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Volume 15
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Article

Serological and Molecular Detection of Zoonotic Pathogens in European Bison (Bison bonasus) and Associated Ticks from Poland

by
Anna Didkowska
1,
Alejandro Navarro
2,
Abel Dorrego
2,
Jorge Martínez
2,
Irene Martínez
2,
Marta Kloch
3,
Sergio González
2,
Wanda Olech
3,
Fatima Cruz-Lopez
2,*,
Krzysztof Anusz
1 and
Nerea García
2,4
1
Department of Food Hygiene and Public Health Protection, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences (SGGW), 02-776 Warsaw, Poland
2
VISAVET Health Surveillance Centre, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
3
Department of Animal Genetic and Conservation, Institute of Animal Sciences, Warsaw University of Life Sciences-SGGW, 02-786 Warsaw, Poland
4
Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Pathogens 2026, 15(6), 562; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens15060562
Submission received: 28 April 2026 / Revised: 21 May 2026 / Accepted: 21 May 2026 / Published: 22 May 2026
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Epidemiology of Vector-Borne Pathogens)
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Abstract

As wild ungulates, including European bison, increasingly share habitats with livestock, surveillance of infectious zoonotic agents in their populations is essential for both wildlife and public health. This study aimed to screen for selected zoonotic pathogens in European bison from Poland. Samples (blood, ticks, and spleen) were collected from 86 animals. Serum was used for serological testing using commercial ELISA kits for Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, Brucella spp., and hepatitis E virus (HEV); ticks were analysed by real-time PCR targeting B. burgdorferi s.l., Anaplasma phagocytophilum, and Brucella spp., and spleen samples from Brucella-seropositive animals were cultured. Serological analysis revealed that 53.9% of European bison were seropositive for B. burgdorferi s.l., while 25.3% showed seroreactivity against Brucella spp.; however, these findings were not supported by molecular or culture confirmation, suggesting possible non-specific reactions or past exposure. No serum samples were positive for HEV antibodies, and no Brucella spp. were isolated from spleen samples. Molecular analysis of ticks detected B. burgdorferi s.l. DNA in 4.8% of samples and sequencing confirmed Borrelia garinii in one case. In contrast, A. phagocytophilum DNA was detected in 59.0% of ticks. No ticks tested positive for Brucella DNA. These findings indicate substantial exposure of European bison to tick-borne pathogens, particularly B. burgdorferi s.l. and A. phagocytophilum. However, Brucella seropositivity should be interpreted with caution due to the lack of molecular or culture confirmation.
Keywords: Anaplasma phagocytophilum; Brucella; Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato; hepatitis E virus; wildlife; European bison; tick Anaplasma phagocytophilum; Brucella; Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato; hepatitis E virus; wildlife; European bison; tick

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MDPI and ACS Style

Didkowska, A.; Navarro, A.; Dorrego, A.; Martínez, J.; Martínez, I.; Kloch, M.; González, S.; Olech, W.; Cruz-Lopez, F.; Anusz, K.; et al. Serological and Molecular Detection of Zoonotic Pathogens in European Bison (Bison bonasus) and Associated Ticks from Poland. Pathogens 2026, 15, 562. https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens15060562

AMA Style

Didkowska A, Navarro A, Dorrego A, Martínez J, Martínez I, Kloch M, González S, Olech W, Cruz-Lopez F, Anusz K, et al. Serological and Molecular Detection of Zoonotic Pathogens in European Bison (Bison bonasus) and Associated Ticks from Poland. Pathogens. 2026; 15(6):562. https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens15060562

Chicago/Turabian Style

Didkowska, Anna, Alejandro Navarro, Abel Dorrego, Jorge Martínez, Irene Martínez, Marta Kloch, Sergio González, Wanda Olech, Fatima Cruz-Lopez, Krzysztof Anusz, and et al. 2026. "Serological and Molecular Detection of Zoonotic Pathogens in European Bison (Bison bonasus) and Associated Ticks from Poland" Pathogens 15, no. 6: 562. https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens15060562

APA Style

Didkowska, A., Navarro, A., Dorrego, A., Martínez, J., Martínez, I., Kloch, M., González, S., Olech, W., Cruz-Lopez, F., Anusz, K., & García, N. (2026). Serological and Molecular Detection of Zoonotic Pathogens in European Bison (Bison bonasus) and Associated Ticks from Poland. Pathogens, 15(6), 562. https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens15060562

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