Asimakopoulos, A. G. | bioRxiv Science

bioRxiv2023

Interplay between pollution and avian influenza virus infection risk in shorebirds and waterfowl

Anthropogenic pollution may disrupt wildlife immune function and increase susceptibility to, and ability to withstand, infection. Of particular concern is avian influenza virus (AIV), which in its low-pathogenic form is endemic in many wild bird populations, notably waterfowl and shorebirds, and in its high-pathogenic form poses a threat to wildlife, livestock and people. Many pollutants have immunomodulative properties, yet little is known about how these pollutants affect AIV infection risk specifically. We examined concentrations of known immunomodulatory compounds, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), and assessed their influence on AIV infection in three reservoir species, red-necked stint (Calidris ruficollis, n=121), pacific black duck (Anas superciliosa, n=57) and grey teal (Anas gracilis, n= 62). Using data on viral prevalence (cloacal/oropharyngeal swabs) and seroprevalence (AIV anti-nucleoprotein antibodies), we found no significant effect of PFASs pollution (total PFASs <0.01 - 470 ng/g in red-necked stint, <0.01 - 600 ng/g in pacific black duck and 0.3 - 200 ng/g in grey teal) on infection status in our three species. This may be due to relatively low pollutant concentrations, but we cannot rule out possible population culling through a synergy of pollution and infection stressors. We therefore recommend further studies on infection incidence in more polluted populations or species.

ecology↗

bioRxiv2023

Assessment of contaminants, health and survival of migratory shorebirds in natural versus artificial wetlands - the potential of wastewater treatment plants as alternative habitats

The rapid destruction of natural wetland habitats over past decades has been partially offset by an increase in artificial wetlands. However, these also include wastewater treatment plants, which may pose a pollution risk to the wildlife using them. We studied two long-distance Arctic-breeding migratory shorebird species, curlew sandpiper (Calidris ferruginea, n=70) and red-necked stint (Calidris ruficollis, n=100), while on their Australian non-breeding grounds using a natural wetland versus an artificial wetland at a wastewater treatment plant (WTP). We compared pollutant exposure (elements and per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances/PFASs), disease (avian influenza), physiological status (oxidative stress) of the birds at the two locations from 2011-2020, and population survival from 1978-2019. Our results indicated no significant differences in blood pellet pollutant concentrations between the habitats except mercury (WTP median: 224 ng/g, range: 19-873 ng/g; natural wetland: 160 ng/g, 22-998 ng/g) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (WTP median: 52 ng/g, range: <0.01-1280 ng/g; natural wetland: 14 ng/g, <0.01-379 ng/g) which were higher at the WTP, and selenium which was lower at the WTP (WTP median: 5000 ng/g, range: 1950-34400 ng/g; natural wetland: 19200 ng/g, 4130-65200 ng/g). We also measured higher blood o,o-dityrosine (an indicator of protein damage) at the WTP. No significant differences were found for adult survival, but survival of immature birds at the WTP appeared to be lower which could be due to higher dispersal to other wetlands. Interestingly, we found active avian influenza infections were higher in the natural habitat, while seropositivity was higher in the WTP, seemingly not directly related to pollutant exposure. Overall, we found negligible differences in pollutant exposure, health and survival of the shorebirds in the two habitats. Our findings suggest that appropriately managed wastewater treatment wetlands may provide a suitable alternative habitat to these migratory species, curbing the decline of shorebird populations from widespread habitat loss.

ecology↗