1
|
Santangeli A, Lambertucci SA, Margalida A, Carucci T, Botha A, Whitehouse-Tedd K, Cancellario T. The global contribution of vultures towards ecosystem services and sustainability: An experts' perspective. iScience 2024; 27:109925. [PMID: 38784011 PMCID: PMC11112611 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.109925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2024] [Revised: 03/30/2024] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
The ecosystem services framework is essential for biodiversity conservation, emphasizing the role of nature in achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs). This study offers a global view on vulture-associated ecosystem services and their SDG contributions, based on insights from 206 experts. The findings reveal global consensus on the importance of vultures in regulation and maintenance services, such as waste recycling and disease control. Cultural services attributed to vultures are moderate and vary regionally. Provisioning services are consistently rated low across all regions. Experts' views on vultures' key ecosystem roles are often biased toward well-known services and may not align with all scientific evidence. The study emphasizes vultures' role in achieving SDGs, particularly impacting life on land and health, and calls for reevaluating their contribution to sustainable practices. It stresses the need to customize conservation to regional values and perceptions, recognizing vultures' critical role in ecological balance, public health, and sustainable development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Santangeli
- Animal Demography and Ecology Unit, Institute for Mediterranean Studies (IMEDEA), CSIC-UIB, 07190 Esporles, Spain
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DST-NRF Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Sergio A. Lambertucci
- Grupo de Investigaciones en Biología de la Conservación, INIBIOMA, Universidad Nacional del Comahue - CONICET, Quintral 1250 (R8400FRF), Bariloche, Argentina
| | - Antoni Margalida
- Institute for Game and Wildlife Research, IREC (CSIC-UCLM), Ronda de Toledo, 12. 03005, Ciudad Real, Spain
- Pyrenean Institute of Ecology (CSIC), Avda. Nuestra Señora de la Victoria 16, 22700 Jaca, Spain
| | - Tomaso Carucci
- School of Animal, Rural and Environmental Sciences, Nottingham Trent University, Southwell, UK
| | - Andre Botha
- Endangered Wildlife Trust, Midrand, Gauteng 1685, South Africa
| | | | - Tommaso Cancellario
- Balearic Biodiversity Centre, Department of Biology, University of the Balearic Islands, 07122 Palma, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Varcasia A, Tamponi C, Ahmed F, Cappai MG, Porcu F, Mehmood N, Dessì G, Scala A. Taenia multiceps coenurosis: a review. Parasit Vectors 2022; 15:84. [PMID: 35279199 PMCID: PMC8917661 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-022-05210-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2021] [Accepted: 02/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Taenia multiceps is a taeniid cestode that inhabits the small intestines of both wild and domestic carnivores. The larval stage, Coenurus cerebralis, is typically found in the central nervous system (CNS) of a wide range of livestock and, to a lesser extent, in the extra-cerebral tissues of sheep and goats. This review covers all aspects of the life cycle of T. multiceps and its epidemiology, molecular characterization, pathogenesis, diagnosis, therapy, control and zoonotic potential. Coenurosis caused by the larval stage of T. multiceps has a worldwide distribution and is often fatal in intermediate hosts, which can result in substantial economic losses in livestock farming. Molecular characterization using the mitochondrial genes cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide dehydrogenase subunit 1 of different T. multiceps populations has revealed significant genetic variation and the presence of three major haplotypes. The disease mostly affects young sheep and is referred to as either acute or chronic coenurosis. Acute coenurosis occurs as a result of oncospheres migrating through the CNS, while chronic coenurosis occurs as a consequence of the coenurus maturing, which causes displacement and pressure atrophy of brain tissue. Non-cerebral coenurosis has been most commonly reported in goats. The best diagnostic method for cerebral coenurosis involves the interpretation of clinical signs with accurate localization of the cyst using diagnostic imaging techniques. A vaccine based on recombinant oncosphere antigens has proved to be an effective tool against T. multiceps infection in sheep. Additionally, use of anthelmintics during the parasite's migration stages reduces the development of cysts in the sheep brain. Surgery is considered the most effective method for the treatment of cerebral coenurosis in small ruminants, but is often not carried out because of the limited finances of many sheep and goat breeders. However, coenurosis can also be controlled effectively through preventative measures, such as anthelmintic treatment of dogs and the proper disposal of intermediate host carcasses. The parasite is also zoonotic, and cases of coenurosis have been reported in humans with coenuri located in the brain, spinal cord and eyes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Varcasia
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy.
| | - Claudia Tamponi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - Fahad Ahmed
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - Maria Grazia Cappai
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - Francesca Porcu
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - Naunain Mehmood
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy.,Department of Zoology, University of Sargodha, Sargodha, Pakistan
| | - Giorgia Dessì
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - Antonio Scala
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Ahmed F, Cappai MG, Morrone S, Cavallo L, Berlinguer F, Dessì G, Tamponi C, Scala A, Varcasia A. Raw meat based diet (RMBD) for household pets as potential door opener to parasitic load of domestic and urban environment. Revival of understated zoonotic hazards? A review. One Health 2021; 13:100327. [PMID: 34584928 PMCID: PMC8455362 DOI: 10.1016/j.onehlt.2021.100327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2021] [Revised: 09/11/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
RMBD (acronym of Raw Meat Based Diet) and BARF diets (acronym for Biologically Appropriate Raw Food or Bones and Raw Food) account dietary regimens based on raw ingredients (including raw meat), popular in pet feeding. Animal tissues and organs as well as other uncooked ingredients are more and more popularly used by pet owners to feed household pets. However, the increased risk of exposure to microbiological and parasitic agents poses the question as to whether such diets may be recommendable to be handled and offered to domestic cats and dogs co-living in domestic and urban environment. Above all, the threat of human and animal infections by parasites from raw meat fed to pets is not sufficiently explored and tracked, meanwhile deserving particular surveillance, instead. At this regard, raw meat feeding to pets may represent a route of exposure to the increased risk of environmental load. In fact, some parasites typically found in rural environment can be given the chance to complete their life-cycle, for the closeness between definitive and intermediate hosts. This is of particular concern, as potentially infected pets serving as definitive hosts can become a continuous source of environmental diffusion of parasites, both at domestic and urban level. The handling of raw meat requires adequate knowledge and awareness of the hygienic principles to prevent the onset of disorders related to both manipulation by pet owners and uncooked food consumption by the pet. This review aimed to shed a comprehensive overview of the hygienic aspects related to raw pet feeding, as to handling of raw meat in domestic environment, with special emphasis on parasitic agents and related zoonotic hazards.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fahad Ahmed
- Animal Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases Institute, University of Sassari, Italy
- Chair of Animal Nutrition, University of Sassari, Italy
| | | | - Sarah Morrone
- Chair of Animal Nutrition, University of Sassari, Italy
| | - Lia Cavallo
- Animal Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases Institute, University of Sassari, Italy
| | - Fiammetta Berlinguer
- Chair of Animal Physiology of the Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sassari, Italy
| | - Giorgia Dessì
- Animal Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases Institute, University of Sassari, Italy
| | - Claudia Tamponi
- Animal Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases Institute, University of Sassari, Italy
| | - Antonio Scala
- Animal Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases Institute, University of Sassari, Italy
| | - Antonio Varcasia
- Animal Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases Institute, University of Sassari, Italy
| |
Collapse
|