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Veterinary Sciences
Special Issues
Wildlife Health and Disease in Conservation
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Wildlife Health and Disease in Conservation

A special issue of Veterinary Sciences (ISSN 2306-7381).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 10 April 2025 | Viewed by 4329

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Viviana Gonzalez Astudillo

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, QLD 4343, Australia
Interests: wildlife pathology; wildlife diseases; veterinary pathology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We invite submissions for the Special Issue of Veterinary Sciences on “Wildlife Health and Disease in Conservation”, focusing on disease, causative agents, and their impact on threatened wildlife conservation. External factors such as climate change, habitat encroachment, human–wildlife interactions, pollution, and invasive species pose novel threats, increasing mortality and morbidity among wildlife worldwide. Thus, how these emerging and re-emerging threats influence or intensify the degree of occurrence of novel host-pathogen interactions remains poorly understood. This Special Issue seeks manuscripts addressing wildlife disease threats within a conservation context, inclusive of, but not limited to, novel host-pathogen relationships, particularly in endangered and vulnerable species.

Dr. Viviana Gonzalez Astudillo
Guest Editor

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

  • wildlife conservation
  • wildlife
  • disease
  • climate change
  • habitat encroachment
  • endangered species
  • natural disasters
  • host–pathogen relationships

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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12 pages, 1463 KiB  
Communication
An Enigmatic Wild Passerine Mortality Event in the Eastern United States
by Sabrina S. Greening, Julie C. Ellis, Nicole L. Lewis, David B. Needle, Cristina M. Tato, Susan Knowles, Valerie Shearn-Bochsler, Jaimie L. Miller, Daniel A Grear, Jeffrey M. Lorch, David S. Blehert, Caitlin Burrell, Lisa A. Murphy, Erica A. Miller, C. Brandon Ogbunugafor, Andrea J. Ayala, W. Kelley Thomas, Joseph L. Sevigny, Lawrence M. Gordon, Tessa Baillargeon, Lusajo Mwakibete, Megan Kirchgessner, Christine L. Casey, Ethan Barton, Michael J. Yabsley, Eman Anis, Roderick B. Gagne, Patrice Klein, Cindy Driscoll, Chelsea A. Sykes, Robert H. Poppenga and Nicole M. Nemethadd Show full author list remove Hide full author list
Vet. Sci. 2025, 12(1), 48; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci12010048 - 11 Jan 2025
Viewed by 1184
Abstract
The ability to rapidly respond to wildlife health events is essential. However, such events are often unpredictable, especially with anthropogenic disturbances and climate-related environmental changes driving unforeseen threats. Many events also are short-lived and go undocumented, making it difficult to draw on lessons [...] Read more.
The ability to rapidly respond to wildlife health events is essential. However, such events are often unpredictable, especially with anthropogenic disturbances and climate-related environmental changes driving unforeseen threats. Many events also are short-lived and go undocumented, making it difficult to draw on lessons learned from past investigations. We report on the response to a mortality event observed predominantly in wild passerines in the eastern United States. The event began in May 2021 when wildlife rehabilitators and private citizens reported large numbers of sick and dead juvenile birds, mostly presenting as single cases with neurologic signs and/or ocular and periocular lesions. Early efforts by rehabilitators, veterinarians, state and federal wildlife agencies, and universities helped gather public reports and fuel rapid responses by government agencies. Collective efforts included live bird and carcass collections; submission to diagnostic laboratories and evaluation; information sharing; and coordinated messaging to stakeholders and interested parties. Extensive diagnostic evaluations failed to identify a causative pathogen or other etiology, although congruent results across laboratories have helped drive further investigation into alternative causes, such as nutritional deficiencies. This report highlights the strengths of a multi-agency, interdisciplinary investigation while exposing the need for an operational framework with approaches and resources dedicated to wildlife health. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wildlife Health and Disease in Conservation)
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18 pages, 41145 KiB  
Article
Multi-Year Mortality Due to Staphylococcal Arthritis and Osteomyelitis with Sandspur-Associated Injury in Juvenile Black Skimmers (Rynchops niger) at Nesting Colonies in Southwest Florida, USA
by Nicole M. Nemeth, Janell M. Brush, W. Andrew Cox, Rebecca Hardman, Brittany Piersma, Alexandra Troiano, Heather W. Barron, Melanie R. Kunkel, Chloe C. Goodwin, Alisia A. W. Weyna, Amy S. McKinney, Xuan Hui Teo, Rebecca Radisic, Lisa A. Shender, Susan Sanchez and Michelle van Deventer
Vet. Sci. 2024, 11(11), 578; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci11110578 - 18 Nov 2024
Viewed by 1087
Abstract
The black skimmer (Rynchops niger) is a state-threatened, colonially nesting seabird in Florida, USA. Conservation threats include habitat alteration, human disturbances, severe weather, and predation. During nest monitoring (May–September, 2020–2022), black skimmer juveniles at colonies on Fort Myers Beach and Marco [...] Read more.
The black skimmer (Rynchops niger) is a state-threatened, colonially nesting seabird in Florida, USA. Conservation threats include habitat alteration, human disturbances, severe weather, and predation. During nest monitoring (May–September, 2020–2022), black skimmer juveniles at colonies on Fort Myers Beach and Marco Island, Florida, had polyarthritis and died or were euthanized due to severe illness. Similarly-aged skimmers from geographically distant (considered unaffected) colonies were evaluated for comparison (2021–2023). We documented field, clinical, radiographical, and pathological findings to characterize disease and purported pathogenesis. The majority were lame and lethargic, in poor nutritional condition, and dehydrated. Additionally, 8/23 of the skimmers with dermatitis and arthritis from affected colonies also had penetrating sandspurs associated with skin ulceration, scabbing, and/or hemorrhage. The affected joints were often in limbs (interphalangeal and hock; less commonly stifle, elbow, carpus). A postmortem evaluation and bacteriology revealed Staphylococcal aureus-associated dermatitis, arthritis, tenosynovitis, and/or osteomyelitis in 21/22 of the juvenile skimmers from southwestern nest colonies. Staphylococcus aureus dissemination to internal organs occurred in 10/13 of the skimmers tested. Among skimmers evaluated from distant colonies, 5/10 that were examined histologically had skin crusting and inflammation but lacked arthritis. Occasional coinfections were documented (e.g., West Nile virus, Gram-negative bacilli). The results suggest that staphylococcal joint disease originated from sandspur-induced skin damage, followed by hematogenous dissemination to the joints and, occasionally, the internal organs. Additional nest sites should be tested to evaluate disease risk and potentially contributing environmental factors. We recommend that site managers employ techniques that reduce the risk of skimmer interactions with sandspurs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wildlife Health and Disease in Conservation)
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14 pages, 1710 KiB  
Article
Occurrence of Adenovirus in Fecal Samples of Wild Felids (Panthera onca and Leopardus pardalis) from Brazil: Predators as Dispersing Agents?
by Ygor Machado, Laís Santos Rizotto, Hilton Entringer Jr., Helena Lage Ferreira, Gabriel Augusto Marques Rossi and Ana Carolina Srbek-Araujo
Vet. Sci. 2024, 11(10), 511; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci11100511 - 17 Oct 2024
Viewed by 1310
Abstract
Wild felids are vital to maintaining the ecological balance in natural environments as they regulate prey populations at different levels of the food chain. Changes in the dynamics of predator populations can impact the entire biodiversity of an ecosystem. There are few reports [...] Read more.
Wild felids are vital to maintaining the ecological balance in natural environments as they regulate prey populations at different levels of the food chain. Changes in the dynamics of predator populations can impact the entire biodiversity of an ecosystem. There are few reports of Adenovirus infections in these animals, and little is known about their epidemiology. Therefore, a deeper understanding of these viruses within a One Health framework is essential, given their importance to animal, human, and environmental health. This study aimed to detect Adenovirus DNA in fecal samples of wild felids from a remnant of the Atlantic Forest in southeastern Brazil, renowned for its high biodiversity. A total of 43 fecal samples, 11 from jaguar (Panthera onca) and 32 from ocelot (Leopardus pardalis), were collected. The samples were subjected to viral nucleic acid extraction and genetic material amplification through PCR, followed by nucleotide sequencing. All phylogenetic analyses were based on the amino acid sequences of the DNA polymerase and IV2a genes. Adenovirus DNA was detected in the feces of both species, with two samples of each feline testing positive. This study reports, for the first time, the occurrence of Adenovirus associated with feces of Panthera onca and Leopardus pardalis. All detected sequences were grouped within the Mastadenovirus genus. Based solely on phylogenetic distance criteria, the identified sequences could be classified as Mastadenovirus bosprimum and Mastadenovirus from the vampire bat Desmodus rotundus. We hypothesize that Adenoviruses were associated with the prey consumed, which may allow the felines to act as eventual viral dispersing agents in the environment, in addition to the risk of being infected. This study provides new information on the association of Adenoviruses with wild felids and their prey, and offers important insights into the ecological dynamics of these viruses in natural environments. It suggests that wild felines may play a crucial role in viral surveillance programs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wildlife Health and Disease in Conservation)
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Review

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19 pages, 1395 KiB  
Review
The Importance of Studying Infectious and Parasitic Diseases of Wild Animals in the Amazon Biome with a Focus on One Health
by Felipe Masiero Salvarani, Hanna Gabriela da Silva Oliveira, Letícia Yasmin Silva Correa, Aline Alessandra Lima Soares and Brenda Cabral Ferreira
Vet. Sci. 2025, 12(2), 100; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci12020100 - 1 Feb 2025
Viewed by 295
Abstract
The Amazon Biome is home to an extraordinary diversity of wildlife, many of which are reservoirs or vectors for infectious and parasitic diseases that can impact not only the health of wild animals but also human and domestic animal populations. This narrative review [...] Read more.
The Amazon Biome is home to an extraordinary diversity of wildlife, many of which are reservoirs or vectors for infectious and parasitic diseases that can impact not only the health of wild animals but also human and domestic animal populations. This narrative review highlights the critical importance of studying infectious and parasitic diseases in wild animals within the Amazon, particularly in the context of the One Health approach, which recognizes the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health. This narrative review examines key pathogens, including viruses, bacteria, and parasites, that pose significant risks to wildlife conservation and public health. Through a synthesis of recent literature, this article emphasizes the need for comprehensive surveillance, research, and collaboration between the veterinary, medical, and environmental sectors. The results underscore the urgent necessity for an integrated response to emerging diseases, particularly as environmental changes and human activities increasingly disrupt ecosystems in the region. The conclusions advocate for the reinforcement of One Health initiatives in the Amazon Biome to ensure the protection of biodiversity and the prevention of zoonotic disease transmission to human populations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wildlife Health and Disease in Conservation)
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