Veterinarija ir Zootechnika

The European badger (Meles meles), a widespread and adaptable mustelid native to Europe and parts of Asia, has emerged as a valuable sentinel species for monitoring environmental health. This review compiles multidisciplinary evidence demonstrating the utility of badgers as bioindicators for environmental contamination, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and zoonotic diseases. Their omnivorous diet, frequent soil contact, and proximity to human-modified landscapes facilitate exposure to a range of ecological stressors. This review summarizes studies across Europe from 2003 to 2022 have detected numerous contaminants in badger tissues—including heavy metals (e.g., cadmium, lead, mercury), trace elements, and persistent organic pollutants—highlighting localised environmental pollution. Badgers have also been shown to harbour antibiotic-resistant bacteria such as Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Enterococcus spp., often carrying resistance genes like SHV-12, vanA, and tet(B), suggesting their role in tracking environmental AMR spread. Additionally, badgers serve as reservoirs or incidental hosts for various zoonotic pathogens, including Mycobacterium bovis, Leptospira interrogans, Toxoplasma gondii, and Borrelia burgdorferi. The synthesis of this evidence supports the use of M. meles in One Health frameworks as a practical tool for assessing ecological risks and guiding public health and conservation strategies.

In the 20th century, wild otter populations declined across the world. This decline was associated with several factors, such as habitat destruction and hunting. Other underlying causes were anthropogenic contaminant loads in their food and water sources. Aquatic mammals such as otters are very susceptible to chemical contamination and, as top predators, can be considered sentinel species for the health of the ecosystem. This brief review aims to show the presence of environmental contaminants in different otter species and how they may have contributed to the population decline of these species. Although many studies have been carried out on the presence of these compounds in otters, in the future, it is important to continue monitoring these populations to understand their impacts under the One Heath concept.