Search Results (5,933)

Tropical regions are characterized by exceptional biodiversity, including extremely diverse flora. Many plants produce chemical compounds that function as defense mechanisms, some of which are toxic to mammals, including livestock species. However, documentation of toxic plants in the Caribbean region remains limited. The present study aimed to identify toxic and potentially toxic plant species affecting livestock on the island of Saint Christopher (St. Kitts) through surveys of a representative number of farms across all nine parishes. An extensive literature review was performed in order to characterize the local flora and to identify plant species with known or suspected toxic potential. Farm visits were conducted using a structured surveillance questionnaire developed by the authors. During these visits, representative photographs of commonly encountered toxic plants were taken. The identified plant species were classified according to the chemical nature of their active ingredient, and their main clinical effects were described. Ten plant species (Abrus precatorius, Senna occidentalis, Catharanthus roseus, Crotalaria retusa, Datura stramonium, Manihot esculenta, Mimosa pudica, Nerium oleander, Nicotiana tabacum and Ricinus communis) were found to be widespread throughout the island and have been documented in the literature as toxic to livestock. By knowing the distribution of these species, high-risk areas and pastures can be identified, thereby supporting targeted prevention and more effective management of future plant-associated toxicosis outbreaks. Full article

Bovine tuberculosis (bTB), caused by Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis), is a chronic zoonotic disease with buffaloes as maintenance hosts, yet global pooled prevalence of bTB in buffaloes has not been systematically quantified. This systematic review and meta-analysis estimated the global prevalence, distribution, and risk factors (spatio-temporal, geographical and socioeconomic, host characteristics, and research design and methodology) of bTB in buffaloes. Six electronic databases (PubMed, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, CNKI, VIP, and WanFang) were systematically searched for studies published between 1963 and 2025. Of 1731 records, 104 studies (385,616 buffaloes, 17 countries) were included. Estimates a global pooled prevalence of 7.4% for buffaloes, which is higher than recent global estimates for cattle (reported at 3.98% and, in a 2024 meta-analysis, 3.27% at the animal level); this cross-species comparison should be interpreted cautiously given differences in diagnostics, regions and time periods. Key risk factors identified were advanced age (15–20 years, 34.2%), draught use (28.0%), free-ranging management (12.0%), large herd size (9.9%), low-income economies (13.7%), and tropical savanna climate (10.1%). Publication bias was detected but did not substantially alter the overall pooled prevalence estimate. The persistently high burden in Africa and developing countries highlights the urgent need for integrated One Health surveillance and targeted control strategies. Full article

Arboviral infections, including West Nile virus (WNV), dengue virus (DENV), chikungunya virus (CHIKV), Zika virus (ZIKV), and, to a lesser extent, Oropouche virus (OROV), pose a heterogeneous and evolving challenge for pediatric health in Europe. The increasing presence of competent vectors and international travel has resulted in both imported infections and, for selected arboviruses, documented autochthonous transmission events. Although pediatric cases are often underrecognized, children may develop severe manifestations, including neuroinvasive disease and congenital infection. Available data on pediatric arboviral infections in Europe remain limited and fragmented, complicating accurate assessment of disease burden and clinical risk. This review summarizes current evidence on the epidemiology, clinical presentation, diagnostic challenges, and prevention of selected arboviral infections in children within the European context, highlighting persistent gaps in pediatric-specific data and implications for preparedness and public health. Full article

Background: Saudi Arabia maintains official statistics on its food security, in addition to conducting surveys on health parameters and performing national health assessments. Also, several academic papers on dietary patterns are published every year. Many published documents analyze data on food availability, self-reported eating habits, and biomarker-based health risks. However, individually, they represent distinct aspects of nutrition. Hence, this study was undertaken to examine publicly accessible nutrition-related evidence in Saudi Arabia and assess whether existing public food and nutrition datasets consistently align with the biological indicators of nutritional risk. Methods: Searches were conducted using defined criteria in publicly available Saudi and international sources published or updated between 2005 and 2025. These were identified through official reports, global food databases, WHO-aligned surveys, and peer-reviewed articles, with searches conducted and updated during June–July 2026. Sources were classified by representativeness, recency, measurement validity, accessibility, and analytical role. The primary outcome was the completeness and interpretability of public evidence streams rather than a pooled prevalence estimate. Results: SHIS 2013 remains the top public national dietary intake dataset, which shows that only 5.2% and 7.5% of people met their fruit and vegetable intake recommendations, respectively. GASTAT Health Determinants Statistics 2024 indicated that only 10.2% of people aged 15 years and above ate five or more portions of fruits and vegetables daily, yet GASTAT Food Security Statistics 2024 indicated significant per capita availability of rice, milk, poultry, eggs, red meat, onions, tomatoes, and dates. High levels of biological risk were evident in WHS 2019 biomarkers; for example, 42.6% of people had hypercholesterolemia and 50% had low hemoglobin according to the WHS 2019 indicator definition. Recent studies provided additional data on beverages, sugars, dietary habits of adolescents, and diet quality but lacked national food-wide intake data. Conclusions: Public Saudi nutrition data provide complementary but non-equivalent information; indicators show low dietary adequacy and high biomarker-defined risk, supporting the need for integrated individual-level nutrition surveillance. In the future, Saudi national nutrition surveillance must focus on individual-level intake data and biomarker-based measurements. Full article

Background/Objectives: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) can be influenced by the interconnection of human, animal and environmental compartments, making wildlife-based surveillance an important component of One Health surveillance. The red fox (Vulpes vulpes), due to its synanthropic behaviour and wide distribution, can be a valuable indicator of environmental AMR. Mobile colistin resistance (mcr) genes, which encode resistance to a highest-priority critically important antimicrobial (HPCIA), have never been identified in free-ranging foxes. Case presentation: A red fox faecal strain isolated using selective media was PCR-screened for major AMR genes, underwent antimicrobial susceptibility testing and whole-genome sequencing (WGS). This led to the identification of the first mcr-1-positive Escherichia coli from a wild red fox. The fox inhabited an area with a small human population but one of the highest cattle densities in Italy and high antimicrobial use (AMU), as established by comparing local livestock density and AMU with surrounding areas. Despite being borderline phenotypically susceptible to colistin, the isolate displayed resistance to other HPCIAs and antimicrobial classes commonly used in livestock. WGS revealed that mcr-1 was chromosomally integrated. Discussion: The study area showed near-zero colistin use in livestock alongside high overall AMU, suggesting that the mcr-1-positive isolate may have evolved through co-selection rather than direct colistin pressure. mcr-1 can persist and circulate in the environment, even where colistin use is minimal, and foxes may represent effective sentinels for tracking such events. Our results emphasise the importance of including wildlife in One Health surveillance frameworks to monitor AMR at the human–animal–environment interface. Full article

African swine fever is a fatal disease that affects members of the Suidae family and also threatens human economic activity. Genotype II of the African swine fever virus was detected in the wild boar population in mainland Italy in 2022. Subsequently, the infection spread to domestic pig populations. To support the monitoring of the national surveillance plan and the implementation of control measures, a dedicated African Swine Fever Web-GIS dashboard (ASF Web-GIS dashboard) was developed by the Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise “G. Caporale” (IZSAM), in collaboration with the National Reference Centre for the Study of Pestivirus and Asfivirus Diseases (CEREP) and the General Directorate for Animal Health of the Italian Ministry of Health. The ASF Web-GIS dashboard is based on Esri ArcGIS Dashboards and enables users to visualise information collected through Italy’s national information systems, including data related to the surveillance plan, notified outbreaks, restricted areas, and physical barriers established to control disease spread. This dashboard is a useful tool supporting decision-makers in visualising nationwide activities carried out in support of African swine fever control measures. The ASF Web-GIS dashboard is not publicly accessible since it is intended to support ASF monitoring for Veterinary Services, Istituti Zooprofilattici Sperimentali staff, and the General Directorate for Animal Health of the Ministry of Health. Full article

Antimicrobial resistance poses a critical challenge to global public health. Urinary tract infections are one of the leading causes of morbidity in Mexico. This study aimed to identify the most prevalent bacterial pathogens in urinary bacterial isolates and to determine their antimicrobial and selected multidrug-resistance pattern profiles in outpatient and inpatient isolates at a tertiary care hospital in Mexico City. In this retrospective laboratory-based surveillance study, a census of 3434 urine samples collected between January and December 2023 was analyzed. Bacterial identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing were performed using a VITEK 2 XL automated system. Escherichia coli was the predominant uropathogen in both groups, followed by Enterococcus spp. and Klebsiella spp. A significant disparity was observed in the resistance profiles: E. coli resistance to third-generation cephalosporins and fluoroquinolones was higher in inpatient isolates than in outpatient isolates. The selected multidrug-resistance patterns were generally higher in the inpatient isolates than in the outpatient isolates. Although common enteric pathogens with lower resistance levels predominated in the outpatient isolates, inpatient isolates required coverage targeting higher resistance. These findings reflect the need to tailor the treatment to the patients’ clinical context, launch awareness campaigns for the strategic use of antibiotics, and strengthen epidemiological surveillance. Full article

Tick-borne diseases (TBDs) are important infections affecting animal health, and some are zoonotic. Understanding the distribution of TBDs in wildlife is important to evaluate the role of wild animals in the maintenance and spread of tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) in natural ecosystems. This study investigates the occurrence of selected TBPs, including Anaplasma phagocytophilum and piroplasms (Babesia spp. and Theileria spp.), in three widespread wild cervids from Poland: red deer, fallow deer, and roe deer. Ninety spleen tissue samples (30 per species) were collected and analyzed by endpoint PCR and sequencing. DNA of A. phagocytophilum was detected in 54.6% of the samples, mainly in red deer (75.9%), followed by fallow deer (46.4%) and roe deer (41.4%). Piroplasm DNA was found in 30% of the samples, with the highest prevalence in red deer (47%), followed by fallow deer (27%) and roe deer (17%). Sequencing analysis showed the presence of Theileria capreoli and identified two distinct genotypes: “elaphi-CE1”, associated with red deer and fallow deer, and “capreoli-CE1”, associated with roe deer. The results update the epidemiology of TBPs in Poland, supporting the role of cervids as potential reservoirs of A. phagocytophilum and T. capreoli, confirming the need for surveillance in wildlife. Further studies are needed to investigate the distribution of T. capreoli genotypes across Europe. Full article

More than 80% of global brucellosis cases occur in semi-arid regions; however, the climatic factors associated with these outbreaks remain poorly understood. This study investigated environmental correlates of brucellosis in a semi-arid region of Xinjiang, China. A maximum entropy (MaxEnt) model incorporating 19 bioclimatic variables, wind speed, solar radiation, and ruminant livestock inventory was applied to 1132 surveillance-confirmed human brucellosis cases from January 2015 to December 2025. Precipitation in the driest month (31.8%), wind speed (24.3%), and temperature seasonality (13.7%) were the leading contributors to the predicted risk. The model identified high-risk zones in low-precipitation moderate-wind steppe environments and showed strong predictive performance (AUC = 0.960 ± 0.007). These findings indicate that water scarcity and thermal variability are key environmental constraints associated with brucellosis distribution in semi-arid ecosystems and may inform climate-resilient One Health-based prevention strategies in similar agro-ecological zones globally. Full article

Background/Objectives: Hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection is a relevant biological risk in some occupational settings and has long been discussed as an occupational health concern among municipal waste collection workers. Data on HAV seroprevalence and vaccination history in this occupational group remain limited in Italy. This study investigated HAV seroprevalence, self-reported vaccination history, and factors associated with HAV seropositivity among waste collection workers in Sardinia. Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study analyzed HAV seroprevalence and self-reported vaccination history among 326 workers in Sardinia, Italy, using occupational health surveillance data (2017–2024). Recorded variables included age, sex, smoking habits, years of service, work setting, vaccination status, and serological results. Chi-square and Mann–Whitney U tests assessed group differences; logistic regression identified factors independently associated with HAV seropositivity. Results: HAV seroprevalence was 44.2%; only 0.9% of participants reported previous HAV vaccination. Multivariable analysis identified older age, but not years of service, as independently associated with HAV seropositivity once age was modeled as a continuous variable—a pattern more consistent with birth-cohort differences in lifetime HAV exposure than with cumulative occupational exposure. Worksite 7 showed a higher prevalence ratio of HAV seropositivity relative to the reference site, but this finding was based on a small subsample and should be considered exploratory; observed worksite-level differences may reflect organizational rather than geographic factors. Conclusions: Older age, rather than occupational tenure, was independently associated with HAV seropositivity among Sardinian waste workers, a pattern consistent with birth-cohort differences in lifetime exposure. The high seroprevalence and very low vaccination uptake highlight the need to strengthen prevention through improved vaccination access, awareness, and better integration of occupational and public health strategies. Full article

Background: Sustaining progress toward polio eradication requires not only effective vaccination but also a resilient laboratory network capable of timely poliovirus detection, confirmation, and genetic characterization. In the WHO African region, the African polio laboratory network provides essential virological support for eradication efforts; however, persistent circulating Vaccine-derived Polioviruses (cVDPVs) outbreaks and increasing demands of genomic surveillance continue to challenge laboratory capacity. Despite its critical role, evidence describing the operational performance, adaptive capacity, and evolution of regional polio laboratory network remains limited. This study evaluates the performance and operational experience of the African polio laboratory network in 2025, highlighting contributions to poliovirus detection, genomic surveillance, quality assurance, and outbreak response, while sharing lessons to inform regional public health systems. Methods: A retrospective secondary data analysis was conducted using laboratory surveillance and outbreak databases, supplemented by reviews of programmatic reports. Data were cleaned and harmonized prior to analysis. Descriptive analyses were performed to assess laboratory workload, timeliness indicators, genomic capacity, quality assurance performance, and operational challenges. Qualitative review of programmatic documents was conducted to identify contextual factors influencing performance. Results: In 2025, 77,230 Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) specimens were analyzed across 16 laboratories. Ninety-two percent of specimens met the timeliness target for virus isolation, and 94% met the target for PCR-ITD. Genomic sequencing confirmed 20 cVDPV outbreaks in 10 countries. The establishment of new sequencing laboratories in Uganda and Nigeria reduced turnaround times, and a 2025 expansion plan aimed to build sequencing capacity in 12 additional countries. All laboratories assessed in 2024 for virus isolation, PCR-ITD, and environmental surveillance exceeded quality assurance accreditation thresholds and were rated “Pass”. The pilot implementation of Direct Detection Nanopore Sequencing (DDNS) techniques is expected to further strengthen genomic surveillance. Challenges remain, including stock out of essential supplies, uneven workloads, and infrastructure gaps. Conclusions: The African polio laboratory network has demonstrated sustained capacity, adaptability, and innovation in supporting polio eradication activities in the WHO African region. This study provides evidence on the importance of strengthening laboratory systems, expanding genomic capacity, and maintaining quality assurance mechanisms to support the final phase of polio eradication and broader public health surveillance. Full article

Background/Objectives: Chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy has been approved for the management of relapsed and refractory hematologic malignancies, transforming the oncologic landscape and producing durable remissions in patient populations with limited alternatives. The systemic adverse events of CAR-T are well characterized; however, the orofacial adverse events have not been well described. The objective of this study is to leverage a large, de-identified, real-world dataset to (1) estimate the prevalence of orofacial adverse events following CAR-T, (2) compare event rates with the general population, and (3) directly contrast the orofacial toxicity burden of CAR-T with that observed after hemopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT). Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study using de-identified electronic health record data from TriNetX. CAR-T and HSCT cohorts were identified via RxNorm and procedure codes; a non-exposed control cohort was included. Patients with prior orofacial conditions or confounding therapies were excluded. New adverse orofacial events within one year were identified by International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD-10) codes. Cohorts were 1:1 propensity-matched by age and sex; associations were estimated as odds ratios with two-sided 95% CIs. Results: In 1142 CAR-T recipients (mean age of 62), gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) was most frequent (5.18%). Oral mucosal events included stomatitis in 1.52%, mucositis in 1.31%, and lichenoid reactions in 1.03%. Dysphagia occurred in 1.8% and oral candidiasis in 1.6%. Several severe oral conditions were absent. Compared with the general population (CART vs. general population): mucositis—[12/995 vs. 0/1112] (OR 28.3)—and stomatitis—[16/987 vs. 0/1119] (OR 38)—risks were significantly increased, while CAR-T patients had significant lower risks of mucosal complications than HSCT recipients in this analysis (CART vs. HSCT): mucositis—[1.21% vs. 3.72%] (OR 0.316) and stomatitis—[1.42% vs. 3.91%] (OR 0.354). Conclusions: CAR-T therapy carries a distinct and generally lower orofacial toxicity burden than HSCT, but targeted dental assessment and prospective surveillance remain important to optimize supportive care for cellular therapy recipients. Full article

Purpose: Cutaneous melanoma (CM) and uveal melanoma (UM) derive from melanocytes. Nevertheless, they differ in genetic drivers and progression pathways. Previous research examining the relationship between CM and UM has been constrained by small cohorts and the rarity of UM. The aim of this study was to determine whether UM occurs more frequently in patients with a CM compared to matched patients with keratinocyte carcinoma (KC, squamous or basal cell carcinoma of the skin). Patients with KC were selected as the control to account for the excess risk due to sun exposure and access to healthcare. Methods: We performed a large, multicenter retrospective cohort study using TriNetX, a global health research network and real-world data platform. Cohort 1 had CM or melanoma in situ (MIS) and no history of KC. Cohort 2 had KC and no history of CM or MIS. The main outcome was the incidence of malignant neoplasms of the choroid or ciliary body over a 5-year follow-up, including diagnoses recorded before the index skin cancer. Patients who had metastatic disease were excluded to remove potential misidentifications of choroidal metastasis as UM. A 1:1 propensity score matching (PSM) was used to match demographic and clinical characteristics. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) and corresponding two-sided p-values were used to compare categorical outcomes. Ophthalmologic follow-up was evaluated to rule out surveillance bias. Results: The CM cohort included 57,352 patients. The KC cohort included 137,083 patients. After PSM each cohort included 52,860 patients. UM occurred in 53 CM patients (0.1%) compared with 13 KC patients (0.02%). This corresponds to an OR of 4.08 (95% CI [2.22, 7.49]; p < 0.001). UM diagnosis preceded CM in 70% of patients with both diagnoses. The association persisted in a sensitivity analysis after excluding patients with UM documented before CM (HR 14.32; 95% CI 7.96–25.76). Conclusions: Cutaneous melanoma is associated with a significantly higher risk of UM compared to KC. These findings suggest a link between cutaneous and uveal melanoma and may offer a possible role for ophthalmic surveillance in CM patients and dermatology surveillance in UM patients. Full article

The expansion of invasive mosquito species of the genus Aedes has become a growing public health concern in Europe due to their role in the transmission of arboviruses such as dengue, Zika, and chikungunya. Early detection and surveillance of these vectors are essential to prevent the establishment of local transmission cycles. This study presents a review of surveillance reports and rapid risk assessments issued by the Health Alerts and Emergencies Coordination Centre of the Spanish Ministry of Health, complemented by relevant scientific literature on the presence and spread of Aedes albopictus, Aedes aegypti, and Aedes japonicus in Spain. The analysis describes the evolution of vector detection between 2004 and 2026, identifies geographical patterns of expansion, and examines the surveillance and response mechanisms implemented by Spanish health authorities. Particular attention is given to environmental, climatic, and socioeconomic factors that may facilitate the establishment of these invasive species. The results highlight the importance of strengthening entomological surveillance systems, improving coordination between national and regional health authorities, and enhancing early warning mechanisms to reduce the risk of arbovirus transmission in Spain. Unlike previous European reviews, this study integrates surveillance reports, grey literature, citizen science contributions, and scientific evidence to provide a comprehensive assessment of invasive Aedes surveillance in Spain and identify priority actions for strengthening arbovirus preparedness. Full article

Artisanal fresh goat cheese produced under traditional small-scale conditions may harbor antimicrobial-resistant pathogens. This study assessed the occurrence and geographic distribution of Staphylococcus aureus, characterized antimicrobial resistance, and explored the antibacterial activity of titanium dioxide (TiO₂) against multidrug-resistant (MDR) isolates in the Altiplano Potosino region of Mexico. A total of 150 samples from 15 rural communities in seven municipalities were analyzed. Of 38 presumptive isolates, 24 were confirmed as S. aureus (16.0% of samples), occurring only in Charcas and Vanegas. Based on locality-level susceptibility profiles, 9 of 24 confirmed isolates (37.5%) were assigned an MDR phenotype involving macrolides, lincosamides, and aminoglycosides, with clindamycin resistance observed across all five positive localities. In exploratory assays, UV-C-activated TiO₂ produced the largest inhibition zones and lowest viable counts. Viable counts were significantly lower under UV-C than under natural sunlight (p = 0.016), but not significantly different from darkness after Bonferroni adjustment (p = 0.073). These findings establish a regional baseline for S. aureus occurrence and antimicrobial resistance and provide preliminary evidence of measurable antibacterial activity of UV-C-activated TiO₂ against MDR isolates. Full article