Molecular detection of vector-borne and hemotropic pathogens in raccoons (Procyon lotor) from a tropical ecotourism area in Costa Rica.

Interactions between wildlife, domestic animals, and humans in ecotourism settings could facilitate the circulation of pathogens with zoonotic potential. Raccoons (Procyon lotor), due to their synanthropic behavior and adaptability, may serve as hosts for several infectious agents at these interfaces. This study aimed to investigate the presence of vector-borne and hemotropic pathogens in free-ranging raccoons inhabiting Manuel Antonio National Park (MANP) and its surrounding communities, a major tourist destination in Costa Rica. Between 2021 and 2022, nineteen raccoons were captured using Tomahawk traps, anesthetized, clinically examined, and sampled for hematological and molecular analyses. DNA extracted from blood was screened using real-time and conventional PCR assays targeting Anaplasma spp., Ehrlichia spp., Rickettsia spp., Trypanosoma spp., Mycoplasma spp., and canine protoparvovirus 1 (CPPV-1). Of the individuals tested, 6/19 (31.6 %) were positive for Anaplasmataceae, 4/14 (28.6 %) for Mycoplasma spp., and 6/14 (42.9 %) for CPPV-1. One raccoon was confirmed to carry Mycoplasma haemocanis (99 % nucleotide identity with GenBank accession MN294708), representing the first molecular identification of this species in raccoons worldwide. Coinfections were detected in five animals. No raccoons tested positive for Rickettsia spp. or Trypanosoma spp. Hematological profiles were largely within reference ranges; however, mild leukogram variations and occasional hyperglobulinemia were observed, with no consistent infection-associated pattern. These findings provide molecular evidence of pathogen presence in raccoons from a high-tourism area and highlight their potential epidemiological relevance at the wildlife-human interface. The results underscore the need for sustained One Health surveillance to better assess pathogen transmission risks in tropical ecotourism settings.