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Coronaviruses (CoVs) are enveloped, positive sense, single-stranded RNA viruses. The viruses have adapted to infect a large number of animal species, ranging from bats to camels. At present, seven CoVs infect humans, of which Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is responsible for causing the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in humans. Since its emergence in late 2019, SARS-CoV-2 has spread rapidly across the globe. Healthcare systems around the globe have been stretched beyond their limits posing new challenges to emergency healthcare services and critical care. The outbreak continues to jeopardize human health, social life and economy. All known human CoVs have zoonotic origins. Recent detection of SARS-CoV-2 in pet, zoo and certain farm animals has highlighted its potential for reverse zoonosis. This scenario is particularly alarming, since these animals could be potential reservoirs for secondary zoonotic infections. In this article, we highlight interspecies SARS-CoV-2 infections and focus on the reverse zoonotic potential of this virus. We also emphasize the importance of potential secondary zoonotic events and the One-Health and One-World approach to tackle such future pandemics.

Diseases transmitted naturally between animals and humans are referred to as zoonoses. Zoonotic diseases are responsible for many pathogenic infections in humans, especially in endemic regions. In recent years, emerging and re-emerging zoonotic infections have become widespread and pose a threat worldwide. Transmitted such bacterial, viral and parasitic infections have been detected in Northen Cyprus over the years. Climate change and human migration are increasing essentially, making such infections potentially more dangerous. To quickly detect these pathogens and limit their spread, it is crucial for the island to control their animal reservoirs. In addition, continued and expanded research is essential for global surveillance.This review aimed to provide an overview of the etiology of the most recorded zoonotic diseases in Northen Cyprus, their impact on human health, and measures to control their spread better.

Leptospira spp. is the etiological agent of leptospirosis, a worldwide zoonosis impacting the economy and public and animal health. It is present in rural and urban environments and transmitted by direct or indirect contact, especially by the urine of infected animals. Domestic and wild animals can harbor Leptospira spp. and be a source of infection for other susceptible hosts. Domestic mammals commonly affected by the disease include dogs, cattle, horses, and pigs; although, the role of domestic cats in the epidemiology of leptospirosis is still not fully understood. Therefore, this study investigated the possible role of cats with different life habits (domestic, stray and feral) as carriers and/or transmitters of Leptospira spp. This systematic review and meta-analysis covered studies published between 2002 and 2021 in different databases following the PRISMA protocol. We found 200 articles and, after excluding duplicates, 183 were selected based on title and abstract. Exclusion criteria were applied to these articles and 18 were read in full and eight were eligible and included in this meta-analysis. The results demonstrated the occurrence of Leptospira spp., L.interrogans, L. borgptersenii, and L. biflexa in cats, with a higher frequency of molecular detection in renal tissue samples. It was verified respectively that stray, feral and domestic cats can act as reservoirs and/or transmitters of Leptospira spp. to other host species, as well as contaminating the environment, water and food sources. In addition, this study brings relevant contributions from Veterinary Medicine to One Health. RESUMO: Leptospira spp. é o agente etiológico da leptospirose, uma zoonose de ocorrência mundial que impacta na economia, na saúde pública e animal. A bactéria está presente em ambientes rurais e urbanos e é transmitida pelo contato direto ou indireto, principalmente pela urina de animais infectados. Animais domésticos e silvestres podem albergar Leptospira spp. e ser uma fonte de infecção para outros hospedeiros suscetíveis. Os mamíferos domésticos comumente acometidos pela doença incluem cães, bovinos, equinos e suínos. Destaca-se que o papel dos gatos domésticos na epidemiologia da leptospirose ainda não está totalmente elucidado. Portanto, este estudo investigou o papel dos gatos domésticos, de vida livre e ferais como portadores e/ou transmissores de Leptospira spp. Esta revisão sistemática e meta-análise abrangeu estudos publicados entre 2002 e 2021, em diferentes bases de dados, seguindo o protocolo PRISMA. Foram encontrados 200 artigos e, após exclusão dos duplicados, foram selecionados 183 com base no título e resumo. A estes artigos foram aplicados critérios de exclusão e 18 foram lidos na íntegra e oito foram elegíveis e incluídos nesta meta-análise. Os resultados demonstraram a ocorrência de Leptospira spp., L. interrogans, L. borgptersenii e L. biflexa em gatos e com maior frequência de detecção molecular em amostras de tecido renal. Verificou-se respectivamente que gatos de vida livre, ferais e domésticos podem atuar como reservatórios e transmissores de Leptospira spp. para outras espécies hospedeiras, bem como atuam como contaminantes do meio ambiente, da água e de fontes de alimento. Adicionalmente, este estudo traz contribuições relevantes da Medicina Veterinária à Saúde Única.

Hepatitis E virus (HEV), an RNA virus of the Hepeviridae family, has marked heterogeneity. While all five HEV genotypes can cause human infections, genotypes HEV-1 and -2 infect humans alone, genotypes HEV-3 and -4 primarily infect pigs, boars and deer, and genotype HEV-7 primarily infects dromedaries. The global distribution of HEV has distinct epidemiological patterns based on ecology and socioeconomic factors. In resource-poor countries, disease presents as large-scale waterborne epidemics, and few epidemics have spread through person-to-person contact; however, endemic diseases within these countries can potentially spread through person-to-person contact or fecally contaminated water and foods. Vertical transmission of HEV from infected mother to fetus causes high fetal and perinatal mortality. Other means of transmission, such as zoonotic transmission, can fluctuate depending upon the region and strain of the virus. For instance, zoonotic transmission can sometimes play an insignificant role in human infections, such as in India, where human and pig HEV infections are unrelated. However, recently China and Southeast Asia have experienced a zoonotic spread of HEV-4 from pigs to humans and this has become the dominant mode of transmission of hepatitis E in eastern China. Zoonotic HEV infections in humans occur by eating undercooked pig flesh, raw liver, and sausages; through vocational contact; or via pig slurry, which leads to environmental contamination of agricultural products and seafood. Lastly, blood transfusion-associated HEV infections occur in many countries and screening of donors for HEV RNA is currently under serious consideration. To summarize, HEV genotypes 1 and 2 cause epidemic and endemic diseases in resource poor countries, primarily spreading through contaminated drinking water. HEV genotypes 3 and 4 on the other hand, cause autochthonous infections in developed, and many developing countries, by means of a unique zoonotic food-borne transmission.

The global vaccination programme against smallpox led to its successful eradication and averted millions of deaths. Monkeypox virus (MPXV) is a close relative of the Variola (smallpox) virus. Due to antigenic similarity, smallpox vaccines cross-protect against MPXV. However, over 70% of people living today were never vaccinated against smallpox. Symptoms of monkeypox (MPX) include fever, head- and muscle ache, lymphadenopathy and a characteristic rash that develops into papules, vesicles and pustules which eventually scab over and heal. MPX is less often fatal (case fatality rates range from <1% to up to 11%) than smallpox (up to 30%). MPXV is endemic in sub-Saharan Africa, infecting wild animals and causing zoonotic outbreaks. Exotic animal trade and international travel, combined with the increasing susceptibility of the human population due to halted vaccination, facilitated the spread of MPXV to new areas. The ongoing outbreak, with >10,000 cases in >50 countries between May and July 2022, shows that MPXV can significantly spread between people and may thus become a serious threat to public health with global consequences. Here, we summarize the current knowledge about this re-emerging virus, discuss available strategies to limit its spread and pathogenicity and evaluate its risk to the human population.

Norovirus is the most common cause of non-bacterial gastroenteritis and is a burden worldwide. The increasing norovirus diversity is currently categorized into at least 10 genogroups which are further classified into more than 40 genotypes. In addition to humans, norovirus can infect a broad range of hosts including livestock, pets, and wild animals, e.g., marine mammals and bats. Little is known about norovirus infections in most non-human hosts, but the close genetic relatedness between some animal and human noroviruses coupled with lack of understanding where newly appearing human norovirus genotypes and variants are emerging from has led to the hypothesis that norovirus may not be host restricted and might be able to jump the species barrier. We have systematically reviewed the literature to describe the diversity, prevalence, and geographic distribution of noroviruses found in animals, and the pathology associated with infection. We further discuss the evidence that exists for or against interspecies transmission including surveillance data and data from in vitro and in vivo experiments.

Abstract There is currently an outbreak of pneumonia of unknown aetiology in Wuhan, China. Although there are still several unanswered questions about this infection, we evaluate the potential for international dissemination of this disease via commercial air travel should the outbreak continue. There is currently an outbreak of a pneumonia of unknown etiology in Wuhan, China. While there are still several unanswered questions, we evaluate the potential for international dissemination of this disease via commercial air travel should the outbreak continue.

This study aimed to determine the seroprevalence and molecular detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis ( M. tuberculosis ) in dairy cattle using ELISA and PCR techniques. A total of 500 samples (250 blood and 250 milk) were collected from various farms in Sylhet, Bangladesh. The seroprevalence was found to be 5.6% in blood samples, with PCR confirming 1.60% and 2.80% positivity in blood and milk samples, respectively. These findings highlight the zoonotic potential and public health significance of M. tuberculosis in cattle, suggesting a need for integrated One Health surveillance.

Zoonotic disease outbreaks are an important threat to human health and numerous drivers have been recognized as contributing to their increasing frequency. Identifying and quantifying relationships between drivers of zoonotic disease outbreaks and outbreak severity is critical to developing targeted zoonotic disease surveillance and outbreak prevention strategies. However, quantitative studies of outbreak drivers on a global scale are lacking. Attributes of countries such as press freedom, surveillance capabilities and latitude also bias global outbreak data. To illustrate these issues, we review the characteristics of the 100 largest outbreaks in a global dataset ( n = 4463 bacterial and viral zoonotic outbreaks), and compare them with 200 randomly chosen background controls. Large outbreaks tended to have more drivers than background outbreaks and were related to large-scale environmental and demographic factors such as changes in vector abundance, human population density, unusual weather conditions and water contamination. Pathogens of large outbreaks were more likely to be viral and vector-borne than background outbreaks. Overall, our case study shows that the characteristics of large zoonotic outbreaks with thousands to millions of cases differ consistently from those of more typical outbreaks. We also discuss the limitations of our work, hoping to pave the way for more comprehensive future studies. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Infectious disease macroecology: parasite diversity and dynamics across the globe’.