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Veterinary Sciences
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Wild Birds as Sentinels of the Health Status of the...
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Wild Birds as Sentinels of the Health Status of the Environment

A special issue of Veterinary Sciences (ISSN 2306-7381). This special issue belongs to the section "Veterinary Microbiology, Parasitology and Immunology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2024 | Viewed by 7947

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Bárbara Martín-Maldonado

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Veterinary Medicine, School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Universidad Europea de Madrid, 28670 Villaviciosa de Odón, Spain
Interests: zoonosis; wildlife; wild birds; biodiversity conservation; public health; antimicrobial resistances
Dr. Carlos Sacristán Yagüe

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Group of Epidemiology and Environmental Health, Animal Health Research Centre (INIA-CISA), Valdeolmos, 28130 Madrid, Spain
Interests: antimicrobial resistances; emerging infectious diseases; molecular epidemiology; one health; wildlife medicine

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

During the last few years, many studies have confirmed that monitored wildlife can be considered a good indicator of ecosystem health. Furthermore, wild birds are key due to the distances they can travel daily, especially migratory species. They can give us information about the presence of contaminants in the food chain, pathogenic trends (emergent, zoonotic…), and antimicrobial resistance levels in the ecosystem.

In this context, the open access journal Veterinary Sciences has launched a new Special Issue “Wild birds as sentinels of the health status of the environment”, with Dr. Bárbara Martín-Maldonado and Dr. Carlos Sacristán Yagüe leading as the Guest Editors. The aim of this Special Issue is to assess the role of wild bird populations as sentinels of ecosystem health by employing a One Health approach.

Previous studies about the wildlife–livestock interface and the role of wildlife in the epidemiology of zoonotic pathogens have been published before, but mostly from a public health or animal health perspective. This Special Issue aims to integrate the detection (or absence) of pathogens and other agents such as antimicrobial resistance or microplastics in wild birds that can interfere in ecosystem health.

Dr. Bárbara Martín-Maldonado
Dr. Carlos Sacristán Yagüe
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Veterinary Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2100 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • surveillance
  • emergent pathogens
  • epidemiology
  • wild birds

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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9 pages, 252 KiB  
Article
Molecular Survey on the Occurrence of Tick-Borne Bacteria in Wild Birds from Central Italy
by Fabrizio Bertelloni, Giulia Cagnoli, Paolo Interrante, Renato Ceccherelli and Valentina Virginia Ebani
Vet. Sci. 2024, 11(7), 284; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci11070284 - 24 Jun 2024
Viewed by 1077
Abstract
Birds are known to be carriers of ticks infected by tick-borne pathogens, including bacteria. However, not many studies have been carried out on avian tissues to detect these agents. The aim of the present survey was to investigate, using PCR, the presence of [...] Read more.
Birds are known to be carriers of ticks infected by tick-borne pathogens, including bacteria. However, not many studies have been carried out on avian tissues to detect these agents. The aim of the present survey was to investigate, using PCR, the presence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Bartonella spp., Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, Chlamydia psittaci, Coxiella burnetii, Ehrlichia canis, Francisella tularensis, and Rickettsia spp. in the spleens collected from 300 wild birds of different orders and species from Central Italy. A total of 53 (17.67%) samples were PCR positive for at least one investigated pathogen. One (0.33%) bird was positive for Bartonella spp., five (1.67%) birds were positive for C. burnetii, eleven (3.67%) for B. burgdorferi s.l., and thirty-six (12%) for C. psittaci. No coinfection was detected. All samples were negative for A. phagocytophilum, E. canis, F. tularensis, and Rickettsia spp. The findings showed that wild birds may harbor different zoonotic tick-borne bacteria; therefore, they can contribute to the diffusion of these agents. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wild Birds as Sentinels of the Health Status of the Environment)
14 pages, 5268 KiB  
Article
West Nile Virus Seroprevalence in Wild Birds and Equines in Madrid Province, Spain
by Richard A. J. Williams, Hillary A. Criollo Valencia, Irene López Márquez, Fernando González González, Francisco Llorente, Miguel Ángel Jiménez-Clavero, Núria Busquets, Marta Mateo Barrientos, Gustavo Ortiz-Díez and Tania Ayllón Santiago
Vet. Sci. 2024, 11(6), 259; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci11060259 - 7 Jun 2024
Viewed by 1680
Abstract
West Nile virus (WNV) is a re-emerging flavivirus, primarily circulating among avian hosts and mosquito vectors, causing periodic outbreaks in humans and horses, often leading to neuroinvasive disease and mortality. Spain has reported several outbreaks, most notably in 2020 with seventy-seven human cases [...] Read more.
West Nile virus (WNV) is a re-emerging flavivirus, primarily circulating among avian hosts and mosquito vectors, causing periodic outbreaks in humans and horses, often leading to neuroinvasive disease and mortality. Spain has reported several outbreaks, most notably in 2020 with seventy-seven human cases and eight fatalities. WNV has been serologically detected in horses in the Community of Madrid, but to our knowledge, it has never been reported from wild birds in this region. To estimate the seroprevalence of WNV in wild birds and horses in the Community of Madrid, 159 wild birds at a wildlife rescue center and 25 privately owned equines were sampled. Serum from thirteen birds (8.2%) and one equine (4.0%) tested positive with a WNV competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (cELISA) designed for WNV antibody detection but sensitive to cross-reacting antibodies to other flaviviruses. Virus-neutralization test (VNT) confirmed WNV antibodies in four bird samples (2.5%), and antibodies to undetermined flavivirus in four additional samples. One equine sample (4.0%) tested positive for WNV by VNT, although this horse previously resided in a WN-endemic area. ELISA-positive birds included both migratory and resident species, juveniles and adults. Two seropositive juvenile birds suggest local flavivirus transmission within the Community of Madrid, while WNV seropositive adult birds may have been infected outside Madrid. The potential circulation of flaviviruses, including WNV, in birds in the Madrid Community raises concerns, although further surveillance of mosquitoes, wild birds, and horses in Madrid is necessary to establish the extent of transmission and the principal species involved. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wild Birds as Sentinels of the Health Status of the Environment)
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15 pages, 1178 KiB  
Article
Exploring the Prevalence and Resistance of Campylobacter in Urban Bird Populations
by Aida Mencía-Gutiérrez, Francisco Javier García-Peña, Fernando González, Natalia Pastor-Tiburón, Iratxe Pérez-Cobo, María Marín and Bárbara Martín-Maldonado
Vet. Sci. 2024, 11(5), 210; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci11050210 - 11 May 2024
Viewed by 1220
Abstract
The increasing urbanization of ecosystems has had a significant impact on wildlife over the last few years. Species that find an unlimited supply of food and shelter in urban areas have thrived under human presence. Wild birds have been identified as amplifying hosts [...] Read more.
The increasing urbanization of ecosystems has had a significant impact on wildlife over the last few years. Species that find an unlimited supply of food and shelter in urban areas have thrived under human presence. Wild birds have been identified as amplifying hosts and reservoirs of Campylobacter worldwide, but the information about its transmission and epidemiology is still limited. This study assessed the prevalence of Campylobacter in 137 urban birds admitted at a wildlife rescue center, with 18.8% of individuals showing positive. C. jejuni was the most frequent species (82.6%), followed by C. coli and C. lari (4.3% each). The order Passeriformes (33.3%) showed significant higher presence of Campylobacter when compared to orders Columbiformes (0%) and Ciconiiformes (17.6%), as well as in samples collected during the summer season (31.9%), from omnivorous species (36.8%) and young individuals (26.8%). Globally, Campylobacter displayed a remarkable resistance to ciprofloxacin (70.6%), tetracycline (64.7%), and nalidixic acid (52.9%). In contrast, resistance to streptomycin was low (5.8%), and all the isolates showed susceptibility to erythromycin and gentamycin. The results underline the importance of urban birds as reservoirs of thermophilic antimicrobial-resistant Campylobacter and contribute to enhancing the knowledge of its distribution in urban and peri-urban ecosystems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wild Birds as Sentinels of the Health Status of the Environment)
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Review

Jump to: Research

13 pages, 3679 KiB  
Review
The Latent Threat in Wild Birds: Clostridium botulinum
by Josep Gutiérrez-Arnal and Clara Marín
Vet. Sci. 2024, 11(1), 36; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci11010036 - 17 Jan 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3156
Abstract
Avian botulism caused by Clostridium botulinum emerged in 1910, affecting birds across North America, leading to severe outbreaks exacerbated by climate change, decreasing water levels, and inadequate wastewater management. While deadly for birds, its epidemiological impact on humans and other animals remains limited. [...] Read more.
Avian botulism caused by Clostridium botulinum emerged in 1910, affecting birds across North America, leading to severe outbreaks exacerbated by climate change, decreasing water levels, and inadequate wastewater management. While deadly for birds, its epidemiological impact on humans and other animals remains limited. Despite its significance, understanding and controlling the disease remain challenging. This review delves into the pathogen’s epidemiology in wild bird populations, exploring the transmission, pathogenicity, clinical symptoms, diagnosis and treatment. The disease’s growing concern in wild birds relates to the bacterium’s adaptability and expansive spread, evident through genetic similarities among strains across countries. Outbreaks are influenced by environmental factors such as temperature and soil characteristics. Wild birds inadvertently transmit the bacterium, perpetuating the cycle through carcasses and flies. Some species suffer severely, while others, like scavengers, show resistance. Understanding disease mechanisms, involving potential toxin ingestion or internal production, remains ongoing. Clinical signs vary, affecting diverse bird orders. Diagnostic methods evolve, with treatment success varying among affected populations. Prevention and surveillance take precedence due to treatment challenges, emphasising population-based strategies and preventive measures to manage the widespread presence of C. botulinum. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wild Birds as Sentinels of the Health Status of the Environment)
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