Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Laia Casades-Marti, Raul Cuadrado-Matias, Alfonso Peralbo-Moreno, Sara Baz-Flores, Yolanda Fierro, Francisco Ruiz-Fons
Summary: Through a 15-year study in five environmentally diverse areas of Spain, it was found that the transmission risk of West Nile virus (WNV) is closely related to environmental and host factors. Wild ungulates can serve as sentinel species for predicting the transmission risk of WNV.
Article
Parasitology
Juergen Kruecken, Gabor A. Czirjak, Sabrina Ramunke, Maria Serocki, Sonja K. Heinrich, Joerg Melzheimer, M. Carolina Costa, Heribert Hofer, Ortwin H. K. Aschenborn, Nancy A. Barker, Stefano Capodanno, Luis Madeira de Carvalho, Georg von Samson-Himmelstjerna, Marion L. East, Bettina Wachter
Summary: A study on brown and spotted hyenas in Namibia and Tanzania revealed high frequencies of various pathogens, with frequent co-infections observed in the samples. Ecological conditions were found to have a greater impact on pathogen diversity and frequency than host taxonomy.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Frauke Ecke, Barbara A. Han, Birger Hornfeldt, Hussein Khalil, Magnus Magnusson, Navinder J. Singh, Richard S. Ostfeld
Summary: Through a global empirical analysis of the linkages between habitat use, population fluctuations, and zoonotic reservoir status in rodents, we found that the magnitude of population fluctuations, along with species' synanthropy and degree of human exploitation, consistently distinguish most rodent reservoirs at a global scale, regardless of pathogen types and transmission modes. Our spatial analyses also identified hotspots of high transmission risk, which are dominated by reservoir species in the rodent community. These findings inform our understanding of how natural and anthropogenic factors interact to increase the risk of zoonotic spillover in a rapidly changing world.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Eric Wikramanayake, Dirk U. Pfeiffer, Ioannis Magouras, Anne Conan, Stefan Ziegler, Timothy C. Bonebrake, David Olson
Summary: Decades of warnings about the risks of zoonotic pandemics due to wildlife trade and consumption have been largely ignored. Calls for tighter regulation and potential bans on wildlife trade are now being made, but the feasibility of broad bans is limited by political and societal pressures. A tool has been proposed to assess zoonotic risks in wildlife trade in the Asia-Pacific Region in order to inform policy decisions aimed at controlling and regulating this trade.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Joachim Otte, Ugo Pica-Ciamarra
Summary: This paper compares the relative frequency and characteristics of zoonotic disease emergence associated with food animals versus other animal sources, highlighting the neglect of food animals in policies and investments for the prevention and control of Emerging Infectious Zoonotic Diseases.
Review
Microbiology
Julia Eva Carpouron, Sybren de Hoog, Eleni Gentekaki, Kevin David Hyde
Summary: Fungal diseases are globally overlooked and neglected, causing an estimated 150 deaths per hour. Animal-associated fungal diseases, contracted from wildlife and domesticated animals, pose a significant risk to humans. Understanding the ecology and transmission modes of fungal pathogens is crucial in addressing this issue.
Article
Biology
Jaime Garcia-Moreno
Summary: Animals are continuously exposed to pathogens but rarely get infected due to barriers that pathogens must overcome. Planetary changes such as wildlife replacement, agricultural expansion, climate change, and globalization affect factors relevant to pathogen infections. Nature conservation measures and enhanced surveillance methods can help slow down and detect emerging outbreaks, but cannot fully prevent spillovers.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Md. Mazharul Islam, Elmoubashar Farag, Mohammad Mahmudul Hassan, Syed Shariq Jaffrey, Muzzamil Atta, Abdulla M. Al-Marri, Abdulaziz M. Al-Zeyara, Hamad Al Romaihi, Devendra Bansal, Zilungile L. Mkhize-Kwitshana
Summary: The increasing frequency of zoonotic pathogen spillover from animals to humans highlights the need for a comprehensive framework to investigate and prevent animal-origin pathogens, including those transmitted by rodents. This study provides an update on rodent-borne zoonotic diseases in Qatar, examines possible drivers and transmission dynamics, and proposes a One Health framework for intervention. The findings reveal the prevalence of different rodent species and the presence of various pathogens at the human-animal-ecosystem interface, emphasizing the importance of surveillance and mitigation measures.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Joana Ribeiro, Miguel B. Araujo, Joana Santana, Diederik Strubbe, Ana Sofia Vaz, Luis Reino
Summary: The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has had significant impact on the legal trade of exotic pets, leading to decreased availability and demand during the first wave. However, it is expected that demand and supply will either remain unchanged or temporarily decrease in the next five years. The demand for illegal exotic pets is predicted to remain unchanged. The main challenges reported are inadequate enforcement of regulations and increased illegal trade. Stronger law enforcement and initiatives to discourage consumption of wild exotic pets are necessary to meet market demand sustainably.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION
(2022)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Gianmarco Ferrara, Giuseppina Brocherel, Beatrice Falorni, Roberta Gori, Ugo Pagnini, Serena Montagnaro
Summary: Urbanization leads to increased interactions between wildlife, domestic animals, and humans, with red foxes being a common wild carnivore in Italy. A retrospective survey conducted in the Tuscany region revealed the exposure of red foxes to various zoonotic and carnivore-specific pathogens. The study highlights the need for large-scale surveillance to fully understand the epidemiological significance of these findings.
ACTA VETERINARIA SCANDINAVICA
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Yannick Ngnindji-Youdje, Adama Zan Diarra, Michel Lontsi-Demano, Timoleon Tchuinkam, Philippe Parola
Summary: Ticks in Cameroon carry a variety of microorganisms and pose a risk of zoonotic diseases.
Review
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Bayissa Chala, Feyissa Hamde
Summary: Vector-borne emerging and re-emerging diseases pose significant public health challenges globally. Interactions among pathogens, hosts, environment, and social demographic factors are key to the emergence and re-emergence of these diseases. Ongoing evolution of pathogens, population growth, urbanization, and climate change are among the factors linked with the appearance and resurgence of vector-borne infectious diseases.
FRONTIERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
(2021)
Review
Microbiology
Fabrizia Veronesi, Georgiana Deak, Anastasia Diakou
Summary: Wild mesocarnivores in Europe, such as the red fox, golden jackal, European wildcat, Mustelidae, raccoon dog, raccoons, and American mink, play a significant role in the introduction and transmission of parasitic zoonoses. This article discusses the importance of these animals as reservoirs, spreaders, or sentinels for endoparasites and emphasizes the need for surveillance and vigilance in studying their impact on human and domestic animal health.
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Clazien J. J. de Vos, Ronald Petie, Ed G. M. van Klink, Manon Swanenburg
Summary: Increasing globalization and international trade contribute to the rapid spread of animal and human diseases. To prevent and detect outbreaks of emerging and re-emerging diseases, preparedness is necessary. This study developed a rapid risk assessment tool (RRAT) to inform risk managers about the incursion risk of multiple livestock diseases, the main sources of incursion, and the change in risk over time. RRAT uses a relational database to link data on disease outbreaks, introduction routes, and disease-specific parameters. The tool calculates a semi-quantitative risk score for each disease and allows for prioritization. The results showed that the legal introduction routes had the highest incursion risk for bovine tuberculosis, while the illegal route posed the highest risk for classical swine fever.
FRONTIERS IN VETERINARY SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Valeria Trivellone, Eric P. Hoberg, Walter A. Boeger, Daniel R. Brooks
Summary: Climate change, emerging infectious diseases (EIDs), and food security are interconnected. Human activities disrupt habitat interfaces and accelerate pathogen movement. EIDs directly and indirectly threaten access to nutritious food, impacting global security and human health.
ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Margaret C. McEachran, Fernando Sampedro, Dominic A. Travis, Nicholas B. D. Phelps
Summary: With the global expansion of live animal trade, there is a growing need to assess the risks associated with invasive organisms, particularly pathogens. The movement and release of live baitfish by recreational anglers in the United States has been identified as a high-risk pathway for the spread of aquatic diseases. A hazard identification and ranking tool was developed to identify pathogens posing the highest risk to wild fish via this pathway, with the macroparasite Schizocotyle acheilognathi, the microsporidian Ovipleistophora ovariae, and viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus identified as the top threats. This framework can provide decision support for managers in maintaining a sustainable recreational fishing industry and healthy natural resources.
TRANSBOUNDARY AND EMERGING DISEASES
(2021)
Review
Infectious Diseases
Gerald C. Shurson, Amanda Palowski, Jennifer L. G. van de Ligt, Declan C. Schroeder, Cecilia Balestreri, Pedro E. Urriola, Fernando Sampedro
Summary: There is no published evidence of African swine fever virus in feed ingredients or complete feed, likely due to limitations in detection technology, data availability, and challenges. Some feed matrices were found to support virus survival longer than others in experiments, but the reasons are still unknown.
TRANSBOUNDARY AND EMERGING DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Magdalena Costa, Victoria Brusa, Nora Lia Padola, Analia Etcheverria, Fernando Sampedro, Pablo S. Fernandez, Gerardo A. Leotta, Marcelo Signorini
Summary: The study aimed to develop a QMRA model to assess the risk of HUS associated with beef consumption in Argentina. Different interventions were simulated to evaluate their impact on reducing the risk of HUS, with improvements in abattoirs without HACCP showing the most significant reduction in disease probability.
FOOD SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY INTERNATIONAL
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Rachel A. Schambow, Fernando Sampedro, Pedro E. Urriola, Jennifer L. G. van de Ligt, Andres Perez, Gerald C. Shurson
Summary: A quantitative risk assessment model was developed to estimate the probability of ASFV-contaminated corn or soybean meal ocean vessels being imported into the United States annually. The model considered different likelihood conditions and found that recontamination had a significant impact on the risk of ASFV-contaminated soybean meal vessels entering the United States.
TRANSBOUNDARY AND EMERGING DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Assaf Anyamba, Richard Damoah, Alan Kemp, Jennifer L. Small, Melinda K. Rostal, Whitney Bagge, Claudia Cordel, Robert Brand, William B. Karesh, Janusz T. Paweska
Summary: The activity of Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) in Southern Africa is influenced by climatic conditions, specifically elevated rainfall and cooler temperatures. These conditions, which are regulated by the El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), provide ideal breeding grounds for RVFV mosquito vectors. A 5-year study conducted in the Free State province of South Africa revealed that the post-epizootic period of RVFV activity is characterized by below-normal rainfall, high temperatures, and decreased vegetation. These conditions limit the habitat available for RVFV vectors and reduce the likelihood of RVFV transmission. However, a focal RVF outbreak occurred in 2017-2018 due to above-average rainfall, indicating the possibility of future RVFV activity.
FRONTIERS IN VETERINARY SCIENCE
(2022)
Letter
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
F. Sampedro, C. W. Hedberg
EPIDEMIOLOGY AND INFECTION
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Angelica Godinez-Oviedo, Fernando Sampedro, John P. Bowman, Francisco J. Garces-Vega, Montserrat Hernandez-Iturriaga
Summary: To prevent and control foodborne diseases, it is important to identify the foods that are most likely to cause illness. This study ranked 25 commonly consumed food products associated with Salmonella enterica contamination in the Central Region of Mexico using a multicriteria decision analysis framework. The results can help risk managers select interventions and develop targeted surveillance programs against S. enterica in high-risk food products.
Article
Ornithology
Enzo Basso, Irene Bueno, Francisca Izquierdo, Miguel D. Saggese
Summary: This study aimed to establish hematological and biochemical reference intervals for captive Black-chested Buzzard-Eagles in central Chile. The findings contribute to the understanding of health indicators for this raptor species, aid in its management and conservation, and identify future research needs.
JOURNAL OF RAPTOR RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Irene Bueno, Antonio Rodriguez, Amanda Beaudoin, William A. Arnold, Kristine H. Wammer, Ana de la Torre, Randall S. Singer
Summary: Antimicrobials can enter the soil environment from various sources and pathways, affecting soil microorganisms and enhancing the spread of antimicrobial resistance. This study assessed the vulnerability of Minnesota soil to contamination with specific antimicrobials at different temperatures throughout the year. The results showed that southwestern Minnesota is most vulnerable to contamination by enrofloxacin, chlortetracycline, and oxytetracycline in April and October.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Fernando Sampedro, Fernando Perez-Rodriguez, Joseph L. Servadio, Sanjay Gummalla, Craig W. Hedberg
Summary: Invasive listeriosis is a potentially fatal foodborne disease that may affect up to 32.9% of the US population considered at increased risk. Most cases are attributed to deli meats, followed by RTE salads, soft/semi-soft cheese, RTE seafood, and frozen vegetables. Implementing control measures and a quantitative risk assessment model can help reduce the number of cases and prevalence.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF FOOD MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Amanda Palowski, Cecilia Balestreri, Pedro E. Urriola, Jennifer L. G. van de Ligt, Fernando Sampedro, Scott Dee, Apoorva Shah, Haile F. Yancy, Gerald C. Shurson, Declan C. Schroeder
Summary: This study found that ASFV-like NCLDVs can retain viability in swine feed during long-distance transportation, and sampling sensitivity may explain the variation in virus quantity observed.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Emma R. Bollig, Elizabeth B. Hirsch, Irene Bueno, Ruth Lynfield, Jennifer L. Granick, Krista D. Gens, Ayesha Rashid, Kelly Harris, Kimberly Boeser, Amanda L. Beaudoin
Summary: The Minnesota One Health Antibiotic Stewardship Collaborative (MOHASC) was established in 2016 to promote judicious antibiotic use, reduce the impact of antibiotic-resistant pathogens, and foster a One Health approach. Through various activities, MOHASC aims to improve antibiotic stewardship programs, enhance understanding of environmental impacts, and strengthen multidisciplinary relationships. This perspective serves as a blueprint for other jurisdictions to achieve broad antibiotic stewardship goals.
OPEN FORUM INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Review
Veterinary Sciences
Irene Bueno, Isabel Ricke, Haejin Hwang, Emily Smith, Andre Nault, Timothy J. Johnson, Randall S. Singer
Summary: This systematic review aimed to compare the effectiveness of antibiotic and non-antibiotic alternatives in preventing and treating necrotic enteritis in broiler chickens. A total of 40 studies were included, and the overall trend favored antibiotic compounds, although there was no significant difference compared to non-antibiotic alternatives.
Review
Environmental Sciences
Irene Bueno, Huan He, Amy C. Kinsley, Sarah J. Ziemann, Lauren R. Degn, Andre J. Nault, Amanda L. Beaudoin, Randall S. Singer, Kristine H. Wammer, William A. Arnold
Summary: The presence of antibiotics in surface waters poses a threat to human and environmental health due to the potential development of antibiotic resistance. This study aimed to analyze the literature on the photolysis, sorption, and biodegradation of selected antibiotic compounds. The results showed that information is available for predicting the rates of direct and indirect photolysis for most antibiotics, but there is insufficient data on other processes such as biodegradation and sorption.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Retraction
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
F. Sampedro, S. J. Wells, J. B. Bender, C. W. Hedberg
EPIDEMIOLOGY AND INFECTION
(2022)