Survey on the Presence of Viruses of Economic and Zoonotic Importance in Avifauna in Northern Italy.

Tiziana Trogu,Davide Lelli,Giovanni Sala,Ana Moreno,Paola Prati,Loris Alborali,Mario Chiari,Alessandra Gaffuri,Antonio Lavazza,Clara Tolini,Marco Farioli,Carlo Rosignoli,Sabrina Canziani,Enrica Sozzi,Sara Salvato,Guido Grilli,Alessandro Bianchi,Matteo Gradassi

doi:10.3390/microorganisms9091957

Abstract

Wild birds play an important role in the circulation and spread of pathogens that are potentially zoonotic or of high economic impact on zootechnical production. They include, for example, West Nile virus (WNV), Usutu virus (USUV), avian influenza virus (AIV), and Newcastle disease virus (NDV), which, despite having mostly an asymptomatic course in wild birds, have a strong impact on public health and zootechnical production. This study investigated the presence of these viruses in several wild bird species from North Italy during the biennium 2019–2020. Wild birds derived from 76 different species belonging to 20 orders. Out of 679 birds, 27 were positive for WNV (lineage 2) with a prevalence of 4%; all birds were negative for USUV; one gull was positive for H13N6 influenza virus, and 12 samples were positive for NDV with a prevalence of 2%. Despite the low prevalence observed, the analyses performed on these species provide further data, allowing a better understanding of the diffusion and evolution of diseases of both economic and zoonotic importance.

Highlights

Attention to wildlife monitoring has always been very high in relation to public health, especially considering that more than 70% of the emerging zoonotic diseases derive precisely from free ranging wildlife [1]
Molecular analyses performed on wild bird samples in order to detect arboviruses showed a total prevalence of 4% (CI 95%: 3–5) for West Nile virus (WNV), with 27 positive birds, mainly belonging to the order Strigiformes, Accipitriformes, and Passeriformes, and originating from different provinces of Lombardy
Real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) performed on positive samples to distinguish lineage 1 and 2 detected lineage 2 in 23 birds

Summary

Introduction

Attention to wildlife monitoring has always been very high in relation to public health, especially considering that more than 70% of the emerging zoonotic diseases derive precisely from free ranging wildlife [1]. Birds play a crucial role in the mechanisms of distribution, persistence, and evolution of certain pathogens, potentially zoonotic, with an economic impact on poultry farming. They are known to be reservoirs for several bacteria, such as Salmonella spp. [2], drug-resistant organisms, parasites, or viruses. In this regard, avian influenza virus (AIV), Newcastle disease virus (NDV), and vector-borne diseases such as. West Nile (WNV) and Usutu virus (USUV), could represent important zoonotic agents and/or have a high economic impact on zootechnical production.

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Results

Conclusion