The role of birds in dissemination of human waterborne enteropathogens

Impacts of Migratory Sandhill Cranes (Grus canadensis) on Microbial Water Quality in the Central Platte River, Nebraska, USA

“…For example, Escherichia coli O157:H7 and other waterborne enteric pathogens including Cryptosporidium, Giardia, and Campylobacter spp. have been detected in the excreta of various migratory gull species, Canada geese, and Whistling swans (Gould and Fletcher 1978;Demaré et al 1979;Waldenström et al 2002;Wetzel and Lejeune 2007;Graczyk et al 2008;Lu et al 2011). So, while as few as 30 ring-billed gulls (Larus delawarensis) may impact on the microbial water quality of a waterbody as measured by fecal indicator bacteria (FIB; Lévesque et al 2000), the real concern is their potential co-introduction of potentially pathogenic species to humans and other animals.…”

Occurrence of Cryptosporidium hominis in pigeons (Columba livia)

“…Firstly, pigeons may act as mechanical vectors (Graczyk et al 2008), as Canada geese of C. parvum (Graczyk et al 1998). Secondly, the C. hominis oocysts found in pigeons feces may have been acquired from unhygienic places related with human activities, as was reported for Canada geese (Graczyk et al 2008).…”

“…This species can transmit microorganisms to humans that could be pathogenic as is the case of Cryptococcus neoformans (Emmons 1951(Emmons , 1955Kwon-Chung and Bennett 1978) or, more recently, Enterocytozoon bieneusi and Encephalitozoon intestinalis (Haro et al 2005). On the other hand, it is known that some birds can acquire C. hominis oocysts from local garbage and other unhygienic places (Graczyk et al 2008), as it could be wastewater. A previous study identified C. hominis in a small percentage of Canada geese (Branta canadensis) (Zhou et al 2004).…”

Microbiological and parasitological survey of zoonotic agents in apparently healthy feral pigeons

“…Concerning parasitological investigations, our samples proved to be negative for enteric protozoa while several studies have detected C. parvum and C. hominis, and the zoonotic assemblages of G. duodenalis (A and B) in faeces of various avian species indicating that birds might serve as mechanical vectors of cysts and oocysts and as possible sources of these infections in animals and humans (Graczyk et al 2008, Abreu-Acosta et al 2009, Majewska et al 2009, Papini et al 2012, Reboredo-Fernandez et al 2015. At present, little information is available concerning the role played by pigeons in the zoonotic transmission of these pathogens.…”