Zoonotic Exposure to Kudoa Parasites (Myxosporea: Multivalvulida) in the Canary Islands (Macaronesia, Spain): Implications for Human Health and Immune Sensitization Associated with Seafood Consumption.

چکیده اصلی

PURPOSE: This study presents the first seroepidemiological investigation of anti-Kudoa spp. (Myxosporea: Multivalvulida) antibodies in the general population of the Canary Islands (Macaronesia, Spain), a region with high seafood consumption and pronounced geographic and climatic variability. METHODS: A total of 1,096 serum samples from all seven islands were randomly selected and analyzed by ELISA for IgG and IgE antibodies against Kudoa spp. pseudocyst antigens extracted from locally consumed fish. RESULTS: The overall seroprevalence for both IgG and IgE was 16.4%, indicating widespread exposure to Kudoa parasites. Marked geographic variation was observed: IgG seroprevalence was highest in Lanzarote (47%), Fuerteventura, and Gran Canaria (29.4%), while IgE prevalence peaked in La Gomera (63.3%), El Hierro (30.9%), and La Palma (27.4%). Sex-related differences were also detected, with higher IgE levels in males (p < 0.001). In addition, seropositivity varied by climate zone, with the dry desert zone showing the highest IgG prevalence (35.7%) and mild temperate zones the highest IgE prevalence (16.5%). CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that environmental, dietary, and behavioral factors strongly modulate host immune responses to fish-borne parasites. The results underscore the clinical and public health relevance of Kudoa spp., highlighting the need for ongoing surveillance and targeted preventive measures in populations with elevated seafood consumption. Overall, this research provides novel insights into the epidemiology, immune sensitization, and risk determinants of Kudoa exposure, contributing to improved management of seafood-borne zoonoses and evidence-based risk assessment for public health authorities.

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