Detection of Herpesviruses in Wild Bird Casualties in Slovenia
The complete host range of avian herpesviruses in wild birds is unknown, and information about nucleotide sequences is available only in limited cases. The aim of this study was to detect the presence of herpesviruses in wild birds and to gain more information about their phylogenetic relationship....
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2022-02-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Veterinary Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2022.822212/full |
| _version_ | 1818979564188073984 |
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| author | Zoran Žlabravec Brigita Slavec Al Vrezec Al Vrezec Urška Kuhar Olga Zorman Rojs Zlatko Golob Jožko Račnik |
| author_facet | Zoran Žlabravec Brigita Slavec Al Vrezec Al Vrezec Urška Kuhar Olga Zorman Rojs Zlatko Golob Jožko Račnik |
| author_sort | Zoran Žlabravec |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The complete host range of avian herpesviruses in wild birds is unknown, and information about nucleotide sequences is available only in limited cases. The aim of this study was to detect the presence of herpesviruses in wild birds and to gain more information about their phylogenetic relationship. Oropharyngeal and cloacal swabs from 447 wild birds from 15 different orders presented as wildlife casualties were examined for herpesvirus presence with PCR targeting a fragment of the DNA polymerase gene. Herpesviruses were detected in oropharyngeal and/or cloacal swabs in 34 (7.5%) birds belonging to 11 species from six different avian orders: Accipitriformes, Charadriiformes, Columbiformes, Falconiformes, Passeriformes, and Strigiformes. The results of phylogenetic analysis showed that various herpesviruses sequences are present in the wild bird population. Some herpesviruses are host species–specific, whereas in some cases very similar sequences were detected through different avian orders, which confirms findings that herpesviruses are not always restricted to bird species. It seems that herpesvirus transmission could occur by predation from avian prey, and even by superpredation—for example, large owls, such as the Eurasian eagle owl (Bubo bubo) or Ural owl (Strix uralensis), preying on smaller raptors. This can lead to greater infection exposure and is in line with the fact that raptors were the most infected species group. Nevertheless, the individual or simultaneous detection of herpesviruses in oropharyngeal and cloacal swabs shows that both swab samples should be used for herpesvirus detection in wild birds. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-20T17:01:32Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a9cb1dd4274c45c8a5c529991d3716a4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2297-1769 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-20T17:01:32Z |
| publishDate | 2022-02-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Veterinary Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-a9cb1dd4274c45c8a5c529991d3716a42022-12-21T19:32:30ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Veterinary Science2297-17692022-02-01910.3389/fvets.2022.822212822212Detection of Herpesviruses in Wild Bird Casualties in SloveniaZoran Žlabravec0Brigita Slavec1Al Vrezec2Al Vrezec3Urška Kuhar4Olga Zorman Rojs5Zlatko Golob6Jožko Račnik7Institute of Poultry, Birds, Small Mammals, and Reptiles, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, SloveniaInstitute of Poultry, Birds, Small Mammals, and Reptiles, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, SloveniaDepartment for Organism and Ecosystems Research, National Institute of Biology, Ljubljana, SloveniaSlovenian Museum of Natural History, Ljubljana, SloveniaInstitute of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, SloveniaInstitute of Poultry, Birds, Small Mammals, and Reptiles, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, SloveniaGolob d.o.o. Clinic for Small, Wild, and Exotic Animals, Shelter for Protected Wildlife, Muta, SloveniaInstitute of Poultry, Birds, Small Mammals, and Reptiles, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, SloveniaThe complete host range of avian herpesviruses in wild birds is unknown, and information about nucleotide sequences is available only in limited cases. The aim of this study was to detect the presence of herpesviruses in wild birds and to gain more information about their phylogenetic relationship. Oropharyngeal and cloacal swabs from 447 wild birds from 15 different orders presented as wildlife casualties were examined for herpesvirus presence with PCR targeting a fragment of the DNA polymerase gene. Herpesviruses were detected in oropharyngeal and/or cloacal swabs in 34 (7.5%) birds belonging to 11 species from six different avian orders: Accipitriformes, Charadriiformes, Columbiformes, Falconiformes, Passeriformes, and Strigiformes. The results of phylogenetic analysis showed that various herpesviruses sequences are present in the wild bird population. Some herpesviruses are host species–specific, whereas in some cases very similar sequences were detected through different avian orders, which confirms findings that herpesviruses are not always restricted to bird species. It seems that herpesvirus transmission could occur by predation from avian prey, and even by superpredation—for example, large owls, such as the Eurasian eagle owl (Bubo bubo) or Ural owl (Strix uralensis), preying on smaller raptors. This can lead to greater infection exposure and is in line with the fact that raptors were the most infected species group. Nevertheless, the individual or simultaneous detection of herpesviruses in oropharyngeal and cloacal swabs shows that both swab samples should be used for herpesvirus detection in wild birds.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2022.822212/fullwildlifeherpesvirusavianpolymerase chain reactionSlovenia |
| spellingShingle | Zoran Žlabravec Brigita Slavec Al Vrezec Al Vrezec Urška Kuhar Olga Zorman Rojs Zlatko Golob Jožko Račnik Detection of Herpesviruses in Wild Bird Casualties in Slovenia Frontiers in Veterinary Science wildlife herpesvirus avian polymerase chain reaction Slovenia |
| title | Detection of Herpesviruses in Wild Bird Casualties in Slovenia |
| title_full | Detection of Herpesviruses in Wild Bird Casualties in Slovenia |
| title_fullStr | Detection of Herpesviruses in Wild Bird Casualties in Slovenia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Detection of Herpesviruses in Wild Bird Casualties in Slovenia |
| title_short | Detection of Herpesviruses in Wild Bird Casualties in Slovenia |
| title_sort | detection of herpesviruses in wild bird casualties in slovenia |
| topic | wildlife herpesvirus avian polymerase chain reaction Slovenia |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2022.822212/full |
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