Pododermatitis in raptors admitted in a wildlife rehabilitation centre in central spain (Rodríguez Díez et al., 2020)

Pododermatitis, a chronic bacterial infection affecting birds` footpads, poses a significant challenge in wildlife rehabilitation centres by delaying bird releases and impacting conservation efforts. This study analyzed 2004 raptors admitted to a rehabilitation centre in central Spain (2009–2015) to estimate pododermatitis incidence, identify influencing factors, and track lesion evolution. The disease affected 6.9% of the birds, with an incidence density of 6.8 cases per 100 bird-years. Prolonged stays significantly increased the risk (P < 0.001). Analysis revealed that raptors from the Falconidae and Strigidae families were less likely to develop pododermatitis than those from Accipitridae (hazard ratio: 0.31 and 0.13, respectively). Fully feathered birds exhibited a threefold higher risk compared to those without full plumage (P = 0.002). Survival analysis highlighted that raptor family, age, and cause of admission significantly influenced pododermatitis onset (P < 0.03, P < 0.001, and P = 0.001, respectively). Lesion duration and location were linked to phylogeny (P < 0.05, P < 0.001), with injuries predominantly in the toes for Accipitridae and across the footpad for Falconidae (P = 0.003). This research underscores the need for tailored management strategies to mitigate pododermatitis in captive raptors.