Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Grupo de Investigación en Sanidad Animal y Zoonosis (GISAZ), UIC Zoonosis y Enfermedades Emergentes ENZOEM, Universidad de Córdoba, 14014 Córdoba, Spain; Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Campus de Excelencia Internacional Regional "Campus Mare Nostrum", Universidad de Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain.
Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Grupo de Investigación en Sanidad Animal y Zoonosis (GISAZ), UIC Zoonosis y Enfermedades Emergentes ENZOEM, Universidad de Córdoba, 14014 Córdoba, Spain.
Res Vet Sci. 2023 Nov;164:105026. doi: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2023.105026. Epub 2023 Sep 23.
Vulture feeding stations (VFS) are strategic sites for the management of ungulate game by-products, with major implications for the conservation of obligate avian scavengers. These feeding points are designed to prevent access by facultative mammalian scavengers and to reduce the risk of trophically transmitted pathogen infection through scavenging behaviour. The aim of this study, using camera trap video recordings, was to evaluate the feeding dynamics around 32 lots of ungulate game by-products deposited in VFS in southern Spain. During the study period (2017-2022), 11 different avian and mammal scavenger species was detected. Also, many feeding events involving all scavenger species (51.1%; 362/709) and mammal scavenger species (23.4%; 166/709) was recorded. A significantly earlier presence of major obligate scavengers (Gyps fulvus and Aegypius monachus) (P = 0.023) and a lower persistence of by-products deposited (P < 0.001) were detected during October-December compared to January-March. Our results confirm that VFS play an important role in vulture conservation in Iberian Mediterranean ecosystems. However, we also point out the potential risk of VFS as hotspots of foodborne pathogens for mammal scavengers, particularly when the hunting offal persists longer. Consequently, we urge the competent authorities to update the regulations affecting VFS management, and hunting estate managers to make every effort to correctly apply those preventing scavenging mammals from gaining access to VFS. Further studies tackling access of non-target species to VFS are also warranted to properly assess the sanitary implications and geographical extent of these problems for mammal species inhabiting areas where VFS are installed.
秃鹫饲养站（VFS）是管理有蹄类动物猎物副产物的战略地点，对专性鸟类食腐动物的保护有重大影响。这些饲养点旨在防止兼性哺乳动物食腐动物进入，并通过食腐行为减少通过食物链传播的病原体感染的风险。本研究使用相机陷阱视频记录，评估了西班牙南部 32 个有蹄类动物猎物副产物储存点周围的饲养动态。在研究期间（2017-2022 年），检测到 11 种不同的鸟类和哺乳动物食腐动物。此外，还记录了涉及所有食腐动物物种（51.1%；362/709）和哺乳动物食腐动物物种（23.4%；166/709）的许多进食事件。与 1 月至 3 月相比，10 月至 12 月期间，主要专性食腐动物（Gyps fulvus 和 Aegypius monachus）（P=0.023）更早出现，并且储存的猎物副产物持续时间更短（P<0.001）。我们的研究结果证实，VFS 在伊比利亚地中海生态系统中对秃鹫保护发挥着重要作用。然而，我们也指出 VFS 作为食源性病原体热点对哺乳动物食腐动物的潜在风险，特别是当狩猎内脏持续时间更长时。因此，我们敦促主管当局更新影响 VFS 管理的规定，并敦促狩猎庄园经理尽最大努力正确应用这些规定，防止哺乳动物进入 VFS。还需要进一步研究非目标物种进入 VFS 的情况，以正确评估这些问题对居住在安装 VFS 地区的哺乳动物物种的卫生影响和地理范围。
