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Pathogens
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Emerging Animal Pathogens and Infections in Poland
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Emerging Animal Pathogens and Infections in Poland

A special issue of Pathogens (ISSN 2076-0817). This special issue belongs to the section "Emerging Pathogens".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 January 2024) | Viewed by 15650

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Michał Marek Reichert

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Guest Editor
Department of Pathology, Department of Fish Diseases, National Veterinary Research Institute, 24-100 Puławy, Poland
Interests: veterinary sciences; pathological anatomy; virology; histopathological and molecular diagnostics; infectious; non-infectious; parasitic diseases and animal poisoning; pathogenesis and prevention of viral; bacterial; parasitic and environmental fish diseases
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Monika Szymańska-Czerwińska

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Cattle and Sheep Diseases, National Veterinary Research Institute, 24-100 Puławy, Poland
Interests: veterinary sciences; molecular diagnostics; infectious diseases; zoonosis

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Threats to the well-being of humans, animals, and plants in the modern world related to the omnipresence of pathogenic microorganisms in the environment are now of a different nature than those that occurred decades ago. Currently, antibiotic resistance is the main problem with regard to bacterial infections. When it comes to viruses, the emergence of new pathogens, such as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses, or African swine fever (ASF) virus, is a constant threat. These pathogens have caused tremendous damage worldwide in both areas of health and economics. It should be emphasized that early detection of emerging pathogens is essential for the prevention of the spread of infection and the effective treatment of infected populations. A characteristic feature of recent decades of the present century were migration of populations related to armed conflicts, as well as rapid movement related to the development of, among other technologies, air transport. These phenomena, in the absence of proper sanitary supervision, may also be the reason for the transfer of some pathogens to areas where they have not been present before. The recent spread of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic or African swine disease shows how serious the threat and the large social and economic impact of emerging pathogens can be. Humans and animals are constantly exposed to new hosts, vectors, and potential pathogens, so the study of pathogens that threaten their populations is more important than ever, especially those of increasing importance and frequency. The purpose of this Special Issue is to engage scientists in Poland working on emerging pathogens infecting humans, animals (vertebrates and invertebrates), or plants to present their latest research in the form of original research, short reports, case studies, but feedback is also welcome. We are looking for scientific articles that will contribute to a better understanding of pathogens, dealing with, among others, epidemiology, identification, infection mechanisms or diagnostics of pathogenic microorganisms in the clinical, environmental and public health areas in Poland. Diseases caused by various etiological agents—viruses, bacteria, fungi and fungus-like organisms, protists, and various parasites—affecting invertebrates and vertebrates will be accepted for publication. Both original and review articles are welcome. Potential topics include, but are not limited to: pathogen surveillance, clinical manifestations, diagnosis and treatment, cellular and molecular pathogenesis, and innate and adaptive immune responses between emerging microbes and their hosts.

Prof. Dr. Michał Marek Reichert
Dr. Monika Szymańska-Czerwińska
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. Pathogens 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 2200 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

  • emerging pathogens
  • emerging infectious diseases
  • epidemiology
  • viruses
  • bacteria
  • parasites
  • diagnostics
  • surveillance

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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9 pages, 811 KiB  
Communication
Prevalence, Identification and Antibiotic Resistance of Gallibacterium anatis Isolates from Chickens in Poland
by Olimpia Kursa, Grzegorz Tomczyk, Agata Sieczkowska and Anna Sawicka-Durkalec
Pathogens 2023, 12(8), 992; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens12080992 - 28 Jul 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1763
Abstract
The Gram-negative bacterium Gallibacterium anatis is part of the normal avian respiratory, intestinal and reproductive tract microflora and can be transmitted horizontally and vertically. With the coexistence of other relevant factors, G. anatis becomes an opportunistic pathogen, economically damaging to the poultry industry. [...] Read more.
The Gram-negative bacterium Gallibacterium anatis is part of the normal avian respiratory, intestinal and reproductive tract microflora and can be transmitted horizontally and vertically. With the coexistence of other relevant factors, G. anatis becomes an opportunistic pathogen, economically damaging to the poultry industry. This bacterium’s prevalence and molecular epidemiology were investigated, and the antimicrobial treatment options for G. anatis infection in chicken flocks in Poland were assessed. Tracheal samples from 182 flocks were collected between April 2022 and March 2023. The bacterial prevalence was determined by PCR targeting the gyrB gene and 16–23S rRNA. Gallibacterium anatis was identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation–time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF) after culturing and PCR amplification. Isolates’ susceptibility to 11 antimicrobials was assessed with a disc diffusion test. Isolates were also tested for gyrB, GtxA and flfA virulence genes and blaROB, aphA, tetB and tetH antibiotic resistance genes by PCR. Forty-one flocks (22.5%) were positive through PCR. Antibiotic resistance was most frequently observed against tilmicosin, tylosin, enrofloxacin, amoxicillin, tetracycline and doxycycline. Multiple resistance to at least eight antibiotics occurred in 20% of isolates and to at least four in 100%. The occurrence of gyrB was noted in 100%, GtxA was detected in 89%, and flfA was found in 14% of positive samples. The tetB gene was present in 61.0% of positive samples, tetH was in 36.0%, aphA was in 16.7%, and blaROB was in 5.6%. Significant differences were found in G. anatis isolates related to the presence of the virulence genes GtxA and gyrB and the presence of resistance genes (p < 0.05) associated with resistance to tetracyclines, β-lactams and aminoglycosides. The continued rise in the resistance of G. anatis to a broadening range of antibiotics is a major problem for the poultry industry worldwide, as well as for public health. The findings of this study may expand the knowledge of the pathogenicity of G. anatis in poultry. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Animal Pathogens and Infections in Poland)
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12 pages, 2105 KiB  
Article
Mycobacterial Infections in Invasive Turtle Species in Poland
by Łukasz Radulski, Monika Krajewska-Wędzina, Marek Lipiec, Marcin Weiner, Anna Zabost and Ewa Augustynowicz-Kopeć
Pathogens 2023, 12(4), 570; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens12040570 - 7 Apr 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2008
Abstract
Over the last 30 years, the number of invasive turtle species living in the wild has significantly increased in Poland. This proliferation carries many threats, which mainly include the displacement of native species of animals from their natural habitats. Turtles can also be [...] Read more.
Over the last 30 years, the number of invasive turtle species living in the wild has significantly increased in Poland. This proliferation carries many threats, which mainly include the displacement of native species of animals from their natural habitats. Turtles can also be reservoirs for pathogens, including bacteria from the Mycobacterium genus. In order to confirm or rule out the presence of acid-fast mycobacteria in the population of invasive turtle species, samples from carapace, plastron, internal organs and mouth cavity swabs from 125 animals were tested. Twenty-eight mycobacterial strains were isolated in culture, which were classified as atypical following multiplex-PCR reactions. The GenoType Mycobacterium Common Mycobacteria (CM) test, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry, PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PRA)-hsp65 and DNA sequencing were used to identify the species of isolates. Of the 28 strains, 11 were identified as M. fortuitum, 10 as M. chelonae, 3 as M. avium ssp. avium, 2 as M. nonchromogenicum and 1 each of M. neoaurum and M. scrofulaceum. The results of the research will also strengthen the understanding that these animals can be vectors for pathogens when living in the wild. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Animal Pathogens and Infections in Poland)
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8 pages, 1705 KiB  
Article
Molecular Detection and Phylogenetic Analysis of Riemerella anatipestifer in Poultry and Wild Geese in Poland
by Anna Sawicka-Durkalec, Grzegorz Tomczyk, Iryna Gerilovych and Olimpia Kursa
Pathogens 2023, 12(2), 256; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens12020256 - 5 Feb 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2104
Abstract
Riemerella anatipestifer (RA) is one of the most relevant bacterial pathogens of commercial waterfowl from clinical and economic points of view. Our study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of RA infection in different types of commercial poultry in Poland and verify the potential [...] Read more.
Riemerella anatipestifer (RA) is one of the most relevant bacterial pathogens of commercial waterfowl from clinical and economic points of view. Our study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of RA infection in different types of commercial poultry in Poland and verify the potential role of wild geese as vectors of this pathogen. We tested a total of 126 poultry flocks, including geese (N = 20), ducks (N = 42), turkeys (N = 64) and 19 wild geese, including greater white-fronted geese (N = 9), greylag geese (N = 5) and Taiga bean geese (N = 5). Tracheal swabs were examined for RA using a PCR targeting a conserved region of the 16S rRNA gene. Selected PCR products were sequenced to perform the phylogenetic analysis. Among the commercial poultry, the highest RA prevalence was found in flocks of ducks (35.7%) and geese (30.0%), whereas the lowest one was found in turkeys (3.2%). Most tested wild geese (94.7%) were RA positive. The phylogenetic analysis showed relatively low genetic diversity of the sequences analyzed, which gathered in two clusters of the phylogenetic tree, and the minimum nucleotide identity was 98.6%. Our results would support the contention that RA isolates from commercial poultry circulate in wild bird populations but are not transmitted back to poultry. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Animal Pathogens and Infections in Poland)
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13 pages, 2676 KiB  
Article
Homo- and Heterosubtypic Immunity to Low Pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus Mitigates the Clinical Outcome of Infection with Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N8 Clade 2.3.4.4.b in Captive Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos)
by Karolina Tarasiuk, Anna Kycko, Edyta Świętoń, Łukasz Bocian, Krzysztof Wyrostek and Krzysztof Śmietanka
Pathogens 2023, 12(2), 217; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens12020217 - 30 Jan 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2298
Abstract
In this study, we investigated the clinical response, viral shedding, transmissibility, pathologic lesions, and tropism of HPAIV Gs/Gd H5N8 subtype (clade 2.3.4.4b), following experimental infection of three groups of captive mallards (Anas platyrhynchos): (i) fully susceptible, (ii) pre-exposed to low pathogenic [...] Read more.
In this study, we investigated the clinical response, viral shedding, transmissibility, pathologic lesions, and tropism of HPAIV Gs/Gd H5N8 subtype (clade 2.3.4.4b), following experimental infection of three groups of captive mallards (Anas platyrhynchos): (i) fully susceptible, (ii) pre-exposed to low pathogenic avian influenza virus (LPAIV) H5N1 subtype, and (iii) pre-exposed to LPAIV H3N8 subtype. Infection of naïve mallards with HPAIV H5N8 resulted in ~60% mortality, neurological signs, abundant shedding, and transmission to contact ducks, who also became sick and died. High amounts of viral RNA were found in all collected organs, with the highest RNA load recorded in the brain. The IHC examinations performed on tissues collected at 4 and 14 days post-infection (dpi) revealed tropism to nervous tissue, myocardium, respiratory epithelium, and hepatic and pancreatic cells. The mallards pre-exposed to LPAIV H5N1 and challenged with HPAIV H5N8 were asymptomatic and showed a significant reduction of viral RNA shedding, yet still sufficient to cause infection (but no disease) in the contact ducks. The AIV antigen was not detected in organs at 4 and 14 dpi, and microscopic lesions were mild and scarce. Similarly, mallards previously inoculated with LPAIV H3N8 remained healthy after challenge with HPAIV H5N8, but viral RNA was detected in large quantities in swabs and organs, particularly in the early phase of infection. However, in contrast to mallards from group I, the IHC staining yielded negative results at the selected timepoints. The virus was transmitted to contact birds, which remained symptomless but demonstrated low levels of viral RNA shedding and mild- to moderate tissue damage despite negative IHC staining. The results indicate that naïve mallards are highly susceptible to HPAIV H5N8 clade 2.3.4.4b and that homo- and heterosubtypic immunity to LPAIV can mitigate the clinical outcomes of infection. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Animal Pathogens and Infections in Poland)
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Review

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12 pages, 612 KiB  
Review
Clostridium perfringens—Opportunistic Foodborne Pathogen, Its Diversity and Epidemiological Significance
by Tomasz Grenda, Aleksandra Jarosz, Magdalena Sapała, Anna Grenda, Ewelina Patyra and Krzysztof Kwiatek
Pathogens 2023, 12(6), 768; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens12060768 - 26 May 2023
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 5037
Abstract
The C. perfringens species is associated with various environments, such as soils, sewage, and food. However, it is also a component of the gastrointestinal (GI) microflora (i.e., microbiota) of sick and healthy humans and animals. C. perfringens is linked with different systemic and [...] Read more.
The C. perfringens species is associated with various environments, such as soils, sewage, and food. However, it is also a component of the gastrointestinal (GI) microflora (i.e., microbiota) of sick and healthy humans and animals. C. perfringens is linked with different systemic and enteric diseases in livestock and humans, such as gas gangrene, food poisoning, non-foodborne diarrhoea, and enterocolitis. The strains of this opportunistic pathogen are known to secrete over 20 identified toxins that are considered its principal virulence factors. C. perfringens belongs to the anaerobic bacteria community but can also survive in the presence of oxygen. The short time between generations, the multi-production capability of toxins and heat-resistant spores, the location of many virulence genes on mobile genetic elements, and the inhabitance of this opportunistic pathogen in different ecological niches make C. perfringens a very important microorganism for public health protection. The epidemiological evidence for the association of these strains with C. perfringens–meditated food poisoning and some cases of non-foodborne diseases is very clear and well-documented. However, the genetic diversity and physiology of C. perfringens should still be studied in order to confirm the importance of suspected novel virulence traits. A very significant problem is the growing antibiotic resistance of C. perfringens strains. The aim of this review is to show the current basic information about the toxins, epidemiology, and genetic and molecular diversity of this opportunistic pathogen. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Animal Pathogens and Infections in Poland)
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Other

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7 pages, 249 KiB  
Case Report
The Consumption of Raw Goat Milk Resulted in TBE in Patients in Poland, 2022 “Case Report”
by Angelina Wójcik-Fatla, Joanna Krzowska-Firych, Krzysztof Czajka, Joanna Nozdryn-Płotnicka and Jacek Sroka
Pathogens 2023, 12(5), 653; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens12050653 - 27 Apr 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1824
Abstract
The alimentary route is the second most important route of tick-borne encephalitis infection. In Poland, the last TBE case due to the consumption of unpasteurized milk or dairy products of infected animals was recorded in 2017 as the fourth documented outbreak of TBEV [...] Read more.
The alimentary route is the second most important route of tick-borne encephalitis infection. In Poland, the last TBE case due to the consumption of unpasteurized milk or dairy products of infected animals was recorded in 2017 as the fourth documented outbreak of TBEV infection in the country. In this study, two patients infected with TBEV through consumption of unpasteurized goat’s milk from one source are described from a cluster of eight cases. In August and September 2022, a 63- and 67-year-old woman were hospitalized at the Infectious Diseases Clinic of the Institute of Rural Health (Lublin, Poland). The patients denied been recently bitten by a tick, and neither had been vaccinated against TBEV. The disease had a biphasic course. In the first case, the patient suffered from a fever, spine pain, and muscle weakness and paresis of the lower left limb. The second patient suffered from fever, vertigo, headaches, abdominal pain, and diarrhoea. The results of IgM and IgG antibodies were positive in both cases. After three weeks hospitalization, the patients were discharged in good condition. In one case, slight hearing impairment was observed. Vaccination and avoiding the consumption of unpasteurized milk remain the most effective ways to prevent tick-borne encephalitis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Animal Pathogens and Infections in Poland)
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