Isolation of Salmonella spp. in cattle egrets (Bubulcus ibis) from Fernando de Noronha Archipelago, Brazil

Abstract The growth of the population of cattle egrets (Bubulcus ibis) in the archipelago of Fernando de Noronha constitutes a threat to public health and biological diversity because of their competition with and predation on native species and the possibility of transmission of pathogens to human beings, livestock and native wildlife. The aim here was to search for, isolate and identify serovars of Salmonella in clinically healthy local cattle egrets. Cloacal swabs were obtained from 456 clinically healthy cattle egrets of both sexes and a variety of ages. The swabs were divided into 51 pools. Six of these (11.7%) presented four serovars of Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica: Salmonella serovar Typhimurium; Salmonella serovar Newport; Salmonella serovar Duisburg; and Salmonella serovar Zega. One sample was identified as S. enterica subspecies enterica O16:y:-. Results in this study suggest that cattle egrets may be reservoirs of this agent on Fernando de Noronha and represent a risk to public health and biological diversity.

Ocorrência de anticorpos anti-toxoplasma gondii em aves silvestres de três unidades de conservação federais da Paraíba e da Bahia / Occurrence of antibodies to toxoplasma gondii in wild birds from three federal conservation units of Paraíba and Bahia, Brazil

A vigilância e monitoramento de doenças em animais silvestres são imprescindíveis no contexto ambiental e de saúde pública, pois estes animais agem como sentinelas, refletindo alterações ambientais precocemente, o que proporciona maior eficácia no monitoramento ambiental e permite o acesso rápido a informações sobre as condições da área. Neste contexto, as aves são importantes no ciclo biológico do Toxoplasma gondii e na epidemiologia da toxoplasmose, principalmente porque seus tecidos representam importantes fontes de proteína na alimentação de felídeos e humanos. Objetivou-se detectar anticorpos anti-T. gondii, por meio do teste de aglutinação modificada em aves silvestres de três Unidades de Conservação (UC) Federais dos Estados da Paraíba e Bahia. No período de dezembro de 2011 a outubro de 2013 foram capturadas com redes de neblina 222 aves silvestres pertencentes a 67 espécies, 27 famílias e 12 ordens. Após a captura, foi colhido sangue de cada animal e separado o soro, que foi submetido ao Teste de Aglutinação Modificada (MAT≥1:25) utilizando taquizoítos inativados na formalina e 2-mercaptoetanol. Dentre as 222 amostras analisadas, três (1,3%) foram sororreagentes: 1 de 16 (6,2%) pipira-preta Tachyphonus rufus (título 50), 1 de 5 (20%) juriti-gemedeira Leptotila rufaxilla (título 50) e 1 de 1 (100%) caneleiro-enxofre Casiornis fuscus (título 25). Este é o primeiro relato da ocorrência de anticorpos anti-T. gondii nas referidas espécies de aves silvestres de vida livre nas duas UC Federais estudadas.

Surveillance and monitoring of wildlife pathogens are essential in the environmental context and human public health, as these animals act as sentinels, reflecting environmental changes early on, whath gives more efficient environmental monitoring and allows quick access to information on the conditions of area. Birds are important in the epidemiology and life cycle of Toxoplasma gondii, because their tissues are important source of protein in the diet of felids and humans. The objective was to determine antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii in wild birds from three Federal Conservation Units of the states of Paraíba and Bahia by Modified Agglutination Test (MAT). From December 2011 to October 2013, 222 wild birds of 67 species from 27 families and 12 Orders were captured with mist nets. Blood samples were then collected and the serum was separated by centrifugation. The sera were tested (MAT≥1:25) using formalin-fixed whole tachyzoites and 2-mercaptoethanol. Antibodies to T. gondii were found in 3 of 222 (1.3%) birds: in 1 of 16 (6.2%) white-lined tanager (Tachyphonus rufus, titer 50), in 1 of 5 (20%) gray-fronted dove (Leptotilla rufaxila, titer 50), and in 1 of 1 (100%) ashy-throated casiornis (Casiornis fuscus, titer 25). This is the first report of occurrence of antibodies to T. gondii in these tree bird species from two Federal Conservation Units.