A trait-based framework for predicting foodborne pathogen risk from wild birds

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Wildlife Management
• Food Safety

Background:

• Foodborne illness outbreaks increase pressure on farmers to manage wildlife.
• Understanding which bird species pose food safety risks is essential for balancing agricultural needs and conservation.
• Current knowledge gaps hinder effective risk assessment and management strategies for wild birds on farms.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify bird traits that mediate food safety risks to agriculture.
• To assess the prevalence of foodborne pathogens (Campylobacter, Salmonella, E. coli) in wild bird populations.
• To develop a trait-based framework for evaluating wildlife food safety risks.

Main Methods:

• Conducted over 11,000 pathogen tests and 1565 bird surveys across 139 bird species in the western US.
• Examined 11 bird traits, including habitat associations, movement, foraging strategy, clutch size, and generation length.
• Utilized statistical analyses to correlate bird traits with pathogen prevalence and farm field interactions.

Main Results:

• Campylobacter spp. was the most prevalent pathogen (8.0%); Salmonella and STEC were rare.
• Species associated with cattle feedlots showed higher Campylobacter prevalence and increased likelihood of entering fields.
• Canopy-foraging insectivores were less likely to deposit pathogens, suggesting potential for promoting these birds.

Conclusions:

• Bird traits related to pathogen exposure, such as habitat and diet, significantly predict pathogen prevalence.
• Promoting insectivorous birds may offer a "win-win-win" for conservation, crop production, and food safety.
• Separating crop production from livestock farming is recommended to reduce bird-related food safety risks.