Molecular and Serological Screening Support the Lack of <i>Coxiella burnetii</i> Circulation in Wild Birds of Portugal
<i>Coxiella burnetii</i> is a highly infectious zoonotic pathogenic bacterium that has a major economic impact in the livestock industry throughout the world and causes unpredictable outbreaks in humans worldwide. Although it is known that birds are potential reservoirs of <i>C. bu...
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MDPI AG
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Birds |
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| author | Filipa Loureiro João R. Mesquita Luís Cardoso Cristina Pintado Sara Gomes-Gonçalves Ana C. Matos Vanessa Soeiro Andreia Gonçalves Filipe Silva Manuela Matos Ana Cláudia Coelho |
| author_facet | Filipa Loureiro João R. Mesquita Luís Cardoso Cristina Pintado Sara Gomes-Gonçalves Ana C. Matos Vanessa Soeiro Andreia Gonçalves Filipe Silva Manuela Matos Ana Cláudia Coelho |
| author_sort | Filipa Loureiro |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <i>Coxiella burnetii</i> is a highly infectious zoonotic pathogenic bacterium that has a major economic impact in the livestock industry throughout the world and causes unpredictable outbreaks in humans worldwide. Although it is known that birds are potential reservoirs of <i>C. burnetii</i>, their role in the epidemiological cycle of the pathogen has not been fully verified. Due to its non-specific symptoms and clinical signs, it is certainly an underdiagnosed disease. The objective of this study was to obtain more information on <i>C. burnetii</i> prevalence in wild birds in Portugal. Blood, plasma, and other tissue samples were obtained from wild birds admitted at wildlife rehabilitation centres in Portugal in the scope of passive surveillance. Antibodies specific to <i>C. burnetii</i> were screened using a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Evidence of <i>C. burnetii</i> infection was sought based on the detection of bacterial DNA. No positive results were found, either in terms of antibodies to <i>C. burnetii</i> or molecular biology. These serological findings do not indicate the endemic circulation of <i>C. burnetii</i> in wild birds, which can be considered relevant information. However, a more complete and serialized approach over time is necessary to be able to make real inferences about the endemicity of the pathogen in the country and its dispersion among wild avian populations. qPCR results were also negative, a finding suggesting that this host population may not play a significant role in the transmission dynamics of <i>C. burnetii</i>. Given the importance of wild bird species as natural reservoirs of this zoonotic bacterium, we consider these data useful for multidisciplinary work in the prevention and control of Q fever, following a One Health approach. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a4c8142b769642e9ae45ef8b04701035 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2673-6004 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Birds |
| spelling | doaj-art-a4c8142b769642e9ae45ef8b047010352025-08-20T02:11:09ZengMDPI AGBirds2673-60042025-01-0161310.3390/birds6010003Molecular and Serological Screening Support the Lack of <i>Coxiella burnetii</i> Circulation in Wild Birds of PortugalFilipa Loureiro0João R. Mesquita1Luís Cardoso2Cristina Pintado3Sara Gomes-Gonçalves4Ana C. Matos5Vanessa Soeiro6Andreia Gonçalves7Filipe Silva8Manuela Matos9Ana Cláudia Coelho10Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre (CRAS), Veterinary Teaching Hospital (HVUTAD), University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, PortugalSchool of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (ICBAS), Porto University, 4099-002 Porto, PortugalAnimal and Veterinary Research Centre (CECAV), Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences (AL4AnimalS), UTAD, 5000-801 Vila Real, PortugalResearch Centre for Natural Resources, Environment and Society (CERNAS), Polytechnic University of Castelo Branco, 6001-909 Castelo Branco, PortugalSchool of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (ICBAS), Porto University, 4099-002 Porto, PortugalResearch Centre for Natural Resources, Environment and Society (CERNAS), Polytechnic University of Castelo Branco, 6001-909 Castelo Branco, PortugalBiological Park of Gaia (PBG), Rua da Cunha, 4430-812 Vila Nova de Gaia, PortugalWildlife Rehabilitation Centre of Santo André (CRASSA), Quercus ANCN, Moinho Novo, Galiza, 7500-022 Vila Nova de Santo André, PortugalWildlife Rehabilitation Centre (CRAS), Veterinary Teaching Hospital (HVUTAD), University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, PortugalCentre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences (CITAB), UTAD, 5000-801 Vila Real, PortugalAnimal and Veterinary Research Centre (CECAV), Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences (AL4AnimalS), UTAD, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal<i>Coxiella burnetii</i> is a highly infectious zoonotic pathogenic bacterium that has a major economic impact in the livestock industry throughout the world and causes unpredictable outbreaks in humans worldwide. Although it is known that birds are potential reservoirs of <i>C. burnetii</i>, their role in the epidemiological cycle of the pathogen has not been fully verified. Due to its non-specific symptoms and clinical signs, it is certainly an underdiagnosed disease. The objective of this study was to obtain more information on <i>C. burnetii</i> prevalence in wild birds in Portugal. Blood, plasma, and other tissue samples were obtained from wild birds admitted at wildlife rehabilitation centres in Portugal in the scope of passive surveillance. Antibodies specific to <i>C. burnetii</i> were screened using a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Evidence of <i>C. burnetii</i> infection was sought based on the detection of bacterial DNA. No positive results were found, either in terms of antibodies to <i>C. burnetii</i> or molecular biology. These serological findings do not indicate the endemic circulation of <i>C. burnetii</i> in wild birds, which can be considered relevant information. However, a more complete and serialized approach over time is necessary to be able to make real inferences about the endemicity of the pathogen in the country and its dispersion among wild avian populations. qPCR results were also negative, a finding suggesting that this host population may not play a significant role in the transmission dynamics of <i>C. burnetii</i>. Given the importance of wild bird species as natural reservoirs of this zoonotic bacterium, we consider these data useful for multidisciplinary work in the prevention and control of Q fever, following a One Health approach.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-6004/6/1/3aviangenotypingOne Healthpublic healthQ feverPCR |
| spellingShingle | Filipa Loureiro João R. Mesquita Luís Cardoso Cristina Pintado Sara Gomes-Gonçalves Ana C. Matos Vanessa Soeiro Andreia Gonçalves Filipe Silva Manuela Matos Ana Cláudia Coelho Molecular and Serological Screening Support the Lack of <i>Coxiella burnetii</i> Circulation in Wild Birds of Portugal Birds avian genotyping One Health public health Q fever PCR |
| title | Molecular and Serological Screening Support the Lack of <i>Coxiella burnetii</i> Circulation in Wild Birds of Portugal |
| title_full | Molecular and Serological Screening Support the Lack of <i>Coxiella burnetii</i> Circulation in Wild Birds of Portugal |
| title_fullStr | Molecular and Serological Screening Support the Lack of <i>Coxiella burnetii</i> Circulation in Wild Birds of Portugal |
| title_full_unstemmed | Molecular and Serological Screening Support the Lack of <i>Coxiella burnetii</i> Circulation in Wild Birds of Portugal |
| title_short | Molecular and Serological Screening Support the Lack of <i>Coxiella burnetii</i> Circulation in Wild Birds of Portugal |
| title_sort | molecular and serological screening support the lack of i coxiella burnetii i circulation in wild birds of portugal |
| topic | avian genotyping One Health public health Q fever PCR |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-6004/6/1/3 |
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