title: Epidemiological survey of zoonotic pathogens in feral pigeons (Columba livia var. domestica) and sympatric zoo species in Southern Spain.
abstract: A cross-sectional study was carried out to determine the prevalence of pathogenic zoonotic agents (flaviviruses, avian influenza viruses (AIVs), Salmonella spp. and Toxoplasma gondii) in feral pigeons and sympatric zoo animals from Córdoba (Southern Spain) between 2013 and 2014. Antibodies against flaviviruses were detected in 7.8% out of 142 (CI95%: 3.7-11.8) pigeons, and 8.2% of 49 (CI95%: 0.9-15.4) of zoo animals tested. Antibodies with specificity against West Nile virus (WNV) and Usutu virus (USUV) were confirmed both in pigeons and in zoo birds. Even though seropositivity to AIVs was not detected in any of the analyzed pigeons, 17.9% of 28 (CI95%: 3.7-32.0) zoo birds tested showed positive results. Salmonella spp. was not isolated in any of 152 fecal samples collected from pigeons, while 6.8% of 44 zoo animals were positive. Antibodies against T. gondii were found in 9.2% of 142 (CI95%: 4.8-13.6) feral pigeons and 26.9% of 108 (CI95%: 19.6-34.1) zoo animals. This is the first study on flaviviruses and T. gondii in feral pigeons and captive zoo species in Spain. Antibodies against WNV and USUV detected in non-migratory pigeons and captive zoo animals indicate local circulation of these emerging pathogens in the study area. T. gondii was widespread in species analyzed. This finding could be of importance for Public Health and Conservation of endangered species present in zoo parks. Pigeons and zoo animals may be included as sentinel species for monitoring zoonotic pathogens in urban areas.
authors.affiliation: Department de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Córdoba-Agrifood Excellence International Campus (ceiA3), Campus de Rabanales, 14071 Córdoba, Spain.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cano-Terriza
authors.affiliation: Parque Zoológico Municipal de Córdoba (PZMC), Avenida Linneo s/n, 14071 Córdoba, Spain.
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Guerra
authors.affiliation: ANSES, Laboratoire de Santé Animale de Maisons-Alfort, UMR 1161 Virologie, INRA, ANSES, ENVA, Maisons-Alfort F-94703, France.
authors.forename: Sylvie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lecollinet
authors.affiliation: Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA)-Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentàries (IRTA), Campus de la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cerdà-Cuéllar
authors.affiliation: Servei d'Ecopatologia de Fauna Salvatge (SEFaS), Department de Medicina i Cirugia Animals, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona 08193, Bellaterra, Spain.
authors.forename: Oscar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Cabezón
authors.affiliation: Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA)-Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentàries (IRTA), Campus de la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain; Department de Sanitat i d'Anatomia Animals, Facultat de Veterinària, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona 08193, Bellaterra, Spain.
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Almería
authors.affiliation: Department de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Córdoba-Agrifood Excellence International Campus (ceiA3), Campus de Rabanales, 14071 Córdoba, Spain. Electronic address: nacho.garcia@uco.es.
authors.forename: Ignacio
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: García-Bocanegra
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000836:Animals, Zoo / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D001715:Bird Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000821:virology; D010856:Columbidae / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000821:virology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D005416:Flavivirus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D018177:Flavivirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000276:immunology; D012475:Salmonella / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012481:Salmonella Infections, Animal / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014124:Toxoplasmosis, Animal / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D015047:Zoonoses / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D000914:Antibodies, Viral
keywords: Avian influenza viruses; Captive zoo animals; Feral pigeons; Flaviviruses; Salmonella spp.; Toxoplasma gondii