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Serosurvey results for Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus antibodies in dromedary camels in Algeria indicate that the pathogen is circulating endemically in desertic areas, despite the hostile environment. Thus, dromedaries are suitable sentinels for detecting human risk for Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever in desertic areas.

We conducted a retrospective serosurvey for antibodies against Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus in wild ungulates along the eastern Mediterranean Coast of Spain. The virus has been endemic in this region since 2010 but is mainly restricted to geographic clusters with extremely high seropositivity associated with high density of bovids.

Background Hyalomma marginatum is a hard tick vector of various pathogens, including Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic fever virus, recently detected in French specimens. This species has a wide distribution from North Africa to Eastern Europe and has only recently been considered established in Southern France. These changes in species distribution led us to explore the genetic structure of tick populations in the Mediterranean basin and attempt to infer the origin of French populations. Methods We used two mitochondrial markers (12S rRNA and Cytochrome Oxidase 1) and genotyped ticks from nine Mediterranean countries. We compared genetic indices and haplotypic composition between these countries and the various French geographical populations. Results Across all countries, we showed significant genetic differentiation, with a certain proximity between neighboring countries. We found very different genetic compositions among the French geographic populations: some exhibited signs of recent expansion, while others suggested the presence of ancient populations. Conclusions It is possible that small populations of H. marginatum were already present in France and are now more abundant. This recent change in population structure could be owing to increased human activity and climate change. These factors, combined with a potentially high level of phenotypic plasticity, could facilitate H. marginatum conquest of more northerly latitudes in France and other European countries. Graphical Abstract

Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) is a highly contagious viral disease of small ruminants that threatens livelihoods and food security in developing countries and, in some cases, wild ungulate species conservation. The Greater Serengeti-Mara Ecosystem (GSME) encompasses one of the major wildlife populations of PPR virus (PPRV)-susceptible species left on earth, although no clinical disease has been reported so far. This study aimed to gain further knowledge about PPRV circulation in the GSME by identifying which factors predict PPRV seropositivity in African buffalo (Syncerus caffer). Following an ecological niche modeling framework to map host-pathogen distribution, two models of PPRV exposure and buffalo habitat suitability were performed using serological data and buffalo censuses. Western Maasai Mara National Reserve and Western Serengeti National Park were identified as high-risk areas for PPRV exposure in buffalo. Variables related to wildlife-livestock interaction contributed to the higher risk of PPRV seropositivity in buffalo, providing supportive evidence that buffalo acquire the virus through contact with infected livestock. These findings can guide the design of cost-effective PPRV surveillance using buffalo as a sentinel species at the identified high-risk locations. As more intensive studies have been carried out in Eastern GSME, this study highlights the need for investigating PPRV dynamics in Western GSME.

AbstractLeishmania infantum and Leishmania tarentolae are two sympatric parasites of significant ecological and epidemiological interest in the Mediterranean basin. In this study, we investigated the prevalence of L. infantum and L. tarentolae in two gecko species (Tarentola mauritanica and Hemidactylus turcicus) present on Mallorca Island, Spain, using duplex quantitative PCR. A total of 60 geckos were sampled across the island, including 54 T. mauritanica and six H. turcicus. Tissue and blood samples were screened for both parasites, and generalized linear models were used to assess organ-specific infection patterns. The results revealed high prevalence rates in T. mauritanica, with 24/54 (44.44%) testing positive for L. infantum and 22/54 (40.74%) for L. tarentolae. Coinfection with both parasites was detected in 11/54 individuals (20.37%). In contrast, H. turcicus showed a prevalence of 3/6 (50%) for L. infantum and 1/6 (16.66%) for L. tarentolae, with no coinfections detected, probably due to small sample size. Blood and heart tissues were more likely to harbor L. infantum in geckos, while L. tarentolae displayed no significant organ-specific predilection. These findings indicate that T. mauritanica and H. turcicus may act as reservoir hosts for both L. infantum and L. tarentolae. The shared vectors and overlapping transmission routes (e.g., vector-borne, oral, or gastrointestinal transmission) suggest that these gecko species could contribute to the maintenance of Leishmania transmission cycles in the region. The high prevalence rates and frequent coinfections highlight potential ecological interactions between the two parasites. Furthermore, the cross-reactivity of L. infantum serological tests with L. tarentolae reinforces the need for molecular methods to distinguish between these species. This study underscores the ecological importance of reptiles in Leishmania transmission and provides valuable data on the potential role of geckos in endemic areas like Mallorca.Author Summary Leishmaniosis is a disease caused by parasites that can infect both animals and humans. In Europe, Leishmania infantum is the main species responsible for the disease, with dogs acting as its primary host. However, recent research suggests that other animals, including reptiles, might also play a role in its spread. In this study, centered in wild geckos from Mallorca Island (Spain), we looked for L. infantum and Leishmania tarentolae, a related parasite mostly found in reptiles. Using quantitative PCR, we found that 44% of Tarentola mauritanica geckos carried L. infantum and 41% carried L. tarentolae. Additionally, we detected coinfection of both parasites in 20% of the geckos. The second gecko species we studied, Hemidactylus turcicus, was also infected but at lower rates, and no coinfections were found. These results suggest that geckos may host both parasites, potentially influencing their spread. Since L. tarentolae has been detected in dogs, and both parasites are found in the same environments, there could be alternative ways of transmission (e.g., dogs eating infected geckos). The high number of infections raises new questions about the role of reptiles in the disease cycle, the reliability of current diagnostic tests, and the need for further research to understand these connections.Competing Interest StatementNano1Health SL is a for-profit organization.