Urban wildlife as a reservoir of zoonotic pathogens: A multi-pathogen qPCR survey from a Central European City.
TL;DR
The pilot study provides a multi-pathogen baseline for urban wildlife in Central Europe and underscores the need for integrated, long-term One Health surveillance.
Abstract
Urbanization alters wildlife communities and creates epidemiological bridges between wild, domestic, and synanthropic hosts. Data on multiple pathogen taxa circulating simultaneously in urban mammals in Central Europe remain limited. Between July 2023 and July 2025, 240 wild mammals (native and invasive) were collected in the urban and peri-urban district of Brno, Czech Republic. Intestinal content, tongue, lymph nodes and other organs were examined using multiplex qPCRs for selected viral, bacterial and parasitic pathogens, including hepatitis E virus (HEV), Francisella tularensis, Echinococcus multilocularis, Toxoplasma gondii, Toxocara spp., Baylisascaris procyonis and others. Basic statistical analyses were used to explore risk factors and co-infections. Overall, 43.3% animals were positive for at least one pathogen. Multiple tissue positivity either with the same or more pathogens was observed. The work showed first molecular evidence of HEV and F. tularensis in free-ranging European raccoon dogs, and HEV in stray cats. Highest prevalence was observed for Toxocara spp. in cats and red foxes. E. multilocularis, Toxocara spp. and B. procyonis were detected across several hosts. Strong associations were found between Toxocara and B. procyonis in cats and between Giardia duodenalis and Cryptosporidium parvum in cats. Age was identified as a significant factor with young foxes being infected more frequently by Toxocara than adults. These findings indicate substantial pathogen circulation and environmental contamination within urban adapted mammals. The pilot study provides a multi-pathogen baseline for urban wildlife in Central Europe and underscores the need for integrated, long-term One Health surveillance.