Hepatitis E virus (HEV), species Paslahepevirus balayani, poses a global public health threat, especially in developing countries, by causing acute enterically transmitted hepatitis. HEV infects various mammalian hosts and belongs to the genus Paslahepevirus in the family Hepeviridae. While swine are recognized as the main hosts of HEV, rabbits, which can also be affected by swine HEV-3 related strains, serve as the primary reservoir for the distinct emerging and zoonotic HEV-3ra subtype. In Portugal, where the European wild rabbit is abundant, their role in HEV epidemiology remains unclear. The primary aim of the present research was to evaluate the circulation and the potential for HEV infection within these species. This study employed a molecular and longitudinal serological approach to investigate HEV in Portuguese rabbits. Among the 205 wild rabbits tested, a seroprevalence of 2.44% (95% CI: 0.80-5.60) was found, with no significant associations with age, sex, localization, or sampling dates. Seropositive animals were found in the south and center regions of the country. HEV RNA was not detected in 120 fecal samples, suggesting a natural, low level, and widespread viral circulation. The study underscores the need for further research to comprehend HEV dynamics in these species, which is crucial for assessing potential transmission risks to humans.

Fasciolosis is a worldwide zoonotic snail-borne infection that affects ruminants, it causes high economic losses among livestock. A participatory epidemiological survey was conducted on 204 sheep owners of Sejnane region (District of Bizerte, Northwest Tunisia) to assess their knowledge, attitude and practice regarding fasciolosis. All interviewed sheep owners are aware of this parasitic infection (100%, 204/204), among them, 81% (165/204) reported history of clinical cases in their sheep flocks. According to 33.73% (113/335) of them, sheep get infected by fasciolosis mainly by grazing in wet areas, 79.9% (163/204) of these farmers think that wet climate is the most favourable for the infection. Weight loss (28.40%, 121/426) and submandibular oedema (20.42%, 87/426) are the main clinical signs of fasciolosis cited by interviewed sheep owners and the majority of them (98.53%; 201/204) confirmed that fasciolosis causes significant economic losses. Fasciolosis infection persists in Sejnane region despite the use of antiparasitic drugs, this is due mainly to the fact that animals graze in moist grass (39.88%, 132/331). Treat animals (51.47%, 193/375), prohibit grazing on moist grass (15.20%, 57/357), prohibit grazing on wet soils (14.33%, 53/357) and avoid pastures (10.93%, 41/357) are the main prevention measures cited by interviewed sheep owners. Only 18,14% (37/204) of responders knew that fascioliasis is a zoonotic disease. These results could be considered by animal health decision makers and field veterinarians when implementing control programmes in order to increase breeders\' knowledge of fasciolosis.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the clinical characteristics of Brucella endocarditis (BE) and observe the factors related to death to provide guidance for clinical treatment.
METHODS: This study examined all patients with BE admitted to The First People\'s Hospital of Kashi Prefecture between January 2017 and November 2023. Clinical characteristics and follow-up outcomes were collected for analysis.
RESULTS: This study revealed 774 cases of brucellosis and 14 cases of BE, with an overall incidence rate of 1.88%. Most of the patients were male (71.43%) and lived in areas where brucellosis is common. Patients ranged in age from 26 to 68 years. Common symptoms reported among patients included chest tightness and fatigue, and a significant portion also presented with congestive heart failure. Most patients exhibited normal white blood cell counts (WBC) but had elevated levels of C-reactive protein (CRP). Transthoracic ultrasound (TTE) revealed cardiac valve vegetation in all patients, along with positive blood cultures. Six patients (42.86%) completed heart surgery, and ten (71.43%) completed anti-infection treatment. Six patients died, five of whom did not undergo surgery. The other patient with Marfan syndrome died after surgery. Sex, WBC count, neutrophil (NEUT) and total bilirubin (TBIL) were significant factors associated with regression in BE patients (P < 0.05) according to univariate analysis.
CONCLUSIONS: Patients with BE in Kashi have a severe clinical presentation at diagnosis, but early detection with improved cardiac ultrasound and aggressive treatment can improve the prognosis.

As the mankind counters the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic by the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), it simultaneously witnesses the emergence of mpox virus (MPXV) that signals at global spread and could potentially lead to another pandemic. Although MPXV has existed for more than 50 years now with most of the human cases being reported from the endemic West and Central African regions, the disease is recently being reported in non-endemic regions too that affect more than 50 countries. Controlling the spread of MPXV is important due to its potential danger of a global spread, causing severe morbidity and mortality. The article highlights the transmission dynamics, zoonosis potential, complication and mitigation strategies for MPXV infection, and concludes with suggested \'one health\' approach for better management, control and prevention. Bibliometric analyses of the data extend the understanding and provide leads on the research trends, the global spread, and the need to revamp the critical research and healthcare interventions. Globally published mpox-related literature does not align well with endemic areas/regions of occurrence which should ideally have been the scenario. Such demographic and geographic gaps between the location of the research work and the endemic epicentres of the disease need to be bridged for greater and effective translation of the research outputs to pubic healthcare systems, it is suggested.

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is a fatal zoonosis caused by ticks in East Asia. As SFTS virus (SFTSV) is maintained between wildlife and ticks, seroepidemiological studies in wildlife are important to understand the behavior of SFTSV in the environment. Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan, is an SFTS-endemic area, and approximately 100 feral horses, called Misaki horses (Equus caballus), inhabit Cape Toi in Miyazaki Prefecture. While these animals are managed in a wild-like manner, their ages are ascertainable due to individual identification. In the present study, we conducted a seroepidemiological survey of SFTSV in Misaki horses between 2015 and 2023. This study aimed to understand SFTSV infection in horses and its transmission to wildlife. A total of 707 samples from 180 feral horses were used to determine the seroprevalence of SFTSV using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Neutralization testing was performed on 118 samples. In addition, SFTS viral RNA was detected in ticks from Cape Toi and feral horses. The overall seroprevalence between 2015 and 2023 was 78.5% (555/707). The lowest seroprevalence was 55% (44/80) in 2016 and the highest was 92% (76/83) in 2018. Seroprevalence was significantly affected by age, with 11% (8/71) in those less than one year of age and 96.7% (435/450) in those four years of age and older (p < 0.0001). The concordance between ELISA and neutralization test results was 88.9% (105/118). SFTS viral RNA was not detected in ticks (n = 516) or feral horses. This study demonstrated that horses can be infected with SFTSV and that age is a significant factor in seroprevalence in wildlife. This study provides insights into SFTSV infection not only in horses but also in wildlife in SFTS-endemic areas.

The aim of this study is to develop a scoring platform to be used as a reference for both medical preparedness and research resource allocation in the prioritization of zoonoses. Using a case-control design, a comprehensive analysis of 46 zoonoses was conducted to identify factors influencing disease prioritization. This analysis provides a basis for constructing models and calculating prioritization scores for different diseases. The case group (n = 23) includes diseases that require immediate notification to health authorities within 24 hours of diagnosis. The control group (n = 23) includes diseases that do not require such immediate notification. Two different models were developed for primary disease prioritization: one model incorporated the four most commonly used prioritization criteria identified through an extensive literature review. The second model used the results of multiple logistic regression analysis to identify significant factors (with p-value less than 0.1) associated with 24-hour reporting, allowing for objective determination of disease prioritization criteria. These different modeling approaches may result in different weights and positive or negative effects of relevant factors within each model. Our study results highlight the variability of zoonotic disease information across time and geographic regions. It provides an objective platform to rank zoonoses and highlights the critical need for regular updates in the prioritization process to ensure timely preparedness. This study successfully established an objective framework for assessing the importance of zoonotic diseases. From a government perspective, it advocates applying principles that consider disease characteristics and medical resource preparedness in prioritization. The results of this study also emphasize the need for dynamic prioritization to effectively improve preparedness to prevent and control disease.

Cruise ships carrying COVID-19-vaccinated populations applied near-identical nonpharmaceutical measures during July-November 2021; passenger masking was not applied on 2 ships. Infection risk for masked passengers was 14.58 times lower than for unmasked passengers and 19.61 times lower than in the community. Unmasked passengers\' risk was slightly lower than community risk.

We evaluated Q fever prevalence in blood donors and assessed the epidemiologic features of the disease in Israel in 2021. We tested serum samples for Coxeilla burnetii phase I and II IgG using immunofluorescent assay, defining a result of >200 as seropositive. We compared geographic and demographic data. We included 1,473 participants; 188 (12.7%) were seropositive. The calculated sex- and age-adjusted national seroprevalence was 13.9% (95% CI 12.2%-15.7%). Male sex and age were independently associated with seropositivity (odds ratio [OR] 1.6, 95% CI 1.1-2.2; p = 0.005 for male sex; OR 1.2, 95% CI 1.01-1.03; p<0.001 for age). Residence in the coastal plain was independently associated with seropositivity for Q fever (OR 1.6, 95% CI 1.2-2.3; p<0.001); residence in rural and farming regions was not. Q fever is highly prevalent in Israel. The unexpected spatial distribution in the nonrural coastal plain suggests an unrecognized mode of transmission.

BACKGROUND: With increased attention to the importance of integrating the One Health approach into zoonotic disease surveillance and response, a greater understanding of the mechanisms to support effective communication and information sharing across animal and human health sectors is needed. The objectives of this qualitative case study were to describe the communication channels used between human and animal health stakeholders and to identify the elements that have enabled the integration of the One Health approach.
METHODS: We combined documentary research with interviews with fifteen stakeholders to map the communication channels used in human and swine influenza surveillance in Alberta, Canada, as well as in the response to a human case of H1N2v in 2020. A thematic analysis of the interviews was also used to identify the barriers and facilitators to communication among stakeholders from the animal and human health sectors.
RESULTS: When a human case of swine influenza emerged, the response led by the provincial Chief Medical Officer of Health involved players at various levels of government and in the human and animal health sectors. The collaboration of public and animal health laboratories and of the swine sector, in addition to the information available through the surveillance systems in place, was swift and effective. Elements identified as enabling smooth communication between the human and animal health systems included preexisting relationships between the various stakeholders, a relationship of trust between them (e.g., the swine sector and their perception of government structures), the presence of stakeholders acting as permanent liaisons between the ministries of health and agriculture, and stakeholders\' understanding of the importance of the One Health approach.
CONCLUSIONS: Information flows through formal and informal channels and both structural and relational features that can support rapid and effective communication in infectious disease surveillance and outbreak response.

In recent decades, the rise of zoonotic diseases has emerged as a significant human health concern, highlighting the interconnectedness of human and animal health within the framework of the \"One Health\" (OH) concept. This study, conducted in Italy in 2023, sought to gauge the general population\'s awareness of OH and zoonotic diseases while identifying influencing factors. Additionally, it aimed to assess awareness of an Mpox virus vaccine, particularly pertinent due to the 2022 outbreak across Europe. The online cross-sectional study encompassed 1058 participants, revealing that 54.26% were unfamiliar with OH and zoonoses. Median knowledge scores were 12 points (IQR = 9-15) for zoonoses and 8 points (IQR = 6-11) for OH. Notably, factors such as age, economic situation, healthcare employment, educational level, and health literacy significantly influenced knowledge scores. Merely 26.8% of participants were aware of the existence of an Mpox vaccine, with healthcare workers, individuals engaged in animal-related work, and non-heterosexual men demonstrating higher awareness. The findings underscored a limited public understanding of zoonotic diseases and One Health, with variations observed across specific demographic groups. Given the potential impact on public health, urgent educational initiatives are warranted. Moreover, the study highlighted a low awareness of the Mpox vaccine, emphasizing the necessity for targeted awareness campaigns directed at both professionals and the general public.