A survey of shared pathogens at the domestic–wild ruminants’ interface in Doñana National Park (Spain)

A study conducted in Doñana National Park, Spain, revealed shared pathogens between domestic cattle and wild ruminants, including red deer and fallow deer. The research identified seroprevalence of pestiviruses (2.2%), bovine respiratory syncytial virus (11.6%), and bovine herpesvirus 1 (27.5%) exclusively in cattle, suggesting these viruses have epidemiological cycles limited to domestic animals. Additionally, Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex was detected in both cattle (15.9% incidence) and wild ruminants (14.3% seroprevalence), with identical Mycobacterium bovis spoligotypes found across species. This indicates potential cross-species transmission at the domestic-wild interface. The study highlights the need for targeted surveillance to inform control strategies in multi-host epidemiological scenarios.

Jiménez‐Ruiz, S., García‐Bocanegra, I., Acevedo, P., Espunyes, J., Triguero‐Ocaña, R., Cano‐Terriza, D., Torres‐Sánchez, M. J., Vicente, J., & Risalde, M. Á. (2021). A survey of shared pathogens at the domestic–wild ruminants’ interface in Doñana National Park (Spain). Transboundary and Emerging Diseases, 69(3), 1568–1576. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1111/tbed.14126