Maria Sophia Unterköfler Maria Sophia Unterköfler Aria Schwingshandl Aria Schwingshandl Barbara Eigner Barbara Eigner Jutta Pikalo Jutta Pikalo Josef Harl Josef Harl Joachim Spergser Joachim Spergser Peter Steinbach Peter Steinbach Diana Jeschke Diana Jeschke Michael Striese Michael Striese Elisabeth Striese Elisabeth Striese Hermann Ansorge Hermann Ansorge Hans-Peter Fuehrer Hans-Peter Fuehrer Mike Heddergott Mike Heddergott Nature Portfolio 2024 Raccoons (Procyon lotor) originated in North America and have been introduced to Europe. Due to their close contact with human settlements, they are important reservoirs for zoonotic pathogens, such as Baylisascaris procyonis. The relevance and prevalence of vector-borne pathogens have not yet been fully elucidated. In this study, we screened 285 spleen samples of raccoons, collected between 2019 and 2022 in Germany. The samples were analysed by PCR to detect Mycoplasma spp., Anaplasmataceae, Bartonella spp., Babesia spp., Rickettsia spp., Filarioidea, Trypanosomatida and Hepatozoon spp., and positive PCR products were sequenced. In total, 104 samples were positive for Mycoplasma spp. (36.49%), making this the first study to detect Mycoplasma spp. in raccoons outside of North America. Three samples were positive for Babesia spp. (1.05%) and two for Anaplasma phagocytophilum (0.7%). Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the Mycoplasma spp. detected all belong to the haemotrophic mycoplasmas cluster and were grouped within a single phylogenetic clade. Two different Babesia spp. were detected, one of which was closely related to Babesia canis, while the other was more closely related to Babesia sp. from ruminants. It is unclear whether the pathogens detected have an impact on the health of raccoons or whether they may serve as a reservoir for other animals. PDFDocument eng 2025-02-07T11:44:46.360252Z 2024 Animals Raccoons Microbiology Raccoons Parasitology Germany Epidemiology Phylogeny Mycoplasma Genetics Mycoplasma Isolation & Purification Mycoplasma Classification Spleen Parasitology Spleen Microbiology Babesia Genetics Babesia Isolation & Purification Babesia Classification Bartonella Genetics Bartonella Isolation & Purification Bartonella Classification Animals, Wild Microbiology Animals, Parasitology Rickettsia Genetics Rickettsia Isolation & Purification Rickettsia Classification Anaplasmataceae Genetics Anaplasmataceae Isolation & Purification Anaplasmataceae Classification 1879833 b application/pdf http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/