Vector-Borne Zoonotic Pathogens in Eurasian Moose (Alces alces alces)

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Ecology
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Climate change is altering vector distribution and increasing vector-borne disease risk globally.
• Vectors and associated pathogens are expanding northward in the Northern Hemisphere.
• Eurasian moose (Alces alces alces), adapted to cold climates, are not typically considered primary hosts for vectors, except for deer keds.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the presence and prevalence of vector-borne bacterial and parasitic pathogens in a moose population in southern Sweden.
• To assess the role of moose as potential hosts for pathogens influenced by climate change.
• To evaluate moose as sentinels for monitoring vector-borne diseases in changing environments.

Main Methods:

• Spleen samples from 615 moose were collected in southern Sweden between 2008 and 2015.
• High-throughput PCR was employed to detect DNA from 24 bacterial and 12 parasitic pathogens.
• Prevalence rates of detected pathogens were calculated.

Main Results:

• Anaplasma DNA was detected in 82% of samples, Borrelia in 3%, Babesia in 3%, and Bartonella in 1%.
• The findings indicate significant exposure of Swedish moose to several vector-borne pathogens.
• Pathogen prevalence suggests moose can serve as hosts, with implications for animal and human health.

Conclusions:

• Swedish moose are exposed to pathogens often associated with warmer climates, indicating a northward spread.
• Moose serve as important sentinels for detecting vector-borne pathogens and the effects of climate change.
• Further research is necessary to understand pathogen impacts on moose health and the interplay between climate change and population density.