Zoonotic Research Articles

Prediction and control for the transmission of brucellosis in inner Mongolia, China

Brucellosis, a zoonotic infectious disease caused by the Brucella genus, remains a significant global public health concern, with Inner Mongolia, China, being a notable hotspot affecting both human health and livestock. In response to this, we developed a dynamic SEIVWShIahIch model to simulate the transmission of brucellosis in Inner Mongolia. We calculated the basic reproduction number (R0 = 2.86), indicating a severe epidemic trend with cases expected to increase over the coming decades. The model was fitted to human brucellosis data, and key transmission parameters were estimated to predict future trends. We also evaluated the impact of various control measures, including vaccination, disinfection, culling, and health education. While these measures positively influence disease control, they cannot completely eliminate brucellosis, suggesting that a single control strategy is insufficient. Combining vaccination and culling proved more effective, with identified threshold values for R0 and to keep R0 < 1. Our findings indicate that a comprehensive strategy integrating vaccination, culling, disinfection, and health education is essential for effectively curbing brucellosis in Inner Mongolia, providing a strong foundation for optimizing future prevention and control strategies.

Growth-Inhibitory Effect of Chicken Egg Yolk Polyclonal Antibodies (IgY) on Zoonotic Pathogens Campylobacter jejuni, Salmonella spp. and Escherichia coli, In Vitro

The overuse of antibiotics in animal husbandry has driven the search for alternative strategies to combat zoonotic pathogens. Foodborne zoonotic diseases caused by pathogenic bacteria pose a significant threat to human health, and therefore food safety should be a priority. This study investigates the in vitro inhibitory effects of chicken egg yolk immunoglobulin Y (IgY) on the growth and viability of three major foodborne pathogens: Campylobacter jejuni, Salmonella spp., and Escherichia coli. IgY was isolated from immunized hen egg yolks using a modified water dilution method, and its antigen-specificity confirmed through agglutination assays. Growth inhibition was evaluated across multiple doses and time points, revealing a dose-dependent bacteriostatic effect against all tested pathogens. A single dose of IgY (0.5 mg/mL) significantly reduced C. jejuni counts by up to 7 log, while repeated doses were required for Salmonella spp. and E. coli. These findings highlight egg yolk immunoglobulin’s potential as a source of sustainable, effective, ethical, readily available, and inexpensive antibiotic substitutes in livestock management. Future research will focus on validating these results in vivo and exploring large-scale production of IgY for practical application in animal healthcare.

One Health preparedness and response for mosquito-borne viruses: a stakeholder- and social network-analysis in the Netherlands

BackgroundThe emergence of mosquito-borne viruses (MBVs) in Europe emphasizes the need for preparedness and response plans. This requires knowledge integration and collaboration across the human, animal, vector, and environmental health domains, aligning with the One Health approach. Despite the importance of a One Health approach, engaging stakeholders from each domain remains challenging. This study aims to identify stakeholders in the field of preparedness and response to MBVs in the Netherlands and map collaborations, knowledge- and information-sharing between these stakeholders, their domains and governance levels. In addition, we aim to identify bottlenecks in these networks and uncover underlying reasons.MethodsThis study combined stakeholder- and social network analysis. Stakeholders were identified through document analysis and snowballing. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eligible stakeholders. Stakeholders’ collaborations, dependencies, and their roles in MBV preparedness and response were discussed. Interviewees not currently active in MBV policy were given the opportunity to share their experiences regarding ‘zoonotic infectious diseases’ or ‘healthy living environments’. Interview transcripts were coded to identify collaborations and information- and knowledge sharing between stakeholders. Stakeholders were categorized into domains (animal, vector, human, environment, other) and governance levels (international, national, regional, local, other). Networks were visualized and analysed using Cytoscape and R.ResultsStakeholder analysis identified 87 stakeholders who influence or are (likely to be) influenced by MBV preparedness and response, of whom 47 were identified as having an active role in the MBV interaction network. Network visualisation unveiled 153 connections among these 47 stakeholders, encompassing all domains and governance levels but showed underrepresentation of regional, local and environmental stakeholders. Transcript analysis revealed low urgency for MBVs among these stakeholders as an underlying reason for their underrepresentation in the MBV interaction network. Analysis and visualisation of the networks for the other two themes (“healthy living environment” and “(zoonotic) infectious diseases”) did show multiple connections with environmental and regional/local stakeholders.ConclusionsThe underrepresentation of the environment domain, regional and local stakeholders in the MBV preparedness and response network underlines the remaining challenge of including all relevant stakeholders. We recommend utilising existing collaborations, identified in this study, and central stakeholders to overcome these bottlenecks.

Alpha and Betacoronavirus Detection in Neotropical Bats from Northeast Brazil Suggests Wide Geographical Distribution and Persistence in Natural Populations

The emergence of zoonotic viral diseases, notably exemplified by the recent coronavirus disease pandemic in 2019 (COVID-19), underscores the critical need to understand the dynamics of viruses circulating in wildlife populations. This study aimed to investigate the diversity of coronaviruses in bat populations from northeastern Brazil, particularly in the state of Ceará, where little research on bat pathogens has been conducted previously. Bat sampling was performed between March 2021 and March 2022 across three municipalities, resulting in the collection of oral and rectal swabs from 298 captured individuals. Molecular analyses revealed alphacoronaviruses in multiple bat species. Additionally, a novel Betacoronavirus was identified in Artibeus planirostris, which did not fall within an established subgenus. Phylogenetic placement of these new coronavirus sequences suggests that closely related coronavirus lineages can infect a wide range of bat species sampled in distantly related Brazilian states and biomes. No SARS-CoV-2 and influenza A viruses were found in the sampled bats. These findings expand our understanding of coronavirus diversity in Brazilian bats. The detection of coronaviruses in various bat species underscores the importance of bats as reservoirs for these viruses. The absence of SARS-CoV-2 in the sampled bats indicates a lack of spillback events from human or environmental sources. However, the potential for future transmission events underscores the importance of ongoing surveillance and transmission mitigation protocols in wildlife management practices.

Exploring the mechanism and drug candidates of alveolar echinococcosis affecting liver fibrosis through analysis of existing microarray data.

Echinococcosis, a zoonotic disease, significantly impacts the liver, with alveolar echinococcosis (AE) often leading to liver fibrosis and, in severe cases, cirrhosis. However, the molecular mechanisms by which AE infection promotes liver fibrosis remain incompletely understood. This study utilized bioinformatic analysis of existing microarray data to explore the shared mechanisms between AE and liver fibrosis and to identify potential therapeutic drug candidates. We analyzed gene expression datasets to identify common differentially expressed genes (DEGs), followed by enrichment analyses using Gene Ontology and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes databases to determine biological functions and pathways. A protein-protein interaction network was constructed, and key hub genes were identified using Cytoscape software. Immune cell infiltration was evaluated and correlated with hub gene expression. Transcription factors regulating DEGs were predicted using the TRRUST database, and drug-target interactions were explored using DrugBank. A total of 260 DEGs were identified, primarily associated with cell cycle regulation and immune response pathways. Ten hub genes (DLGAP5, AURKA, MELK, CCNB2, CCNA2, NUF2, BUB1B, BUB1, TOP2A, and CCNB1) were highlighted for their significant interconnectivity and functional relevance. Immune infiltration analysis revealed dysregulation in immune responses, and transcription factor analysis identified E2F3 as a key regulatory factor with decreased expression in both AE and liver fibrosis. Finally, 135 candidate drugs targeting these hub genes were identified, offering new insights into therapeutic strategies. This study provides a foundation for understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying AE-related liver fibrosis and highlights potential drug candidates for clinical exploration.

Making a living and zoonotic disease risk management in coloured broiler poultry farms in Northern Viet Nam

Making a living and zoonotic disease risk management in coloured broiler poultry farms in Northern Viet Nam

Potential Zoonotic Infections Transmitted by Free-Ranging Macaques in Human-Monkey Conflict Areas in Thailand.

Nonhuman primates (NHPs) can transmit zoonotic diseases to humans because of their close genetic relationship, facilitating the cross-species transmission of certain pathogens. In Thailand, Macaca is the most common NHP genus and their inhabits area are in close proximity of human, particularly in urban and suburban areas, where frequent interactions with humans increase the risk of pathogen transmission. The risk is influenced by factors such as the type of pathogen, the mode of transmission (e.g. direct contact or vector-borne), and the density of human and macaque populations in the regions. This study aims to investigate potential zoonotic infections in free-ranging macaques residing in human-monkey conflict areas. From 2014 to 2023, 2703 macaques across 29 provinces in Thailand were tested for 18 pathogens using PCR, RT-PCR, or real-time PCR. The associations between disease occurrence, demographic variables, and sample types of macaques were analysed using univariable and multivariable regression. The overall pathogen infection percentage was 35.7% (965/2703). Simian foamy virus (SFV) had the highest infection percentage at 52.5% (759/1446), followed by Herpesviridae at 41.4% (353/852), Plasmodium spp. at 1.8% (14/758), and hepatitis B virus at 0.1% (2/1403). Significant differences were observed among different sampling sites, macaque age groups, and species in infection proportion of SFV, and Herpesviridae. Identifying the pathogens carried by macaques is crucial for preparing for potential disease epidemics and outbreaks.

Sustainability of Hunting in Community-Based Wildlife Management in the Peruvian Amazon

Conservation strategies that use sustainable use of natural resources through green-labelled markets generally do not recognize the legal sale of wild meat as appropriate due to potential overexploitation and zoonotic disease risks. Wildlife hunting is important to the livelihoods of rural communities living in tropical forests for protein and income. Wildlife management plans in the Peruvian Amazon permit hunting of wild meat species for subsistence and sale at sustainable levels, that include peccaries, deer, and large rodents. These species have fast reproduction making them less vulnerable to overhunting than other species. This study assessed the sustainability of a wildlife management plan. Populations of species were estimated using camera traps and distance transect surveys, and sustainability analysis used hunting pressure from community hunting registers. Interviews were conducted to understand hunters, perceptions of the management plan. Long-term time-series showed increases in collared peccary (3.0 individual/km2 to 5.41 individual/km2) and white-lipped peccary (3.50 individual/km2 to 7.00 individual/km2) populations and short-term time series showed a decline in paca populations from 8.5 individual/km2 to 3.01 individual/km2. The unified harvest analysis showed permitted species populations were greater than 60% of their carrying capacities and hunted at less than 40% of their production, which shows sustainable hunting. The wildlife management plan achieved its general objective of sustainable hunting and improving livelihoods. The broader question is whether sustainable wildlife use plans that allow Amazonian communities to sell limited amounts of wild meat can be a way to change illegal wild meat trade to a legal, green labelled trade with added value.

Reverse vaccinology: A strategy also used for identifying potential vaccine antigens in poultry.

Vaccination of livestock plays a major role in improving animal health, welfare and productivity, but also in public health by preventing zoonotic diseases. Advances in bioinformatics and whole-genome sequencing techniques since the 2000s have led to the development of genome-based vaccinology, called reverse vaccinology. Reverse vaccinology is a rapid and competitive strategy that uses pathogen genome sequences to screen for and identify potential vaccine antigens and, unlike conventional methods, does not require culturing the pathogenic microorganism, at least initially. Based on in silico approaches and dedicated software, reverse vaccinology has led to the identification of a wide range of proteins as putative vaccine candidates against human pathogens and has been applied more recently to several animal diseases. After a brief overview of the principle of the approach and its applications in human medicine, this review focuses on the use of reverse vaccinology for the development of vaccines specifically for poultry, a representative example of livestock vaccination, and discusses the important points to consider when using this method.

Typing Arctic and Africa-2 clades of rabies virus using clade-defining single nucleotide polymorphisms.

Rabies is a deadly neurotropic, zoonotic disease with a mortality rate of 100% after symptoms appear. Rabies virus (RABV) is the primary cause of rabies disease in humans, and it mainly spreads via dog bites in developing countries. Over the course of RABV evolution, multiple RABV variants, called clades, have emerged. However, our understanding of these clades is limited, as the only method to identify a clade is sequencing, followed by phylogeny. In this study, we have developed a rapid, PCR-based method for typing two RABV clades. We utilised highly conserved amino acid changes specific to the Arctic and Africa-2 clades of the rabies virus (RABV). A single nucleotide substitution from adenine to thymine at position 178 within the nucleoprotein gene was found to be clade-specific in the Arctic clade. Similarly, adenine at position 638 is a distinctive marker for the Africa-2 clade. The assay demonstrated high specificity and offers the added benefit of PCR-based amplification, enabling virus detection even when viral titers are low. The assay can identify the Arctic clade and Africa-2 clade without sequencing and is highly specific and sensitive. Furthermore, this method can be adapted to detect other RABV clades and a wide range of viruses.

Rapid detection assays for Bacillus anthracis, Yersinia pestis, and Brucella spp. via triplex-recombinase polymerase amplification.

Bacillus anthracis (B. anthracis), Yersinia pestis (Y. pestis), and Brucella spp. are zoonotic bacteria that cause anthrax, plague, and brucellosis, respectively. Outbreaks typically occur in remote regions with poor transportation and limited laboratory testing. Therefore, a simple, sensitive, multiplex nucleic acid detection method is essential for effective disease management and control. Primers and probes for the three pathogens were designed to reduce interference from related strains. Three recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) reactions were conducted at 39°C for 10min to produce species-specific fluorescence signals for the three pathogens. These were integrated, and conditions were optimized for rapid, sensitive triplex-RPA assays without cross-reactivity. A triplex-RPA reaction with lateral flow dipsticks (LFDs) was developed and applied to blood samples, newly isolated strains, and simulated samples. Highly sensitive and specific primers and probes were developed, achieving a maximum sensitivity of 1 copy/µL in single-reaction RPA. The optimized triplex RPA detection technique, combined with fluorescence, effectively identified B. anthracis, Y. pestis, and Brucella spp. within 20min, whereas LFDs achieved detection in 10min. The assay also performed comparably to conventional polymerase chain reaction techniques when tested on blood samples, newly isolated strains, and simulated samples. This study offers reliable methods for detecting B. anthracis, Y. pestis, and Brucella spp. in rural hospitals and public health initiatives.

Clonorchis sinensis and Echinostoma hortense detected by endoscopy and molecular characterization: two case reports and update on diagnosis

Clonorchis sinensis (C. sinensis) and Echinostoma hortense (E. Hortense) infections represent significant food-borne zoonotic parasitic diseases. C. sinensis stands as the primary parasite underlying cholangitis, cholelithiasis, and even cholangiocarcinoma, whereas E. Hortense parasitizes the duodenum. Unfortunately, the non-specific clinical presentations of these two trematodes frequently mislead clinicians, resulting in overlooks or misdiagnoses, and consequently, inadequate treatment. We diagnosed digestive system trematodes through endoscopic observation and molecular methods. Herein, we present a case where C. sinensis was definitively diagnosed through direct observation under duodenoscopy. For the first time, we captured the entire migratory process of the parasite from the common bile duct into the intestinal lumen. In another case, multiple active trematodes were detected on the duodenal wall under duodenoscopy, subsequently extracted using endoscopic forceps. Based on the morphology of the worms and their eggs, an initial diagnosis of Echinostoma was made. To confirm the species, we designed primers targeting the ribosomal ITS (internal transcribed spacer) and mitochondrial COX-1 (cyclooxygenase-1) genes, followed by PCR amplification and sequencing. The results conclusively matched the sequence of E. Hortense, verifying our final diagnosis. Our proposed approach, integrating endoscopy with molecular characteristics, offers novel strategies for diagnosing trematode infections. This methodology represents a significant advancement in the field, enhancing the accuracy and timeliness of treatment interventions.

Investigation of the Structure and Functional Activity of the YqeK Protein in Streptococcus pyogenes with High Efficiency in Hydrolyzing Ap4A

Streptococcus pyogenes is an important zoonotic Gram-positive bacterium that appears in chains, without spores or flagella, and belongs to the beta-hemolytic streptococci. It can be transmitted through droplets or contact, with the preferred antibiotics being penicillin, erythromycin, or cephalosporins. However, the misuse of these drugs has led to antibiotic resistance, posing a significant threat to both human and animal health. Studying resistance genes encoding proteins is crucial for mitigating the emergence of resistant strains and improving treatment outcomes. Interestingly, a dinucleotide known as diadenosine tetraphosphate (Ap4A) exists in Streptococcus pyogenes; its accumulation in response to various stress signals can inhibit bacterial pathogenicity and enhance antibiotic susceptibility. Our research focuses on the Sp-yqeK protein, which we have identified as a hydrolase that symmetrically cleaves Ap4A. The Sp-yqeK protein effectively cleaves Ap4A, producing adenosine diphosphate (ADP) molecules. Results indicate that this enzyme exhibits optimal activity at pH 7.0 and a temperature of 45 °C. Furthermore, we determined the crystal structure of the Sp-yqeK, Mg2+, and ADP complex at a resolution of 2.0 Å, providing insights into the interactions crucial for catalytic efficiency between Sp-yqeK and ADP. This complex reveals unique folding characteristics of the HD domain superfamily proteins, accommodating both ADP and Mg2+. These components are securely embedded into the polar cavity of the yqeK protein through conserved residues (His29, Lys62, His91, His117, Asp135, Leu172, Phe180, and Thr183), highlighting the residues responsible for Ap4A hydrolysis and Mg2+ binding. Our research offers a deeper understanding of the hydrolysis mechanism of Ap4A and the specificity of Sp-yqeK, providing structural insights that may support future studies on antibiotic resistance in Streptococcus pyogenes and other Gram-positive bacteria.

Investigation of Cystic Echinococcosis Knowledge Levels of Animal Breeders and Butchers in Ardahan Province in Türkiye.

The objective of this study was to ascertain the knowledge level of animal breeders and butchers regarding cystic echinococcosis (CE) in the Ardahan province and its districts situated in the Eastern Anatolia Region of Türkiye. Additionally, the study aimed to identify the potential risk factors that may contribute to the occurrence of the disease. The research was conducted between November 2021 and May 2022. A total of 402 animal breeders and 23 butchers participated in the survey. In order to ascertain the extent of awareness regarding CE, a series of multiple-choice questions were administered in a face-to-face setting. Upon evaluation of the data obtained from the research in a socio-demographic context, it shows that people's awareness of CE increases with age, and women have the most knowledge on this subject (45.85%). A total of 71.76% (305/425) of participants reported owning a dog. Of these, 48.52% (148/305) typically feed their dog food waste. Additionally, 58.03% (177/305) of dog owners do not regularly take their dogs to the vet. The animals were slaughtered by the participants (53.65%; 228/425), and the infected organs found during slaughter were destroyed by deep burial (72.81%; 166/228). The majority of participants (93.41%; 397/425) expressed a desire to gain further insight into the subject. It was thus established that the districts and province of Ardahan are deficient in the availability of information regarding CE among animal breeders and butchers. It was therefore concluded that the inhabitants of the aforementioned region should be made aware of CE and other zoonotic diseases prevalent in the Ardahan province.

Knowledge - attitude - practice of students of the Faculty of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Nong Lam University, Ho Chi Minh City on the risk of zoonosis

The zoonosis is a significant health issue for both the medical and veterinary fields. Students in these disciplines play crucial roles in preventing and controlling such diseases. This study aimed to understand the knowledge (K), attitudes (A), and practices (P) regarding the prevention and control of zoonotic diseases among students majoring in animal science and veterinary medicine at the Nong Lam University, Ho Chi Minh City. Two methods used in this cross-sectional study were KAP and Q surveys, conducted on 329 and 46 subjects, respectively. The results indicated that students exhibited good K, A, and P levels at 66%, 48%, and 60%, respectively. The academic year influenced the formation of knowledge and attitudes. Raising two different kinds of animals at home was a factor that influenced the attitudes. The number of information sources affected differences in attitudes and behaviors. Three distinct student clusters were formed based on KAP scores. Cluster 1 had lower scores in all three aspects than the population average, cluster 3 had higher KAP scores than the population average, and cluster 2 had higher KP but lower A than the population average. Two student opinion groups (SOGs) were formed through the Q methodology, where SOG 1 was more concerned about personal health, and SOG 2 was more concerned about animal health. Both groups mentioned interdisciplinary collaboration to address the issue of zoonotic diseases. The proportion of students with good KAP was relatively low, and factors influencing this proportion were identified in the study. Thus, this highlighted the need for additional solutions and enhancements from teachers and researchers with the One Health approach playing a crucial role.

Keystone bacterial groups dominate Escherichia coli O157:H7 survival in long-term reclaimed water headwater stream.

Escherichia coli (E. coli) O157:H7 is a highly pathogenic zoonotic bacterium, with water serving as a key medium for its environmental transmission. However, the survival characteristics of E. coli O157:H7 in reclaimed water environments remain poorly understood, which has, to some extent, hindered the development of water reuse technologies. This study examined the survival dynamics of E. coli O157:H7 in a long-term reclaimed water headwater stream through inoculation experiments and identified its main drivers. The results showed that the survival time of E. coli O157:H7 was the longest in the headwater upstream (up to 62 days), gradually decreased as it flowed downstream. Among physicochemical factors, chloride ion, potential of hydrogen, and electrical conductivity were the main factors affecting the survival of E. coli O157:H7. The microbial diversity shown by the alpha diversity index had no significant impact on the E. coli O157:H7 survival. Meanwhile, certain keystone bacterial groups, such as Polynucleobacter, Roseomonas, and Luteolibacter, which are primarily involved in the decomposition of organic matter, suppressed E. coli O157:H7 survival in this stream, while Nitrospira, Dechloromonas, and Sphingomonas promoted the survival of E. coli O157:H7. Overall, the biotic factors have a more direct impact on the E. coli O157:H7 survival compared to abiotic factors in the reclaimed water-replenished stream and deserve more attention. Our research revealed higher biological risks in the upstream sections of the long-term reclaimed water headwater stream, which helped deepen our understanding of pathogen survival in water environments and enhancing our awareness of the biological safety of reclaimed water in ecological replenishment processes.

Cofactors facilitate bona fide prion misfolding in vitro but are not necessary for the infectivity of recombinant murine prions.

Prion diseases, particularly sporadic cases, pose a challenge due to their complex nature and heterogeneity. The underlying mechanism of the spontaneous conversion from PrPC to PrPSc, the hallmark of prion diseases, remains elusive. To shed light on this process and the involvement of cofactors, we have developed an in vitro system that faithfully mimics spontaneous prion misfolding using minimal components. By employing this PMSA methodology and introducing an isoleucine residue at position 108 in mouse PrP, we successfully generated recombinant murine prion strains with distinct biochemical and biological properties. Our study aimed to explore the influence of a polyanionic cofactor in modulating strain selection and infectivity in de novo-generated synthetic prions. These results not only validate PMSA as a robust method for generating diverse bona fide recombinant prions but also emphasize the significance of cofactors in shaping specific prion conformers capable of crossing species barriers. Interestingly, once these conformers are established, our findings suggest that cofactors are not necessary for their infectivity. This research provides valuable insights into the propagation and maintenance of the pathobiological features of cross-species transmissible recombinant murine prion and highlights the intricate interplay between cofactors and prion strain characteristics.

A novel ready-to-use loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) method for detection of Burkholderia mallei and B. pseudomallei

BackgroundGlanders and melioidosis are contagious zoonotic diseases caused by Burkholderia mallei and B. pseudomallei, respectively. Bacterial isolation and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) have been used to detect these bacteria in animals suspected of infection; however, both methods require skilled experimental techniques and expensive equipment. These obstacles make it difficult to diagnose B. mallei and B. pseudomallei infections in areas where reagents and equipment are difficult to procure. To solve this problem, we developed an easy and ready-to-use dried-format diagnostic tool based on loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) method.ResultsThe primer set targeting the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region detected 10 genomic copies of B. mallei DNA and B. pseudomallei DNA using the conventional liquid LAMP method. This primer set did not detect any other Burkholderia species. Using this novel primer set, a dried-format in-house LAMP method with high sensitivity and specificity was developed. This method was used to test for the presence of B. mallei DNA in swabs collected from the nasal cavity and ulcerated skin of 19 B. mallei-infected horses and five uninfected horses and was compared with the real-time PCR method. These two tests showed 87.5% agreement for the positive samples and 100% agreement for the negative samples. This method detected all tested B. pseudomallei clinical isolates.ConclusionsWe established the first dry LAMP method for the detection of B. mallei and B. pseudomallei. This study provided a simple, rapid, cost-effective, and sensitive diagnostic tool for glanders and melioidosis.

Protective effects of hydatid cyst fluid on inflammation and tissue damage in rat model of type 1 diabetes.

Cystic echinococcosis, caused by Echinococcus granulosus, is a zoonotic disease with immunomodulatory properties attributed to hydatid cyst fluid (HCF). Given the immune-modulating and anti-inflammatory properties of HCF observed in other contexts, its potential therapeutic effects in diabetes remain unexplored. This study aimed to investigate the potential therapeutic effects of HCF on glycemic control, inflammatory cytokines, and tissue histopathology in a streptozotocin (STZ)-induced model of type 1 diabetes. Twenty male rats were randomly divided into four groups (n = 5): a healthy control group, a hydatid cyst group that received three intraperitoneal injections of HCF at two-week intervals, a diabetic group that received a single intraperitoneal dose of STZ to induce diabetes, and a hydatid cyst + diabetic group (HCF + STZ) that received both HCF treatment and STZ administration. Serum glucose levels, inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-10), and histopathological changes in pancreatic and renal tissues were analyzed. The HCF + STZ group demonstrated a significant reduction in serum glucose levels compared to the STZ-only group. Pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-1β were significantly decreased in HCF-treated diabetic rats, while the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 was partially restored. Histopathological examination revealed severe pancreatic islet atrophy and renal degeneration in the diabetic group, which were markedly alleviated in the HCF + STZ group. These findings suggest that HCF's immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory properties may mitigate hyperglycemia and inflammatory responses in type 1 diabetes, warranting further investigation into its mechanisms and clinical applications.

Complete Genome Sequence Analysis of the First Imported Mpox Virus Clade Ib Variant in China.

Mpox, a zoonotic disease caused by the mpox virus (MPXV), has seen a significant shift in its epidemiological status since 2022, evolving from an initial local outbreak to a global epidemic. This recent outbreak of MPXV mainly emerged in several European and American countries and subsequently spread to over 100 countries and regions worldwide. The rapid evolution of MPXV, coupled with increased international interactions, has led to a gradual rise in mpox cases in certain regions of Asia, mostly involving MPXV clade II and its branch strains. In contrast, the more pathogenic and clinically severe MPXV clade Ib has been relatively rare, with no reports in China to date. Here, we analyzed the whole gene sequence of imported MPXV clade Ib variant from the first infection case detected in China. Through whole genome sequencing, we successfully obtained a full-length MPXV genome of 195,405 base pairs (bp). Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the genetic sequence of the MPXV in this case was predominantly clustered with MPXV clade Ib sequences previously reported from multiple African and European countries. Compared with the MPXV clade Ib reference strain DQ011155.1, there are 127 nucleotide alterations and 57 amino acid mutations in the MPXV genome of this case. Given that the MPXV clade Ib has started to appear in China, we must pay more attention to the prevention of and control measures for the spread of mpox.