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Differential stress/inflammatory responses were characterized at the mRNA and protein levels in mandibular lymph nodes (MLN) and oropharyngeal tonsils of European wild boars (Sus scrofa), naturally infected with Mycobacterium bovis. Suppression-subtractive hybridization combined with immunohistochemistry and/or quantitative real-time RT-PCR were used to identify and characterize abundant stress/inflammatory gene sequences differentially expressed in tuberculous (TB+) wild boars. Genes identified in MLN and tonsils corresponded to serum amyloid A, arginase I, osteopontin, lysozyme, annexin I, and heat shock proteins, respectively. Global protein patterns in MLN and tonsils were compared between TB+ and nontuberculous (TB-) boars by 2-DE and MALDI-TOF MS. Five proteins, including stress/inflammatory proteins annexin V, serum albumin, and apolipoprotein A1 were found at lower levels in MLN of TB+ boars. Manganese superoxide dismutase was found up-regulated in MLN of TB+ boars. Five proteins, including creatine kinase and MHC class II antigens were found up-regulated in tonsils of TB+ boars. These results demonstrated differential stress/inflammatory responses in wild boars naturally infected with M. bovis and suggest possible markers of tuberculosis in this species that may prove useful for future studies of host-pathogen interactions and for diagnostics and vaccine development. © 2007 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA., This research was supported by the project “Control of Tuberculosis in Wildlife” of Grupo Santander, Spain (to C. G and J. F), the Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station project 1669 (to K. M. K), and the INIA project RTA03-074-C2, Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia, Spain (to C. G). V. Naranjo was funded by Junta de Comunidades de Castilla – La Mancha (JCCM), Spain. M. Villar was recipient of a postdoctoral fellowship from JCCM.

The genus Anaplasma (Rickettsiales: Anaplasmataceae) includes several pathogens such as A. marginale and A. phagocytophilum that have an impact on veterinary and human health. In this study, we characterized A. marginale and A. phagocytophilum infections in humans, wild and domestic animals, and ticks in southern Europe (particularly in south-central Spain and in Sicily) by means of serologic study, PCR, and sequence analysis of major surface proteins (msp) 1alpha and 4 and 16S rDNA. The results suggest that A. marginale infections in this region are maintained in cattle and deer, with ticks and tabanids serving as biological and mechanical vectors of the pathogen, respectively. Infections with A. phagocytophilum may occur in humans and are maintained in cattle, donkeys, deer, and birds and are most likely transmitted by several tick species with as yet an unknown role as reservoir hosts for other wild and domesticated mammals. The presence of concurrent infections in cattle and deer suggests that these pathogens may multiply in the same reservoir host and illustrates the complexity of the epidemiology of bovine and human anaplasmosis in this region.

We studied the prevalence and potential subclinical effects of infestation by Trichomonas gallinae in 91 hunter-harvested Common Wood Pigeons Columba palumbus from northern (n = 30) and southern (n = 61) Spain during the winter period. All animals were measured, sexed, aged, necropsied and their organs were weighed. Infestation with T. gallinae was diagnosed using three different methods: direct inspection for the presence of lesions, direct microscopic observation and culture. Of the sampled birds, 34.2% were positive for the presence of T. gallinae. Prevalence was significantly higher in adult Wood Pigeons than in the juvenile group, and prevalence was significantly lower in birds sampled from the north. No significant differences in prevalence were found between males and females. Culture was significantly more sensitive than the other methods of diagnosis. Parasitized birds were in poorer body condition, as revealed by their lower body mass and fat reserves. No significant variation could be detected in heart or spleen weight between parasitized and healthy birds. However, juvenile Wood Pigeons in which T. gallinae was detected had a significantly larger bursa of Fabricius. Variations in the prevalence of T. gallinae in Wood Pigeons could be related to migration as well as increased exposure through shared feed and water where these are artificially provided. We also discuss the potential effect of T. gallinae on body condition and the eventual risk for endangered predators through increased exposure to infected prey.

Adverse effects of radiotransmitters and handling are major concerns during radiotracking studies, especially in avian species. Fourteen out of 46 (30.4%) juvenile red-legged partridge (Alectoris rufa) trapped using hand-held nets and marked with necklace radiotags during a study in southern Spain died within a few hours after capture. We studied the affected birds and compared data from postmortem examination, blood chemistry, biometry, and meteorology on capture days to identify risk factors related to the deaths. The affected partridge had high creatine kinase plasma levels. Postmortem examination confirmed that the deaths had been due to self-injury, capture myopathy (CM), or both. Distribution of lesions indicated that struggling with the transmitter could have exacerbated CM caused by trapping and handling. There was no effect due to bird size or weight, but deaths were related to capture days with lower mean temperatures and higher humidity. The consideration of combined risk factors such as climate, capture method, and radiotag type may deserve more attention regarding capture and radiotagging techniques, especially in juvenile partridge.

Since December 1997, 700 blood plasma samples from 31 different species of captive and free-living birds of prey from Spain were analyzed by hemagglutination inhibition (HI) test for the presence of antibodies to avian paramyxovirus (aPMV) 1,2, and 3. Out of 700 birds, 120 tested positive for aPMV-1, 10 birds had antibodies to aPMV-2, and 4 birds tested positive against aPMV-3. Prevalence of antibodies against aPMV-1 was significantly higher in captive than in free-living birds of prey and in Falconiformes than in Strigidae and Accipitridae. Infection or exposure in captive birds may be due to the use of avian-derived food in rehabilitation and captive-breeding centers. This may be of concern at the time of reintroduction of these birds into free-living populations.