title: Pathogenic microorganisms carried by migratory birds passing through the territory of the island of Ustica, Sicily (Italy).
abstract: Several studies have shown that migratory birds play an important role in the ecology, circulation and dissemination of pathogenic organisms. In October 2006, a health status evaluation was performed on a large population of migratory birds passing through the territory of Ustica (Italy), an island located on the migration route of many species of birds to Africa, and various laboratory tests were conducted. In total, 218 faecal swabs and the internal organs of 21 subjects found dead in nets were collected for bacteriological and virological examination, including avian influenza and Newcastle disease. In addition, 19 pooled fresh faecal samples were collected for mycological examination. The bacteriological analysis produced 183 strains belonging to 28 different species of the Enterobacteriaceae family. In particular, Salmonella bongori, Yersinia enterocolitica and Klebsiella pneumonia strains were isolated. Almost all of the isolates were susceptible to sulphamethoxazole/trimethoprime (99.4%), cefotaxime (98.9%), nalidixic acid (96.7%), chloramphenicol (95.6%), and tetracycline (93.4%). Alternatively, many strains were resistant to ampicillin (42.6%), amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (42.6%), and streptomycin (43.7%). According to reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction analysis, all of the samples were negative for the M gene of avian influenza virus. Moreover, isolation tests conducted on specific pathogen free eggs were negative for avian influenza and Newcastle disease. Several hyphomycetes and yeasts belonging to different genera were present in the specimens, and Cryptococcus neoformans was observed in a pooled faecal sample. Antibiotic resistance in wildlife can be monitored to evaluate the impact of anthropic pressure. Furthermore, migratory birds are potential reservoirs of pathogenic agents; thus, they can be regarded as sentinel species and used as environmental health indicators.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Public Health, University of Messina, Polo Universitario dell'Annunziata, 98168, Messina, Italy. malinvet@unime.it
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Foti
authors.forename: Donatella
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rinaldo
authors.forename: Annalisa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Guercio
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Giacopello
authors.forename: Aurora
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aleo
authors.forename: Filomena
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: De Leo
authors.forename: Vittorio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Fisichella
authors.forename: Caterina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mammina
mesh_terms: D025041:Animal Migration; D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild / Q000382:microbiology; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001715:Bird Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D001717:Birds; D004197:Disease Reservoirs / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary; D018562:Disease Transmission, Infectious / Q000662:veterinary; D004351:Drug Resistance; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000145:classification* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005585:Influenza in Birds / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D003904:Mitosporic Fungi / Q000145:classification* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D009521:Newcastle Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology; D009522:Newcastle disease virus / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification; D010802:Phylogeny; D012802:Sicily / Q000453:epidemiology; D013047:Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms; D015003:Yeasts / Q000145:classification* / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents