Supplementary feeding and endoparasites in threatened avian scavengers: Coprologic evidence from red kites in their wintering stronghold

Blanco, Guillermo; Cardells, Jesús; Garijo-Toledo, María Magdalena

doi:10.1016/j.envres.2017.01.034

Cited by 22 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 55 publications

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“…The growing dependence of scavengers on swine carcasses from factory farming has been increasingly recorded in several Spanish regions (Camiña & Montelío, ; Donázar et al., ). This has been shown to be associated with scavenger contamination with veterinary pharmaceuticals used in livestock farming (Blanco et al., ; Blanco et al., a,b) and with infection by parasites and opportunistic and emerging livestock pathogens (Blanco, ; Blanco et al., ; Marin et al., ; Pitarch et al., ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The large number of intensive farms of fattening pigs operating in the study area provides a high surplus of carcasses discarded at SFSs (Blanco, ). An artificially high predictability and abundance of food provided in fixed locations imply that large numbers of scavengers frequently forage in overcrowding, confinement and unsanitary conditions generally found at SFSs (Blanco, Cardells, & Garijo‐Toledo, ; Cortés‐Avizanda et al., ). Therefore, the role of pigs as a primary source of Salmonella, and the risk of scavenger infection in SFSs, may continue in the future in the study area.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Supplementary feeding as a source of multiresistantSalmonellain endangered Egyptian vultures

Blanco

2018

Transbound Emerg Dis

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Wild birds have repeatedly been highlighted as vectors in the dissemination of livestock and human pathogens. Here, the occurrence, serotypes and antimicrobial resistance of Salmonella were assessed in adult Egyptian vultures (Neophron percnopterus), to test the hypothesis that infection is associated with the consumption of swine carcasses provided at supplementary feeding stations (SFSs). Faeces of year-round resident griffon vultures (Gyps fulvus) were also tested to assess whether infection was acquired in the breeding grounds of both species or in the African wintering quarters of Egyptian vultures. Depending on the shedding rate criteria considered, the occurrence of infection in Egyptian vultures varied between the three consecutive sampling days in a range with a minimum of 23%-41% and a maximum of 64%-92% of individuals (n = 11-14 individuals, 27-39 faeces). The occurrence in the single sampling of griffon vultures was 61% of faeces (n = 18). Vultures mostly fed on pig carcasses, which together with their predominant infection with multiresistant serotypes (mostly the monophasic 4,12:i:- variant resistant to aminopenicillins, aminoglycosides and tetracyclines) typically found in pigs from Spain, strongly supports a carcass-to-vulture transmission and cross-infection routes at SFSs. Efforts are encouraged to avoid discarding carcasses of pigs with Salmonella at SFSs established for the conservation of threatened scavengers. This could contribute to reducing the long-distance transmission of resistant pathogens with an impact on livestock and human health while avoiding infection risk and its effects on wildlife.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Supplementary feeding as a source of multiresistantSalmonellain endangered Egyptian vultures

Blanco

2018

Transbound Emerg Dis

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“…Whether antibiotic resistance is acquired from bacteria present in medicated livestock or is developed de novo in vultures ingesting antibiotics from carcasses of medicated livestock (Blanco et al . 2016, 2017a, 2017b), and the relevance of these findings, remain unexplored topics despite their potential implications for public health. However, it is important to note that some studies suggest that antibiotic resistance could be spread to humans by facultative scavenger birds such as gulls (Bonnedahl & Järhult 2014 and references therein).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Interestingly, these lesions were found in some individuals with antibiotic residues in their blood (fluoroquinolones), attributed to the consumption, at feeding stations, of medicated pig and poultry carcasses coming from intensive farming operations (Blanco et al . 2016, 2017a, 2017b, 2019, Pitarch et al . 2017).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Implications of bacterial, viral and mycotic microorganisms in vultures for wildlife conservation, ecosystem services and public health

Plaza

Blanco

Lambertucci

2020

Ibis

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The effects that microorganisms (bacteria, viruses and fungi) have on their hosts remain unexplored for most vulture species. This is especially relevant for vultures, as their diet consists of carcasses in various stages of decomposition, which are breeding grounds for potentially pathogenic microorganisms. Here we review current knowledge of bacterial, viral and mycotic microorganisms present in wild vultures. We consider their potential to cause disease in vultures and whether this poses any population‐level threats. Furthermore, we address the question of whether vultures may act as disease spreaders or mitigators. We found 76 articles concerning bacterial, viral and mycotic microorganisms present in 13 vulture species, 57 evaluating bacteria, 13 evaluating viruses and six evaluating mycotic microorganisms. These studies come from all continents where vultures are present, but mainly from Europe and North America, and the most studied species was the Griffon Vulture Gyps fulvus. We found that vultures are colonized by zoonotic pathogens, and even host‐specific human pathogens. Some recorded bacteria showed multi‐antibiotic resistance, especially those that can be associated with anthropogenic food subsides such as supplementary feeding stations. We found evidence that vulture health can be affected by some microorganisms, producing a wide array of clinical alterations that have the potential to influence mortality risk and fitness. We did not find clear scientific evidence that vultures play an epidemiological role spreading microorganisms to humans and other species. However, there is evidence that vultures could prevent the spread of infectious diseases through their removal of decomposing organic material. The evaluation of vulture exposure to microorganisms is of fundamental importance to design better conservation policies for this threatened group, which may serve a key role as ecosystem cleaners.

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Demographic modeling to fine‐tune conservation targets: importance of pre‐adults for the decline of an endangered raptor

Tavecchia

Blas²,

Tanferna³

et al. 2021

Ecological Applications

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Large, long-lived species with slow life histories and protracted pre-breeding stages are particularly susceptible to declines and extinction, often for unknown causes. Here, we show how demographic modeling of a medium-sized raptor, the Red Kite Milvus milvus, can aid to refocus conservation research and attention on the most likely mechanisms driving its decline. Red Kites' survival and reproduction increased through three sequential stages for 1-2, 3-6, and 7-30 yr of age, mainly corresponding to individuals that are dispersing, attempting to gain a territory, and breeding. As typical of long-lived species, elasticities were highest for adult (≥7 yr old) survival, but this was high, with little scope for improvement. Instead, the declines were driven by an extremely low survival of pre-adults in their first years of life, which weakened the whole demographic system by nullifying the offspring contribution of adults and curtailing their replacement by recruits. For example, 27 pairs were necessary to generate a single prime age adult. Simulation of management scenarios suggested that the decline could be halted most parsimoniously by increasing pre-adult survival to the mean levels recorded for other areas, while only the synergistic, simultaneous improvement of breeding success, adult and pre-adult survival could generate a recovery. We propose three actions to attain such goals through selective supplementary feeding of both breeding and non-breeding individuals, and through mortality improvement by GPS remote-sensing devices employed as surveillance monitoring tools. Our results show how improving demographic models by using real, local vital rates rather than "best guess" vital rates can dramatically improve model realism by refocusing attention on the actual stages and mortality causes in need of manipulation, thus building precious time and resources for conservation management. These results also highlight the frequent key role of pre-adult survival for the management of long-lived species, coherent with the idea of demographic systems as integrated chains only as strong as their weakest link.

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Supplementary feeding and endoparasites in threatened avian scavengers: Coprologic evidence from red kites in their wintering stronghold

Cited by 22 publications

References 55 publications

Supplementary feeding as a source of multiresistantSalmonellain endangered Egyptian vultures

Supplementary feeding as a source of multiresistantSalmonellain endangered Egyptian vultures

Implications of bacterial, viral and mycotic microorganisms in vultures for wildlife conservation, ecosystem services and public health

Demographic modeling to fine‐tune conservation targets: importance of pre‐adults for the decline of an endangered raptor

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