Screening Wild Birds for Tick-Borne Zoonotic Pathogens in Portugal
Filipa Loureiro,
João R. Mesquita,
Luís Cardoso,
Sérgio Santos-Silva,
Guilherme Moreira,
Jaqueline T. Bento,
Vanessa Soeiro,
Andreia Gonçalves,
Filipe Silva,
Patrícia F. Barradas,
Ana C. Matos,
Manuela Matos,
Ana Cláudia Coelho
Affiliations
Filipa Loureiro
Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre (CRAS), Veterinary Teaching Hospital (HVUTAD), University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
João R. Mesquita
School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (ICBAS), Porto University, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
Luís Cardoso
Animal and Veterinary Research Centre (CECAV), Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences (AL4AnimalS), University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
Sérgio Santos-Silva
School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (ICBAS), Porto University, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
Guilherme Moreira
School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (ICBAS), Porto University, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
Jaqueline T. Bento
School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (ICBAS), Porto University, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
Vanessa Soeiro
Biological Park of Gaia (PBG), Rua da Cunha, 4430-812 Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal
Andreia Gonçalves
Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre of Santo André (CRASSA), Quercus ANCN, Moinho Novo, Galiza, 7500-022 Vila Nova de Santo André, Portugal
Filipe Silva
Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre (CRAS), Veterinary Teaching Hospital (HVUTAD), University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
Patrícia F. Barradas
Epidemiology Research Unit (EPIUnit), Instituto de Saúde Pública da Universidade do Porto, 4050-600 Porto, Portugal
Ana C. Matos
Research Centre for Natural Resources, Environment and Society (CERNAS), Polytechnic Institute of Castelo Branco, 6000-767 Castelo Branco, Portugal
Manuela Matos
Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences (CITAB), University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
Ana Cláudia Coelho
Animal and Veterinary Research Centre (CECAV), Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences (AL4AnimalS), University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
Wild birds may be involved in the transmission of agents of infectious diseases, including zoonoses, a circumstance which raises a number of public and animal health issues. Migratory bird species play a significant role in the introduction of tick-borne pathogens to new geographic areas, contributing to the dissemination of various etiological agents. This preliminary study aimed to assess the occurrence of four potentially zoonotic pathogens (Hepatozoon spp., Borrelia spp., Babesia spp. and Theileria spp.) in the wild birds of Portugal. Blood and tissue samples were taken from 103 birds admitted at wildlife rehabilitation centers. Through the use of conventional PCR, our findings indicate no evidence of the circulation of these pathogens among the studied bird populations in the region. In the One Health context, it is relevant to understand how faraway avian populations play a role in the epidemiology of infectious diseases. Further molecular studies are needed to deepen the knowledge of avian piroplasmosis, borreliosis and hepatozoonosis.
