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Volume 15
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10.3390/pathogens15030308
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Article

Molecular Evidence of Zoonotic Pathogens in Free-Living Wild Birds: A Greek Surveillance Study

by
Sokratis Perdikaris
1,2,3,†,
Maria Evangelidou
1,*,†,
George Diamantopoulos
1,
Evangelia Kofidou
4,
Grigorios Markakis
4,5,
Dimitrios Vourvidis
2,6,
Emmanouil Papadogiannakis
2,
Anastasia Komnenou
4 and
Emmanouil Angelakis
1,*
1
Diagnostic Department and Public Health Laboratories, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, 11521 Athens, Greece
2
Department of Public Health Policy, School of Public Health, University of West Attica, 11521 Athens, Greece
3
Directorate of Animal Health, General Directorate of Veterinary Services, Ministry of Rural Development and Food, 10438 Athens, Greece
4
School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
5
ANIMA-Hellenic Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, 17676 Athens, Greece
6
Directorate of Veterinary Laboratory Center, General Directorate of Veterinary Services, Ministry of Rural Development and Food, 15341 Athens, Greece
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
†
These authors contributed equally to this work.
Pathogens 2026, 15(3), 308; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens15030308
Submission received: 26 January 2026 / Revised: 9 March 2026 / Accepted: 10 March 2026 / Published: 11 March 2026
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging and Neglected Pathogens in the Balkans)
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Abstract

Wild birds are increasingly recognized as contributors to the circulation and environmental dissemination of zoonotic pathogens, yet data from Greece remain limited, particularly for raptors, corvids, and water birds. This study investigated selected parasitic, mycotic, and bacterial pathogens of public health relevance in free-living wild birds originating from various regions of Greece and admitted to two animal health care facilities. Between November 2023 and May 2025, cloacal swabs from 212 injured or sick birds were analyzed using quantitative PCR for Cryptococcus spp., Chlamydia psittaci, Giardia duodenalis, Cryptosporidium spp., and Mycobacterium avium. At least one pathogen was detected in 37 samples (17.5%), with Cryptococcus spp. being the most frequent agent (11.8%), followed by C. psittaci (3.8%), G. duodenalis (0.9%), and Cryptosporidium spp. (0.9%). M. avium was not detected. Pathogen occurrence varied by bird category, genus, and region, and was associated with health status. To the best of our knowledge, this study provides the first molecular evidence worldwide of G. duodenalis in Ardea spp., Cryptosporidium spp. in Asio otus, and C. psittaci in Botaurus stellaris and Plegadis falcinellus. These findings highlight wild birds as potential zoonotic reservoirs and support the implementation of One Health–oriented surveillance programs.
Keywords: one health; zoonotic pathogens; wild birds; Greece; molecular detection; Cryptococcus; Chlamydia psittaci; Giardia duodenalis; Cryptosporidium; Mycobacterium avium one health; zoonotic pathogens; wild birds; Greece; molecular detection; Cryptococcus; Chlamydia psittaci; Giardia duodenalis; Cryptosporidium; Mycobacterium avium

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MDPI and ACS Style

Perdikaris, S.; Evangelidou, M.; Diamantopoulos, G.; Kofidou, E.; Markakis, G.; Vourvidis, D.; Papadogiannakis, E.; Komnenou, A.; Angelakis, E. Molecular Evidence of Zoonotic Pathogens in Free-Living Wild Birds: A Greek Surveillance Study. Pathogens 2026, 15, 308. https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens15030308

AMA Style

Perdikaris S, Evangelidou M, Diamantopoulos G, Kofidou E, Markakis G, Vourvidis D, Papadogiannakis E, Komnenou A, Angelakis E. Molecular Evidence of Zoonotic Pathogens in Free-Living Wild Birds: A Greek Surveillance Study. Pathogens. 2026; 15(3):308. https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens15030308

Chicago/Turabian Style

Perdikaris, Sokratis, Maria Evangelidou, George Diamantopoulos, Evangelia Kofidou, Grigorios Markakis, Dimitrios Vourvidis, Emmanouil Papadogiannakis, Anastasia Komnenou, and Emmanouil Angelakis. 2026. "Molecular Evidence of Zoonotic Pathogens in Free-Living Wild Birds: A Greek Surveillance Study" Pathogens 15, no. 3: 308. https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens15030308

APA Style

Perdikaris, S., Evangelidou, M., Diamantopoulos, G., Kofidou, E., Markakis, G., Vourvidis, D., Papadogiannakis, E., Komnenou, A., & Angelakis, E. (2026). Molecular Evidence of Zoonotic Pathogens in Free-Living Wild Birds: A Greek Surveillance Study. Pathogens, 15(3), 308. https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens15030308

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