In December 2025, highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b genotype DI.2.1 virus was detected in a cat living on a dairy cattle farm. Milk and serum samples from the dairy cattle were tested for avian influenza virus. No viral RNA was detected; however, H5N1-specific antibodies were identified in serum samples from 34 (47.2%) of 72 lactating dairy cows and 24 (63.2%) of 38 youngstock. These demonstrate expansion of the mammalian host range of HPAI H5N1 in Europe.
Abstract Hercinothrips aethiopiae (Thysanoptera: Thripidae: Panchaetothripinae) is a newly introduced thrips species in Western Europe that has been recorded for the first time in Belgium. This article summarizes all known European records of the species up to March 2026, which, in addition to Belgium, include only the Netherlands and Germany. Illustrative images are provided to facilitate identification. Some information is given on spread and damage potential.
Monitoring regulated quarantine plant pathogens and, when relevant, their vectors is compulsory in the European Union. Local Monochamus species (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae) vector the pine wood nematode, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, a non-native pest already established in most of Portugal. Only 29 M. galloprovincialis individuals were trapped in Belgium in ten years (2013–2022), despite a dense coverage of pheromone-baited traps, suggesting absence or a very rare local occurrence in the country. In the northern neighbouring countries, only one single established population is known in The Netherlands and one in Denmark. A species distribution model based on pheromone-trap catches (negative and positive) of M. galloprovincialis from 4,914 traps in 29 European countries between 2008 and 2019 was developed, using the overall climate conditions and the distribution of seven pine tree species as explanatory variables. The effect of spatial scale was tested with a multi-scale approach. With a 225*225 km spatial grain, the major explanatory variables were the mean diurnal temperature range and, to a lesser extent, the presence of Pinus spp. The model predicted a low probability of presence in Belgium, the Netherlands, Great Britain and north-western Germany compared to southern Europe. Genotyping allowed to conclude that at least some of the beetles caught in Belgium originated from foreign locations. All catches were located close to entry points, suggesting introduction with imported material. The small size of most of the Belgian pine stands may also explain the absence or apparently transient status, or rareness of Monochamus spp. This study thus suggests that surveys in Belgium should privilege entry points rather than local forest stands.
We investigated the association between farm animal welfare (FAW) concern and self-classified meat consumption behavior and consumers’ socio-demographic, animal-contact-related, and ideological background factors. Covariate analyses and a machine-learning algorithm, Random Forest, were used to analyze complex, non-linear relationships between the data from 2116 Dutch households. FAW concern often turns out to be moderate to strong but is not simply associated with reduced meat consumption. Political orientation showed the strongest association with FAW concern and diet. Left-wing orientation is positively associated with FAW concern and less frequent or no meat consumption. Christian affiliation does the opposite, while non-Christian religious affiliation is weakly associated with vegetarian or vegan diets. Men more likely report an omnivorous diet and less FAW concern, while women report a vegetarian or vegan diet and higher concern. Voting left or center, Christian affiliation, and higher education are linked to a flexitarian diet. Lower education is associated with an omnivorous diet. In both rural and urban regions, income and household composition have little to no associations with both dietary self-classification and FAW concern. Respondents with regular animal contact show relatively strong FAW concern but no association with self-identified diet. Our results suggest that reducing or abstaining from meat is most strongly associated with ideological orientations. FAW concern alone is not expressed in diet.
In September 2023, bluetongue virus serotype 3 (BTV-3) was identified among sheep and cattle in the Netherlands. Severe clinical signs and increased mortality were reported in sheep and cattle. The aim of this study was to quantify the impact of BTV-3 on mortality, abortions and premature births in cattle in the Netherlands in 2023. Data were available from 1 January 2020-31 December 2023 and were aggregated at herd-month level. Cattle herds were assigned a BTV-3 status for each herd-month: 1) herds that notified clinical signs of BTV-3, 2) herds that did not notify clinical signs but were located in BTV-3 infected areas or 3) herds that were located in BTV-3 free areas (all areas without BTV-3 notifications). Multivariable population-averaged generalized estimating equations models were used to quantify the association between the BTV-3 epidemic and cattle mortality, abortions and premature births. The results showed that from September 2023 until the end of 2023, perinatal calf mortality increased 1.11 (95 % CI:1.06-1.16) and 1.07 (95 % CI: 1.05-1.09) times, in dairy herds with a notified BTV-3 outbreak and in other dairy herds located in outbreak areas, respectively. Premature birth may be one of the explanations of increased calf mortality, as suggested by an odds ratio of 1.39 (95 % CI: 1.26-1.54) for premature births in dairy herds with a notified BTV-3 outbreak compared to dairy herds in BTV-3 free areas. The odds of abortions in infected dairy herds was 1.1 (95 %CI: 1.02-1.20) times higher compared to non-infected herds. Mortality in cattle aged 1-2 years and older than 2 years increased 2.25 (95 %CI: 1.97-2.58) and 1.71 (95 % CI: 1.62-1.81) times respectively, in infected dairy herds. In dairy herds without notification located in BTV-3 infected areas, mortality increased by 1.17 (95 %CI: 1.07-1.27) and 1.22 (95 % CI: 1.19-1.25) times respectively, compared to herds in BTV-3 free areas. In addition, suckler cow herds, beef cattle herds and small scale non-dairy cattle herds with a notified BTV-3 outbreak showed a significantly increased mortality during the BTV-3 epidemic compared to herds in BTV-3 free areas. In conclusion, BTV-3 infections markedly increased abortions, mortality and premature births in cattle herds.
