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de Francisco ON, Sacristán I, Ewbank AC, Velarde R, Afonso I, Garcia-Ferré D, Martín-Maldonado B, Esperón F, Iglesias I, de la Torre A, Margalida A, Sacristán C. First detection of herpesvirus and hemosporidians in the endangered Pyrenean Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus aquitanicus). Sci Rep 2023; 13:21936. [PMID: 38081895 PMCID: PMC10713636 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-48123-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Pathogens affect wild bird populations worldwide, contributing to their decline. Considering the scarce health data regarding the endangered Pyrenean Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus aquitanicus), we molecularly surveyed selected pathogens (Newcastle disease virus, Avian influenza virus, Chlamydia psittaci, avian pathogenic Escherichia coli, Campylobacter jejuni, and Salmonella spp.) in 30 Pyrenean Capercaillie feces collected in the field (Catalonia, northeastern Spain). Additionally, swab and tissue samples from eight wild Pyrenean Capercaillies of Catalonia and Andorra were molecularly tested for herpesvirus and hemosporidians (Plasmodium spp., Haemoproteus spp., and Leucocytozoon spp.). All fecal samples were negative for the pathogens tested. Nevertheless, we detected a novel herpesvirus in 50% (4/8) of the Pyrenean Capercaillies, and hemosporidian DNA in 62.5% (5/8) of the tissue samples (i.e., Haemoproteus sp. [4 of 8] and/or Leucocytozoon sp. [3 of 8]). To our knowledge, this is the first detection of herpesvirus and hemosporidians infections in Pyrenean Capercaillies. The putative novel herpesvirus belongs to the genus Iltovirus. The presence of hemosporidian parasites in this mountain bird species is of concern, and could be related to the marked increase in the average temperature in the Pyrenees as a consequence of climate change. Our findings are fundamental to improve the conservation plans for the endangered Pyrenean Capercaillie population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga Nicolás de Francisco
- Department of Forest Management and Natural Environment, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lleida, Lleida, Spain.
| | - Irene Sacristán
- Group of Epidemiology and Environmental Health, Animal Health Research Centre (INIA-CISA), Valdeolmos, Spain
| | - Ana Carolina Ewbank
- Laboratory of Wildlife Comparative Pathology-LAPCOM, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Roser Velarde
- Wildlife Ecology & Health Group (WE&H) and Servei d'Ecopatologia de Fauna Salvatge (SEFaS), Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animal, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Ivan Afonso
- Natural Environment Department, Conselh Generau d'Aran, Vielha, Spain
| | - Diego Garcia-Ferré
- Flora and Fauna Service, Department of Climatic Action, Food and Rural Agenda (Government of Catalonia), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Bárbara Martín-Maldonado
- Department of Veterinary, Faculty of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Universidad Europea de Madrid, Villaviciosa de Odón, Spain
| | - Fernando Esperón
- Department of Veterinary, Faculty of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Universidad Europea de Madrid, Villaviciosa de Odón, Spain
| | - Irene Iglesias
- Group of Epidemiology and Environmental Health, Animal Health Research Centre (INIA-CISA), Valdeolmos, Spain
| | - Ana de la Torre
- Group of Epidemiology and Environmental Health, Animal Health Research Centre (INIA-CISA), Valdeolmos, Spain
| | | | - Carlos Sacristán
- Group of Epidemiology and Environmental Health, Animal Health Research Centre (INIA-CISA), Valdeolmos, Spain.
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