Background Schistosomiasis is a major neglected tropical disease (NTD) in Malawi, increasingly recognized as zoonotic due to hybridization between human and animal schistosome species. While mass drug administration (MDA) programmes target humans, chemotherapy options for livestock are nascent and, more importantly, levels of general awareness about zoonotic transmission within livestock stakeholders needs to be assessed. Methods A cross-sectional mixed-methods study was conducted in Mangochi and Chikwawa districts. Quantitative data were collected through survey questionnaires with 273 livestock farmers, and qualitative insights were obtained from in-depth interviews with 14 animal health workers. Descriptive statistics and Chi-square tests assessed knowledge and practices, while thematic analysis explored systemic barriers and opportunities for control. Results Over half of farmers (57.9%) recognized zoonotic transmission, yet only 0.8% linked schistosomiasis to animals. Awareness of zoonoses was significantly higher in Chikwawa than Mangochi (p < 0.001), reflecting district-level differences in historical disease control programming. Farmers most often cited rabies and tuberculosis as zoonoses, while schistosomiasis was rarely mentioned. Animal health workers acknowledged zoonotic risks but reported systemic challenges, including inadequate veterinary infrastructure, personnel shortages and drug unavailability. Conclusion Recognition of urogenital schistosomiasis as a zoonotic disease among farmers is limited, and veterinary system constraints hinder effective control. Given the documented role of livestock and schistosome hybrids in transmission, integrating animal health into national schistosomiasis programmes is essential. A One Health approach combining farmer education, strengthened veterinary services and coordinated human - animal interventions offers the most viable path toward reducing transmission and advancing elimination goals.
Coronaviruses (CoVs) are widespread RNA viruses infecting a broad range of avian and mammalian hosts. Although gammacoronaviruses and deltacoronaviruses (DCoVs) are common in wild birds, their presence in Eurasian passerines remains poorly understood. We screened 243 birds (35 species) at migratory stopover sites in Slovenia (2020−2021) using pan-coronavirus RT-PCR. Coronavirus RNA was detected only in four Eurasian Tree Sparrows (Passer montanus). Whole-genome sequencing yielded genomes of 26,017–26,018 bp with high internal conservation (99.95–99.98% identity).Phylogenetic analysis revealed notable evolutionary incongruence: isolates were highly related to porcine DCoVs in the ORF1ab region (95.6–96.1% amino acid identity) but clustered with divergent avian DCoVs in the spike gene (75.7–76.8% identity). RDP5 analysis provided strong evidence for a large-scale recombination event (p = 1.17 × 10–43), consistent with a mosaic genomic architecture combining an ORF1ab region closely related to porcine DCoVs with an avian-associated spike gene. This genomic pattern highlights evolutionary connectivity among DCoVs associated with different host groups and the potential role of recombination in changes in host association.The synanthropic behaviour and mobility of P. montanus facilitate contact with diverse hosts, making this species relevant for investigating DCoV ecology at wildlife–livestock interfaces. These findings represent the first genomic characterisation of DCoVs in P. montanus in Europe and support the inclusion of passerines in broader coronavirus surveillance. Genomic surveillance of underrepresented wild-bird hosts can improve our understanding of DCoV diversity, recombination, and evolution across wildlife–livestock interfaces.
The indiscriminate use of antimicrobials in food-producing animals is a major contributor to antimicrobial resistance (AMR), a global One Health challenge that threatens the interconnected health of humans, animals, and ecosystems. Hence, this study conducted to assess the association between farm-level biosecurity practices and antimicrobial use in commercial poultry farms in Bangladesh. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 331 poultry farms (broiler: 113, layer: 103, Sonali: 115) across six districts from September to December 2021. A directed acyclic graph informed variable selection and generalized linear models (GLM) and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression were used to identify factors associated with antimicrobial use. Overall, 27.8% of farms reported antibiotic use on the day of the interview, and 49.2% had used antibiotics in the preceding 14 days. Antimicrobial use was significantly higher in rural farms and those with dirt floors or floor-based rearing systems. Higher odds of antimicrobial use were also linked to farmer education level, proximity to recent avian influenza outbreaks, unrestricted access of wild animal, and nearby crow roost. Conversely, farms implementing stronger biosecurity including isolating sick birds, and farms rearing layer birds and maintaining improved infrastructure reported significantly lower antibiotic use. These findings indicate that farm infrastructure, wildlife interfaces and hygiene practices are important correlates of antimicrobial use. Strengthening farm-level biosecurity, regulating antimicrobial access, and expanding veterinary extension services, especially in rural areas are critical to reduce antibiotic dependency and mitigating AMR risks. Establishing a national AMR surveillance framework that links animal, environmental, and human health sectors is essential to monitor resistance patterns and guide targeted policy interventions.
Recent epidemics and pandemics caused by respiratory viruses, alongside the animal panzootic spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5Nx), have become a structural feature of the Anthropocene, yet responses remain largely reactive. This review integrates findings from WHO's Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS) and related surveillance data (2000–2024), epidemiological studies of influenza A virus, SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, SARS-CoV-2, and H5Nx, and One Health literature. We examine major groups of respiratory viruses and identify mismatches between risk and surveillance by focusing on spillover potential from animal hosts, human-to-human transmission and its controllability, and Anthropocene characteristics that increase epidemic risk. The analysis indicated that SARS-related coronaviruses and influenza A viruses, particularly H5Nx, are among the leading candidates based on currently available evidence because they have large reservoirs in animal hosts and spillover to humans is highly probable. The previous presymptomatic spread of SARS-CoV-2 and recent mammalian adaptation in H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b highlight limitations of the traditional symptom-based and pathogen-specific surveillance system. Spillover events tend to occur in tropical and subtropical regions in low- and middle-income countries, but most genomic surveillance is in high-income countries. We propose interventions that address the upstream, midstream, downstream processes of epidemics. Upstream interventions are primary prevention measures related to land use, livestock, wildlife, and urban environments; midstream interventions are GISRS+-based pathogen-agnostic genomic and metagenomic early warning systems triggered by One Health; and downstream interventions include vaccines, antivirals, non-pharmaceutical interventions, and engineering with equity-centred global governance and sustainable financing.
In November 2025, a new genotype II African swine fever virus (ASFV) variant emerged in wild boars (Sus scrofa) in Barcelona, Spain. The peri-urban setting favours a higher wild boar population density. Furthermore, the new variant seems associated to slower mortality, possibly resulting in longer-lasting transmission. Together, such particularities form a novel outbreak scenario that requires adapting the current ASF eradication strategies developed for highly pathogenic ASFV-strains in lower density wild boar populations. While the same main interventions (fencing; carcass search, removal and disposal; and wild boar depopulation) are to be applied, the intensity, relative importance, and spatiotemporal distribution of each intervention must be tailored. The main recommended adaption is increasing culling intensity to reach depopulation, compensating higher population density and slower disease-related mortality. This represents a challenging objective in the peri-urban MAB context and its multiple human, wildlife, and environment-related constraints.
Background:Despite the progress made, malaria continues to impose a major global and regional burden. India contributes to almost half of the malaria cases in South-East Asia. In 2024, an unusual increase in malaria cases was observed in Alipurduar and neighbouring Kokrajhar district in Northeast India; regions that had maintained an API below 1 for several years. Thus, understanding the climatic and environmental factors of this outbreak is critical for early detection and prevention. Methods:Monthly epidemiological data on confirmed malaria cases in both districts were analysed from 2018 to 2024 along with meteorological variables and El Niño-Southern Oscillation indices. Multiple Poisson regression models incorporating lagged climatic parameters were developed separately and assessed using the RMSE for out-of-sample prediction performance. Results:The marked increase in malaria cases observed between August and December 2024 in both districts was primarily driven by Plasmodium vivax infections (∼95% cases in Alipurduar). The models showed no heteroscedasticity (p > 0.05) and captured the outbreak trend well in both districts. The lagged temperature was identified as a common significant predictor variable in both districts, with a delayed effect of 2-3 months. Precipitation was negatively associated with malaria in both districts, with a 1-month lagged impact in Alipurduar and none in Kokrajhar. The non-transferability of the models confirms a differential impact of weather variables, along with local vector dynamics, and an independent, indirect effect modification of El Niño conditions on the reported malaria cases in both districts. Conclusion:The lagged temperature increase associated with El Niño-driven climatic anomalies exerted a strong influence on the 2024 malaria outbreaks in Alipurduar and Kokrajhar. These results emphasise the role of integrating ENSO-based forecasting within malaria in early-warning systems. Early, climate-informed surveillance and planning for vector control would prevent localized resurgence and sustain malaria elimination gains, especially in low-API districts.
Background:Libya faces recurrent and emerging health threats at the human, animal, and environment interface, compounded by prolonged instability and fragmented health systems. The National Bridging Workshop (NBW) is a structured approach to identify multisectoral collaboration gaps and develop a joint One Health Roadmap aligned with international health security frameworks. This study aimed to describe Libya's first NBW and evaluate its effect on increasing participants' One Healthknowledge. Methods:We conducted a quasi-experimental study using a single-group longitudinal design with pre-intervention, immediate post-intervention, and three-month follow-up assessments of One Health knowledge. The intervention was to deliver the NBW in Tripoli from 23 to 25 February 2025. Over three days, multisectoral stakeholders assessed collaboration across 16 technical areas using four locally adapted hazard scenarios (rabies, leishmaniasis, salmonellosis, and antimicrobial resistance [AMR]), mapped priority gaps to relevant International Health Regulations and Performance of Veterinary Services (PVS) indicators and co-developed a One Health Roadmap. Results:Seventy participants from human health, animal health, environmental health, food and drug control, and academia attended. Collaboration gaps were most consistently observed in technical-level coordination, sustainable financing, laboratory systems, education and training, and emergency funding across scenarios. Participants developed a joint roadmap comprising 11 objectives and 26 activities, with sustainable financing and the integration of One Health into legislation identified as the key priorities. Knowledge scores differed significantly across the three assessments time points (Friedman test, p < 0.001; Kendall's W = 0.44), indicating a moderate overall effect. Pairwise comparisons showed significantly higher scores immediately after the workshop than at baseline (median, 19 (18-20) vs. 16; p < 0.001; rank-biserial correlation, r = 0.64) and at three months than at baseline (median, 18.5 (15-20) vs. 16 (13-18); p = 0.015; r = 0.40). Conclusions:The NBW was successfully implemented in a fragile setting and generated a prioritized One Health Roadmap. Knowledge gains that persisted at three months suggest that NBW may contribute to capacity building beyond planning outputs, supporting the longer-term operationalization of One Health and strengthening preparedness and response.
Health education initiatives have received increasing attention in public policy; however, empirical evidence on the comparative efficacy of different teaching strategies remains limited. This study evaluated four educational approaches: group discussion, theater, board games, and traditional board-based instruction, among 166 elementary school students participating in activities focused on zoonoses, including rabies, sporotrichosis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and leishmaniasis. Adjusted exploratory analyses showed higher knowledge gain for board game than for group discussion, while no statistically significant differences were detected among the other strategies. Post-intervention scores were significantly higher than pre-intervention scores, indicating knowledge gains after the educational activities. The proportion of correct responses related to zoonoses increased from 15.7% to 56.6% (p < 0.05), while knowledge of One Health concepts rose from 38.2% to 55.7% (p < 0.05). Overall, the findings indicate that the educational interventions showed efficacy in enhancing students' knowledge and fostering behavioral changes within their family environments. These results highlight the potential of structured school-based health education to promote awareness and prevention of zoonotic diseases.
Emerging infectious diseases, driven by climate change, urbanization, and global wildlife trade, pose significant threats to public health, ecosystems, and biodiversity. The One Health (OH) approach, which emphasizes the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health, is critical to address these challenges. In this context, animal organoids have emerged as innovative in vitro models that can advance OH goals. Organoids are 3-dimensional (3D) structures that closely resemble the cellular composition, organization, and function of the organ they mimic. This review outlines the steps to establish organoid systems and provides an overview of the different animal organoid types developed to date and their contribution to OH. We further explore the applications of these new approach methodologies in the context of OH in studying cross-species diseases, zoonotic infections, environmental pollutant, chemical biocides toxicity, antimicrobial resistance, animal breeding, and pandemic preparedness.
Background:Alveolar echinococcosis (AE) is an emerging and potentially fatal zoonosis caused by accidental ingestion of infective eggs of the cestode Echinococcus multilocularis. Household members of AE patients share the same human-animal-environment interface and may therefore have similar risks for exposure to infective eggs. Methods:We conducted a cross-sectional study at the University Hospital of Ulm, Germany. Unrelated household members of AE patients who shared the same household for ≥5 years prior to the patient's diagnosis were invited for screening with serological testing and abdominal ultrasound. The primary endpoint was the prevalence of possible or probable AE. Results:A total of 100 household members from 100 AE patients were recruited. Six participants showed positive or borderline results in one of the two serological tests, but none showed positivity in both and all had negative western blot results. Of the 88 participants with available imaging, only one participant had a calcified, inactive AE lesion, classified as possible AE. No participant met the criteria for probable AE. Conclusion:We observed a higher seroprevalence (6.0%) among household members than pooled estimates from population-based screenings in high-endemic areas (1.9%; 95% CI 1.6-2.1%). The prevalence of inactive AE (1136 per 100,000) also exceeded that reported in these studies (51 per 100,000; 95% CI 22-101); however, the sample size and a different screening approach limit the comparability of the findings. Importantly, AE remained rare in this group, and no clinically relevant active cases were detected. Although exposure to infective EM eggs may be increased among household members, host-related factors may influence whether infection becomes clinically manifest. Based on these results, routine screening of unrelated household members cannot be recommended at this time.
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global health challenge, and wild birds are recognized as sentinels of environmental AMR circulation at the human-animal-environment interface. This study investigated the phenotypic profiles of AMR in Gram-positive bacteria from wild avifauna in Lombardy, Northern Italy, focusing on resistance to Critically Important Antimicrobials (CIAs) for human medicine. In total, 205 wild birds admitted to a wildlife rescue center were sampled (2024-2025). Isolates were identified by MALDI-TOF MS and characterized by disk diffusion susceptibility testing following validated international breakpoints; supplementary phenotypic tests were applied for vancomycin susceptibility (MIC strips), methicillin-resistance (MR; cefoxitin disk), high-level aminoglycoside resistance (HLAR; gentamicin disk), and beta-lactamase production (penicillin G morphology and nitrocefin test). Among 469 total isolates, 188 (40.1%) were Gram-positive, predominantly Lactobacillales (95.2%), with Enterococcus spp. as the dominant genus. Multidrug-resistance (MDR) was detected in 17% of Gram-positive isolates. Among Lactobacillales, resistance to rifampicin (35.7%) and tetracycline (29.6%) was most prevalent. Resistance to linezolid (6.1%) and fluoroquinolones (2.8%), authorized exclusively for human medicine, was detected in multiple Enterococcus species, including isolates from non-synanthropic birds. No acquired resistance to vancomycin in Enterococcus isolates was detected. HLAR affected 5.6% of Enterococcus isolates. Among Bacillales, a MR Staphylococcus epidermidis and a nitrocefin-confirmed beta-lactamase-producing Staphylococcus saprophyticus were recovered. Since sampled birds were admitted to a wildlife rescue center following injury, illness, or death, results should not be considered representative of healthy free-ranging populations. Furthermore, as characterization was exclusively phenotypic, the genetic basis of the resistance profiles detected remains to be confirmed by molecular analysis. Nonetheless, this study provides original phenotypic data across a broad taxonomic diversity of avian hosts, contributing to the evidence base for the integration of wild birds as environmental sentinels within One Health AMR surveillance frameworks.
Background: The southern Baltic Sea coast is an important stopover region for wild waterbirds, particularly between late August and April. These birds can contribute to the maintenance and spread of viral and bacterial pathogens, including highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses (HPAIV) and antimicrobial-resistant bacteria such as ESBL-producing Escherichia (E.) coli. The continued circulation of HPAI H5 viruses of the gs/Gd lineage has caused unprecedented global outbreaks in poultry and wild birds. While passive surveillance of sick and dead birds remains the main approach for HPAIV detection, complementary active surveillance of apparently healthy birds using simple, non-invasive sampling is needed to better understand virus ecology and evolution. Methods: From June 2022 to December 2023, we deployed shallow plastic bins with coastal brackish water and wheat grains along the Greifswalder Bodden shore, Baltic Sea, Germany, to attract wild waterbirds. After bird visits, water samples were analyzed for influenza A virus by RT-qPCR. In July 2022, four samples were cultured for ESBL-producing E. coli. Results: Camera monitoring confirmed that mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) were the main visitors, feeding and interacting intensively with the water. 222 water samples were analyzed for viral RNA; 13 (5.9%) were avian influenza virus-positive, including HPAI H5 (clade 2.3.4.4b) and low-pathogenic subtypes H3N8 and H11N9. All four samples yielded ESBL-producing E. coli, including one isolate of sequence type ST58. Conclusion: This non-invasive approach is a promising tool for environmental surveillance of viral and bacterial pathogens, with sensitivity expected to improve through enrichment techniques targeting pathogens in water.
Pastoral dairy systems provide livelihoods for millions of inhabitants of arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs) in developing countries. However, these systems are threatened by adverse climate change. Complex and erratic rainfall patterns, increasing temperatures, and more frequent droughts are not only reducing milk production but also exacerbating risks to its safety. This scoping review synthesizes evidence from peer-reviewed scientific articles published between 2000 and 2025, retrieved from publicly available databases, to examine the effects of climate stressors on milk safety in smallholder pastoral dairy systems in the ASAL regions of Africa and Asia. The review finds that the most commonly reported climate-related risks are drought (37.5%), rainfall variability and heat stress (30%), and flooding (7.5%). These stressors contribute to extensive microbial contamination, including Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella spp., and Brucella abortus, as well as chemical hazards such as aflatoxins and antibiotic residues which constitute food safety challenges that should be addressed within a One Health framework. A combination of technological, ecological, behavioral and indigenous approaches has been employed as adaptation strategies to reduce climate change impacts. These include solar-powered milk cooling, rainwater harvesting and borehole development, herd diversification into drought-resistant species, and traditional smoke fumigation of milk containers. Additional innovations such as rapid on-farm diagnostic aflatoxin biocontrol, and training of milk handlers, also show potential for improving climate change adaptation. Nonetheless, adaptation interventions remain fragmented, hazard-specific, and insufficiently integrated into broader food safety frameworks. These findings imply that prioritizing milk safety within climate adaptation strategies could substantially safeguard public health and sustain pastoral livelihoods amid increasing climatic uncertainty.
Background: Q fever, caused by Coxiella burnetii, is a globally distributed zoonosis that remains largely underdiagnosed in Algeria. Since its first description in 1935, fragmented data have accumulated across human, animal, and vector hosts without comprehensive synthesis. This systematic review summarizes all available information on the occurrence of C. burnetii in Algeria from 1935 to 2025, across human, animal and ectoparasite compartments, and critically discusses potential reservoirs, vectors and knowledge gaps. Methods: Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, we searched PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect and the Algerian national thesis repository. Studies reporting original data on C. burnetii in humans, livestock, pets, wildlife, ticks or lice were included. Data were extracted on study period, location, host species, diagnostic methods, prevalence and molecular typing. Results: Sixty-one studies met the inclusion criteria. Human cases consisted mainly of sporadic acute infections, endocarditis and obstetric complications, often diagnosed abroad, reflecting limited local testing. In livestock, serological and molecular surveys showed infection in cattle, sheep, goats and camels across 30 among 58 wilayas, with apparent seroprevalence ranging from 8 to 27% in cattle, 15–75% in small ruminants and up to 70% in camels. Seventeen studies investigated arthropods: C. burnetii or Coxiella-like endosymbiont DNA was found in 13 tick species from ruminants, camelids and companion or wild animals, though the significance of these detections remains uncertain. Four studies reported on the bacterium in human and animal lice. Molecular typing identified several genotypes, suggesting multiple transmission cycles. Conclusions: Available evidence supports the long-standing and widespread circulation of C. burnetii in Algeria, but the true burden remains underestimated due to limited diagnostic capacity and lack of integrated surveillance. Strengthening local serological and molecular tools, including strain typing, is essential to clarify reservoirs, transmission dynamics and human infection sources within a One Health framework.
Commensal small mammals, such as rats and shrews, are recognized reservoirs for numerous zoonotic pathogens; however, their role in pathogen circulation at transport hubs remains underexplored. This study employs shotgun metagenomic sequencing to characterize microbial communities and assess zoonotic potential in tissue samples from commensal small mammals captured at Bangkok Port, an international cargo shipping hub in Thailand between June and August 2025. Following host read depletion, taxonomic profiling was performed to identify bacterial taxa of public health relevance, including sequences assigned to Bordetella spp., Yersinia pestis, Bartonella elizabethae, and Acinetobacter baumannii. The virulence factor and antibiotic resistance gene profiles revealed that some of these pathogens have pathogenic potential and are related to drug-resistant bacteria. In addition, Y. pestis was identified as a shared taxon among rats, shrews, and their associated fleas. The findings support the ecological roles of mammalian hosts and their ectoparasites as reservoirs for pathogens of public health concern. These results emphasize the need to strengthen surveillance programs for commensal small mammals to monitor and mitigate the spread of transboundary pathogens at international maritime gateways.
