Search

Hepatic and pulmonary lesions are common in cetaceans, despite their poorly understood viral etiology. Herpesviruses (HV), adenoviruses (AdV) and hepatitis E virus (HEV) are emerging agents in cetaceans, associated with liver and/or pulmonary damage in mammals. We isolated and molecularly tested DNA for HV and AdV (n = 218 individuals; 187 liver and 108 lung samples) and RNA for HEV (n = 147 animals; 147 liver samples) from six cetacean families. All animals stranded or were bycaught in Brazil between 2001 and 2021. Positive-animals were analyzed by histopathology. Statistical analyses assessed if the prevalence of viral infection could be associated with the variables: species, family, habitat, region, sex, and age group. All samples were negative for AdV and HEV. Overall, 8.7% (19/218) of the cetaceans were HV-positive (4.8% [9/187] liver and 11.1% [12/108] lung), without HV-associated lesions. HV-prevalence was statistically significant higher in Pontoporiidae (19.2%, 10/52) when compared to Delphinidae (4.1%, 5/121), and in southeastern (17.1%, 13/76)-the most industrialized Brazilian region-when compared to the northeastern region (2.4%, 3/126). This study broadens the herpesvirus host range in cetaceans, including its description in pygmy sperm whales (Kogia breviceps) and humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae). Further studies must elucidate herpesvirus drivers in cetaceans.

The front-wave velocity of African swine fever (ASF) virus spread is depicted through a retrospective spatial and temporal analyses of wild boar outbreaks from Jan. 2014 to Jan. 2022 in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Eastern Poland-regions responsible for more than 50% of all wild boar cases in the EU. The study uses empirical semivariograms in a universal kriging model to assess spatial autocorrelation in notification dates and identifies a discernable large-scale spatial trend. The critical parameter of ASF front-wave velocity was identified (Mean = 66.33 km/month, SD = 163.24) in the whole study area, and explored the variations across countries, wild boar habitat suitability, seasons, and the study period. Statistical differences in front-wave velocity values among countries and temporal clusters are explored, shedding light on potential factors influencing ASF transmission dynamics. The implications of these findings for surveillance and control strategies are discussed.

Anthropogenic environmental change is reducing available habitat for wild species, providing novel selection pressures such as infectious diseases and causing species to interact in new ways. The potential for emerging infectious diseases and zoonoses at the interface between humans, domestic animals, and wild species is a key global concern. In vertebrates, diversity at the major histocompatibility complex MHC is critical to disease resilience, and its study in wild populations provides insights into eco-evolutionary dynamics that human activities alter. In natural populations, variation at MHC loci is partly maintained by balancing selection, driven by pathogenic selective pressures. We hypothesize that MHC genetic diversity differs between guigna populations inhabiting human-dominated landscapes (higher pathogen pressures) versus more natural habitats (lower pathogen pressures). We predict that MHC diversity in guignas would be highest in human-dominated landscapes compared with continuous forest habitats. We also expected to find higher MHC diversity in guignas infected with micro and macro parasites (higher parasite load) versus non infected guignas. We characterized for the first time the genetic diversity at three MHC class I and II exons in 128 wild guignas (Leopardus guigna) across their distribution range in Chile (32-46° S) and Argentina, representing landscapes with varying levels of human disturbance. We integrated MHC sequence diversity with multiple measures of anthropogenic disturbance and both micro and macro parasite infection data. We also assessed signatures of positive selection acting on MHC genes. We found significantly higher MHC class I diversity in guignas inhabiting landscapes where houses were present, and with lower percentage of vegetation cover, and also in animals with more severe cardiorespiratory helminth infection (richness and intensity) and micro-macroparasite co-infection. This comprehensive, landscape-level assessment further e

The family Trichechidae (order Sirenia) comprises three species African (Trichechus senegalenses), West Indian (T. manatus), WIM)], and the Amazonian manatees (T. inunguis, AMM). Whereas WIM inhabits both riverine and coastal systems in the western Atlantic, AMM is the only exclusively freshwater sirenian, endemic to the Amazon River Basin. The study of infectious agents is essential to species conservation, especially considering that both species are classified as Vulnerable by the IUCN Red List and as Endangered by the Brazilian Red List. The current knowledge about viral agents in sirenians is scarce. Herpesviruses and adenovirus are DNA viruses able to infect and cause disease in a wide range of hosts. Herein, we used panPCR protocols to survey herpesvirus and adenovirus in blood samples of wild WIM (n = 23) and AMM (n = 26) under human care in Brazil. Herpesvirus DNA was detected in one juvenile female WIM (1/23; 4.3%; 95% CI -4.7 – 13.3) from Ceará state and in four AMM (two juvenile females, a juvenile male, and an adult female; 4/26; 15.4%; 95% CI 0.5 – 30.3) from Amazonas state. The two different gammaherpesvirus DNA polymerase sequence types identified (one per species, a sequence type in a WIM and another one in three AMM) were highly similar (99% nucleotide identity) to Trichechid herpesvirus 1, reported in West Indian manatees of Florida (USA), and 100% identical when translated into amino acids. A herpesviral glycoprotein B sequence was identified in two AMM. None of the samples was positive to adenovirus. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first herpesvirus detection in manatees from South America, expanding the herpesvirus geographical range, and the first in WIM and AMM worldwide. Our findings suggest (i) that West Indian and Amazonian manatees are possibly the natural hosts of the detected herpesvirus, and (ii) coevolution of that gammaherpesvirus with Trichechus. Future studies are necessary to characterize the obtained virus and elucidate po

The introduction of invasive species into an ecosystem could result in biodiversity loss and the spread of infectious agents that could cause re-emergent or emergent zoonotic diseases. Monk parakeets (Myiopsitta monachus) and rose-ringed parakeets (Psittacula krameri) are considered widespread invasive exotic species in urban habitats from the Iberian Peninsula. The aim of this study was to assess the presence of relevant infectious agents in wild parakeets captured in urban parks in Madrid and Seville (Spain).

An investigation was conducted for the first time to determine the prevalence and genetic diversity of human lice, for the first time in Nigeria, using conventional PCR and sequencing methods. Three mitochondrial genes, cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (cox1), cytochrome b (cytb), and 12S rRNA of Nigerian human lice, were amplified, sequenced, and analyzed. Overall, high prevalence (72.5%; 103/142) of lice infestation was recorded among the examined volunteers. Head lice infestation was more common 63 (61.2%) than body lice infestation 34 (33.0%). Co-infestation with both head and body lice was recorded in six humans (5.8%). The Nigerian human lice specimens were placed mostly into clade A with few in clade E, including body lice for the first time. Six, three, and eight haplotypes of Nigerian human lice were obtained for the cytb, cox1, and 12S rRNA genes, respectively. Additionally, one (E51), three (A31, A32, and E5), and six (A20, A21, A23, A24, A30, and E1) novel haplotypes were recorded for cox1, cytb, and 12S rRNA, respectively, from the Nigerian specimens which were corroborated by the ML phylogenetic trees and MJ network analyses. Genetic diversity indices indicate minimal variation in the parameters analyzed among the clades of the three genes. However, a statistically significant Snn test, negative Tajima's D test for clade A (cox1 and 12S rRNA genes), and negative Fu and Li's D test in clade A for cox1 gene indicate a geographical structure and the signature of population expansion of the Nigerian human lice. The findings from this study provide additional data on the human lice structure in Africa.

Global Positioning System (GPS) tracking offers key information in the study of movement ecology of threatened species. Nevertheless, the placement of GPS devices requires animal capture and handling, which may represent a challenge to the individual's survival after release, mainly due to capture myopathy. The Pyrenean Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus aquitanicus) is a threatened galliform especially sensitive to handling, extremely elusive, and challenging to capture. Our goal was to adapt a sedation protocol for Pyrenean Capercaillies undergoing GPS tagging, in order to increase their welfare and safety during the procedure. From 2018 to 2021, 23 wild Pyrenean Capercaillies were captured and sedated for GPS tagging as part of a European conservation project of emblematic Pyrenean avian species. The birds received intramuscular (IM) sedation with midazolam (ranging from 1.9 mg/kg to 8.08 mg/kg) and were handled for 20 to 40 min. Sedation was reversed with flumazenil (0.1 mg/mL IM). The sedated capercaillies were less responsive to stimuli (i.e., closed eyes and recumbency), showing discrete to no response to handling (i.e., placement of the GPS device, physical examination, cloacal temperature measurement, or reflex tests). Such response was compared in birds with sedation doses above and below the average dose (5.17 mg/kg). Only one clinical sign showed statistically significant differences between the two groups ("open-mouth breathing" sign, p = 0.02). A mortality rate of 4.35% was registered (one individual died during handling). Sedation facilitated the handling of the birds and faster interventions in the field, without increasing mortality when compared to handling without sedation. Therefore, sedation was shown to be a useful tool to reduce stress related to capture and handling of the threatened Pyrenean Capercaillie.

Hemotropic Mycoplasma spp. (hemoplasmas) are uncultivable bacteria that infect mammals, including humans. We detected a potentially novel hemoplasma species in blood samples from wild river dolphins in the Amazon River Basin, Brazil. Further investigation could determine pathogenicity and zoonotic potential of the detected hemoplasma.

Bovine anaplasmosis caused by Anaplasma marginale is an important endemic disease that exerts negative impact on livestock production with huge socioeconomic consequences in most developing countries. Genetic studies have reported the existence of diverse ntSTs of A. marginale with varying pathogenicity in different countries. Continuous studies to obtain accurate information on disease etiologies is desirable for the formulation of cost-effective control measures. To this end, 582 blood samples from cattle were collected from 10 out of the 36 States of Nigeria from April 2021 to March 2022 and analyzed based on the major surface protein 5 (msp5) gene to determine the ntSTs of A. marginale in Nigeria. In all, 38 out of the 582 samples (6.5%) from cattle in the different Agro-ecological Zones (AEZs) of Nigeria were positive. The Nigerian A. marginale nucleotide sequences were 96.7 to 100% identical to sequences from other countries and were placed in distinct clusters with other A. marginale sequences deposited in GenBank. Network analysis revealed three ntSTs (#2, #4 & #8) of A. marginale from Nigeria with a nucleotide sequence type diversity (Hd) of 0.8, nucleotide diversity (Pi) of 0.015 and average number of nucleotide differences (k) of 7.09. Two different amino acid substitution sites were found in Nigerian and worldwide sequences at positions 148 and 160. This is the first nationwide report on the ntST diversity and genetic characterization of A. marginale in cattle in Nigeria based on the msp5 gene. Bovine anaplasmosis is widespread in Nigeria and deserves further attention.

Antimicrobial resistance is a quintessential One Health issue, among the most serious 21st century global threats to human health. Seabirds may act as sentinels of natural and anthropogenic changes in the marine ecosystem health, including pollution by antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs). We used real time PCR to identify and quantify 22 plasmid-mediated ARGs in the gastrointestinal microbiome of six wild seabird species, comparing an anthropized (Fernando de Noronha Archipelago - FNA) and a pristine biotope (Rocas Atoll - ROA), Brazil. Of 257 birds, 218 (84.8%) were positive to at least one ARG. ARG classes encoding resistance to tetracyclines (75.1%), quinolones (10.5%) and phenicols (10.5%) were the most prevalent, with tetracyclines significantly greater than the remaining classes (p < 0.05). Genes tet(S) (29.2%), tet(A) (28.8%), and tet(B) (24.9%) were the most commonly found and had a significantly greater prevalence when compared to the remaining ARGs (p < 0.05). The anthropized biotope presented statistically significant higher prevalence of sulfonamide- and quinolone-encoding ARGs in comparison with the pristine (respectively, p = 0.01 and p = 0.03), and higher sulII gene prevalence (p = 0.04), consistent with anthropogenic pressure. Migratory species (only present in ROA) showed statistically significant higher mcr-1 (polymyxins) and blaTEM (betalactam) prevalences (respectively, p = 0.009 and p = 0.02), and mcr-1 percentage load (p = 0.0079) in comparison with non-migratory. To our knowledge, this is the largest ARGs survey based on direct detection and quantification in seabirds worldwide, and the first to evaluate non-synanthropic species in oceanic islands. This is the first detection of mcr-1 in wild free-ranging seabirds in Brazil and in free-ranging migratory non-synanthropic seabirds worldwide. Our findings show the importance of biological and ecological factors, highlighting the role of seabirds as anthropization sentinels and ARGs-pollution en

Antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) are environmental pollutants and anthropization indicators. We evaluated human interference in the marine ecosystem through the ocurrence and quantification (real-time PCRs) of 21 plasmid-mediated ARGs in enema samples of 25 wild seabirds, upon admission into rehabilitation: kelp gull (Larus dominicanus, n = 14) and Magellanic penguin (Spheniscus magellanicus, n = 11). Overall, higher resistance values were observed in kelp gulls (non-migratory coastal synanthropic) in comparison with Magellanic penguins (migratory pelagic non-synanthropic). There were significant differences between species (respectively, kelp gull and Magellanic penguin): ARGs occurrence (bla TEM [p = 0.032]; tetM [p = 0.015]; tetA [p = 0.003]; and sulII [p = 0.007]), mean number of ARGs per sample (p = 0.031), ARGs mean load percentage (aadA [p = 0.045], tetA [p = 0.031], tetM [p = 0.016], bla TEM [p = 0.032], sulII [p = 0.008]), percentage of genes conferring resistance to an antimicrobial class (betalactams [p = 0.036] and sulfonamides [p = 0.033]), mean number of genes conferring resistance to one or more antimicrobial classes (p = 0.024]), percentage of multiresistant microbiomes (p = 0.032), and clustering (p = 0.006). These differences are likely due to these species' contrasting biology and ecology - key factors in the epidemiology of ARGs in seabirds. Additionally, this is the first report of mecA in seabirds in the Americas. Further studies are necessary to clarify the occurrence and diversity of ARGs in seabirds, and their role as potential sources of infection and dispersal within the One Health chain of ARGs.

Landscape anthropization has been identified as one of the main drivers of pathogen emergence worldwide, facilitating pathogen spillover between domestic species and wildlife. The present study investigated Carnivore protoparvovirus-1 infection using molecular methods in 98 free-ranging wild guignas (Leopardus guigna) and 262 co-occurring owned, free-roaming rural domestic cats. We also assessed landscape anthropization variables as potential drivers of infection. Protoparvovirus DNA was detected in guignas across their entire distribution range, with observed prevalence of 13.3% (real-time PCR) and 9% (conventional PCR) in guignas, and 6.1% (conventional PCR) in cats. Prevalence in guigna did not vary depending on age, sex, study area or landscape variables. Prevalence was higher in juvenile cats (16.7%) than in adults (4.4%). Molecular characterization of the virus by amplification and sequencing of almost the entire vp2 gene (1,746 bp) from one guigna and five domestic cats was achieved, showing genetic similarities to canine parvovirus 2c (CPV-2c) (one guigna and one cat), feline panleukopenia virus (FPV) (one cat), CPV-2 (no subtype identified) (two cats), CPV-2a (one cat). The CVP-2c-like sequence found in a guigna clustered together with domestic cat and dog CPV-2c sequences from South America, suggesting possible spillover from a domestic to a wild species as the origin of infection in guigna. No clinical signs of disease were found in PCR-positive animals except for a CPV-2c-infected guigna, which had haemorrhagic diarrhoea and died a few days after arrival at a wildlife rescue centre. Our findings reveal widespread presence of Carnivore protoparvovirus-1 across the guigna distribution in Chile and suggest that virus transmission potentially occurs from domestic to wild carnivores, causing severe disease and death in susceptible wild guignas.

Antimicrobial resistance is a global emerging public health issue whose presence and impact in wildlife are widely unknown. Antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) are considered environmental contaminants, suitable to evaluate the degree of anthropic impact on wildlife and the environment. We used a wild felid, the guigna (Leopardus guigna), as a sentinel for the presence of ARGs in anthropized and pristine areas across their entire distribution range in Chile. We evaluated fecal samples from 51 wild guignas, collected between 2009 and 2018. Real-time PCR essays were employed to detect and quantify 22 selected ARGs in their fecal microbiome. All animals (100%) were positive for at least one ARG. The most prevalent ARG families were those that confer resistance to tetracycline (88.2%) and beta-lactamase (68.9%), with tet(Q) (60.8%), tet(W) (60.8%), and blaTEM (66.7%) as the most prevalent ARGs. Multi-resistance profiles were observed in 43% of the guignas. Statistically significant differences were found between anthropized and pristine areas for tet(Q) (p = 0.014), tet(W) (p = 0.0037), tetracycline family (p = 0.027), multi-resistance profile prevalence (p = 0.043) and tet(W) quantification (p = 0.004). Two animals from anthropized landscapes were positive for mecA, a gene associated with Staphylococcus aureus and other staphylococci resistant to methicillin, while three animals from anthropized areas were positive for blaCTX-M, that encodes class A extended-spectrum beta-lactamase. Both genes have been identified in bacteria causing relevant nosocomial infections worldwide. This is the first study on ARGs in wild felids from Chile and the first detection of mecA in South American wild felids. We observed an association between the degree of landscape anthropization and ARG prevalence, confirming that ARGs are important indicators of wildlife exposure to human activity/presence, with a widespread distribution.