Article
Virology
Elisa Mancuso, Jacopo Giuseppe Cecere, Federica Iapaolo, Annapia Di Gennaro, Massimo Sacchi, Giovanni Savini, Fernando Spina, Federica Monaco
Summary: In this study, the potential role of migratory birds in spreading West Nile Virus (WNV) and Usutu virus (USUV) from Africa and Central Europe to Mediterranean areas was investigated. Molecular and serological surveys were conducted on migrating birds sampled in Italy, revealing the presence of WNV and USUV RNA as well as neutralizing antibodies against these viruses. This highlights the importance of active surveillance of zoonotic viruses in order to better understand their transmission patterns.
Article
Immunology
Felicitas Bergmann, Dominik Fischer, Luisa Fischer, Heike Maisch, Tina Risch, Saskia Dreyer, Balal Sadeghi, Dietmar Geelhaar, Lisa Grund, Sabine Merz, Martin H. Groschup, Ute Ziegler
Summary: A field study on WNV vaccination was conducted in a zoo in Germany, and the results showed that vaccinated birds did not die and developed neutralizing antibodies against WNV. The vaccine with a dose of 1.0 mL showed the best effect.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Augusto Fasano, Nicola Riccetti, Anastasia Angelou, Jaime Gomez-Ramirez, Federico Ferraccioli, Ioannis Kioutsioukis, Nikolaos I. Stilianakis
Summary: In this study, a previously developed epidemiological model for West Nile virus infection was extended with additional mosquito-specific characteristics. The results demonstrate that incorporating mosquito-specific characteristics improves the modeling capacity of mosquito-borne diseases.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Pauline Dianne Santos, Friederike Michel, Claudia Wylezich, Dirk Hoper, Markus Keller, Cora M. Holicki, Claudia A. Szentiks, Martin Eiden, Aemero Muluneh, Antonie Neubauer-Juric, Sabine Thalheim, Anja Globig, Martin Beer, Martin H. Groschup, Ute Ziegler
Summary: The emergence of WNV and USUV in Europe caused significant outbreaks leading to avifauna mortality and human infections. In Germany, a bird surveillance network was established to monitor these zoonotic arthropod-borne viruses. Co-infections of WNV and USUV were detected in dead birds, with WNV strains classified as lineage 2 and USUV strains as lineages Africa 2, Africa 3, and Europe 2. Further reports of co-infections in animals and humans are expected in the future.
TRANSBOUNDARY AND EMERGING DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Daniel Bravo-Barriga, Pilar Aguilera-Sepulveda, Fatima Guerrero-Carvajal, Francisco Llorente, David Reina, J. Enrique Perez-Martin, Miguel Angel Jimenez-Clavero, Eva Frontera
Summary: This study in wild birds from Extremadura, western Spain, reveals the widespread circulation of West Nile virus in the region and its co-circulation with Usutu virus.
VETERINARY MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Virology
Alessandra Lauriano, Arianna Rossi, Giorgio Galletti, Gabriele Casadei, Annalisa Santi, Silva Rubini, Elena Carra, Davide Lelli, Mattia Calzolari, Marco Tamba
Summary: The study revealed that in the wildlife birds of Ferrara, Italy, the Turdus merula species had the highest infection rate of Usutu virus, while Galliformes and Strigiformes birds had the highest infection rate of West Nile virus. To optimize surveillance plans, monitoring should be focused on the summer and towards avian species more prone to virus infection.
Article
Microbiology
Laia Casades-Marti, Rocio Holgado-Martin, Pilar Aguilera-Sepulveda, Francisco Llorente, Elisa Perez-Ramirez, Miguel Angel Jimenez-Clavero, Francisco Ruiz-Fons
Summary: The transmission rate of West Nile virus (WNV) is influenced by the interaction between virus reservoirs and vectors, which is likely to be maximized in farm environments. The research showed that bird diversity is the most significant predictor of WNV exposure risk in farm environments.
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Bill Lee, David K. Smith, Yi Guan
Summary: The study used machine learning models to predict the reservoir hosts of viruses, combining sequence alignment and gradient boosting machines to improve prediction accuracy.
Article
Mathematics, Applied
Folashade Agusto, Daniel Bond, Adira Cohen, Wandi Ding, Rachel Leander, Allis Royer
Summary: We constructed an epidemic model for West Nile virus, considering the interaction between bird hosts, mosquito vectors, and the use of insecticides. We derived the basic reproduction number and formulated optimal control problems to balance the cost and benefit of vector and disease control. Numerical simulations were performed to study the impact of control strategies on the system.
Article
Immunology
Eun-Ha Kim, Young-ll Kim, Se Mi Kim, Kwang-Min Yu, Mark Anthony B. Casel, Seung-Gyu Jang, Philippe Noriel Q. Pascua, Richard J. Webby, Young Ki Choi
Summary: This study highlights the ability of wild migratory birds to carry various low-pathogenic avian influenza viruses that can infect land-based poultry and mammalian hosts while causing minimal signs of clinical disease. These viruses pose a significant threat to human health, emphasizing the need for continued surveillance.
EMERGING MICROBES & INFECTIONS
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Erica Azevedo Costa, Marta Giovanetti, Lilian Silva Catenacci, Vagner Fonseca, Flavia Figueira Aburjaile, Flavia L. L. Chalhoub, Joilson Xavier, Felipe Campos de Melo Iani, Marcelo Adriano da Cunha e Silva Vieira, Danielle Freitas Henriques, Daniele Barbosa de Almeida Medeiros, Maria Isabel Maldonado Coelho Guedes, Beatriz Senra Alvares da Silva Santos, Aila Solimar Goncalves Silva, Renata de Pino Albuquerque Maranhao, Nieli Rodrigues da Costa Faria, Renata Farinelli de Siqueira, Tulio de Oliveira, Karina Ribeiro Leite Jardim Cavalcante, Noely Fabiana Oliveira de Moura, Alessandro Pecego Martins Romano, Carlos F. Campelo de Albuquerque, Lauro Cesar Soares Feitosa, Jose Joffre Martins Bayeux, Raffaella Bertoni Cavalcanti Teixeira, Osmaikon Lisboa Lobato, Silvokleio da Costa Silva, Ana Maria Bispo de Filippis, Rivaldo Venancio da Cunha, Jose Lourenco, Luiz Carlos Junior Alcantara
Summary: The study found new genetic evidence of WNV circulation in southern and northeastern states of Brazil, with a climate-informed theoretical perspective highlighting the potential transmission pathways. The scarcity of existing data on WNV in Brazil and the need for active surveillance to prepare for future epidemics with human spill-over potential were also emphasized.
Article
Ecology
Ivan Pokrovsky, Andrea Koelzsch, Sherub Sherub, Wolfgang Fiedler, Peter Glazov, Olga Kulikova, Martin Wikelski, Andrea Flack
Summary: Seasonal geophysical cycles influence life on Earth by affecting environmental conditions like temperature and daylight availability. A study on four species of migratory birds found that longer daylight hours can increase their daily activity levels, providing potential benefits for their migration and evolution.
JOURNAL OF ANIMAL ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Robert E. Snyder, Gail Sondermeyer Cooksey, Vicki Kramer, Seema Jain, Duc J. Vugia
Summary: WNV-associated hospitalizations in California were substantial and costly, with higher incidence in males, elderly persons, and patients with underlying conditions. WNV remains a costly and severe public health threat in California.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Hasan Bakhshi, Cecile Beck, Sylvie Lecollinet, Maelle Monier, Laurence Mousson, Sedigheh Zakeri, Abbasali Raz, Kourosh Arzamani, Leila Nourani, Navid Dinparast-Djadid, Anna-Bella Failloux
Summary: The study investigated the seroprevalence of West Nile virus, Usutu virus, and tick-borne encephalitis virus in migrating/resident birds and horses in certain provinces of Iran. Results indicated circulation of these viruses among birds and horses, suggesting the need for sustained surveillance of viral infections in animals and anticipating potential future human infections.
VETERINARY MEDICINE AND SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Talgat Nurmakhanov, Yerlan Sansyzbaev, Boris Atshabar, Vladimir Berlin, Damir Kobzhasarov, Olzhas Yeskhojayev, Anna Vilkova, Timur Ayazbayev, Alexey Andryuchshenko, Fyodor Bidashko, John Hay, Alexandr Shvetsov
Summary: The West Nile virus is prevalent in southern Russia and parts of Western Kazakhstan, with a small percentage of Culex modestus mosquitoes carrying the virus and around 5% of the local human population testing positive for West Nile virus IgG.
FRONTIERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
(2021)
Article
Ornithology
Alazne Diez-Fernandez, Jose Martin, Josue Martinez-de la Puente, Laura Gangoso, Pilar Lopez, Ramon Soriguer, Jordi Figuerola
Summary: DDT, a widely used pesticide, was banned in Europe in the 1970s and 1980s due to its high toxicity and environmental persistence. However, a recent study found DDT metabolites in the secretions of European Blackbirds in southern Spain. Despite the potential immunosuppressive effect of DDT, there was no association between haemosporidian infection and DDT presence.
Article
Automation & Control Systems
Marco Veneranda, Jose Antonio Manrique, Aurelio Sanz-Arranz, Sofia Julve Gonzalez, Clara Prieto Garcia, Elena Pascual Sanchez, Menelaos Konstantinidis, Elena Charro, Jose Manuel Lopez, Manuel Angel Gonzalez, Fernando Rull, Guillermo Lopez-Reyes
Summary: The SuperCam and SHERLOC instruments on the Perseverance rover are collecting Raman spectra from Mars, while the RLS instrument on the Rosalind Franklin rover is collecting spectra from subsurface samples. Chemometric tools are being developed to optimize the analysis of these spectra. Preliminary studies have shown that these tools can accurately estimate the mineral composition of Martian samples and improve the identification of minerals in remote geological targets.
JOURNAL OF CHEMOMETRICS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Aerospace
M. Aznar, A. Sanz-Arranz, S. Shkolyar, E. R. Sawyers, M. Konstantinidis, G. Lopez-Reyes, M. Veneranda, E. A. Lymer, J. R. Freemantle, M. G. Daly, E. A. Cloutisi, F. Rull-Perez, J. Martinez-Frias, E. A. Lalla
Summary: Several space missions have visited and will land on Mars to search for life. The Mars 2020 Perseverance rover and the upcoming ExoMars Rosalind Franklin rover are equipped with Raman spectroscopic systems to identify rocks, minerals, and potential organic biosignatures on the Martian surface. The analysis of data from these missions faces challenges, and studying new volcanic analogues on Earth, such as the Cha similar to das Caldeiras site, can help overcome these challenges. The site exhibits similarities to volcanic places in the Canary Islands and provides pristine samples of volcanic minerals.
ADVANCES IN SPACE RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jessica Jimenez-Penuela, Martina Ferraguti, Josue Martinez-De la Puente, Ramon C. Soriguer, Jordi Figuerola
Summary: This study analyzed the relationship between infection of three common blood parasites (Plasmodium, Haemoproteus, and Leucocytozoon) and oxidative stress and antioxidant capacity in wild house sparrows along an urbanization gradient. The results showed that birds infected with Haemoproteus and living in urban areas had higher levels of lipid oxidative damage. Birds infected with Plasmodium showed lower antioxidant activity, while those infected with Leucocytozoon showed slightly higher antioxidant activity. Overall, this study highlights the effects of blood parasite infections and urbanization on the oxidative status of wild birds and the role of bird body condition in regulating oxidative stress.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Laia Casades-Marti, Rocio Holgado-Martin, Pilar Aguilera-Sepulveda, Francisco Llorente, Elisa Perez-Ramirez, Miguel Angel Jimenez-Clavero, Francisco Ruiz-Fons
Summary: The transmission rate of West Nile virus (WNV) is influenced by the interaction between virus reservoirs and vectors, which is likely to be maximized in farm environments. The research showed that bird diversity is the most significant predictor of WNV exposure risk in farm environments.
Article
Ecology
Jorge Sereno-Cadierno, Ramon C. Soriguer, Francisco Carro
Summary: Long-term studies of Mediterranean carnivores in the Iberian Peninsula are rare, despite its high mammal biodiversity. By analyzing 15 years of monitoring data from Donana National Park, we found positive population trends for red fox, stable trends for badger and Egyptian mongoose, and negative trends for common genet and Iberian lynx. This study highlights the importance of long-term datasets and provides novel information on population trends for less well-known species like the Egyptian mongoose and the endangered Iberian lynx.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE RESEARCH
(2023)
Review
Ecology
Marta Valldeperes, Paloma Prieto Yerro, Jorge Ramon Lopez-Olvera, Paulino Fandos, Santiago Lavin, Ramon C. Soriguer Escofet, Gregorio Mentaberre, Francisco Javier Cano-Manuel Leon, Jose Espinosa, Arian Raez-Bravo, Jesus M. Perez, Stefania Tampach, Josep Estruch, Roser Velarde, Jose Enrique Granados
Summary: This review compiles the currently available knowledge on diseases of Iberian ibex, including their impact on the health and demography of free-ranging populations, diseases subjected to health surveillance plans, other reported diseases, and diseases of particular relevance in captive populations. It uncovers unpublished reports, scientific communications, and articles, providing the first comprehensive compilation of Iberian ibex diseases. The review also identifies knowledge gaps and challenges managers to assess current priorities and policies in disease management and health surveillance of Iberian ibex.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Martina Ferraguti, Sergio Magallanes, Jessica Jimenez-Penuela, Josue Martinez-de la Puente, Luz Garcia-Longoria, Jordi Figuerola, Jaime Muriel, Tamer Albayrak, Staffan Bensch, Camille Bonneaud, Rohan H. Clarke, Gabor A. Czirjak, Dimitar Dimitrov, Kathya Espinoza, John G. Ewen, Farah Ishtiaq, Wendy Flores-Saavedra, Laszlo Zsolt Garamszegi, Olof Hellgren, Dita Horakova, Kathryn P. Huyvaert, Henrik Jensen, Asta Krizanauskiene, Marcos R. Lima, Charlene Lujan-Vega, Eyofinn Magnussen, Lynn B. Martin, Kevin D. Matson, Anders Pape Moller, Pavel Munclinger, Vaidas Palinauskas, Peter L. Pap, Javier Perez-Tris, Swen C. Renner, Robert Ricklefs, Sergio Scebba, Ravinder N. M. Sehgal, Manuel Soler, Eszter Szoellosi, Gediminas Valkiunas, Helena Westerdahl, Pavel Zehtindjiev, Alfonso Marzal
Summary: This study investigated the ecological drivers affecting avian malaria parasite lineages in native and introduced house sparrows. The results showed that urbanization was positively related to parasite prevalence in both native and introduced populations, with higher infection in areas with intermediate levels of urbanization. In introduced populations, altitude and time since bird introduction were positively associated with the number of parasite lineages.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2023)
Article
Spectroscopy
Iratxe Poblacion, Imanol Torre-Fdez, Julene Aramendia, Guillermo M. Lopez-Reyes, Luisa Cabalin, Juan Manuel Madariaga, Fernando J. Rull, Javier Laserna, Daniel Carrizo, Jesus Martinez-Frias, Tomas Belenguer, Mercedes Taravillo, Marcella Dell'Aglio, Alessandro De Giacomo, Jennifer Huidobro, Jose Antonio Manrique, Tomas Delgado, Gorka Arana, Kepa Castro, Marco Veneranda, J. A. Sanz-Arranz, F. Javier Fortes, Laura Garcia-Gomez
Summary: The geochemical characterisation of the NWA 2975 Martian meteorite was completed using Raman spectroscopy supported by micro energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (mu-EDXRF) and laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS), which enabled an accurate interpretation of molecular and elemental results. Various major minerals, including pyroxenes and plagioclases, were detected and different metal compositions for these minerals were defined based on secondary Raman spectroscopy bands. Additionally, the presence of coesite, a high-pressure polymorph of silica, was identified in this meteorite for the first time.
JOURNAL OF RAMAN SPECTROSCOPY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Armando Azua-Bustos, Alberto G. Fairen, Carlos Gonzalez-Silva, Olga Prieto-Ballesteros, Daniel Carrizo, Laura Sanchez-Garcia, Victor Parro, Miguel Angel Fernandez-Martinez, Cristina Escudero, Victoria Munoz-Iglesias, Maite Fernandez-Sampedro, Antonio Molina, Miriam Garcia Villadangos, Mercedes Moreno-Paz, Jacek Wierzchos, Carmen Ascaso, Teresa Fornaro, John Robert Brucato, Giovanni Poggiali, Jose Antonio Manrique, Marco Veneranda, Guillermo Lopez-Reyes, Aurelio Sanz-Arranz, Fernando Rull, Ann M. Ollila, Roger C. Wiens, Adriana Reyes-Newell, Samuel M. Clegg, Maeva Millan, Sarah Stewart Johnson, Ophelie McIntosh, Cyril Szopa, Caroline Freissinet, Yasuhito Sekine, Keisuke Fukushi, Koki Morida, Kosuke Inoue, Hiroshi Sakuma, Elizabeth Rampe
Summary: By studying Red Stone samples formed in the Atacama Desert, scientists have discovered a unique group of microorganisms called "dark microbiome" and identified biosignatures associated with extant and ancient microorganisms. Comparing with minerals on Mars, they found that the organics on the red planet are extremely low and may be difficult to detect with current instruments. Therefore, bringing samples back to Earth for further analysis is crucial in determining the existence of life on Mars.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Correction
Ecology
Marta Valldeperes, Paloma Prieto Yerro, Jorge Ramon Lopez-Olvera, Paulino Fandos, Santiago Lavin, Ramon C. Soriguer Escofet, Gregorio Mentaberre, Francisco Javier Cano-Manuel Leon, Jose Espinosa, Arian Raez-Bravo, Jesus M. Perez, Stefania Tampach, Josep Estruch, Roser Velarde, Jose Enrique Granados
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Spectroscopy
Andoni G. Moral, Julio Mora, Olga Prieto-Ballesteros, Oscar Ercilla, Guillermo Lopez-Reyes, Carlos P. Canora, Laura J. Bonales, Maite Fernandez-Sampedro, J. A. Sanz-Arranz, Alejandro Herrera, Rafael Alonso, Fernando Rull, Ute Boettger, Yuichiro Cho, Susanne Schroeder, Heinz-Wilhelm Huebers
Summary: JAXA's MMX mission plans to send a small rover called MMX rover to explore the surface of Phobos with the help of the RAX instrument. The RAX instrument, a Raman spectrometer, is designed to analyze the mineral composition of Phobos' surface. A deuterated PET material was developed and tested as a verification target for the RAX instrument's performance.
JOURNAL OF RAMAN SPECTROSCOPY
(2023)
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
M. Veneranda, J. A. Manrique, G. Lopez-Reyes, S. Julve-Gonzalez, F. Rull, C. Alvarez Llamas, T. Delgado Perez, E. Gibbons, E. Clave, E. Cloutis, J. Huidobro, K. Castro, J. M. Madariaga, N. Randazzo, A. Brown, P. Willis, S. Maurice, R. C. Wiens
Summary: The SuperCam instrument on Mars 2020 Perseverance rover utilizes multiple spectroscopic techniques to investigate Martian geological targets and proposes the use of multivariate analysis to optimize its capability in discriminating mineral phases. Laboratory study of carbonate phases was conducted and the discrimination capability of Raman, VISIR, and LIBS data sets was evaluated. Low-level and mid-level data combination strategies were utilized to improve mineral classification accuracy.
EARTH AND SPACE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Biology
A. A. Romero-Haro, J. Figuerola, C. Alonso-Alvarez
Summary: This study tested the link between glutathione concentration and telomere length, and found that female birds treated with a specific inhibitor of glutathione synthesis had longer telomeres than control females. This counterintuitive finding suggests that females mounted a compensatory response to changes in glutathione levels.
INTEGRATIVE ORGANISMAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
