Veterinary perspectives on the urbanization of leishmaniosis in Morocco.

BACKGROUND: Leishmaniosis caused by Leishmania infantum, L. major and L. tropica is endemic in Morocco. Growing evidence of both human and canine Leishmania infections in urban centres has been reported. Since many forms of the disease are zoonotic, veterinarians play an important role in leishmaniosis control by intervening at the parasite host level. This study aimed to bring together One Health principles to connect canine and feline leishmaniosis epidemiology within urban centres of Morocco (Rabat and Fez) and assess the level of awareness of Moroccan veterinarians about facing this threat. METHODS: A molecular survey was conducted for Leishmania DNA detection in canine (n = 155) and feline (n = 32) whole-blood samples. Three conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) protocols were implemented. The first PCR aimed at identifying infected animals by targeting Leishmania spp. kinetoplast minicircle DNA (kDNA). The second and third PCR targeted the Leishmania internal transcribed spacer region (ITS-1) and the Leishmania small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSUrRNA) gene, respectively, aiming at identification of the infecting species after Sanger sequencing-positive amplicons. Total immunoglobulin G (IgG) against Leishmania spp. was evaluated in 125 dogs by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) using an in-house protocol, including three Leishmania-specific antigens (SPLA, rKDDR and LicTXNPx). Sera from 25 cats were screened for total IgG to Leishmania spp. by an indirect immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT). An online questionnaire was presented to Moroccan veterinarians addressing their knowledge and practices towards animal leishmaniosis. RESULTS: Overall, 19.4% of the dogs tested positive for Leishmania kDNA and ITS-1 and sequencing revealed infection with L. infantum among PCR-positive dogs. These animals presented a wide range of ELISA seropositivity results (16.7%, 34.9% and 51.6%) according to the tested antigens (rKDDR, SPLA and LicTXNPx, respectively). Use of kDNA-PCR revealed 12.5% cats positive to Leishmania spp. otherwise found to be seronegative by IFAT. CONCLUSIONS: A considerable prevalence of infection was identified in dogs from urban centres of Morocco. Additionally, this is the first report of feline infection with Leishmania spp. in this country and in urban settings. Moroccan veterinarians are aware that animal leishmaniosis is endemic in Morocco, representing a public health threat, and are knowledgeable about canine leishmaniosis diagnosis and treatment.

Gastrointestinal and respiratory parasites in captive mammals at Rabat zoo, with the first record of Capillaria spp. in the Fennec fox (Vulpes zerda).

The aim of the present study was to broaden the understanding of parasitism in captive wild mammals in Morocco. For this purpose, an investigation on gastrointestinal and respiratory parasites in African mammals from Rabat Zoo was carried out. A total of 47 fecal samples were collected from 30 species from November 2021 to March 2022 and examined macroscopically and microscopically. Parasites were detected in 21 species at a prevalence of 70%, with a parasite positivity rate of 89% in artiodactyls, 50% in perissodactyls, 67% in both carnivores and primates. No parasitic infection was detected in proboscideans. The most frequent infection was by nematodes with a percentage of 50%, followed by both protozoa and mixed infection with a prevalence of 10%. In conclusion, the results demonstrated that parasite prevalence remains high, even in enclosed spaces like zoos. Therefore, in order to ensure animal welfare and staff safety, sanitary measures should be implemented in such facilities, including routine diagnostic tests followed by appropriate treatment.

A survey on ectoparasites in captive mammals at Rabat zoo in Morocco.

Investigating the abundance and diversity of ectoparasites in captive animals is of relevance for improving their well-being and health management. Since little is known about the ectoparasites of zoo mammals in Morocco, a survey was conducted from November 2021 to May 2022 during which 16 individuals belonging to 14 mammal species were examined for arthropod parasites at the Rabat Zoological Garden. Ectoparasites were directly collected from the skin and fur and analyzed microscopically. A total of 6 ectoparasite genera were found to infest 8 mammal species with a prevalence of 57.14% (8/14). This investigation on ectoparasites in wild mammals is the first of its kind in Morocco and demonstrates the need to improve control measures of ectoparasites in the zoo.

AIMSurv: First pan-European harmonized surveillance of Aedes invasive mosquito species of relevance for human vector-borne diseases.

Human and animal vector-borne diseases, particularly mosquito-borne diseases, are emerging or re-emerging worldwide. Six Aedes invasive mosquito (AIM) species were introduced to Europe since the 1970s: Aedes aegypti, Ae. albopictus, Ae. japonicus, Ae. koreicus, Ae. atropalpus and Ae. triseriatus. Here, we report the results of AIMSurv2020, the first pan-European surveillance effort for AIMs. Implemented by 42 volunteer teams from 24 countries. And presented in the form of a dataset named "AIMSurv Aedes Invasive Mosquito species harmonized surveillance in Europe. AIM-COST Action. Project ID: CA17108". AIMSurv2020 harmonizes field surveillance methodologies for sampling different AIMs life stages, frequency and minimum length of sampling period, and data reporting. Data include minimum requirements for sample types and recommended requirements for those teams with more resources. Data are published as a Darwin Core archive in the Global Biodiversity Information Facility- Spain, comprising a core file with 19,130 records (EventID) and an occurrences file with 19,743 records (OccurrenceID). AIM species recorded in AIMSurv2020 were Ae. albopictus, Ae. japonicus and Ae. koreicus, as well as native mosquito species.

Correction to: The tree that hides the forest: cryptic diversity and phylogenetic relationships in the Palaearctic vector Obsoletus/Scoticus complex (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) at the European level.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via the original article.

The tree that hides the forest: cryptic diversity and phylogenetic relationships in the Palaearctic vector Obsoletus/Scoticus Complex (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) at the European level.

BACKGROUND: Culicoides obsoletus is an abundant and widely distributed Holarctic biting midge species, involved in the transmission of bluetongue virus (BTV) and Schmallenberg virus (SBV) to wild and domestic ruminants. Females of this vector species are often reported jointly with two morphologically very close species, C. scoticus and C. montanus, forming the Obsoletus/Scoticus Complex. Recently, cryptic diversity within C. obsoletus was reported in geographically distant sites. Clear delineation of species and characterization of genetic variability is mandatory to revise their taxonomic status and assess the vector role of each taxonomic entity. Our objectives were to characterize and map the cryptic diversity within the Obsoletus/Scoticus Complex. METHODS: Portion of the cox1 mitochondrial gene of 3763 individuals belonging to the Obsoletus/Scoticus Complex was sequenced. Populations from 20 countries along a Palaearctic Mediterranean transect covering Scandinavia to Canary islands (North to South) and Canary islands to Turkey (West to East) were included. Genetic diversity based on cox1 barcoding was supported by 16S rDNA mitochondrial gene sequences and a gene coding for ribosomal 28S rDNA. Species delimitation using a multi-marker methodology was used to revise the current taxonomic scheme of the Obsoletus/Scoticus Complex. RESULTS: Our analysis showed the existence of three phylogenetic clades (C. obsoletus clade O2, C. obsoletus clade dark and one not yet named and identified) within C. obsoletus. These analyses also revealed two intra-specific clades within C. scoticus and raised questions about the taxonomic status of C. montanus. CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge, our study provides the first genetic characterization of the Obsoletus/Scoticus Complex on a large geographical scale and allows a revision of the current taxonomic classification for an important group of vector species of livestock viruses in the Palaearctic region.

Update of the species checklist of Culicoides Latreille, 1809 biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) of Morocco.

BACKGROUND: Investigations of Culicoides fauna, including inventories, were carried out in Morocco at different periods after the country had faced major bluetongue and African horse sickness outbreaks. However, no comprehensive reference publication has provided a clear overview of the Culicoides species diversity. This study reviewed available data on Culicoides biting midge species in Morocco from 1968 to 2015 (published and grey literature in French and English) in order to revise the current checklist, in light of state of the art taxonomic and systematic knowledge, and confirmed the checklist with morphological and molecular identifications of specimens collected from the region of Rabat. METHODS: Literature related to Culicoides collections in Morocco was collated. Authors were contacted to obtain raw data and additional information for the collections. Fresh Culicoides material was collected and examined from two sites around Rabat, the capital of Morocco. Each collected individual was examined and morphologically identified, if possible, to the species level. In addition, molecular identification was performed to separate closely related species, to confirm difficult morphological identifications and to confirm new species records. RESULTS: A total of 6121 individuals of Culicoides spp. were collected and analyzed and at least 17 species were identified: C. cataneii/C. gejgelensis, C. circumscriptus, C. fagineus, C. festivipennis, C. imicola, C. jumineri, C. kingi, C. longipennis, C. montanus, C. newsteadi, C. obsoletus, C. paolae, C. parotti, C. puncticollis, C. sahariensis, C. scoticus and C. subfagineus. Seven species were confirmed using phylogenetic analyses. Two new species records for Morocco are reported: C. paolae and C. subfagineus. CONCLUSIONS: The Moroccan fauna of Culicoides now includes 54 valid species. Further work would certainly increase this total, as one of the clades we identified was not affiliated to any described and valid species.