Lobello Miriam, Bava Roberto, Castagna Fabio, Sotgiu Francesca Daniela, Berlinguer Fiammetta, Tilocca Bruno
Department of Health Science, University of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.
Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy.
Microorganisms. 2025 Apr 14;13(4):898. doi: 10.3390/microorganisms13040898.
Vultures (Accipitriformes), as obligate scavengers, are regularly exposed to a diverse array of pathogens present in decomposing carcasses. Nevertheless, they exhibit a remarkable ability to resist infections, suggesting a crucial role of skin microbiota in host defense. The microbial communities residing on necrophagic birds' skin create a protective barrier through competitive interactions, antimicrobial compound production, and immunity priming. Additionally, vultures contribute to ecosystem balance by reducing the spread of infectious agents. However, they may also serve as vectors for antimicrobial resistance (AMR) due to their exposure to contaminated food sources. Understanding the dynamics of their microbiota can provide valuable insights into host-microbe interactions, wildlife conservation, and public health. This review examines the composition and functional significance of vulture cutaneous microbiota. Specifically, it explores the role of necrophagic birds' skin microbiota in pathogen exclusion, immune system modulation, and environmental adaptation, with the aim of suggesting further research routes, besides clarifying the ecological implications of such birds.
秃鹫（鹰形目）作为专性食腐动物，经常接触到腐烂尸体中存在的各种各样的病原体。然而，它们表现出了非凡的抗感染能力，这表明皮肤微生物群在宿主防御中起着关键作用。食腐鸟类皮肤上的微生物群落通过竞争相互作用、抗菌化合物的产生和免疫启动来形成一个保护屏障。此外，秃鹫通过减少传染源的传播来促进生态系统平衡。然而，由于它们接触受污染的食物来源，它们也可能成为抗菌药物耐药性（AMR）的载体。了解它们微生物群的动态可以为宿主-微生物相互作用、野生动物保护和公共卫生提供有价值的见解。这篇综述探讨了秃鹫皮肤微生物群的组成和功能意义。具体而言，它探讨了食腐鸟类皮肤微生物群在病原体排除、免疫系统调节和环境适应中的作用，目的是除了阐明此类鸟类的生态意义之外，还提出进一步的研究途径。
