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Emerging and Endemic Infections in Wildlife: Epidemiology, Ecology, & Management...
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Emerging and Endemic Infections in Wildlife: Epidemiology, Ecology, & Management in a Changing World

A special issue of Pathogens (ISSN 2076-0817). This special issue belongs to the section "Emerging Pathogens".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 December 2023) | Viewed by 21317

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Andrew W. Byrne

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
One-Health Scientific Support Unit, National Disease Control Centre (NDCC), Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Agriculture House, D02 WK12 Dublin 2, Ireland
Interests: wildlife disease; veterinary epidemiology; disease ecology; wildlife management
Prof. Dr. Eric Morgan

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
Interests: epidemiology of wildlife disease; parasite control; climate change; wild-domestic animal interface

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The importance of gaining a greater understanding of the infectious diseases of wild animal populations and the impact of emerging and re-emerging pathogens has never been so sharply in focus than in the current post-COVID19 world. Pathogens of wildlife populations that spillover to humans (zoonoses) and domesticated animals account for a significant proportion of the most pressing emergent and endemic diseases impacting human and veterinary health globally. The presence and spillback of antimicrobial and antiparasitic resistance in wildlife populations are an additional source of concern. It is essential that we place greater emphasis on identifying pathogens within wildlife populations, engaging in active and passive surveillance, gaining a greater understanding of the ecology and epidemiology of the disease, and developing early detection and warning systems and appropriate control approaches from local to international scales. Such monitoring and control approaches will benefit from being integrated into a broader One-Health approach, where the health of the wildlife populations themselves, as well as health of the broader ecosystem, is considered.

In this Special Edition, we encourage submissions relating to the identification, monitoring, ecology, or control of emerging and endemic wildlife diseases. This special issue encourages submissions related to bacterial (e.g. Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex; Salmonella sp.), fungal (e.g. Batrachochytrium sp., Pseudogymnoascus destructans), viral (e.g. Flaviviridae, Filoviridae, Coronaviridae, Caliciviridae), and parasitological (e.g. Echinococcus, Trichinella, Schistosoma) pathogens of wildlife hosts, especially emerging and endemic pathogens with known risks to veterinary and human population health. Authors are encouraged to consider how global change, including climatic, environmental, and societal factors, have influenced the epidemiology of such infections and challenges around their detection and control.

Dr. Andrew W. Byrne
Prof. Dr. Eric Morgan
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Pathogens is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • wildlife infectious diseases
  • emerging infectious diseases
  • veterinary epidemiology
  • wildlife management
  • wild-domestic interface
  • spillover infection
  • zoonosis
  • Tuberculosis
  • wildlife parasites
  • One Health

Published Papers (11 papers)

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Research

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8 pages, 1394 KiB  
Article
Pacific Gulls (Larus pacificus) as Potential Vectors of Coxiella burnetii in an Australian Fur Seal Breeding Colony
by Brett R. Gardner, Jasmin Hufschmid, John Stenos, Mythili Tadepalli, Grace Sutton, Aymeric Fromant, Yonina Eizenberg, Johanna J. Geeson and John P. Y. Arnould
Pathogens 2023, 12(1), 122; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens12010122 - 11 Jan 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1851
Abstract
Recently, Coxiella burnetii has been described as a novel pathogen potentially contributing to decreased pup production in Australian fur seals (AusFS, Arctocephalus pusillus doriferus). Pacific gulls (PGs, Larus pacificus) are known to scavenge AusFS placental material during the fur seal breeding [...] Read more.
Recently, Coxiella burnetii has been described as a novel pathogen potentially contributing to decreased pup production in Australian fur seals (AusFS, Arctocephalus pusillus doriferus). Pacific gulls (PGs, Larus pacificus) are known to scavenge AusFS placental material during the fur seal breeding season. It is hypothesized that PGs may act as vectors for this pathogen. In the present study, cloacal swabs, oral swabs and serum were collected from PGs on Kanowna Island (KI, an AusFS breeding colony) and a nearby island, Seal Island (SI), not occupied by pinnipeds. All sample sets were evaluated with qPCR for the com1, htpAB and IS1111 markers. Most oral and cloacal swabs from KI tested positive on both the com1 (94.1%; 88.2%) and htpAB targets (76.5%; 76.5%). Amplification was very low from the SI oral swabs and cloacal swabs. Only the KI serum samples had amplification (17.7% for both com1 and htpAB). There was no IS1111 amplification in either colony. The results demonstrate that PGs can potentially act as vectors for the spread of C. burnetii. In some birds, C. burnetii was detectable in the serum, indicating that gulls can experience bacteraemia. It appears that different feeding strategies in the same species within the same ecosystem can have profound effects on the prevalence of pathogens. Further studies are required to better understand the epidemiology and potential risks of this organism. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging and Endemic Infections in Wildlife: Epidemiology, Ecology, & Management in a Changing World)
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15 pages, 2373 KiB  
Article
Tularemia above the Treeline: Climate and Rodent Abundance Influences Exposure of a Sentinel Species, the Arctic Fox (Vulpes lagopus), to Francisella tularensis
by Kayla Buhler, Émilie Bouchard, Stacey Elmore, Gustaf Samelius, Jessica Jackson, Matilde Tomaselli, Heather Fenton, Ray Alisauskas and Emily Jenkins
Pathogens 2023, 12(1), 28; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens12010028 - 24 Dec 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1910
Abstract
Tularemia is a zoonotic disease found throughout most of the northern hemisphere that may experience range expansion with warming temperatures. Rodents and lagomorphs are reservoirs for the disease, and outbreaks of tularemia often follow peaks in their abundance. As small mammals dominate the [...] Read more.
Tularemia is a zoonotic disease found throughout most of the northern hemisphere that may experience range expansion with warming temperatures. Rodents and lagomorphs are reservoirs for the disease, and outbreaks of tularemia often follow peaks in their abundance. As small mammals dominate the diet of arctic foxes (Vulpes lagopus), we determined whether they may serve as sentinels by identifying antibodies in live-captured and harvested foxes from northern Canada. Overall seroprevalence was 2% (CI95 1–2%) in 176 foxes harvested in 2018–2019 compared to 17% (CI95 12–22%) of 230 foxes captured live in 2011–2021. Prevalence was at an all-time high in 2018, following a peak in vole abundance in 2017. Antibodies were identified in fox pups born in 2018 and 2019, suggesting that F. tularensis was actively transmitted during the summers. High precipitation during the summer, increased snow cover and colder temperatures in May, and a higher abundance of voles were all associated with increased seroprevalence in live-captured foxes. Thus, exposure to F. tularensis is largely mediated through climate and rodent populations in the Canadian Arctic, and arctic foxes are useful sentinels for F. tularensis in northern ecosystems. Further studies should investigate whether infection impacts arctic fox survival and reproductive success in the circumpolar North. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging and Endemic Infections in Wildlife: Epidemiology, Ecology, & Management in a Changing World)
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14 pages, 2787 KiB  
Article
Echinococcus multilocularis and Other Taeniid Metacestodes of Muskrats in Luxembourg: Prevalence, Risk Factors, Parasite Reproduction, and Genetic Diversity
by Matilde Martini, Sonja Dumendiak, Anna Gagliardo, Francesco Ragazzini, Letizia La Rosa, Dimitri Giunchi, Frank Thielen, Thomas Romig, Alessandro Massolo and Marion Wassermann
Pathogens 2022, 11(12), 1414; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens11121414 - 24 Nov 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1497
Abstract
Muskrats (Ondatra zibethicus) are competent intermediate hosts for Echinococcus multilocularis, are frequently infected with this zoonotic cestode, and have even been proposed as a target species to monitor endemicity levels of this parasite. However, their contribution to maintaining the parasitic [...] Read more.
Muskrats (Ondatra zibethicus) are competent intermediate hosts for Echinococcus multilocularis, are frequently infected with this zoonotic cestode, and have even been proposed as a target species to monitor endemicity levels of this parasite. However, their contribution to maintaining the parasitic lifecycle is still unclear. To obtain data on infection frequency and reproductive potential, 280 muskrats from the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg were examined for cestode larvae in the years 2013–2017. Based on morphological and molecular identification, Echinococcus multilocularis was found at a prevalence of 14.6%. Other metacestodes were Hydatigera kamiyai, with a prevalence of 45.7%, Taenia martis with 8.9%, Taenia polyacantha with 5.0%, and Versteria mustelae, which was found in 0.7% of all muskrats. More than 80% of E. multilocularis-infected muskrats contained fertile metacestodes with a mean number of >300,000 (and up to 1,609,816) protoscoleces, which is by far the highest reproductive potential known from any intermediate host species in Europe. Temporal analysis of E. multilocularis prevalence within the study period (and in comparison with earlier data) strongly indicates a robust increase in the studied area. Host age seemed to be an important risk factor for infection, as well as co-infections with Hydatigera kamiyai. A preference for the right medial lobe of the liver as the location of E. multilocularis metacestode was observed. Intraspecific genetic variation among 89 discrete E. multilocularis metacestodes was non-existent based on 300–1590 bp sections of cox1. This is a stark contrast to H. kamiyai, of which nine haplotypes were found on a short 318 bp section of cox1, resulting in genetic diversity in the small country of Luxembourg at a similar level than previously reported from large stretches of Europe and northern Asia. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging and Endemic Infections in Wildlife: Epidemiology, Ecology, & Management in a Changing World)
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11 pages, 615 KiB  
Article
High-Specificity Test Algorithm for Bovine Tuberculosis Diagnosis in African Buffalo (Syncerus caffer) Herds
by Charlene Clarke, Netanya Bernitz, Wynand J. Goosen and Michele A. Miller
Pathogens 2022, 11(12), 1393; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens11121393 - 22 Nov 2022
Viewed by 1044
Abstract
Ante-mortem bovine tuberculosis (bTB) tests for buffaloes include the single comparative intradermal tuberculin test (SCITT), interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) release assay (IGRA) and IFN-γ-inducible protein 10 release assay (IPRA). Although parallel test interpretation increases the detection of Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis)-infected buffaloes, these [...] Read more.
Ante-mortem bovine tuberculosis (bTB) tests for buffaloes include the single comparative intradermal tuberculin test (SCITT), interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) release assay (IGRA) and IFN-γ-inducible protein 10 release assay (IPRA). Although parallel test interpretation increases the detection of Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis)-infected buffaloes, these algorithms may not be suitable for screening buffaloes in historically bTB-free herds. In this study, the specificities of three assays were determined using M. bovis-unexposed herds, historically negative, and a high-specificity diagnostic algorithm was developed. Serial test interpretation (positive on both) using the IGRA and IPRA showed significantly greater specificity (98.3%) than individual (90.4% and 80.9%, respectively) tests or parallel testing (73%). When the SCITT was added, the algorithm had 100% specificity. Since the cytokine assays had imperfect specificity, potential cross-reactivity with nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) was investigated. No association was found between NTM presence (in oronasal swab cultures) and positive cytokine assay results. As a proof-of-principle, serial testing was applied to buffaloes (n = 153) in a historically bTB-free herd. Buffaloes positive on a single test (n = 28) were regarded as test-negative. Four buffaloes were positive on IGRA and IPRA, and M. bovis infection was confirmed by culture. These results demonstrate the value of using IGRA and IPRA in series to screen buffalo herds with no previous history of M. bovis infection. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging and Endemic Infections in Wildlife: Epidemiology, Ecology, & Management in a Changing World)
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13 pages, 2100 KiB  
Article
Infection with a Recently Discovered Gammaherpesvirus Variant in European Badgers, Meles meles, is Associated with Higher Relative Viral Loads in Blood
by Ming-shan Tsai, Sarah François, Chris Newman, David W. Macdonald and Christina D. Buesching
Pathogens 2022, 11(10), 1154; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens11101154 - 06 Oct 2022
Viewed by 1461
Abstract
Herpesviruses are ubiquitous pathogens infecting most animals. Although host immunity continually coevolves to combat virulence, viral variants with enhanced transmissibility or virulence occasionally emerge, resulting in disease burdens in host populations. Mustelid gammaherpesvirus 1 (MusGHV-1) is the only herpesvirus species identified thus far [...] Read more.
Herpesviruses are ubiquitous pathogens infecting most animals. Although host immunity continually coevolves to combat virulence, viral variants with enhanced transmissibility or virulence occasionally emerge, resulting in disease burdens in host populations. Mustelid gammaherpesvirus 1 (MusGHV-1) is the only herpesvirus species identified thus far in European badgers, Meles meles. No MusGHV-1 associated pathomorbidity has been reported, but reactivation of MusGHV-1 in genital tracts is linked to impaired female reproductive success. An analysis of a short sequence from the highly conserved DNA polymerase (DNApol) gene previously identified two variants in a single host population. Here we compared genetic variance in blood samples from 66 known individuals of this same free-ranging badger population using a partial sequence comprising 2874 nucleotides of the DNApol gene, among which we identified 15 nucleotide differences resulting in 5 amino acid differences. Prevalence was 86% (59/66) for the common and 17% (11/66) for the novel variant, with 6% (4/66) of badgers presenting with coinfection. MusGHV-1 variants were distributed unevenly across the population, with individuals infected with the novel genotype clustered in 3 of 25 contiguous social groups. Individuals infected with the novel variant had significantly higher MusGHV-1 viral loads in their blood (p = 0.002) after adjusting for age (juveniles > adults, p < 0.001) and season (summer > spring and autumn, p = 0.005; mixed-effect linear regression), likely indicating higher virulence of the novel variant. Further genome-wide analyses of MusGHV-1 host resistance genes and host phenotypic variations are required to clarify the drivers and sequelae of this new MusGHV-1 variant. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging and Endemic Infections in Wildlife: Epidemiology, Ecology, & Management in a Changing World)
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12 pages, 942 KiB  
Article
Adaptation and Diagnostic Potential of a Commercial Cat Interferon Gamma Release Assay for the Detection of Mycobacterium bovis Infection in African Lions (Panthera leo)
by Rachiel Gumbo, Tashnica T. Sylvester, Wynand J. Goosen, Peter E. Buss, Lin-Mari de Klerk-Lorist, O. Louis van Schalkwyk, Alicia McCall, Robin M. Warren, Paul D. van Helden, Michele A. Miller and Tanya J. Kerr
Pathogens 2022, 11(7), 765; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens11070765 - 04 Jul 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2259
Abstract
Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis) infection in wildlife, including lions (Panthera leo), has implications for individual and population health. Tools for the detection of infected lions are needed for diagnosis and disease surveillance. This study aimed to evaluate the Mabtech [...] Read more.
Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis) infection in wildlife, including lions (Panthera leo), has implications for individual and population health. Tools for the detection of infected lions are needed for diagnosis and disease surveillance. This study aimed to evaluate the Mabtech Cat interferon gamma (IFN-γ) ELISABasic kit for detection of native lion IFN-γ in whole blood samples stimulated using the QuantiFERON® TB Gold Plus (QFT) platform as a potential diagnostic assay. The ELISA was able to detect lion IFN-γ in mitogen-stimulated samples, with good parallelism, linearity, and a working range of 15.6–500 pg/mL. Minimal matrix interference was observed in the recovery of domestic cat rIFN-γ in lion plasma. Both intra- and inter-assay reproducibility had a coefficient of variation less than 10%, while the limit of detection and quantification were 7.8 pg/mL and 31.2 pg/mL, respectively. The diagnostic performance of the QFT Mabtech Cat interferon gamma release assay (IGRA) was determined using mycobacterial antigen-stimulated samples from M. bovis culture-confirmed infected (n = 8) and uninfected (n = 4) lions. A lion-specific cut-off value (33 pg/mL) was calculated, and the sensitivity and specificity were determined to be 87.5% and 100%, respectively. Although additional samples should be tested, the QFT Mabtech Cat IGRA could identify M. bovis-infected African lions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging and Endemic Infections in Wildlife: Epidemiology, Ecology, & Management in a Changing World)
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10 pages, 9259 KiB  
Article
Rabies Virus Variants Detected from Cougar (Puma concolor) in Mexico 2000–2021
by Fabiola Garcés-Ayala, Álvaro Aguilar-Setién, Cenia Almazán-Marín, Claudia Cuautle-Zavala, Susana Chávez-López, David Martínez-Solís, Mauricio Gómez-Sierra, Albert Sandoval-Borja, Beatriz Escamilla-Ríos, Irma López-Martínez and Nidia Aréchiga-Ceballos
Pathogens 2022, 11(2), 265; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens11020265 - 18 Feb 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2081
Abstract
In 2019, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) recognized Mexico as a country free of human rabies transmitted by dogs. Nevertheless, the sylvatic cycle remains as a public health concern in the country. Although cougars (Puma concolor [...] Read more.
In 2019, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) recognized Mexico as a country free of human rabies transmitted by dogs. Nevertheless, the sylvatic cycle remains as a public health concern in the country. Although cougars (Puma concolor) are not reservoirs of any rabies virus variant (RVV), these felines could act as vectors at the top of the food chain, and their relationships with other organisms must be considered important for the regulatory effect on their prey’s populations. In this study, genetic and antigenic characterization was performed on all cougar rabies cases diagnosed at the Rabies Laboratory Network of the Ministry of Health (RLNMH) in Mexico from 2000 to 2021. Samples from other species, a skunk, a horse (Equus caballus) (attacked by a cougar), and a gray fox (Urocyon cineroargenteus), were included as reference. Rabies cases in cougars were restricted to two Northern states of Mexico (Sonora and Chihuahua). Five out of six samples of cougars were RVV7 (Arizona gray fox RVV) and one from Sonora was RVV1. Interestingly, there is no evidence of RVV1 in dogs in the Northern states since the 1990s but skunk species now harbor this RVV1 in this region of the country. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging and Endemic Infections in Wildlife: Epidemiology, Ecology, & Management in a Changing World)
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11 pages, 1194 KiB  
Communication
Intra-Palpebral Tuberculin Skin Test and Interferon Gamma Release Assay in Diagnosing Tuberculosis Due to Mycobacterium caprae in European Bison (Bison bonasus)
by Anna Didkowska, Blanka Orłowska, Monika Krajewska-Wędzina, Michał Krzysiak, Małgorzata Bruczyńska, Jan Wiśniewski, Daniel Klich, Wanda Olech and Krzysztof Anusz
Pathogens 2022, 11(2), 260; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens11020260 - 17 Feb 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2100
Abstract
Despite the threat posed by tuberculosis (TB) to the protected European bison (Bison bonasus), no validated TB tests exist for this species. This pilot study evaluates two tests based on detecting cellular immunity for this purpose: interferon gamma release assay (IGRA) [...] Read more.
Despite the threat posed by tuberculosis (TB) to the protected European bison (Bison bonasus), no validated TB tests exist for this species. This pilot study evaluates two tests based on detecting cellular immunity for this purpose: interferon gamma release assay (IGRA) and tuberculin skin test (TST). Ten animals were subjected to ante-mortem and post-mortem examinations. IGRA was performed using a commercial test, and the comparative TST was performed in the eyelids. The lesions were assessed post-mortem and material was collected for mycobacterial culture. The isolated strains were subjected to genotyping. At post-mortem examination, five out of ten individuals demonstrated both tuberculous lesions and positive culture results (Mycobacterium caprae). Compared to the palpebral TST, the findings of the IGRA are easier to interpret when diagnosing tuberculosis in European bison. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging and Endemic Infections in Wildlife: Epidemiology, Ecology, & Management in a Changing World)
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Review

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17 pages, 1008 KiB  
Review
Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease Virus 2 (RHDV2; GI.2) in Ireland Focusing on Wild Irish Hares (Lepus timidus hibernicus): An Overview of the First Outbreaks and Contextual Review
by Andrew W. Byrne, Ferdia Marnell, Damien Barrett, Neil Reid, Robert E. B. Hanna, Máire C. McElroy and Mícheál Casey
Pathogens 2022, 11(3), 288; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens11030288 - 24 Feb 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3334
Abstract
Rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus 2 (RHDV2; GI.2) is a pathogenic lagovirus that emerged in 2010, and which now has a global distribution. Outbreaks have been associated with local population declines in several lagomorph species, due to rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD)-associated mortality raising concerns [...] Read more.
Rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus 2 (RHDV2; GI.2) is a pathogenic lagovirus that emerged in 2010, and which now has a global distribution. Outbreaks have been associated with local population declines in several lagomorph species, due to rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD)-associated mortality raising concerns for its potential negative impact on threatened or vulnerable wild populations. The Irish hare (Lepus timidus hibernicus) is endemic to Ireland, and is of conservation interest. The first cases of RHDV2 in Ireland were reported in domestic rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in 2016, soon followed by the first known case in a wild rabbit also in 2016, from a population reported to be experiencing high fatalities. During summer 2019, outbreaks in wild rabbits were confirmed in several locations throughout Ireland. Six cases of RHDV2 in wild hares were confirmed between July and November 2019, at four locations. Overall, 27 cases in wildlife were confirmed in 2019 on the island of Ireland, with a predominantly southern distribution. Passive surveillance suggests that the Irish hare is susceptible to lethal RHDV2 infection, and that spillover infection to hares is geographically widespread in eastern areas of Ireland at least, but there is a paucity of data on epidemiology and population impacts. A literature review on RHD impact in closely related Lepus species suggests that intraspecific transmission, spillover transmission, and variable mortality occur in hares, but there is variability in reported resistance to severe disease and mortality amongst species. Several key questions on the impact of the pathogen in Irish hares remain. Surveillance activities throughout the island of Ireland will be important in understanding the spread of infection in this novel host. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging and Endemic Infections in Wildlife: Epidemiology, Ecology, & Management in a Changing World)
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Other

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17 pages, 2656 KiB  
Systematic Review
Helminth Prevalence in European Deer with a Focus on Abomasal Nematodes and the Influence of Livestock Pasture Contact: A Meta-Analysis
by Tony L. Brown and Eric R. Morgan
Pathogens 2024, 13(5), 378; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens13050378 - 01 May 2024
Viewed by 137
Abstract
Deer are susceptible to infection with parasitic helminths, including species which are of increasing economic concern to the livestock industry due to anthelmintic drug resistance. This paper systematically collates helminth prevalence data from deer across Europe and explores patterns in relation to host [...] Read more.
Deer are susceptible to infection with parasitic helminths, including species which are of increasing economic concern to the livestock industry due to anthelmintic drug resistance. This paper systematically collates helminth prevalence data from deer across Europe and explores patterns in relation to host and parasite species, as well as landscape factors. A livestock pasture contact index (LPCI) is developed to predict epidemiological overlap between deer and livestock, and hence to examine deer helminth fauna in the context of their surrounding environment. Fifty-eight studies comprising fallow (Dama dama), red (Cervus elaphus), roe (Capreolus capreolus) and sika (Cervus nippon) deer were identified. Deer populations in “likely” contact with livestock pasture had a higher mean prevalence of the abomasal nematodes Haemonchus contortus, Ostertagia ostertagi, Teladorsagia circumcincta and Trichostrongylus axei (p = 0.01), which are common in livestock and not primarily associated with deer. Roe deer populations had a higher prevalence of T. circumcincta (p = 0.02) and T. axei (p = 0.01) than fallow deer and a higher prevalence of H. contortus than both red (p = 0.01) and fallow deer (p = 0.02). Liver fluke and lungworm species were present sporadically at low prevalence, while the abomasal nematode Ashworthius sidemi occurred locally at high prevalence. Insights from this research suggest that deer helminth fauna is reflective of their surrounding environment, including the livestock species which inhabit areas of shared grazing. This is explored from an epidemiological perspective, and the prospect of helminth transmission between wild and domestic hosts is discussed, including drug-resistant strains, alongside the role of helminths as indicators relevant to the transmission of other pathogens at the wildlife–livestock interface. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging and Endemic Infections in Wildlife: Epidemiology, Ecology, & Management in a Changing World)
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20 pages, 1047 KiB  
Systematic Review
Toxoplasma gondii in African Wildlife: A Systematic Review
by Refilwe Philadelphia Bokaba, Veronique Dermauw, Darshana Morar-Leather, Pierre Dorny and Luis Neves
Pathogens 2022, 11(8), 868; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens11080868 - 01 Aug 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2025
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is a protozoan parasite, which infects a wide variety of mammals and bird species globally. In large parts of the world, this parasite is relatively well documented in wildlife species, however, this topic is poorly documented in [...] Read more.
Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is a protozoan parasite, which infects a wide variety of mammals and bird species globally. In large parts of the world, this parasite is relatively well documented in wildlife species, however, this topic is poorly documented in Africa. The current review systematically explores the presence and distribution of T. gondii in African wildlife species through a key word search in PubMed, Web of Science and CAB Direct. A total of 66 records were identified and included in the qualitative analysis, of which 19 records were retained for the quantitative synthesis. The presence of T. gondii was reported in a wide range of wildlife species, found in twelve countries, spread over the African continent. The retained records report a prevalence range of 6–100% in herbivores, 8–100% in omnivores and 14–100% in carnivores. In wild felines (cheetahs, leopards, and lions) a prevalence range of 33–100% was found. Reports from South Africa, and on the presence of T. gondii in lion were most common. Overall, the results indicate the scarcity of information on T. gondii in Africa and its circulation in wildlife. The lack of knowledge on the parasite in Africa, especially in areas at the human-livestock-wildlife interface, prevents us from understanding how prevalent it is on the continent, what strains are circulating in wildlife and what the most common routes of transmission are in the different habitats in Africa. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging and Endemic Infections in Wildlife: Epidemiology, Ecology, & Management in a Changing World)
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