Didelphis spp. opossums and their parasites in the Americas: A One Health perspective

Abstract

Medium sized opossums (Didelphis spp.) are among the most fascinating mammals of the Americas, playing important ecological roles (e.g., dispersal of seeds and control of insect populations) in the environment they inhabit. Nevertheless, as synanthropic animals, they are well adapted to human dwellings, occupying shelters within the cities, peripheral areas, and rural settings. These marsupials can harbor numerous pathogens, which may affect people, pets, and livestock. Among those, some protozoa (e.g., Leishmania infantum, Trypanosoma cruzi, Toxoplasma gondii), helminths (e.g., Ancylostoma caninum, Trichinella spiralis, Alaria marcianae, Paragonimus spp.) and arthropods (e.g., ticks, fleas) present substantial public health and veterinary importance, due to their capacity to cause disease in humans, domestic animals, and wildlife. Here, we reviewed the role played by opossums on the spreading of zoonotic parasites, vectors, and vector-borne pathogens, highlighting the risks of pathogens transmission due to the direct and indirect interaction of humans and domestic animals with Didelphis spp. in the Americas.

Keywords: Didelphis spp.; Public health; Reservoirs; Vectors; Wildlife; Zoonotic parasites.

Fig. 1

a. Road killed Didelphis aurita female with its marsupium full of joeys; b. Didelphis aurita trapped through Tomahawk livetrap; c. Didelphis aurita female with joeys on its back; d. Didelphis aurita female with joeys inside the marsupium.

Fig. 2

Geographical distribution of the four major Didelphis spp. in the Americas (Gardner ; Pérez-Hernandez et al. 2016).

Fig. 3

Ixodes loricatus adults collected on Didelphis aurita opossums. Female dorsal (a) and ventral view (b). Male dorsal (c) and ventral view (d).