Zoonoses and Wildlife - One Health Approach

A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Veterinary Clinical Studies".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 March 2023) | Viewed by 10477

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, QLD 4343, Australia
Interests: epidemiology and biostatistics; zoonotic diseases; One Health; wildlife health, disease surveillance

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, QLD 4343, Australia
Interests: vector-borne diseases; parasitology; One Health;

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Pathogen amplification in wildlife can be a precursor for infections and zoonotic disease occurrence in humans. Direct and indirect contact with wildlife, but also vector-borne, water-borne, and even food-borne transmission pathways can result in the transmission of viruses, bacteria, and parasites from wildlife to humans. Some wildlife species are considered to be reservoir hosts for a number of zoonotic diseases with pandemic potential.

This Special Issue on “Zoonoses and Wildlife—One Health Approach” invites the submission of novel research on the wildlife–human interface, including research that investigates the epidemiology of zoonotic transmission pathways, but also how land use changes, population growth, climate change, and other environmental and societal factors might increase the likelihood of spillover disease events from wildlife to humans. Under the “One Health” paradigm, a strong collaboration between veterinary and medical scientists, ecologists, social scientists, and policy makers is required to control zoonotic diseases; thus, submissions of transdisciplinary research on the wildlife–human interface are particularly welcomed.

Dr. Joerg Henning
Dr. Swaid Abdullah
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • wildlife
  • epidemiology
  • one health
  • zoonoses
  • transdisciplinary research

Published Papers (4 papers)

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14 pages, 308 KiB  
Article
Prevalence and Antimicrobial Resistance of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli in Wild Birds from a Wildlife Rescue Centre
by Gaia Casalino, Francesco D’Amico, Francesca Rita Dinardo, Giancarlo Bozzo, Valeria Napoletano, Antonio Camarda, Antonella Bove, Roberto Lombardi, Francesco Paolo D’Onghia and Elena Circella
Animals 2022, 12(20), 2889; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12202889 - 21 Oct 2022
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 1958
Abstract
Climate change, excessive exploitation of agricultural land which reduces natural habitats, wildlife shooting, and the use of pesticides all cause difficulties for wildlife, with considerable numbers of animals being brought to wildlife rescue centres. Although the efforts of staff involved in wildlife management [...] Read more.
Climate change, excessive exploitation of agricultural land which reduces natural habitats, wildlife shooting, and the use of pesticides all cause difficulties for wildlife, with considerable numbers of animals being brought to wildlife rescue centres. Although the efforts of staff involved in wildlife management at these centres usually focus on therapeutic treatments to reintroduce them into the wild, the monitoring of pathogens that may be transmitted to humans is of relevance. Campylobacter (C.) jejuni and C. coli are frequently carried by animals without inducing clinical signs and are responsible for enteric disorders and more rarely extra-intestinal disease in humans. Farm species and poultry, in particular, are the main reservoirs of C. jejuni and C. coli, but wild animals may also be carriers. The aim of this paper was to investigate the presence of C. jejuni and C. coli in wild birds housed at a wildlife rescue centre and to evaluate the sensitivity of the detected strains to antibiotics. Campylobacter was found in 52 out of 209 (24.88%) birds from 33 different species. C. jejuni was more prevalent, while C. coli was only detected in three Long-eared Owls (Asio otus). The incidence of the infection was particularly high (72.22%) among omnivorous species. Infection rates were higher in birds housed indoors (57.14%) than outdoors (31.74%). Moreover, Campylobacter was not detected in species whose mean temperature body is below 40 °C or higher than 42.2 °C. The most common antibiotic resistance in the tested strains was against trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, ciprofloxacin and enrofloxacin. In addition, multi-drug resistance was also found. The results highlight the need to increase biosecurity measures at rescue centres so as to reduce health-related risks to workers involved in wildlife management. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Zoonoses and Wildlife - One Health Approach)
9 pages, 478 KiB  
Article
Detection of Giardia duodenalis Zoonotic Assemblages AI and BIV in Pet Prairie Dogs (Cynomys ludovicanus) in Bangkok, Thailand
by Ketsarin Kamyingkird, Pornkamol Phoosangwalthong, Nutsuda Klinkaew, Alisara Leelanupat, Chanya Kengradomkij, Wissanuwat Chimnoi, Teerapat Rungnirundorn, Burin Nimsuphan and Tawin Inpankaew
Animals 2022, 12(15), 1949; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12151949 - 31 Jul 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2874
Abstract
Giardia is a flagellate protozoa that can be transmitted via direct contact and by consuming contaminated water. It is pathogenic in humans and various other animals, including exotic pets. Pet prairie dogs are popular in Thailand, but they have not been investigated regarding [...] Read more.
Giardia is a flagellate protozoa that can be transmitted via direct contact and by consuming contaminated water. It is pathogenic in humans and various other animals, including exotic pets. Pet prairie dogs are popular in Thailand, but they have not been investigated regarding giardiasis. Giardia infection was measured, and genetic characterization was performed to investigate the zoonotic potential of Giardia carried by pet prairie dogs. In total, 79 fecal samples were examined from prairie dogs visiting the Kasetsart University Veterinary Teaching Hospital during 2017–2021. Simple floatation was conducted. Two Giardia-positive samples were submitted for DNA extraction, PCR targeting the Giardiassu rRNA, tpi and gdh genes was performed, and genetic characterization using sequencing analysis was conducted. Risk factors associated with Giardia infection were analyzed. Giardia infection was found in 11 out of the 79 pet prairie dogs (13.9%). Giardia infection was significantly higher in male prairie dogs (p = 0.0345). Coccidia cysts (12.7%), the eggs of nematodes (6.3%), and amoeba cysts (2.5%) were also detected. Genetic characterization of the two Giardia-positive samples revealed that they were G. duodenalis assemblage A, sub-genotypes AI and assemblage B, and sub-genotype BIV, the zoonotic assemblages. This was the first report of Giardia infection in pet prairie dogs in Bangkok, Thailand. The results revealed that these pet prairie dogs in Thailand were infected with zoonotic assemblages of G. duodenalis sub-genotype AI, which might have been derived from animal contaminants, whereas sub-genotype BIV might have been derived from human contaminants. Owners of prairie dogs might be at risk of giardiasis or be the source of infection to their exotic pets. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Zoonoses and Wildlife - One Health Approach)
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10 pages, 1179 KiB  
Article
Infection of a Free-Living Wild Boar (Sus scrofa) with a Bacterium from the Mycobacterium kansasii Complex
by Łukasz Radulski, Monika Krajewska-Wędzina, Marek Lipiec and Krzysztof Szulowski
Animals 2022, 12(8), 964; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12080964 - 8 Apr 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1684
Abstract
The most numerous group of bacteria in the genus Mycobacterium is the nontuberculous mycobacteria. Currently, over 200 species of bacteria have been classified as belonging to this group, of which approximately 30 are pathogenic to humans and animals. Mycobacterium kansasii complex numbers among [...] Read more.
The most numerous group of bacteria in the genus Mycobacterium is the nontuberculous mycobacteria. Currently, over 200 species of bacteria have been classified as belonging to this group, of which approximately 30 are pathogenic to humans and animals. Mycobacterium kansasii complex numbers among these pathogenic species. The submandibular lymph nodes of a wild boar shot by a hunter were examined in order to confirm or exclude infection with bacteria of the genus Mycobacterium. In culture, a bacterial isolate was obtained after 12 days of incubation on Petragnani and Stonebrink media. A multiplex PCR clearly indicated that the isolate was a nontuberculous mycobacterium. The results of species identification attempts via both molecular biology methods and mass spectrometry confirmed that the isolated strain belonged to MKC. The described case of a wild boar infection with MKC is the first documented case in Poland and only the second in Europe, and in confirming the presence of this pathogen among free-living animals, this report implies that MKC is of great concern. Our research elucidates some specifics of wild boar mycobacteriosis and may be used to instill awareness in the public of the dangers of dressing hunt prey or consuming its meat in ignorance of safe procedures, which can contribute to the transmission of the pathogen to humans. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Zoonoses and Wildlife - One Health Approach)
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17 pages, 1693 KiB  
Systematic Review
Animal and Human Dirofilariasis in India and Sri Lanka: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
by Sandani S. Thilakarathne, Nicholas K. Y. Yuen, Mohammad Mahmudul Hassan, Thishan C. Yahathugoda and Swaid Abdullah
Animals 2023, 13(9), 1551; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13091551 - 5 May 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2669
Abstract
Dirofilariasis is an emerging vector-borne tropical disease of public health importance that mainly affects humans and dogs. Dirofilaria immitis and D. repens are the two well-documented dirofilariasis-causing filarioid helminths of both medical and veterinary concerns in India and Sri Lanka. This systematic review [...] Read more.
Dirofilariasis is an emerging vector-borne tropical disease of public health importance that mainly affects humans and dogs. Dirofilaria immitis and D. repens are the two well-documented dirofilariasis-causing filarioid helminths of both medical and veterinary concerns in India and Sri Lanka. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to describe and summarize the current evidence of dirofilariasis prevalence and distribution in India and Sri Lanka. Interestingly, D. repens is reported to circulate in both dogs (prevalence of 35.8% (95% CI: 11.23–60.69)) and humans (97% of published case reports) in India and Sri Lanka, but D. immitis is reported to be present in the dog populations in India (prevalence of 9.7% (95% CI: 8.5–11.0%)), and so far, it has not been reported in Sri Lanka. This peculiar distribution of D. immitis and D. repens in the two neighbouring countries could be due to the interaction between the two parasite species, which could affect the pattern of infection of the two worm species in dogs and thus influence the geographical distribution of these two filarial worms. In medical and veterinary practice, histopathology was the most commonly used diagnostic technique (31.3%; 95% CI 2.5–60.2%). The low specificity of histopathology to speciate the various Dirofilaria spp. may lead to misdiagnosis. It was identified in this study that several regions of India and Sri Lanka have not yet been surveyed for dirofilariasis. This limits our understanding of the geographical distribution and interspecies interactions of the two parasites within these countries. Parasite distribution, disease prevalence, and interspecies interactions between the vectors and the host should be targeted for future research. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Zoonoses and Wildlife - One Health Approach)
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