471"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2023,3,16]]},"references-count":49,"journal-issue":{"issue":"3","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2023,3]]}},"alternative-id":["pathogens12030471"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/pathogens12030471","relation":{},"ISSN":["2076-0817"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2076-0817","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2023,3,16]]}}}