Browsing by Author "Loureiro, Filipa"
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- Coxiella burnetii in wild birds from EuropePublication . Loureiro, Filipa; Cardoso, Luís; Matos, Ana Cristina; Matos, Manuela; Coelho, Ana CláudiaCoxiella burnetii is a highly infectious bacterium responsible for causing Q fever, an emerging public health problem of global concern and the cause of severe economic losses in livestock farming. Many species can be asymptomatic carriers and shed this bacterium in various secretions and excreta. Humans can acquire the infection mainly through environmental contamination due to bacterial shedding of infected animals, and through tick-borne or foodborne transmissions. If this agent is aerosolized, it is considered a potential biological weapon. Advanced molecular and serological diagnostic techniques for Q fever over the last decade have made it possible to detect clinical cases and carry out population screening effectively. There needs to be more research on C. burnetii control in wildlife despite the increasing evidence that wildlife is a source of C. burnetii for both domestic animals and humans. Birds can transmit this pathogen directly or indirectly to other animals or humans, but data about the spreading of C. burnetii in avian populations still need to be available. The present work aimed to revise the literature about the involvement of wild birds in the epidemiology of Q fever in Europe. Reports of this pathogenic agent in wild birds in European countries since 2007 were considered.
- Deteção molecular de Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis em raposas-vermelhas (Vulpes vulpes)Publication . Matos, Ana Cristina; Figueira, Luís; Loureiro, Filipa; Martins, Maria Helena; Martins, Manuel; Pinto, Maria de Lurdes; Matos, Manuela; Coelho, Ana CláudiaDeteção molecular de Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis em raposas-vermelhas (Vulpes vulpes).
- Detection of Bagaza virus in Europe: A scoping reviewPublication . Loureiro, Filipa; Mesquita, João R.; Cardoso, Luis; Matos, Ana; Matos, Manuela; Coelho, Ana CláudiaThe Bagaza virus (BAGV) belongs to the genus Orthoflavivirus (Ntaya serocomplex) and emerged in Europe, Spain, in 2010. The natural transmission cycle of this virus is perpetuated by Culex spp. mosquitoes and viraemic birds. The ability of BAGV to cause infection in several game birds from the family Phasianidae has been well-studied. BAGV is antigenically similar to other orthoflaviviruses from the Japanese encephalitis serocomplex, such as the West Nile and Usutu viruses, a circumstance which can lead to cross-reactivity in less specific serological techniques (e.g., ELISA). Severe implications in animal health has already been described, but some aspects of the dynamics of transmission and the limits of zoonotic potential of BAGV still need to be clarified. Further investigation focused on epidemiological surveillance in high-risk areas would be beneficial for prevention and control of new outbreaks. The present study is a systematic review of the BAGV reports in Europe.
- Is Coxiella burnetii circulating in wild birds in the North of Portugal?Publication . Loureiro, Filipa; Cardoso, Luís; Matos, Ana Cristina; Pintado, Cristina Santos; Silva, Filipe; Matos, Manuela; Coelho, Ana CláudiaCoxiella burnetii is the causative agent of Q fever, a zoonosis of important public health concern, and a disease that has a serious economic impact on the production of farm animals. The role of birds as vectors of bacteria and other pathogens to farm animals has been suggested, thorough environmental contamination of pasturelands, water supplies and feed by avian drops. Migratory birds might also be the mean of transport to infected ticks, posing a risk to humans and animals. Although it is known that birds are potential reservoirs of C. burnetii, their role in the epidemiological cycle of the pathogen is still scarce and has not been described in Portugal so far. A survey was conducted for the detection of antibodies against C. burnetii in samples from 92 wild birds, collected in a wildlife rehabilitation centre in Northeastern Portugal. A commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA; IDVet®, Montpellier, France) was used to detect antibodies specific to C. burnetii, according to the manufacturer’s instructions. No samples tested positive. Results of the present study indicate that antibodies against C. burnetii were absent in the study population, but further analysis are needed to be able to infer the true seroprevalence of this bacterium in wild birds in the country.
- Métodos de biologia molecular para o diagnóstico rápido de micobactérias tuberculosas e não tuberculosas em animais domésticos e selvagensPublication . Matos, Manuela; Coelho, Ana Cristina.; Loureiro, Filipa; Pinto, Maria de Lurdes; Matos, Ana CristinaMétodos de biologia molecular para o diagnóstico rápido de micobactérias tuberculosas e não tuberculosas em animais domésticos e selvagens.
- Molecular and serological screening support the lack of Coxiella burnetii circulation in wild birds of PortugalPublication . Loureiro, Filipa; Mesquita, João R.; Cardoso, Luis; Pintado, Cristina Santos; Gonçalves, S. Gomes; Matos, Ana; Soeiro, V.; Gonçalves, A.; Silva, Filipe; Matos, Manuela; Coelho, Ana CláudiaCoxiella burnetii is a highly infectious zoonotic pathogenic bacterium that has a major economic impact in the livestock industry throughout the world and causes unpredictable outbreaks in humans worldwide. Although it is known that birds are potential reservoirs of C. burnetii, their role in the epidemiological cycle of the pathogen has not been fully verified. Due to its non-specific symptoms and clinical signs, it is certainly an underdiagnosed disease. The objective of this study was to obtain more information on C. burnetii prevalence in wild birds in Portugal. Blood, plasma, and other tissue samples were obtained from wild birds admitted at wildlife rehabilitation centres in Portugal in the scope of passive surveillance. Antibodies specific to C. burnetii were screened using a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Evidence of C. burnetii infection was sought based on the detection of bacterial DNA. No positive results were found, either in terms of antibodies to C. burnetii or molecular biology. These serological findings do not indicate the endemic circulation of C. burnetii in wild birds, which can be considered relevant information. However, a more complete and serialized approach over time is necessary to be able to make real inferences about the endemicity of the pathogen in the country and its dispersion among wild avian populations. qPCR results were also negative, a finding suggesting that this host population may not play a significant role in the transmission dynamics of C. burnetii. Given the importance of wild bird species as natural reservoirs of this zoonotic bacterium, we consider these data useful for multidisciplinary work in the prevention and control of Q fever, following a One Health approach.
- Occurrence of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis in road killed wild carnivores in PortugalPublication . Matos, Ana Cristina; Figueira, Luís; Martins, Maria Helena; Martins, Manuel; Loureiro, Filipa; Pinto, Maria de Lurdes; Matos, Manuela; Coelho, Ana CláudiaOccurrence of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis in road killed wild carnivores in Portugal.
- Serological evidence of antibodies to Flaviviridae in wild birds in PortugalPublication . Loureiro, Filipa; Cardoso, Luís; Matos, Ana Cristina; Pintado, Cristina Santos; Silva, Filipe; Ferreira, Mariana; Brandão, Ricardo; Lopes, Carolina; Lopes, Ana Patrícia; Mesquita, João Rodrigo; Matos, Manuela; Coelho, Ana CláudiaEmerging infectious diseases are a major threat to biodiversity and an important public health issue. Flaviviruses are the cause of several emerging vector-borne zoonotic arboviruses whose distribution is currently increasing in Europe. The evidence that West Nile virus (WNV) circulates in resident and migratory species has implications for both animal and public health and should therefore be studied in depth. USUTU (USUV), Bagaza (BAGV) and tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) are other viruses that are beginning to spread more widely. An integrated surveillance program, namely in birds, is essential for reducing the risk of infection in human populations within the One Health principles. In the present study, wild birds admitted to wildlife rehabilitation centers in Portugal were sampled. Two hundred eight blood samples were assayed serologically for antibodies to faviviruses by using a commercial ELISA kit. An overall seroprevalence of 19.6% (95% confdence interval [CI]: 13.7–26.7%) was observed. Antibodies against faviviruses were detected in 13 (35.1%) diferent species of wild birds. Accipitriformes (26.7%; 95% CI: 18.5–36.2%) and Strigiformes (26.7%; 95% CI: 14.6–42.0%) were the orders with the highest seroprevalence rates recorded. There were no statistically signifcant diferences (p=0.725) between the geographical regions (NUTS II) studied, but a statistically signifcant diference (p=0.017) was found between sex (male: 34.4%; female: 4.8%). A higher seroprevalence was detected in adults (32.1%) than in juvenile birds (9.3%) (p=0.014), and age was considered a risk factor for favivirus infection in wild birds (odds ratio 1.4; 95% CI: 0.5–4.0). More epidemiological studies are needed in Portugal since the actual spread of the genus Flavivirus throughout the country is unknown.
- Serological evidence of West Nile virus in wild birds in PortugalPublication . Loureiro, Filipa; Matos, Ana Cristina; Pintado, Cristina Santos; Cardoso, Luís; Silva, Filipe; Matos, Manuela; Coelho, Ana CláudiaWest Nile virus (WNV) has a zoonotic transmission cycle. Avian species are considered the definitive hosts, and mosquitoes and other arthropods are the main vectors. Humans are considered accidental and dead-end hosts, since mammals are unable to efficiently amplify the virus. We aimed at studying serological prevalence of WNV circulation in wild birds in Portugal. Three hundred and six individuals belonging to 34 different species and 11 orders were sampled, , and tested with a commercial ELISA kit for antibodies to WNV. Results were positive for 64 samples (20.9%; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 16.5-25.9%) as follows: Accipitriformes (n=44; 23%; 95% CI: 17.3-29.7%), Ciconiiformes (n=4; 9.3%¸95% CI: 2.6- 22.1%), Columbiformes (n=1; 16.7%¸95% CI: 0.4-64.1%), Otidiformes (n=1; 2.5%; 95% CI: 0.0- 97.5), and Strigiformes (n=14; 31.1%¸95% CI: 18.2-46.7%). So far, serological and molecular evidence of WNV circulation was mostly restricted to the southern part of the country, and our preliminary results found antibodies to WNV in samples collected from birds in the North of Portugal. Climate has been recognized as one of the main factors influencing WNV activity and dispersal. With the changes that have taken place in recent years at a global level, new studies are needed to assess the real epidemic situation of the virus in Portugal.
- Serological evidence of West Nile virus in wild birds in PortugalPublication . Loureiro, Filipa; Matos, Ana; Santos Pintado, Cristina Maria Baptista; Cardoso, Luis; Silva, Filiipe; Matos, Manuela; Coelho, Ana CláudiaWest Nile Virus (WNV) has a zoonotic transmission cycle. Avian species are considered the definitive hosts, and mosquitoes and other arthropods are the main vectors. Humans are considered accidental and dead-end hosts, since mammals are unable to efficiently amplify the virus. We aimed at studying serological prevalence of WNV circulation in wild birds in Portugal.
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