178 | Food-borne and environmental pathogens in wild ungulates from Sicily: implications for public health at the wildlife–livestock–human interface

Wild ungulates are increasingly recognized as important reservoirs of foodborne and environmental pathogens, posing potential risks to food safety and public health [1]. In Sicily, the uncontrolled growth of wild boar (Sus scrofa) and fallow deer (Dama dama) populations, combined with extensive farming systems and frequent overlap with human activities, enhances opportunities for pathogen circulation at the wildlife–livestock–human interface [2]. The present study aimed to investigate the occurrence of foodborne pathogens, including Toxoplasma gondii and Sarcocystis spp., as well as environmental pathogens, such as Leptospira spp. and Coxiella burnetii, in wild ungulates culled as part of population control programs in Sicily. Overall, 142 carcasses (59 wild boars and 83 fallow deer) were subjected to post-mortem examination, and multiple organ samples were collected for subsequent molecular analyses. Genomic DNA was extracted and screened using real-time PCR assays for T. gondii [3], C. burnetii [4] and Leptospira spp. [5] and conventional PCR for Sarcocystis spp. [6] targeting species-specific genetic markers. Toxoplasma gondii DNA was detected in 4,9% of the examined animals, all of which were fallow deer. Sarcocystis DNA was detected in 39 animals (27.5%), with the heart showing the highest positivity rate among the examined organs. Sequence analysis revealed the presence of Sarcocystis morae in the sequences derived from Sicilian fallow deer. Leptospira spp. DNA was identified in 2.1% of wild ungulates (n.1 fallow deer and n. 2 wild boar) and it was identified as pathogenic L. interrogans by sequence analysis. No samples resulted positive for C. burnetii. The study confirmed the circulation of the investigated pathogens in wild ungulate populations. The presence of multiple zoonotic pathogens in wild boar and fallow deer highlights their epidemiological role and the potential risks associated with game meat consumption and environmental contamination. Continuous surveillance of zoonotic pathogens in wildlife is essential to improve risk assessment strategies and to support integrated One Health approaches aimed at safeguarding public health, animal health, and food safety in Mediterranean ecosystems. This study has been funded by the Italian Ministry of Health grant number: GR-2021-12373930.