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19 pages, 4251 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Subclinical Ovine Gammaherpesvirus 2-Related Infections in Free-Ranging Wild Boars (Sus scrofa) from Southern Brazil

by Selwyn Arlington Headley, Juliana Torres Tomazi Fritzen, Flavia Helena Pereira Silva, Silvio Luis Marsiglio Minarelli, Leandro Meneguelli Biondo, Louise Bach Kmetiuk, Alexander Welker Biondo and Amauri Alcindo Alfieri

Pathogens 2024, 13(6), 515; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens13060515 - 18 Jun 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 968

Abstract

Ovine gammaherpesvirus 2 (OvGHV2), is a Macavirus and the cause of sheep-associated malignant catarrhal fever (SA-MCF), in which sheep are the asymptomatic reservoir hosts. Susceptible mammalian populations infected by OvGHV2 may develop clinical SA-MCF or subclinical infections. All members of the Macavirus genus [...] Read more.

Ovine gammaherpesvirus 2 (OvGHV2), is a Macavirus and the cause of sheep-associated malignant catarrhal fever (SA-MCF), in which sheep are the asymptomatic reservoir hosts. Susceptible mammalian populations infected by OvGHV2 may develop clinical SA-MCF or subclinical infections. All members of the Macavirus genus known to be associated with MCF are collectively referred to as the MCF virus (MCFV) complex. This report describes the occurrence of subclinical OvGHV2-related infections in free-ranging wild boars (Sus scrofa) from southern Brazil. Specific body organs (n = 14) and biological samples (nasal and oral swabs; n = 17) were collected from 24 asymptomatic wild boars from a conservation unit located within the Central-eastern mesoregion of Paraná State. Organs were processed to observe histopathological patterns suggestive of diseases of domestic animals; only pulmonary samples were used in an immunohistochemical assay designed to detect MCFV tissue antigens. Furthermore, all samples were submitted to molecular assays designed to detect the OvGHV2 tegument protein gene. Viral-induced pneumonia was diagnosed in two wild boars; one of these contained OvGHV2 DNA, with MCFV antigens identified in the other. Additionally, MCFV tissue antigens were detected within pulmonary epithelial cells of the lungs with and without pulmonary disease. Collectively, OvGHV2 was detected in 37.5% (9/24) of all wild boars, with detection occurring in the organs of 57.1% (8/14) wild boars and the oral cavity of one animal. These results demonstrated that these wild boars were subclinically infected by OvGHV2, and that infection produced typical pulmonary alterations. In addition, the detection of OvGHV2 within the oral cavity of one wild boar may suggest that this animal may be a potential disseminator of this pathogen to susceptible animal populations, including livestock and wildlife, acting as a possible bridge host for OvGHV2. Furthermore, infection by OvGHV2 probably occurred due to incidental contact with asymptomatic sheep maintained within the surrounding rural areas and not within the conservation units. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wildlife Hosts Pathogen Interaction)

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12 pages, 480 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis in Wild Boar (Sus scrofa) in Portugal

by Ana Cristina Matos, Luis Figueira, Maria Helena Martins, Luís Cardoso, Manuela Matos, Maria de Lurdes Pinto and Ana Cláudia Coelho

Pathogens 2024, 13(5), 389; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens13050389 - 8 May 2024

Viewed by 1240

Abstract

Paratuberculosis, or Johne’s disease, caused by Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP), is a chronic granulomatous enteritis affecting both domestic and wild ruminants. The agent was also found in wild mammals such as wild boar (Sus scrofa); however, the role of wild [...] Read more.

Paratuberculosis, or Johne’s disease, caused by Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP), is a chronic granulomatous enteritis affecting both domestic and wild ruminants. The agent was also found in wild mammals such as wild boar (Sus scrofa); however, the role of wild mammals in the epidemiology of MAP is unclear. During the research period, 941 free-ranging wild boar (S. scrofa) legally hunted in two locations in the central–eastern region of Portugal were examined. Ninety-seven wild boars exhibited one or more gross lesions and were tested for the presence of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis using acid-fast staining, mycobacterial culture, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and histopathological examination. Forty-five animals (46.4%, 95% CI: 36.5–56.3%) were identified as infected, as indicated by positive results in culture and/or PCR. The findings revealed that the most significant risk factor was being a juvenile compared to yearlings and adults (OR = 10.2, 95% CI: 2.2–48.0). Based on our results, 37.9% (n = 11) of the infected animals were considered suitable for human consumption. Our findings offer novel insights into mycobacterial infections in wild boar populations in Portugal and suggest that wild boar could be a source of human infection if zoonotic potential is considered. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wildlife Hosts Pathogen Interaction)

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13 pages, 5862 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Malicious Mites—Sarcoptes scabiei in Raccoon Dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides) in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany

by Jana C. Klink, Alexandra Rieger, Hermann Ansorge, Sophie Aurich, Christiane Hoffmann, Christa Ewers, Marie-Kristin Raulf, Christina Strube and Ursula Siebert

Pathogens 2023, 12(12), 1379; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens12121379 - 22 Nov 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1766

Abstract

Sarcoptic mange was detected in five free-ranging raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides) in the federal state of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, during a health assessment study of invasive species, including raccoon dogs, carried out between 2021 and 2022. Four raccoon dogs showed severe lesions, [...] Read more.

Sarcoptic mange was detected in five free-ranging raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides) in the federal state of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, during a health assessment study of invasive species, including raccoon dogs, carried out between 2021 and 2022. Four raccoon dogs showed severe lesions, including extensive alopecia with thickening and hyperpigmentation of the skin (lichenification). The fifth animal was less affected, showing only thinning of the hair coat in multiple body locations. Skin scrapings were performed and confirmed the presence of Sarcoptes scabiei. Histopathology of the skin revealed diffuse epidermal hyperplasia and hyperkeratosis, mild eosinophilic dermatitis, and varying amounts of intralesional mites. Staphylococcus pseudintermedius and Corynebacterium auriscanis were detected in the skin samples of the affected animals, indicating a secondary bacterial infection. The source of sarcoptic mange remains unclear; interspecies transmission via direct or indirect contact seems likely. Raccoon dogs are therefore a potential vector for sarcoptic mange, and their behaviour could contribute to disease spread and persistence. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wildlife Hosts Pathogen Interaction)

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26 pages, 7579 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Pathomorphological Findings and Infectious Diseases in Selected European Brown Hare (Lepus europaeus Pallas, 1778) Populations from Schleswig-Holstein, Germany

by Marcus Faehndrich, Benno Woelfing, Jana C. Klink, Marco Roller, Wolfgang Baumgärtner, Peter Wohlsein, Katharina Raue, Christina Strube, Christa Ewers, Ellen Prenger-Berninghoff, Jutta Verspohl, Antonio Lavazza, Lorenzo Capucci, Herbert Tomaso and Ursula Siebert

Pathogens 2023, 12(11), 1317; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens12111317 - 5 Nov 2023

Viewed by 1875

Abstract

In the northernmost German federal state Schleswig-Holstein, populations of European brown hares (Lepus europaeus Pallas, 1778) show diverse densities and varying courses over the years. To examine differences in pathomorphological findings and infectious diseases as possible reasons for varying population dynamics, [...] Read more.

In the northernmost German federal state Schleswig-Holstein, populations of European brown hares (Lepus europaeus Pallas, 1778) show diverse densities and varying courses over the years. To examine differences in pathomorphological findings and infectious diseases as possible reasons for varying population dynamics, we assessed 155 hunted hares from three locations in Schleswig-Holstein from 2016 to 2020. We investigated the association of location, year, age, and sex of animals to certain pathomorphological findings and infectious diseases. Frequent pathomorphological findings were intestinal parasites (63.9%), hepatitis (55.5%), nephritis (31.0%), steatitis (23.2%), enteritis (13.5%), and pneumonia (5.2%). Body condition differed significantly between locations, and the prevalence of pneumonia was significantly higher in females. Enteritis was not detected in 2019, when much more juveniles were sampled. Hepatitis and nephritis occurred significantly more often in 2016 and among adults. Additionally, more adults showed hepatitis with concurrent serotitre for European brown hare syndrome virus (EBHSV), while intestinal parasitosis as well as high excretion rates of coccidia were more common in juveniles. Sampled animals showed high infection rates with Eimeria spp. (96.1%), Trichostrongylus spp. (52.0%), Graphidium strigosum (41.2%), and a high seroprevalence (90.9%) for EBHSV, without severe symptoms. This study revealed a low prevalence of infectious pathogens, but a high prevalence of chronic inflammations of unknown origin in the tested brown hare populations. Overall, our results indicate a rather minor importance of infectious diseases for observed population dynamics of analysed hare populations in Schleswig-Holstein. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wildlife Hosts Pathogen Interaction)

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13 pages, 1195 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Screening for Influenza and Morbillivirus in Seals and Porpoises in the Baltic and North Sea

by Iben Stokholm, Christine Baechlein, Sara Persson, Anna Roos, Anders Galatius, Line Anker Kyhn, Signe Sveegaard, Charlotte Bie Thøstesen, Morten Tange Olsen, Paul Becher and Ursula Siebert

Pathogens 2023, 12(3), 357; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens12030357 - 21 Feb 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2916

Abstract

Historically, the seals and harbour porpoises of the Baltic Sea and North Sea have been subjected to hunting, chemical pollutants and repeated mass mortalities, leading to significant population fluctuations. Despite the conservation implications and the zoonotic potential associated with viral disease outbreaks in [...] Read more.

Historically, the seals and harbour porpoises of the Baltic Sea and North Sea have been subjected to hunting, chemical pollutants and repeated mass mortalities, leading to significant population fluctuations. Despite the conservation implications and the zoonotic potential associated with viral disease outbreaks in wildlife, limited information is available on the circulation of viral pathogens in Baltic Sea seals and harbour porpoises. Here, we investigated the presence of the influenza A virus (IAV), the phocine distemper virus (PDV) and the cetacean morbillivirus (CeMV) in tracheal swabs and lung tissue samples from 99 harbour seals, 126 grey seals, 73 ringed seals and 78 harbour porpoises collected in the Baltic Sea and North Sea between 2002–2019. Despite screening 376 marine mammals collected over nearly two decades, we only detected one case of PDV and two cases of IAV linked to the documented viral outbreaks in seals in 2002 and 2014, respectively. Although we find no evidence of PDV and IAV during intermediate years, reports of isolated cases of PDV in North Sea harbour seals and IAV (H5N8) in Baltic and North Sea grey seals suggest introductions of those pathogens within the sampling period. Thus, to aid future monitoring efforts we highlight the need for a standardized and continuous sample collection of swabs, tissue and blood samples across Baltic Sea countries. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wildlife Hosts Pathogen Interaction)

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22 pages, 2831 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Status of Infectious Diseases in Free-Ranging European Brown Hares (Lepus europaeus) Found Dead between 2017 and 2020 in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany

by Marcus Faehndrich, Jana C. Klink, Marco Roller, Peter Wohlsein, Katharina Raue, Christina Strube, Ellen Prenger-Berninghoff, Christa Ewers, Lorenzo Capucci, Antonio Lavazza, Herbert Tomaso, Joseph G. Schnitzler and Ursula Siebert

Pathogens 2023, 12(2), 239; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens12020239 - 2 Feb 2023

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2359

Abstract

The European brown hare (Lepus europaeus) is a quite adaptable species, but populations have been decreasing for several decades in different countries, including Germany. To investigate infectious diseases as possible influences on observed population decline in the German federal state Schleswig-Holstein, [...] Read more.

The European brown hare (Lepus europaeus) is a quite adaptable species, but populations have been decreasing for several decades in different countries, including Germany. To investigate infectious diseases as possible influences on observed population decline in the German federal state Schleswig-Holstein, 118 deceased free-ranging European brown hares were collected between 2017 and 2020 and underwent detailed postmortem examination with extended sampling. Infectious diseases were a major cause of death (34.7%). The number of juveniles found exceeded the adult ones. The main pathomorphological findings were hepatitis (32.8%), pneumonia (22.2%), nephritis (19.1%), liver necrosis (12.9%), and enteritis (40.7%). An unusual main finding was steatitis (20.9%) of unknown origin. Animals were mainly emaciated and showed high infection rates with Eimeria spp. (91.3%) and Trichostrongylus spp. (36.2%). European Brown Hare Syndrome Virus reached an epidemic status with few fatal infections (4.2%) and high seroprevalence (64.9%), whereas the prevalence of Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease Virus 2 was very low (0.8%) in hares in Schleswig-Holstein. Pathogens such as Yersinia pseudotuberculosis (5.9%), Pasteurella multocida (0.8%), and Staphylococcus aureus (3.4%) only caused sporadic deaths. This study illustrates the wide distribution of various infectious pathogens with high mortality and even zoonotic potential. Infectious diseases need to be considered as an important influence on population dynamics in Schleswig-Holstein. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wildlife Hosts Pathogen Interaction)

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14 pages, 7739 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Assessing Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) Demographics to Monitor Wildlife Diseases: A Spotlight on Echinococcus multilocularis

by Roberto Celva, Barbara Crestanello, Federica Obber, Debora Dellamaria, Karin Trevisiol, Marco Bregoli, Lucia Cenni, Andreas Agreiter, Patrizia Danesi, Heidi Christine Hauffe and Carlo Vittorio Citterio

Pathogens 2023, 12(1), 60; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens12010060 - 30 Dec 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2247

Abstract

The assessment of red fox population density is considered relevant to the surveillance of zoonotic agents vectored by this species. However, density is difficult to estimate reliably, since the ecological plasticity and elusive behavior of this carnivore hinder classic methods of inference. In [...] Read more.

The assessment of red fox population density is considered relevant to the surveillance of zoonotic agents vectored by this species. However, density is difficult to estimate reliably, since the ecological plasticity and elusive behavior of this carnivore hinder classic methods of inference. In this study, red fox population density was estimated using a non-invasive molecular spatial capture-recapture (SCR) approach in two study areas: one in a known hotspot of the zoonotic cestode Echinococcus multilocularis, and another naïve to the parasite. Parasitological investigations on collected samples confirmed the presence of the parasite exclusively in the former area; the SCR results indicated a higher fox population density in the control area than in the hotspot, suggesting either that the relationship between fox density and parasite prevalence is not linear and/or the existence of other latent factors supporting the parasitic cycle in the known focus. In addition, fox spotlight count data for the two study areas were used to estimate the index of kilometric abundance (IKA). Although this method is cheaper and less time-consuming than SCR, IKA values were the highest in the areas with the lower molecular SCR density estimates, confirming that IKA should be regarded as a relative index only. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wildlife Hosts Pathogen Interaction)

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14 pages, 899 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Pathogen Exposure in White Whales (Delphinapterus leucas) in Svalbard, Norway

by Ingebjørg H. Nymo, Ursula Siebert, Christine Baechlein, Alexander Postel, Eva M. Breines, Christian Lydersen, Kit M. Kovacs and Morten Tryland

Pathogens 2023, 12(1), 58; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens12010058 - 29 Dec 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2742

Abstract

The Svalbard white whale (Delphinapterus leucas) population is one of the smallest in the world, making it particularly vulnerable to challenges such as climate change and pathogens. In this study, serum samples from live captured (2001–2016) white whales from this region [...] Read more.

The Svalbard white whale (Delphinapterus leucas) population is one of the smallest in the world, making it particularly vulnerable to challenges such as climate change and pathogens. In this study, serum samples from live captured (2001–2016) white whales from this region were investigated for influenza A virus (IAV) antibodies (Abs) (n = 27) and RNA (n = 25); morbillivirus (MV) Abs (n = 3) and RNA (n = 25); Brucella spp. Abs; and Toxoplasma gondii Abs (n = 27). IAV Abs were found in a single adult male that was captured in Van Mijenfjorden in 2001, although no IAV RNA was detected. Brucella spp. Abs were found in 59% of the sample group (16/27). All MV and T. gondii results were negative. The results show that Svalbard white whales have been exposed to IAV and Brucella spp., although evidence of disease is lacking. However, dramatic changes in climate and marine ecosystems are taking place in the Arctic, so surveillance of health parameters, including pathogens, is critical for tracking changes in the status of this vulnerable population. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wildlife Hosts Pathogen Interaction)

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16 pages, 3006 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Liver Proteome Alterations in Red Deer (Cervus elaphus) Infected by the Giant Liver Fluke Fascioloides magna

by Karol Šimonji, Dean Konjević, Miljenko Bujanić, Ivana Rubić, Vladimir Farkaš, Anđelo Beletić, Lea Grbavac and Josipa Kuleš

Pathogens 2022, 11(12), 1503; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens11121503 - 8 Dec 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1707

Abstract

Liver fluke infections are recognised as diseases with worldwide distribution and considerable veterinary and public health importance. The giant liver fluke, Fascioloides magna, is an important non-native parasite which has been introduced to Europe, posing a threat to the survival of local [...] Read more.

Liver fluke infections are recognised as diseases with worldwide distribution and considerable veterinary and public health importance. The giant liver fluke, Fascioloides magna, is an important non-native parasite which has been introduced to Europe, posing a threat to the survival of local wildlife populations such as red deer (Cervus elaphus). The aim of the study was to analyse differences in liver proteomes between F. magna-infected and control red deer groups using a label-based high-throughput quantitative proteomics approach. The proteomics analysis identified 234 proteins with differential abundance between the control and infected groups. Our findings showed that F. magna infection in this definitive host is associated with changes in the metabolism of proteins and fatty acids, oxidative stress, fibrosis, and signaling pathways. The identified proteins and associated biological pathways represent a valuable contribution to the understanding of host–parasite interactions and the pathogenesis of liver fluke infection. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wildlife Hosts Pathogen Interaction)

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7 pages, 619 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Lack of Detection of Toxoplasma gondii in Pipistrellus spp. Bats from Densely Cat-Populated Areas of NE Spain

by Lourdes Lobato-Bailón, Ane López-Morales, Rita Quintela, Maria Puig Ribas, Rafael Molina-López, Elena Obon, Sebastián Napp, Lola Pailler-García, Johan Espunyes and Óscar Cabezón

Pathogens 2022, 11(12), 1451; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens11121451 - 1 Dec 2022

Viewed by 1832

Abstract

Toxoplasma gondii infection in healthy animals is often asymptomatic. However, some species with little history of contact with the parasite, such as marsupials and New World primates, present high mortality rates after infection. Despite its potential conservation concern, T. gondii infection in insectivorous [...] Read more.

Toxoplasma gondii infection in healthy animals is often asymptomatic. However, some species with little history of contact with the parasite, such as marsupials and New World primates, present high mortality rates after infection. Despite its potential conservation concern, T. gondii infection in insectivorous bats has received little attention, and its impact on bat populations’ health is unknown. To assess the putative role of insectivorous bats in the cycle of T. gondii, samples of three species of bats (Pipistrellus pipistrellus, P. pygmaeus and P. kuhlii) collected between 2019 and 2021 in NE Spain were tested for the presence of the parasite using a qPCR. All tissues resulted negative (0.0% prevalence with 95% CI: [0.0–2.6]) for the presence of T. gondii. Unlike previous studies on insectivorous bats from Europe, Asia and America, the present study suggests that Pipistrellus spp. bats do not play a significant role in the epidemiology of T. gondii in NE Spain. Further studies are encouraged to elucidate both the epidemiology of T. gondii and its potential impact on the health of microchiropteran species in Europe. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wildlife Hosts Pathogen Interaction)

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9 pages, 894 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Wild Boar (Sus scrofa)—Fascioloides magna Interaction from the Perspective of the MHC Genes

by Dean Konjević, Vlatka Erman, Miljenko Bujanić, Ida Svetličić, Haidi Arbanasić, Snježana Lubura Strunjak and Ana Galov

Pathogens 2022, 11(11), 1359; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens11111359 - 16 Nov 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1816

Abstract

Fascioloidosis is a parasitic disease caused by a trematode Fascioloides magna. Since major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes play an important role in the immune response, the aim of this study was to compare the potential differences in MHC class II SLA-DRB1 exon [...] Read more.

Fascioloidosis is a parasitic disease caused by a trematode Fascioloides magna. Since major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes play an important role in the immune response, the aim of this study was to compare the potential differences in MHC class II SLA-DRB1 exon 2 genes between wild boar populations from infected (cases) and non-infected areas (controls). During the winter of 2021, a total of 136 wild boar tissue samples were collected, 39 cases and 97 controls. DNA was extracted and sequenced using the Illumina platform. Differences in distributions of allele combinations were calculated using the Chi-Square test for homogeneity and between proportions using the large-sample test and Fisher–Irwin test. Analysis revealed 19 previously described swine leucocyte antigen (SLA) alleles. The number of polymorphic sites was 79 (29.6%), with 99 mutations in total. Nucleotide diversity π was estimated at 0.11. Proportions of the alleles SLA-DRB1*12:05 (p = 0.0008379) and SLA-DRB1*0101 (p = 0.0002825) were statistically significantly higher in controls, and proportions of the SLA-DRB1*0602 (p = 0.006059) and SLA-DRB1*0901 (p = 0.0006601) in cases. Alleles SLA-DRB1*04:09, SLA-DRB1*0501, SLA-DRB1*11:09, and SLA-DRB1*1301 were detected only in cases, while SLA-DRB1*0404, SLA-DRB1*0701, SLA-DRB1*02:10, and SLA-DRB1*04:08 were present only in controls. We did not confirm the existence of specific alleles that could be linked to F. magna infection. Detected high variability of the MHC class II SLA-DRB1 exon 2 genes indicate high resistance potential against various pathogens. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wildlife Hosts Pathogen Interaction)

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19 pages, 1957 KiB

Open AccessArticle

High Rates of Multidrug-Resistant Escherichia coli in Great Cormorants (Phalacrocorax carbo) of the German Baltic and North Sea Coasts: Indication of Environmental Contamination and a Potential Public Health Risk

by Stephanie Gross, Anja Müller, Diana Seinige, Manuela Oliveira, Dieter Steinhagen, Ursula Siebert and Corinna Kehrenberg

Pathogens 2022, 11(8), 836; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens11080836 - 27 Jul 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2019

Abstract

Antimicrobial-resistant bacteria pose a serious global health risk for humans and animals, while the role of wildlife in the dynamic transmission processes of antimicrobial resistance in environmental settings is still unclear. This study determines the occurrence of antimicrobial-resistant Escherichia coli in the free-living [...] Read more.

Antimicrobial-resistant bacteria pose a serious global health risk for humans and animals, while the role of wildlife in the dynamic transmission processes of antimicrobial resistance in environmental settings is still unclear. This study determines the occurrence of antimicrobial-resistant Escherichia coli in the free-living great cormorants (Phalacrocorax carbo) of the North and Baltic Sea coasts of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. For this, resistant E.coli were isolated from cloacal or faecal swabs and their antimicrobial resistance pheno- and genotypes were investigated using disk diffusion tests and PCR assays. The isolates were further assigned to the four major phylogenetic groups, and their affiliation to avian pathogenic E. coli (APEC) was tested. Resistant E. coli were isolated from 66.7% of the 33 samples, and 48.9% of all the resistant isolates showed a multidrug resistance profile. No spatial differences were seen between the different sampling locations with regard to the occurrence of antimicrobial resistance or multidrug resistance. Most commonly, resistance percentages occurred against streptomycin, followed by tetracycline and sulfonamides. More than half of the isolates belonged to the phylogenetic group B1. Of all the isolates, 24.4% were classified as APEC isolates, of which almost 82% were identified as multidrug-resistant. These results add information on the dispersal of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria in wild birds in Germany, thereby allowing conclusions on the degree of environmental contamination and potential public health concerns. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wildlife Hosts Pathogen Interaction)

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19 pages, 1450 KiB

Open AccessReview

Major Emerging Fungal Diseases of Reptiles and Amphibians

by Lionel Schilliger, Clément Paillusseau, Camille François and Jesse Bonwitt

Pathogens 2023, 12(3), 429; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens12030429 - 8 Mar 2023

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 7715

Abstract

Emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) are caused by pathogens that have undergone recent changes in terms of geographic spread, increasing incidence, or expanding host range. In this narrative review, we describe three important fungal EIDs with keratin trophism that are relevant to reptile and [...] Read more.

Emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) are caused by pathogens that have undergone recent changes in terms of geographic spread, increasing incidence, or expanding host range. In this narrative review, we describe three important fungal EIDs with keratin trophism that are relevant to reptile and amphibian conservation and veterinary practice. Nannizziopsis spp. have been mainly described in saurians; infection results in thickened, discolored skin crusting, with eventual progression to deep tissues. Previously only reported in captive populations, it was first described in wild animals in Australia in 2020. Ophidiomyces ophidiicola (formely O. ophiodiicola) is only known to infect snakes; clinical signs include ulcerating lesions in the cranial, ventral, and pericloacal regions. It has been associated with mortality events in wild populations in North America. Batrachochytrium spp. cause ulceration, hyperkeratosis, and erythema in amphibians. They are a major cause of catastrophic amphibian declines worldwide. In general, infection and clinical course are determined by host-related characteristics (e.g., nutritional, metabolic, and immune status), pathogens (e.g., virulence and environmental survival), and environment (e.g., temperature, hygrometry, and water quality). The animal trade is thought to be an important cause of worldwide spread, with global modifications in temperature, hygrometry, and water quality further affecting fungal pathogenicity and host immune response. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wildlife Hosts Pathogen Interaction)

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