phaidra.vetmeduni.ac.at o:3854 DOI 10.1038/s41598-024-82581-7 Detection and phylogenetic analysis of blood-associated pathogens from spleen samples of wild raccoons (Procyon lotor) in Germany 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. eng 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 2025-02-07T11:44:47.217Z LOMv1.0 Author BEGIN:VCARD VERSION:3.0 N:Unterköfler;Maria Sophia; FN:Maria Sophia Unterköfler X-ORCID:https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2947-1423 END:VCARD BEGIN:VCARD VERSION:3.0 N:Schwingshandl;Aria; FN:Aria Schwingshandl END:VCARD BEGIN:VCARD VERSION:3.0 N:Eigner;Barbara; FN:Barbara Eigner X-ORCID:https://orcid.org/0009-0007-3812-8383 END:VCARD BEGIN:VCARD VERSION:3.0 N:Pikalo;Jutta; FN:Jutta Pikalo X-ORCID:https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3502-4240 END:VCARD BEGIN:VCARD VERSION:3.0 N:Harl;Josef; FN:Josef Harl X-ORCID:https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4915-3943 END:VCARD BEGIN:VCARD VERSION:3.0 N:Spergser;Joachim; FN:Joachim Spergser X-ORCID:https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0164-0179 END:VCARD BEGIN:VCARD VERSION:3.0 N:Steinbach;Peter; FN:Peter Steinbach X-ORCID:https://orcid.org/0009-0003-0376-1606 END:VCARD BEGIN:VCARD VERSION:3.0 N:Jeschke;Diana; FN:Diana Jeschke END:VCARD BEGIN:VCARD VERSION:3.0 N:Striese;Michael; FN:Michael Striese END:VCARD BEGIN:VCARD VERSION:3.0 N:Striese;Elisabeth; FN:Elisabeth Striese END:VCARD BEGIN:VCARD VERSION:3.0 N:Ansorge;Hermann; FN:Hermann Ansorge END:VCARD BEGIN:VCARD VERSION:3.0 N:Fuehrer;Hans-Peter; FN:Hans-Peter Fuehrer X-ORCID:https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4178-0133 END:VCARD BEGIN:VCARD VERSION:3.0 N:Heddergott;Mike; FN:Mike Heddergott X-ORCID:https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4536-5508 END:VCARD https://w3id.org/kim/hcrt/scheme https://w3id.org/kim/hcrt/text Textdokument Text LOMv1.0 yes https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 application/pdf 1879833 https://phaidra.vetmeduni.ac.at/o:3854 https://phaidra.vetmeduni.ac.at/api/object/o:3854/thumbnail LOMv1.0 discipline