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Jota Baptista C, Seixas F, Gonzalo-Orden JM, Patinha C, Pato P, Ferreira da Silva E, Fernandes G, Oliveira PA. Heavy metal and metalloid concentrations in red deer (Cervus elaphus) and their human health implications from One Health perspective. ENVIRONMENTAL GEOCHEMISTRY AND HEALTH 2024; 46:226. [PMID: 38849664 PMCID: PMC11161529 DOI: 10.1007/s10653-024-01991-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024]
Abstract
The red deer is an ungulate and large game species. The contamination of the ecosystems by metal(loid)s may lead to the exposure of animals (as well as humans) through water and food resources. The direct contact of hunters and wild animal meat consumers with deer carcasses may be a potential contaminant source. This study aimed to determine the metal(loid)s' concentrations in the liver and kidney of red deer from two regions of Portugal (Idanha-a-Nova and Lousã), and to relate these with histopathologic lesions. Thirteen young male deer were submitted to metal(loid) determination (As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Pb, and Zn) by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrophotometry (ICP-MS) and histopathology examination. Renal Cd (8.072 ± 5.766 mg/kg dw) and hepatic Pb (3.824 ± 6.098 mg/kg dw) mean values were high, considering the maximum values for consumption established by the European Commission. The hepatic mean value of Cu was significantly higher in Idanha-a-Nova (150.059 ± 33.321 mg/kg dw), and it is at the Cu toxicity limit considered for ruminants (150 mg/kg). The pollution induced by Panasqueira mines (Castelo Branco) may be a possible explanation for some of the findings, especially the higher values of hepatic Cu and Pb found in Idanha-a-Nova deer. These results have high importance under a One Health perspective, since they have implications in public health, and pose at risk the imbalance of animal populations and ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catarina Jota Baptista
- Departamento de Ciências Veterinárias, Escola de Ciências Agrárias E Veterinárias (ECAV), Universidade de Trás-Os-Montes E Alto Douro (UTAD), Vila Real, Portugal.
- Centro de Investigação das Tecnologias Agroambientais E Biológicas (CITAB/ Inov4Agro), UTAD, Vila Real, Portugal.
- Instituto de Biomedicina (IBIOMED), Universidad de León, León, Spain.
- Egas Moniz Center for Interdisciplinary Research (CiiEM), Egas Moniz School of Health & Science, Almada, Portugal.
| | - Fernanda Seixas
- Departamento de Ciências Veterinárias, Escola de Ciências Agrárias E Veterinárias (ECAV), Universidade de Trás-Os-Montes E Alto Douro (UTAD), Vila Real, Portugal
- Centro de Ciência Animal E Veterinária (CECAV), Associated Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences (AL4AnimalS), UTAD, Quinta de Prados, 5000-801, Vila Real, Portugal
| | | | - Carla Patinha
- GEOBIOTEC and Departamento de Geociências, Universidade de Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Pedro Pato
- GEOBIOTEC and Departamento de Geociências, Universidade de Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
| | | | - Gilberto Fernandes
- Departamento de Ciências Veterinárias, Escola de Ciências Agrárias E Veterinárias (ECAV), Universidade de Trás-Os-Montes E Alto Douro (UTAD), Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Paula A Oliveira
- Departamento de Ciências Veterinárias, Escola de Ciências Agrárias E Veterinárias (ECAV), Universidade de Trás-Os-Montes E Alto Douro (UTAD), Vila Real, Portugal
- Centro de Investigação das Tecnologias Agroambientais E Biológicas (CITAB/ Inov4Agro), UTAD, Vila Real, Portugal
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Pereira AC, Lourenço J, Themudo G, Botelho A, Cunha MV. Population structure and history of Mycobacterium bovis European 3 clonal complex reveal transmission across ecological corridors of unrecognized importance in Portugal. Microbiol Spectr 2024:e0382923. [PMID: 38771094 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.03829-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Mycobacterium bovis causes animal tuberculosis in livestock and wildlife, with an impact on animal health and production, wildlife management, and public health. In this work, we sampled a multi-host tuberculosis community from the official hotspot risk area of Portugal over 16 years, generating the largest available data set in the country. Using phylogenetic and ecological modeling, we aimed to reconstruct the history of circulating lineages across the livestock-wildlife interface to inform intervention and the implementation of genomic surveillance within the official eradication plan. We find evidence for the co-circulation of M. bovis European 1 (Eu1), Eu2, and Eu3 clonal complexes, with Eu3 providing sufficient temporal signal for further phylogenetic investigation. The Eu3 most recent common ancestor (bovine) was dated in the 1990s, subsequently transitioning to wildlife (red deer and wild boar). Isolate clustering based on sample metadata was used to inform phylogenetic inference, unravelng frequent transmission between two clusters that represent an ecological corridor of previously unrecognized importance in Portugal. The latter was associated with transmission at the livestock-wildlife interface toward locations with higher temperature and precipitation, lower agriculture and road density, and lower host densities. This is the first analysis of M. bovis Eu3 complex in Iberia, shedding light on background ecological factors underlying long-term transmission and informing where efforts could be focused within the larger hotspot risk area of Portugal. IMPORTANCE Efforts to strengthen surveillance and control of animal tuberculosis (TB) are ongoing worlwide. Here, we developed an eco-phylodynamic framework based on discrete phylogenetic approaches informed by M. bovis whole-genome sequence data representing a multi-host transmission system at the livestock-wildlife interface, within a rich ecological landscape in Portugal, to understand transmission processes and translate this knowledge into disease management benefits. We find evidence for the co-circulation of several M. bovis clades, with frequent transmission of the Eu3 lineage among cattle and wildlife populations. Most transition events between different ecological settings took place toward host, climate and land use gradients, underscoring animal TB expansion and a potential corridor of unrecognized importance for M. bovis maintenance. Results stress that animal TB is an established wildlife disease without ecological barriers, showing that control measures in place are insufficient to prevent long-distance transmission and spillover across multi-host communities, demanding new interventions targeting livestock-wildlife interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- André C Pereira
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes (cE3c) & CHANGE-Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
- Biosystems & Integrative Sciences Institute (BioISI), Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - José Lourenço
- Biosystems & Integrative Sciences Institute (BioISI), Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Gonçalo Themudo
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes (cE3c) & CHANGE-Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Ana Botelho
- INIAV, I.P.-National Institute for Agrarian and Veterinary Research, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Mónica V Cunha
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes (cE3c) & CHANGE-Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
- Biosystems & Integrative Sciences Institute (BioISI), Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
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Pereira AC, Reis AC, Cunha MV. Genomic epidemiology sheds light on the emergence and spread of Mycobacterium bovis Eu2 Clonal Complex in Portugal. Emerg Microbes Infect 2023; 12:2253340. [PMID: 37640285 PMCID: PMC10484045 DOI: 10.1080/22221751.2023.2253340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2023] [Revised: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
ABSTRACTAnimal tuberculosis (TB) remains a serious concern for animal and human health. Mycobacterium bovis circulates in multi-host systems, dominated by the European 2 clonal complex (Eu2) in Iberia. In this work, we use genomic epidemiology to infer the emergence, spread, and spatiotemporal patterns of Eu2 in the official epidemiological risk area of animal TB in Portugal. Phylogenetic analysis of 144 M. bovis whole-genome sequences from cattle, wild boar, and red deer, representing the 2002-2021 period, distinguished three Eu2 clades that evolved independently. The major Eu2 clade underwent phylodynamic inferences to estimate the time and location of outbreaks, host transitions, and spatial diffusion as well. The origin of this Eu2 clade was attributed to the red deer population in the Castelo Branco district, near the border with Spain. Most host transitions were intraspecific (80%), while interspecific transmissions between wildlife species (wild boar-red deer), and between wild boar and cattle, were highly supported. Phylogeographic reconstruction evidenced that most transitions (82%) occur within municipalities, highlighting local transmission corridors.Our study indicates that M. bovis continues to spread at the cattle-wildlife interface within the animal TB hotspot area, possibly driven by the foraging behaviour of wild boar near agricultural lands. Red deer seems to be an important driver of TB within wildlife hosts, while the wild boar links the multi-host wildlife community and livestock. This work highlights the value of combining genomic epidemiology with phylodynamic inference to resolve host jumps and spatial patterns of M. bovis, providing real-time clues about points of intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- André C. Pereira
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes (cE3c) & CHANGE – Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
- Biosystems & Integrative Sciences Institute (BioISI), Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Ana C. Reis
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes (cE3c) & CHANGE – Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
- Biosystems & Integrative Sciences Institute (BioISI), Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Mónica V. Cunha
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes (cE3c) & CHANGE – Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
- Biosystems & Integrative Sciences Institute (BioISI), Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
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Is serology a realistic approach for monitoring red deer tuberculosis in the field? Prev Vet Med 2022; 202:105612. [DOI: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2022.105612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2021] [Revised: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
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GIS as an Epidemiological Tool to Monitor the Spatial-Temporal Distribution of Tuberculosis in Large Game in a High-Risk Area in Portugal. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11082374. [PMID: 34438831 PMCID: PMC8388723 DOI: 10.3390/ani11082374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2021] [Revised: 07/22/2021] [Accepted: 08/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Hunting of large game is an activity of great social and economic importance. However, it can cause public health problems due to the zoonotic diseases of these animals, such as tuberculosis. Regular space–time monitoring of hunted animals’ health status allows both the hunters and competent authorities to understand the geographic location of the hunted animals, as well as the occurrence of possible diseases in these animals. This investigation presents the results of the assessment of the spatial–temporal distribution of tuberculosis in large game in a tuberculosis high-risk area in Portugal in the form of maps, which allow any interested party to quickly analyse the hunting situation regardless of their technical or scientific knowledge. Abstract Since April 2011, Portugal has implemented specific national legislation (Notice No. 1/2011), defining “Epidemiologic Risk Areas for Bovine Tuberculosis in Large Game” and mitigation measures in these areas, including Idanha-a-Nova county. A GIS project was created to record information that would allow us to analyse the spatial–temporal distribution, both for hunting bags and tuberculosis occurrence, in hunted wild boar and red deer in Idanha-a-Nova. Hunting bag and tuberculosis-like lesion data were recorded during post-mortem inspection across 11 hunting seasons, totalling 9844 animals. The difference in tuberculosis occurrence for these species was statistically significant in nearly all 11 seasons, with wild boars presenting approximately twice the occurrence of red deer. No significant difference was noted before and after the Notice No. 1/2011 implementation. These results, following GIS-based spatial analysis, enable us to state that both large game species displayed an irregular tuberculosis pattern for the 2006–2016 period, and we identified some specific areas of high risk for both species. Southern areas of the county may be considered the priority for intervention. This research demonstrates the potential of GIS tools to evaluate, in the field, the results and efficacy of legislation such as Notice No. 1/2011, and to ensure the correct implementation of cost-effective mitigation strategies for tuberculosis in large game species.
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Reis AC, Salvador LCM, Robbe-Austerman S, Tenreiro R, Botelho A, Albuquerque T, Cunha MV. Whole Genome Sequencing Refines Knowledge on the Population Structure of Mycobacterium bovis from a Multi-Host Tuberculosis System. Microorganisms 2021; 9:1585. [PMID: 34442664 PMCID: PMC8401292 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9081585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2021] [Revised: 07/22/2021] [Accepted: 07/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Classical molecular analyses of Mycobacterium bovis based on spoligotyping and Variable Number Tandem Repeat (MIRU-VNTR) brought the first insights into the epidemiology of animal tuberculosis (TB) in Portugal, showing high genotypic diversity of circulating strains that mostly cluster within the European 2 clonal complex. Previous surveillance provided valuable information on the prevalence and spatial occurrence of TB and highlighted prevalent genotypes in areas where livestock and wild ungulates are sympatric. However, links at the wildlife-livestock interfaces were established mainly via classical genotype associations. Here, we apply whole genome sequencing (WGS) to cattle, red deer and wild boar isolates to reconstruct the M. bovis population structure in a multi-host, multi-region disease system and to explore links at a fine genomic scale between M. bovis from wildlife hosts and cattle. Whole genome sequences of 44 representative M. bovis isolates, obtained between 2003 and 2015 from three TB hotspots, were compared through single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) variant calling analyses. Consistent with previous results combining classical genotyping with Bayesian population admixture modelling, SNP-based phylogenies support the branching of this M. bovis population into five genetic clades, three with apparent geographic specificities, as well as the establishment of an SNP catalogue specific to each clade, which may be explored in the future as phylogenetic markers. The core genome alignment of SNPs was integrated within a spatiotemporal metadata framework to further structure this M. bovis population by host species and TB hotspots, providing a baseline for network analyses in different epidemiological and disease control contexts. WGS of M. bovis isolates from Portugal is reported for the first time in this pilot study, refining the spatiotemporal context of TB at the wildlife-livestock interface and providing further support to the key role of red deer and wild boar on disease maintenance. The SNP diversity observed within this dataset supports the natural circulation of M. bovis for a long time period, as well as multiple introduction events of the pathogen in this Iberian multi-host system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana C. Reis
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes (cE3c), Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal;
- Biosystems & Integrative Sciences Institute (BioISI), Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal;
| | - Liliana C. M. Salvador
- Department of Infectious Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA;
- Institute of Bioinformatics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
- Center for the Ecology of Infectious Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | | | - Rogério Tenreiro
- Biosystems & Integrative Sciences Institute (BioISI), Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal;
| | - Ana Botelho
- INIAV, IP-National Institute for Agrarian and Veterinary Research, 2780-157 Oeiras, Portugal; (A.B.); (T.A.)
| | - Teresa Albuquerque
- INIAV, IP-National Institute for Agrarian and Veterinary Research, 2780-157 Oeiras, Portugal; (A.B.); (T.A.)
| | - Mónica V. Cunha
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes (cE3c), Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal;
- Biosystems & Integrative Sciences Institute (BioISI), Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal;
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The Association between Palmer Drought Severity Index Data and Tuberculosis-like Lesions Occurrence in Mediterranean Hunted Wild Boars. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11072060. [PMID: 34359188 PMCID: PMC8300272 DOI: 10.3390/ani11072060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2021] [Revised: 07/03/2021] [Accepted: 07/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Climate is one of the most influential factors in the dynamics of tuberculosis in the Mediterranean Iberic wildlife population. In this study, we aim to address how drought as a risk factor influences the occurrence of Tuberculosis-like lesions (TBL) in wild boar inspected in the field. With this focus, our study contributes to pointing out the importance of periods of drought in the increased TBL occurrence in wild boars inspected in the field in the subsequent season. The results of our study allow hunting managers to be advised, in advance, on whether they should adopt extra protective measures when they are aware of the presence of periods of drought. This climate trait can become an alert sign for increased TBL occurrence in the following season, allowing for the implementation of a feasible, timely, and effective measures to control TB in the wild boar population. Abstract In the Iberian Peninsula, the prevalence of tuberculosis differs for each region and for different wild disease hosts and the region affected by a Mediterranean climate will be the most affected. The Mediterranean Iberic regions have a favourable ecosystem for the development of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex agents, where habitat, population dynamics, and climate (especially drought) are important factors affecting the high prevalence of tuberculosis in the wild boar population. Our objective was to study the association between the Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI) and the occurrence of tuberculosis-like lesions (TBL) in wild boar during nine hunting seasons (2008/09 to 2016/17) in Idanha-a-Nova County. To this end, statistical analysis revealed a significant association (p < 0.05) between the occurrence of TBL in wild boar in Idanha-a-Nova County and the analysed risk factor—previous season with periods of drought—which indicated that, when one season experiences some periods of drought, the probability of TBL occurrence in wild boars was 1.2 (OR = 1.2) times higher in the next hunting season than when there were no periods of drought. Therefore, our study contributes to the discovery of a positive effect of periods of drought on the transmission of tuberculosis in Iberian wildlife.
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Lopes BC, Vidaletti MR, Loiko MR, Andrade JDS, Maciel ALG, Doyle RL, Bertagnolli AC, Rodrigues RO, Driemeier D, Mayer FQ. Investigation of Mycobacterium bovis and Metastrongylus sp. co-infection and its relationship to tuberculosis lesions' occurrence in wild boars. Comp Immunol Microbiol Infect Dis 2021; 77:101674. [PMID: 34051650 DOI: 10.1016/j.cimid.2021.101674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2020] [Revised: 05/17/2021] [Accepted: 05/18/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Animal tuberculosis (aTB) is a zoonotic disease characterized by granulomatous lesions on affected tissues, occurring as a consequence of immunological response to infection. Mycobacterium bovis, the main causative agent of aTB, was investigated in Brazilian wild boars with 37.7 % (29/77) positivity. Among these animals, most had no macroscopic tuberculosis-like lesions (89.6 %; 26/29). The existence of co-infections, which may alter an individual's immune response to an immunological challenge, could influence the formation of tuberculosis lesions. Therefore, we investigated Metastrongylus sp. and aTB co-infection to seek an explanation for the absence of macroscopic lesions in aTB. Of the tested animals, 77.9 % (60/77) had Metastrongylus sp., however, there was no association between its occurrence and the pattern of aTB lesions. The absence of tuberculous lesions in infected animals is worrisome, especially to hunters who handle their carcasses, potentially assuming that the animal is healthy. Studies evaluating other possibilities that can explain the absence of lesions in infected animals should be carried out to better understand these findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruna Correa Lopes
- Centro de Pesquisa em Saúde Animal, Instituto de Pesquisas Veterinárias Desidério Finamor, Departamento de Diagnóstico e Pesquisa Agropecuária, Secretaria da Agricultura, Pecuária e Desenvolvimento Rural, Estrada Do Conde, 6000 - Sans Souci, 92990-000, Eldorado do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Veterinárias, Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Bento Gonçalves, 9090 - Agronomia, 91540-000, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
| | - Marina Roth Vidaletti
- Centro de Pesquisa em Saúde Animal, Instituto de Pesquisas Veterinárias Desidério Finamor, Departamento de Diagnóstico e Pesquisa Agropecuária, Secretaria da Agricultura, Pecuária e Desenvolvimento Rural, Estrada Do Conde, 6000 - Sans Souci, 92990-000, Eldorado do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
| | - Márcia Regina Loiko
- Feevale, Universidade Feevale, Av. Edgar Hoffmeister, 600 - Zona Industrial Norte, Campo Bom, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
| | - Juliana da Silva Andrade
- Centro de Pesquisa em Saúde Animal, Instituto de Pesquisas Veterinárias Desidério Finamor, Departamento de Diagnóstico e Pesquisa Agropecuária, Secretaria da Agricultura, Pecuária e Desenvolvimento Rural, Estrada Do Conde, 6000 - Sans Souci, 92990-000, Eldorado do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
| | - Anna Luiza Gisler Maciel
- Centro de Pesquisa em Saúde Animal, Instituto de Pesquisas Veterinárias Desidério Finamor, Departamento de Diagnóstico e Pesquisa Agropecuária, Secretaria da Agricultura, Pecuária e Desenvolvimento Rural, Estrada Do Conde, 6000 - Sans Souci, 92990-000, Eldorado do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
| | - Rovaina Laureano Doyle
- Centro de Pesquisa em Saúde Animal, Instituto de Pesquisas Veterinárias Desidério Finamor, Departamento de Diagnóstico e Pesquisa Agropecuária, Secretaria da Agricultura, Pecuária e Desenvolvimento Rural, Estrada Do Conde, 6000 - Sans Souci, 92990-000, Eldorado do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
| | - Angélica Cavalheiro Bertagnolli
- Centro de Pesquisa em Saúde Animal, Instituto de Pesquisas Veterinárias Desidério Finamor, Departamento de Diagnóstico e Pesquisa Agropecuária, Secretaria da Agricultura, Pecuária e Desenvolvimento Rural, Estrada Do Conde, 6000 - Sans Souci, 92990-000, Eldorado do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
| | - Rogério Oliveira Rodrigues
- Centro de Pesquisa em Saúde Animal, Instituto de Pesquisas Veterinárias Desidério Finamor, Departamento de Diagnóstico e Pesquisa Agropecuária, Secretaria da Agricultura, Pecuária e Desenvolvimento Rural, Estrada Do Conde, 6000 - Sans Souci, 92990-000, Eldorado do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
| | - David Driemeier
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Veterinárias, Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Bento Gonçalves, 9090 - Agronomia, 91540-000, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
| | - Fabiana Quoos Mayer
- Centro de Pesquisa em Saúde Animal, Instituto de Pesquisas Veterinárias Desidério Finamor, Departamento de Diagnóstico e Pesquisa Agropecuária, Secretaria da Agricultura, Pecuária e Desenvolvimento Rural, Estrada Do Conde, 6000 - Sans Souci, 92990-000, Eldorado do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
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Long-term molecular surveillance provides clues on a cattle origin for Mycobacterium bovis in Portugal. Sci Rep 2020; 10:20856. [PMID: 33257726 PMCID: PMC7705689 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-77713-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2020] [Accepted: 11/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Animal tuberculosis (TB), caused by Mycobacterium bovis, is maintained in Portugal in a multi-host system, with cattle, red deer and wild boar, playing a central role. However, the ecological processes driving transmission are not understood. The main aim of this study was thus to contribute to the reconstruction of the spatiotemporal history of animal TB and to refine knowledge on M. bovis population structure in order to inform novel intervention strategies. A collection of 948 M. bovis isolates obtained during long-term surveillance (2002–2016, 15 years) of cattle (n = 384), red deer (n = 303) and wild boar (n = 261), from the main TB hotspot areas, was characterized by spoligotyping and 8 to 12-loci MIRU-VNTR. Spoligotyping identified 64 profiles and MIRU-VNTR distinguished 2 to 36 subtypes within each spoligotype, enabling differentiation of mixed or clonal populations. Common genotypic profiles within and among livestock and wildlife in the same spatiotemporal context highlighted epidemiological links across hosts and regions, as for example the SB0119-M205 genotype shared by cattle in Beja district or SB0121-M34 shared by the three hosts in Castelo Branco and Beja districts. These genomic data, together with metadata, were integrated in a Bayesian inference framework, identifying five ancestral M. bovis populations. The phylogeographic segregation of M. bovis in specific areas of Portugal where the disease persists locally is postulated. Concurrently, robust statistics indicates an association of the most probable ancient population with cattle and Beja, providing a clue on the origin of animal TB epidemics. This relationship was further confirmed through a multinomial probability model that assessed the influence of host species on spatiotemporal clustering. Two significant clusters were identified, one that persisted between 2004 and 2010, in Beja district, with Barrancos county at the centre, overlapping the central TB core area of the Iberian Peninsula, and highlighting a significant higher risk associated to cattle. The second cluster was predominant in the 2012–2016 period, holding the county Rosmaninhal at the centre, in Castelo Branco district, for which wild boar contributed the most in relative risk. These results provide novel quantitative insights beyond empirical perceptions, that may inform adaptive TB control choices in different regions.
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Orłowska B, Krajewska-Wędzina M, Augustynowicz-Kopeć E, Kozińska M, Brzezińska S, Zabost A, Didkowska A, Welz M, Kaczor S, Żmuda P, Anusz K. Epidemiological characterization of Mycobacterium caprae strains isolated from wildlife in the Bieszczady Mountains, on the border of Southeast Poland. BMC Vet Res 2020; 16:362. [PMID: 32993648 PMCID: PMC7526380 DOI: 10.1186/s12917-020-02581-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2020] [Accepted: 09/17/2020] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The majority of animal tuberculosis (TB) cases reported in wildlife in Poland over the past 20 years have concerned the European bison inhabiting the Bieszczady Mountains in Southeast Poland: an area running along the border of Southeast Poland. As no TB cases have been reported in domestic animals in this region since 2005, any occurrence of TB in the free-living animals inhabiting this area might pose a real threat to local livestock and result in the loss of disease-free status. The aim of the study was to describe the occurrence of tuberculosis in the wildlife of the Bieszczady Mountains and determine the microbiological and molecular characteristics of any cultured strains. Lymph node samples were collected for analysis from 274 free-living animals, including European bison, red foxes, badgers, red deer, wild boar and roe deer between 2011 and 2017. Löwenstein–Jensen and Stonebrink media were used for culture. Molecular identification of strains was performed based on hsp65 sequence analysis, the GenoType®MTBC (Hain Lifescience, Germany) test, spoligotyping and MIRU-VNTR analysis. Results Mycobacterium caprae was isolated from the lymph nodes of 21 out of 55 wild boar (38.2%; CI 95%: 26.5%, 51.4%) and one roe deer. Since 2014, no new TB cases have been reported in the Bieszczady European bison population. Conclusions The identification of TB in wild boar in the Bieszczady is an alarming phenomenon, which requires further investigation. The Bieszczady mountains are a precious, unique area, home to many protected species. However, it is also the only area in Poland where TB cases have been reported in free-living animals. The occurrence of TB in wild boar inhabiting this area might pose a real threat to local livestock and many of the protected species (for example European bison that can share feeding places with wild boar). Given this situation, ongoing monitoring of the prevalence of TB should be conducted, and protective measures should be considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Blanka Orłowska
- Department of Food Hygiene and Public Health Protection, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences (SGGW), Nowoursynowska 166, 02-787, Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Monika Krajewska-Wędzina
- Department of Microbiology, National Veterinary Research Institute, Partyzantów 57, 24-100, Puławy, Poland
| | - Ewa Augustynowicz-Kopeć
- Department of Microbiology, National Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases Research Institute (NTLD), Płocka 26, 01-138, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Monika Kozińska
- Department of Microbiology, National Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases Research Institute (NTLD), Płocka 26, 01-138, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Sylwia Brzezińska
- Department of Microbiology, National Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases Research Institute (NTLD), Płocka 26, 01-138, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Anna Zabost
- Department of Microbiology, National Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases Research Institute (NTLD), Płocka 26, 01-138, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Anna Didkowska
- Department of Food Hygiene and Public Health Protection, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences (SGGW), Nowoursynowska 166, 02-787, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Mirosław Welz
- General Veterinary Inspectorate, Wspólna 30, 00-930, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Stanisław Kaczor
- County Veterinary Inspectorate, Młynarska 45, 38-500, Sanok, Poland
| | - Piotr Żmuda
- University Centre of Veterinary Medicine UJ-UR, al. Mickiewicza 24/28, 30-059, Cracow, Poland
| | - Krzysztof Anusz
- Department of Food Hygiene and Public Health Protection, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences (SGGW), Nowoursynowska 166, 02-787, Warsaw, Poland
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Santos N, Nunes T, Fonseca C, Vieira-Pinto M, Almeida V, Gortázar C, Correia-Neves M. Spatial Analysis of Wildlife Tuberculosis Based on a Serologic Survey Using Dried Blood Spots, Portugal. Emerg Infect Dis 2019; 24:2169-2175. [PMID: 30457522 PMCID: PMC6256377 DOI: 10.3201/eid2412.171357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
We investigated the spatial epidemiology of bovine tuberculosis (TB) in wildlife in a multihost system. We surveyed bovine TB in Portugal by serologic analysis of elutes of dried blood spots obtained from hunted wild boar. We modeled spatial disease risk by using areal generalized linear mixed models with conditional autoregressive priors. Antibodies against Mycobaterium bovis were detected in 2.4% (95% CI 1.5%-3.8%) of 678 wild boar in 2 geographic clusters, and the predicted risk fits well with independent reports of M. bovis culture. Results show that elutes are an almost perfect substitute for serum (Cohen unweighted κ = 0.818), indicating that serologic tests coupled with dried blood spots are an effective strategy for large-scale bovine TB surveys, using wild boar as sentinel species. Results also show that bovine TB is an emerging wildlife disease and stress the need to prevent further geographic spread and prevalence increase.
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12
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Maciel ALG, Loiko MR, Bueno TS, Moreira JG, Coppola M, Dalla Costa ER, Schmid KB, Rodrigues RO, Cibulski SP, Bertagnolli AC, Mayer FQ. Tuberculosis in Southern Brazilian wild boars (Sus scrofa): First epidemiological findings. Transbound Emerg Dis 2017; 65:518-526. [PMID: 29076653 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.12734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is a zoonosis caused mainly by Mycobacterium bovis that affects domestic and wild animals. In Brazil, there are no epidemiological studies on tuberculosis in wild animal populations and their possible role in the disease maintenance in cattle herds; thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the occurrence of tuberculosis in wild boars in Rio Grande do Sul, southern Brazil. Tissue samples of animals hunted under government consent were submitted to histopathology and M. bovis polymerase chain reaction (PCR) as screening tests; the positive samples were subsequently submitted to bacterial isolation, the gold standard diagnosis. Eighty animals were evaluated, of which 27.9% and 31.3% showed histopathological changes and M. bovis genome presence, respectively. Moreover, 23.8% of the animals had at least one organ with isolates classified as Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTC). Three hunting points were risk factors for positive results on screening tests. This study shows the occurrence of tuberculosis in a wild boars' population, and raise the possibility of these animals to play a role as disease reservoirs in southern Brazil. These results may help to improve the Brazilian tuberculosis control programme, as well as elucidate the circulation of mycobacteria in this country.
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Affiliation(s)
- A L G Maciel
- Fundação Estadual de Pesquisa Agropecuária, Instituto de Pesquisas Veterinárias Desidério Finamor, Eldorado do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil
| | - M R Loiko
- Fundação Estadual de Pesquisa Agropecuária, Instituto de Pesquisas Veterinárias Desidério Finamor, Eldorado do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil
| | - T S Bueno
- Fundação Estadual de Pesquisa Agropecuária, Instituto de Pesquisas Veterinárias Desidério Finamor, Eldorado do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil
| | - J G Moreira
- Fundação Estadual de Pesquisa Agropecuária, Instituto de Pesquisas Veterinárias Desidério Finamor, Eldorado do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil
| | - M Coppola
- Fundação Estadual de Pesquisa Agropecuária, Instituto de Pesquisas Veterinárias Desidério Finamor, Eldorado do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil
| | - E R Dalla Costa
- Fundação Estadual de Pesquisa em Saúde, Centro de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil
| | - K B Schmid
- Fundação Estadual de Pesquisa em Saúde, Centro de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil
| | - R O Rodrigues
- Fundação Estadual de Pesquisa Agropecuária, Instituto de Pesquisas Veterinárias Desidério Finamor, Eldorado do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil
| | - S P Cibulski
- Laboratório de Virologia, Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil
| | - A C Bertagnolli
- Fundação Estadual de Pesquisa Agropecuária, Instituto de Pesquisas Veterinárias Desidério Finamor, Eldorado do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil
| | - F Q Mayer
- Fundação Estadual de Pesquisa Agropecuária, Instituto de Pesquisas Veterinárias Desidério Finamor, Eldorado do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil
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Cunha MV, Azorín B, Peñuela RG, Albuquerque T, Botelho A. Exposure of Threatened Accipitridae to Mycobacterium bovis Calls for Active Surveillance. ECOHEALTH 2017; 14:310-317. [PMID: 28258525 DOI: 10.1007/s10393-017-1226-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2016] [Revised: 12/14/2016] [Accepted: 02/08/2017] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Anthropogenic activities have cumulatively led to the dramatic decline of world populations of vultures that currently face serious survival challenges in several regions of the world. In Portugal, the three resident species qualify as endangered and are under conservation efforts, mainly in the central east and south-east regions, where habitat protection and artificial feeding stations were implemented. Concurrently, the areas under protection are highly affected by tuberculosis (TB) in cattle and wild ungulates, whose potentially infected carcasses may naturally or artificially be used as feed by local vultures. In this work, we opportunistically surveyed populations of Eurasian griffon (Gyps fulvus) and Eurasian black vulture (Aegypius monachus) for the presence of Mycobacterium bovis. Nine pathogenic mycobacteria, including one M. bovis isolate, were cultured from the oropharynx of nine of the surveyed vultures (n = 55), sampled in recovery centres or in artificial feeding stations. Genotyping of the M. bovis strain indicated spoligotype SB0121, the most frequent type in Portugal, and a unique MIRU-VNTR profile that differed in two loci from the profiles of SB0121 bovine and deer strains from the same geographical area. The M. bovis-positive griffon exhibited poor clinical condition when admitted to the recovery centre; however, clinical evidence of TB was not present. Although the significance of M. bovis isolation in this vulture specimen could not be ascertained and despite the accepted notion that vultures are naturally resistant to microbial pathogens, the sanitary follow-up of Accipitridae vulture populations in TB-hotspot areas is essential to safeguard ongoing conservation efforts and also to evaluate the suitability of standing legislation on deliberate supplementary feeding schemes for menaced birds of prey.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mónica V Cunha
- INIAV, I.P. - National Institute for Agrarian and Veterinary Research, Rua dos Lagidos, 4485-655, Vairão, Portugal.
- Center for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes (Ce3C), Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Ed. C2, 1749-016, Lisbon, Portugal.
- Biosystems & Integrative Sciences Institute (BioISI), Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016, Lisbon, Portugal.
| | - Beatriz Azorín
- CERAS - Centro de Estudos e Recuperação de Animais Selvagens, Quercus ANCN, Núcleo Regional de Castelo Branco, Castelo Branco, Portugal
| | - Rocío G Peñuela
- CERAS - Centro de Estudos e Recuperação de Animais Selvagens, Quercus ANCN, Núcleo Regional de Castelo Branco, Castelo Branco, Portugal
| | - Teresa Albuquerque
- INIAV, I.P. - National Institute for Agrarian and Veterinary Research, Av. da República, Quinta do Marquês, Edifício Principal, Piso 1, 2780-157, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Ana Botelho
- INIAV, I.P. - National Institute for Agrarian and Veterinary Research, Av. da República, Quinta do Marquês, Edifício Principal, Piso 1, 2780-157, Oeiras, Portugal
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14
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Madeira S, Manteigas A, Ribeiro R, Otte J, Fonseca AP, Caetano P, Abernethy D, Boinas F. Factors that Influence Mycobacterium bovis Infection in Red Deer and Wild Boar in an Epidemiological Risk Area for Tuberculosis of Game Species in Portugal. Transbound Emerg Dis 2015; 64:793-804. [PMID: 26519121 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.12439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2015] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is a worldwide zoonotic disease of domestic and wild animals. Eradication has proved elusive in those countries with intensive national programmes but with ongoing transmission between wildlife and cattle. In Portugal, a high-risk area for bTB was defined and specific measures implemented to assess and minimize the risk from wildlife. Data from the 2011 to 2014 hunting seasons for red deer (Cervus elaphus) and wild boar (Sus scrofa) were analysed with bovine demographic and bTB information to assess factors that determined the occurrence and distribution of bTB in both species. The likelihood of bTB-like lesions in wild boar was positively associated with density of red deer, wild boar and cattle, while for red deer, only their density and age were significant factors. The likelihood of Mycobacterium bovis isolation in wild boar was associated with density of cattle and red deer and also with the anatomical location of lesions, while for red deer, none of the variables tested were statistically significant. Our results suggest that, in the study area, the role of red deer and wild boar may be different from the one previously suggested by other authors for the Iberian Peninsula, as red deer may be the driving force behind M. bovis transmission to wild boar. These findings may assist the official services and game managing bodies for the management of hunting zones, what could also impact the success of the bTB eradication programme.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Madeira
- Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Animal Health (CIISA), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - A Manteigas
- Direção Geral de Alimentação e Veterinária, DSAVRC-DAVCB, Castelo Branco, Portugal
| | - R Ribeiro
- Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Animal Health (CIISA), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - J Otte
- Berkeley Economic Advising and Research, Rome, Italy
| | - A Pina Fonseca
- Direção Geral de Alimentação e Veterinária, DSAVRC-DAVG, Guarda, Portugal
| | - P Caetano
- Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Animal Health (CIISA), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - D Abernethy
- Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - F Boinas
- Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Animal Health (CIISA), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
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15
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Nugent G, Gortazar C, Knowles G. The epidemiology of Mycobacterium bovis in wild deer and feral pigs and their roles in the establishment and spread of bovine tuberculosis in New Zealand wildlife. N Z Vet J 2015; 63 Suppl 1:54-67. [PMID: 25295713 PMCID: PMC4566879 DOI: 10.1080/00480169.2014.963792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2022]
Abstract
In New Zealand, wild deer and feral pigs are assumed to be spillover hosts for Mycobacterium bovis, and so are not targeted in efforts aimed at locally eradicating bovine tuberculosis (TB) from possums (Trichosurus vulpecula), the main wildlife host. Here we review the epidemiology of TB in deer and pigs, and assess whether New Zealand's TB management programme could be undermined if these species sometimes achieve maintenance host status. In New Zealand, TB prevalences of up to 47% have been recorded in wild deer sympatric with tuberculous possums. Patterns of lesion distribution, age-specific prevalences and behavioural observations suggest that deer become infected mainly through exposure to dead or moribund possums. TB can progress rapidly in some deer (<10%), but generalised disease is uncommon in wild deer; conversely some infected animals can survive for many years. Deer-to-deer transmission of M. bovis is rare, but transmission from tuberculous deer carcasses to scavengers, including possums, is likely. That creates a small spillback risk that could persist for a decade after transmission of new infection to wild deer has been halted. Tuberculosis prevalence in New Zealand feral pigs can reach 100%. Infections in lymph nodes of the head and alimentary tract predominate, indicating that TB is mostly acquired through scavenging tuberculous carrion, particularly possums. Infection is usually well contained, and transmission between pigs is rare. Large reductions in local possum density result in gradual declines (over 10 years) in TB prevalence among sympatric wild deer, and faster declines in feral pigs. Elimination of TB from possums (and livestock) therefore results in eventual disappearance of TB from feral pigs and wild deer. However, the risk of spillback infection from deer to possums substantially extends the time needed to locally eradicate TB from all wildlife (compared to that which would be required to eradicate disease from possums alone), while dispersal or translocation of pigs (e.g. by hunters) creates a risk of long-distance spread of disease. The high rate at which pigs acquire M. bovis infection from dead possums makes them useful as sentinels for detecting TB in wildlife. It is unlikely that wild deer and feral pigs act as maintenance hosts anywhere in New Zealand, because unrestricted year-round hunting keeps densities low, with far less aggregation than on New Zealand farms. We conclude that active management of wild deer or feral pigs is not required for local TB eradication in New Zealand.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Nugent
- a Landcare Research , Lincoln 7640 , New Zealand
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16
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Matos AC, Figueira L, Martins MH, Pinto ML, Matos M, Coelho AC. New Insights into Mycobacterium bovis Prevalence in Wild Mammals in Portugal. Transbound Emerg Dis 2014; 63:e313-22. [PMID: 25484245 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.12306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2014] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
A survey to determine the prevalence of Mycobacterium bovis in wild mammals in Portugal was conducted by testing samples from hunted animals and those found dead between 2009 and 2013. In this study, we investigated 2116 wild mammals. Post-mortem examinations were performed, and tissues were collected from wild mammals representing 8 families and 11 different species, with a total of 393 animals analysed. Cultures were performed, and acid-fast isolates were identified by PCR. Tissues were also screened for Mycobacterium bovis by directly extracting DNA and testing for the Mycobacterium bovis-specific sequences. Mycobacterium bovis prevalence was 26.9% (95% CI: 22.8-31.5%). Mycobacterium bovis was recorded in 106 of the 393 studied species: prevalence by species were 26.9% (95% CI: 16.8-40.2%) in red foxes, 20.0% (95% CI: 7.0-45.2%) in Egyptian mongooses, 21.4% (95% CI: 16.2-27.7%) in wild boar and 38.3% (95% CI: 29.9-47.4%) in red deer. Mycobacterium bovis infection was detected in six of eight taxonomic families. For some species, the small sample sizes obtained were a reflection of their restricted range and low abundance, making estimates of infection prevalence very difficult (1 beech marten of 4; 1 Eurasian otter of 3; 2 common genet of 3). Infection was not detected in European badgers, hedgehog, wild rabbits and hare. The results of this study confirm the presence of Mycobacterium bovis infection in wild carnivores in Portugal.
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Affiliation(s)
- A C Matos
- Centro de Ciência Animal e Veterinária (CECAV), Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal.,Escola Superior Agrária, Instituto Politécnico de Castelo Branco, Castelo Branco, Portugal
| | - L Figueira
- Escola Superior Agrária, Instituto Politécnico de Castelo Branco, Castelo Branco, Portugal
| | - M H Martins
- Escola Superior Agrária, Instituto Politécnico de Castelo Branco, Castelo Branco, Portugal
| | - M L Pinto
- Centro de Ciência Animal e Veterinária (CECAV), Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal.,Departamento de Ciências Veterinárias, Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), Vila Real, Portugal
| | - M Matos
- Departamento de Genética e Biotecnologia, Centro de Genómica e Biotecnologia, Instituto de Biotecnologia e Bioengenharia, Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal
| | - A C Coelho
- Centro de Ciência Animal e Veterinária (CECAV), Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal.,Departamento de Ciências Veterinárias, Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), Vila Real, Portugal
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17
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Cano-Manuel FJ, López-Olvera J, Fandos P, Soriguer RC, Pérez JM, Granados JE. Long-term monitoring of 10 selected pathogens in wild boar (Sus scrofa) in Sierra Nevada National Park, southern Spain. Vet Microbiol 2014; 174:148-54. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2014.06.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2014] [Revised: 05/26/2014] [Accepted: 06/19/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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18
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Jori F, Mokospasetso M, Etter E, Munstermann S, Newman SH, Michel A. Preliminary assessment of bovine tuberculosis at the livestock/wildlife interface in two protected areas of northern Botswana. Transbound Emerg Dis 2014; 60 Suppl 1:28-36. [PMID: 24171846 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.12110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2013] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Protected areas of northern Botswana such as the Okavango Delta (OD) or Chobe National Park (CNP) are well-known hot spots for the conservation of African wildlife. However, their infection status regarding bovine tuberculosis (BTB) at the domestic/wildlife interface has never been investigated. To provide preliminary baseline data on the circulation of Mycobacterium bovis in those sites, we performed a cross-sectional survey on 130 buffalo in both protected areas (60 individuals from CNP and 70 from OD) and 818 cattle in their surrounding communal lands (369 in CNP and 449 in the OD). Whole-blood samples were tested using a commercial interferon-gamma assay (IFN-γ) with modifications. The apparent BTB prevalence in buffalo was nil in CNP and 0.7% 95% CI [0.2-1.9] in the OD, while the apparent BTB prevalence in cattle was 0.7% 95% CI [0.2-2.1] in the OD and 2.4% 95% CI [1.2-4.7] in CNP. True prevalence values calculated on the basis of the locally applicable IFN-γ test performance suggested that BTB prevalence was nil in both buffalo populations and in cattle from the OD interface, but reached 2.3% 95% CI [0.2-4.5] in cattle populations around CNP. The results of a questionnaire survey conducted among a sample of farmers living in the communities adjacent to each conservation area (97 and 38 persons in the OD and CNP, respectively) suggested a higher risk of the circulation of M. bovis at the wildlife/livestock interface of the CNP than at that of the OD. However, further comprehensive studies are needed to confirm the circulation of M. bovis and to monitor the inter-species and transboundary transmission of BTB in northern Botswana.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Jori
- AGIRs Research Unit, CIRAD, Montpellier, France; Mammal Research Institute, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
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19
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Vicente J, Barasona JA, Acevedo P, Ruiz-Fons JF, Boadella M, Diez-Delgado I, Beltran-Beck B, González-Barrio D, Queirós J, Montoro V, de la Fuente J, Gortazar C. Temporal Trend of Tuberculosis in Wild Ungulates from Mediterranean Spain. Transbound Emerg Dis 2013; 60 Suppl 1:92-103. [DOI: 10.1111/tbed.12167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2013] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- J. Vicente
- SaBio-IREC (CSIC-UCLM-JCCM); Ciudad Real Spain
| | | | - P. Acevedo
- Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA); UAB-IRTA; Campus de la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona; Bellaterra (Cerdanyola del Vallés) Spain
| | | | - M. Boadella
- SaBio-IREC (CSIC-UCLM-JCCM); Ciudad Real Spain
| | | | | | | | - J. Queirós
- SaBio-IREC (CSIC-UCLM-JCCM); Ciudad Real Spain
| | - V. Montoro
- SaBio-IREC (CSIC-UCLM-JCCM); Ciudad Real Spain
| | | | - C. Gortazar
- SaBio-IREC (CSIC-UCLM-JCCM); Ciudad Real Spain
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20
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López-Olvera JR, Fernández-de-Mera IG, Serrano E, Vidal D, Vicente J, Fierro Y, Gortázar C. Sex-related differences in body condition and serum biochemical parameters in red deer (Cervus elaphus) naturally infected with Mycobacterium bovis. Vet J 2013; 198:702-6. [PMID: 24262346 DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2013.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2013] [Revised: 09/25/2013] [Accepted: 10/01/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Although Mycobacterium bovis infection is commonly reported in red deer (Cervus elaphus), potential differences in the effects of infection on male and female animals in terms of body condition and clinical biochemistry have not been reported. Between November 2000 and January 2006, serum and biometrical data were collected post-mortem from 88 red deer. M. bovis-infected deer, particularly males, were typically older, heavier and in poorer body condition than uninfected animals. Serum triglyceride, cholesterol (both particularly in males) and total protein concentrations were lower, whereas serum creatinine (more evident in females), and immunoglobulin G and M concentrations were higher in the infected deer. These sex-related differences in the response to M. bovis infection in red deer should be considered when undertaking epidemiological assessments and designing disease control strategies as they may reflect differing roles of male and female animals as potential reservoirs or disseminators of disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- J R López-Olvera
- Servei d'Ecopatologia de Fauna Salvatge (SEFaS), Facultat de Veterinària (edifici V), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, E-08193 Barcelona, Spain.
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21
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Muñoz-Mendoza M, Marreros N, Boadella M, Gortázar C, Menéndez S, de Juan L, Bezos J, Romero B, Copano MF, Amado J, Sáez JL, Mourelo J, Balseiro A. Wild boar tuberculosis in Iberian Atlantic Spain: a different picture from Mediterranean habitats. BMC Vet Res 2013; 9:176. [PMID: 24010539 PMCID: PMC3844463 DOI: 10.1186/1746-6148-9-176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2013] [Accepted: 09/05/2013] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Infections with Mycobacterium bovis and closely related members of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTC) are shared between livestock, wildlife and sporadically human beings. Wildlife reservoirs exist worldwide and can interfere with bovine tuberculosis (TB) eradication efforts. The Eurasian wild boar (Sus scrofa) is a MTC maintenance host in Mediterranean Iberia (Spain and Portugal). However, few systematic studies in wild boar have been carried out in Atlantic regions. We describe the prevalence, distribution, pathology and epidemiology of MTC and other mycobacteria from wild boar in Atlantic Spain. A total of 2,067 wild boar were sampled between 2008 and 2012. Results The results provide insight into the current status of wild boar as MTC and Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) hosts in temperate regions of continental Europe. The main findings were a low TB prevalence (2.6%), a low proportion of MTC infected wild boar displaying generalized TB lesions (16.7%), and a higher proportion of MAC infections (4.5%). Molecular typing revealed epidemiological links between wild boar and domestic – cattle, sheep and goat – and other wildlife – Eurasian badger (Meles meles) and red fox (Vulpes vulpes) – hosts. Conclusions This study shows that the likelihood of MTC excretion by wild boar in Atlantic habitats is much lower than in Mediterranean areas. However, wild boar provide a good indicator of MTC circulation and, given the current re-emergence of animal TB, similar large-scale surveys would be advisable in other Atlantic regions of continental Europe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Muñoz-Mendoza
- SERIDA, Servicio Regional de Investigación y Desarrollo Agroalimentario, Centro de Biotecnología Animal, Deva-Gijón, Asturias, 33394, Spain.
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22
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Comparing red deer (Cervus elaphus L.) and wild boar (Sus scrofa L.) dispersal patterns in southern Belgium. EUR J WILDLIFE RES 2013. [DOI: 10.1007/s10344-013-0732-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Schöning JM, Cerny N, Prohaska S, Wittenbrink MM, Smith NH, Bloemberg G, Pewsner M, Schiller I, Origgi FC, Ryser-Degiorgis MP. Surveillance of bovine tuberculosis and risk estimation of a future reservoir formation in wildlife in Switzerland and Liechtenstein. PLoS One 2013; 8:e54253. [PMID: 23349839 PMCID: PMC3549981 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0054253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2012] [Accepted: 12/10/2012] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) caused by Mycobacterium bovis or M. caprae has recently (re-) emerged in livestock and wildlife in all countries bordering Switzerland (CH) and the Principality of Liechtenstein (FL). Comprehensive data for Swiss and Liechtenstein wildlife are not available so far, although two native species, wild boar (Sus scrofa) and red deer (Cervus elaphus elaphus), act as bTB reservoirs elsewhere in continental Europe. Our aims were (1) to assess the occurrence of bTB in these wild ungulates in CH/FL and to reinforce scanning surveillance in all wild mammals; (2) to evaluate the risk of a future bTB reservoir formation in wild boar and red deer in CH/FL. Tissue samples collected from 2009 to 2011 from 434 hunted red deer and wild boar and from eight diseased ungulates with tuberculosis-like lesions were tested by direct real-time PCR and culture to detect mycobacteria of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC). Identification of suspicious colonies was attempted by real-time PCR, genotyping and spoligotyping. Information on risk factors for bTB maintenance within wildlife populations was retrieved from the literature and the situation regarding identified factors was assessed for our study areas. Mycobacteria of the MTBC were detected in six out of 165 wild boar (3.6%; 95% CI: 1.4-7.8) but none of the 269 red deer (0%; 0-1.4). M. microti was identified in two MTBC-positive wild boar, while species identification remained unsuccessful in four cases. Main risk factors for bTB maintenance worldwide, including different causes of aggregation often resulting from intensive wildlife management, are largely absent in CH and FL. In conclusion, M. bovis and M. caprae were not detected but we report for the first time MTBC mycobacteria in Swiss wild boar. Present conditions seem unfavorable for a reservoir emergence, nevertheless increasing population numbers of wild ungulates and offal consumption may represent a risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janne Marie Schöning
- Centre for Fish and Wildlife Health (FIWI), Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Nadine Cerny
- Institute of Veterinary Bacteriology (IVB), Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Sarah Prohaska
- Institute of Veterinary Bacteriology (IVB), Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Max M. Wittenbrink
- Institute of Veterinary Bacteriology (IVB), Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Noel H. Smith
- Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA), Weybridge, New Haw, Surrey, United Kingdom
| | - Guido Bloemberg
- Institute of Medical Microbiology (IMM), Medical Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Mirjam Pewsner
- Centre for Fish and Wildlife Health (FIWI), Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Irene Schiller
- Federal Veterinary Office, Animal Health Division, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Francesco C. Origgi
- Centre for Fish and Wildlife Health (FIWI), Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
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Jori F, Vial L, Penrith ML, Pérez-Sánchez R, Etter E, Albina E, Michaud V, Roger F. Review of the sylvatic cycle of African swine fever in sub-Saharan Africa and the Indian ocean. Virus Res 2012; 173:212-27. [PMID: 23142551 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2012.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 102] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2012] [Revised: 10/05/2012] [Accepted: 10/06/2012] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
African swine fever (ASF) is a major limiting factor for pig production in most of the countries in Sub-Saharan Africa and the Indian Ocean. In the absence of vaccine, a good understanding of the ecology and epidemiology of the disease is fundamental to implement effective control measures. In selected countries of Southern and East Africa, the association between Ornithodoros moubata ticks and warthogs has been described in detail in the literature. However, for many other countries in the region, information related to the sylvatic cycle is lacking or incomplete. In West African countries, for instance, the role of wild pigs in the epidemiology of ASF has never been demonstrated and the existence and potential impact of a sylvatic cycle involving an association between soft ticks and warthogs is questionable. In other countries, other wild pig species such as the bushpigs (Potamochoerus spp.) can also be asymptomatically infected by the virus but their role in the epidemiology of the disease is unclear and might differ according to geographic regions. In addition, the methods and techniques required to study the role of wild hosts in ASF virus (ASFV) epidemiology and ecology are very specific and differ from the more traditional methods to study domestic pigs or other tick species. The aim of this review is (i) to provide a descriptive list of the methodologies implemented to study the role of wild hosts in African swine fever, (ii) to compile the available knowledge about the sylvatic cycle of ASFV in different regions of Sub-Saharan Africa and the Indian Ocean in addition to the one that has been described for East and Southern Africa, and (iii) to discuss current methodologies and available knowledge in order to identify new orientations for further field and experimental surveys.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Jori
- Cirad, AGIRs Research Unit, Campus International de Baillarguet, 34398 Montpellier, France.
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Progress in Oral Vaccination against Tuberculosis in Its Main Wildlife Reservoir in Iberia, the Eurasian Wild Boar. Vet Med Int 2012; 2012:978501. [PMID: 22848869 PMCID: PMC3400400 DOI: 10.1155/2012/978501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2012] [Accepted: 05/08/2012] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Eurasian wild boar (Sus scrofa) is the main wildlife reservoir for tuberculosis (TB) in Iberia. This review summarizes the current knowledge on wild boar vaccination including aspects of bait design, delivery and field deployment success; wild boar response to vaccination with Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) and inactivated Mycobacterium bovis; and wild boar vaccination biosafety issues as well as prospects on future research. Oral vaccination with BCG in captive wild boar has shown to be safe with significant levels of protection against challenge with virulent M. bovis. An oral vaccination with a new heat-killed M. bovis vaccine conferred a protection similar to BCG. The study of host-pathogen interactions identified biomarkers of resistance/susceptibility to tuberculosis in wild boar such as complement component 3 (C3) and methylmalonyl coenzyme A mutase (MUT) that were used for vaccine development. Finally, specific delivery systems were developed for bait-containing vaccines to target different age groups. Ongoing research includes laboratory experiments combining live and heat-killed vaccines and the first field trial for TB control in wild boar.
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