Browsing by Author "Figueira, Luis"
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- Hunting for answers: Assessing Brucella spp. seroprevalence and risks in red deer and wild boar in Central PortugalPublication . Pires, Humberto; Cardoso, Luís; Lopes, Ana Patrícia; Fontes, Maria da Conceição; Silva, Sérgio Santos; Matos, Manuela; Pintado, Cristina Santos; Roque, Natália; Fonseca, Leonardo Filipe; Morgado, Inês; Dias, Ana Sofia; Figueira, Luis; Matos, Ana Cristina; Mesquita, João Rodrigo; Coelho, Ana CláudiaBetween 2016 and 2023, a cross-sectional study was conducted in the central region of Portugal in order to better understand the epidemiology and public health risks resulting from the handling and consumption of game animals infected with Brucella spp. The seroprevalence and risk factors for Brucella spp. seropositivity were evaluated. Antibodies against Brucella spp. were determined using a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Results showed that in the 650 serum samples collected from red deer (n = 298) and wild boars (n = 352) in Portugal, 21.7% (n = 141; 95% CI: 18.6–25.1%) tested positive. Wild boar had a significantly higher prevalence (35.5%; 95% CI: 30.5–40.8%) than red deer (5.4%, 95% CI: 3.1–8.6%; p ≤ 0.001). Risk factors for seropositivity were investigated using multivariable logistic regression models. The odds of being seropositive was 8.39 (95% CI: 4.75–14.84; p ≤ 0.001) times higher in wild boar than in red deer. Correlations between sex, age, body condition, and seropositivity could not be observed. The higher seroprevalence in wild boar suggests that this species may primarily contribute to the Brucella spp. ecology in central Portugal
- Molecular screening of Nocardia spp. in wild mammals: a cross-sectional studyPublication . Matos, Manuela; João, Sérgio; Matos, Ana Cristina; Figueira, Luis; Cardoso, Luís; Pinto, Maria de Lurdes; Coelho, Ana CláudiaNocardiosis is an emerging zoonosis caused by Nocardia spp. bacteria. The disease is linked to infections in immunocompromised individuals, and is potentially lethal when it turns systemic and is left untreated. The development of reliable and valid diagnostic methods is crucial to the identification of these pathogenic agents, particularly in wild mammals, which are potential reservoirs. The aim of this study was to determine the molecular prevalence of Nocardia spp. in wild mammals in Portugal. A sample of 114 wild mammals belonging to the orders Canidae, Cervidae, Erinaceidae, Herpestidae, Leporidae, Mustelidae, Viverridae, and Suidae were studied. Tissue samples (n=206) were collected from different organs. The molecular prevalence of Nocardia in wild mammals was 55.3% (95% CI: 45.7-64.6%). Nocardia spp. were detected in nine of ten species studied: 83.3% (95% CI: 62.2-100%) in Egyptian mongoose (Herpestes ichneumon), 63.2% (95% CI: 41.5-89.9%) in red fox (Vulpes vulpes), 45.9% (95% CI: 29.8-62.0%) in red deer (Cervus elaphus), 44.4% (95% CI: 28.2-60.6%) in wild boar (Sus scrofa), 3/3 beech martens (Martes foina), 2/2 Eurasian otters (Lutra lutra), 1/1 European badger (Meles meles), 1/1 genet (Genetta genetta), and 1/2 hedgehog (Erinaceus europeaeus). Of the 206 tissue samples studied by molecular techniques, Nocardia spp. were detected in 37.4% (95% CI: 36.7-38.1%), with a predominance in mesenteric lymph nodes (13.1%; 95% CI: 12.4-13.9%) and kidneys (9.2%; 95% CI: 8.5-9.9%). These results provide new insight into the prevalence of Nocardia in wild mammals and highlight the need for surveillance of wildlife as a potential reservoir of these emergent pathogens.
- Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis in Wild Boar (Sus scrofa) in PortugalPublication . Matos, Ana Cristina; Figueira, Luis; Martins, Maria Helena; Cardoso, Luís; Matos, Manuela; Pinto, Maria de Lurdes; Coelho, Ana CláudiaParatuberculosis, 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.
- Neurological lesions in cervids: a study in PortugalPublication . Pires, Maria A.; Macêdo, J.; Seixas, Fernanda; Gama, Adelina; Alves, Anabela; Pinto, Maria de Lurdes; Pires, Isabel; Matos, Ana Cristina; Figueira, Luis; Lima, Carla; Mendonça, Paula; Carvalho, Paulo; Orge, LeonorBrain samples were collected within the project "CWD Risk in Portugal", profiOng the infecOous diseases epidemiological surveillance and screening of chronic wasOng disease (CWD) during cervids hunts. The literature on wild animals´ neuropathological lesions is scarse. This work aims to describe the neuropathological findings in samples collected in deer hunted in Portugal.
- A preliminar study on Brucella spp. seroprevalence in wild boar (Sus scrofa) in PortugalPublication . Pires, Humberto; Matos, Manuela; Cardoso, Luis; Lopes, Ana Patrícia; Fontes, Maria da Conceição; Pintado, Cristina; Santos Pintado, Cristina Maria Baptista; Figueira, Luis; Figueira, Luís Manuel Faria; Mesquita, João R.; Matos, Ana Cristina; Matos, Ana; Coelho, Ana CláudiaVarious species of the genus Brucella are highly virulent zoonotic agents. Brucella melitensis, B. abortus, and B. suis area broadly spread worldwide and animal brucellosis has a significant economic impact. This zoonotic disease affects both domestic pigs and wild pigs such as wild boar (Sus scrofa) In order to investigate the importance of wild boar (Sus scrofa) in the epidemiology of Brucella infection in Portugal, a serological survey was performed on samples from 184 wild boar fron the Centre region of Portugal.