المؤلفون: Ferreira, Eduardo M., Cunha, Mónica V., Duarte, Elsa L., Gonçalves, Renata, Pinto, Tiago, Mira, António, Santos, Sara M.

المساهمون: Byrne, Andrew, Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia

المصدر: Transboundary and Emerging Diseases ; volume 2024, issue 1 ; ISSN 1865-1674 1865-1682

الوصف: In many Mediterranean ecosystems, animal tuberculosis (TB), caused by Mycobacterium bovis , is maintained by multi‐host communities in which cattle and different wildlife species establish interaction networks contributing to M. bovis transmission and persistence. Most studies have addressed wildlife–cattle disease‐relevant interactions, focusing on reservoir hosts, while disregarding the potential contribution of the so‐called accidental hosts and/or neglecting wildlife–wildlife interactions. In this work, we aimed to characterise interspecies interactions in an endemic TB risk area and identify the ecological drivers of interaction patterns regardless of the pre‐attributed role of host species on TB epidemiology. For that purpose, spatial–temporal indirect interactions between wildlife mammals and cattle, and between different wildlife species, were investigated through camera trapping. Second, five ecological hypotheses potentially driving species pair interactions in the wet and dry seasons were tested covering water and control sites: human presence (H1), landscape composition (H2), topography (H3), weather (H4), and natural food and water resources (H5). Wild boar ( Sus scrofa ), red deer ( Cervus elaphus ), and red fox ( Vulpes vulpes ) were the wildlife species mostly involved in indirect interactions. We found that indirect wildlife–cattle interactions were more frequent than wildlife interactions and, for certain species pairs, interaction rates were higher in the wet season in both wildlife–cattle and wildlife groups. Natural food and water resources (H5) was the most supported hypothesis that influenced the abundance of wildlife–cattle interactions, with positive effects during the dry season and negative effects during the wet season. In contrast, the abundance of indirect interactions between wildlife species was mainly supported by the human disturbance hypothesis (H1), with negative effects exerted on the dry season and variable effects on the wet season. Other tested hypotheses also influenced ...

الإتاحة: https://doi.org/10.1155/2024/9779569Test

المؤلفون: Bandeira, Victor, Virgós, Emilio, Azevedo, Alexandre, Carvalho, João, Cunha, Mónica V., Fonseca, Carlos

الوصف: The Egyptian mongoose (Herpestes ichneumon Linnaeus, 1758) is a medium-sized carnivore that experienced remarkable geographic expansion over the last 3 decades in the Iberian Peninsula. In this study, we investigated the association of species-related and abiotic factors with spleen weight (as a proxy for immunocompetence) in the species. We assessed the relationship of body condition, sex, age, season, and environmental conditions with spleen weight established for 508 hunted specimens. Our results indicate that the effects of sex and season outweigh those of all other variables, including body condition. Spleen weight is higher in males than in females, and heavier spleens are more likely to be found in spring, coinciding with the highest period of investment in reproduction due to mating, gestation, birth, and lactation. Coupled with the absence of an effect of body condition, our findings suggest that spleen weight variation in this species is mostly influenced by life-history traits linked to reproduction, rather than overall energy availability, winter immunoenhancement, or energy partitioning effects, and prompt further research focusing on this topic. ; info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

العلاقة: by National (through FCT) and European funds (through COMPETE and FEDER, co-funding through the project “Genetic assessment of a successful invasion: Population genetics of the Egyptian mon goose H. ichneumon in Portugal,” reference PTDC/BIA-BEC/104401/2008). We acknowledge University of Aveiro (Department of Biology) and FCT/ MEC for the financial support to CESAM Research Unit (UID/AMB/50017) through national funds and, where applicable, co-funding by the FEDER, within the PT2020 Partnership Agreement; Bandeira V, Virgós E, Azevedo A, Carvalho J, Cunha MV, Fonseca C. Sex and season explain spleen weight variation in the Egyptian mongoose. Curr Zool. 2019 Feb;65(1):11-20. doi:10.1093/cz/zoy031. Epub 2018 Apr 12. PMID: 30697234; PMCID: PMC6347055.; http://hdl.handle.net/10451/63620Test

الإتاحة: https://doi.org/10.1093/cz/zoy031Test
http://hdl.handle.net/10451/63620Test

المؤلفون: Geraldes, Martim A., Cunha, Mónica V., Godinho, Carlos, Lima, Ricardo F. de, Giovanetti, Marta, Lourenço, José

المصدر: Geraldes , M A , Cunha , M V , Godinho , C , Lima , R F D , Giovanetti , M & Lourenço , J 2024 , ' The historical ecological background of West Nile virus in Portugal indicates One Health opportunities ' , Science of the Total Environment , vol. 944 , 173875 . https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.173875Test

مصطلحات موضوعية: West Nile virus, Climate, Ecology, Surveillance, One Health

الوصف: West Nile (WNV) is a zoonotic arbovirus with an expanding geographical range and epidemic activity in Europe. Not having yet experienced a human-associated epidemic, Portugal remains an outlier in the Mediterranean basin. In this study, we apply ecological niche modelling informed by WNV historical evidence and a multitude of environmental variables from across Portugal. We identify that ecological backgrounds compatible with WNV historical circulation are mostly restricted to the south, characterized by a warmer and drier climate, high avian diversity, specific avian species and land types. We estimate WNV ecological suitability across the country, identifying overlaps with the distributions of the three relevant hosts (humans, birds, equines) for public and animal health. From this, we propose a category-based spatial framework providing first of a kind valuable insights for WNV surveillance in Portugal under the One Health nexus. We forecast that near future climate trends alone will contribute to pushing adequate WNV ecological suitability northwards, towards regions with higher human density. This unique perspective on the past, present and future ecology of WNV addresses existing national knowledge gaps, enhances our understanding of the evolving emergence of WNV, and offers opportunities to prepare and respond to the first human-associated epidemic in Portugal.

وصف الملف: application/pdf

العلاقة: https://ciencia.ucp.pt/en/publications/c1f4858a-a1bf-426d-bb1f-ff4280efbb90Test

الإتاحة: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.173875Test
https://ciencia.ucp.pt/en/publications/c1f4858a-a1bf-426d-bb1f-ff4280efbb90Test
https://ciencia.ucp.pt/ws/files/101151569/100872615.pdfTest
http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85195814500&partnerID=8YFLogxKTest
http://hdl.handle.net/10400.14/45551Test

المؤلفون: Reis, Ana C., Pinto, Daniela, Monteiro, Sílvia, Santos, Ricardo, Martins, João Vieira, Sousa, Alexandra, Páscoa, Rute, Lourinho, Rita, Cunha, Mónica V.

المساهمون: European Commission, Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia

المصدر: Science of The Total Environment ; volume 921, page 170961 ; ISSN 0048-9697

مصطلحات موضوعية: Pollution, Waste Management and Disposal, Environmental Chemistry, Environmental Engineering

الإتاحة: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170961Test
https://api.elsevier.com/content/article/PII:S0048969724011008?httpAccept=text/xmlTest
https://api.elsevier.com/content/article/PII:S0048969724011008?httpAccept=text/plainTest

المؤلفون: Silva, Ana Rita Pereira, Mesquita, D. P., Duarte, Maria Salomé Lira, Pereira, M. Fernando R., Alves, M. M., Monteiro, Sílvia, Santos, Ricardo, Cunha, Mónica V., Jorge, Sandra, Vieira, Joana, Vilaça, João, Lopes, Luísa C., Carvalho, Marta, Brito, Carlos, Martins, António, Pereira, Luciana

مصطلحات موضوعية: COVID-19, Pharmaceuticals, Sludge, Wastewater

الوصف: The COVID-19 pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus led to changes in the lifestyle and human behaviour, which resulted in different consumption patterns of some classes of pharmaceuticals including curative, symptom-relieving, and psychotropic drugs. The trends in the consumption of these compounds are related to their concentrations in wastewater systems, since incompletely metabolised drugs (or their metabolites back transformed into the parental form) may be detected and quantified by analytical methods. Pharmaceuticals are highly recalcitrant compounds and conventional activated sludge processes implemented in wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) are ineffective at degrading these substances. As a results, these compounds end up in waterways or accumulate in the sludge, being a serious concern given their potential effects on ecosystems and public health. Therefore, it is crucial to evaluate the presence of pharmaceuticals in water and sludge to assist in the search for more effective processes. In this work, eight pharmaceuticals from five therapeutic classes were analysed in wastewater and sludge samples collected in two WWTP located in the Northern Portugal, during the third COVID-19 epidemic wave in Portugal. The two WWTP demonstrated a similar pattern with respect to the concentration levels in that period. However, the drugs loads reaching each WWTP were dissimilar when normalising the concentrations to the inlet flow rate. Acetaminophen (ACET) was the compound detected at highest concentrations in aqueous samples of both WWTP (98. 516 g L1 in WWTP2 and 123. 506 g L1in WWTP1), indicating that this drug is extensively used without the need of a prescription, known of general public knowledge as an antipyretic and analgesic agent to treat pain and fever. The concentrations determined in the sludge samples were below 1.65 µg g1 in both WWTP, the highest value being found for azithromycin (AZT). This result may be justified by the physico-chemical characteristics of the compound that favour its adsorption ...

وصف الملف: application/pdf

العلاقة: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/FCT/6817 - DCRRNI ID/UIDB%2F04469%2F2020/PT; info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/FCT/6817 - DCRRNI ID/UIDB%2F00329%2F2020/PT; info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/FCT/6817 - DCRRNI ID/UIDB%2F04046%2F2020/PT; info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/FCT/POR_NORTE/SFRH%2FBD%2F131905%2F2017/PT; info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/FCT/POR_NORTE/COVID%2FBD%2F151951%2F2021/PT; https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772416623000864Test; Silva, A. R., Mesquita, D. P., Salomé Duarte, M., Lado Ribeiro, A. R., Pereira, M. F. R., Madalena Alves, M., … Pereira, L. (2023, May). Exploring the correlations between epi indicators of COVID-19 and the concentration of pharmaceutical compounds in wastewater treatment plants in Northern Portugal. Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances. Elsevier BV. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.hazadv.2023.100315Test; https://hdl.handle.net/1822/84650Test; 100315

الإتاحة: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hazadv.2023.100315Test
https://hdl.handle.net/1822/84650Test

المؤلفون: Pereira, André C., Reis, Ana C., Cunha, Mónica V.

الوصف: Animal tuberculosis (TB) remains a serious concern for animal and human health. Mycobacterium bovis circulates in multi-host systems, dominated by the European 2 clonal complex (Eu2) in Iberia. In this work, we use genomic epidemiology to infer the emergence, spread, and spatiotemporal patterns of Eu2 in the official epidemiological risk area of animal TB in Portugal. Phylogenetic analysis of 144 M. bovis whole-genome sequences from cattle, wild boar, and red deer, representing the 2002–2021 period, distinguished three Eu2 clades that evolved independently. The major Eu2 clade underwent phylodynamic inferences to estimate the time and location of outbreaks, host transitions, and spatial diffusion as well. The origin of this Eu2 clade was attributed to the red deer population in the Castelo Branco district, near the border with Spain. Most host transitions were intraspecific (80%), while interspecific transmissions between wildlife species (wild boar-red deer), and between wild boar and cattle, were highly supported. Phylogeographic reconstruction evidenced that most transitions (82%) occur within municipalities, highlighting local transmission corridors. Our study indicates that M. bovis continues to spread at the cattle-wildlife interface within the animal TB hotspot area, possibly driven by the foraging behaviour of wild boar near agricultural lands. Red deer seems to be an important driver of TB within wildlife hosts, while the wild boar links the multi-host wildlife community and livestock. This work highlights the value of combining genomic epidemiology with phylodynamic inference to resolve host jumps and spatial patterns of M. bovis, providing real-time clues about points of intervention ; info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

العلاقة: FCT PTDC / CVT-CVT / 29783/2017; FCT UIDB/00329/2020 (cE3c); FCT SFRH/BD/136557/2018; FCT UIDB/04046/2020 (BioISI); FCT Associate Laboratory CHANGE (LA/P/0121/2020); André C. Pereira, Ana C. Reis & Mónica V. Cunha (2023) Genomic epidemiology sheds light on the emergence and spread of Mycobacterium bovis Eu2 Clonal Complex in Portugal, Emerging Microbes & Infections, 12:2, DOI:10.1080/22221751.2023.2253340; http://hdl.handle.net/10451/59556Test

الإتاحة: https://doi.org/10.1080/22221751.2023.2253340Test
http://hdl.handle.net/10451/59556Test

المؤلفون: Lopes, P., Gomes, Jacinto, Cunha, Mónica V.

الوصف: Cystic echinococcosis (CE) and alveolar echinococcosis (AE) are among the most relevant zoonoses in Europe. According to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato causing CE is the most significant foodborne parasite in South-Western Europe, followed by Echinococcus multilocularis, the etiological agent of AE. Among the challenges and opportunities highlighted in the literature to combat these diseases are the need to evaluate and increase awareness of stakeholders. In Portugal, Municipal Veterinary Practitioners (MVP) are the animal health authority at the municipality level, playing a crucial role in diagnosis, prevention and control of infectious diseases in animals, helping to mitigate transmission to humans. However, their knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) towards CE, as well as awareness of AE expansion across Europe, remain overlooked. In this work, a cross-sectional study was conducted for the first time in Portugal to bridge knowledge gaps concerning CE and AE, using an online self-administered questionnaire collecting information on the municipal kennel, KAP towards CE, and understanding of AE epidemiology. Eighty-three MVP from mainland and islands completed the questionnaire, with highest representability from the central-northern region. MVP had, on average, a medium to high level of knowledge of CE but acquaintance with AE was insufficient, although echinococcosis was frequently mentioned as target of health education sessions (77.0%). A high rate (60%) of reported entries into municipal kennels of stray dogs originating from countries with AE endemic areas was registered, suggesting that the presence of these potentially AE-infected stray dogs pose public health risks. Most kennels did not perform routine coprological analysis or faecal matter disinfection after dog internal deworming. The lack of proper training and well-conceived written plans of infection control and prevention were evidenced in several kennels. Altogether, our findings highlight the ...

العلاقة: FCT UID/BIA/00329/2020; FCT through the Maria de Sousa doctoral grant with reference 2021.09447.BD; FCT UID/Multi/04046/2020); FCT CHANGE (LA/P/0121/2020); Patrícia Lopes, Jacinto Gomes, Mónica V. Cunha, Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of municipal veterinary practitioners towards echinococcosis, Veterinary Parasitology: Regional Studies and Reports, Volume 34, 2022, 100759, ISSN 2405-9390, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vprsr.2022.100759Test.; http://hdl.handle.net/10451/55872Test

الإتاحة: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vprsr.2022.100759Test
http://hdl.handle.net/10451/55872Test

المؤلفون: Salamandane, Acácio, Oliveira, Jessica, Coelho, Miguel, Ramos, Beatriz, Cunha, Mónica V., Malfeito-Ferreira, Manuel, Brito, Luisa

الوصف: Food poisoning by staphylococcal enterotoxins (SE) is a major cause of foodborne illness, often associated with coagulase-positive staphylococci (CPS). The increase in the number of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains is another major problem associated with CPS. However, reports of the association of SE and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus with coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS) are beginning to re-emerge. In this context, the aim of this study is to investigate the presence of staphylococcal enterotoxin genes and to characterize the phenotypic and genotypic antimicrobial resistance in 66 isolates of Staphylococcus spp. (47 CNS and 19 CPS) recovered from ready-to-eat (RTE) street food sold in Maputo, Mozambique. Seven virulence genes encoding SE (sea, seb, sec, sed and see) and two toxins (hlb and sak) were screened by multiplex PCR (MPCR). Antimicrobial resistance against 12 antibiotics was evaluated by the disk diffusion method. The presence of genes encoding resistance to penicillin, methicillin, vancomycin and erythromycin (blaZ, mecA, vancA, vancB, ermA, ermB and ermC) were also screened by PCR. At least one of the seven virulence genes assessed in this study was detected in 57.9% and 51% of CPS and CNS isolates, respectively. In CPS isolates, the most frequent gene was hlb (47.4%), followed by sec (15.8%) and sea, seb and sed genes with 5.3% each. In CNS isolates, the most frequent gene was sec (36.2%) followed by sak (17%), hlb (14.9%), sed (12.8%) and seb (6.4%). Five of the twelve CPS in which virulence genes were detected were also antibiotic-resistant. All the CNS isolates harboring virulence genes (n = 27, 57.4%) were antimicrobial-resistant. The prevalence of multidrug resistance was higher (59.6%) in CNS than in CPS (26.3%) isolates. Regarding the presence of antibiotic-resistance genes, blaZ (penicillin-resistant) was the most frequent in both CPS (42.1%) and CNS (87.2%), followed by the mecA (encoding methicillin resistance) and vancA genes (vancomycin-resistant), ...

العلاقة: FCT PRT/BD/151521/2021, DFA/BD/7777/2020,UIDB/04129/2020, UIDB/00329/2020, UIDB/04046/2020, LA/P/0121/2020; Salamandane, A.; Oliveira, J.; Coelho, M.; Ramos, B.; Cunha, M.V.; Malfeito-Ferreira, M.; Brito, L. Enterotoxin- and Antibiotic-Resistance-Encoding Genes Are Present in Both Coagulase-Positive and Coagulase-Negative Foodborne Staphylococcus Strains. Appl. Microbiol. 2022, 2, 367-380. https://doi.org/10.3390/applmicrobiol2020028Test; http://hdl.handle.net/10451/55919Test

الإتاحة: https://doi.org/10.3390/applmicrobiol2020028Test
http://hdl.handle.net/10451/55919Test

المؤلفون: Dantas Palmeira, Josman, Cunha, Mónica V., Ferreira, Helena, Fonseca, Carlos, Tinoco Torres, Rita

الوصف: The mcr-1 gene spread is worldwide recognized as a public health threat at multidrug-resistant infections therapy level. Here, we report for the first time, to the best of our knowledge, the detection of the globally distributed IncX4 plasmid carrying mcr-1 (mcr-1/IncX4) in Escherichia coli isolated from a wild mammal in Portugal and Europe. This plasmid was found in a ST533 E. coli isolate with a multidrug-resistant profile, virulence potential, and possibly phylogenetically related to human isolates. Our work contributes to highlight the importance of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance in wildlife, an important compartment of the whole ecosystem often overlooked in the fight against AMR. IMPORTANCE Colistin resistance mediated by plasmids is recognized worldwide as an emergency problem connected with the whole ecosystem, since is well described in the interface of the human-animal-environment. The plasmid IncX4 is reported as one of the most prevalent plasmids harboring the gene mcr-1. On an European scale the plasmid IncX4 carrying mcr-1 has been described in humans, the environment, and animals, including wildlife, but only in wild birds. This study shows the first report of the plasmid IncX4 harboring mcr-1 in a wild mammal in Portugal and Europe, identified in a ST533 E. coli commensal that is, curiously, more related to isolates from humans than from livestock. Our findings show that the plasmid IncX4 harboring mcr-1 is well established in a colistin resistance drive embracing the whole ecosystem. ; info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

العلاقة: FCTEcoARUn: POCI-01-0145-FEDER-030310- funded by FEDER, through COMPETE2020-POCI; FCT CESAM (UIDP/50017/20201UIDB/50017/20201LA/P/0094/ 2020), cE3c (UIDB/00329/2020), BioISI (UIDB/04046/2020), and UCIBIO (UIDP/04378/ 20201UIDB/04378/2020); AgriFood-XXI I&D&I-project (NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000041) ERDF through the NORTE-2020 and also thanks the project FERMOPSY (EXPL/SAU-NUT/0370/2021) funded FCT/MCTES; Dantas Palmeira J, V Cunha M, Ferreira H, Fonseca C, Tinoco Torres R. Worldwide Disseminated IncX4 Plasmid Carrying mcr-1 Arrives to Wild Mammal in Portugal. Microbiol Spectr. 2022 Dec 21;10(6):e0124522. doi:10.1128/spectrum.01245-22. Epub 2022 Nov 17. PMID: 36394330; PMCID: PMC9769835.; http://hdl.handle.net/10451/55873Test

الإتاحة: https://doi.org/10.1128/spectrum.01245-22Test
http://hdl.handle.net/10451/55873Test

المؤلفون: Torres, Rita Tinoco, Cunha, Mónica V., Araujo, Débora, Ferreira, Helena, Fonseca, Carlos, Palmeira, Josman Dantas

الوصف: Extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBL)-producing Enterobacterales have been classified as critical priority pathogens by the World Health Organization (WHO). ESBL are universally distributed and, in 2006, were firstly reported on a wild animal. Understanding the relative contributions of wild animals to ESBL circulation in the environment is urgently needed. In this work, we have conducted a nationwide study in Portugal to investigate the occurrence of bacteria carrying clinically significant antimicrobial resistance genes (ARG), using widely distributed wild ungulates as model species. A total of 151 antimicrobial resistant-Enterobacterales isolates were detected from 181 wild ungulates: 50% (44/88) of isolates from wild boar (Sus scrofa), 40.3% (25/62) from red deer (Cervus elaphus), 41.4% (12/29) from fallow deer (Dama dama) and 100% (2/2) from mouflon (Ovis aries subsp. musimon). Selected isolates showed a diversified resistance profile, with particularly high values corresponding to ampicillin (71.5%) and tetracycline (63.6%). Enterobacterales strains carried blaTEM, tetA, tetB, sul2, sul1 or dfrA1 ARG genes. They also carried blaCTX-M-type genes, which are prevalent in human infections, namely CTX-M-14, CTX-M-15 and CTX-M-98. Strikingly, this is the first report of CTX-M-98 in wildlife. Almost 40% (n = 59) of Enterobacterales were multi-drug resistant. The diversity of plasmids carried by ESBL isolates was remarkable, including IncF, K and P. This study highlights the potential role of wild ungulates as environmental reservoirs of CTX-M ESBL-producing E. coli and in the spill-over of AMR bacteria and their determinants. Our findings suggest that wild ungulates are useful as strategic sentinel species of AMR in terrestrial environments, especially in response to potential sources of anthropogenic pollution, providing early warning of potential risks to human, animal and environmental health. ; info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

العلاقة: coARUn, POCI-01-0145-FEDER- 030310, and Wildforests, POCI-01-0145- FEDER-028204, funded by FEDER, through COMPETE2020-Programa Operacional Com- petitividade e Internacionalizaç ̃ao (POCI), and by national funds (OE), through FCT/MCTES. R. T. Torres is funded by national funds (OE), through FCT–Fundaç ̃ao para a Ciˆencia e a Tecnologia, I.P., in the scope of the framework contract foreseen in the numbers 4, 5 and 6 of the article 23, of the Decree-Law 57/2016, of August 29, changed by Law 57/2017, of July 19.; FCT UIDP/50017/2020+UIDB/50017/2020; FCT UIDB/00329/2020; FCT UIDB/04046/2020; FCT UIDP/04378/2020+UIDB/ 04378/2020; Torres RT, Cunha MV, Araujo D, Ferreira H, Fonseca C, Palmeira JD. A walk on the wild side: Wild ungulates as potential reservoirs of multi-drug resistant bacteria and genes, including Escherichia coli harbouring CTX-M beta-lactamases. Environ Pollut. 2022 Aug 1;306:119367. doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119367. Epub 2022 Apr 28.; http://hdl.handle.net/10451/55804Test

الإتاحة: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119367Test
http://hdl.handle.net/10451/55804Test