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Blanco G, Carrete M, Navas I, García-Fernández AJ. Age and sex differences in pharmaceutical contamination in a keystone scavenger. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 251:118592. [PMID: 38442815 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.118592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2023] [Revised: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024]
Abstract
Pharmaceutical contaminants have a recognized negative impact on wildlife health. However, there are still many knowledge gaps on the factors influencing exposure and metabolic processing of compound mixtures as a function of season and individual characteristics such as age and sex. We evaluated age and sex differences in a set of seventeen compounds, including eleven antibiotics, five NSAIDs and caffeine, evaluated by HPLC-MS-TOF analysis in griffon vultures (Gyps fulvus) from central Spain. Pharmaceutical cocktails (up to 10 compounds simultaneously) were found in all individuals. Lincomycin was detected in all individuals, and fluoroquinolones were found at high frequencies, while NSAIDs were at low frequencies and concentrations, including flumixin meglumine, which can be lethal to vultures. A higher total number of compounds and sum of concentrations, as well as prevalence and concentration of several of the pharmaceuticals tested was found in females than in males for both nestlings and adults. This is the first study to present evidence of sex differences in the pharmacokinetics of dietary drug contaminants in a vulture species. Chronic exposure to "medications" in entire populations can potentially have sub-lethal health effects that affect fitness differently according to age and sex, with demographic implications for population viability. Specifically, if females have higher mortality after fledging due to high pharmaceutical contamination, this should be considered when modelling the population dynamic of this species for conservation purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guillermo Blanco
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, CSIC, José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, 28006, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Martina Carrete
- Department of Physical, Chemical and Natural Systems, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Carretera de Utrera, km. 1, 41013, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Isabel Navas
- Toxicology and Forensic Veterinary Service, Department of Socio-Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, 30100, Murcia, Spain; Toxicology and Risk Assessment Group, Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia (IMIB-Pascual Parrilla), University of Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, 30100, Murcia, Spain
| | - Antonio J García-Fernández
- Toxicology and Forensic Veterinary Service, Department of Socio-Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, 30100, Murcia, Spain; Toxicology and Risk Assessment Group, Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia (IMIB-Pascual Parrilla), University of Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, 30100, Murcia, Spain
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Li H, Tan L, Zhang C, Wei X, Wang Q, Li Q, Zheng X, Xu Y. Spatial distribution of bacterial resistance towards antibiotics of rural sanitation system in China and its potential link with diseases incidence. J Environ Sci (China) 2023; 127:361-374. [PMID: 36522068 DOI: 10.1016/j.jes.2022.06.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Revised: 06/05/2022] [Accepted: 06/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Chinese government is vigorously promoting toilet renovation in rural areas to reduce the risk of human feces exposure, which would cause infectious diseases, especially antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and pathogens. However, the distribution of ARGs in human feces from different regions of China remained ill-defined. It is not yet known how the survival of ARGs after toilet treatment is associated with the regional infection rates. Here, we investigated the prevalence of ARGs in human feces in rural areas of China and their potential relationship with infectious diseases for the first large-scale. The results showed that there were still high ARGs residues in human feces after rural toilet treatment, especially tetM-01 and ermB with average relative abundance as high as 1.21 × 10-1 (Eastern) and 1.56 × 10-1 (Northern), respectively. At a large regional scale, the significant differences in human feces resistomes were mainly shaped by the toilet types, TN, NH3-N, and the bacterial community. A critical finding was that toilets still cannot effectively decrease the pathogenicity risk in human feces. The significant positive relationship (P<0.05) between infectious diseases and ARGs can infer that ARGs in human feces exposure might be a critical path for enhancing the incidence of diseases, as these ARGs hinder the effectiveness of antibiotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Houyu Li
- Agro-Environmental Protection Institute, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Tianjin 300191, China
| | - Lu Tan
- Agro-Environmental Protection Institute, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Tianjin 300191, China
| | - Chunxue Zhang
- Agro-Environmental Protection Institute, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Tianjin 300191, China
| | - Xiaocheng Wei
- Agro-Environmental Protection Institute, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Tianjin 300191, China
| | - Qiang Wang
- Agro-Environmental Protection Institute, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Tianjin 300191, China
| | - Qian Li
- Agro-Environmental Protection Institute, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Tianjin 300191, China
| | - Xiangqun Zheng
- Agro-Environmental Protection Institute, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Tianjin 300191, China.
| | - Yan Xu
- Agro-Environmental Protection Institute, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Tianjin 300191, China.
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Peng S, Song D, Zhou B, Hua Q, Lin X, Wang Y. Persistence of Salmonella Typhimurium and antibiotic resistance genes in different types of soil influenced by flooding and soil properties. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2022; 248:114330. [PMID: 36436254 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2022.114330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2022] [Revised: 10/30/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Salmonella is a zoonotic foodborne bacterial pathogen that can seriously harm health. Persistence of Salmonella and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in different types of soil under flooding and natural conditions are rare explored. This study investigated the dynamic changes of the Salmonella, ARGs and bacterial communities in three types of soils applied with pig manure in lab scale. Abundance of the Salmonella Typhimurium in soils reduced to the detection limit varied from 40 to 180 days, most of the Salmonella did not survive in soil for more than 90 days. Flooding and soil texture (content of sand) promote the decline rate of Salmonella. No Salmonella was found have acquired resistance gene from the soil or manure after 90 days. 64 ARGs and 11 MGEs were quantified, abundance of these genes and risky ARGs both gradually decline along with the extension of time. Most of the extrinsic ARGs cannot colonize in soil, cellular protection and antibiotic deactivation were their main resistance mechanism. Multidrug resistance and efflux pump were the dominant class and mechanism of soil intrinsic ARGs. Flooding can affect the ARGs profiles by reducing the types of extrinsic ARGs invaded into soil and inhibit the proliferation of intrinsic genes. Soil sand content, soil moisture and nutrition concentrations had significant direct effect on the abundance or profile of ARGs. Soil bacterial community structures also changed along with the extension of time and affected by flooding. Network analyses between ARGs and bacteria taxa revealed that Actinobacteria and Myxococcia were the main hosts of intrinsic ARGs, some taxa may play a role in inhibiting extrinsic ARGs colonization in the soils. These findings unveil that saturate soil with water may play a positive role in reducing potential risk of Salmonella and ARGs in the farmland environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuang Peng
- College of Environment and Ecology, Jiangsu Open University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210017, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210008, PR China; Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Solid Organic Waste Resource Utilization, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210095, PR China
| | - Dan Song
- State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210008, PR China
| | - Beibei Zhou
- College of Environment and Ecology, Jiangsu Open University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210017, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210008, PR China
| | - Qingqing Hua
- State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210008, PR China
| | - Xiangui Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210008, PR China
| | - Yiming Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210008, PR China; Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Solid Organic Waste Resource Utilization, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210095, PR China.
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Espunyes J, Illera L, Dias-Alves A, Lobato L, Ribas MP, Manzanares A, Ayats T, Marco I, Cerdà-Cuéllar M. Eurasian griffon vultures carry widespread antimicrobial resistant Salmonella and Campylobacter of public health concern. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 844:157189. [PMID: 35803423 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.157189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Revised: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 07/02/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The global emergence of antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) strains of Salmonella and Campylobacter is a serious public health concern. Both bacteria are leading causes of human gastrointestinal foodborne infections and the two most reported zoonoses in the European Union. By feeding on livestock carcasses, especially from intensive farming, as well as on landfill sites, obligate avian scavengers can become infected with zoonotic pathogens and AMR strains, and can be considered large-scale sentinels of the environmental burden. In this study, we assessed the occurrence and AMR of Salmonella spp. and Campylobacter spp. in 218 Eurasian griffon vultures (Gyps fulvus) captured in north-eastern Spain. We isolated Salmonella from 8.1 % of individuals and Campylobacter lari from 4.7 %. Among the 10 different Salmonella serovars found, monophasic S. Typhimurium was the most frequent. Genotyping analysis revealed same strains of monophasic S. Typhimurium shared by gulls, livestock and humans. Isolates from both bacterial species presented AMR to important antimicrobials (tetracyclines, fluoroquinolones and β-lactams). In conclusion, this study shows that Eurasian griffon vultures in north-eastern Spain are carriers of widespread AMR zoonotic Salmonella and Campylobacter. More comprehensive analyses are still needed to understand the potential risk of spill-over from those wild birds to humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johan Espunyes
- Wildlife Conservation Medicine Research Group (WildCoM), Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain.
| | - Lucía Illera
- Wildlife Conservation Medicine Research Group (WildCoM), Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Andrea Dias-Alves
- Wildlife Conservation Medicine Research Group (WildCoM), Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Lourdes Lobato
- Wildlife Conservation Medicine Research Group (WildCoM), Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Maria Puig Ribas
- Wildlife Conservation Medicine Research Group (WildCoM), Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Alicia Manzanares
- Unitat mixta d'Investigació IRTA-UAB en Sanitat Animal, Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA), Campus de la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), 08193 Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Teresa Ayats
- Unitat mixta d'Investigació IRTA-UAB en Sanitat Animal, Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA), Campus de la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), 08193 Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Ignasi Marco
- Wildlife Conservation Medicine Research Group (WildCoM), Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Marta Cerdà-Cuéllar
- Unitat mixta d'Investigació IRTA-UAB en Sanitat Animal, Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA), Campus de la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), 08193 Bellaterra, Spain; IRTA, Programa de Sanitat Animal, Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA), Campus de la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), 08193 Bellaterra, Spain
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Pitarch A, Diéguez-Uribeondo J, Martín-Torrijos L, Sergio F, Blanco G. Fungal signatures of oral disease reflect environmental degradation in a facultative avian scavenger. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 837:155397. [PMID: 35460785 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.155397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2021] [Revised: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Degradation of natural ecosystems increases the risk of infections in wildlife due to microbiota dysbiosis. However, little is known about its influence on the development of fungal communities in predators and facultative avian scavengers. We evaluated the incidence of oral disease in wild nestling black kites (Milvus migrans) under contrasting environmental degradation conditions, and explored their oral fungal patterns using molecular methods and multivariate analysis. Oral lesions were found in 36.8% of the 38 nestlings examined in an anthropogenically altered habitat (southeastern Madrid, Spain), but in none of the 105 nestlings examined in a well-conserved natural area (Doñana National Park, Spain). In a subsample of 48 black kites, the composition of the oral fungal community differed among symptomatic nestlings from Madrid (SM) and asymptomatic nestlings from Madrid (AM) and Doñana (AD). Opportunistic fungal pathogens (e.g., Fusarium incarnatum-equiseti species complex, Mucor spp., Rhizopus oryzae) were more prevalent in SM and AM than in AD. Hierarchical clustering and principal component analyses revealed that fungal patterns were distinct between both study areas, and that anthropogenic and natural environmental factors had a greater impact on them than oral disease. Fungal signatures associated with anthropogenic and natural stresses harbored some taxa that could be used to flag oral infection (F. incarnatum-equiseti species complex and Alternaria), indicate environmental degradation (Alternaria) or provide protective benefits in degraded environments (Trichoderma, Epicoccum nigrum and Sordaria). Co-occurrence associations between potentially beneficial and pathogenic fungi were typical of AM and AD, hinting at a possible role in host health. This study shows that early-life exposure to highly degraded environments induces a shift towards a higher prevalence of pathogenic species in the oral cavity of black kites, favoring oral disease. Furthermore, our findings suggest potential ecological applications of the monitoring of oral mycobiome as a bioindication of oral disease and environmental degradation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aida Pitarch
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Complutense University of Madrid (UCM) and Ramón y Cajal Institute of Health Research (IRYCIS), Plaza Ramón y Cajal s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain; Teaching Unit of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Optics and Optometry, Complutense University of Madrid (UCM), Arcos de Jalón, 118, 28037 Madrid, Spain.
| | | | - Laura Martín-Torrijos
- Department of Mycology, Real Jardín Botánico-CSIC, Plaza Murillo 2, 28014 Madrid, Spain
| | - Fabrizio Sergio
- Department of Conservation Biology, Estacion Biologica de Doñana-CSIC, Americo Vespucio 26, 41092 Sevilla, Spain
| | - Guillermo Blanco
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales-CSIC, José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, 28006 Madrid, Spain
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Cunha WA, Freitas ÍN, Gomes LAS, Gonçalves SDO, Montalvão MF, Ahmed MAI, Gomes AR, Luz TMD, Araújo APDC, Malafaia G. From carrion-eaters to plastic material plunderers: Toxicological impacts of plastic ingestion on black vultures, Coragyps atratus (Cathartiformes: Cathartidae). JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2022; 424:127753. [PMID: 34839977 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.127753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2021] [Revised: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Despite plastic ingestion has already been reported in several bird species, its physiological impacts have been little inspected, especially in representatives of the Cathartidae family. Thus, in this study, we aimed to identify, characterize, and evaluate the effects arising from the ingestion of plastic materials by Coragyps atratus adults, that captured in landfill areas. Herein, a total of 51 individuals were captured, the frequency of plastic intake being higher than 40%. The plastic materials consisted mainly of low-density polyethylene and film-type polystyrene, as well as presenting irregular shapes and diameters between 10 and 30 mm. Biochemically, we observed in animals that contained plastics in the stomach ("plastic" group) high production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and malondialdehyde (MDA) - especially in the intestine, muscle and brain - whose activity of catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) was not sufficient to counteract the oxidative stress. Moreover, in the liver of these same animals, we observed high production of nitrite and nitrate, suggesting a hepatic nitrosative stress. Plus, we observed a cholinesterase effect in animals from the "plastic" group, marked by increased activity of butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) (in the brain) and muscle and cerebral acetylcholinesterase (AChE). On the other hand, the biochemical changes perceived were not significantly correlated with the identified plastic material concentrations (2.808 ± 0.598 items/g of stomach content and 0.276 ± 0.070 items/g of stomach - fresh weight), body condition of the animals, size, and shape of the identified plastic materials. Hence, our study sheds the light on the toxicity of plastics deposited in landfills and their ingestion by C. atratus, which reinforces the hypothesis that these materials are harming the health of these birds and, consequently, the dynamics of their populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wallace Alves Cunha
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Conservação de Recursos Naturais do Cerrado, Instituto Federal Goiano - Campus Urutaí, Goiás, Brasil
| | | | - Lux Attiê Santos Gomes
- Laboratório de Pesquisas Biológicas, Instituto Federal Goiano - Campus Urutaí, Goiás, Brasil
| | | | - Mateus Flores Montalvão
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Conservação de Recursos Naturais, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brasil
| | | | - Alex Rodrigues Gomes
- Laboratório de Pesquisas Biológicas, Instituto Federal Goiano - Campus Urutaí, Goiás, Brasil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Agrárias, Instituto Federal Goiano - Campus Rio Verde, Goiás, Brasil
| | - Thiarlen Marinho da Luz
- Laboratório de Pesquisas Biológicas, Instituto Federal Goiano - Campus Urutaí, Goiás, Brasil
| | - Amanda Pereira da Costa Araújo
- Laboratório de Pesquisas Biológicas, Instituto Federal Goiano - Campus Urutaí, Goiás, Brasil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Ambientais, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiás, Brasil
| | - Guilherme Malafaia
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Conservação de Recursos Naturais do Cerrado, Instituto Federal Goiano - Campus Urutaí, Goiás, Brasil; Laboratório de Pesquisas Biológicas, Instituto Federal Goiano - Campus Urutaí, Goiás, Brasil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Conservação de Recursos Naturais, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brasil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia e Biodiversidade, Instituto Federal Goiano and Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiás, Brasil.
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Rossi G, Terracciano G, Gherardi R, Galosi L, Perrucci S. Parasites, Bacteria, and Associated Pathological Changes in the Digestive System of Diurnal and Nocturnal Raptors in Central Italy. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10121567. [PMID: 34959522 PMCID: PMC8707747 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10121567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2021] [Revised: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The knowledge of raptor pathogens and associated lesions may be extremely important to enhancing raptor conservation efforts and reducing pathogen spillover to humans and domesticated animals and vice versa. Parasite infections of the digestive system and associated bacteria and pathological changes were evaluated in deceased diurnal and nocturnal raptors in central Italy. Overall, the prevalence of parasites (nematodes, cestodes, trematodes, acanthocephalans, and protozoa) identified in the examined birds was 72.41%, and most of the positive raptors (71.42%) showed multiple parasite infections. Among bacteria, Salmonella typhimurium, Salmonella enterica subspecies diarizonae, Escherichia coli, Clostridium perfringens, Yersinia enterocolitica, and Pasteurella multocida were identified. The results obtained showed that both parasites and bacteria may cause severe lesions in the digestive system of diurnal and nocturnal raptors; parasites and bacteria may concur in causing these lesions; most severe lesions are caused by the interaction of multiple pathogens, both parasites and bacteria; and the same pathogen taxa are frequently associated with the same pathological changes. This study is the first report of S. typhimurium and S. enterica subspecies diarizonae in Buteo buteo, while Andracantha mergi, Spirocerca spp., Sarcocystis dispersa,Sarcocystis columbae, and Eumonospora spp. were recorded for the first time in Italy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giacomo Rossi
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, 62024 Matelica, Italy; (G.R.); (L.G.)
| | - Giuliana Terracciano
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Regioni Lazio e Toscana, 56123 Pisa, Italy;
| | - Riccardo Gherardi
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, 56124 Pisa, Italy;
| | - Livio Galosi
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, 62024 Matelica, Italy; (G.R.); (L.G.)
| | - Stefania Perrucci
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, 56124 Pisa, Italy;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-050-2216949
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Wiemeyer GM, Plaza PI, Bustos CP, Muñoz AJ, Lambertucci SA. Exposure to Anthropogenic Areas May Influence Colonization by Zoonotic Microorganisms in Scavenging Birds. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:5231. [PMID: 34069136 PMCID: PMC8156487 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18105231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2021] [Revised: 05/04/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Wild bird species have commonly been implicated as potential vectors of pathogens to other species, humans included. However, the habitat where birds live could influence the probability to acquire these pathogens. Here, we evaluated if the characteristics of the environment used by obligate scavenging birds (vultures) influence their colonization by zoonotic pathogens. For this, we particularly focused on Salmonella spp., a zoonotic pathogen commonly present in bird species. The occurrence of this bacteria was evaluated in free ranging Andean condors (Vultur gryphus) using natural environments from Argentina and compared with those obtained from condors under human care. In addition, we compared our results with those reported for other wild vultures using natural and anthropized environments at a global scale. We did not find Salmonella spp. in samples of wild condors. Captive condor samples presented Salmonella spp. with an occurrence of 2.8%, and one isolate of Meticilin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus, among other potential pathogenic microorganisms. Moreover, some species of free ranging vultures from diverse geographical areas using anthropized environments tend to present higher occurrences of Salmonella spp. These results highlight the importance of pristine ecosystems to protect vultures' health toward pathogenic microorganisms that can produce disease in these birds, but also in other species. We call for more studies evaluating differences in occurrence of zoonotic pathogens in vultures according to the quality of the environment they use. Even when vultures have not been implicated in zoonotic pathogen spread, our results add information to evaluate potential events of pathogen spillover between vultures and from these birds to other species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guillermo María Wiemeyer
- Grupo de Investigaciones en Biología de la Conservación, INIBIOMA, CONICET-Universidad Nacional del Comahue, Quintral, San Carlos de Bariloche 1250 (R8400FRF), Argentina; (P.I.P.); (S.A.L.)
- The Peregrine Fund, 5668 West Flying Hawk Lane, Boise, ID 83709, USA
- Buenos Aires Zoo, República de la India 3000, CABA, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires CP1425, Argentina
- Hospital Escuela, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Av. Chorroarín 280, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires CP1427, Argentina
| | - Pablo Ignacio Plaza
- Grupo de Investigaciones en Biología de la Conservación, INIBIOMA, CONICET-Universidad Nacional del Comahue, Quintral, San Carlos de Bariloche 1250 (R8400FRF), Argentina; (P.I.P.); (S.A.L.)
| | - Carla Paola Bustos
- Cátedra de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Laboratorio Escuela Enfermedades Infecciosas, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Av. Chorroarín 280, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires CP1427, Argentina; (C.P.B.); (A.J.M.)
| | - Alejandra Jimena Muñoz
- Cátedra de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Laboratorio Escuela Enfermedades Infecciosas, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Av. Chorroarín 280, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires CP1427, Argentina; (C.P.B.); (A.J.M.)
| | - Sergio Agustín Lambertucci
- Grupo de Investigaciones en Biología de la Conservación, INIBIOMA, CONICET-Universidad Nacional del Comahue, Quintral, San Carlos de Bariloche 1250 (R8400FRF), Argentina; (P.I.P.); (S.A.L.)
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Blanco G, Morinha F. Genetic signatures of population bottlenecks, relatedness, and inbreeding highlight recent and novel conservation concerns in the Egyptian vulture. PeerJ 2021; 9:e11139. [PMID: 33828925 PMCID: PMC8005290 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.11139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2020] [Accepted: 03/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The assessment of temporal variation in genetic features can be particularly informative on the factors behind demography and viability of wildlife populations and species. We used molecular methods to evaluate neutral genetic variation, relatedness, bottlenecks, and inbreeding in a declining population of Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus) in central Spain. The results show that the genetic diversity remained relatively stable over a period of twelve years despite the decline in census and effective population sizes in the last decades. A relatively high proportion of nestlings from different and distant territories showed high relatedness in each study year. We also found support for an increasing impact of severe recent (contemporary) rather than distant (historical) past demographic bottlenecks, and the first evidence of inbred mating between full siblings coinciding with lethal malformations in offspring. The inbred nestling with feather malformations was positive to beak and feather disease virus recorded for the first time in this species. These results alert on recent and novel threats potentially affecting health and reducing the adaptive potential of individuals in this threatened species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guillermo Blanco
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, National Museum of Natural Sciences (MNCN), Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Francisco Morinha
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, National Museum of Natural Sciences (MNCN), Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Madrid, Spain
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Chakarov N, Blanco G. Blood Parasites in Sympatric Vultures: Role of Nesting Habits and Effects on Body Condition. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:2431. [PMID: 33801498 PMCID: PMC7967578 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18052431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2021] [Revised: 02/25/2021] [Accepted: 02/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Avian haemosporidians are a common and widespread group of vector-borne parasites capable of infecting most bird species around the world. They can negatively affect host condition and fitness. Vultures are assumed to have a very low prevalence of these blood parasites, likely due to their strong immunity; however, factors contributing to variation in host exposure and susceptibility to haemosporidians are complex, and supporting evidence is still very limited. We analyzed blood samples collected from nestlings of three vulture species in Spain over 18 years, and used updated nested-PCR protocols capable of detecting all haesmosporidian cytochrome b lineages typical for diurnal birds of prey (Accipitriformes). Similarly to previous studies, we found low haemosporidian prevalence in cliff-breeding species, with Leucocytozoon as the only represented blood parasite genus: 3.1% in griffon vultures (Gyps fulvus) (n = 128) and 5.3% in Egyptian vultures (Neophron percnopterus) (n = 114). In contrast, the tree-breeding cinereous vulture (Aegypius monachus) had a substantially higher prevalence: 10.3% (n = 146). By far the most common lineage in Spanish scavenging raptors was the Leucocytozoon lineage CIAE02. No effects of nestling age and sex, or temporal trends in prevalence were found, but an effect of nest habitat (tree-nest vs. cliff-nest) was found in the griffon vulture. These patterns may be explained by a preference of vectors to forage in and around trees rather than on cliffs and wide open spaces. We found an apparent detrimental effect of haemosporidians on body mass of nestling cinereous vultures. Further research is needed to evaluate the pathogenicity of each haemosporidian lineage and their interaction with the immune system of nestlings, especially if compromised due to pollution with pharmaceuticals and infection by bacterial and mycotic pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nayden Chakarov
- Department of Animal Behaviour, Bielefeld University, Konsequenz 45, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Guillermo Blanco
- Department of Evolutionary, Ecology, National Museum of Natural Sciences, CSIC. José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, 28006 Madrid, Spain;
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