چکیده (انگلیسی):

Objective: To determine the exposure of wild brown hares [Lepus europaeus
(L. europaeus), pallas] to Anaplasma phagocytophilum (A. phagocytophilum), Borrelia
burgdorferi (B. burgdorferi) sensu lato, Encephalitozoon cuniculi (E. cuniculi), Leishmania
sp., Neospora caninum (N. caninum) and Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii).
Methods: Two hundred twenty-two blood serum samples of wild brown hares captured
in protected areas of the province of Pisa (Central Italy) were tested to detect antibodies
against the reported pathogens.
Results: Thirty one (14.0%) animals resulted positive for at least one tested agent, with
antibody titres ranging from 1:20 to 1:320. In particular, 13 (5.8%) samples were positive
to B. burgdorferi s.l., 11 (4.9%) to N. caninum, 3 (1.3%) to T. gondii, 2 (0.9%) to
A. phagocytophilum and 2 (0.9%) to Leishmania sp. No samples scored positive to
E. cuniculi. Four animals (14.8%) resulted coinfected with 2 different pathogens.
Conclusion: The obtained results showed that B. burgdorferi s.l. N. caninum, T. gondii,
A. phagocytophilum and Leishmania sp. circulate in wild brown hares in Central Italy,
suggesting a possible role of L. europaeus as reservoir of these pathogens. The obtained
results showed that autochthonous wild brown hares living in Central Italy have been
exposed to several pathogens circulating in this area, suggesting a possible role of
L. europaeus as reservoir.