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Pires H, Santos-Silva S, Cruz AVS, Cardoso L, Lopes AP, Pereira MA, Nóbrega C, Mega AC, Santos C, Cruz R, Esteves F, Vala H, Matos AC, Barradas PF, Coelho AC, Mesquita JR. Molecular evidence of sporadic Coxiella burnetii excretion in sheep milk, central Portugal. Vet Res Commun 2024:10.1007/s11259-024-10389-x. [PMID: 38656656 DOI: 10.1007/s11259-024-10389-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2024] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Coxiella burnetii is the etiologic agent of Q fever, a worldwide zoonosis. Cattle, sheep and goats are considered the main reservoirs of the disease. Transmission to humans occurs mainly through the inhalation of infectious aerosols from milk, faeces, urine, and birth products from infected ruminants. In this study, a 2-year longitudinal approach was performed to ascertain the excretion of C. burnetii in bulk tank milk samples of sheep from a mountain plateau in central Portugal, with sampling conducted during the years 2015 and 2016. From a total of 156 bulk tank milk samples tested by qPCR, only one showed to be positive for C. burnetii (1.28% [95%CI: 0.03-6.94]), from 2015, the first year of collection. Bidirectional sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of IS1111 transposase partial region confirmed the presence of C. burnetii DNA. The presence of C. burnetii in raw milk samples highlights the necessity for additional research to determine if raw milk is a potential source for human infection. Animal health surveillance and prevention measures against this zoonotic disease should be considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Humberto Pires
- Polytechnic Institute of Castelo Branco, Castelo Branco, 6001-909, Portugal
| | - Sérgio Santos-Silva
- ICBAS - School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Porto University, Porto, 4050-313, Portugal
| | - Andreia V S Cruz
- ICBAS - School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Porto University, Porto, 4050-313, Portugal
| | - Luís Cardoso
- Animal and Veterinary Research Centre (CECAV), Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), Vila Real, 5000-801, Portugal
- Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences (AL4AnimalS), Vila Real, 5000-801, Portugal
| | - Ana Patrícia Lopes
- Animal and Veterinary Research Centre (CECAV), Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), Vila Real, 5000-801, Portugal
- Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences (AL4AnimalS), Vila Real, 5000-801, Portugal
| | - Maria A Pereira
- Instituto Politécnico de Viseu, Escola Superior Agrária de Viseu, Campus Politécnico, Viseu, 3504-510, Portugal
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, Associate Laboratory in Translation and Innovation Towards Global Health, GHTM, LA-REAL, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, IHMT, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, UNL, Rua da Junqueira 100, Lisboa, 1349-008, Portugal
- CERNAS-Research Centre for Natural Resources, Environment and Society, ESAV, Instituto Politécnico de Viseu, Viseu, 3500-606, Portugal
| | - Carmen Nóbrega
- Instituto Politécnico de Viseu, Escola Superior Agrária de Viseu, Campus Politécnico, Viseu, 3504-510, Portugal
- Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences (CITAB), University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Vila Real, 5001-801, Portugal
| | - Ana Cristina Mega
- Instituto Politécnico de Viseu, Escola Superior Agrária de Viseu, Campus Politécnico, Viseu, 3504-510, Portugal
- Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences (CITAB), University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Vila Real, 5001-801, Portugal
| | - Carla Santos
- Instituto Politécnico de Viseu, Escola Superior Agrária de Viseu, Campus Politécnico, Viseu, 3504-510, Portugal
- Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences (CITAB), University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Vila Real, 5001-801, Portugal
| | - Rita Cruz
- Instituto Politécnico de Viseu, Escola Superior Agrária de Viseu, Campus Politécnico, Viseu, 3504-510, Portugal
- Epidemiology Research Unit (EPIUnit), Instituto de Saúde Pública da Universidade do Porto, Porto, 4050-091, Portugal
- Laboratório para a Investigação Integrativa e Translacional em Saúde Populacional (ITR), Porto, 4050- 600, Portugal
| | - Fernando Esteves
- Instituto Politécnico de Viseu, Escola Superior Agrária de Viseu, Campus Politécnico, Viseu, 3504-510, Portugal
- CERNAS-Research Centre for Natural Resources, Environment and Society, ESAV, Instituto Politécnico de Viseu, Viseu, 3500-606, Portugal
| | - Helena Vala
- Instituto Politécnico de Viseu, Escola Superior Agrária de Viseu, Campus Politécnico, Viseu, 3504-510, Portugal
- CERNAS-Research Centre for Natural Resources, Environment and Society, ESAV, Instituto Politécnico de Viseu, Viseu, 3500-606, Portugal
- Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences (CITAB), University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Vila Real, 5001-801, Portugal
| | - Ana Cristina Matos
- Polytechnic Institute of Castelo Branco, Castelo Branco, 6001-909, Portugal
- Research Center for Natural Resources, Environment and Society, Polytechnic Institute of Castelo Branco, Castelo Branco, 6001-909, Portugal
- Quality of Life in the Rural World (Q-RURAL), Polytechnic Institute of Castelo Branco, Castelo Branco, 6001- 909, Portugal
| | - Patrícia F Barradas
- Epidemiology Research Unit (EPIUnit), Instituto de Saúde Pública da Universidade do Porto, Porto, 4050-091, Portugal
- Laboratório para a Investigação Integrativa e Translacional em Saúde Populacional (ITR), Porto, 4050- 600, Portugal
- Department of Sciences, CESPU, CRL, University Institute of Health Sciences (IUCS), Gandra, Portugal
| | - Ana Cláudia Coelho
- Animal and Veterinary Research Centre (CECAV), Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), Vila Real, 5000-801, Portugal
- Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences (AL4AnimalS), Vila Real, 5000-801, Portugal
| | - João R Mesquita
- ICBAS - School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Porto University, Porto, 4050-313, Portugal.
- Epidemiology Research Unit (EPIUnit), Instituto de Saúde Pública da Universidade do Porto, Porto, 4050-091, Portugal.
- Laboratório para a Investigação Integrativa e Translacional em Saúde Populacional (ITR), Porto, 4050- 600, Portugal.
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Cruz AVS, López-López P, Santos-Silva S, Rivero-Juárez A, Rebelo H, Mesquita JR. Molecular detection of Enterocytozoon bieneusi in bats from Portugal. Med Mycol 2024; 62:myae019. [PMID: 38414255 DOI: 10.1093/mmy/myae019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2024] [Revised: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Enterocytozoon bieneusi is a microsporidia commonly found in the gastrointestinal tract of humans and a wide range of other animals, constituting a major cause of microsporidiosis in humans. Although E. bieneusi has been detected in humans, domestic, and wild animals in Portugal, and its presence in bats has been linked to zoonotic characteristics, its occurrence in bats within the country has not been reported. In this study, we investigated the presence of E. bieneusi in 380 bat fecal samples collected in mainland Portugal through a nested PCR assay targeting the internal transcribed spacer region and the flanking small and large subunits of the ribosomal RNA. Enterocytozoon bieneusi was detected in one bat sample (i.e., 0.26%; Pipistrellus pipistrellus). Additionally, another sample tested positive for Enterocytozoon sp. Phylogenetic analysis of the obtained ITS sequence of E. bieneusi revealed clustering within the potentially zoonotic Group 1. This study represents the first report of E. bieneusi in a bat from Europe. Findings presented here contribute to an enhanced understanding of E. bieneusi epidemiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreia V S Cruz
- Departamento de Clínicas Veterinárias, ICBAS - Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Pedro López-López
- Grupo de Virología Clínica y Zoonosis, Unidad de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto Maimónides de Investigación Biomédica de Córdoba, Hospital Reina Sofía, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain
- CIBERINFEC, ISCIII - CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Sérgio Santos-Silva
- Departamento de Clínicas Veterinárias, ICBAS - Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Antonio Rivero-Juárez
- Grupo de Virología Clínica y Zoonosis, Unidad de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto Maimónides de Investigación Biomédica de Córdoba, Hospital Reina Sofía, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain
- CIBERINFEC, ISCIII - CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Hugo Rebelo
- Departamento de Biologia Animal, cE3c - Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes & CHANGE - Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - João R Mesquita
- Departamento de Clínicas Veterinárias, ICBAS - Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Epidemiology Research Unit (EPIUnit), ISPUP - Instituto de Saúde Pública da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Laboratório para a Investigação Integrativa e Translacional em Saúde Populacional (ITR), ISPUP - Instituto de Saúde Pública da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
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Ruano ZM, Mateus TL, Chorense A, Santos-Silva S, Vieira-Pinto M. Seroprevalence study of brucellosis in wild boar hunted for private consumption in northeast Portugal. Vet Res Commun 2024:10.1007/s11259-024-10317-z. [PMID: 38315322 DOI: 10.1007/s11259-024-10317-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024]
Abstract
Brucellosis is an important infectious disease caused by bacteria of the genus Brucella. In the northeast region of Portugal, infection with Brucella melitensis is endemic in small ruminants, and there are also humans' cases. However, the epidemiological role of the wild boar in the dynamics of this disease in this region is unknown. In this study, a total of 332 blood samples were collected from wild boar hunted in thirty-six hunting areas during the 2022/2023 hunting season. All were taken by the hunters for private consumption, with no evisceration or examination in the field. Serum samples were tested by indirect ELISA (i-ELISA). It was observed that 88 wild boars were exposed to Brucella spp., pointing to a seroprevalence of 26.5% (95% CI: 21.8 - 31.3%). This high prevalence underlines the importance that wild boar may have in the dynamics of this disease in the region and its potential transmission to other animals, and to humans (for example, during the handling of carcasses). Increased awareness and knowledge of brucellosis in wild boar is essential for the implementation of effective practices and habits and, consequently, for the control and prevention of this important zoonosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zita Martins Ruano
- Veterinary and Animal Research Center (CECAV), University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Quinta de Prados, Apartado 1013, Vila Real, 5001-801, Portugal
| | - Teresa Letra Mateus
- Veterinary and Animal Research Center (CECAV), University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Quinta de Prados, Apartado 1013, Vila Real, 5001-801, Portugal.
- Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences (AL4AnimalS), Lisbon, Portugal.
- Center for Research and Development in Agrifood Systems ad Sustainability (CISAS), Escola Superior Agrária, Instituto Politécnico de Viana do Castelo, Viana do Castelo, 4900-347, Portugal.
- EpiUnit - Instituto de Saúde Pública da Universidade do Porto, Laboratório para a investigação integrativa e translacional em saúde populacional (ITR), Universidade do Porto, Rua das Taipas, nº135, 4050-091, Porto, Portugal.
| | - Ana Chorense
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Quinta de Prados, Apartado 1013, 5001-801, Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Sérgio Santos-Silva
- School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (ICBAS), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Madalena Vieira-Pinto
- Veterinary and Animal Research Center (CECAV), University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Quinta de Prados, Apartado 1013, Vila Real, 5001-801, Portugal
- Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences (AL4AnimalS), Lisbon, Portugal
- Center for Research and Development in Agrifood Systems ad Sustainability (CISAS), Escola Superior Agrária, Instituto Politécnico de Viana do Castelo, Viana do Castelo, 4900-347, Portugal
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Quinta de Prados, Apartado 1013, 5001-801, Vila Real, Portugal
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Gomes-Gonçalves S, Santos-Silva S, Cruz AVS, Rodrigues C, Soeiro V, Barradas P, Mesquita JR. A Thorny Tale of Parasites: Screening for Enteric Protozoan Parasites in Hedgehogs from Portugal. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:326. [PMID: 38275786 PMCID: PMC10812701 DOI: 10.3390/ani14020326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2023] [Revised: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Enteric protozoan parasites, such as Blastocystis sp., Balantioides coli, Cryptosporidium spp., and Giardia duodenalis, may have implications for both animal and human health.Transmitted through the fecal-oral route, these parasites cause symptoms such as diarrhea, abdominal pain, and weight loss. This study investigated the presence of these enteric protozoan parasites and genetically characterized them in hedgehogs from Portugal. A total of 110 hedgehog stool samples were collected. Molecular detection methods showed an overall occurrence of protozoa in 1.82% (2/110 95% CI: 0.22-6.41) of hedgehogs, with Blastocystis being found in one hedgehog and Cryptosporidium being found in another. No evidence for the presence of B. coli or G. duodenalis was found. This study suggests that there is a need to stay aware of hedgehogs as potential hosts of enteric protozoa. Ongoing research and surveillance efforts are recommended to explore practical prevention and control strategies. The results contribute to the limited knowledge of these parasites in Portuguese hedgehog populations and underscore their potential relevance to both veterinary and public health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Gomes-Gonçalves
- Department of Biology, Campus de Santiago, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal;
| | - Sérgio Santos-Silva
- School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (ICBAS), University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; (S.S.-S.); (A.V.S.C.)
| | - Andreia V. S. Cruz
- School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (ICBAS), University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; (S.S.-S.); (A.V.S.C.)
| | - Clarisse Rodrigues
- Centro de Recuperação e Interpretação do Ouriço—CRIDO, 4470-372 Maia, Portugal;
| | - Vanessa Soeiro
- Parque Biológico de Gaia, 4430-812 Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal;
| | - Patrícia Barradas
- 1H-TOXRUN—One Health Toxicology Research Unit, University Institute of Health Sciences, Cooperativa de Ensino Superior Politécnico e Universitário, CRL(CESPU, CRL), 4585-116 Gandra, Portugal;
- Epidemiology Research Unit (EPIUnit), Instituto de Saúde Pública da Universidade do Porto, 4050-600 Porto, Portugal
- Laboratory for Integrative and Translational Research in Population Health (ITR), 4050-600 Porto, Portugal
| | - João R. Mesquita
- School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (ICBAS), University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; (S.S.-S.); (A.V.S.C.)
- Epidemiology Research Unit (EPIUnit), Instituto de Saúde Pública da Universidade do Porto, 4050-600 Porto, Portugal
- Laboratory for Integrative and Translational Research in Population Health (ITR), 4050-600 Porto, Portugal
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Santos-Silva S, Moraes DFDSD, López-López P, Paupério J, Queirós J, Rivero-Juarez A, Lux L, Ulrich RG, Gonçalves HMR, Van der Poel WHM, Nascimento MSJ, Mesquita JR. Detection of hepatitis E virus genotype 3 in an Algerian mouse (Mus spretus) in Portugal. Vet Res Commun 2024:10.1007/s11259-024-10293-4. [PMID: 38243141 DOI: 10.1007/s11259-024-10293-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 01/21/2024]
Abstract
Virus monitoring in small mammals is central to the design of epidemiological control strategies for rodent-borne zoonotic viruses. Synanthropic small mammals are versatile and may be potential carriers of several microbial agents. In the present work, a total of 330 fecal samples of small mammals were collected at two sites in the North of Portugal and screened for zoonotic hepatitis E virus (HEV, species Paslahepevirus balayani). Synanthropic small mammal samples (n = 40) were collected in a city park of Porto and belonged to the species Algerian mouse (Mus spretus) (n = 26) and to the greater white-toothed shrew (Crocidura russula) (n = 14). Furthermore, additional samples were collected in the Northeast region of Portugal and included Algerian mouse (n = 48), greater white-toothed shrew (n = 47), wood mouse (Apodemus sylvaticus) (n = 43), southwestern water vole (Arvicola sapidus) (n = 52), Cabrera's vole (Microtus cabrerae) (n = 49) and Lusitanian pine vole (Microtus lusitanicus) (n = 51). A nested RT-PCR targeting a part of open reading frame (ORF) 2 region of the HEV genome was used followed by sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. HEV RNA was detected in one fecal sample (0.3%; 95% confidence interval, CI: 0.01-1.68) from a synanthropic Algerian mouse that was genotyped as HEV-3, subgenotype 3e. This is the first study reporting the detection of HEV-3 in a synanthropic rodent, the Algerian mouse. The identified HEV isolate is probably the outcome of either a spill-over infection from domestic pigs or wild boars, or the result of passive viral transit through the intestinal tract. This finding reinforces the importance in the surveillance of novel potential hosts for HEV with a particular emphasis on synanthropic animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sérgio Santos-Silva
- School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (ICBAS), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | | | - Pedro López-López
- Unit of Infectious Diseases, Clinical Virology and Zoonoses, Instituto Maimonides de Investigación Biomédica de Córdoba (IMIBIC), Hospital Universitario Reina Sofia, Universidad de Córdoba (UCO), Cordoba, Spain
- Center for Biomedical Research Network (CIBER) in Infectious Diseases, Health Institute Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Joana Paupério
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, Welcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, CB10 1SD, UK
| | - João Queirós
- CIBIO-Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Universidade do Porto, Campus de Vairão, Vairão, 4485-661, Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus de Vairão, Vairão, 4485-661, Portugal
- Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, Rua Campo Alegre s/n, Porto, 4169-007, Portugal
- EBM, Estação Biológica de Mértola, Mértola, 7750-329, Portugal
| | - António Rivero-Juarez
- Unit of Infectious Diseases, Clinical Virology and Zoonoses, Instituto Maimonides de Investigación Biomédica de Córdoba (IMIBIC), Hospital Universitario Reina Sofia, Universidad de Córdoba (UCO), Cordoba, Spain
- Center for Biomedical Research Network (CIBER) in Infectious Diseases, Health Institute Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Laura Lux
- University of Greifswald, Domstraße 11, 17489, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Rainer G Ulrich
- Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut (FLI), Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Südufer 10, 17493, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Helena M R Gonçalves
- REQUIMTE, Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Biosensor NTech - Nanotechnology Services, Avenida da Liberdade, 249, 1º Andar, Lda, Lisboa, 1250-143, Portugal
| | - Wim H M Van der Poel
- Quantitative Veterinary Epidemiology, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
- Department Virology & Molecular Biology, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Lelystad, The Netherlands
| | | | - João R Mesquita
- School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (ICBAS), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.
- Epidemiology Research Unit (EPIUnit), Instituto de Saúde Pública da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.
- Laboratory for Integrative and Translational Research in Population Health (ITR), Porto, Portugal.
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Mesquita JR, Santos-Silva S, Ferreira N, Rivero-Juarez A, Gonçalves G, Nascimento MSJ. Hepatitis E Virus in Individuals Undergoing Heparin Therapy: An Observational Serological and Molecular Study. Curr Drug Saf 2024; 19:CDS-EPUB-137105. [PMID: 38204276 DOI: 10.2174/0115748863272272231122114732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Revised: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Heparin is derived from swine and has been suggested as a possible source of HEV. To study the potential risk of HEV infection associated with heparin treatment, two groups of individuals were compared. Sera from heparinized (N=93) and non-heparinized individuals (N=111) were tested for markers of acute HEV infection and anti-HEV IgG seroprevalence. METHOD An acute HEV case was defined by the presence of anti-HEV IgM and/or HEV RNA. From the 93 heparinized individuals, one was positive for IgM and IgG anti-HEV and two were positive for HEV RNA (for both ORF3 and ORF2), and there were a total of two (2.2%) cases of current or recent HEV infection. From the 111 non-heparinized individuals, three were positive for IgM anti-HEV, one was positive for both IgM and IgG anti-HEV, and none was positive for HEV RNA, and there were a total of three (2.7%) cases of current or recent HEV infection. The difference between HEV cases in the heparinized individuals and the non-heparinized individuals was not statistically significant (2.2% vs. 2.7%; p = 0.799). RESULTS Concerning IgG anti-HEV, it was detected in 32 individuals from the heparinized group and in 18 from the non-heparinized control group. A statistically significant difference was observed in the presence of anti-HEV IgG in heparinized individuals and controls (p = 0.003). CONCLUSION This study has not found any association between heparin treatment and acute HEV infection, but has shown the use of therapeutic heparin as a risk factor for IgG anti-HEV seropositivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- João R Mesquita
- Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar (ICBAS), Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Epidemiology Research Unit (EPIUnit), Instituto de Saúde Pública da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Laboratório Para a Investigação Integrativa e Translacional em Saúde Populacional (ITR), Porto, Portugal
| | - Sérgio Santos-Silva
- Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar (ICBAS), Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Nanci Ferreira
- Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto (FFUP), Porto, Portugal
| | - Antonio Rivero-Juarez
- CIBER Infectious Diseases (CIBERINFEC), Health Institute Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Grupo de Virología Clínica y Zoonosis, Unidad de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto Maimónides de Investigación Biomédica de Córdoba, Hospital Reina Sofía, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Guilherme Gonçalves
- Unidade de Saúde Pública do ACES Ave-Famalicão, ARS Norte, Ministério da Saúde, Portugal
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Gomes-Gonçalves S, Palmeira JD, Ferreira H, Santos-Silva S, Mesquita JR. Occurrence and Phylogenetic Analysis of Zoonotic Enteropathogenic Protist Parasites in Asymptomatic Domestic Ruminants from Portugal. Pathogens 2023; 12:1341. [PMID: 38003805 PMCID: PMC10675233 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12111341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Enteropathogenic parasites are of significant concern for public health due to their zoonotic potential and their impact on human and animal health. In this study, we investigated their occurrence and characterized these enteropathogens in asymptomatic domestic ruminants from Portugal. A total of 302 stool samples were collected from cattle (n = 166), sheep (n = 73), and goats (n = 63) in various regions of Portugal and tested for Cryptosporidium spp., Giardia duodenalis, Enterocytozoon bieneusi, Blastocystis sp., and Balantioides coli by PCR. The occurrence of Cryptosporidium spp. was found to be 12.7% (8/63, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 5.65-23.5) in goats; however, no sample was found to be positive for Cryptosporidium spp. in cattle and sheep. For E. bieneusi, 6.35% (4/63; 95%CI: 1.76-15.47) of goats were found to be positive; however, no cattle or sheep were found to be positive. Blastocystis sp. was found in sheep (9.59%; 7/73; 95% [CI]: 0.394-18.76) and goats (12.70%; 8/63; 95% [CI]: 5.65-23.50) but none was found in cattle. No positive results for G. duodenalis or B. coli were detected in this study. This study provides essential baseline information for understanding the silent shedding and epidemiology of these enteropathogens in Portugal, contributing to overall livestock health and related occupational safety. Raising awareness among consumers, veterinarians, and farm owners is crucial to minimize the risk of transmission and promote effective disease control strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Gomes-Gonçalves
- Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal;
| | - Josman Dantas Palmeira
- UCIBIO—Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; (J.D.P.); (H.F.)
- Associate Laboratory i4HB, Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
- Microbiology, Biological Sciences Department, Faculty of Pharmacy of University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - Helena Ferreira
- UCIBIO—Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; (J.D.P.); (H.F.)
- Associate Laboratory i4HB, Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
- Microbiology, Biological Sciences Department, Faculty of Pharmacy of University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - Sérgio Santos-Silva
- School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (ICBAS), University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal;
| | - João R. Mesquita
- School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (ICBAS), University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal;
- Epidemiology Research Unit (EPIUnit), Instituto de Saúde Pública da Universidade do Porto, 4050-600 Porto, Portugal
- Laboratory for Integrative and Translational Research in Population Health (ITR), 4050-600 Porto, Portugal
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Santos-Silva S, Santos N, Boratyński Z, Mesquita JR, Barradas PF. Diversity of Rickettsia spp. in ticks from wild mammals of Morocco and Mauritania. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2023; 14:102235. [PMID: 37531889 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2023.102235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2021] [Revised: 07/02/2023] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023]
Abstract
Ticks are known as vectors and reservoirs of rickettsiae and, wildlife vertebrate hosts as suitable dispersers of ticks contributing to the life cycle of rickettsial agents in nature. In the herein study, the presence of rickettsiae was investigated in ticks from wild mammals (Gerbillus and Jaculus, Vulpes rueppellii, Canis anthus, Felis lybica and Felis margarita) in Mauritania and Morocco. Morphological and molecular analysis of ticks allowed their identification as Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato and Hyalomma impeltatum. A total of 126 partially engorged adult ticks, collected from 40 animals, were screened for the presence of rickettsial DNA by conventional PCR targeting the ompB gene, followed by ompA and gltA targets and bidirectional sequencing. As a result of the sequence analyses, that at least three different species of pathogenic spotted fever group rickettsiae were detected. Rickettsia parkeri-like was detected in a R. sanguineus s.l. (n=1) collected from an African wildcat from Morocco. Rickettsia aeschlimannii was detected in a H. impeltatum (n=1) collected from a gerbil rodent. Rickettsia massiliae was detected in R. sanguineus s.l. ticks (n=5) collected from two Ruppells' foxes. The herein study demonstrates that pathogenic Rickettsia species are circulating in Morocco and Mauritania wildlife.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sérgio Santos-Silva
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar (ICBAS), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Nuno Santos
- CIBIO/InBio, Research Center in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, Campus of Vairão, University of Porto, Vila do Conde 4485-661, Portugal
| | - Zbyszek Boratyński
- BIOPOLIS, CIBIO/InBio, Research Center in Biodiversity & Genetic Resources, University of Porto, Portugal
| | - João R Mesquita
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar (ICBAS), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal; EPIUnit - Instituto de Saúde Pública, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Patrícia F Barradas
- EPIUnit - Instituto de Saúde Pública, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal; Laboratório para a Investigação Integrativa e Translacional em Saúde Populacional (ITR), Porto, Portugal; Department of Sciences, CESPU, CRL, University Institute of Health Sciences (IUCS), Gandra, Portugal.
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9
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Pires H, Cardoso L, Lopes AP, Fontes MDC, Santos-Silva S, Matos M, Pintado C, Figueira L, Matos AC, Mesquita JR, Coelho AC. Prevalence and Risk Factors for Hepatitis E Virus in Wild Boar and Red Deer in Portugal. Microorganisms 2023; 11:2576. [PMID: 37894234 PMCID: PMC10609178 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11102576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2023] [Revised: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a zoonotic foodborne virus with an annual infection prevalence of 20 million human cases, which seriously affects public health and economic development in both developed and developing countries. To better understand the epidemiology of HEV in Central Portugal, a cross-sectional study was conducted from 2016 to 2023 with sera samples from wild ungulates. The seroprevalence and risk factors for HEV seropositivity were evaluated in the present study. Specifically, antibodies against HEV were determined by a commercial enzyme-linked immune-sorbent assay (ELISA). Our results show that in the 650 sera samples collected from 298 wild red deer and 352 wild boars in Portugal, 9.1% red deer and 1.7% wild boar were positive for antibodies to HEV. Regarding age, the seropositivity in juvenile wild ungulates was 1.3%, whereas it was 7.2% in adults. Logistic regression models investigated risk factors for seropositivity. The odds of being seropositive was 3.6 times higher in adults than in juveniles, and the risk was 4.2 times higher in red deer than in wild boar. Both wild ungulate species were exposed to HEV. The higher seroprevalence in red deer suggests that this species may make a major contribution to the ecology of HEV in Central Portugal. Further research is needed to understand how wildlife affects the epidemiology of HEV infections in Portugal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Humberto Pires
- Polytechnic Institute of Castelo Branco, 6001-909 Castelo Branco, Portugal; (H.P.); (C.P.); (A.C.M.)
| | - Luís Cardoso
- Animal and Veterinary Research Centre (CECAV), Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal; (L.C.); (A.P.L.); (M.d.C.F.)
- Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences (AL4AnimalS), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Ana Patrícia Lopes
- Animal and Veterinary Research Centre (CECAV), Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal; (L.C.); (A.P.L.); (M.d.C.F.)
- Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences (AL4AnimalS), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Maria da Conceição Fontes
- Animal and Veterinary Research Centre (CECAV), Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal; (L.C.); (A.P.L.); (M.d.C.F.)
- Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences (AL4AnimalS), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Sérgio Santos-Silva
- School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (ICBAS), Porto University, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; (S.S.-S.); (J.R.M.)
| | - Manuela Matos
- Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences (CITAB), University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal;
| | - Cristina Pintado
- Polytechnic Institute of Castelo Branco, 6001-909 Castelo Branco, Portugal; (H.P.); (C.P.); (A.C.M.)
- Research Center for Natural Resources, Environment and Society, Polytechnic Institute of Castelo Branco, 6001-909 Castelo Branco, Portugal;
- Quality of Life in the Rural World (Q-RURAL), Polytechnic Institute of Castelo Branco, 6001-909 Castelo Branco, Portugal
| | - Luís Figueira
- Research Center for Natural Resources, Environment and Society, Polytechnic Institute of Castelo Branco, 6001-909 Castelo Branco, Portugal;
- Quality of Life in the Rural World (Q-RURAL), Polytechnic Institute of Castelo Branco, 6001-909 Castelo Branco, Portugal
| | - Ana Cristina Matos
- Polytechnic Institute of Castelo Branco, 6001-909 Castelo Branco, Portugal; (H.P.); (C.P.); (A.C.M.)
- Research Center for Natural Resources, Environment and Society, Polytechnic Institute of Castelo Branco, 6001-909 Castelo Branco, Portugal;
- Quality of Life in the Rural World (Q-RURAL), Polytechnic Institute of Castelo Branco, 6001-909 Castelo Branco, Portugal
| | - João Rodrigo Mesquita
- School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (ICBAS), Porto University, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; (S.S.-S.); (J.R.M.)
- Epidemiology Research Unit (EPIUnit), Instituto de Saúde Pública da Universidade do Porto, 4050-600 Porto, Portugal
- Laboratório Para a Investigação Integrativa e Translacional em Saúde Populacional (ITR), 4050-600 Porto, Portugal
| | - Ana Cláudia Coelho
- Animal and Veterinary Research Centre (CECAV), Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal; (L.C.); (A.P.L.); (M.d.C.F.)
- Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences (AL4AnimalS), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
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Bento JT, Dahmane A, Santos-Silva S, Reghaissia N, Almeida D, Mesquita JR. Antibody-Based Assessment of Coxiella burnetii Circulation in Algerian Goat Herds. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:2926. [PMID: 37760325 PMCID: PMC10525101 DOI: 10.3390/ani13182926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Revised: 09/09/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Q fever is a zoonotic disease caused by Coxiella burnetii (C. burnetii), a pathogen with a high capability for infection. The disease primarily affects ruminants, leading to reproductive disorders, but can also be transmitted to humans through contact with infected animals or their products. In Algeria, Q fever is endemic, but little is known about the presence and circulation of C. burnetii in domestic goats. This study aimed to perform a multicentric serological analysis of C. burnetii antibodies in domestic goats from four provinces in the North East Region of Algeria. A total of 504 goat serum samples were collected from 77 herds, and serological analysis was performed using an indirect ELISA. The overall seroprevalence at the herd level was 35.06%, and 8.73% at the individual level. Herds with a history of abortions showed a high seropositivity rate of 88.9%. This research indicates the wide distribution of C. burnetii in goats in this region, suggesting the potential for zoonotic transmission to humans. Further studies and monitoring programs are essential to gain a comprehensive understanding of C. burnetii epidemiology in Algeria and to prevent or mitigate potential outbreaks. Awareness among practitioners and farmers is crucial to address this public health concern effectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaqueline T. Bento
- Department of Biology, Campus de Santiago, University of Aveiro (UA), 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal;
| | - Abdeldjalil Dahmane
- Higher National Veterinary School, Rue Issad Abbes, El Alia, Algiers 16000, Algeria;
| | - Sérgio Santos-Silva
- School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (ICBAS), University of Porto, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal; (S.S.-S.); (D.A.)
| | - Nassiba Reghaissia
- Laboratory of Sciences and Living Techniques, Institute of Agronomic and Veterinary Sciences, University of Souk Ahras, Souk Ahras 41000, Algeria;
| | - Daniela Almeida
- School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (ICBAS), University of Porto, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal; (S.S.-S.); (D.A.)
| | - João R. Mesquita
- School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (ICBAS), University of Porto, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal; (S.S.-S.); (D.A.)
- Epidemiology Research Unit (EPIUnit), Instituto de Saúde Pública da Universidade do Porto, 4050-600 Porto, Portugal
- Laboratory for Integrative and Translational Research in Population Health (ITR), 4050-600 Porto, Portugal
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11
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Santos-Silva S, da Silva Dias Moraes DF, López-López P, Rivero-Juarez A, Mesquita JR, Nascimento MSJ. Hepatitis E Virus in the Iberian Peninsula: A Systematic Review. Food Environ Virol 2023; 15:193-211. [PMID: 37434079 PMCID: PMC10499749 DOI: 10.1007/s12560-023-09560-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2023]
Abstract
One of the most frequent causes of acute viral hepatitis is hepatitis E virus (HEV) causing 20 million infections worldwide each year and 44,000 deaths. Studies on HEV in the Iberian Peninsula have been increasing through time with HEV infection being identified in humans and animals. The aim of the present systematic review was to compile and evaluate all the published data on HEV from studies performed in humans, animals and environmental samples in the Iberian Peninsula. The electronic databases Mendeley, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science were thoroughly searched, and research published up until February 01, 2023 were included. Resulting in a total of 151 eligible papers by full reading and application of PRISMA exclusion/inclusion criteria. Overall, the present review shows that several HEV genotypes, namely HEV-1, 3, 4, and 6 as well as Rocahepevirus, are circulating in humans, animals, and in the environment in the Iberian Peninsula. HEV-3 was the most common genotype circulating in humans in Portugal and Spain, as expected for developed countries, with HEV-1 only being detected in travelers and emigrants from HEV endemic regions. Spain is the biggest pork producer in Europe and given the high circulation of HEV in pigs, with HEV-3 being primarily associated to zoonotic transmission through consumption of swine meat and meat products, in our opinion, the introduction of an HEV surveillance system in swine and inclusion of HEV in diagnostic routines for acute and chronic human hepatitis would be important. Additionally, we propose that establishing a monitoring mechanism for HEV is crucial in order to gain a comprehensive understanding of the prevalence of this illness and the various strains present in the Iberian Peninsula, as well as their potential impact on public health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sérgio Santos-Silva
- ICBAS - Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | | | - Pedro López-López
- Grupo de Virología Clínica y Zoonosis, Unidad de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto Maimónides de Investigación Biomédica de Córdoba, Hospital Reina Sofía, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain
- CIBERINFEC, ISCIII - CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - António Rivero-Juarez
- Grupo de Virología Clínica y Zoonosis, Unidad de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto Maimónides de Investigación Biomédica de Córdoba, Hospital Reina Sofía, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain
- CIBERINFEC, ISCIII - CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - João R Mesquita
- ICBAS - Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.
- Epidemiology Research Unit (EPIUnit), Instituto de Saúde Pública da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.
- Laboratório para a Investigação Integrativa e Translacional em Saúde Populacional (ITR), Porto, Portugal.
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Abrantes AC, Santos-Silva S, Mesquita J, Vieira-Pinto M. Hepatitis E Virus in the Wild Boar Population: What Is the Real Zoonotic Risk in Portugal? Trop Med Infect Dis 2023; 8:433. [PMID: 37755894 PMCID: PMC10535446 DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed8090433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2023] [Revised: 08/27/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is an important zoonosis in wild boar. Reported zoonotic cases are mainly associated with the consumption of raw/undercooked meat and/or liver. This study aims to determine the occurrence of HEV in the Portuguese wild boar population. During the hunting season 2021/2022, 123-matched samples (liver, faeces, and blood) were collected from hunted wild boars throughout Portugal. An RT-PCR assay tested liver and faeces samples to detect HEV-RNA. From blood samples, an ELISA test was performed. Only one liver sample was positive for HEV (0,8%) and one other from faeces. A total of 34 sera were seropositive (26.7%). At the same time, in a survey of 106 hunters, 21 consumed/ate the liver of wild boars (19.8%). Only three recognised the possibility of consuming it undercooked. Contrary to previous studies in Portugal, the prevalence of HEV in liver and faeces is low, but the seropositivity is higher. But, when analyzing in detail, it could be observed that an HEV hotspot exists in the southeast of central Portugal and that it is a zoonotic risk for hunters of this region. The data of this study reinforce the importance of including HEV in surveillance programs for wildlife diseases to expand the potential zoonotic information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Carolina Abrantes
- Animal and Veterinary Research Centre (CECAV), Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro University (UTAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Sérgio Santos-Silva
- Abel Salazar Institute of Biomedical Sciences (ICBAS), University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - João Mesquita
- Abel Salazar Institute of Biomedical Sciences (ICBAS), University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
- Epidemiology Research Unit (EPIunit), Institute of Public Health, University of Porto, 4050-600 Porto, Portugal
- Laboratory for Integrative and Translational Research in Population Health (ITR), 4050-600 Porto, Portugal
| | - Madalena Vieira-Pinto
- Animal and Veterinary Research Centre (CECAV), Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro University (UTAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro University (UTAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
- AL4AnimalS-Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Portugal
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13
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Lopes C, Santos-Silva S, Nunes C, Mendes S, Costa C, Brazio E, Coutinho T, Rodrigues FT, Mesquita JR, Coelho AC, Cardoso L, Lopes AP. Morphologic and Genetic Analysis of Synhimantus ( Synhimantus) laticeps from a Long-Eared Owl ( Asio otus). Pathogens 2023; 12:pathogens12050717. [PMID: 37242387 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12050717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Revised: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 05/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The long-eared owl (Asio otus) is a medium-sized owl species that is well-distributed in almost all of the territories in Portugal. Nematodes were found in the oral cavity of a long-eared owl (A. otus) admitted to CRASSA (Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre of Santo André). During a physical exam and stabilization of the bird, five nematodes were collected. The worms were examined and measured under light microscopy, and photos were taken. After a morphological analysis was conducted, all the nematodes (five females) were identified as Synhimantus (Synhimantus) laticeps. Two specimens were subjected to molecular analysis, which confirmed the result. This study provides a combined morphological and genetic approach to S. laticeps. To the authors' best knowledge, this is the first report including genetic sequencing of S. laticeps in a long-eared owl (A. otus) from Portugal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina Lopes
- Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre of Santo André (CRASSA), Quercus, 7500-022 Vila Nova de Santo André, Portugal
| | - Sérgio Santos-Silva
- ICBAS-School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Porto University, 4099-002 Porto, Portugal
| | - Carolina Nunes
- Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre of Santo André (CRASSA), Quercus, 7500-022 Vila Nova de Santo André, Portugal
| | | | | | - Erica Brazio
- Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre of Lisbon (LxCRAS), Parque Florestal de Monsanto, 1050-068 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Teresa Coutinho
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Filipa Teixeira Rodrigues
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
- CECAV-Animal and Veterinary Centre, Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences (AL4AnimalS), University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
| | - João R Mesquita
- ICBAS-School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Porto University, 4099-002 Porto, Portugal
- Epidemiology Research Unit (EPIUnit), Instituto de Saúde Pública da Universidade do Porto, 4050-600 Porto, Portugal
- Laboratório para a Investigação Integrativa e Translacional em Saúde Populacional (ITR), 4050-346 Porto, Portugal
| | - Ana Cláudia Coelho
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
- CECAV-Animal and Veterinary Centre, Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences (AL4AnimalS), University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Luís Cardoso
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
- CECAV-Animal and Veterinary Centre, Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences (AL4AnimalS), University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Ana Patrícia Lopes
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
- CECAV-Animal and Veterinary Centre, Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences (AL4AnimalS), University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
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Santos-Silva S, Hemnani M, Lopez-Lopez P, Gonçalves HMR, Rivero-Juarez A, Van der Poel WHM, Nascimento MSJ, Mesquita JR. A Systematic Review of Hepatitis E Virus Detection in Camels. Vet Sci 2023; 10:vetsci10050323. [PMID: 37235406 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci10050323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) represents a major cause of acute hepatitis and is considered an emerging public health problem around the world. In the Middle East's and Africa's arid regions, where camels frequently interact with human populations and camel-derived food products are a component of the food chain, camel-borne zoonotic HEV infection is a potential threat. To date, no review paper has been published on HEV in camels. As such, the purpose of the current work is to provide a scientific review of the identification of HEV genotypes seven and eight in camels worldwide to have a better understanding of the current status of this topic and to identify gaps in the current knowledge. Searches were carried out in the electronic databases PubMed, Mendeley, Web of Science, and Scopus, including studies published until 31 December 2022 (n = 435). Once the databases were checked for duplicate papers (n = 307), the exclusion criteria were applied to remove any research that was not relevant (n = 118). As a result, only 10 papers were found to be eligible for the study. Additionally, in eight of the ten studies, the rates of HEV infection were found to be between 0.6% and 2.2% in both stool and serum samples. Furthermore, four studies detected HEV genotype seven in dromedary camels, and two studies have shown HEV genotype eight in Bactrian camels. Interestingly, these genotypes were recently reported in camels from the Middle East and China, where one human infection with HEV genotype seven has been associated with the consumption of contaminated camel meat and milk. In conclusion, more research will be needed to determine the prevalence of HEV infection in camels around the world as well as the risk of foodborne transmission of contaminated camel products. As camels are utility animals in several countries, HEV in these animals may pose a potential risk to public health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sérgio Santos-Silva
- ICBAS-Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - Mahima Hemnani
- ICBAS-Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - Pedro Lopez-Lopez
- Grupo de Virología Clínica y Zoonosis, Unidad de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto Maimónides de Investigación Biomédica de Córdoba, Hospital Reina Sofía, Universidad de Córdoba, 14004 Córdoba, Spain
- CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC) Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28220 Madrid, Spain
| | - Helena M R Gonçalves
- Biosensor Ntech-Nanotechnology Services, Lda, Avenida da Liberdade, 249, 1° Andar, 1250-143 Lisboa, Portugal
- REQUIMTE, Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal
| | - António Rivero-Juarez
- Grupo de Virología Clínica y Zoonosis, Unidad de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto Maimónides de Investigación Biomédica de Córdoba, Hospital Reina Sofía, Universidad de Córdoba, 14004 Córdoba, Spain
- CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC) Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28220 Madrid, Spain
| | - Wim H M Van der Poel
- Quantitative Veterinary Epidemiology Group, Wageningen University, 6708 PB Wageningen, The Netherlands
- Department Virology & Molecular Biology, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, 8200 AB Lelystad, The Netherlands
| | | | - João R Mesquita
- ICBAS-Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
- Epidemiology Research Unit (EPIUnit), Instituto de Saúde Pública da Universidade do Porto, 4050-600 Porto, Portugal
- Laboratório Para a Investigação Integrativa e Translacional em Saúde Populacional (ITR), 4050-600 Porto, Portugal
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15
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Santos-Silva S, López-López P, Gonçalves HMR, Rivero-Juarez A, Van der Poel WHM, Nascimento MSJ, Mesquita JR. A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis on Hepatitis E Virus Detection in Farmed Ruminants. Pathogens 2023; 12:pathogens12040550. [PMID: 37111437 PMCID: PMC10146180 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12040550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2023] [Revised: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/30/2023] [Indexed: 04/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Swine are widely recognized as the main reservoir of zoonotic HEV; however, a growing body of data on the HEV prevalence in farmed ruminants of different species also points to a potential route for HEV transmission through ruminants and ruminant products and by-products. Definite information on the zoonotic potential of ruminants is still absent or unclear, compelling the necessity for increasing knowledge on this. The aim of the current study was to analyze the state-of-the-art in this research topic and provide a summary of HEV detection and characterization in farmed ruminants. A total of 1567 papers were retrieved from four search databases that resulted in 35 eligible papers after application of exclusion/inclusion criteria. Studies on HEV in farmed ruminants were mainly based on the detection of HEV RNA and were reported in Africa (n = 1), America (n = 3), Asia (n = 18) and Europe (n = 13), and focused on a variety of ruminants species, namely cow, goat, sheep, deer, buffalo and yak. The overall pooled prevalence of HEV was 0.02% (0.01-0.03, 95% CI). The subgroup pooled prevalence of HEV RNA was 0.01% (0.00-0.02, 95% CI) in cow milk, stool, serum, liver, intestinal, bile, blood, spleen and rectal swab samples; 0.09% (0.02-0.18, 95% CI) in goat serum, bile, stool, milk, liver, rectal swab and blood samples; 0.01% (0.00-0.04, 95% CI) in sheep stool, serum, milk, blood and liver samples. Most of the HEV genotypes found in farmed ruminants belonged to the zoonotic HEV-3 (subtypes 3a, 3c) and HEV-4 (subtype 4d, 4h), with Rocahepevirus also found. The wide HEV circulation observed in different farmed ruminants raises concerns for the possibility of HEV transmission through products from infected ruminants and alerts for the potential zoonotic route for HEV in ruminant products, such as meat and dairy products. Also, contact exposure to infected farmed animals could be a risk factor. Further research should be conducted in order to understand the circulation of HEV in these animals and its zoonotic potential, as there is currently a lack of data on this topic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sérgio Santos-Silva
- School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (ICBAS), University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - Pedro López-López
- Unit of Infectious Diseases, Hospital Universitario Reina Sofia, Clinical Virology and Zoonoses, Instituto Maimonides de Investigación Biomédica de Córdoba (IMIBIC), Universidad de Córdoba (UCO), 14004 Cordoba, Spain
- Center for Biomedical Research Network (CIBER) in Infectious Diseases, Health Institute Carlos III, 28220 Madrid, Spain
| | - Helena M. R. Gonçalves
- Biosensor NTech—Nanotechnology Services, Lda, Avenida da Liberdade, 249, 1º Andar, 1250-143 Lisboa, Portugal
- Porto School of Engineering, Rede de Química e Tecnologia—REQUIMTE, 4200-072, Porto, Portugal
| | - António Rivero-Juarez
- Unit of Infectious Diseases, Hospital Universitario Reina Sofia, Clinical Virology and Zoonoses, Instituto Maimonides de Investigación Biomédica de Córdoba (IMIBIC), Universidad de Córdoba (UCO), 14004 Cordoba, Spain
- Center for Biomedical Research Network (CIBER) in Infectious Diseases, Health Institute Carlos III, 28220 Madrid, Spain
| | - Wim H. M. Van der Poel
- Quantitative Veterinary Epidemiology, Wageningen University, 6708 PB Wageningen, The Netherlands
- Department Virology & Molecular Biology, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, 8200 AB Lelystad, The Netherlands
| | | | - João R. Mesquita
- School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (ICBAS), University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
- Epidemiology Research Unit (EPIUnit), Instituto de Saúde Pública da Universidade do Porto, 4050-600 Porto, Portugal
- Laboratory for Integrative and Translational Research in Population Health (ITR), 4050-600 Porto, Portugal
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16
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Gomes-de-Sá S, Santos-Silva S, Moreira ADS, Barradas PF, Amorim I, Cardoso L, Mesquita JR. Assessment of the circulation of Dirofilaria immitis in dogs from northern Portugal through combined analysis of antigens, DNA and parasite forms in blood. Acta Trop 2023; 239:106799. [PMID: 36572345 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2022.106799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Revised: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Dirofilariasis is a vector-borne disease frequent in many countries. Not only infected dogs, but also cats and wild canids (including wolves and foxes), represent important sources of infection for mosquitoes, which are the pathogen vectors. The disease is endemic in Mediterranean countries with increasing incidence in Italy, France, Greece and Spain, but limited epidemiological data is available from Portugal regarding its distribution and impact. Aiming to clarify this, canine whole blood samples (n = 244) from the north of Portugal were tested for Dirofilaria spp. antigens by use of a commercial rapid immunomigration test. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and the modified Knott test were also used to assess the presence of microfilariae. Results were also compared to assess the performance of each test used. Of the 244 animals tested, 118 (48.4%) were positive for Dirofilaria immitis (heartworm) in the serological adult worm rapid antigen detection test, and 36 (14.8%) had circulating microfilariae, identified as D. immitis. A combined positivity of 51.6% (126/244) was found. Results indicate that the risk of exposure to D. immitis in dogs is high in this region of Portugal, and that prophylaxis against the parasite is advisable to decrease the occurrence of canine infection and disease. The present study highlights the diagnostic value of serological and molecular tests in determining the prevalence of D. immitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sónia Gomes-de-Sá
- ICBAS - School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Porto University, Porto, Portugal
| | - Sérgio Santos-Silva
- ICBAS - School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Porto University, Porto, Portugal
| | | | - Patrícia Ferreira Barradas
- Epidemiology Research Unit (EPIUnit), Instituto de Saúde Pública da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal; Department of Sciences, CESPU, CRL, University Institute of Health Sciences (IUCS), Gandra, Portugal; Laboratory for Integrative and Translational Research in Population Health (ITR), Porto, Portugal
| | - Irina Amorim
- ICBAS - School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Porto University, Porto, Portugal; Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto (IPATIMUP), Porto, Portugal; Institute for Research and Innovation in Health (i3S), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Luís Cardoso
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, and CECAV - Animal and Veterinary Research Centre, University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), Vila Real, Portugal; Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences (AL4AnimalS), Portugal
| | - João R Mesquita
- ICBAS - School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Porto University, Porto, Portugal; Epidemiology Research Unit (EPIUnit), Instituto de Saúde Pública da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal; Laboratory for Integrative and Translational Research in Population Health (ITR), Porto, Portugal.
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17
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Santos-Silva S, Gonçalves HMR, Rivero-Juarez A, Van der Poel WHM, Nascimento MSJ, Mesquita JR. Detection of hepatitis E virus in milk: Current evidence for viral excretion in a wide range of mammalian hosts. Transbound Emerg Dis 2022; 69:3173-3180. [PMID: 35989468 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.14683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2022] [Revised: 07/31/2022] [Accepted: 08/17/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Infection with hepatitis E virus (HEV) is common in both developing and industrialized nations. Genotypes 3 and 4 are increasingly being reported, particularly in high-income countries where the precise extent of HEV transmission via food is currently unclear. Recently, HEV has been found to be excreted in milk; however, data on the potential milk-borne transmission is still lacking or conflicting and warrants further research on the topic. As such, the aim of the present study was to review the current scientific knowledge and to summarize the existing studies in which HEV has been detected in milk. Exhaustive searches were carried out in Mendeley, PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science. A total of 157 papers were retrieved from the four electronic databases. After removing duplicate articles from the databases (n = 30), exclusion criteria identified unrelated research (n = 115). This allowed the identification of 12 eligible papers. To date, studies on HEV detection in milk were mostly from China (n = 5), followed by Egypt (n = 2), Germany (n = 1), Belgium and Holland (n = 1), Turkey (n = 1), Czech Republic (n = 1) and Spain (n = 1) and were focused on a variety of animals (cow, goat, donkey, buffalo, sheep and camel) and humans. Four out of the 12 eligible studies did not find any evidence of HEV in milk. Moreover, 3 out of the 12 studies detected low rates of HEV (0.2-1.8%) and two were based on a low sample size (n = 1 and n = 4). Interestingly, one study showed very high detection rates and also detected HEV genotype 1 in an animal milk sample, an unusual finding since it only occurs in humans, deserving further studies for confirmation and characterization. Two studies detected high prevalence of HEV genotype 4 in bovine samples from China, with one showing indication of the presence of infectious HEV in milk. To date, there is still a small amount of available data on the HEV presence in milk, posing important questions regarding both animal and human health. Thus, further efforts on this potentially underestimated zoonotic route for HEV should be given, warranting further studies on the topic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sérgio Santos-Silva
- ICBAS - Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | | | - António Rivero-Juarez
- Grupo de Virología Clínica y Zoonosis, Unidad de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto Maimónides de Investigación Biomédica de Córdoba, Hospital Reina Sofía, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain.,CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Wim H M Van der Poel
- Quantitative Veterinary Epidemiology, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands.,Department Virology & Molecular Biology, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Lelystad, the Netherlands
| | | | - João R Mesquita
- ICBAS - Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.,Epidemiology Research Unit (EPIUnit), Instituto de Saúde Pública da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.,Laboratório para a Investigação Integrativa e Translacional em Saúde Populacional (ITR), Porto, Portugal
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18
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Mega J, Santos-Silva S, Loureiro A, Palmeira JD, Torres RT, Rivero-Juarez A, Carmena D, Mesquita J. Balantioides coli Fecal Excretion in Hunted Wild Cervids (Cervus elaphus and Dama dama) from Portugal. Pathogens 2022; 11:pathogens11111242. [PMID: 36364993 PMCID: PMC9699091 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11111242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2022] [Revised: 10/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Balantioides coli is a zoonotic enteric protozoan parasite of public veterinary health relevance and a concern in animal production and food safety. While wild cervids are recognized reservoirs for several zoonotic pathogens, little is known about the occurrence of B. coli in deer species, especially in Europe. To fill this gap, a total of 130 fecal samples from legally hunted red deer (Cervus elaphus, n = 95) and fallow deer (Dama dama, n = 35) were passively collected during two hunting seasons (October to February; 2018–2019 and 2019–2020) in Portugal. After assessment by PCR assay targeting the complete ITS1–5.8s-rRNA–ITS2 region and the 3’ end of the ssu-rRNA gene of the parasite, a prevalence of 4.2% (4/95, 95% CI: 0.2–8.3) in red deer and of 5.7% (2/35, 95% CI: 0.0–13.4) in fallow deer was found. Sequence and phylogenetic analyses allowed the identification of B. coli genetic variants A (in two red deer) and B (in two red deer and two fallow deer). This is the first molecular-based description of B. coli in European deer species, whose population have increased in density and geographical range in recent years. Continued monitoring of wild ungulates as potential vectors of parasitic infection diseases of zoonotic nature is crucial to safeguard public health and food safety.
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Affiliation(s)
- João Mega
- ICBAS—School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Porto University, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - Sérgio Santos-Silva
- ICBAS—School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Porto University, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - Ana Loureiro
- ICBAS—School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Porto University, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - Josman D. Palmeira
- Department of Biology & CESAM, University of Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Rita T. Torres
- Department of Biology & CESAM, University of Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Antonio Rivero-Juarez
- CIBER Infectious Diseases (CIBERINFEC), Health Institute Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Grupo de Virología Clínica y Zoonosis, Unidad de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto Maimónides de Investigación Biomédica de Córdoba, Hospital Reina Sofía, Universidad de Córdoba, 14004 Córdoba, Spain
| | - David Carmena
- CIBER Infectious Diseases (CIBERINFEC), Health Institute Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Parasitology Reference and Research Laboratory, National Centre for Microbiology, 28220 Majadahonda, Spain
| | - João Mesquita
- ICBAS—School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Porto University, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
- Epidemiology Research Unit (EPIUnit), Instituto de Saúde Pública da Universidade do Porto, 4050-600 Porto, Portugal
- Laboratório Para a Investigação Integrativa e Translacional em Saúde Populacional (ITR), 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +351-220-428-000
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19
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Almeida D, Santos-Silva S, Pereira MA, Santos C, Mega C, Coelho C, Nóbrega C, Esteves F, Cruz R, Vala H, Mesquita JR. Prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii Antibodies and Risk Factor Investigation in Portuguese Veterinarians: A Matched Case-Control Study. Pathogens 2022; 11:pathogens11101217. [PMID: 36297274 PMCID: PMC9606902 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11101217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Revised: 10/19/2022] [Accepted: 10/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
(1) Background: Toxoplasma gondii is a widespread zoonotic agent that greatly impacts Public Health, being responsible for one of the most important parasitic zoonosis worldwide. T. gondii has a heteroxenous life cycle, with cats being the definitive hosts and all warm-blooded animals, including humans, being intermediate hosts. Veterinary practitioners (VP) may be at a higher risk than the general population for T. gondii infection, as they have direct and daily contact with many animal species. The aim of the present study was to ascertain if VP were more likely to be anti-T. gondii IgG seropositive than the general population, as well as to understand if age, accidents with blood-contaminated sharps (cross-blood contamination), gender, working years, and geographic regions play a role as risk factors for T. gondii infection. For this purpose, a case−control study using archived samples was performed. (2) Methods: A total of 350 veterinary practitioners were tested using a commercial semiquantitative enzyme immunoassay for anti-T. gondii IgG. From the general population, 175 anonymous volunteers (matched with cases by region, age, and gender) were studied for anti-T. gondii IgG. (3) Results: There was no statistical difference found between the presence of anti-T. gondii IgG in practitioners (26%; CI = 21.40−30.60%) and the general population (33.14%; CI = 26.17−40.12%) (p = 0.108). Univariate and multivariate analysis showed that only age (older groups) was found to be associated with a higher prevalence of anti-T. gondii IgG, with significant p values (p < 0.05) for both univariate and multivariate analysis. (4) Conclusions: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case−control study fully focused on the prevalence of anti-T. gondii IgG in VP in Portugal, showing that there was no significant risk for T. gondii infection in veterinarians exposed daily and repeatedly to different species of animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Almeida
- ICBAS-School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Porto University, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - Sérgio Santos-Silva
- ICBAS-School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Porto University, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - Maria Aires Pereira
- Instituto Politécnico de Viseu, Escola Superior Agrária de Viseu, Campus Politécnico, 3504-510 Viseu, Portugal
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine (GHTM), Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical (IHMT), Universidade Nova de Lisboa (UNL), 1349-008 Lisboa, Portugal
- CERNAS, Instituto Politécnico de Viseu, Campus Politécnico, 3504-510 Viseu, Portugal
| | - Carla Santos
- Instituto Politécnico de Viseu, Escola Superior Agrária de Viseu, Campus Politécnico, 3504-510 Viseu, Portugal
| | - Cristina Mega
- Instituto Politécnico de Viseu, Escola Superior Agrária de Viseu, Campus Politécnico, 3504-510 Viseu, Portugal
- CERNAS, Instituto Politécnico de Viseu, Campus Politécnico, 3504-510 Viseu, Portugal
| | - Catarina Coelho
- Instituto Politécnico de Viseu, Escola Superior Agrária de Viseu, Campus Politécnico, 3504-510 Viseu, Portugal
- CERNAS, Instituto Politécnico de Viseu, Campus Politécnico, 3504-510 Viseu, Portugal
| | - Carmen Nóbrega
- Instituto Politécnico de Viseu, Escola Superior Agrária de Viseu, Campus Politécnico, 3504-510 Viseu, Portugal
- Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences (CITAB), University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, 5001-801 Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Fernando Esteves
- Instituto Politécnico de Viseu, Escola Superior Agrária de Viseu, Campus Politécnico, 3504-510 Viseu, Portugal
- CERNAS, Instituto Politécnico de Viseu, Campus Politécnico, 3504-510 Viseu, Portugal
| | - Rita Cruz
- Instituto Politécnico de Viseu, Escola Superior Agrária de Viseu, Campus Politécnico, 3504-510 Viseu, Portugal
- Epidemiology Research Unit (EPIUnit), Instituto de Saúde Pública da Universidade do Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
- Laboratório para a Investigação Integrativa e Translacional em Saúde Populacional (ITR), 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - Helena Vala
- Instituto Politécnico de Viseu, Escola Superior Agrária de Viseu, Campus Politécnico, 3504-510 Viseu, Portugal
- CERNAS, Instituto Politécnico de Viseu, Campus Politécnico, 3504-510 Viseu, Portugal
- Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences (CITAB), University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, 5001-801 Vila Real, Portugal
| | - João R. Mesquita
- ICBAS-School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Porto University, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
- Epidemiology Research Unit (EPIUnit), Instituto de Saúde Pública da Universidade do Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
- Laboratório para a Investigação Integrativa e Translacional em Saúde Populacional (ITR), 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
- Correspondence:
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20
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Morgado ACT, do Vale B, Ribeiro P, Coutinho T, Santos-Silva S, de Sousa Moreira A, Rodrigues FT, Coelho AC, Lopes AP, Mesquita JR, Cardoso L. First report of human Thelazia callipaeda infection in Portugal. Acta Trop 2022; 231:106436. [PMID: 35364047 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2022.106436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2022] [Revised: 03/11/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The zoonotic parasitic nematode Thelazia callipaeda, also known as the oriental eye worm, is endemic in several European countries, including Portugal. Infections may result in ocular disease in domestic and wild animals as well as humans, with more or less severe manifestations. We report the first human case of ocular thelaziosis by T. callipaeda in Portugal, a country where the parasite had already been found to infect dogs, cats, red foxes, wild rabbits and a beech marten. An 80-year-old patient from east-central Portugal, who had been suffering from tearing for a few years, had whitish filiform fragments removed from the left eye. Polymerase chain reaction of partial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 and 18S small subunit rRNA genes followed by bidirectional sequencing and BLAST analysis confirmed T. callipaeda haplotype 1, the only haplotype previously reported in Europe. The endemicity of T. callipaeda in domestic and wild animals in east-central Portugal makes it very likely that infection of the human patient had occurred locally. In east-central and other geographical areas of Portugal, veterinarians and physicians, especially ophthalmologists, should regard T. callipaeda as a cause of ocular pathology in animals and humans.
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Mesquita JR, Santos-Silva S, de Sousa Moreira A, Baptista MB, Cruz R, Esteves F, Vala H, Barradas PF. Rickettsia massiliae circulation in sheep and attached Rhipicephalus sanguineus in Central Portugal. Trop Anim Health Prod 2022; 54:199. [PMID: 35668327 DOI: 10.1007/s11250-022-03206-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Rickettsiosis is considered an emerging/re-emerging vector-borne disease that causes significant public health threats. Ticks are reservoirs and vectors of Rickettsia having a significant role in the transmission of rickettsiae. In Portugal, little is known about tick-borne Rickettsia species in sheep. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate rickettsiae infection in ticks and their sheep host from 27 farms in four districts of central Portugal, to clarify the role of the sheep host in the circulation of this zoonotic agent. Between March and May 2021, EDTA blood samples (n = 100) of healthy grazing sheep and their ticks (n = 100, one tick per animal) were collected during a herd health program in central Portugal. Obtained ticks were identified as Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato by PCR targeting a partial sequence of 16S rRNA gene followed by sequence analysis. Rhipicephalus sanguineus s.l. and host sheep blood were tested for the presence of Rickettsia spp. by PCR targeting a partial sequence of ompB and ompA genes. From a total of 100 paired R. sanguineus s.l. and host sheep, Rickettsia massiliae was detected in 62 ticks and 35 grazing sheep blood samples, collected in central Portugal, 2021. All 35 positive sheep had attached positive R. sanguineus s.l., with matching nucleotidic sequences. These findings suggest that sheep may develop rickettsiemia and are likely capable of transmitting and amplifying the infection to uninfected ticks maintaining rickettsiae in circulation in the domestic cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- João R Mesquita
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar (ICBAS), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.,Epidemiology Research Unit (EPIUnit), Instituto de Saúde Pública da Universidade Do Porto, Rua das Taipas 135, 4050-091, Porto, Portugal.,Laboratório Para a Investigação Integrativa E Translacional Em Saúde Populacional (ITR), Porto, Portugal
| | - Sérgio Santos-Silva
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar (ICBAS), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | | | | | - Rita Cruz
- Agrarian School of Viseu, Polytechnic Institute of Viseu (ESAV), Viseu, Portugal.,Centre for Studies in Education and Health Technologies (CI&DETS), Viseu, Portugal
| | - Fernando Esteves
- Agrarian School of Viseu, Polytechnic Institute of Viseu (ESAV), Viseu, Portugal.,Centre for Studies in Education and Health Technologies (CI&DETS), Viseu, Portugal
| | - Helena Vala
- Agrarian School of Viseu, Polytechnic Institute of Viseu (ESAV), Viseu, Portugal.,Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences (CITAB) and Institute for Innovation, Capacity Building and Sustainability of Agri-Food Production (Inov4Agro), UTAD, Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Patrícia F Barradas
- Epidemiology Research Unit (EPIUnit), Instituto de Saúde Pública da Universidade Do Porto, Rua das Taipas 135, 4050-091, Porto, Portugal. .,Laboratório Para a Investigação Integrativa E Translacional Em Saúde Populacional (ITR), Porto, Portugal. .,University Institute of Health Sciences (IUCS), CESPU, CRL, Gandra, Portugal. .,OncoPharma Research Group, Center for Health Technology and Services Research (CINTESIS), Porto, Portugal.
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22
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Gomes-de-Sá S, Santos-Silva S, Moreira ADS, Barradas PF, Amorim I, Cardoso L, Mesquita JR. Dirofilaria immitis antigenemia and microfilaremia in Iberian wolves and red foxes from Portugal. Parasit Vectors 2022; 15:119. [PMID: 35527260 PMCID: PMC9082910 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-022-05170-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2021] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Dirofilaria immitis is a parasitic nematode endemic in the Mediterranean countries, which causes cardiopulmonary dirofilariosis in wild and domestic animals. Despite being recognized hosts of D. immitis, wild carnivores such as wolves and foxes are frequently disregarded when considering a potential role in the transmission of these zoonotic nematodes. In Portugal, studies available regarding D. immitis circulation are scarce, likely underestimating its relevance. To add knowledge on this, we sought to assess Iberian wolves (Canis lupus signatus) and red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) from northern Portugal for D. immitis antigenemia and microfilaremia. Methods Blood samples from 42 Iberian wolves and 19 red foxes were collected, during 2010–2012, in Peneda-Gerês National Park. Antigenemia was searched for by rapid antigen detection test kits (Uranotest Dirofilaria ®). Microfilaremia was assessed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Nucleic acids were extracted from blood using QIAamp® DNA Mini Kit (Qiagen), and DNA was screened for the presence of microfilaria using a conventional PCR targeting the 5.8S-internal transcribed spacer 2–28S regions, followed by bidirectional sequencing, Basic Local Alignment Search Tool analysis and phylogenetic analysis. Results Three red foxes had antigenemia, with an occurrence of 15.8% (95% confidence interval [CI] 3.4–39.6), while showing no evidence for the presence of microfilaremia. No wolf samples presented evidence for D. immitis antigenemia. Nevertheless, two wolves were positive for D. immitis microfilaremia (4.8%; 95% CI 0.6–16.2%) as revealed by PCR and confirmed by bidirectional sequencing. Conclusions Although Dirofilaria microfilaremia in wolves does not necessarily correlate to an endangerment of the infected animal's health, positive individuals can act as a reservoir for further infection if the intermediate mosquito hosts are present. To the best of our knowledge, one single study had reported that wolves were suitable Dirofilaria hosts, but microfilaremia have never been reported. Graphical Abstract ![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Sónia Gomes-de-Sá
- ICBAS-School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Porto University, Porto, Portugal
| | - Sérgio Santos-Silva
- ICBAS-School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Porto University, Porto, Portugal
| | | | - Patrícia Ferreira Barradas
- ICBAS-School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Porto University, Porto, Portugal.,Epidemiology Research Unit (EPIUnit), Instituto de Saúde Pública da Universidade Do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Irina Amorim
- ICBAS-School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Porto University, Porto, Portugal.,Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto (IPATIMUP), Porto, Portugal.,Institute for Research and Innovation in Health (i3S), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Luís Cardoso
- Department of Veterinary Sciences and Animal and Veterinary Research Centre (CECAV), University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), Vila Real, Portugal.
| | - João R Mesquita
- ICBAS-School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Porto University, Porto, Portugal.,Epidemiology Research Unit (EPIUnit), Instituto de Saúde Pública da Universidade Do Porto, Porto, Portugal
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de Sousa Moreira A, Santos-Silva S, Mega J, Palmeira JD, Torres RT, Mesquita JR. Epidemiology of Porcine Circovirus Type 2 Circulating in Wild Boars of Portugal during the 2018–2020 Hunting Seasons Suggests the Emergence of Genotype 2d. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12040451. [PMID: 35203158 PMCID: PMC8868319 DOI: 10.3390/ani12040451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2022] [Revised: 02/07/2022] [Accepted: 02/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV-2) is a swine disease associated with post-weaning multi-systemic wasting syndrome, which causes a high economic impact on animal production. Recently, new evidence has suggested the increasing circulation of the PCV-2d genotype. We screened wild boar stools collected from several districts across Portugal during the 2018–2020 hunting seasons, for PCV-2 and genetically characterized detected strains. From a total 76 stool samples of wild boar tested, two sequences were obtained, both of the PCV-2d genotype, showing the presence of this genotype in Portugal for the first time. Monitoring wild PCV-2 reservoirs is important for both veterinary public health and economic reasons. Abstract Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV-2) is associated with several syndromes affecting swine, also known as porcine-circovirus-associated diseases, of which post-weaning multi-systemic wasting syndrome stands out due to its high economic impact on swine production. Recent data suggest the increasing circulation of the PCV-2d genotype in several countries worldwide. To provide updated data on PCV-2 genotypes currently circulating in swine in Portugal, we screened wild boar stools collected from several districts across Portugal, during the 2018–2020 hunting seasons, for PCV-2 and genetically characterized detected strains. From a total of 76 stool samples of wild boar tested by PCR for the partial PCV-2 ORF2 gene, two sequences were obtained (2/76; 2.6%, 95% confidence interval: 0.032–9.18). Bidirectional sequencing showed that the sequences were 100% identical and both of the PCV-2d genotype, showing for the first time the presence of this genotype in Portugal. Monitoring wild PCV-2 reservoirs is important for both veterinary public health and economic reasons, since PCV-2 infection has a strong economic impact on the swine industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alícia de Sousa Moreira
- ICBAS—School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Porto University, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; (A.d.S.M.); (S.S.-S.); (J.M.)
| | - Sérgio Santos-Silva
- ICBAS—School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Porto University, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; (A.d.S.M.); (S.S.-S.); (J.M.)
| | - João Mega
- ICBAS—School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Porto University, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; (A.d.S.M.); (S.S.-S.); (J.M.)
| | - Josman D. Palmeira
- Department of Biology & CESAM, University of Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal; (J.D.P.); (R.T.T.)
| | - Rita T. Torres
- Department of Biology & CESAM, University of Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal; (J.D.P.); (R.T.T.)
| | - João R. Mesquita
- ICBAS—School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Porto University, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; (A.d.S.M.); (S.S.-S.); (J.M.)
- Epidemiology Research Unit (EPIUnit), Instituto de Saúde Pública da Universidade do Porto, 4050-600 Porto, Portugal
- Laboratório Para a Investigação Integrativa e Translacional em Saúde Populacional (ITR), 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +351-220-428-000
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