High Species Diversity of Spp. in Wild Mammals of Namibia

An opportunistic survey for spp. in wild mammals was conducted in seven distinct study areas throughout Namibia, representing all major ecosystems, between 2012 and 2021. In total, 184 individually attributable faeces and 40 intestines were collected from eight species of carnivores, and 300 carcasses or organs of thirteen species of ungulates were examined for cysts. Nested PCR and sequencing of the mitochondrial gene led to the identification of five species of the complex. G6/7 was found throughout Namibia at low frequency in lions, cheetahs, African wild dogs, black-backed jackals and oryx antelopes. was present only in northern Namibia, locally at high frequency in lions, black-backed jackals and plains zebras. was found only in one small area in the north-east of Namibia, but with high frequency in lions and warthogs. was identified only in two African wild dogs in the north-east of Namibia, and occurred in central and southern Namibia in black-backed jackals and oryx antelopes. The development of fertile cysts indicated active intermediate host roles of oryx antelopes for and , of warthogs for , and of plains zebras for . Our data support earlier hypotheses of exclusive or predominant wildlife life-cycles for involving lions and warthogs, and - in Namibia - for involving lions and/or black-backed jackals and plains zebras. Our data further support an interlink of wild and domestic transmission for . A possible involvement of livestock and domestic dogs in transmission of G6/7 and ., the two parasite species with highest zoonotic potential, is uncertain for Namibia and needs further investigation.