Search Results (131)

Anthropogenic pressures in the Amazon Basin are reshaping human–animal–environment interactions and increasing zoonotic disease risk. Within this One Health context, domestic dogs and cats are underrecognized contributors to pathogen circulation at the human–wildlife interface. We conducted a PRISMA-compliant systematic review of zoonotic pathogens reported in companion animals across Amazonian territories in nine countries, including literature published between 2000 and 2025 in four languages. Zoonotic pathogens showed a heterogeneous yet widespread distribution, with parasitic infections, particularly Leishmania spp., Toxoplasma gondii, and vector-borne protozoa, being the most frequently reported. A pronounced geographic bias was evident, with studies concentrated in Brazil and selected areas of the western Amazon, while large portions of the Basin remain understudied. Methodological limitations included reliance on cross-sectional designs and heterogeneous diagnostic approaches, often based solely on serology. These findings highlight the need to strengthen One Health-oriented governance frameworks that integrate animal health surveillance into environmental and public health policies. Priority actions include expanding surveillance to underrepresented regions, harmonizing diagnostic protocols, investing in regional laboratory capacity, and promoting community-based monitoring. Strengthened cross-sectoral and transboundary coordination is essential to reduce zoonotic risk and support evidence-based disease prevention in Amazonian ecosystems. Full article

Hepatitis viruses continue to pose major global health challenges, necessitating the development of reliable and well-characterized experimental models. Tree shrews are increasingly recognized as a valuable small animal model because of their natural susceptibility to hepatitis viruses and close phylogenetic relationship with primates. Recent identification of a high prevalence of natural hepacivirus infections in tree shrews underscores the urgent need for routine viral screening of the animals used in hepatitis studies. Undetected infections may confound experimental results, undermine data integrity, and pose risks to laboratory biosecurity. Integrating systematic screening and standardized reporting practices will minimize these risks, enhance reproducibility, and safeguard the integrity of research findings. Moreover, a consistent assessment of the infection status will enhance the translational potential of tree shrews for studying viral hepatitis pathogenesis and evaluating antiviral interventions. This opinion paper emphasizes that ensuring the virological status of tree shrews is not merely a procedural recommendation but also a methodological standard essential for advancing hepatitis virus research. Full article

Host factors play critical roles in viral IRES-mediated translation by modulating the efficiency and specificity of viral protein synthesis. In this study, we used small interfering RNA (siRNA) treatment to silence and plasmid-based expression to overexpress PKD1L3 and USP31. Silencing PKD1L3 and USP31 suppressed IRES activity in FMDV and CSFV RNAs, whereas the overexpression of PKD1L3 did not have a significant effect, and USP31 overexpression resulted in only a modest increase in CSFV-IRES activity. Silencing PKD1L3 significantly reduced EMCV-IRES activity but had no significant effect on HCV- or DENV-IRES activity, and silencing USP31 had no significant effect on the activities of these three IRESs. Notably, the combined overexpression of PKD1L3 and USP31 significantly suppressed HCV-IRES activity, suggesting potential context-dependent interactions. These findings indicated that PKD1L3 and USP31 contribute more prominently to CSFV-, FMDV-, and EMCV-IRES-mediated translation than to HCV- or DENV-IRES-driven translation. Collectively, our results provide new insights into the host factors involved in IRES-mediated viral translation, establish a foundation for future in vivo studies to elucidate the specific roles of PKD1L3 and USP31 during viral infection, and indicate potential strategies for mitigating these viruses. Full article

Background/Objectives: The deposition of antibiotic residues in animal source foods has become a global public health threat. This study aimed to assess antibiotic class residues in raw cow milk from smallholder dairy farms in Mbala and Kasama, Zambia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted, in which 93 milk samples (54 from Mbala and 39 from Kasama) were randomly collected from lactating cows on 56 farms between May and June, 2025. The samples were analyzed using the Charm II assay for beta-lactams, tetracyclines, macrolides, sulfonamides, and aminoglycosides. A total of 100 mL of milk was collected in sterile plain tubes, placed in a cooler box with ice packs, and transported to the district laboratory’s freezer and then delivered to the Central Veterinary Research Institute at (−18 to −20 °C), where they were stored at −20 °C. Statistical significance between districts was determined using Pearson’s chi-square, and associations between a district and the occurrence of antibiotic residues in milk were evaluated using logistic regression. Data were analyzed using Stata 14.2 at a 95% confidence level (p = 0.05). Results: A total of 91.4% (n = 85) of samples had antibiotic residues above EU/MRLs, with mean positive samples being 0.91 ± 0.28 and a significant association between a district and residue occurrence (OR = 0.086; p = 0.025). Approximately 44.1% of the samples had multiple antibiotic residues. Approximately 82.1% of samples from Kasama and 98.1% from Mbala had antibiotic residues (p = 0.006). Approximately 68.8% of samples had sulphonamides, and 58.1% macrolides, indicating their widespread use. Tetracyclines were 12.9%, beta-lactams 9.7%, and aminoglycosides 2.2%. Conclusions: A majority of milk samples had antibiotic residues above EU/MRLs, raising public health threats and necessitating the development and implementation of policies. Full article

Among animal diseases, those characterized with transboundary potential enhance their interconnection to the One Health principle. Zoonoses with a higher capacity to spread compared to other diseases with a lower level of transmissibility multiply their potential impact on human populations. The routes and speed of transmission and virulence may also increase the impact on animal health in the zootechnic sector and in wild animals. This risk, especially in endangered species, has the potential to alter biodiversity, negatively affecting the environment. The characteristics of these pathogens represent a global health danger that requires knowledge and the capacity for prevention and control, considering the possibility of natural outbreak occurrence together with the deliberate use of such pathogens as biological weapons for terrorist attacks. Animal pathogens, particularly those with zoonotic potential, have long been considered for use in bioterrorism. International conventions prohibit the use of microbiological and toxin weapons. Furthermore, recent European legislation has also addressed the potential misuse of animal pathogens in bioterrorism. In this context, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean (PAM) and its Center for Global Studies are committed to preventing global health threats by promoting transboundary cooperation, especially through a One Health approach that links human, animal, and environmental health. In the face of future emergencies, PAM is also committed to promoting greater information sharing for harmonized legislative frameworks and equitable access to resources, to strengthen the resilience of global health systems, especially in developing countries. In both the past and recent history, various outbreaks have been attributed to proven or alleged bioterrorist attacks targeting human or animal populations. This study discusses the general characteristics of several relevant transboundary diseases. Paying high attention to One Health is of utmost importance. However, for a full understanding, it is necessary to consider all related aspects and implications. Full article

Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) is a transboundary viral disease of wild and domesticated ruminants, and notifiable to the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH). LSD has spread rapidly in the cattle population across the African, European and Asian continents since 1929. Following recent outbreaks in the Southeast Asia region, Singapore observed its first occurrence of LSD in a local dairy cattle farm in March 2022. LSD was confirmed in dairy cattle exhibiting clinical signs with quantitative real-time PCR and sequencing with MinION Nanopore. Analyses of the assembled whole viral genomes also revealed high phylogenetic relatedness to LSD recombinant strains. It remains unclear how the virus was introduced into Singapore, given the absence of known vectors and strict import regulations in place. This highlights the importance of biosurveillance, and laboratory diagnostic readiness to manage outbreaks and prevent the spread of transboundary diseases. Full article

Background: Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) is an acute or subacute contagious trans-boundary viral disease causing high morbidity and mortality in domestic and wild small ruminants. The national UAE-PPR control and eradication plan follows the PPR Global Control and Eradication Strategy (PPR GCES) and relies on the annual mass vaccination of small ruminants to eradicate the disease from the country by 2030. Despite the immunization effort against PPR, the vaccination coverage reached 65% at maximum, which necessitates conducting a post-vaccination evaluation (PVE) study at the national level. Methods: Using multistage random sampling to assess the PPR vaccine and vaccination effectiveness, protocol (2) of the PPR GCES, using two serosurveys; serosurvey (1) (pre-vaccination) at day 0 before vaccination, to assess the primary PPR serological investigation, and serosurvey (2) at (30–90) days post-PPR vaccination, to evaluate the immune response, were carried out from September to December 2024 across the seven Emirates of the UAE. The nucleoprotein-based competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (c-ELISA) was used to detect PPR antibodies in a total of 1592 and 1589 sera samples collected, respectively, before and after vaccination from different (n = 163) sheep and goats holdings (epi-unit) distributed in the different Emirates of the UAE. Results: In serosurvey (1). prior to vaccination, out of the total 1592 samples tested (839 goats and 753 sheep), 833 animals (52.32%) were found to be seropositive for PPR antibodies. In contrast, in serosurvey (2), after vaccination, 1490 (93.77%) animals were found to be seropositive out of the total 1589 small ruminants (825 goats and 764 sheep) tested by c-ELISA. A statistically significant increase (41.45%) in the overall seroprevalence from (52.32%) pre-vaccination to (93.77%) post-vaccination was observed. Post-vaccination, 93.87% (n = 153) of the vaccinated epi-units achieved more than 70% seroprevalence compared to 43.56% (n = 71) before vaccination. Prediction analysis showed that all the seven UAE Emirates require 1.2 years maximum to reach 100% immune-protection levels. Conclusions: An efficient PPR vaccine was used to immunize small ruminants in the UAE. Higher (89.47–100%) post-vaccination herd immunity than the threshold recommended by the PPR GCES (>80% immunity) was attained, which can efficiently break the spread of PPRV within the UAE. To enhance the eradication of PPR I the UAE, conducting mass vaccination campaigns targeting over the (95%) immunization coverage of eligible animals for the next three years is recommended to attain the requested sustained (>80%) immunity at the animals holding level. Full article

African swine fever (ASF) remains a major threat to swine production in Central Luzon, Philippines. This study assessed ASF detection and farm-level risk factors in Central Luzon using a risk-based surveillance framework. Pooled blood samples from five pigs per farm were collected in 277 farms across seven provinces and tested by real-time PCR. The analysis yielded an apparent farm-level prevalence of 26.7% (95% CI: 21.6–32.3), defined by one pooled 5-pig blood sample per farm. However, these values reflect risk-based surveillance outcomes rather than population-representative prevalence. Detection varied by province, with high rates in Bataan (80.5%) and Nueva Ecija (55.0%), moderate detection in Zambales (24.3%), lower detection in Pampanga (5.0%) and Tarlac (20.0%), and no positives in Aurora or Bulacan. Survey data were available for 201 farms. Firth-penalized logistic regression identified the absence of perimeter fencing as the only statistically significant predictor of ASFV detection. Veterinary oversight and consultancy showed protective but non-significant trends. These results highlight structural and professional biosecurity gaps, emphasizing the need for expanded veterinary outreach, fencing support, and training to mitigate ASF risk in smallholder-dominated production systems. Full article

African swine fever virus (ASFV) is an important transboundary animal pathogen with significant impacts on the global swine industry. Overwhelming proinflammatory responses are a major virulence mechanism for ASFV, but the dynamics of these changes during clinical disease are not completely understood. We constructed a detailed portrait of the innate immune responses during acute African swine fever (ASF) at the cellular, transcriptomic, and cytokine levels. Samples serially obtained from infected piglets show that progression of acute ASF is characterized by rapid increases in plasma type I interferons, TNF-α, IL-12p40, and IL-10, which coincide with the manifestation of clinical disease and viral DNAemia. Lymphocytes and natural killer (NK) cells progressively declined, with fluctuations in B cell, CD8+ T cell, and CD4+/CD8+ T cell populations. Blood monocytes and macrophages were highly variable throughout infection, with an abrupt spike in CD203+ mature macrophages immediately prior to death. Transcriptomic analysis of blood showed downregulation of cellular translation as early as 1 day post-challenge (DPC) and significant upregulation of antiviral immune processes at 5 DPC and 7 DPC, which overlapped with the onset of clinical disease. Together, these results present a detailed delineation of fatal ASF which involves an initial infection and damage of susceptible myeloid cells prior to symptomatic disease characterized by pro-inflammatory immune responses, lymphoid depletion, and clinical deterioration. Full article

Porcine Sapelovirus (PSV) is widely prevalent in pig herds throughout the world and induces diarrhea, encephalomyelitis, respiratory tract symptoms, and reproductive disorders. However, the epidemiological and genetic evolution characteristics of PSV remain unclear in Yunnan Province. In this study, 1622 fecal samples were collected from pig farms in Yunnan Province. PSV and its co-infection rates with other pathogens were detected; then, the PSV VP1 gene was amplified and sequenced; and the genetic evolution characteristics of the VP1 gene were analyzed. The overall infection rate of PSV in Yunnan Province was 36.50%, and the differences among regions were significant (p < 0.05). The positive rates among different seasons were significantly different (p < 0.01), ranging from 73.33% (autumn) to 19.00% (summer). The PSV positive rate in diarrhea samples (47.26%) was significantly higher (p < 0.001) than that of non-diarrhea samples (31.77%). The co-infection rates of PSV with porcine rotavirus (PoRV) and PSV with porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) were 5.07% and 3.04%. A total of 36 VP1 sequences were obtained, and the average identity among the 36 sequences was 85.3%, which was higher than that with other reference strains. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that all 36 PSV strains belonged to the PSV-1 genotype. The VP1 gene was under strong negative selection pressure (average dN/dS = 0.0838); however, the 95th amino acid was under positive selection pressure. Our study revealed the epidemiological, co-infection, and genetic evolution characteristics of PSV in pig herds of Yunnan Province, providing more data for preventing and controlling diarrhea pathogens in pigs. Full article

Genetic and antigenic analyses were performed on highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses (HPAIVs) isolated in Hokkaido, northern Japan, during the winter of 2024–2025. Ninety-eight HPAIVs were isolated from feces of waterfowl, tracheal swabs from dead wild birds, or lung homogenates from dead chickens. Phylogenetic analysis of the hemagglutinin (HA) gene from 47 representative isolates revealed that all sequences belonged to the G2d subgroup of clade 2.3.4.4b H5HA, which has been the dominant lineage in Hokkaido since the winter of 2021–2022. These isolates were further divided into three major groups within the subgroup. The HPAIVs isolated in the Republic of Korea, China, and North America were genetically closely related to the Hokkaido isolates, whereas no HPAIVs genetically related to European strains or those detected in North American cattle were identified. Furthermore, HPAIVs isolated from seabirds were genetically closely related to those found in dead marine mammals along the eastern coast of Hokkaido in the spring of 2025. No apparent antigenic differences were observed between the HPAIVs isolated in this study and those from previous seasons. These findings highlight the wide distribution of HPAIVs in Hokkaido, particularly from Asian and North American lineages, and underscore the importance of continuous surveillance. Full article

Sheep pox, caused by sheep pox virus (SPV), is a transboundary disease that threatens sheep production and trade. This study aimed to identify genetic, immunological, and biochemical markers associated with susceptibility to SPV in Barki ewes. A total of 100 adult ewes were examined, including 50 clinically healthy and 50 naturally infected animals. PCR detected SPV DNA in 60% of suspected scab samples, highlighting diagnostic challenges in field investigations. Blood samples were analyzed for hematological indices, cytokine profiles, acute phase proteins, oxidative stress biomarkers, iron metabolism, and hormonal parameters. Expression profiles and single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 15 immune and antioxidant genes were characterized from cDNA-derived sequences. Infected animals exhibited microcytic hypochromic anemia, leukocytosis, elevated proinflammatory cytokines, and reduced IL-10. Acute phase proteins, oxidative stress markers, and cortisol were increased, whereas antioxidant capacity and transferrin were reduced. Twenty-three SNPs were identified, including non-synonymous variants, which showed promising but unvalidated associations with disease status. These findings highlight immune, oxidative, and genetic alterations in SPV-infected sheep, but further longitudinal and cross-validated studies are needed to establish their diagnostic or breeding utility. Full article

Paratuberculosis is a chronic zoonotic bacterial infection, primarily affecting ruminants. This review examines the disease in the Arabian Peninsula, focusing on distribution, molecular diversity, prevalence, and associated risk factors. Following PRISMA guidelines, a systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. After duplicate removal and eligibility screening, data extraction, analysis, and quality assessment were performed. Pathogen sequences were retrieved from NCBI GenBank for phylogenetic analysis. The review included a total of 31 published articles from 1997 to 2025, of which 26 were used in the meta-analysis. Most studies (n = 12) were published between 2011 and 2015, predominantly from Saudi Arabia (n = 22), with no reports from Qatar, Bahrain, or Yemen. The majority of the studies involved camels and sheep (n = 16 on each species), followed by cattle (n = 9), goats (n = 7), humans (n = 2), and buffalo (n = 1). Phylogenetic analysis delineates two major clades—Type S and Type C—suggesting greater genetic diversity in Type S. The estimated pooled seroprevalence and pathogen prevalence in livestock ruminants were 8.1% and 22.4%, respectively. Herd-level estimated pooled seroprevalence was 26.9%. Small ruminants (19.3%) were more sero-prevalent than large ruminants (7.4%), with goats (28.7%) significantly (p < 0.01) more affected than sheep (21.5%), camel (9.8%), and cattle (6.6%). Clinical signs in ruminants included chronic diarrhea, emaciation, anorexia, alopecia, wry neck, and dehydration. The reviewed study patterns and findings suggest high pathogen diversity and a significant risk of transboundary transmission at the human–animal interface in this region. A One Health surveillance approach is crucial, particularly on farms with diarrheic and emaciated animals. Establishing a national surveillance plan and phased (short-, intermediate-, and long-term) control programs is essential to mitigate economic losses, limit transmission, overcome the cultural barrier, and protect public health. Full article

Lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV), a transboundary pathogen threatening cattle health in South and Southeast Asia, presents growing challenges for disease control. This study combined serological, molecular, and genomic approaches to investigate LSDV in Barura Upazila, Bangladesh. Serological screening of 424 cattle using a commercial ELISA revealed a high seroprevalence of 55.5% (95% CI: 50.7–60.3), indicating widespread exposure. Although differences were observed by age and breed, no significant associations were found with seropositivity, suggesting broad regional circulation. Real-time PCR confirmed LSDV DNA in all 20 clinically infected animals, with consistent P32 gene amplification. Two samples with low Cq values underwent whole-genome sequencing. The complete genomes of LSDV-L2/2024 and LSDV-L3/2024 showed >99.6% identity with the reference strain LSDV-29, yet carried unique genomic features, including truncated or variant ORFs and immune-related gene differences. Phylogenetic analysis of the DNA polymerase gene revealed distinct clustering: L2/2024 aligned with South Asian isolates, while L3/2024 grouped with strains from Africa, the Middle East, and Europe. These results highlight co-circulation of genetically diverse strains and possible cross-regional introductions. Overall, our findings underscore the evolutionary plasticity of LSDV and the critical need for ongoing genomic surveillance to guide targeted vaccine development and disease control strategies. Full article

African swine fever virus (ASFV) and classical swine fever virus (CSFV) are important transboundary animal diseases (TADs) affecting swine. ASFV is a large DNA virus with a genome size of 170–190+ kilobases (kB) belonging to the family Asfarviridae, genus Asfivirus. CSFV is a single-stranded RNA virus with a genome size of approximately 12 kB, belonging to the family Flaviviridae, genus Pestivirus. Outbreaks involving either one of these viruses result in similar disease syndromes and significant economic impacts from: (i) high morbidity and mortality events; (ii) control measures which include culling and quarantine; and (iii) export restrictions of swine and pork products. Current detection methods during an outbreak provide minimal genetic information on the circulating virus strains/genotypes that are important for tracing and vaccine considerations. The increasing availability and reduced cost of next-generation sequencing (NGS) allow for the establishment of NGS protocols for the rapid identification and complete genetic characterization of outbreak strains during an investigation. NGS data provides a better understanding of viral spread and evolution, facilitating the development of novel and effective control measures. In this study, panels of primers spanning the genomes of ASFV and CSFV were independently developed to generate approximately 10 kB and 6 kB amplicons, respectively. The primer panels consisted of 19 primer pairs for ASFV and 2 primer pairs for CSFV, providing whole genome amplification of each pathogen. These primer pools were further optimized for batch pooling and thermocycling conditions, resulting in a total of 5 primer pools/reactions used for ASFV and 2 primer pairs/reactions for CSFV. The ASFV primer panel was tested on viral DNA extracted from blood collected from pigs experimentally infected with ASFV genotype I and genotype II viruses. The CSFV primer panel was tested on 11 different strains of CSFV representing the three known CSFV genotypes, and 21 clinical samples collected from pigs experimentally infected with two different genotype 1 CSF viruses. ASFV and CSFV amplicons from optimized PCR were subsequently sequenced on the Oxford Nanopore MinION platform. The targeted protocols for these viruses resulted in an average coverage greater than 1,000X for ASFV, with 99% of the genome covered, and 10,000X–20,000X for CSFV, with 97% to 99% of the genomes covered. The ASFV targeted whole genome sequencing protocol has been optimized for genotype II ASF viruses that have been responsible for the more recent outbreaks outside of Africa. The CSFV targeted whole genome sequencing protocol has universal applications for the detection of all CSFV genotypes. Protocols developed and evaluated here will be essential complementary tools for early pathogen detection and differentiation, as well as genetic characterization of these high-consequence swine viruses, globally and within the United States, should an outbreak occur. Full article