A new study highlights the value of collaboration among research institutions, veterinary services and public administrations to better understand parasite circulation at the wildlife–livestock interface. Researchers from the University of Extremadura, the Nature Research Centre of Lithuania, WE&H and SEFaS at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, the Government of the Balearic Islands, the Spanish National Electron Microscopy Centre, and the SALUVET Group at the Complutense University of Madrid joined expertise in field sampling, pathology, microscopy, molecular biology and phylogenetics.

The study investigated Sarcocystis infections in Pyrenean chamois, mouflon, Iberian ibex and Balearic wild goats from different regions of Spain. Four parasite species were identified: S. tenella, S. capracanis, S. rossii and S. cornagliai, revealing important links between parasites circulating in wild Caprinae and those associated with domestic sheep and goats.

This work represents a step towards advancing our understanding of the impact of emerging vector-borne diseases on European wild ungulate populations.

More at https://www.mdpi.com/4011112