Mpox, caused by the monkeypox virus (MPXV; Orthopoxvirus monkeypox), is on the rise in West and Central Africa1-3. African rodents, especially squirrels, are suspected to be involved in MPXV emergence, but no evidence of a direct transmission to humans or non-human primates has been established4-9. Here we describe an outbreak of MPXV in a group of wild sooty mangabeys (Cercocebus atys) in Taï National Park (Côte d'Ivoire). The outbreak affected one-third of the group, killing four infants. To track its origin, we analysed rodents and wildlife carcasses from the region. We identified a MPXV-infected fire-footed rope squirrel (Funisciurus pyrropus), found dead 3 km from the mangabey territory 12 weeks before the outbreak. MPXV genomes from the squirrel and the mangabey were nearly identical. A video record from 2014 showed a mangabey from this group eating the same squirrel species and diet metabarcoding of faecal samples collected from mangabeys before the outbreak identified two samples containing fire-footed rope squirrel DNA. One of these samples was also the first positive for MPXV. This represents a rare case of direct detection of interspecies transmission. Our findings indicate that rope squirrels were the source of the MPXV outbreak in mangabeys. Because squirrels and non-human primates are hunted, traded and consumed by humans in West and Central Africa10,11, exposure to these animals probably represents risk for zoonotic transmission of MPXV.

Indirect transmission through aquatic environments is critical to interspecies transmission of influenza, but knowledge of sunlight inactivation of the virus, or any enveloped virus, in water is lacking. This study characterizes the photoinactivation of two enveloped viruses (Phi6 and influenza A virus, IAV), and a nonenveloped virus (MS2) in clear and colored surface waters using simulated sunlight. We measured light-screening corrected decay rate constants () using infectivity assays. values were greater, especially for IAV, in colored surface water versus clear water. values were generally greatest for IAV, followed by Phi6, then MS2, suggesting greater susceptibility of enveloped viruses to sunlight. Most values for IAV and Phi6 did not differ with UV irradiance variations in colored surface water, indicating dominance of indirect, photochemically produced reactive intermediate-mediated inactivation pathways. Additional experiments with Phi6 as a representative enveloped virus suggest the importance of hydroxyl radicals, indicate adsorption of NOM promotes photoinactivation, and sublethal damage of the virus may occur. For IAV, modeled time for 99% inactivation in a well-mixed 1 m deep wetland water column is 1.2 h, compared to 1.8 h in clear water. These findings, particularly those for IAV, can inform human and animal health protection strategies.

Influenza D virus (IDV), primarily found in livestock species, has demonstrated cross-species transmission potential, yet its threat to humans remains poorly understood. Here, we curated a panel of IDV isolates collected during field surveillance from 2011 to 2020 from swine and cattle to assess their ability to infect human airway cells as a proxy for zoonotic threat assessment. Using lung epithelial cell lines, primary well-differentiated airway epithelial cultures, and precision-cut lung slices, we demonstrated that IDV efficiently propagates in cells and tissues from the human respiratory tract, reaching titers comparable to human influenza A virus (IAV). Infection kinetics in primary porcine airway cultures and respiratory tissues mirrored those from human, suggesting similar infectivity across species. To define host responses to IDV infection, we evaluated innate immune sensing and downstream interferon signaling in human respiratory cells. IDV infection resulted in markedly reduced activation of interferon regulatory factor (IRF) signaling and diminished induction of interferon lambda 1 and interferon-stimulated genes compared to IAV, indicating inefficient activation of innate immune sensing pathways. However, IDV replication was potently restricted in interferon-pretreated cells, demonstrating sensitivity to interferon-mediated antiviral effector mechanisms once an antiviral state was established. Together, these findings show that IDV can efficiently infect the human airway while limiting innate immune sensing, a feature that may facilitate zoonotic spillover. Our study highlights the need for enhanced surveillance of IDV at the animal-human interface and provides a foundation for further investigation into its biology and potential for causing human infection and disease.

Rotavirus A (RVA) is a leading cause of severe diarrhoea in children, and interspecies transmission significantly drives the genomic diversity of human RVAs. Cats represent a key host species, requiring in-depth analysis regarding RVA transmission to humans. This review evaluated the literature on the complex genotype constellations of feline RVAs in relation to relevant canine and human RVAs to define the role of feline RVAs in the evolutionary history of human strains. The review traces the methodological shift from genogrouping by RNA-RNA hybridisation to the current genotype constellation system enabled by whole-genome sequencing. While early methods identified a shared genomic closeness between human AU-1 and feline FRV-1, whole-genome sequencing indicated that several human RVA strains, including AU-1, HCR3A, and Ro1845, likely resulted from direct transmission of feline/canine strains, due to shared genotype constellations and high sequence identity with animal strains like feline FRV-1, Cat97 and canine CU-1. Evidence of reassortment—such as the emergence of G1P[9] and G9P[9] strains after the feline-derived G3P[9] crossed into the human population—suggests these feline-like strains have successfully overcome the host-species barrier and are capable of onward human-to-human transmission, not just dead-end spillover events. However, definitive confirmation of sustained transmission or contemporary spillover requires stringent phylogenetic criteria: multiple human strains with >99% identical sequences in a monophyletic lineage for sustained transmission, or an identical human–feline pair across all genome segments for contemporary spillover. Confirming the status of the AU-1-like constellation as a third, low-frequency human RVA type requires future studies applying these strict criteria.

Cell entry mechanisms of porcine enteric coronaviruses.

Identification of novel gammaherpesviruses in North American carnivores.

Virus circulation in native, introduced, and farmed mustelids in Poland.

Molecular characterization and evolutionary analysis of a duck astrovirus type 3 strain.

SERPINB1 promotes porcine deltacoronavirus replication by targeting the viral accessory protein NS7a.

SARS-CoV-2 Spike displays multiple adaptive changes in addition to the furin cleavage site.

In recent years, coronavirus, a kind of virus with a wide host range and high variability, has a large and complex genome. Research on the reverse genetics of coronaviruses has always been a hot spot. Coronavirus cannot only infect mammals, but also infect humans, showing its wide host adaptability. The mutation ability of the coronavirus is extremely strong. Recently, the rapid mutation rate of SARS-CoV-2 has made the development of vaccines and therapeutic methods face great challenges. At present, reverse genetics technology is a molecular biology tool. This process primarily involves cloning the full-length genome cDNA of the virus onto a vector, and then reproducing the modified progeny virus in the cell to achieve accurate modification of the virus's genetic characteristics. This technology can explore the external characteristics of mutants and the evolution of their traits through artificial operations, such as knockout and site-directed mutagenesis of specific genes, and then reveal the biological functions of genes. This article will review the research progress of the coronavirus reverse genetic operating system. In the past research, reverse genetics technology has made remarkable progress in the field of coronavirus research. Researchers have successfully constructed various reverse genetic systems for coronaviruses, including IBV, SARS-CoV-2, and MERS-CoV. In addition, the reverse genetic system has also been used to study the cross-species transmission capacity of the virus, which is of great significance for preventing possible future novel coronavirus epidemics.

Mycobacterium bovis infection poses a significant threat to the biodiversity and conservation of South African wildlife. Despite this, few studies have explored transmission dynamics within these complex multi-host systems. This study used whole-genome sequencing to investigate the genetic diversity and relatedness of M. bovis strains across various wildlife species and regions in South Africa to explore transmission patterns. A total of 112 M. bovis isolates from 106 individuals representing 12 species underwent short-read sequencing. Two animal-adapted sub-lineages, La1.7.1 (clonal complex Eu2) and La1.8.1 (Eu1), exhibited geographic clustering and notable genomic diversity. Closely related isolates (≤5 SNP differences) were primarily found within single host species, particularly African buffalo (Syncerus caffer), indicating intra-species transmission and potential source identification. In contrast, other genetically similar isolates (≤12 SNP differences), collected over 25 years, suggest historical inter-species transmission. Understanding these transmission patterns is essential for developing effective strategies to control the spread of M. bovis and protect vulnerable wildlife populations.

Infectious pancreatic necrosis virus (IPNV) can cause devastating disease in Atlantic salmon (Salmon salar). IPNV has a broad host range and may threaten other aquaculture species. Understanding interspecies transmission of IPNV is crucial for protecting the aquaculture industry. With the expansion of fish farming (in Norway), it is important to assess whether a pathogencan transmit from one fish species to another and cause disease. We investigated whether IPNV-infected Atlantic cod can shed IPNV, leading to infection in other fish important to Norwegian aquaculture: halibut, salmon and lumpfish, using the cohabitation experimental trial method. Virus shedding, transmission, fish mortality and pathology were assessed. We documented virus shedding in water and mortality in IPNV-injected Atlantic cod. No mortality was observed in the cohabitated fish species during the experimental period. We confirmed lesions consistent with IPN by histopathology and immunohistochemistry in IPNV-injected Atlantic cod and in IPNV-PCR positive cohabitant Atlantic halibut. Cohabitant Atlantic cod, Atlantic salmon, Atlantic halibut and lumpfish were also found positive for IPNV by PCR, suggesting that IPNV-infected Atlantic cod can transfer infection to other farmed fish species. These findings highlight the potential risk of pathogen spread among farmed fish species and demonstrate the importance of understanding infectious fish disease epidemiology.

Genomic characteristics of multidrug-resistant Streptococcus pluranimalium isolated from a cow with mastitis in Xinjiang, China.

The emergence of MERS-CoV, SARS-CoV-1, and SARS-CoV-2 highlights the significant public health and economic threats posed by coronaviruses. In Lao PDR, SARS-CoV-2-related bat coronaviruses capable of binding to human ACE2 receptors have been found in northern regions, but little is known about coronavirus diversity in anthropized environments like temples. This study investigated coronavirus circulation, diversity, and prevalence in bats from caves and temples in Vientiane Province, Lao PDR. A total of 648 guano samples (505 Chaerephon plicatus, 100 Hipposideros spp., 43 Taphozous spp.) were collected between December 2022 and June 2023 and screened using pan-coronavirus RT-PCR approach. The overall positivity rate was 17.28%, significantly higher in caves (18.8%) than temples (4.41%) (p = 0.003). C. plicatus showed the highest positivity rate (21.38%), followed by Hipposideros spp. 4%, while Taphozous spp. were negative. Phylogenetic analysis revealed diverse coronavirus lineages within Alphacoronavirus (80.4%) and Betacoronavirus (19.6%) genera. Although none were closely related to known human pathogens, coronaviruses of Decacovirus genus related to Chinese bat viruses and Pedacovirus genus similar to porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) were detected. Unclassified betacoronaviruses identified were also related to viruses from C. plicatus in Thailand. This study provides valuable insights into coronavirus circulation in both natural and anthropized environments. The detection of PEDV-like viruses underlines the need for continued surveillance at the human-bat interface, where activities like guano harvesting and temple visits increase contacts. Further genomic and functional studies would enhance our understanding of their evolutionary relationships and potential for further cross-species transmission.

ABSTRACT In Europe, enteric yersiniosis is mainly caused by Yersinia enterocolitica bioserotypes 4/O:3 and 2/O:9, typically associated with pigs and ruminants, respectively. We investigated the genetic relatedness of animal and human Y. enterocolitica isolates in France to assess cross-species transmission and persistence in the reservoirs. Pathogenic strains collected during prevalence studies conducted in 2022 on 303 pigs and 430 cattle at slaughter were characterized by core genome multi locus sequence typing and compared with contemporary clinical isolates and with animal and clinical isolates collected before 2012. We observed a 4.9% prevalence of pathogenic Y. enterocolitica in pigs and none in cattle. A total of 1,677 Y. enterocolitica isolates were analyzed, of which 73.3% belonged to lineage 4 (BT4/O:3) and 24.9% to lineage 2/3-9b (BT2/O:9). Genomic clustering revealed eight mixed pig-human clusters within lineage 4, including two that linked pre-2012 and 2022 isolates, demonstrating decade-long persistence of pig-derived strains in human infections. Two bovine-human clusters were identified within lineage 2/3-9b, despite the absence of pathogenic isolates in cattle at slaughter, suggesting non-meat-related transmission routes. Antimicrobial resistance screening revealed acquired genes conferring resistance to chloramphenicol (23%), aminoglycosides (26%), sulfonamides (24%), and tetracyclines (1%) in clinical isolates, but none in pig isolates. These findings indicate that BT4/O:3 strains circulating in pigs constitute a major and persistent source of human yersiniosis. Cattle-associated lineage 2/3-9b strains also affect humans, but with an unclear transmission route. The presence of multidrug-resistance genes in human-derived lineage 4 isolates underscores the need for continuous genomic surveillance within a One Health framework. IMPORTANCE This study documents the relationship between human and animal strains of Yersinia enterocolitica , highlighting the critical role of animals as the source of human enteric yersiniosis. By analyzing bacterial genomes from pigs, cattle, and humans collected over more than 10 years, we found that some Y. enterocolitica strains can persist in livestock and continue to cause human infections. Our findings emphasize that preventing food-borne disease in people requires monitoring and control of bacteria in animal populations. The work underscores the One Health approach, which recognizes that human, animal, and environmental health are closely linked, and that coordinated efforts across these areas are essential to reduce the spread of infections and protect public health.

Porcine deltacoronavirus (PDCoV) is an enteropathogenic virus that causes severe diarrhea in pigs, particularly suckling piglets, and exhibits cross-species transmission with zoonotic potential. The S1 subunit of the viral spike (S) protein mediates cell entry and elicits neutralizing antibodies, making it an ideal target for diagnostics, prophylaxis, and therapeutics. Here, we produced two monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), B8F10 and G10C2, by immunizing BALB/c mice with a recombinant PDCoV S1 protein fused to a human IgG Fc fragment, expressed in an insect baculovirus system and purified using Protein A/G magnetic beads. Both mAbs can specifically recognize native PDCoV S protein in indirect immunofluorescence assays and western blot analyses under denaturing conditions, indicating their binding to linear epitopes. Isotyping classified both as IgG1/κ, and sequence analysis revealed distinct heavy-chain complementarity-determining regions (CDRs) but identical light-chain CDRs. Using truncated S1 proteins coupled with Pepscan ELISA, the B8F10 and G10C2 epitopes were precisely mapped to 342LETNFMCT349 and 491VINNTVVG498, respectively. These epitopes can be recognized by both mAbs and swine PDCoV antiserum, confirming their immunodominance. While global PDCoV strain alignments revealed high conservation of these epitopes, a V491A mutation within the G10C2-binding site abolished mAb binding. Structural analysis confirmed both epitopes are surface-exposed on S1. These findings demonstrate the diagnostic potential of these mAbs and the epitopes' suitability as vaccine targets. Their high conservation suggests broad applicability, whereas the V491A mutation may represent an immune escape mechanism. These epitopes could serve as diagnostic markers, immunotherapeutics, or the foundation for epitope-based vaccines to induce protective immunity.

Molecular evidence of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) shedding in the invasive American mink (Neogale vison) in southern Chile.

BackgroundHookworm infection remains a major public health concern in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), where it is endemic nationwide and particularly prevalent in remote communities. However, information regarding species-specific identification is limited. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of hookworm infection and identify the infecting species among humans, dogs, and cats in both northern and southern regions of the Lao PDR.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted between May and July 2023 in Luangprabang Province (northern Lao PDR) and Champasak Province (southern Lao PDR). All residents aged 18 years and older who were present during the survey period and met the inclusion criteria were enrolled. In addition, dogs and cats owned by enrolled participants and/or their household members were included. Hookworm infection was detected by identifying eggs in preserved stool samples using the formalin-ethyl acetate concentration technique (FECT). Species identification was performed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region to amplify Necator americanus (485 bp) and Ancylostoma spp. (380 bp), followed by sequencing analysis of stool samples preserved in 70% ethanol. Descriptive statistics summarized hookworm prevalence in humans, dogs, and cats. Chi-square, Wilcoxon rank-sum, and Kruskal–Wallis tests compared rates and means, with significance defined as P < 0.05.ResultsA total of 382 human participants, along with 37 dogs and 9 cats, completed all study procedures and were included in the analysis. Examination of preserved stool samples using FECT detected hookworm infection in 24.1% of humans (southern region: 36.6%; northern region: 11.8%) and in 76.1% of dogs and cats combined, with the highest prevalence observed in the southern region (92.6%). Molecular analysis identified N. americanus as the predominant species in humans (64.6%), followed by A. ceylanicum (20.5%). Among dogs and cats, N. americanus and A. caninum were each detected in 39.1% of samples, while A. ceylanicum accounted for 13.0%.ConclusionsThis study demonstrates a high prevalence of zoonotic hookworm infections in humans, dogs, and cats, highlighting the potential for interspecies transmission that complicates current prevention and control measures. Implementation of integrated control strategies—such as the One Health approach—that simultaneously address human and animal reservoirs is essential for achieving effective and sustainable hookworm control in the Lao PDR.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40249-025-01403-8.

Background/Objectives: Staphylococcus aureus is a multifaceted pathogen responsible for diseases in humans and in several animal species, including dairy cows. This study aimed to characterize and compare the genetic diversity, lineage distribution, and antimicrobial resistance profiles of S. aureus isolates from bovine milk with human-derived reference genomes to investigate host adaptation and inter-species transmission. Methods: Genomic analyses were performed on S. aureus isolates from quarter milk samples of dairy cows together with human-derived sequences from public databases. Whole-genome sequencing and multi-locus sequence typing (MLST) were used to determine sequence type (ST) distribution, and the presence of key antibiotic resistance genes and mobile genetic elements (MGEs) was assessed. Comparative genomics was applied to evaluate gene content, phylogenetic relationships, and lineage–host associations. Results: The dataset encompassed bovine-adapted lineages (CC97, CC133, CC151) and human-associated lineages (CC1, CC5, CC8, CC30, CC45), as well as livestock-associated ST398 in bovine samples and human-adapted ST5 and ST6 in animals. ST8 was the only ST shared between animal and human isolates and showed differing resistance profiles, with animal ST8 carrying resistance determinants absent from human ST8. Bovine-adapted strains were characterized by recurrent loss of human-associated virulence genes and acquisition of bovine-associated mobile genetic elements, and blaZ and mecA were rarely detected in bovine-adapted CC97 but were frequently present in human CC5 and CC8. Overall, animal isolates carried fewer resistance genes than human isolates. Conclusions: S. aureus from dairy cows and humans displayed substantial genetic diversity, with evidence of host-associated lineages and dynamic changes in gene and mobile element content. These findings support the need for integrated One Health surveillance to track shared and host-adapted lineages and their antibiotic resistance determinants.