Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39732827›Full record

ArticleScientific reports2024

Detection and phylogenetic analysis of blood-associated pathogens from spleen samples of wild raccoons (Procyon lotor) in Germany.

Maria Sophia Unterköfler, Aria Schwingshandl, Barbara Eigner, Jutta Pikalo, Josef Harl, Joachim Spergser, Peter Steinbach, Diana Jeschke, Michael Striese, Elisabeth Striese and 3 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Scientific reports, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Detection of zoonotic protozoa in raccoons (One health (Amsterdam, Netherlands) · 2026
    Article
  2. Molecular detection of vector-borne and hemotropic pathogens in raccoons (International journal for parasitology. Parasites and wildlife · 2026
    Review
  3. Molecular analysis of vector-borne pathogens in red foxes (International journal for parasitology. Parasites and wildlife · 2025
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors.

Maria Sophia UnterköflerDepartment of Biological Sciences and Pathobiology, Institute of Parasitology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria. maria.unterkoefler@vetmeduni.ac.at.ORCID 0000-0003-2947-1423
Aria SchwingshandlDepartment of Biological Sciences and Pathobiology, Institute of Parasitology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
Barbara EignerDepartment of Biological Sciences and Pathobiology, Institute of Parasitology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria.ORCID 0009-0007-3812-8383
Jutta PikaloDepartment of Biological Sciences and Pathobiology, Institute of Parasitology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria.ORCID 0000-0003-3502-4240
Josef HarlDepartment of Biological Sciences and Pathobiology, Institute of Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria.ORCID 0000-0002-4915-3943
Joachim SpergserDepartment of Biological Sciences and Pathobiology, Institute of Microbiology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria.ORCID 0000-0002-0164-0179
Peter SteinbachFaculty of Chemistry, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.ORCID 0009-0003-0376-1606
Diana JeschkeSenckenberg Museum of Natural History Görlitz, Görlitz, Germany.
Michael StrieseSenckenberg Museum of Natural History Görlitz, Görlitz, Germany.
Elisabeth StrieseSenckenberg Museum of Natural History Görlitz, Görlitz, Germany.
Hermann AnsorgeSenckenberg Museum of Natural History Görlitz, Görlitz, Germany.
Hans-Peter Fuehrer *Department of Biological Sciences and Pathobiology, Institute of Parasitology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria.ORCID 0000-0002-4178-0133
Mike Heddergott *Department of Zoology, Musée National d'Histoire Naturelle, Luxembourg, Luxembourg.ORCID 0000-0003-4536-5508

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

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.

Indexed as

BabesiaMycoplasmaPhylogenyRaccoonsSpleenAnaplasmataceaeAnimalsAnimals, WildBartonellaGermanyRickettsiaHaemotrophic MycoplasmaInvasive raccoonVector-borne disease

Identifiers

PMID39732827
PMCPMC11682041

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.