Presence of one ecto- and two endoparasite species of the black stork (Ciconia nigra) in Portugal

Research Areas: Veterinary SciencesBackgroundThe black stork (Ciconia nigra Linnaeus, 1758) is a recognized endangered species in Europe and most of the specimens from the Western Palearctic region breed in the Iberian Peninsula. Available works regarding parasites in black storks are scarce. This work reports the presence one ecto- and two endoparasite species from a black stork in Portugal.Case presentationA black stork was found in southern Portugal after colliding against electric cables. The specimen did not survive its sustained injuries and a post-mortem exam was performed. During the procedure, several ecto- and endoparasite specimens were found. The collected parasites were lice (Neophilopterus tricolor), nematodes (Desportesius sagittatus) and trematodes (Cathaemasia hians).ConclusionsThree different species of parasites are reported from a black stork in Portugal. Ecto- and endoparasites of C. nigra have not frequently been described in the literature, and this case report is a contribution to the field. Additional studies will be important to better understand the impact that parasites can have on C. nigra health and survival.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Biliary hyperplasia and metal(loid)s exposure in hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus)

Objectives: E. europaeus has been used as a sentinel of different One Health concerns, including heavy metal(loid)s pollution or zoonotic pathogens. This work aims to study trace elements’ health effects, performing a toxicology and histopathology assessment with hedgehogs. Materials and Methods: Forty-six hedgehogs from three Portuguese rescue centres (CERVAS, LxCRAS and RIAS) were submitted to necropsy. Sex and age group were visually estimated. A liver sample was stored in a 10% formalin container for histopathology routine examination. Another liver portion was collected into a zip bag and stored under -20ºC. Then, it was completely freeze-dried for two days at -56ºC (LaboGene CoolSafe®) and stored frozen until further analysis. Acid digestion was performed in a digestion plate (DigiPrep-MS®) and metal(loid)s concentrations (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, and Pb) was determined with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrophotometry (ICP-MS). Results: High levels of Cu were found in the liver (35.66 ± 19.65 mg kg-1 dry weight [dw]), with some animals passing 100 mg kg-1 dw, which is a consistently high value for insectivores. Biliary hyperplasia was the most frequent lesion observed, in 36% of the analyzed livers. Animals presenting biliary hyperplasia show higher levels of metal(loid)s (with the exception of As), with a significant difference for Cd (p=0.007) and Co (p=0.019). No statistically significant associations were found between biliary hyperplasia and age or sex. Conclusions: Exposure to metal(loid)s may be a cause of biliary hyperplasia, though other analyses (including the use of biochemistry methods) are needed to confirm this hypothesis. To the authors’ knowledge, this was the first report of this association in hedgehogs. Further research (including different organs and locations) is crucial to understand the impact of metal(loid)s pollution in Portugal.   Keywords: environmental contamination; hedgehog; One Health; trace elements.     Funding This work was funded by FCT (Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia) under the phD scholarship 2021.04520.BD. Teresa Letra Mateus was supported by UIDB/CVT/00772/2020 and LA/P/0059/2020 funded by FCT

High Levels of Heavy Metal(loid)s Related to Biliary Hyperplasia in Hedgehogs (<i>Erinaceus europaeus</i>)

Heavy metal(loid) pollution of ecosystems is a current One Health problem. The liver is one of the most affected organs in cases of acute or chronic exposure to abnormal amounts of these substances, inducing histopathologic lesions. In order to assess the influence of heavy metal(loids), forty-five European hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) were submitted to necropsy, and liver samples were collected for a routine histopathology exam and metal(loid)s determination (As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu and Pb) by ICP-MS. Age was estimated during the necropsy exam. Biliary hyperplasia was the most frequent lesion observed (16/45; 35.56%). No statistically significant associations were found between biliary hyperplasia and age or sex. Metal(loid)s’ concentrations were higher in animals with biliary hyperplasia (except for As). There was a statistically significant difference for both Cd and Co. For As, Cd and Co, cubs and juveniles animals showed significantly lower concentrations than elder individuals. Only for Pb were significant differences found between females and males. As described in the literature, exposure to metal(loid)s may be a cause of biliary hyperplasia, although further research (including the use of biochemical methods) is needed to support these results. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first report of this association in hedgehogs