Screening Wild Birds for Tick-Borne Zoonotic Pathogens in Portugal

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Wildlife Epidemiology
• Molecular Biology

Background:

• Wild birds can transmit infectious diseases, including zoonoses, posing public and animal health risks.
• Migratory birds are significant vectors for tick-borne pathogens, aiding their geographic spread.
• Understanding avian pathogen carriage is crucial in the One Health framework.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the prevalence of four zoonotic pathogens (Hepatozoon spp., Borrelia spp., Babesia spp., and Theileria spp.) in wild birds in Portugal.
• To assess the potential role of Portuguese wild birds in the dissemination of these tick-borne diseases.

Main Methods:

• Collection of blood and tissue samples from 103 wild birds admitted to wildlife rehabilitation centers.
• Utilized conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for pathogen detection.
• Targeted detection of Hepatozoon spp., Borrelia spp., Babesia spp., and Theileria spp.

Main Results:

• No evidence of Hepatozoon spp., Borrelia spp., Babesia spp., or Theileria spp. circulation was detected in the studied wild bird population.
• The findings suggest a low prevalence or absence of these specific pathogens in the sampled birds in Portugal during the study period.

Conclusions:

• The preliminary study indicates no current circulation of the investigated zoonotic pathogens in wild birds in Portugal.
• Further molecular research is recommended to enhance understanding of avian piroplasmosis, borreliosis, and hepatozoonosis.
• Continued surveillance is important for monitoring potential pathogen introduction and spread by avian populations.