Bacterial pathogens in wild birds: a review of the frequency and effects of infection

Abstract

The importance of wild birds as potential vectors of disease has received recent renewed empirical interest, especially regarding human health. Understanding the spread of bacterial pathogens in wild birds may serve as a useful model for examining the spread of other disease organisms, both amongst birds, and from birds to other taxa. Information regarding the normal gastrointestinal bacterial flora is limited for the majority of wild bird species, with the few well-studied examples concentrating on bacteria that are zoonotic and/or relate to avian species of commercial interest. However, most studies are limited by small sample sizes, the frequent absence of longitudinal data, and the constraints of using selective techniques to isolate specific pathogens. The pathogenic genera found in the gut are often those suspected to exist in the birds' habitat, and although correlations are made between bacterial pathogens in the avian gut and those found in their foraging grounds, little is known about the effect of the pathogen on the host, unless the causative organism is lethal. In this review, we provide an overview of the main bacterial pathogens isolated from birds (with particular emphasis on enteropathogenic bacteria) which have the potential to cause disease in both birds and humans, whilst drawing attention to the limitations of traditional detection methods and possible study biases. We consider factors likely to affect the susceptibility of birds to bacterial pathogens, including environmental exposure and heterogeneities within the host population, and present probable avenues of disease transmission amongst birds and from birds to other animal taxa. Our primary aim is to identify gaps in current knowledge and to propose areas for future study.

Potential Role of Migratory Quail in Spreading of Some Zoonotic Pathogens in Egypt

“…In the present study, results revealed that despite none of tested quails showed characteristic clinical symptoms or pathological lesions, a high occurrence of some zoonotic bacterial species were detected among them indicating asymptomatic or carrier infections. These results are inconsistent with previous studies (Leveque et al, 2003;Benskin et al, 2009;Hamad et al, 2012). This finding could be explained for many reasons.…”

“…In the current study, S. typhimurium was confirmed in 3 out of 13 (23.07%) S. typhimurium is the most serotype commonly associated with wild birds (Benskin et al, 2009). Wild quails could be considered as true reservoirs in transmission of zoonotic E. coli and Salmonella due to their indirect contact with human habitations (Ahmed et al, 2011).…”

“…During the hunting season, many thousands of these birds are caught in hunter nets on arrival to Mediterranean shore of the North Sinai, Egypt. As other migratory birds, migratory quail act as possible (biological and/or mechanical) vectors playing role in the ecology and circulation of some zoonotic pathogen threatening human health and domestic animals (Abulreesh et al, 2007;Benskin et al, 2009). These zoonotic pathogens cause losses of efficient production and quality of food of animal origin (Acha and Szyfres, 1987;Stohr and Melsin, 1997;Kahn, 2006).…”

Detection of Bordetella avium by TaqMan real-time PCR in tracheal swabs from wildlife birds

“…Wildlife birds can be a reservoir of various pathogens that infect farm animals and humans (Stenzel et al 2008, Benskin et al 2009, Bancerz-Kisiel et al 2012). Despite the above, very little is known about the incidence of Bordetella avium in populations of wildlife birds.…”

Türkiye’de İlk Kez Sturnus vulgaris’ten Salmonella Hessarek İzolasyonu: Olgu Sunumu

“…Salmonellosis can occur in starlings most commonly their omnivorous diet due to feed on the ground, food contaminated with fecal matter and live or feed in contaminated water [10,11] . Thus starlings can catch the disease and die or further excrete the disease through their feces to livestock, especially poultry and egg producers, and to humans [12,13] . [14] and numerous occasions in outbreaks of septicemic salmonellosis in starlings [15] .…”