Human Animal Research Articles

Serological Evidence of Cryptic Rift Valley Fever Virus Transmission Among Humans and Livestock in Central Highlands of Kenya

Although the highlands of East Africa lack the geo-ecological landmarks of Rift Valley fever (RVF) disease hotspots to participate in cyclic RVF epidemics, they have recently reported growing numbers of small RVF clusters. Here, we investigated whether RVF cycling occurred among livestock and humans in the central highlands of Kenya during inter-epidemic periods. A 2-year prospective hospital-based study among febrile patients (March 2022–February 2024) in Murang’a County of Kenya was followed by a cross-sectional human–animal survey. A total of 1468 febrile patients were enrolled at two clinics and sera tested for RVF virus RNA and antiviral antibodies. In the cross-sectional study, humans (n = 282) and livestock (n = 706) from randomly selected households were tested and questionnaire data were used to investigate sociodemographic and environmental risk factors by multivariate logistic regression. No human (n = 1750) or livestock (n = 706) sera tested positive for RVFV RNA. However, 4.4% livestock and 2.0% humans tested positive for anti-RVFV IgG, including 0.27% febrile patients who showed four-fold IgG increase and 2.4% young livestock (<12 months old), indicating recent virus exposure. Among humans, the odds of RVF exposure increased significantly (p < 0.05, 95% CI) in males (aOR: 4.77, 2.08–12.4), those consuming raw milk (aOR: 5.24, 1.13–17.9), milkers (aOR: 2.69, 1.23–6.36), and participants residing near quarries (aOR: 2.4, 1.08–5.72). In livestock, sheep and goats were less likely to be seropositive (aOR: 0.27, 0.12–0.60) than cattle. The increase in RVF disease activities in the highlands represents a widening geographic dispersal of the virus, and a greater risk of more widespread RVF epidemics in the future.

Influenza a virus antiparallel helical nucleocapsid-like pseudo-atomic structure.

Influenza A viruses are responsible for human seasonal epidemics and severe animal pandemics with a risk of zoonotic transmission to humans. The viral segmented RNA genome is encapsidated by nucleoproteins (NP) and attached to the heterotrimeric polymerase, forming the viral ribonucleoproteins (vRNPs). Flexible helical vRNPs are central for viral transcription and replication. In this study, we present an advanced biological tool, the antiparallel helical RNP-like complex, assembled from recombinant N-terminally truncated NP and short synthetic RNA. The 3.0 Å cryo-electron microscopy structure details for the first time the whole RNA pathway across NP as well as NP-NP interactions that drive the antiparallel helical assembly accommodating major and minor grooves. Our findings show that the surface of the protein can harbour several conformations of the RNA, confirming that the number of nucleobases that binds to NP is not fixed, but ranges probably between 20 and 24. Taking all together, our data provide details to further understand the genome encapsidation and explain the inherent flexibility of influenza A virus vRNPs.

Enhancing Animals is “Still Genetics”: Perspectives of Genome Scientists and Policymakers on Animal and Human Enhancement

Background Nonhuman animals are regularly enhanced genomically with CRISPR and other gene editing tools as scientists aim at better models for biomedical research, more tractable agricultural animals, or animals that are otherwise well suited to a defined purpose. This study investigated how genome editors and policymakers perceived ethical or policy benefits and drawbacks for animal enhancement and how perceived benefits and drawbacks are alike, or differ from, those for human genome editing. Methods We identified scientists through relevant literature searches as well as conference presentations. Policymakers were identified through rosters of genome editing oversight groups (e.g., International Commission on the Clinical Use of Human Germline Genome Editing, World Health Organization) or efforts aimed at influencing policy (e.g., deliberative democracy groups). Interviews covered participants’ views on ethical differences between interventions affecting somatic or germline cells and distinctions between using gene editing for disease treatment, prevention, and enhancement purposes. Results Of the 92 participants interviewed, 81 were genome editing scientists, and 33 were policymakers, with 22 interviewees being both scientists and policymakers. Multiple areas were identified in which the ethical implications of genomic enhancements for nonhuman animals differ from those for human animals including with respect to experiential welfare; germline edits; environmental sustainability; and justice. Conclusions Overall, respondents viewed that animal enhancement is unburdened by the ethical complexities of human enhancement. These views may be related to participant perceptions of animals’ lesser moral status and because germline editing in animals is common practice.

Analysis of urine pH and specific gravity in pasture sheep

AbstractUrine pH and specific gravity represent the routine objectively verifiable parameters in urinalysis. Urinalysis is presently an underutilised analytical tool in ovine medicine but holds the same potential for predictive, diagnostic and prognostic use in sheep as it does in human and small animal medicine. Urine pH and specific gravity were measured as a health screening tool to ascertain normal physiological ranges in sheep on free-range summer pastures with free access to drinking water. Both sexes, different ages and various breeds including Dorper, Karakul, Damara and cross-breeds were recruited into the study to investigate possible sources of variation. Experimental animals were selected through stratified random sampling using farm records from a population of 69 rams, 135 ewes and 115 lambs. Samples of urine were collected from 60 rams, 60 ewes and 60 lambs by free catch following induction of micturition by transient apnoea. Urine pH was measured by a pH metre whilst urine specific gravity was evaluated with an optical refractometer. The urine pH ranged from 6.81 to 9.08, with a mean of 8.52 ± 0.02 (se). Only one animal had a urine pH value below the existing reference level (7.4–8.5). Concurrent abnormalities of the urine in dipstick analysis included proteinuria and glucosuria. Urine specific gravity varied from 1.003 to 1.050 with a mean of 1.021 ± 0.001 (se). Four sheep, all of them lambs, had urine-specific gravity values above the existing reference level (1.015 to 1.045). The high urine specific gravity was associated with diverse pathological findings including proteinuria, pyuria and glucosuria as well as the presence of urine sediment. Urine pH was influenced by gender and breed and specific gravity by age. The results affirmed that sheep naturally produce alkaline urine and aciduria points to an underlying pathological problem. An association between high urine specific gravity and systemic/urinary system disorders was evident in lambs. Isosthenuria and hyposthenuria were frequently encountered in healthy adult sheep and were considered indices of positive water balance rather than renal dysfunction. Collated data confirmed existing reference levels but revised the upper limit of normal urine pH to 9 instead of 8.5, and the lower limit of normal urine specific gravity to 1.003 instead of 1.015.

Exploring the Relationship Between Human-Animal Interactions at Work and Mental Health: Unraveling the Dynamics for Individuals With Higher Neuroticism.

Daily interactions typically can be a reflection of a person's mental health. Despite the existing literature emphasizing the importance of social interactions for mental health, few studies have focused on human-animal interactions, particularly in the work context. Thus, this study sought to expand knowledge and relied on the affective events theory to test (1) the mediating role of the daily affect ratio in the relationship between daily human-animal interactions and mental health and (2) the moderating role of neuroticism in the previous indirect relationship. To test the hypotheses, a daily design was used (N = 53 × 5 = 265). The multilevel results revealed that (1) daily human-animal interactions are positively related to mental health through the daily affect ratio; however, (2) the affect ratio depended more on daily human-animal interactions when individuals had higher levels of neuroticism, which means that (3) neuroticism intensified the indirect relationship between daily human-animal interactions and mental health through affect ratio. Overall, opportunities for human-animal interactions under telework settings may be a well-suited strategy for employees who score higher on neuroticism.

Silkworm Girl, Sericultural EcoGothic, and the Anthropocene

The article looks at the connection between Chinese folklores and the Anthropocene, examining the tale of the silkworm girl in ancient Chinese mythologies and folklores from an EcoGothic perspective of human-nonhuman alliance (as well as its betrayal). The process of sericultural development in Asia works in tandem with the formation of the renowned “silk road,” an international commercial (as well as military) route for the exchange of goods and materials from East Asia and Central Asia to Europe and the Mediterranean region. The myth of the silkworm girl encapsulates an eco-economic co-existence among human beings, animals, plants, and matter in its most rudimentary form. My discussion focuses on the two versions of the story of the silkworm girl, one from an earlier collection of folklore—Sou shen ji (In Search of the Supernatural: The Written Record) by Jin Dynasty historian, Bao Gan, in China—and the other one by Guan Ting Du—Yong Cheng Ji Sian Lu (Records of the Assembled Transcendents of the Fortified Walled City), a later collection of stories compiled in the Tang dynasty. While silkworms in ancient Chinese literature and the sericulture they embody have been associated with agricultural advancement through the human domestication and extraction of natural resources, the anthropocentric interpretations of the moral lessons conveyed in those tales about the economic value their industry and productivity symbolize is problematized by the girl-horse metamorphosis and their symbiotic relationship with mulberry trees. Their representations are further complicated by the military involvement in sericulture. This article compares diverging representations of the silkworm girl within the context of the sericultural practice, particularly the man-horse-silkworm-mulberry entanglement, to reconsider the ecological significance of Asian mythologies in the age of our Anthropocene crisis.

Integration of GWAS models and GS reveals the genetic architecture of ear shank in maize.

Maize is one of the most important crops for human food, animal feed, and industrial raw materials. Ear shank length (ESL) and ear shank node number (ESNN) are crucial selection criteria in maize breeding, impacting grain yield and dehydration rate during mechanical harvesting. To unravel the genetic basis of ESL and ESNN in maize, an association panel consisting of 379 multi-parent doubled-haploid (DH) lines was developed for genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and genomic selection (GS). The heritabilities of ESL and ESNN were 0.68 and 0.55, respectively, which were controlled by genetic factors and genotype-environment interaction factors. Using five different models for GWAS, 11 significant single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) located on chromosomes 1, 2, and 4 were identified for ESL, with the phenotypic variation explained (PVE) value of each single SNP ranging from 4.91% to 21.35%, and 11 significant SNPs located on chromosomes 1, 2, 4, and 5 were identified for ESNN, with the PVE value of each SNP ranging from 1.22% to 18.42%. Genetic regions in bins 1.06, 2.06, and 2.08 were significantly enriched in SNPs associated with ear shank-related traits. The GS prediction accuracy using all markers by the five-fold cross-validation method for ESL and ESNN was 0.39 and 0.37, respectively, which was significantly improved by using only 500-1000 significant SNPs with the lowest P-values. The optimal training population size (TPS) and marker density (MD) for ear shank-related traits were 50%-60% and 3000, respectively. Our results provide new insights into the GS of ear shank-related traits.

Folate prevents the autism-related phenotype caused by developmental pyrethroid exposure in prairie voles.

Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) have dramatically increased in prevalence to an alarming one in six children, and yet both causes and preventions remain elusive. Recent human epidemiology and animal studies have implicated developmental exposure to pyrethroid pesticides, one of the most common classes of pesticides in the US, as an environmental risk factor for autism and neurodevelopmental disorders. Our previous research has shown that low-dose chronic developmental pyrethroid exposure (DPE) changes folate metabolites in the adult mouse brain. We hypothesize that DPE acts directly on molecular targets in the folate metabolism pathway, and that high-dose maternal folate supplementation can prevent or reduce the biobehavioral effects of DPE. We exposed pregnant prairie vole dams chronically to vehicle or low-dose deltamethrin (3 mg/kg/3 days) with or without high-dose folate supplementation (methylfolate, 5 mg/kg/3 days). The resulting DPE offspring showed broad deficits in five behavioral domains relevant to neurodevelopmental disorders (including the social domain); increased plasma folate concentrations; and increased neural expression of SHMT1, a folate cycle enzyme. Maternal folate supplementation prevented most of the behavioral phenotypes (except for repetitive behaviors) and caused potentially compensatory changes in neural expression of FOLR1 and MTHFR, two folate-related proteins. We conclude that DPE causes neurodevelopmental disorder-relevant behavioral deficits; DPE directly alters aspects of folate metabolism; and preventative interventions targeting folate metabolism are effective in reducing, but not eliminating, the behavioral effects of DPE.

Pandemic-Proofing: Intercepting Zoonotic Spillover Events

Zoonotic spillover events pose a significant and growing threat to global health. By focusing on preventing these cross-species transmissions, we can significantly mitigate pandemic risks. This review aims to analyze the mechanisms of zoonotic spillover events, identify key risk factors, and propose evidence-based prevention strategies to reduce future pandemic threats. Through a comprehensive literature review and analysis of major databases including PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus from 1960–2024, we examined documented spillover events, their outcomes, and intervention strategies. This article emphasizes that targeting the root cause—the spillover event itself—is key to averting future pandemics. By analyzing historical and contemporary outbreaks, we extract crucial insights into the dynamics of zoonotic transmission. Factors underlying these events include increased human–animal contact due to habitat encroachment, agricultural intensification, and wildlife trade. Climate change, global travel, and inadequate healthcare infrastructure exacerbate risks. The diversity of potential viral reservoirs and rapid viral evolution present major challenges for prediction and prevention. Solutions include enhancing surveillance of wildlife populations, improving biosecurity measures, investing in diagnostic capabilities, and promoting sustainable wildlife management. A “One Health” approach integrating human, animal, and environmental health is crucial. Predictive modelling, international cooperation, and public education are key strategies. Developing pre-exposure prophylactics and post-exposure treatments is essential for mitigating outbreaks. While obstacles remain, advances in genomics and ecological modelling offer hope. A proactive, comprehensive approach addressing the root causes of spillover events is vital for safeguarding global health against future pandemics.

THE CONCEPT OF AL-ISTIKHLAF AND ITS IMPORTANCE IN RECLAIMING THE ATTRIBUTES OF MAN AS KHALIFAH ON EARTH

This paper examines the significance of the notion of al-Istikhlaf and its basic place in the Islamic worldview. One fundamental principle in the Islamic philosophy of life is the role and purpose of man as khalifah on earth. In the Islamic worldview, al-istikhlaf or vicegerency refers to the honorable responsibility and purpose that mankind willingly undertook. Being the khalifah on earth entails assuming responsibility for governing and overseeing the life of man within civilizations, and his development on earth in accordance with God's guidance and commands. This paper seeks to elucidate the imperative nature of regaining the notion of al-istikhlaf and employing it as a conceptual framework for the restoration and reconstruction of our vicegerent roles and responsibilities on earth. The paper uses textual analysis to examine various viewpoints and theories related to constructing the al-Istikhlaf narrative and re-introducing it prominently. The paper concluded that Al Istikhlaf, an essential concept in Islam, has the potential to be expanded into an all-encompassing framework for analysing the challenges and problems encountered by man. It seeks to revisit the all-encompassing nature and attributes of man as khalifah and not a mere human animal. This paper proposes the ongoing research on the al-Istikhlaf framework and the promoting it among scholars and researchers. The framework of Istikhlaf helps understand and articulate issues and problems facing contemporary man in a more integrated and ethically driven way.

Assessment On Factors Affecting Human Wild Animal Coexistence And Associated Mitigation Measures In The Buffer Zone Community Of Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park, Nepal

Solid success in conserving the protected areas would obviously require the participation and cooperation from local people particularly in developing countries where the locals bear most of the expense of Human wildlife co-existence. Considering this, the present research attempts to explore the factor affecting Human-Wildlife Co-existence (HWC) and the related mitigation measures adopted by the buffer zone community of Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park, Nepal (SNNP). The research also intends to determine the livelihood status of the locals, policies and compensations offered by buffer zone management. Data for the quantitative approach has been collected from 446 households residing in the buffer zone regions through structured questionnaire. Qualitative data are fetched through nine KII (Key Informant Interviews) who were the stakeholders of the buffer zone community. The overall results of the research find that locals in the buffer zone of SNNP are affected by the wildlife interventions. Due to this, crop damage is regarded as the massive loss experienced, wild boar is found to be the major conflicting wildlife followed by monkey and leopard. Local people are observed to have positive attitude towards the policies and programs of buffer zone management particularly, fuel-wood supply is the most appreciated benefits proffered.

Multisectoral One Health collaborations across human, animal and environmental health: a protocol paper for an umbrella systematic review of conceptual and analytical approaches to sustainability

IntroductionRecent decades have seen a growth in multisectoral and transdisciplinary approaches to improving global health, particularly across human, animal and environmental health-related sciences that advocate for participatory, systems-based perspectives to...

Spatial Steerability of GANs via Self-Supervision from Discriminator.

Generative models make huge progress to the photorealistic image synthesis in recent years. To enable humans to steer the image generation process and customize the output, many works explore the interpretable dimensions of the latent space in GANs. Existing methods edit the attributes of the output image such as orientation or color scheme by varying the latent code along certain directions. However, these methods usually require additional human annotations for each pretrained model, and they mostly focus on editing global attributes. In this work, we propose a self-supervised approach to improve the spatial steerability of GANs without searching for steerable directions in the latent space or requiring extra annotations. Specifically, we design randomly sampled Gaussian heatmaps to be encoded into the intermediate layers of generative models as spatial inductive bias. Along with training the GAN model from scratch, these heatmaps are aligned with the emerging attention of the GAN's discriminator in a self-supervised learning manner. During inference, users can interact with the spatial heatmaps in an intuitive manner, enabling them to edit the output image by adjusting the scene layout, moving, or removing objects. Moreover, we incorporate DragGAN into our framework, which facilitates fine-grained manipulation within a reasonable time and supports a coarse-to-fine editing process. Extensive experiments show that the proposed method not only enables spatial editing over human faces, animal faces, outdoor scenes, and complicated multi-object indoor scenes but also brings improvement in synthesis quality.

Nature’s Signature in Ayurveda with an Ethnopharmacological Approach: A Narrative Review

: The nature's signature in Āyurveda i.e. Doctrine of Signatures (DOS), which calls for utilizing natural substances that resemble a particular body part or organ, is consistent with the ethnopharmacological practice of choosing therapeutic plants based on their visible physical qualities. In order to promote health and treat ailments, the ancient Indian medical system known as Āyurveda employs natural ingredients including plants, minerals, and animal products. The study of conventional medicine and the application of natural products for therapeutic reasons are known as ethno-pharmacology. This review explores various research on ayurvedic herbs, their doctrinal signature, and the status of our understanding of ethno-pharmacology. However, by integrating Āyurveda plants' doctrinal signatures with ethnopharmacological methods, it might be better to comprehend the therapeutic potential of plants and create novel treatments for a range of ailments. Combining these two perspectives might assist in understanding how nature may heal and how natural medicines could improve health and wellness. It was believed that a plant containing parts that resembled portions of human bodies, animals, or other items had practical use for those parts, animals, or objects. This philosophy was shown in some of the Indian medicinal plants that are discussed in this article.

Fishing or farming? Isotopic evidence of human subsistence strategies at the Dashuitian site during the middle Neolithic in the Three Gorges of the Yangtze River, China

The Three Gorges of the Yangtze River, with its deep canyons, abundant freshwater resources, and unique geographic location at the crossroads in the spread of rice-millet agriculture in the Middle Neolithic, is of great significance for understanding the interaction between fishing-hunting-gathering and farming in inland freshwater environments. However, few direct evidence for human subsistence strategies had been published in this region. This study presents results of carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analyses on human bones, animal and millet remains from the Dashuitian site (c. 6000–5500 BP) in the Three Gorges of the Yangtze River, China, to investigate the diet and subsistence and intrapopulation dietary variations in this region. The results indicate that the humans at the site consumed mostly freshwater fish foods and supplemented by terrestrial animals, with no discernable input from millets. They had consistently relied on a fishing, hunting, and gathering economy during the occupation of the site in the Middle Neolithic (c. 6000–5500 BP), differing from humans in other areas especially along the rivers and coasts of the lower Yangtze River valley for the roughly same period, further showing the extensive utilization of and adaptation to the available environmental resources. In addition, intrapopulation dietary variations based on burial style and sex provide evidence that differentiation and inequality, at least regarding to food consumption, existed at the Three Gorges region during the Middle Neolithic. Here, our findings provide isotopic evidence about the Middle Neolithic human subsistence strategies in the Three Gorges of the Yangtze River, providing a glimpse into the complexity related to inequality in food access among fisher-hunter-gatherers in inland areas, and new insights into understanding past human-environment interactions.

Comparative genomics and virulence potential of Campylobacter coli strains isolated from different sources over 25 years in Brazil

BackgroundCampylobacter spp. have been reported as a common cause of gastroenteritis in humans in many countries. However, in Brazil there is insufficient data to estimate the impact of Campylobacter in public health. In light of the importance of this foodborne pathogen, the aim of this study was to perform comparative analyses on 80 Brazilian Campylobacter coli genomes isolated from human feces, animals, the environment, and food. Methods include Average Nucleotide Identity (ANI), Gegenees, genomic plasticity, presence of pathogenicity, resistance, and metabolic islands. In addition, virulence analysis in Galleria mellonella were also performed for 18 selected C. coli strains.ResultsThe ANI values confirmed that all strains belonged to the C. coli species. Phylogenetic analyses demonstrated the evolutionary relationships among the studied strains, highlighting the genetic diversity among them. The differences in shared and deleted regions of the studied genomes were demonstrated, with 16 genomic islands identified, including 4 metabolic islands, 4 resistance islands, and 8 pathogenicity islands. We detected genes associated with chemotaxis, exotoxin production, antimicrobial resistance, stress response, defense mechanisms, and intracellular survival among these islands, highlighting the pathogenic potential of these strains. Two strains isolated from human and one from animal showed high virulence, killing 100% of Galleria mellonella larvae. Two strains isolated from the environment and two isolated from food killed 70–90% of the larvae and were classified as virulent. Three strains isolated from animal, two from human, two from the environment and one from food killed 30% to 60% of the larvae and were considered of intermediate virulence. Campylobacter jejuni ATCC 33291, one strain isolated from human and one from food killed 10 to 20% of the larvae and were considered of low virulence. One strain isolated from food did not kill any larvae and was considered avirulent.ConclusionsThe results obtained highlighted the genetic diversity, pathogenic and virulence potential of many of the C. coli strains studied, contributing for a more complete characterization of this important pathogen recognized as a cause of human gastroenteritis.

Metabolomics as a promising technology for investigating external therapy of traditional Chinese medicine: A review.

To demonstrate the potential for connecting metabolomics with traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) external therapies such as acupuncture and moxibustion, we conducted a literature review on metabolomics as a measurement tool for determining the efficacy of various TCM external therapies. Human research and animal models published in the last 10 years were summarized. The investigation can be classified as follows: Using metabolomics to study metabolic profile changes produced by stimulation of a specific acupoint ST36 indicates the perturbation of metabolites produced by stimulation of acupoints by external TCM treatments can be characterized by metabolomics; and Using metabolomics to reveal the molecular mechanism of various TCM external therapy methods to treat specific diseases such as digestive system disease, cardiovascular disease, neurological disorder, bone disease, and muscle fatigue. We conclude that metabolomics has considerable potential for comprehending TCM external treatment interventions, particularly from a systems perspective. Linking TCM external therapy research with metabolomics can further bridge detailed biological mechanisms with the systematic effect of TCM external therapy, hence providing new paths for gaining a deeper knowledge of the importance of TCM in the treatment and maintenance of health.

Challenges for the veterinary profession: A grounded theory study of veterinarians' experiences of caring for older horses.

In Great Britain, owners are keeping their horses into increasingly older age, reflecting societal changes in human-animal relationships. The uptake of routine veterinary services is reported to reduce as horses age. Horse owners seek information regarding their animal's health from alternative sources before and/or following veterinary involvement. Information regarding the experiences and behaviours of veterinarians toward older horse health care provision is limited. This study sought to explore how veterinary care for the ageing horse is conceptualised and approached by veterinarians treating horses in Great Britain. Exploratory qualitative. A subset of qualitative data, collected as part of a larger study investigating how owners and veterinarians make decisions regarding the care of the older horses, was analysed using a constructivist grounded theory approach. Data included semi-structured in-depth interviews with nine veterinarians and veterinary clinical records pertaining to the horses of 13 participating owners. Veterinarians valued regular interactions with owners to optimise a horse's management, however, the timing and nature of veterinary involvement varied. The context of older age shaped decision-making and 'age-appropriate' interventions were negotiated within the context of each horse and owner. Where participants had concerns about a horse, they sought to achieve an owner's adherence to their advice while navigating the veterinarian-owner relationship. Interpersonal dimensions of veterinarian-owner interactions appeared to shape, and could challenge, veterinarians' delivery of health care services and their own sense of being a professional who cares for animals, and about people. A sample of veterinarians were recruited for this study based on horse owners' involvement. The provision of veterinary care for the older horse rests upon networks of relationships. Collaboration between the profession and owners in both the design and delivery of, veterinary health care services may better enable different types of knowledge and values to be brought together more effectively.

Effects of experience and familiarity on visual attention and behaviours of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in presence of humans

Visual attention is an intrinsic part of intra- and inter-specific interactions. Its structure (e.g. short glances vs. long gazes) depends on the species, type and expected outcome of the interaction. The outcomes of earlier repeated interactions determine the resulting valence of the relationships. Human-animal relationships rely upon species-specific cognitive abilities and attentional characteristics for associative learning and memory formation. Visual attention is crucial in cognitive processing and relationships construction, but its structure may depend on species-specific characteristics and relationships’ quality. Dolphins are renowned for their cognitive abilities and in human-care settings they have regular interactions with caretakers. Dolphins’ visual attention structure and laterality both differ depending on the visual stimulus to which the animal is attending (species-specific, non-biological). We hypothesized that visual attentional characteristics and associated behaviours, in a group of 9 captive bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), would differ according to past experience and familiarity with humans. Human motionless tests showed a role of experience (time spent) in the facility on play and vocal production near humans regardless of familiarity. However, familiarity influenced dolphin presence near humans and visual laterality: they stayed longer and used their right eye more to glance at familiar humans. These findings provide new insights on how dolphins cognitively process stimuli according to familiarity and past experiences, as well as on how human – animal relationships evolve in captive settings.

Antimicrobial Resistance in African Great Apes

Background/Objectives: Antibiotic-resistant bacteria pose a significant global public health threat that demands serious attention. The proliferation of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is primarily attributed to the overuse of antibiotics in humans, livestock, and the agro-industry. However, it is worth noting that antibiotic-resistant genes (ARGs) can be found in all ecosystems, even in environments where antibiotics have never been utilized. African great apes (AGAs) are our closest living relatives and are known to be susceptible to many of the same pathogens (and other microorganisms) as humans. AGAs could therefore serve as sentinels for human-induced AMR spread into the environment. They can potentially also serve as reservoirs for AMR. AGAs inhabit a range of environments from remote areas with little anthropogenic impact, over habitats that are co-used by AGAs and humans, to captive settings with close human–animal contacts like zoos and sanctuaries. This provides opportunities to study AMR in relation to human interaction. This review examines the literature on AMR in AGAs, identifying knowledge gaps. Results: Of the 16 articles reviewed, 13 focused on wild AGAs in habitats with different degrees of human presence, 2 compared wild and captive apes, and 1 study tested captive apes alone. Ten studies included humans working with or living close to AGA habitats. Despite different methodologies, all studies detected AMR in AGAs. Resistance to beta-lactams was the most common (36%), followed by resistance to aminoglycosides (22%), tetracyclines (15%), fluoroquinolones (10%), sulphonamides (5%), trimethoprim (5%), macrolide (3%), phenicoles (2%) and fosfomycin (1%). Conclusions: While several studies suggest a correlation between increased human contact and higher AMR in AGAs, resistance was also found in relatively pristine habitats. While AGAs clearly encounter bacteria resistant to diverse antibiotics, significant gaps remain in understanding the underlying processes. Comparative studies using standardized methods across different sites would enhance our understanding of the origin and distribution of AMR in AGAs.