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- Survey of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis in road-killed wild carnivores in PortugalPublication . Matos, Ana Cristina; Figueira, Luís; Martins, Maria Helena; Loureiro, Filipa; Pinto, Maria de Lurdes; Matos, Manuela; Coelho, Ana CláudiaA survey to determine the occurrence of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) in wild carnivores in Portugal was conducted by testing samples from road-killed animals between 2009 and 2012. Postmortem examinations were performed and tissues were collected from wild carnivores representing four families and six different species, with a total of 74 animals analyzed. Cultures were performed by using Löwenstein-Jensen and Middlebrook 7H11 solid media and acid-fast isolates were identified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and mycobactin dependency characteristics. Tissues were also screened for MAP by directly extracting DNA and testing for the MAP-specific sequences. The occurrence of infected animals (an animal had at least one tissue that was positive for culture or direct PCR) was 27.0% (n = 20). MAP was isolated from culture of 25 tissue samples (3.8%) and was detected by direct PCR in 40 (6.0%) samples. Infection was recorded in 5/6 studied species: 7/49 (14.3%) red foxes (Vulpes vulpes), 3/3 (100%) beech martens (Martes foina), 2/4 (50.0%) Eurasian otters (Lutra lutra), 7/15 (46.7%) Egyptian mongooses (Herpestes ichneumon), and 1/1 (100%) European badger (Meles meles). These species represent three different taxonomic families: Canidae (14.3% were positive), Mustelidae (75.0% were positive), and Herpestidae (46.7% were positive). The results of this study confirm the presence of MAP infection in wild carnivores in Portugal.
- 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.
- West Nile virus antibodies in wild birds of prey from the North of PortugalPublication . Loureiro, Filipa; Cardoso, Luís; Matos, Ana Cristina; Matos, Manuela; Coelho, Ana CláudiaWest Nile Virus (WNV) is a mosquito-borne arbovirus spread worldwide, with an enzootic cycle among ornithophilic mosquitoes and birds. Rising temperatures, droughts and water shortage, and the increased movement of people and goods around the world, have facilitated and increased the risk of transmission of this virus in European countries. Seroepidemiological surveys of WNV are useful to understand the real spread of the virus in wild populations and prevent contagion to humans.
- 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).
- Seroprevalence of West Nile virus antibodies in wild birds of prey in PortugalPublication . Loureiro, Filipa; Cardoso, Luís; Matos, Ana Cristina; Matos, Manuela; Coelho, Ana ClaúdiaWest Nile virus (WNV) is one of the most widely distributed arboviruses in the world with zoonotic potential. Seroepidemiological studies are necessary to establish proper prevention and control strategies.
- 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.
- 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.
- Seroprevalence of West Nile virus in Cinereous vultures (Aegypius monachus) and Griffon vultures (Gyps fulvus) in the centre region of PortugalPublication . Loureiro, Filipa; Cardoso, Luís; Matos, Ana Cristina; Matos, Manuela; Coelho, Ana CláudiaWest Nile virus (WNV) is an emergent zoonotic pathogen spread worldwide. This flavivirus is endemically maintained in a life cycle with birds acting as reservoirs, Culex mosquitoes as the main vectors, and humans and horses as accidental dead-end hosts. 1 The potential impact of WNV infection on wildlife populations can be severe, especially in threatened or endangered species. 2 This work might be useful as a starting point for a surveillance program to better assess the real distribution of the WNV in Portuguese vultures. Early virus detection is important for both bird conservation and public health.
- 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.
- 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.