Search

In the 21st century, three betacoronaviruses (SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2) have emerged in humans worldwide as a result of animal spillover, causing severe respiratory infections and resulting in more than seven million deaths. In 2013, a novel Betacoronavirus closely related to MERS-CoV (Betacoronavirus cameli) was discovered in European hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus), raising questions on the possibility of hedgehog-to-human transmission. Hence, the present study aimed to investigate and characterize the presence and genetic diversity of coronaviruses in hedgehogs from Portugal, as well as their potential for cross-species transmission. To achieve this, fecal samples from 110 hedgehogs at two recovery centers and one environmental non-governmental organization were tested for coronaviruses using a broad-spectrum nested RT-PCR assay targeting the RdRp gene. Of these samples, 24.5 % tested positive, most belonging to the Betacoronavirus genus. However, the present study also reports, for the first time, Alphacoronaviruses in hedgehogs, showing 100 % identity with a Bat coronavirus (a variant of Alphacoronavirus miniopteri). The genome sequencing of one betacoronavirus-positive sample yielded 65 % of a full-length genome, with the closest homology (93.5 %) to Betacoronavirus erinacei from the United Kingdom. Computational protein-protein docking studies predicted the binding affinity between the spike protein of hedgehog coronavirus and cell receptors of mammal species that interact with hedgehogs. The results obtained raise the question of whether hedgehog CoV uses the same receptor as MERS-CoV or a different receptor to enter host cells. Thus, this study enhances our understanding of the epidemiology of coronaviruses, emphasizing the need for further investigation into cross-species transmission risks.

Wild birds may be involved in the transmission of agents of infectious diseases, including zoonoses, a circumstance which raises a number of public and animal health issues. Migratory bird species play a significant role in the introduction of tick-borne pathogens to new geographic areas, contributing to the dissemination of various etiological agents. This preliminary study aimed to assess the occurrence of four potentially zoonotic pathogens (Hepatozoon spp., Borrelia spp., Babesia spp. and Theileria spp.) in the wild birds of Portugal. Blood and tissue samples were taken from 103 birds admitted at wildlife rehabilitation centers. Through the use of conventional PCR, our findings indicate no evidence of the circulation of these pathogens among the studied bird populations in the region. In the One Health context, it is relevant to understand how faraway avian populations play a role in the epidemiology of infectious diseases. Further molecular studies are needed to deepen the knowledge of avian piroplasmosis, borreliosis and hepatozoonosis.

Enteric protozoan parasites, such as Blastocystis sp., Balantioides coli, Cryptosporidium spp., and Giardia duodenalis, may have implications for both animal and human health.Transmitted through the fecal–oral route, these parasites cause symptoms such as diarrhea, abdominal pain, and weight loss. This study investigated the presence of these enteric protozoan parasites and genetically characterized them in hedgehogs from Portugal. A total of 110 hedgehog stool samples were collected. Molecular detection methods showed an overall occurrence of protozoa in 1.82% (2/110 95% CI: 0.22–6.41) of hedgehogs, with Blastocystis being found in one hedgehog and Cryptosporidium being found in another. No evidence for the presence of B. coli or G. duodenalis was found. This study suggests that there is a need to stay aware of hedgehogs as potential hosts of enteric protozoa. Ongoing research and surveillance efforts are recommended to explore practical prevention and control strategies. The results contribute to the limited knowledge of these parasites in Portuguese hedgehog populations and underscore their potential relevance to both veterinary and public health.

This study was focused to gather the data available concerning the mortality of 440 wild animals admitted in the Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre in Parque Biológico de Gaia from 2008-2017. Only the species with unfavorable conservation status according to the Portuguese Red Book of Vertebrates were included. The animals belonged to the classes Mammalia (5.68%), Aves (86.14%), Reptilia (7.95%), and Amphibia (0.22%), 19 different orders. Overall, the most common cause of death was trauma (72%), mainly due to an unknown origin (75.5%) and shooting (2.5%). The nontraumatic causes were mainly of unknown origin (n= 18.4%) and due to nutritional problems (4.7%). Amongst the identified pressures, the proximity to a high density of small and medium companies was the most significant. There were high coefficients of redetermination (R2>0.8) which relates pressures with endangered animals’ mortality. It is, therefore, possible to conclude that according to our results human activity has an important impact on the mortality of these species.

Background and Aim: Wild mammals are among the most threatened species of the world in large part due to human activity. In this work, we used the method of partial least squares-path modeling associated with a geographic information system to analyze the impact of anthropogenic pressures on the mortality of wild mammals. Materials and Methods: We collected the data related to the cause of death of native wild mammals admitted to the Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre of Parque Biológico de Gaia in Northern Portugal, during 10 years (2008-2017). Results: A total of 359 animals from 42 municipalities (rural and urban areas) were included in the study. The main cause of death was of traumatic origin. From the anthropogenic pressures included in the study, water reservoirs, small companies, and residential buildings were the ones that contributed the most to increase the mortality of traumatic and nontraumatic origin. This relation of cause-effect (mortality-anthropogenic pressures) was supported by the high coefficients of determination obtained (R2>0.8). Conclusion: The present results allow a general view on the reality of mammal's mortality in Northern Portugal. Furthermore, it could also constitute a valuable tool for the conservation of wild mammals in those areas.

A free-living European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) adult female was admitted to the Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre of Parque Biológico de Gaia (Portugal), with severe breathing distress and poor body condition. Its neck was displaced 60 degrees caudally. During the post- mortem exam, an abscess in the cervical vertebras was observed. Paeniclostridium sordellii was the agent isolated from the purulent exudate that was removed from the lesion. This is the first reported case of P. sordellii associated osteomyelitis on the cervical vertebras, and the first time that this pathology is describe in this specie associated with this agent. Key words: Erinaceus europaeus; Portugal; Paeniclostridium sordellii; osteomyelitis OSTEOMIELITIS VRATNIH VRETENC PRI PROSTOŽIVEČM EVROPSKEM JEŽU (Erinaceus europaeus), POVZROČEN Z BAKTERIJO Paeniclostridium sordellii Izvleček: Prosto živeča odrasla samica evropskega ježa (Erinaceus europaeus) je bila sprejeta v Center za rehabilitacijo divjih živali Parque Biológico de Gaia (Portugalska) s hudo dihalno stisko in slabim telesnim stanjem. Njen vrat je bil premaknjen kavdalno za 60 stopinj. Med sekcijo po smrti so opazili absces na vratnih vretencih. Iz gnojnega eksudata lezije je bila izolirana bakteerija Paeniclostridium sordellii. V članku poročamo o prvem zabeleženem primeru osteomielitisa, povezanega s P. sordellii, na vratnih vretencih in o prvem primeru opisa tovrstne patologije pri evropskem ježu, povezani s tem povzročiteljem. Ključne besede: Erinaceus europaeus; Portugalska; Paeniclostridium sordellii; osteomielitis

Human–wildlife coexistence may increase the potential risk of direct transmission of emergent or re-emergent zoonotic pathogens to humans. Intending to assess the occurrence of three important foodborne pathogens in wild animals of two wildlife conservation centers in Portugal, we investigated 132 fecal samples for the presence of Escherichia coli (Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) and non-STEC), Salmonella spp. and Campylobacter spp. A genotypic search for genes having virulence and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) was performed by means of PCR and Whole-Genome Sequencing (WGS) and phenotypic (serotyping and AMR profiles) characterization. Overall, 62 samples tested positive for at least one of these species: 27.3% for STEC, 11.4% for non-STEC, 3.0% for Salmonella spp. and 6.8% for Campylobacter spp. AMR was detected in four E. coli isolates and the only Campylobacter coli isolated in this study. WGS analysis revealed that 57.7% (30/52) of pathogenic E. coli integrated genetic clusters of highly closely related isolates (often involving different animal species), supporting the circulation and transmission of different pathogenic E. coli strains in the studied areas. These results support the idea that the health of humans, animals and ecosystems are interconnected, reinforcing the importance of a One Health approach to better monitor and control public health threats.

Owls are nocturnal predators that inhabit urbanized and farmlands. They are in direct contact with other animals, both livestock and small wild rodents that they mostly feed on. Staphylococci can be both commensal and pathogenic bacteria that are widespread across the various ecological niches. We aimed to isolate staphylococci from owls and to characterize their antimicrobial resistance, virulence factors and genetic lineages. Swab samples were collected from the throat and cloaca of 114 owls admitted to two rehabilitation centers in Portugal. The identification of staphylococci species was performed by MALDI-TOF. Staphylococci antimicrobial resistance and virulence genes were investigated by means of the disk diffusion method and PCR. Staphylococcus aureus isolates were characterized by MLST, agr and spa-typing. Of the tested animals, 66 isolates were recovered, including 10 different species of staphylococci, of which 25 were coagulase-positive (CoPS) and 41 were coagulase-negative (CoNS). Twenty-three S. aureus were isolated, of which one mecC-MRSA was identified. The isolates were mainly resistant to penicillin, aminoglycosides, clindamycin and tetracycline. mecC-MRSA belonged to ST1245 and spa-type t843 and the remaining S. aureus were ascribed to 12 STs and 15 spa types. A high diversity of clonal lineages was identified among the S. aureus isolated from wild owls. Owls feed mainly on small rodents often exposed to waste and anthropogenic sources, which may explain the moderate prevalence of S. aureus in these animals.

This study aimed to analyze the admission causes, outcomes, primary causes of death, and main lesions observed in the post mortem examinations of Western European hedgehogs, Erinaceus europaeus (Linnaeus, 1758), in the north of Portugal. The data were obtained by consulting the records from the two main wildlife rehabilitation centers located in the north of Portugal (Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre of Parque Biologico de Gaia and the Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre of the University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro). Over 17 years (2002–2019) a total of 740 animals were admitted. Most of the animals were juveniles, with the highest number of admissions occurring during summer (36.8%) and spring (33.2%). The main reasons for admission were debilitation (30.7%) and random finds (28.4%). Of the total number of individuals admitted to these centers, 66.6% were successfully released back into the wild. The most relevant causes of death were trauma of unknown origin (32.7%), nontrauma causes of unknown origin (26.6%), and nutritional disorders (20.2%). The main lesions observed were related to trauma, including skeletal and skin lesions (fractures, hemorrhages, wounds) and organ damage, particularly to the lungs and liver. The hedgehog is a highly resilient and adaptable animal. The urban environment has many benefits for hedgehogs, yet the presence of humans can be harmful. In the future, the public needs to become even more involved in the activities of the wildlife centres, which will make a positive difference for these populations.