Screening Wild Birds for Tick-Borne Zoonotic Pathogens in Portugal.

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 ( spp.

Correction: Survivorship and yield of a harvested population of Forsteronia glabrescens.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.

First report of Enterocytozoon bieneusi in Erinaceus europaeus and Hemiechinus auritus hedgehogs from recovery centers of Portugal.

Enterocytozoon bieneusi microsporidia are emerging pathogens infecting a wide range of vertebrate and invertebrate hosts, known to have zoonotic features since they infect both wild and domestic animals, and humans. Despite their significance, there is very limited epidemiological data on microsporidia in hedgehogs, especially European hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) and long-eared hedgehogs (Hemiechinus auritus), the former known as synantropic hedgehogs, and the latter suited as pets. As such, the present study aimed to assess the presence of E.

Molecular evidence of sporadic Coxiella burnetii excretion in sheep milk, central Portugal.

Coxiella burnetii is the etiologic agent of Q fever, a worldwide zoonosis. Cattle, sheep and goats are considered the main reservoirs of the disease. Transmission to humans occurs mainly through the inhalation of infectious aerosols from milk, faeces, urine, and birth products from infected ruminants.

Emerging therapeutic strategies in hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy: a focus on cognitive outcomes.

Perinatal hypoxia-ischemia represents a significant risk to CNS development, leading to high mortality rates, diverse damages, and persistent neurological deficits. Despite advances in neonatal medicine in recent decades, the incidence of HIE remains substantial. Motor deficits can manifest early, while cognitive impairments may be diagnosed later, emphasizing the need for extended follow-up.

A Thorny Tale of Parasites: Screening for Enteric Protozoan Parasites in Hedgehogs from Portugal.

Enteric protozoan parasites, such as sp., , spp., and , may have implications for both animal and human health.

Evaluation of Pain Prevalence in Children Who Experienced Perinatal Hypoxia-Ischemia Events: Characteristics and Associations With Sociodemographic Factors.

Introduction: Pain in children who suffer from hypoxia-ischemia (HI) events is still not widely studied. Hypoxia-ischemia is characterized by the momentary or permanent cessation of blood flow and, consequently, of oxygen supply, becoming the main cause of encephalopathy in children. Hyperalgesia was identified in animals undergoing prenatal hypoxia-ischemia by researchers from the Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ).

Diversity of Rickettsia spp. in ticks from wild mammals of Morocco and Mauritania.

Ticks are known as vectors and reservoirs of rickettsiae and, wildlife vertebrate hosts as suitable dispersers of ticks contributing to the life cycle of rickettsial agents in nature. In the herein study, the presence of rickettsiae was investigated in ticks from wild mammals (Gerbillus and Jaculus, Vulpes rueppellii, Canis anthus, Felis lybica and Felis margarita) in Mauritania and Morocco. Morphological and molecular analysis of ticks allowed their identification as Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato and Hyalomma impeltatum.

Depressive-like behavior and impaired synaptic plasticity in the prefrontal cortex as later consequences of prenatal hypoxic-ischemic insult in rats.

Perinatal hypoxia-ischemia (HI) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among newborns. Infants with HI encephalopathy may experience lasting consequences, such as depression, in adulthood. In this study, we examined depressive-like behavior, neuronal population, and markers of monoaminergic and synaptic plasticity in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) of adolescent rats subjected to a prenatal HI model.

Comment on Yang et al., 2020: Melatonergic agents in the prevention of delirium: A network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

An analysis of delirium prevention considering only older adults is essential. Delirium markedly impacts the older adult population, as it is associated with inpatient occurrence rates from 14% to 56% and hospital mortality rates from 25% to 33% [2]. Ageing comes with a cumulative decline in physiological systems and is a relevant risk factor for chronic diseases [3,4].

Effects of prenatal hypoxia-ischemia on male rat periaqueductal gray matter: Hyperalgesia, astrogliosis and nitrergic system impairment.

Prenatal hypoxic-ischemic insult (HI) may lead to a variety of neurological consequences that may persist throughout adulthood. In the most severe cases, HI is known to increase pain sensitivity which profoundly impacts quality of life. Periaqueductal gray matter (PAG) is a relevant region of the descending pain pathway and its function may be modulated by a complex network that includes nitrergic neurons and glial response, among other factors.

Assessment of the circulation of Dirofilaria immitis in dogs from northern Portugal through combined analysis of antigens, DNA and parasite forms in blood.

Dirofilariasis is a vector-borne disease frequent in many countries. Not only infected dogs, but also cats and wild canids (including wolves and foxes), represent important sources of infection for mosquitoes, which are the pathogen vectors. The disease is endemic in Mediterranean countries with increasing incidence in Italy, France, Greece and Spain, but limited epidemiological data is available from Portugal regarding its distribution and impact.

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus circulating among sheep of Portugal: a nationwide serosurvey assessment.

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) is a widespread zoonotic pathogen that can cause mild to severe hemorrhagic disease in humans. CCHFV may be transmitted through direct contact with tissue or blood of viremic animals; however, the primary transmission route is through infected tick bites. CCHFV RNA has been detected in ticks feeding on domestic and wild animals in western Spain, suggesting an established circulation of CCHFV in Western Europe.

De Novo Assembly of the Genome by Long-Read Nanopore-Based Sequencing Technology on an Adult Worm from a Canine Cardiopulmonary Dirofilariosis Case.

is a zoonotic parasitic nematode that infects domestic and wild canids, among its vertebrate hosts. The genetic analysis of nowadays transcends the need for genetic taxonomy of nematodes, such as the study of resistance to macrocyclic lactone. We expanded the use of long-read nanopore-based sequencing technology on nematodes by performing genomic de novo assembly of a specimen retrieved from a canine cardiopulmonary dirofilariasis case using the ONT MinION platform, followed by the study of macrocyclic lactone resistance.

Survivorship and yield of a harvested population of Forsteronia glabrescens.

The exploitation of non-timber forest products may be an opportunity to reconcile the utilization of biological resources with biodiversity conservation. In Southern Brazil, the exploitation of liana stems for handicraft makes up an important part of the income of indigenous Kaingang people. In this study we evaluated the effects of stem harvesting on the survivorship of Forsteronia glabrescens Müll.

Rickettsia massiliae circulation in sheep and attached Rhipicephalus sanguineus in Central Portugal.

Rickettsiosis is considered an emerging/re-emerging vector-borne disease that causes significant public health threats. Ticks are reservoirs and vectors of Rickettsia having a significant role in the transmission of rickettsiae. In Portugal, little is known about tick-borne Rickettsia species in sheep.

spp. in the Stomach of Cats: Successful Colonization and Absence of Relevant Histopathological Alterations Reveals High Adaptation to the Host Gastric Niche.

In addition to , many non- Helicobacters (NHPH) are able to cause gastric disease in humans. Cats are a natural reservoir for many of these species. Accordingly, living in close and intimate contact with animals has been identified as a risk factor, and an important zoonotic significance has therefore been attributed to NHPH.

Dirofilaria immitis antigenemia and microfilaremia in Iberian wolves and red foxes from Portugal.

Background: Dirofilaria immitis is a parasitic nematode endemic in the Mediterranean countries, which causes cardiopulmonary dirofilariosis in wild and domestic animals. Despite being recognized hosts of D. immitis, wild carnivores such as wolves and foxes are frequently disregarded when considering a potential role in the transmission of these zoonotic nematodes.

Occurrence and molecular characterization of human pegivirus-1 (HPgV-1) viremia in healthy volunteer blood donors from Northern Portugal.

Human pegivirus-1 (HPgV-1) is a member of the Flaviviridae family and the Pegivirus genus. Despite having been discovered 25 years ago, there is still much to know regarding HPgV-1 clinical impact, as this virus is currently not associated with any pathology. Yet, HPgV-1 prevalence and molecular characterization are still unknown in many countries, including Portugal.

Hemotropic and Species Diversity in Free-Roaming Canine and Feline from Luanda, Angola.

Free-roaming dogs and cats represent potential reservoirs for zoonotic vector-borne pathogens shedding to the human population. Given the health impact of these pathogens, we searched free-roaming dogs and cats included in an animal population control program from Luanda, Angola, for and hemotropic mycoplasma infection. We report the detection of (2/66; 3%), Mycoplasma haemominutum (5/66; 7.

Presence of and DNA in Free-Range Wild Boars.

() is a Gram-negative bacterium that infects half of the human population worldwide, causing gastric disorders, such as chronic gastritis, gastric or duodenal ulcers, and gastric malignancies. is mainly associated with pigs, but can also colonize the stomach of humans, resulting in gastric pathologies. In pigs, can induce gastritis and seems to play a role in gastric ulcer disease, seriously affecting animal production and welfare.

Molecular detection of Rickettsia spp. in ticks and fleas collected from rescued hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) in Portugal.

Hedgehogs (e.g., Erinaceus europaeus, E.