Animal Contact Research Articles

Methicillin-resistant coagulase-positive staphylococci in new, middle-aged, and old veterinary hospitals in southern Thailand: A preliminary study.

Methicillin-resistant coagulase-positive staphylococci (MRCoPS) cause pyoderma, dermatitis, and nosocomial infection. Numerous factors, including indiscriminate antimicrobial use (AMU) in veterinary medicine, cleaning practices, and AMU in hospitals, contribute to MRCoPS. However, the relationship between hospital age and MRCoPS has not yet been investigated. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of MRCoPS in the treatment and operation rooms of new, middle-aged, and old veterinary hospitals. Samples were collected from small animal hospitals in Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, and Songkhla in Thailand. Hospitals were defined as those that had been in operation for 5 years (new, n = 5), 5-15 years (middle-aged, n = 6), or >15 years (old, n = 3). Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry was used to identify 280 samples, and duplex polymerase chain reaction was used to identify resistance genes (mecA and blaZ). The VITEK2® automated system was then used to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration. A total of 57 Staphylococcus species were identified and classified as coagulase-positive staphylococci (CoPS) (22/57, 38.60%) or coagulase-negative staphylococci (35/57, 61.40%), respectively. Nine of the 22 CoPS (40.90%) harbored the mecA gene, and 21 isolates (95.45%) harbored the blaZ gene. Interestingly, more MRCoPS was found in new hospitals (six isolates) than in middle-aged (one isolate) and old hospitals (two isolates), although there was no statistically significant difference in the presence of MRCoPS across new, middle-aged, and old veterinary hospitals (p = 0.095), Kruskal-Wallis test. There is a need for further detailed studies, including an increase in the number of hospitals in various locations. MRCoPS is a nosocomial pathogen that causes zoonotic and recurrent infections in veterinary hospitals. The prevalence of MRCoPS tended to be higher in new hospitals. Areas with heavy animal contact, such as hospital floors, are areas of particular concern, and cleaning/disinfection of these areas must be highlighted in hygiene regimens.

A molecular toolbox for fast and convenient diagnosis of emerging and reemerging bacterial pathogens causing fever of intermediate duration

PurposeFever of intermediate duration (FID) is defined as a fever in the community without a specific origin or focus, with a duration between 7 and 28 days. FID is often caused by pathogens associated with animal contact or their arthropods parasites, such as ticks, fleas, or lice. The purpose of this work is to design a collection of molecular tools to promptly and accurately detect common bacterial pathogens causing FID, including bacteria belonging to genera Rickettsia, Bartonella, Anaplasma, and Ehrlichia, as well as Coxiella burnetii.MethodsReference DNA sequences from a collection of Rickettsia, Bartonella, Anaplasma, and Ehrlichia species were used to design genus-specific primers and FRET probes targeted to conserved genomic regions. For C. burnetii, primers previously described were used, in combination with a newly designed specific probe. Real-time PCR assays were optimized using reference bacterial genomic DNA in a background of human genomic DNA.ResultsThe four real-time PCR assays can detect as few as ten copies of target DNA from those five genera of FDI-causing bacteria in a background of 300 ng of human genomic DNA, mimicking the low microbial load generally found in patient’s blood.ConclusionThese assays constitute a fast and convenient “toolbox” that can be easily implemented in diagnostic laboratories to provide timely and accurate detection of bacterial pathogens that are typical etiological causes of febrile syndromes such as FID in humans.

Rapid, Multispecies Detection of SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies via a Meta-Surface Plasmon Resonance Biosensor

Public health concerns have been raised by numerous reports of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and its variations infecting a range of animals. Wildlife reservoirs may facilitate the evolution of viral types capable of causing human infection in the future. Therefore, epidemiological monitoring of animals in close contact with humans is necessary. Yet, infection symptoms are not obvious in most animals, which leads to a short nucleic acid test-detection period and limits the application of this method in animals. The use of virus- and pseudovirus-based neutralizing antibody detection techniques is restricted to establishments with elevated biosafety standards. Traditional enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) do not offer multispecies detection and are time-consuming and labor-intensive. This work developed a polyethyleneimine-gold nanoparticle meta-surface plasmon resonance biosensor system-based multispecies SARS-CoV-2 antibody detection platform that is fast, sensitive, has a high throughput, and is fully automated. The test can be done in 30 min and specificity is up to 100% for detection in cats, dogs, and minks. Moreover, the coincidence rate was up to 99.36% (313/315) for the detection of pseudovirus in clinical and immune sera. Additionally, this method’s detection sensitivity in cat, dog, and mink serum is 2,048, 1,024, and 4,096 times, which is much better than indirect ELISA and comparable to indirect immunofluorescence assays. An efficient method for COVID-19 epidemiology screening in animal serum will be made available by this platform.

First molecular characterization of Blastocystis subtypes from domestic animals (sheep and cattle) and their animal-keepers in Ilam, western Iran: A zoonotic concern.

A total of 360 fecal samples were randomly collected from 150 cattle, 150 sheep, and 60 humans (30 people with close animal contact and 30 individuals without close animal contact) at 10 farms in Ilam, western Iran from June 2022 to August 2023. All samples were directly examined for Blastocystis by zinc sulfate flotation, followed by microscopic observation. Positive samples were further subtyped using conventional PCR and sequencing methods. A mean prevalence of 5.3% (16/300) was estimated for Blastocystis infection among examined animals, with 6% and 4.7% for cattle and sheep, respectively. Among the people who had close and non-close animal contact, 16.7% (5/30) and 3.3% (1/30) were infected with Blastocystis, respectively (p < 0.05). All 22 positive samples were successfully sequenced at the SSU rRNA locus. Accordingly, Blastocystis isolates infecting domestic animals in Ilam belonged to the four STs (ST1-ST3, and ST10). Of the 16 animal isolates, nine sequences (four ST10, three ST3, and two ST1) were related to cattle, and seven sequences (three ST10, two ST3, and two ST2) were isolated from sheep. Among the six human isolates, ST3 was the most predominant ST, followed by STs 1, 2, 6, and 7 (one case each). Of note, ST1-ST3 were isolated in various farms both from animals and their breeders, which indicates the possible circulation of these STs between animal and human populations.

Improving occupational health surveillance for enteric infections.

Enteric pathogens with a livestock reservoir pose a unique risk to people in occupations with regular contact with animals. However, public health surveillance of occupational exposures is inadequate, with surveillance for occupation typically focusing on the risk of transmission and the need for worker exclusion, rather than workplace exposures. To improve surveillance for occupational zoonoses, the Colorado Integrated Food Safety Center of Excellence convened a group of subject matter experts who developed a set of variables on occupation, industry, and exposures, which were integrated into Colorado's surveillance system in 2017. We evaluated the quality and completeness of these new occupational fields for interviewed cases with laboratory-confirmed zoonotic infections and compared occupations to cases with a non-zoonotic infection (Shigella) and to employment data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. From March 2017 through December 2019, 3668 domestically acquired, laboratory-confirmed sporadic infections of Campylobacter, Cryptosporidium, Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli, and non-typhoidal Salmonella among individuals ≥14 years of age were interviewed by public health. We found asking explicitly about occupational exposure risks and focusing on animal exposures, improved data quality and accuracy. Of the cases who stated that they were employed, 262 (13%) reported working in an occupation with regular animal exposure, and 254 (14%) reported an industry with regular animal exposure. Cases with an animal exposure occupation were more likely to be male and live in a rural or frontier county compared to other occupations. All occupations with regular animal contact were reported at a higher frequency than among Shigella cases or the general population. Public health efforts, both in occupational health and communicable disease sectors, should be made to improve surveillance for enteric zoonoses and identify opportunities for prevention strategies.

Relationship between effectiveness of asthma management and genetic variants in asthmatic Egyptian children

BackgroundPersonalized asthma medicine research identifies critical genes like ADRB2 and ADH5 that affect disease and treatment outcomes, necessitating a deeper exploration of these genetic influences on asthma prevalence and management in Egyptian children. This study aimed to examine the relationship between asthma control and specific genetic variants in Egyptian children, focusing on four significant SNPs within four key genes.MethodsA cross-sectional genetic study was conducted between December 2020 and May 2021 at two hospitals affiliated with Al-Azhar University to assess gene polymorphisms in adolescent asthmatic patients. Blood samples were taken from participants, with portions dedicated to DNA extraction and serum level measurements. The extracted DNA was then genotyped using the real-time PCR technique, and specific genotypes were identified based on their fluorescence characteristics.ResultsA total of 93 subjects were enrolled in the study. Cases (asthmatic children) had a significantly higher BMI than controls—healthy children—(33.65 ± 3.88 vs. 21.10 ± 3.48, p < 0.001). A notable distinction was observed in residence, with 30.6% of cases from urban areas versus 85.7% in controls (p < 0.001). Cases had a markedly higher incidence of familial asthma history (86.1% vs. 0.0%, p < 0.001), atopy (95.8% vs. 0.0%, p < 0.001), food allergies (80.6% vs. 9.5%, p < 0.001), and animal contact (79.2% vs. 14.3%, p < 0.001) compared to controls. The genetic marker rs4795399's CC allele was found in 10.0% of controls but not in any cases (p = 0.024), and the AA allele of rs7927044 was significantly more common in controlled asthmatics than in uncontrolled ones (p = 0.030).ConclusionThe studied genetic variants were not significantly associated with asthma severity; however, patients with uncontrolled asthma were associated with significantly higher polymorphism of GG and AG alleles of rs7927044. Additionally, there was a significant difference between the asthmatic patients and healthy individuals in terms of the polymorphism of the rs4795399 TT allele.

SARS-CoV-2 Outbreaks on Mink Farms-A Review of Current Knowledge on Virus Infection, Spread, Spillover, and Containment.

Many studies have been conducted to explore outbreaks of SARS-CoV-2 in farmed mink and their intra-/inter-species spread and spillover to provide data to the scientific community, protecting human and animal health. Studies report anthropozoonotic introduction, which was initially documented in April 2020 in the Netherlands, and subsequent inter-/intra-species spread of SARS-CoV-2 in farmed mink, likely due to SARS-CoV-2 host tropism capable of establishing efficient interactions with host ACE2 and the mink hosts' ability to enhance swift viral transmission due to their density, housing status, and occupational contacts. Despite the rigorous prevention and control measures adopted, transmission of the virus within and between animal species was efficient, resulting in the development of mink-associated strains able to jump back and forth among the mink hosts and other animal/human contacts. Current knowledge recognizes the mink as a highly susceptible animal host harboring the virus with or without clinical manifestations, furthering infection transmission as a hidden animal reservoir. A One Health approach is, thus, recommended in SARS-CoV-2 surveillance and monitoring on mink farms and of their susceptible contact animals to identify and better understand these potential animal hosts.

Frequency, distribution and determinants of Helicobacter pylori infection in adults and adolescents with gastric symptoms: cross-sectional epidemiological inquiry in district Haripur, Pakistan.

Helicobacter pylori (HP) is a vital element in the etiology of peptic ulcers and gastric cancer. This research aimed to determine the frequency, distribution, and determinants of HP infection in adults and adolescents with gastric symptoms in district Haripur, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. This cross-sectional study was performed from June 2018 to June 2020 at the Medical Laboratory Technology Department, The University of Haripur, Pakistan. Presence of HP was a research variable, while sex, age groups, education status, overcrowding, dining habits, milk intake, drinking water source and animal contact were grouping variables. Immuno-chromatographic technique (ICT) was used to for serological detection of HP antibodies. All variables were represented by frequency and percentage with 95%CI. Prevalence of HP and its distribution by eight socio-demographic variables was testified by the chi-square goodness-of-fit test while association was testified by chi-square test of association. Out of total 1160 cases, 557 (48%) were positive for HP. Population prevalence was higher in men, in the age group 20-40 years, illiterate, family size ≤ 10 persons, taking restaurant food, using tetra pack, using municipal water, and having animal contact. The observed prevalence of HP was similar to its expected prevalence in the population. The observed distribution of HP in the sample was different from its expected distribution in population by eight socio-demographic variables. Presence of HP was associated with all eight socio-demographic variables besides age groups.

Identifying Potential Determinants of Faecal Contamination on Domestic Floors in Three Settings in Rural Kenya: A Mixed Methods Analysis.

Observational evidence suggests that household floors may be an important domain for the transmission of enteric and parasitic infections. However, little work has been done to investigate how household floors can become contaminated with human and animal faeces. This study uses a mixed methods approach to postulate the proximal and distal determinants of household floor contamination with faeces in groups of rural villages in 3 counties in Kenya (Bungoma, Kwale and Narok). Quantitative data was collected through a household census and analysed descriptively and using mixed effects logistic regression models. Qualitative data was collected through unstructured observations of daily routines and in-depth interviews. These data were analysed thematically with case memos produced for routine activities that were hypothesised to be determinants of floor contamination. Possible proximal determinants of floor contamination included; (1) animal contact with floors; (2) child faeces disposal, and; (3) floor cleaning routines. Distal determinants are suggested to be rooted in the socioeconomic, environmental, and cultural context in which households were located and included; (1) the type and number of animals owned by households; (2) presence/absence of dedicated shelters for housing animals at night, which impacted whether sleeping or cooking areas were exposed to animals; (3) Accessibility of inside spaces to poultry and other roaming animals; (4) ownership of an improved floor; (5) ability of animals to access neighbours compounds; (6) seasonal changes in weather. These results will be of use in identifying the contexts in which faecal contamination of domestic floors may be contributing towards transmission of enteric and parasitic infections and in designing effective interventions to prevent this exposure.

Prevalence of scabies and its associated environmental risk factors among the Forcibly Displaced Myanmar Nationals living in the Cox's Bazar district of Bangladesh

IntroductionThe Forcibly Displaced Myanmar Nationals (FDMNs) residing in refugee camps face various health challenges, including a rising prevalence of scabies, exacerbated by overcrowded conditions and limited healthcare access. This study aims to assess scabies prevalence, clinical features, and environmental factors among FDMNs, aiding interventions and recommendations for better health outcomes. MethodologyA cross-sectional study was conducted from April to May 2023 in six camps of Teknaf/Ukhia Cox's Bazar. Using a multistage sampling technique, 12 blocks were identified, and FDMNs seeking healthcare services from Primary Health Care posts were invited to participate in the study. Participants were adults, and children who volunteered to participate in this study. Scabies diagnosis was based on clinical examinations of exposed body areas by trained health professionals. Data on sociodemographic factors, environmental risk factors, and scabies symptoms were obtained through a semi-structured questionnaire administered by trained interviewers. Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests, and binary logistic regression models to explore associations between scabies infection and other explanatory factors. ResultA total of 679 FDMNs participated in the study, with a mean age of 29.13 years. Overall, 66.42 % of participants were diagnosed with scabies. Age, marital status, history of scabies infection, previous skin infection, family history of scabies and skin infection, floor type, pet animal, dust exposure, and seasonal exposure were significantly associated with the scabies infection. Binary logistic regression suggested that having history of scabies infection (OR 3.98, 95 % CI: 1.86 to 8.49, p < 0.001), skin infection (OR 2.46, 95 % CI: 1.32 to 4.58, p = 0.004), having family history of scabies infection (OR 3.06, 95 % CI: 1.29 to 7.23, p = 0.011), family history of skin infection (OR 27.41, 95% CI: 14.46 to 51.97, P < 0.001), having contact with street animal (OR 2.16, 95% CI: 1.27 to 3.66, P = 0.004), and winter season (OR 3.33, 95 % CI: 1.89 to 5.87, p < 0.001) were significantly associated with scabies infection. ConclusionTailored public health measures targeting hygiene, living conditions, and animal contact can mitigate the spread of scabies, particularly among vulnerable groups like Rohingya refugees, necessitating collaboration between stakeholders.

Animal Handling Practice Among Rural Households in Northwest Ethiopia Increases the Risk of Childhood Diarrhea and Exposure to Pathogens From Animal Sources.

In Ethiopia, domestic animals and their feces are not properly contained. However, the risk of exposure to zoonotic pathogens is not well documented. This study was conducted to assess animal handling practices and the risk of childhood diarrhea among rural households in northwest Ethiopia. This study was done among 403 randomly selected households. Information on animal handling was collected using a questionnaire and spot-check observation. The occurrence of childhood diarrhea in 14 days prior to the survey was assessed based on the reports of female head of households. Multivariable binary logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the association between animal handling practices and childhood diarrhea. All the female head of households had contact with animal feces when preparing fuel disks and plastering the house components with animal dung. Domestic animals shared a corral within the living space of the humans in 20% of the households. Animals entered the human living quarters and accessed foods in 32% of the households. Moreover, 24% of the children aged 24 to 59 months had diarrhea in a 2-week period prior to the survey. Childhood diarrhea was associated with domestic animals sharing the same house as humans (AOR: 3.3, 95% CI: 1.3, 8.6), presence of animal excreta in child playing areas (AOR: 2.4, 95% CI: 1.2, 4.6), contact of domestic animals with stored foods (AOR: 3.5, 95% CI: 2.0, 5.9), trapped dirt under fingernails of female heads (AOR: 3.7, 95% CI: 1.9, 7.5), open defecation (AOR: 3.24, 95% CI: 1.8, 5.9), and unprotected sources (AOR: 4.2, 95% CI: 1.1, 15.3). Domestic animals and their excreta are not hygienically contained in the area. Animal handling practices including their excreta and the hygiene behavior of female head of households (eg, handwashing and food handling practices) should be improved to prevent childhood diarrhea.

Modeling Rift Valley fever transmission: insights from fractal-fractional dynamics with the Caputo derivative

&lt;abstract&gt;&lt;p&gt;The infection caused by Rift Valley fever (RVF) virus is a dangerous vector-borne disease found in humans, domestic, and wild animals. It is transferred through insect vectors to ruminant host and then spread through direct contact of infected animals with their body fluid or organs. In this paper, a fractal-fractional model for the transmission of RVF in the Caputo's sense was presented. We analyzed the model and determined the basic reproduction number through the next-generation matrix technique, indicated by $ \mathcal{R}_0 $. The global sensitivity technique is used for the sensitivity test of $ \mathcal{R}_0 $ to find out the most sensitive input-factors to the reproduction parameter $ \mathcal{R}_0 $. The existence and uniqueness results of the proposed fractal-fractional model were established. Then, we presented the fractal-fractional dynamics of the proposed RVF model through a novel numerical scheme under the fractal-fractional Caputo operator. In the end, the recommended model of RVF was highlighted numerically with the variation of different input parameters of the system. The key factors of the system were highlighted to the policymakers for the control and prevention of the infection.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/abstract&gt;

Thrombocytopenia and Coagulopathy in Covid-19 Manifesting as Upper Gastrointestinal Bleed and Epistaxis

COVID-19 is an acute febrile illness and the common manifestations are cough, flu and fever. COVID19 infection with severe thrombocytopenia and coagulopathy is a rare life threatening presentation. We are presenting a case of a gentleman in 20&amp;apos;s with history of positive animal contact, who presented to emergency department (ED) with history of fever of more than a week and nasal bleed. Relevant examination showed unstable vitals, anterior nasal packing in place, left lower zone crackles and ongoing black stool. Laboratory workup revealed bicytopenia with platelet count of (6X109), low hemoglobin, deranged INR, low fibrinogen levels. The patient was managed for viral hemorrhagic fever leading to disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). He was managed with antipyretics, antibiotics. resuscitated with blood products, admitted to inpatient facility. His blood counts started improving favoring the possibility of thrombocytopenia secondary to viral illness, and later discharged in stable condition. COVID-19 is acute viral infection. Any patient with fever and bleeding should be kept on high suspicion for other viral illness as well. Treatment approach can be conservative. Thrombocytopenia and coagulopathy with 2 organ bleed is the first case reported to the best of our knowledge.

Brucellar Epididymo-Orchitis in a Brucellosis Hyperendemic Region in Türkiye.

Brucellosis is one of the most prevalent zoonoses worldwide and is endemic in Türkiye. It is a multisystemic infection that can affect various organ systems. Epididymo-orchitis is the most common form of genitourinary involvement. This study aimed to evaluate the incidence, clinical characteristics, laboratory values, and treatment outcomes of brucellar epididymo-orchitis (BEO) in the East Anatolian region, where brucellosis is hyperendemic. This study was conducted between January 1, 2018, and April 30, 2019. All male patients diagnosed with brucellosis at the infectious disease clinic were evaluated for epididymo-orchitis according to clinical findings (testicular pain, swelling, erythema). In addition, to identify BEO patients, all epididymo-orchitis cases admitted to the urology outpatient clinic according to the study protocol were referred to the infectious diseases clinic for Brucella infection. Patients were enrolled prospectively, and data were analyzed retrospectively. Brucella infection was diagnosed in 326 patients during the study period, of whom 208 (63.8%) were male. Brucellar epididymo-orchitis was diagnosed in 18 patients at the end of sixteen months. The incidence of epididymo-orchitis in patients with Brucella infection was 8.7%. The mean age of the patients was 36.9±11.5 years. The majority of patients had occupational animal contact (83.3%) and consumption of fresh cheese made from raw milk (55.5%). Acute brucellosis was diagnosed in 17 (94.4%) patients; all patients presented with scrotal pain and swelling. Unilateral epididymo-orchitis was observed in 16 (88.8%) patients. Most patients (88.3%) applied to outpatient clinics other than infectious diseases, especially the urology clinic (77.7%).Double or triple combined treatments with aminoglycoside/doxycycline/rifampicin were given to the patients. Hydrocelectomy was performed in three patients, orchiectomy in one patient, and relapse was seen in one patient. Brucella infection should be considered in patients presenting with epididymo-orchitis in endemic regions. Awareness of brucellosis by urologists will ensure that the disease is diagnosed without complications.

Antimicrobial resistance in multistate outbreaks of nontyphoidal Salmonella infections linked to animal contact-United States, 2015-2018.

Animal contact is an established risk factor for nontyphoidal Salmonella infections and outbreaks. During 2015-2018, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other U.S. public health laboratories began implementing whole-genome sequencing (WGS) of Salmonella isolates. WGS was used to supplement the traditional methods of pulsed-field gel electrophoresis for isolate subtyping, outbreak detection, and antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) for the detection of resistance. We characterized the epidemiology and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) of multistate salmonellosis outbreaks linked to animal contact during this time period. An isolate was considered resistant if AST yielded a resistant (or intermediate, for ciprofloxacin) interpretation to any antimicrobial tested by the CDC or if WGS showed a resistance determinant in its genome for one of these agents. We identified 31 outbreaks linked to contact with poultry (n = 23), reptiles (n = 6), dairy calves (n = 1), and guinea pigs (n = 1). Of the 26 outbreaks with resistance data available, we identified antimicrobial resistance in at least one isolate from 20 outbreaks (77%). Of 1,309 isolates with resistance information, 247 (19%) were resistant to ≥1 antimicrobial, and 134 (10%) were multidrug-resistant to antimicrobials from ≥3 antimicrobial classes. The use of resistance data predicted from WGS increased the number of isolates with resistance information available fivefold compared with AST, and 28 of 43 total resistance patterns were identified exclusively by WGS; concordance was high (>99%) for resistance determined by AST and WGS. The use of predicted resistance from WGS enhanced the characterization of the resistance profiles of outbreaks linked to animal contact by providing resistance information for more isolates.

Compendium of Measures to Prevent Disease Associated with Animals in Public Settings, 2023

Abstract Opportunities for the public to interact with animals in public settings such as petting zoos, fairs, and farm visits can be valuable learning and entertainment experiences. However, zoonotic disease transmission from healthy animals on exhibit and their environments, as well as injuries and other health problems, may result from these interactions if steps are not taken to minimize risks. The 2023 Compendium of Measures to Prevent Disease Associated with Animals in Public Settings provides background about these potential risks and updates recommendations for reducing those risks. Enteric zoonotic disease risks from animal contact in public settings include Shiga toxin–producing Escherichia coli infections, cryptosporidiosis, and campylobacteriosis. These infections occur when pathogens are accidentally ingested by individuals following direct contact with animals or contaminated objects. Zoonotic influenza infections can occur in a similar manner or through aerosols generated from infected animals. Other infectious diseases, parasitic infections, bites, and other injuries are also possible hazards in these settings. Inadequate handwashing and facility design flaws are frequent contributors to these risks, especially on farms or temporary exhibits not specifically designed for public use. Venues should provide sufficient handwashing stations and establish clearly defined animal contact areas. Operators should educate visitors about potential disease and injury risks, steps necessary to minimize exposure, and the importance of handwashing after the visit. Additionally, operators and visitors alike should realize that certain individuals are at heightened risk for zoonotic infections. Signs, handouts, and other educational materials are publicly available in a toolkit that accompanies the compendium.

Hotspots of zoonotic disease risk from wildlife hunting and trade in the tropics

AbstractWildlife hunting and trade creates numerous direct human–animal contact opportunities that can facilitate transmission of zoonotic diseases pantropically. Yet, there is a lack of knowledge of which species and areas have a high risk of zoonotic disease spillover due to wildlife hunting and trade. We combined maps of hunting pressure, recent data sets on human‐shared pathogens, and trade volumes for 614 mammalian host species to map zoonotic disease risk from wildlife hunting and trade pantropically. We also assessed the relationship between zoonotic disease risk from hunting and probability of emerging zoonotic diseases using generalised least square regression. We identified hotspots of zoonotic disease risk from hunting in central America, China, and central Africa. When considering wildlife trade frequency, high risk occurs in southern Africa and China. Zoonotic disease risk from wildlife hunting aligns significantly with the risk of zoonotic emerging infectious diseases, suggesting that hunting is a key driver of zoonotic disease outbreaks of pandemic potential. Interventions that regulate the hunting of host species and considers the socioeconomic motivations behind hunting could reduce the risk of zoonotic disease spillover.

Seropositivity of Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. in Germany—an analysis across four German National Cohort (NAKO) study sites

Lyme borreliosis (LB) is caused by the transmission of Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. from ticks to humans. Climate affects tick abundance, and climate change is projected to promote shifts in abundance in Europe, potentially increasing human exposure. We analyzed serum samples collected between the years 2014–2019 from German National Cohort (NAKO) participants at four study sites (Augsburg, Berlin, Hanover, Münster) for immunoglobulin G (IgG) and immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies using an enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and line blot immunoassay as confirmatory test for positive and equivocal ELISA samples. We reported crude and weighted seropositivity proportions for local estimates. We used mixed model analysis to investigate associated factors, such as age, sex, migration background, or animal contacts. We determined the serostatus of 14,207 participants. The weighted seropositivity proportions were 3.4% (IgG) and 0.4% (IgM) in Augsburg, 4.1% (IgG) and 0.6% (IgM) in northern Berlin, 3.0% (IgG) and 0.9% (IgM) in Hanover, and 2.7% (IgG) and 0.6% (IgM) in Münster. We found higher odds for IgG seropositivity with advancing age (p < 0.001), among males compared to females (p < 0.001) and reduced odds among participants with migration background compared to those without (p = 0.001). We did not find evidence for an association between serostatus and depression, children within the household, or animal contact, respectively. We found low seropositivity proportions and indications of differences across the study locations, although between-group comparisons did not yield significant results. Comparisons to earlier research are subject to important limitations; however, our results indicate no major increases in seropositivity over time. Nevertheless, monitoring of seropositivity remains critical in light of potential climate-related Borrelia exposure.

Brucellosis in Omani children: a multicenter experience over 15 years.

Brucellosis, a common zoonotic disease worldwide, can lead to serious complications in humans. In Oman, the disease occurs most often in the south, but is increasing in the north. Describe brucellosis in children in the Northern Governorate in Oman. Retrospective, observational. Hospitals in the Northern Governorate in Oman. We collected data on the demographics, distribution, common clinical presentations, risk factors, laboratory findings, therapy, and complications of confirmed cases of brucellosis. We included all brucellosis cases up to the age of 13 years at the Child Health Department in Royal, Suhar, Al Rustaq and Nizwa Hospitals over a 15-year period. Descriptive findings of brucellosis. 57 confirmed cases. The 57 confirmed cases of Brucella had a mean age of 6 years. Most of the cases were from Dhakhiliya 21 (36.8%) and Batinah 18 (31.6%). Consumption of raw milk was documented in 75% and 41% had animal contact. From 2010, there was a marked rise of the cases with a maximum rise was noticed in 2019 with a total of 10 cases. The main clinical manifestations were fever (92%, n=52), arthritis (44%, n=25), which involved mainly knees and hips. Forty-two had bacteremia, 41% anemia, 10% osteomyelitis/septic arthritis, one case with congenital brucellosis and one case neurobrucellosis (1.8%). Forty cases had positive serology results of which 19 had positive cultures. Most cases had received cotrimoxazole and rifampin as the primary treatment regimen 22 (40%). Four patients relapsed (7%) after treatment completion. This study showed the distribution and clinical characteristics of brucellosis in different regions in the Northern Governorate in Oman. Although the numbers of cases remained low, the gradual increase is concerning for public health and preventive strategies. Further studies are needed to compare this data with the Southern region. Retrospective study with small sample size.

Heartbreak From Puppy Love: A Case of Pasteurella multocida Endocarditis and Review of the Literature

Background Pasteurella multocida, a gram-negative coccobacillus associated with dog, cat, and other animal contact, often causes human bite infection, cellulitis, and osteomyelitis, but infective endocarditis is rare. We present a patient with P. multocida aortic valve endocarditis whose animal exposure was contact with his dog's saliva from frequent licking of patient's skin in the perioral area. Case Presentation A 62-year-old man with successfully treated hepatitis C presented to hospital after a syncopal episode while chasing his dog. He had previously noted night sweats, fever, generalized weakness, and dyspnea on exertion. He denied bites or scratches but admitted allowing his dog to lick around his mouth. On presentation, he was in septic shock with lactic acidosis. White blood cell count was 20,000/μL. Pasteurella multocida was isolated from both admission blood cultures. The patient was treated with antimicrobial therapy and resuscitated. Transthoracic echocardiogram revealed critical bicuspid aortic valve stenosis with root abscess and ascending aortic aneurysm. Transesophageal echocardiogram showed reduced ejection fraction and severe aortic stenosis but no definitive vegetations. At surgery, there were nodular lesions on the aortic valve, left ventricular outflow tract perforation, and annular abscess of aortic valve. He had mechanical aortic valve replacement, annular reconstruction, and aortic aneurysm repair. The patient received 6 weeks of postoperative intravenous ceftriaxone and remained infection-free at 1-year follow-up visit.