Transboundary and Emerging Diseases

BackgroundDog-mediated rabies remains a major neglected tropical disease and an important cause of preventable human mortality in sub-Saharan Africa. Despite ongoing control efforts, limited laboratory-confirmed surveillance data hinder accurate assessment of the disease burden and the development of evidence-based interventions in Ghana. This study investigated the epidemiological characteristics of laboratory-confirmed rabies cases among suspected animal submissions and evaluated the contribution of routine diagnostic surveillance to rabies control. Methodology/Principal FindingsA retrospective analysis was conducted using laboratory surveillance records of suspected rabies cases submitted to a regional veterinary laboratory in Ghana between 2020 and 2025. Brain tissue samples were examined using Sellers staining, the direct fluorescent antibody test (FAT), and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Epidemiological information, including animal species, vaccination history, ownership status, bite history, and diagnostic outcomes, was extracted and analysed descriptively. Of the 51 suspected cases examined, 46 (90.2%) were laboratory confirmed as rabies. Domestic dogs accounted for 96.1% of submissions, while cats represented 3.9%. Most suspected animals were either unvaccinated (64.7%) or had unknown vaccination status (33.3%), and 90.2% had reportedly bitten humans before submission. Confirmed cases were detected throughout the study period, indicating sustained viral circulation and continued zoonotic risk within the study area. Conclusions/SignificanceThe consistently high proportion of laboratory-confirmed rabies cases demonstrates persistent transmission of rabies virus among domestic animals and highlights substantial risks to human health. The integration of conventional and advanced laboratory diagnostic methods strengthened surveillance and improved case confirmation. These findings underscore the urgent need to expand dog vaccination coverage, strengthen laboratory-based surveillance, improve bite reporting systems, and enhance collaboration between veterinary and public health sectors. Reinforcing integrated One Health strategies will be essential to accelerate progress towards the global goal of eliminating dog-mediated human rabies by 2030. Author SummaryRabies remains one of the worlds oldest and most devastating zoonotic diseases, which is fatal yet preventable, causing thousands of human deaths each year, particularly in Africa and Asia. In Ghana, domestic dogs are the principal reservoir of the rabies virus, but information on the epidemiology of animal rabies from routine laboratory surveillance is limited in many regions. We reviewed six years (2020 - 2025) of laboratory records from the Regional Veterinary Laboratory in Techiman, Bono East Region, to describe the epidemiological characteristics of suspected animal rabies cases and laboratory-confirmed infections. Of the 51 brain samples submitted for diagnosis, 46 (90.2%) were confirmed positive for rabies. Domestic dogs accounted for almost all submissions, and most confirmed cases involved animals that were either unvaccinated or had an unknown vaccination history. Furthermore, most suspected animals had reportedly bitten humans before laboratory investigation, highlighting the continuing public health risk posed by canine rabies. The study also documents how regional diagnostic capacity was strengthened through collaboration with national reference laboratories, enabling the routine use of internationally recommended diagnostic methods such as the fluorescent antibody test and polymerase chain reaction. These findings provide valuable evidence to support enhanced rabies surveillance, increased mass dog vaccination, improved public awareness, and strengthened One Health collaboration. Such measures are essential for reducing human rabies deaths and supporting Ghanas contribution to the global goal of eliminating dog-mediated human rabies by 2030.

A parvovirus recently associated with an outbreak in Dutch pigs was found in Denmark in symptomatic pigs and in fox (Vulpes vulpes) feces and spleens. Pig viruses were more closely related to each other than to viruses found in the respective local wildlife, suggesting a link between the farm outbreaks.

Since mid-June 2026, an acute, non-fatal syndrome with high herd morbidity, reduced milk yield, diarrhea, fever and lethargy affected dairy cattle in southern Germany and Switzerland. Major viral pathogens were excluded. Pan-Simbuvirus PCR first detected an orthobunyavirus, subsequently confirmed by metagenomic sequencing, which enabled recovery of a complete "Shamonda-like" genome. One sentence summary lineMore than a decade after the emergence of Schmallenberg virus in 2011, a novel "Shamonda-like" orthobunyavirus of the Simbu serogroup has now emerged in Central Europe.

African swine fever (ASF) in wild boar poses major surveillance and control challenges, particularly in periurban and human-modified landscapes where ecological complexity, delayed detection, and heterogeneous host movements complicate out-break interpretation. In late 2025, ASF was detected in wild boar in Catalonia, Spain, creating a high-priority epidemiological scenario at the wildlife-urban interface. In this study, we analysed the 2025-2026 Catalonia outbreak using scenario-based spatial modelling with the WIMBOARD (Wild Integrated Movement Boar Outbreak and Risk Dynamics) framework. Simulations under baseline control conditions were used to interpret spread dynamics and support anticipatory surveillance. The results indicate that outbreak expansion was structured and directional rather than isotropic. Temporal outputs suggested delayed detectability between infection prevalence and mortality signals, whereas cumulative spatial risk maps, time-to-infection surfaces, and monthly infection-risk dynamics identified directional asymmetries and differentiated phases of spread. An early southward dispersal signal was consistent with initial field observations, while the north-northwest sector emerged as the most consequential expansion scenario because of its stronger functional connectivity and higher potential for regional amplification and persistence, while a later northeast-ward phase remained comparatively less influential within the 500-day simulation horizon. Monthly risk surfaces further showed that ASF spread behaved as a moving eco-epidemiological wavefront, allowing identification of shifting surveillance windows before mortality became apparent. These findings support the interpretation of the Catalonia outbreak as a landscape-mediated epidemiological process shaped by functional connectivity, wildlife behavioural adaptation, peri-urban ecological structure, and delayed detection. This study shows how spatially explicit eco-epidemiological modelling can support outbreak interpretation, surveillance prioritisation, and proactive wildlife disease management under complex field conditions.

Dermatophilus congolensis is a zoonotic gram-positive bacterium causing dermatophilosis, a skin infection primarily affecting animals and uncommonly reported in humans. Although human infections have traditionally been associated with animal contact, recent reports suggest alternative transmission pathways. We investigated an outbreak among contact sport athletes in Trondheim, Norway, during July to September 2025, using structured interviews and whole-genome sequencing. Nine confirmed cases were identified. Symptoms were mild and consisted mainly of pustular lesions affecting the face, arms, back, and chest. None of the cases reported animal contact. Genomic analysis confirmed species identity and showed that outbreak isolates were highly related, differing by only 0-7 core-genome single nucleotide polymorphisms. The Trondheim isolates clustered with strains from recent outbreaks in Spain and France, suggesting international dissemination of a shared clone. These findings identify contact sports as a potential setting for transmission of human dermatophilosis and highlight the value of genomic surveillance for outbreak investigation.

Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) is a zoonotic flavivirus maintained in complex enzootic cycles involving ticks and vertebrate hosts. While vector-mediated transmission has been extensively studied, host-associated mechanisms, including vertical transmission and prolonged viral carriage in natural reservoir populations, remain poorly understood. Here, we investigated TBEV circulation, genetic diversity, and evidence for vertical transmission in bank voles (Clethrionomys glareolus) from a highly endemic region of North-eastern Poland. A total of 258 wild rodents were screened using molecular and serological approaches. TBEV RNA was detected in 14.3% of individuals, whereas seroprevalence was substantially lower (6.6%), revealing limited concordance between viral presence and humoral response under natural conditions. Near-complete genome sequences were obtained from 10 TBEV-positive individuals, representing the first near-complete TBEV genomes generated from wild rodents in Poland. All isolates belonged to the European subtype (TBEV-Eu), and phylogenetic analysis revealed two genetically distinct viral clades co-circulating within a narrow spatiotemporal window. Importantly, TBEV RNA and/or envelope protein were detected in embryos from naturally infected females, providing evidence consistent with vertical transmission in a wild reservoir host. Together, these findings suggest that vertical transmission and complex host infection dynamics may be underappreciated components of TBEV maintenance in natural reservoir populations. Our results highlight the need to integrate vertebrate host dynamics into models of TBEV ecology and support expanded wildlife-based surveillance to better understand and predict zoonotic risk.

We report an unusual mortality event affecting the isolated Egyptian fruit bat (Rousettus aegyptiacus) population in northern Cyprus, combining clinical admissions, microbiological findings, and roost surveys to assess magnitude and potential drivers. From January to June 2025, the Cyprus Wildlife Research Institute (CWRI) Wildlife Hospital received an unprecedented surge in admissions with 12 individuals (versus sporadic admissions in prior years), with high acute mortality: most bats arrived moribund and died within 12-24 hours. Clinical records noted localized purulent lesions and abscesses in a substantial fraction of cases. Bacteriological culture and PCR assays recovered Staphylococcus aureus from abscesses and skin swab samples in multiple individuals; isolates exhibited susceptibility to tested antibiotics. Necropsy sampling confirmed viable S. aureus in several specimens despite prolonged storage. Concurrent targeted surveys of ten known roosts in Feb-Mar 2026 documented marked declines at multiple historical sites, including reductions from hundreds to single-digit counts at formerly large colonies and the complete absence of bats at multiple roosts. No clear evidence of recent human disturbance, extreme weather anomalies, or reduced food availability was found; shotgun cartridges from historical hunting were present, but no direct anthropogenic cause was apparent. While S. aureus infections--seasonally concentrated in winter--are consistent with observed lesions and may have contributed to morbidity and mortality, causality for the population-level declines remains unknown, and other factors (toxins, unassessed pathogens, multi-factor stressors) cannot be excluded. Given the genetic isolation and conservation significance of the Cyprus Egyptian fruit bat population, these findings are concerning. We recommend urgent, coordinated longitudinal population monitoring, expanded pathogen surveillance including whole-genome sequencing of S. aureus isolates, toxicological screening, and development of a species recovery plan incorporating emergency response, habitat protection, and public outreach.

We report the detection of a novel hantavirus in the lung tissue of two diseased Australian dolphins with histopathological changes. Phylogenetic analysis placed this virus within the genus Mobatvirus. This highlights the ability of hantaviruses to infect non-terrestrial mammals and the potential role of marine mammals as one health sentinels.

Infectious salmon anaemia virus with highly polymorphic region deletions (ISAV-HPR{Delta}) is classified as pathogenic, yet field outbreaks display wide variation in disease severity. To determine the extent of inherent virulence differences among ISAV-HPR{Delta} isolates, we conducted a standardized freshwater bath challenge in Atlantic salmon using ten isolates, including the high-virulent reference strain NO/Glesvaer/2/90 and nine recent Norwegian field isolates. Cumulative mortality, infection kinetics, tissue viral loads, shedding, and pathological changes were characterised through RT-qPCR, histopathology, immunohistochemistry, and flow cytometry. All isolates established systemic infection, but exhibited pronounced differences in infection dynamics, virus shedding, clinical signs, and pathological outcomes. Cumulative mortality ranged from 15% to 100%, allowing separation of isolates into high- ([&ge;]90%), moderate- (40-50%), and low-mortality (<20%) categories. Isolates with high mortality showed rapid systemic spread, extensive endothelial infection, and significant pathology compatible with infectious salmon anaemia. Shedding profiles of virus to water differed substantially and were not clearly correlated with cumulative mortality, viral RNA load in tissues or mortality. High ISAV RNA was detected in water for the H16 isolate with [~]10 - 100-fold higher viral RNA than H20 and [A]. VA and S, although giving high mortality (>90%), had much lower (shedding (highest RNA range 1.1 - 3.6^102). Segment 5 and 6 sequencing confirmed that all isolates carried genetic mutations typical of pathogenic ISAV except [A], that have an atypical mutation in the putative protease cleavage site on segment 5. However, these mutations alone did not account for the wide biological continuum of mortality.

Coronaviruses of the genus Gammacoronavirus cause major poultry diseases, including infectious bronchitis in chickens and enteritis in turkeys and guinea fowl. Until now, no enteric coronavirus distinct from infectious bronchitis virus had been reported in chickens. Between late 2024 and 2025, severe enteritis outbreaks affected broiler farms in southwestern France, causing increased mortality, wet litter, cyanosis, lethargy, ruffled feathers, and high slaughter condemnation rates. Necropsy and histopathology revealed diffuse enteritis and dehydration. Metagenomic sequencing identified abundant coronavirus reads as the only pathogenic viral signal. Whole-genome phylogeny showed a novel gammacoronavirus lineage closely related to guinea fowl coronavirus but distinct from infectious bronchitis virus and turkey coronavirus. Viral RNA was detected in enterocytes by RNAscope in situ hybridization, and electron microscopy revealed coronavirus-like particles. These findings describe a novel enteritis-associated coronavirus in broiler chickens (ChECoV), although the drivers of its host-range expansion into chickens remain to be elucidated.

The recent shift in Bangladesh from tradition backyard rearing system to modern commercial layer farming has made the birds immune to infectious diseases. Pediculosis, however, continues to pose a challenge in modern production system due to its invasive nature, often going unnoticed and neglected as it is typically non-lethal, yet capable of causing significant production losses. Lice infestation is a persistent threat in poultry production; however, its implications in battery-caged commercial layer hens in Bangladesh remain insufficiently characterized. The study aimed to identify the causative louse species and evaluate its associations with clinical pathology, hematological alteration and productive performance in 30 white-feathered (15 infested + 15 non-infested) and 30 brown-feathered (15 infested + 15 non-infested) laying birds from two commercial farms in Tangail. Morphological characterization confirmed the parasite as Menacanthus stamineus, distinguished by a dorsoventrally flattened body, parabolicallly rounded head wider than long, concealed club-shaped antennae, an oblong-oval abdomen with fine setae and three pairs of short legs each bearing paired claws. Infested birds exhibited consistent clinical pathology, including pale combs, petechial hemorrhages around the vent, severe feather damage with alopecic and exudative areas and incidence of irregular and broken-shelled eggs. Production performance analysis revealed significant reduction in hen-day egg production, egg weight, and feed intake, accompanied by significantly increased feed conversion ratios. Hematological evaluation demonstrated significantly reduced hemoglobin concentration, hematocrit and erythrocyte counts in infested hens, indicating mild anemia and compromised oxygen-carrying capacity. Collectively, pediculosis was strongly associated with lice-induced self-inflicted injury and cannibalism, systemic physiological stress, impaired erythropoiesis, reduced production efficiency and compromised welfare in caged laying hens. To best of our knowledge, it was the first integrative reports from Bangladesh documenting M. stramineus infestation in battery-caged commercial layer system with concurrent evidence of hematological disruption and measurable productivity losses, underscoring its epidemiological and economic significance and urgent need for targeted, evidence-based ectoparasite control strategies.

Gastrointestinal Vibrio parahaemolyticus infections, primarily associated with consumption of oysters, are emerging in Australia, where previously little was known about the disease and epidemiology. Following a multijurisdictional outbreak in 2021 and additional smaller outbreaks in subsequent years, an opportunistic whole genome sequencing study was undertaken to characterise human illness-causing strains in Australia. Through a multijurisdictional collaboration that bridged research, government, pathology service providers, aquaculture and clinicians, 676 V. parahaemolyticus genomes were contributed for analysis from human clinical, food, and environmental samples. We identified ST36, ST50 and ST417 as the dominant multi-locus sequence types causing gastrointestinal illness nationally. Phylogeographic contextualisation of Australian V. parahaemolyticus sequences within the global dataset indicates the Australian and New Zealand ST36 strain originated from a single point of introduction from the US Pacific-Northwest and is now circulating locally. In contrast, ST50 and ST417 appear to be endemic across Australia, with multiple lineages co-circulating. These findings establish a baseline for future outbreak investigations of V. parahaemolyticus in Australia and the consolidation of Australian data provides a critical platform for ongoing research, public health surveillance and risk mitigation.

Parasitic infections pose multifaceted threats to farmed fish, extending beyond direct pathogenicity to facilitate infections of bacteria, viruses, and microparasites. This synergistic interaction often leads to co-infections that significantly exacerbate disease outbreaks and mortality, presenting a severe challenge to aquaculture sustainability. Recently, a novel trypanosomiasis caused by the Trypanosoma carassii spectrum has emerged in cage-cultured Larimichthys crocea along the southeast coast of China, resulting in widespread prevalence and high mortality rates. Although this pathogen is hypothesized to originate from freshwater fish, its transmission route in marine environments has remained elusive. In this study, we investigated potential vectors and intermediate hosts of T. carassii spectrum, including leeches and monogenean in natural marine settings, and simulated transmission pathways using an established laboratory model involving T. carassii spectrum, Micropterus salmoides and the leech Poecilobdella manillensis. First, our field surveys in the coast of Ningde, Fujian Province, revealed a nearly 100% co-infection rate of T. carassii spectrum and the monogenean Neobenedenia girellae in diseased juvenile L. crocea. PCR analysis detected T. carassii spectrum traces in some N. girellae specimens, and subsequent experiments confirmed that N. girellae ingests the trypanosome while feeding on host blood. Furthermore, bacterial co-pathogens, such as Vibrio harveyi, were also detected within N. girellae. We also document two fatal leech infestations: Zeylanicobdella arugamensis in hybrid groupers (Epinephelus moara [female] X Epinephelus lanceolatus [male]) in Zhangpu, and Limnotrachelobdella okae in E. lanceolatus and E. fuscoguttatus in Raoping. These leeches tested negative for trypanosomes but carried pathogenic bacteria that co-infected the host fish; nonetheless, they are established vectors for trypanosome transmission. In a laboratory cohabitation model simulating T. carassii spectrum transmission, infected M. salmoides were housed with healthy conspecifics under three conditions: Group A (with the leech P. manillensis), Group B (no leeches), and Group C (no leeches, with physical separation between infected and healthy fish). After 14 days, blood smear microscopy and PCR analysis revealed infection rates in healthy fish of 58.33% in Group A, 40.00% in Group B, and 0% in Group C. Conclusively, T. carassii spectrum can be transmitted via leeches (with higher efficiency) and may also spread through direct contact under high-density aquaculture conditions, whereas N. girellae may act as an incidental vector, further research is warranted to clarify transmission dynamics in natural marine ecosystems. Additionally, our findings highlight the role of ectoparasites, including N. girellae and leeches, as potential reservoirs and vectors for bacterial pathogens of fish. In high-density intensive aquaculture, this vectorial capacity transforms parasites from primary pathogens into key drivers of polymicrobial disease outbreaks.

The Brown Swiss (BS) cattle breed is one of the major Swiss dairy breeds. Intensive selection and the widespread use of few elite sires in artificial insemination have increased inbreeding and the occurrence of deleterious recessive alleles in the homozygous state. Analyzing life trajectories in large, genotyped cohorts can identify hidden recessive disorders that are difficult to detect using traditional case-control association testing. Long-read DNA sequencing enables precise detection of causal alleles, including structural variants. This study aimed to (1) identify cryptic recessive loci affecting rearing performance in Swiss BS cattle, (2) evaluate their impact on survival, (3) characterize the associated phenotype, (4) identify the causal variant using long-read whole-genome sequencing, and (5) assess its functional impact. Using Homozygous Haplotype Enrichment/Depletion (HHED) mapping, we identified a risk haplotype (BH39) on chromosome 15 spanning from 16,276,819 bp to 16,446,984 bp that was associated with increased juvenile mortality within the first 180 days of life when present in the homozygous state. The BH39 occurred at a frequency of approximately 4.5% in Swiss BS cattle and 5.3% in German and Austrian BS cattle, and homozygous carriers exhibited a significantly reduced first-year survival rate. Five females homozygous for BH39 underwent clinical examination. They all showed recurrent respiratory disease, impaired growth, poor body condition, rough hair coat, and brown-discolored teeth. Pathological examination revealed bronchopneumonia and eosinophilic enteritis. Clinicopathological findings indicated failure to thrive and immunodeficiency. Long-read WGS of two BH39 homozygous calves revealed a private homozygous coding variant that was in high linkage disequilibrium with BH39. The identified structural variant was an insertion of a large transposable element (10.4 kb ERVK[2-1-LTR]) into the third exon of ALKBH8 (NM_001080341.2 c.267_268indel). Full-length RNA sequencing of cerebellum and liver from a homozygous calf revealed that the endogenous retrovirus (ERV) insertion introduces a cryptic transcription termination signal, truncating ALKBH8 mRNA. This study demonstrates that exploring population-scale genomic data and mining thousands of life-history records, followed by veterinary follow-up evaluations and molecular genetic analyses, provides an effective strategy for identifying cryptic recessive disorders that shorten the lifespan of cattle. The findings provide strong evidence that the ERV insertion into the coding sequence of ALKBH8 represents a loss-of-function variant that causes a previously undescribed recessive disorder that results in increased rearing loss. Interpretive summaryWe identified a recessive disorder in Brown Swiss cattle that causes retarded growth, recurrent infections, immunodeficiency, and increased mortality during the first year of life. Using population-scale genomic data, clinical investigations, and long-read sequencing, we linked the disorder to an exonic transposable element insertion disrupting ALKBH8. The identification of the causal variant now enables direct genetic testing and the implementation of genome-based mating strategies to avoid carrier-by-carrier matings and, consequently, prevent the birth of affected homozygous offspring. We demonstrate the utility of integrating large-scale breeding records, veterinary phenotyping, and advanced genomics to identify hidden defects affecting livestock health and productivity.

Background: Q fever, caused by Coxiella burnetii, is a zoonosis with significant public health implications. Spain has the highest number of cases in the European Union/European Economic Area, but the clinical and hospitalization burdens remain poorly characterized. This study described the epidemiology, demographic and clinical characteristics, and geographical distribution of hospitalized Q fever patients in Spain from 2016 to 2023. Methods: We conducted a nationwide, retrospective study using the Spanish Minimum Basic Data Set for Hospitalization (MBDS-H). All hospital admissions with an ICD-10-CM code for Q fever (A78) between 2016 and 2023 were included. We analyzed demographic data, comorbidities, complications, length of stay, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and mortality. We calculated hospitalization rates per 100,000 population. Temporal trends were assessed using Poisson regression. Results: We identified 3,358 hospitalizations for Q fever, representing an overall hospitalization rate of 0.89 per 100,000 population. The median patient age was 56 years (interquartile range [IQR] 42-70), and the cohort was predominantly male (72%). The median hospital length of stay was 9 days (IQR 6-15), and 8.3% required ICU admission. The overall mortality rate was 2.4%. The most common complication was pneumonia (32%). Significant upward trends were observed over the study period for patient age, hypertension, and acute heart failure (p<0.05). Geographical analysis revealed the highest hospitalization rates in the Canary Islands (2.33), La Rioja (2.16), and the Balearic Islands (1.93). Conclusion: This study highlights the hospitalization burden due to Q fever in Spain. The risk of hospitalization increases with age and the presence of predisposing conditions. The marked regional heterogeneity and high frequency of complications such as pneumonia underscore the need for enhanced surveillance and a strengthened One Health approach to control this zoonosis.

Environmental changes are reshaping the distribution and seasonal dynamics of vector-borne diseases, with important implications for public health. Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) and West Nile virus (WNV) cause growing concern in Europe, with rising case numbers and ever-expanding circulation areas. The transmission risk of TBEV and WNV follows characteristic seasonal patterns, driven largely by weather-dependent activity of their arthropod vectors. The relative roles of climate and land-use change on the seasonal dynamics and spread of these diseases and their vectors remain, however, poorly quantified. Here, we assess the spread and phenology of TBEV and WNV in response to historical and future climate and land-use changes across Europe. We developed spatiotemporal species distribution models (SDMs) for the viruses and their primary vector species, generating monthly environmental suitability predictions from the 1970s to 2050s. Virus models incorporated vector suitability as a nested predictor to capture the dependence of virus occurrence on vector presence. To disentangle drivers of observed changes, we applied counterfactual historical simulations, attributing shifts in seasonal transmission risk to climate or land-use changes. Historical attribution results show that land-use changes mainly affected absolute vector suitability, whereas climatic changes drove shifts in seasonal transmission risk. Transmission risk is projected to rise continent-wide for both TBEV and WNV over the coming decades. Further, TBEV is projected to undergo pronounced phenological shifts, with a dominant spring peak and a delayed autumn peak extending into October. Prolonged seasonal transmission windows are projected to create hotspots that both intensify and expand across large regions. Taken together, our findings underscore the need for coordinated transnational efforts to manage the projected health burden of TBEV and WNV across Europe, and support upstream prevention by providing climate-informed guidance on intervention timing and spatial prioritisation.

Introduction: Veterinary Professionals are at risk of contracting zoonoses, including potential emerging infections. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) could reduce infection transmission risk, but use of it in the profession is low. Understanding Veterinary Professionals experiences with PPE could help identify facilitators and barriers, therefore informing a future strategy to improve usage. Methods: Two focus group discussion with veterinary nurses and two with veterinarians took place at a tertiary small animal teaching hospital. With an interpretivist epistemology, transcriptions were inductively coded and analysed using thematic analysis. Results: Veterinary Professionals frequently reported underusing PPE, despite significant zoonotic risk. Friction in interdisciplinary relationships negatively impacted veterinary professionals experiences with PPE: differing views on risk, policy and PPE, contrasting perceptions of each other, and challenges with communication impacted PPE decision-making. Barriers included an absence of initial recognition of risk, a staff culture of prioritising patient health over risk to self, friction in response to others PPE use or lack thereof, an overly complex policy, and a lack of cultural and institutional reaction to occupationally contracted zoonoses. Facilitators included effective inter and intradisciplinary communication and previous personal experience with serious zoonoses. Conclusion: Veterinary Professionals experiences with PPE, are shaped by social and professional factors, such as interdisciplinary friction, perceptions of self and others, of risk and policy. Recommendations are for the findings to be used locally to embed PPE use into everyday practice. At a national level, the United Kingdom Health Security Agency (UKHSA) should use the findings to evaluate current policies regarding PPE and zoonoses in veterinary practice and produce a simplified national guidance, in collaboration with veterinary professionals with lived experience. Further research into General Practice Veterinary Professionals experiences and the interdisciplinary social dynamics is recommended.

Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) remains an economically important pathogen of cattle despite widespread vaccination. A homozygous CD46-edited Gir heifer (Ginger) was previously shown to have significantly reduced susceptibility to BVDV. The edited allele contains an in-frame six amino acid substitution within the virus-binding domain of the BVDV entry receptor CD46, replacing residues G82QVLAL with A82LPTFS. Here, we investigated whether reduced BVDV susceptibility is maintained when the edited allele is inherited in the heterozygous state. Ginger was artificially inseminated with semen from an unedited Gir bull and produced a healthy heterozygous CD46-edited bull calf (Giraldo). Whole-genome sequencing confirmed the inheritance and structural integrity of Giraldo's edited allele. Compared with Ginger, Giraldo exhibited similarly reduced ex vivo BVDV susceptibility across primary fibroblasts, lymphocytes, and monocytes, despite inheriting a wild-type CD46 allele from the sire. Allele-specific CD46 RNA expression analysis demonstrated expression of both the edited and wild-type CD46 alleles. Thus, the reduced-susceptibility phenotype was not attributable to transcriptional silencing of the wild-type allele. Lentiviral complementation studies in CD46-knockout Madin-Darby bovine kidney (MDBK) cells further demonstrated that this wild-type CD46 allele was competent to support BVDV infection when expressed independently. Together, these findings indicate that the CD46 A82LPTFS allele can confer reduced BVDV susceptibility in the heterozygous state despite expression of a functional wild-type CD46 allele. This result suggests the potential to more rapidly disseminate reduced BVDV susceptibility through conventional breeding using homozygous CD46-edited sires.

The emergence and spread of vector-borne pathogens, such as the mosquito-borne parasite Dirofilaria immitis, the causative agent of canine heartworm disease pose increasing challenges for public and veterinary health. These parasites have expanded from Southern Europe into Central and Eastern Europe, where locally acquired transmission is increasingly documented in pets and wild animals, and is now considered an emerging infectious disease. Understanding the dynamics of its emergence and public awareness is essential for effective surveillance and intervention. Here, we evaluated whether human online search behavior, as measured by Google Trends (GT), reflects patterns of dirofilariosis emergence in Hungary. We analyzed GT data for heartworm-related terms from 2012 to 2025, exploring geographical and temporal trends. Our analyses revealed a sustained increase in search interest over time beginning in 2012, with pronounced rise after 2015. Spatially, the highest relative search volumes were concentrated in southeastern Hungary. We found a strong positive association between regional search activity and mosquito infection rate. These findings demonstrate that GT-derived data accurately mirror both the temporal increase and geographic distribution of canine dirofilariosis, supporting the use of digital epidemiology as a complementary surveillance tool to inform public health and veterinary strategies for emerging vector-borne diseases.

Bartonella henselae is a zoonotic pathogen associated with cat-scratch disease. Although multilocus sequence typing (MLST) has been used for strain classification, its resolution for distinguishing between B. henselae isolates remains limited. We herein developed a B. henselae-specific core genome MLST (cgMLST) scheme based on whole-genome sequencing data and examined the genetic and phenotypic diversities of 80 strains derived from cats, humans, mongooses, and masked palm civets. Using the conventional MLST scheme, the 80 strains were classified into nine sequence types (STs), while cgMLST subdivided them into 72 cgSTs, demonstrating a marked improvement in discriminatory power. The cgMLST scheme comprised 1,183 core genes and showed high applicability across the 80 strains. A phylogenetic analysis revealed that ST1, which has been associated with cat-scratch disease, was further subdivided into three major clusters and two singletons, indicating high genetic heterogeneity within this ST. We also found that the bafA subtypes clustered in a manner that was largely consistent with the cgMLST-based phylogenetic structure, suggesting a close relationship between bafA variations and the genomic background of B. henselae strains. In a human umbilical vein endothelial cell proliferation assay, strains belonging to distinct cgSTs exhibited strain-dependent differences in proliferative capacity, which were associated with the bafA subtype classification. Some strains induced focal cell fragmentation and a reduced cell density at a high multiplicity of infection, indicating strain-dependent differences in endothelial cell injury. Collectively, the present results establish a high-resolution cgMLST framework for B. henselae and demonstrate that genetically distinct strains have diverse endothelial cell phenotypes.