Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is a worldwide zoonotic parasite that can infect almost warm-blood animals, including humans, which seriously affect the health of host. Cats are known to be the only definitive host of T. gondii and continuously excrete highly infectious oocysts. This parasite carried by the companion animals leads to a great public health risk. However, there is little information on epidemiology of T. gondii in urban cats in Kunming, Southwest China. In the present study, a total of 231 serum and fecal samples were collected in Kunming aera, and then seroprevalence of T. gondii IgG antibodies in serum and molecular investigation in feces were analyzed to elucidate T. gondii infection in urban cats. The results revealed that 168 of 231 cats (72.7%) were positive for T. gondii antibodies, and 1 of 74 cat feces (1.4%) also showed a positive PCR for T. gondii DNA. The positive fecal sample was sequenced and then phylogenetically analyzed, and the isolate of T. gondii in the present study was closely related to T. gondii strain CN. In addition, the food, water and age of cats were identified as the risk factor for seropositivity. Overall, our findings indicate the widespread occurrence of T. gondii infection in urban cats in Kunming, Southwest China and identify food, water and age are the risk factors associated with T. gondii infection, which can provide effective information for developing strategies to prevent and control this zoonosis.

Colpodella species are close relatives of Apicomplexan protozoa. Although most species of this genus are free-living organisms that feed on other protists and algae, reports indicate their occurence in ticks and human patients, including an individual with a history of tick bite manifesting neurological symptoms. During an investigation of tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) in blood samples of cattle, goats, and in ticks collected on them, Colpodella sp. DNA was detected in a Rhipicephalus bursa tick collected from cattle, while of Theileria sergenti/buffeli/orientalis, Babesia bigemina, Sarcocystis cruzi, Babesia spp., and Rickettsia spp. were molecularly detected in cattle, goats, and ticks in southern Italy. Data herein reported highlight the unprecedented presence of Colpodella sp. in ticks in Italy, raising concern due to the potential pathogenic role of this less known protozoan. This finding advocates for performing routine epidemiological surveys to monitor potential emerging vector-borne pathogens.

Rotavirus is a major causative agent of diarrhoea in children, infants, and young animals around the world. The associated zoonotic risk necessitates the serious consideration of the complete genetic information of rotavirus. A segmented genome makes rotavirus prone to rearrangement and the formation of a new viral strain. Monitoring the molecular epidemiology of rotavirus is essential for its prevention and control. The quantitative RT-PCR targeting the NSP5 gene was used to detect rotavirus group A (RVA) in pig faecal samples, and two pairs of universal primers and protocols were used for amplifying the G and P genotype. The genotyping and phylogenetic analysis of 11 genes were performed by RT-PCR and a basic bioinformatics method. A unique G4P[6] rotavirus strain, designated S2CF (RVA/Pig-tc/CHN/S2CF/2023/G4P[6]), was identified in one faecal sample from a piglet with severe diarrhoea in Guangdong, China. Whole genome sequencing and analysis suggested that the 11 segments of the S2CF strain showed a unique Wa-like genotype constellation and a typical porcine RVA genomic configuration of G4-P[6]-I1-R1-C1-M1-A8-N1-T1-E1-H1. Notably, 4 of the 11 gene segments (VP4, VP6, VP2, and NSP5) clustered consistently with human-like RVAs, suggesting independent human-to-porcine interspecies transmission. Moreover, a unique 344-nt duplicated sequence was identified for the first time in the untranslated region of NSP5. This study further reveals the genetic diversity and potential inter-species transmission of porcine rotavirus.

The industrialization of animal agriculture has undoubtedly contributed to the improvement of human well-being by increasing the efficiency of food animal production. At the same time, it has also drastically impacted the natural environment and human society. The One Health initiative emphasizes the interdependency of the health of ecosystems, animals, and humans. In this paper, we discuss some of the most profound consequences of animal agriculture practices from a One Health perspective. More specifically, we focus on impacts to host-microbe interactions by elaborating on how modern animal agriculture affects zoonotic infections, specifically those of bacterial origin, and the concomitant emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). A key question underlying these deeply interconnected issues is how to better prevent, monitor, and manage infections in animal agriculture. To address this, we outline approaches to mitigate the impacts of agricultural bacterial zoonoses and AMR, including the development of novel treatments as well as non-drug approaches comprising integrated surveillance programs and policy and education regarding agricultural practices and antimicrobial stewardship. Finally, we touch upon additional major environmental and health factors impacted by animal agriculture within the One Health context, including animal welfare, food security, food safety, and climate change. Charting how these issues are interwoven to comprise the complex web of animal agriculture\'s broad impacts on One Health will allow for the development of concerted, multidisciplinary interventions which are truly necessary to tackle these issues from a One Health perspective.

BACKGROUND: Streptococcus suis (S. suis) disease is a zoonotic infection caused by invasive S. suis and can lead to meningitis, septic shock, arthritis, and endocarditis. Early treatment is the key to reducing mortality. However, clinical manifestations of most cases are atypical, severely limiting rapid diagnosis and treatment.
METHODS: Here, we report a 74-year-old female patient diagnosed with S. suis infection. The main symptoms were hearing loss, lumbago, and scattered ecchymosis of the lower extremities and trunk. Blood non-specific infection indexes were significantly increased and platelets were significantly decreased; however, no pathogens were obtained from routine blood culture. Finally, the S. suis infection was confirmed by metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) of blood and cerebrospinal fluid. After antibiotic treatment, the limb and trunk scattered ecchymosis and lumbago symptoms were significantly relieved, but the hearing did not recover.
CONCLUSIONS: Human infection with S. suis is rare in central cities, and it is easy to misdiagnose, especially in cases with atypical early symptoms. mNGS technology, combined with clinical observation, is helpful to clarify the direction of diagnosis and treatment, which is conducive to patient recovery.

Sheep and goats serve as crucial hosts for Cryptosporidium spp. and are primarily responsible for its transmission via the fecal-oral route. This can result in symptoms such as lamb weight loss, diarrhea, and even fatalities, leading to significant economic losses. Currently, there is a lack of scholarly research investigating the prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. infection in sheep and goats specifically within Jiangsu province. This study collected fecal samples from sheep and goats, extracted their DNA, amplified target bands using nested PCR, sequenced the DNA, constructed a phylogenetic tree, and identified the genetic genotype. In total, 3 positive samples were identified out of 398 samples. Furthermore, the gene sequences of these samples exhibited significant homology with C. xiaoi in GenBank. The phylogenetic analysis revealed that the Cryptosporidium spp. parasites under investigation are phylogenetically related to C. xiaoi. Conducting epidemiological investigations and accurately identifying the species of Cryptosporidium spp. is of utmost importance not only for the mutton sheep farming industry in Jiangsu but also for the proactive safeguarding of human health.

UNASSIGNED: To establish the endovascular repair and prognosis of patients with aorto-iliac aneurysm and Brucella abortus infection.
UNASSIGNED: From September 2018 to September 2021, seven cases of Brucella abortus infection with aorto-iliac aneurysm were treated by the endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) procedure. Clinical and imaging data were collected to evaluate the therapeutic results, including body temperature, blood culture, imaging manifestations, stent patency and endoleak during the postoperative and follow-up periods.
UNASSIGNED: Except for one patient who died of acute hematemesis and hematochezia just after the admission, seven patients were treated successfully. The aneurysms were completely excluded, and all stent grafts were patent. Patients were followed up for 12-32 months, with an average follow-up of 18.5 ± 9.1 months. There were no cases of endoleak, infection recurrence, gluteal muscle ischemia or spinal cord ischemia during the follow-up period.
UNASSIGNED: It is feasible to treat Brucella abortus-infected aneurysms with the EVAR procedure. The results were optimistic in the short and medium-term. The application of sensitive antibiotics before and after the operation is the cornerstone of endovascular therapy. However, the long-term results require further follow-up.

Zoonotic hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection is an emerging global public health concern, and understanding the dynamics of HEV transmission between animals and humans is crucial for public health. Animal models are critical to advancing the understanding of HEV pathogenesis, drug screening, vaccine development, and other related areas. Here, we provide an overview of recent studies investigating the cross-species transmission of HEV, and also delve into the current research and application of animal HEV infection models including non-human primates, rodents, pigs, and chickens, offering a comprehensive assessment of the advantages and disadvantages of each model. This review highlights the findings related to viral replication, shedding patterns, and immune response in these animal models, and discusses the implications for our understanding of HEV transmission to humans. These advancements in the field enhance our understanding of the biological traits and pathogenic mechanisms of HEV, offering robust support for the development of highly effective and targeted prevention and treatment strategies.

Plague, a highly infectious disease caused by Yersinia pestis, has killed millions of people in history and is still active in the natural foci of the world nowadays. Understanding the spatiotemporal patterns of plague outbreaks in history is critically important, as it may help facilitate the prevention and control for potential future outbreaks. This study\'s objective was to estimate the effect of the topography, vegetation, climate, and other environmental factors on the Y. pestis ecological niche. A maximum entropy algorithm spatially modelled plague occurrence data from 2004-2018 and the environmental variables to evaluate the contribution of the variables to the distribution of Y. pestis. Our results found that the average minimum temperature in September (-8 °C to +5 °C) and the sheep population density (250 sheep per km2) were influential in characterising the niche. The rim of Qinghai Lake showed more favourable conditions for Y. pestis presence than other areas within the study area. Identifying various factors will assist any future modelling efforts. Our suitability map identifies hotspots and will help public health officials in resource allocation in their quest to abate future plague outbreaks.

Bats are important mammal reservoirs of zoonotic pathogens. However, due to research limitations involving species, locations, pathogens, or sample types, the full diversity of viruses in bats remains to be discovered. We used next-generation sequencing technology to characterize the mammalian virome and analyze the phylogenetic evolution and diversity of mammalian viruses carried by bats from Haikou City and Tunchang County in Hainan Province, China. We collected 200 pharyngeal swab and anal swab samples from Rhinolophus affinis, combining them into nine pools based on the sample type and collection location. We subjected the samples to next-generation sequencing and conducted bioinformatics analysis. All samples were screened via specific PCR and phylogenetic analysis. The diverse viral reads, closely related to mammals, were assigned into 17 viral families. We discovered many novel bat viruses and identified some closely related to known human/animal pathogens. In the current study, 6 complete genomes and 2 partial genomic sequences of 6 viral families and 8 viral genera have been amplified, among which 5 strains are suggested to be new virus species. These included coronavirus, pestivirus, bastrovirus, bocavirus, papillomavirus, parvovirus, and paramyxovirus. The primary finding is that a SADS-related CoV and a HoBi-like pestivirus identified in R. affinis in Hainan Province could be pathogenic to livestock. This study expands our understanding of bats as a virus reservoir, providing a basis for further research on the transmission of viruses from bats to humans.