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Several zoonotic vector-borne helminths (VBHs) infesting canids cause serious veterinary and medical diseases worldwide. Increasing the knowledge about their genetic structures is pivotal to identify them and therefore to settle effective surveillance and control measures. To overcome the limitation due to the heterogeneity of large DNA sequence-datasets used for their genetic characterization, available cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 ( cox 1) (n = 546) and the 12S rRNA (n = 280) sequences were examined using combined bioinformatic approach (i.e., distance-clustering, maximum likelihood phylogeny and phylogenetic evolutionary placement). Out of the 826 DNA available sequences from GenBank, 94.7% were characterized at the haplotype level regardless sequence size, completeness and/or their position. A total of 89 different haplotypes were delineated either by cox 1 (n = 35), 12S rRNA (n = 21) or by both genes (n = 33), for 14 VBHs (e.g., Acanthocheilonema reconditum , Brugia spp., Dirofilaria immitis , Dirofilaria repens , Onchocerca lupi and Thelazia spp.). Overall, the present approach could be useful for studying global genetic diversity and phylogeography of VBHs. However, as barcoding sequences were restricted to two mitochondrial loci ( cox 1 and 12S rRNA), the haplotype delineation proposed herein should be confirmed by the characterization of other nuclear loci also to overcome potential limitations caused by the heteroplasmy phenomenon within the mitogenome of VBHs.

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the weakness of the vaccine supply chain, and the lack of thermostable formulations is one of its major limitations. This study presents evidence from peer-reviewed literature on the development of thermostable vaccines for veterinary use. A systematic review and meta-analysis were performed to evaluate the immunogenicity and/or the efficacy/effectiveness of thermostable vaccines against infectious diseases. The selected studies (n = 78) assessed the vaccine’s heat stability under different temperature conditions and over different periods. Only one study assessed the exposure of the vaccine to freezing temperatures. Two field studies provided robust evidence on the immunogenicity of commercial vaccines stored at temperatures far in excess of the manufacturer’s recommended cold-chain conditions. The drying process was the most-used method to improve the vaccine’s thermostability, along with the use of different stabilizers. The pooled vaccine efficacy was estimated to be high (VE = 69%), highlighting the importance of vaccination in reducing the economic losses due to the disease impact. These findings provide evidence on the needs and benefits of developing a portfolio of heat- and freeze-stable veterinary vaccines to unleash the true potential of immunization as an essential component of improved animal health and welfare, reduce the burden of certain zoonotic events and thus contribute to economic resilience worldwide.

The rock partridge (Alectoris graeca saxatilis) is an alpine Galliform with high conservation value. Several factors, including parasitic helminths, play a role in population dynamics, and consequently in the conservation management of wild Galliformes. The aim of this study was to assess the epidemiological characteristics of Cheilospirura hamulosa (Nematoda, Acuarioidea) in the Rock partridge population in France. Machine learning modeling algorithms were applied to identify the environmental variables influencing parasite occurrence, and to map parasite presence probability. The present work is based on a long-term sampling (1987–2019) conducted in the French Alps. C. hamulosa was found with a prevalence (P) of 39% (Confidence Interval—CI 95%: 34–43), and mean intensity of 7.7 (7.8 sd). The highest prevalence (P: 67%, CI 95%: 54–80) was detected in the period 2005–2009. Latitude was the most important variable shaping the parasite distribution, followed by altitude, annual mean temperature, temperature seasonality, and the amount of precipitation of the coldest quarter. The area suitable for parasite presence included 73% of the French Alps. This work represents the first epidemiological surveillance on C. hamulosa infection in the rock partridge. It provides evidence of a high level of infection and identifies priority areas at higher infection risk, where a close monitoring of the rock partridge populations should be carried out.

Rabies is listed as one of the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) Neglected Tropical Diseases Worldwide, with a significant impact in South America. This paper explores the dynamics of rabies cases in humans, pets (dogs and cats), livestock and wildlife (bats in particular) in South America during the period 2009–2018. The data used in this study were derived from the two main databases for rabies in South America: the OIE-WAHIS from the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and PANAFTOSA’s Regional Information System for the Epidemiological Surveillance of Rabies (SIRVERA). Being a neglected disease with possible underreporting in some areas, the reported rabies cases may not always represent the real disease burden. The analysis focuses on the evolution of the number of cases in time and their spatial distribution, as well as on the main source of infections in humans, determined by laboratory assays of the antigenic variant or through epidemiological investigations. Additionally, Generalised Linear Mixed Models (GLMM) were used to evaluate the risk factors associated with the occurrence of human cases. Our results show that the highest impact of the disease in terms of number of cases was reported on livestock, while the overall number of cases (in animals and humans) progressively decreased along the study period. The spatial distribution of rabies in livestock showed two main clusters in the north-western (mainly Colombia) and in the south-eastern part of the affected area (Brazil), and a third smaller cluster in Peru. A cluster in dogs was observed in Bolivia. Out of the 192 human cases reported during the study period, 70% of them were transmitted by bats. The number of human cases reported during the study period were significantly associated with the number of rabies cases reported in livestock, pets and wildlife. Despite the overall decreasing case report rate, the disease still represents a major animal and public health concern in South America, and new strategies for compiling systematic information, networking and education are needed, as well as the education and training of veterinary staff.

Porcine circovirus (PCV) infection is associated with relevant economic impact to the pig industry. To date, four species of PCV (PCV1 to 4) have been identified but only PCV2 has been associated firmly with disease in pigs. The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of PCV2 and PCV3 in the wild boar population in Basilicata region, Southern Italy, since this region is characterized by large forested and rural areas and the anthropic pressure is lower than in other Italian regions. Liver samples from 82 hunted wild boar were collected in 2021 from 3 different hunting districts. Sixty (73%, 95%CI: 63–82) samples tested positive for PCVs by quantitative PCR. In detail, 22 (27%, 95%CI: 18–37) were positive for PCV2, 58 (71%, 95%CI: 60–79) for PCV3, and 20 (24.4%, 95%CI 16–35) for both PCV2 and PCV3. On genome sequencing, different types and sub-types of PCV2 and PCV3 were identified, remarking a genetic diversity and hinting to a global circulation for the identified PCV strains. Overall, the high prevalence suggests that PCV2 and PCV3 infections are endemic in the wild boar population, posing risks for semi-intensive and free-range pig farming, typical of this region, due to contact with PCV-infected wild boar.

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is an important cause of acute viral hepatitis in humans worldwide. The food-borne transmission of HEV appears to be a major route in Europe through the consumption of pork and wild boar meat. HEV epidemiology in wild boars has been investigated mainly in Northern and Central Italian regions, whilst information from Southern Italy is limited. We investigated the occurrence of HEV in wild boar in the Apulia and Basilicata regions (Southern Italy). Thirteen (10.4%) out of one hundred and twenty-five wild boar samples tested positive for HEV using a quantitative reverse transcription PCR. HEV prevalence was 12% in Apulia and 9.3% in Basilicata. Seven samples were genotyped, and different subtypes (c, f, m) of genotype 3 were identified. The complete genome of a 3m strain was determined, and the virus showed the highest nucleotide identity to a human HEV strain identified in France in 2017. These findings demonstrate the substantial circulation of HEV in the wild boar population in Italian Southern regions. Gathering information on the HEV strains circulating in different geographical areas is useful for tracking the origin of HEV outbreaks and assessing the epidemiological role of wild boar as a potential virus reservoir for domestic pigs.

Forests play a crucial role in providing important ecosystem services such as biodiversity conservation, carbon sequestration, and biomass production, while supporting the livelihoods of millions of people globally. Understanding the spatial relationship between human populations and forests is vital for assessing how these socio-environmental systems interact and evolve over time. However, a global scale understanding of these spatial relationships remains limited. Here, we address this gap by examining the joint global trends in human population and forest dynamics from 1975 to 2020. We assess two indicators of spatial and temporal trends: forest area per person (FAP) and forest proximate people (FPP), illustrating how the spatial interplay between humans and forests has changed over time. We then introduce the forest human nexus (FHN), a spatial indicator that integrates forest area per capita, forest accessibility, and population density to provide a geospatial assessment of human–forest relationships. Our analysis reveals an uneven distribution of FHN trends worldwide, reflecting severe ecological stress in many tropical regions and highlighting the need for targeted interventions. By offering detailed spatiotemporal insights and a new spatial metric for human–forest interactions, this study aims to inform policymakers, conservationists, development practitioners, and researchers in fostering more sustainable human–forest relationships. Global shifts in human–forest relationships from 1975 to 2020 are unevenly distributed, highlighting critical ecological stress in tropical regions and the urgent need for targeted interventions, based on a new index, Forest Human Nexus, indicating spatial human–forest interactions.

Background While African Swine Fever (ASF) virus has historically circulated in wild pigs and in Ornithodoros ticks in parts of South Africa, the virus has spread among domestic pigs throughout the country since 2019. South Africa’s compartment system has been used as a mainstay approach to protecting the swine industry in the face of ASF. However, in 2020, two compartments broke down with ASF. The objectives of this study are to investigate the drivers for ASF introduction into the compartments, to categorize compartments by risk of ASF introduction, and to make corresponding recommendations. The relevance of risk factors for ASF introduction for each compartment were investigated among veterinarians and farm managers. The analysis of risk factors weighted according to an expert elicitation were used to categorize compartments into risk levels. Results Drivers of disease related to human behaviors and to domestic pig management are perceived by farm managers and veterinarians of the compartments to be critical for ASF introduction into compartments in South Africa. Twenty-four units were categorized as high risk, forty-seven as medium risk, and twenty-four as low risk. “Insufficient boot and clothing biosecurity by animal health personnel” was identified as a relevant risk factor in all high risk units. Other prominent risk factors were “insufficient boot and clothing biosecurity by external people,” “underreporting of suspect ASF cases,” “improper hunting/ culling of wild suids inside the compartment,” “un-tested introductions into the herd,” and “entry and contact with free-roaming pigs.” The roles of wild pigs and competent vectors are considered minimal. There is a need for revision of the compartment standards and training of compartment personnel on the standards. The major gaps identified in the standards were absence of a monitoring programme to assess biosecurity implementation and suboptimal surveillance testing and audit strategies. Conclusions The results of our study confirm that ASF is increasingly an anthropogenic problem. Updating the compartment standards and addressing gaps in the knowledge of compartment personnel on ASF are most critical. To enhance compliance with biosecurity measures and thus control the disease, close engagement with all stakeholders linked to the compartments is needed.

A cross‑sectional survey was carried out in dairy cattle and buffalo herds from the Southern Italy to detect antibodies against Coxiella burnetii. From 2014 to 2018, 402 herds were monitored and 50 mL of bulk‑tank milk (BTM) per farm was analyzed by indirect ELISA. Blood samples of animals from positive farms were also taken and analyzed with the same ELISA test. The overall seroprevalence was 35% [95% Confidence interval (CI):30‑39] at herd level and 13% (95%CI:13‑14) at animal level. Herd province seroprevalences ranged from 17% to 75%. The provinces of Matera (71%, 95%CI:38‑105) and Agrigento (75%, 95%CI:51‑100) showed the highest percentage of infected farms. These results describe the widespread distribution of C. burnetii in livestock from Southern Italy, highlighting the need to implement a monitoring program for Q fever.