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Cabodevilla X, Malo JE, Aguirre de Cárcer D, Zurdo J, Chaboy-Cansado R, Rastrojo A, García FJ, Traba J. Zoonotic potential of urban wildlife faeces, assessed through metabarcoding. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 952:175866. [PMID: 39222816 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.175866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2024] [Revised: 08/27/2024] [Accepted: 08/27/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
Monitoring zoonoses in urban environments is of great relevance, where the incidence of certain pathogens may be higher and where population density makes the spread of any contagious disease more likely. In this study we applied a metabarcoding approach to study potentially zoonotic pathogens in faecal samples of 9 urban vertebrate species. We applied this methodology with two objectives. Firstly, to obtain information on potential pathogens present in the urban fauna of a large European city (Madrid, Spain) and to determine which are their main reservoirs. In addition, we tested for differences in the prevalence of these potential pathogens between urban and rural European rabbits, used as ubiquitous species. Additionally, based on the results obtained, we evaluated the effectiveness of metabarcoding as a tool for monitoring potential pathogen. Our results revealed the presence of potentially zoonotic bacterial genera in all studied host species, 10 of these genera with zoonotic species of mandatory monitoring in the European Union. Based on these results, urban birds (especially house sparrows and pigeons) and bats are the species posing the greatest potential risk, with Campylobacter and Listeria genera in birds and of Chlamydia and Vibrio cholerae in bats as most relevant pathogens. This information highlights the risk associated with fresh faeces from urban wildlife. In addition, we detected Campylobacter in >50 % of the urban rabbit samples, while we only detected it in 11 % of the rural rabbit samples. We found that urban rabbits have a higher prevalence of some pathogens relative to rural rabbits, which could indicate increased risk of pathogen transmission to humans. Finally, our results showed that metabarcoding can be an useful tool to quickly obtain a first screening of potentially zoonotic organisms, necessary information to target the monitoring efforts on the most relevant pathogens and host species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xabier Cabodevilla
- Terrestrial Ecology Group (TEG-UAM), Department of Ecology, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain; Conservation Biology Group, Landscape Dynamics and Biodiversity Program, Forest Science and Technology Centre of Catalonia (CTFC), Solsona, Spain; Department of Zoology and Animal Cell Biology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Paseo de la Universidad 7, 01006 Vitoria-Gasteiz, Alava, Spain
| | - Juan E Malo
- Terrestrial Ecology Group (TEG-UAM), Department of Ecology, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain; Centro de Investigación en Biodiversidad y Cambio Global, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (CIBC-UAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Daniel Aguirre de Cárcer
- Microbial and Environmental Genomics Group, Department of Biology, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Julia Zurdo
- Terrestrial Ecology Group (TEG-UAM), Department of Ecology, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain; Centro de Investigación en Biodiversidad y Cambio Global, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (CIBC-UAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Rubén Chaboy-Cansado
- Microbial and Environmental Genomics Group, Department of Biology, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Alberto Rastrojo
- Microbial and Environmental Genomics Group, Department of Biology, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Francisco J García
- Biodiversity Monitoring Group, Department of Biodiversity, Ecology and Evolution, Complutense University of Madrid, Jose Antonio Novais, 12, Madrid, 28040, Spain
| | - Juan Traba
- Terrestrial Ecology Group (TEG-UAM), Department of Ecology, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain; Centro de Investigación en Biodiversidad y Cambio Global, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (CIBC-UAM), Madrid, Spain.
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Wang Z, Yan J, Martin A, Brunton DH, Qu J, He JS, Ji W, Nan Z. Alpine grassland degradation intensifies the burrowing behavior of small mammals: evidence for a negative feedback loop. Integr Zool 2024; 19:240-252. [PMID: 37243518 DOI: 10.1111/1749-4877.12730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Globally, grassland degradation is an acute ecological problem. In alpine grassland on the Tibetan Plateau, increased densities of various small mammals in degraded grassland are assumed to intensify the degradation process and these mammals are subject to lethal control. However, whether the negative impact of small mammals is solely a result of population size or also a result of activity and behavior has not been tested. In this study, we use plateau pika as a model to compare population size, core area of colony, and the number of burrow entrances and latrines between lightly and severely degraded grassland. We test whether the alleged contribution of pika to grassland degradation is a result of increased population size or increased burrowing activities of individuals in response to lower food abundance. We found that grassland degradation resulted in lower plant species richness, plant height, and biomass. Furthermore, the overall population size of pika was not significantly affected by location in lightly and severely degraded grassland. However, pika core areas in severely grassland degradation were significantly larger and had significantly higher densities of burrows and latrines. Our study provides convincing evidence that habitat-induced changes in the behavior of small, burrowing mammals, such as pika, can exacerbate grassland degradation. This finding has significant implications for managing small mammals and restoring degraded grassland ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zaiwei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-Ecosystems, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Jiawen Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-Ecosystems, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Amy Martin
- Manaaki Whenua-Landcare Research, Lincoln, New Zealand
| | - Dianne H Brunton
- School of Natural Sciences, Massey University (Albany Campus), Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Jiapeng Qu
- Key Laboratory of Adaptation and Evolution of Plateau Biota, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining, China
- Qinghai Haibei National Field Research Station of Alpine Grassland Ecosystem, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining, China
| | - Jin-Sheng He
- State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-Ecosystems, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
- Institute of Ecology, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, and Key Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes of the Ministry of Education, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Weihong Ji
- State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-Ecosystems, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
- School of Natural Sciences, Massey University (Albany Campus), Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Zhibiao Nan
- State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-Ecosystems, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
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Zoromski LD, DeYoung RW, Goolsby JA, Foley AM, Ortega-S. JA, Hewitt DG, Campbell TA. Latrine ecology of nilgai antelope. J Mammal 2022. [DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyac056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
The use of scent for communication is widespread in mammals, yet the role of scent-marking in the social system of many species is poorly understood. Nilgai antelope (Boselaphus tragocamelus) are native to India, Nepal, and Pakistan. They were introduced to Texas rangelands in the United States during the 1920s to 1940s, and have since expanded into much of coastal South Texas and northern Mexico. The nilgai social system includes the use of latrines or repeated defecation at a localized site. We quantified and described physical and behavioral characteristics of nilgai latrine ecology to investigate drivers of latrine use at three sites in South Texas, during April 2018 to March 2019. Latrines were abundant (2.6–8.7 latrines/ha on unpaved roads, 0.4–0.9 latrines/ha off-roads), with no evidence for selection as to vegetation communities; latrines were dynamic in persistence and visitation rates. We found higher densities of latrines in Spring surveys, just after the peak of nilgai breeding activity, compared to Autumn surveys. Density of nilgai latrines was 3–10 times greater than estimated population densities, indicating individual nilgai must use multiple latrines. Camera traps and fecal DNA analysis revealed latrines were mainly (70%) visited by bulls and defecated on by bulls (92% in photos, 89% for DNA samples). The greatest frequency of visits occurred during the peak in the nilgai breeding season, from December–February; latrines were visited every 2–3 days on average. Body characteristics of photographed individuals and genetic analysis of feces indicated repeated visits from the same individuals. Nilgai cows occasionally used latrines; their use was sometimes followed by bulls showing flehmen responses after a female defecated or urinated on the latrine. We propose that dominant bulls use latrines for territory demarcation to display social dominance to both cows in estrus and subordinate bulls. Cows likely use latrines to communicate reproductive status. This study is the first intensive assessment focused on latrine ecology in nilgai. Our results directly contradict anecdotal descriptions of latrine use and behavior in nilgai but are consistent with predictions of antelope social systems based on body size, feeding type, and group dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa D Zoromski
- Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, Texas A&M University–Kingsville , Kingsville, Texas 78363 , USA
| | - Randy W DeYoung
- Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, Texas A&M University–Kingsville , Kingsville, Texas 78363 , USA
| | - John A Goolsby
- USDA Agricultural Research Service, Cattle Fever Tick Research Laboratory , Edinburg, Texas 78541 , USA
| | - Aaron M Foley
- Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, Texas A&M University–Kingsville , Kingsville, Texas 78363 , USA
| | - J Alfonso Ortega-S.
- Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, Texas A&M University–Kingsville , Kingsville, Texas 78363 , USA
| | - David G Hewitt
- Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, Texas A&M University–Kingsville , Kingsville, Texas 78363 , USA
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Persistence of wild rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) latrines and its implication for monitoring programs. J Nat Conserv 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jnc.2021.126021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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Ranging behavior of European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in urban and suburban landscapes. MAMMAL RES 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s13364-020-00490-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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Ziege M, Theodorou P, Jüngling H, Merker S, Plath M, Streit B, Lerp H. Population genetics of the European rabbit along a rural-to-urban gradient. Sci Rep 2020; 10:2448. [PMID: 32051442 PMCID: PMC7015939 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-57962-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2018] [Accepted: 12/24/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) is declining in large parts of Europe but populations in some German cities remained so far unaffected by this decline. The question arises of how urbanization affects patterns of population genetic variation and differentiation in German rabbit populations, as urban habitat fragmentation may result in altered meta-population dynamics. To address this question, we used microsatellite markers to genotype rabbit populations occurring along a rural-to-urban gradient in and around the city of Frankfurt, Germany. We found no effect of urbanization on allelic richness. However, the observed heterozygosity was significantly higher in urban than rural populations and also the inbreeding coefficients were lower, most likely reflecting the small population sizes and possibly on-going loss of genetic diversity in structurally impoverished rural areas. Global FST and G'ST-values suggest moderate but significant differentiation between populations. Multiple matrix regression with randomization ascribed this differentiation to isolation-by-environment rather than isolation-by-distance. Analyses of migration rates revealed asymmetrical gene flow, which was higher from rural into urban populations than vice versa and may again reflect intensified agricultural land-use practices in rural areas. We discuss that populations inhabiting urban areas will likely play an important role in the future distribution of European rabbits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madlen Ziege
- University of Potsdam, Plant Ecology and Nature Conservation, Am Mühlenberg 3, D-14476, Potsdam, Golm, Germany.
- University of Frankfurt, Department of Ecology & Evolution, Max-von-Laue-Str. 13, D-60438, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
| | - Panagiotis Theodorou
- Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Institute of Biology, General Zoology, Hoher Weg 8, D-06120, Halle, Saale, Germany
| | - Hannah Jüngling
- Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung, Clamecystraße 12, D-63571, Gelnhausen, Germany
| | - Stefan Merker
- State Museum of Natural History Stuttgart, Department of Zoology, Rosenstein 1, D-70191, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Martin Plath
- Northwest A&F University, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China
| | - Bruno Streit
- University of Frankfurt, Department of Ecology & Evolution, Max-von-Laue-Str. 13, D-60438, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Hannes Lerp
- Museum Wiesbaden, Natural History Collections, Friedrich-Ebert-Allee 2, D-65185, Wiesbaden, Germany
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