Klebsiella pneumoniae are opportunistic pathogens which can cause mastitis in dairy cattle. K. pneumoniae mastitis often has a poor cure rate and can lead to the development of chronic infection, which has an impact on both health and production. However, there are few studies which aim to fully characterize K. pneumoniae by whole-genome sequencing from bovine mastitis cases. Here, K. pneumoniae isolates associated with mastitis in dairy cattle were identified using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) and whole-genome sequencing. Furthermore, whole-genome sequence data were used for phylogenetic analyses and both virulence and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) prediction, in parallel with phenotypic AMR testing. Forty-two isolates identified as K. pneumoniae were subject to whole-genome sequencing, with 31 multi-locus sequence types being observed, suggesting the source of these isolates was likely environmental. Isolates were examined for key virulence determinants encoding acquired siderophores, colibactin, and hypermucoidy. The majority of these were absent, except for ybST (encoding yersiniabactin) which was present in six isolates. Across the dataset, there were notable levels of phenotypic AMR against streptomycin (26.2%) and tetracycline (19%), and intermediate susceptibility to cephalexin (26.2%) and neomycin (21.4%). Of importance was the detection of two ESBL-producing isolates, which demonstrated multi-drug resistance to amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, streptomycin, tetracycline, cefotaxime, cephalexin, and cefquinome.

With climate change, the geographic distribution of some VBDs has expanded, highlighting the need for adaptation, and managing the risks associated with emergence in new areas. We conducted a questionnaire survey on the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) about vector-borne diseases (VBDs) among sample of Finnish residents. The questions were scored and the level of KAP was determined based on scoring as poor, fair, good, or excellent. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the associations of different KAP levels with sex, age, education, and possible previous VPD infection. We received 491/1995 (25%) responses across the country and detected generally good knowledge, but only fair practices towards VBDs. Sex and age of the respondents were most often significantly associated with the level of KAP (P > 0.05). Despite the generally good knowledge, we detected major gaps, especially regarding the distinction of tick-borne encephalitis and Lyme borreliosis (LB), risk of disease, and protective measures. Additionally, many respondents thought the vaccination protects against LB or tick bites. This calls for awareness raising on disease risk and prevention measures. With increasing cases and the effects of climate change, surveillance of VBDs communication to the general public should be strengthened.

Surveillance of antimicrobial consumption (AMC) is essential to anticipate and inform policies and public health decisions to prevent and/or contain antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This manuscript shares the experience on AMC data collection in Latin American & Caribbean (LAC). The WHO GLASS-AMC methodology for AMC surveillance was used for data registration during the period 2019–2022. Focal points belonging to each country were contacted and trained for AMC source of information detection, managing registration tools, and data analysis. Thirteen countries were enrolled with significant heterogeneity in the AMC results (range 2.55–36.26 DID-AMC). This experience reflects the heterogeneity of realities in LAC countries; how each one of the nations selected the best sources to collect AMC data, which were the main problems in applying the WHO-AMC collection tool, and the approach that each country gave to the analysis of its data. Finally, some examples are provided on the use of AMC information in making the best decision-making related to AMR control policies at the national level.

Hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) is a contagious communicable disease, with a high incidence in children aged under 10 years. It is a mainly self-limiting disease but can also cause serious neurological or cardiopulmonary complications in some cases, which can lead to death. Little is known about the burden of HMFD on primary care health care services in the UK. The aim of this work was to describe trends in general practitioner (GP) consultations for HFMD in England from January 2017 to December 2022 using a syndromic surveillance network of GPs. Daily GP consultations for HFMD in England were extracted from 1 January 2017 to 31 December 2022. Mean weekly consultation rates per 100,000 population and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. Consultation rates and rate ratios (RR) were calculated by age group and sex. During the study period, the mean weekly consultation rate for HFMD (per 100,000 registered GP patients) was 1.53 (range of 0.27 to 2.47). In England, children aged 1–4 years old accounted for the largest affected population followed by children <1 years old. We observed a seasonal pattern of HFMD incidence during the non-COVID years, with a seasonal peak of mean weekly rates between months of September and December. HFMD is typically diagnosed clinically rather than through laboratory sampling. Therefore, the ability to look at the daily HFMD consultation rates provides an excellent epidemiological overview on disease trends. The use of a novel GP-in-hours surveillance system allowed a unique epidemiological insight into the recent trends of general practitioner consultations for HFMD. We demonstrate a male predominance of cases, the impact of the non-pharmaceutical interventions during the COVID-19 pandemic, and a change in the week in which the peak number of cases happens post-pandemic.

Studying complexes of cryptic or pseudocryptic species opens new horizons for the understanding of speciation processes, an important yet vague issue for the digeneans. We investigated a hemiuroidean trematode Lecithaster salmonis across a wide geographic range including the northern European seas (White, Barents, and Pechora), East Siberian Sea, and the Pacific Northwest (Sea of Okhotsk and Sea of Japan). The goals were to explore the genetic diversity within L. salmonis through mitochondrial (cox1 and nad5 genes) and ribosomal (ITS1, ITS2, 28S rDNA) marker sequences, to study morphometry of maritae, and to revise the life cycle data. Mitochondrial markers showed that L. salmonis is likely divided into six lineages (referred to as operational taxonomic units, OTUs), which often occur in sympatry, sometimes in a single host specimen. Variation in rDNA was not consistent with that in the mitochondrial markers. Morphometric analysis of maritae was performed for four out of six OTUs; it showed that some OTUs had significant differences from the others, but some did not. The effect of host species on the morphometric characteristics cannot be excluded. Intramolluscan stages were identified for two OTUs; they differed clearly by the structure of cercariae and also by the species of the first intermediate host. The case of L. salmonis is instructive in how different criteria for species delimitation can contradict each other. We regard this as a sign of recent or ongoing speciation and suggest using the name Lecithaster cf. salmonis. The most promising criteria to differentiate genetic lineages within L. cf. salmonis are first intermediate hosts and morphological characteristics of the cercariae: shape of the delivery tube and caudal cyst, and length of the filamentous appendage.

Cystic Echinococcosis (CE) is a zoonotic disease caused by Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato. Diagnosing CE primarily relies on imaging techniques, and there is a crucial need for an objective laboratory test to enhance the diagnostic process. Today, cell-free DNAs (cfDNAs) have gained importance regarding their biomarker potential. This study aims to investigate the diagnostic capabilities of different cfDNA targets (Echinococcus-specific repeat sequences (mgs-4 and mgs-12) and partial fragment of repetitive sequence (EG1 Hae III)) and evaluate their diagnostic effectiveness when compared to a frequently used commercial E.granulosus-specific IgG ELISA. Seventy-six confirmed hepatic CE patients and healthy controls were included in the study. The EG1 Hae III region was assessed using nested PCR, whereas real-time PCR was employed to investigate other cfDNA targets. Analysis of the cfDNA-targeted tests indicated that mgs-4 demonstrated the highest diagnostic efficacy in distinguishing CE patients from healthy controls, achieving a sensitivity of 60.5% (p = 0.002). Combining ELISA with the mgs-4 target led to an increased sensitivity of 72.4% for distinguishing between CE patients and the control group. The sensitivity rates for ELISA and the three cfDNA targets varied among the groups. Active CE patients showed sensitivity rates of 52.9%, 52.9%, 23.5%, and 52.9% for ELISA, mgs-4, mgs-12, and EG1 Hae III assays, respectively. In contrast, inactive cyst patients displayed sensitivity rates of 21.4%, 66.7%, 19%, and 42.9% for the corresponding assays. The mgs-4, either alone or in combination with ELISA, demonstrated notably higher sensitivity values for CE diagnosis in all group comparisons compared to serology.

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is one of the most common causes of viral hepatitis. We examined HEV seroprevalence and associations of sociodemographic and lifestyle characteristics with HEV immunoglobulin G (IgG) seropositivity in the Arab population. A cross-sectional single-centre study was conducted among adults in the Nazareth area during 2022. Blood samples were tested using the Altona Real-Star HEV-RNA and the Wantai IgG assays. Data on sociodemographics, health status, and lifestyle were collected using structured questionnaires.

Overall, 490 individuals (55.9% males) aged 18 − 96 (mean = 53.2, SD = 28.0) were enrolled. HEV IgG seropositivity was estimated at 21.4% (95% CI 17.9–25.3). No samples were HEV-RNA positive. The correlates of HEV IgG seropositivity were older age (prevalence ratio (PR) 1.07, 95% CI 1.04–1.09, P < 0.001) and consuming beef frequently (PR 2.81, 95% CI 1.40–5.63, P = 0.003). No associations were found between Arab religious groups (Muslim, Christian or Druze, representing different socioeconomic status and dietary habits) or pork consumption and HEV IgG seropositivity. In conclusion, HEV seropositivity was high in the Arab population, and assessing HEV in Ruminants, particularly cows, is warranted.

Surface flow of freshwater on Adriatic islands is rare due to the extreme permeability of the karst terrain. Hence, most helminthological studies of freshwater fishes in the Adriatic drainage have focused on mainland freshwater systems, while data from islands are scarce. We collected minnow, Phoxinus lumaireul (Schinz, 1840), specimens in the Suha Ričina stream on Krk Island and screened them for helminth ectoparasites. Identification of metacercariae cysts (black spots) was carried out by sequencing part of the 28S rDNA gene, and a single monogenean worm was identified by sequencing part of the internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2). To estimate the level of infection, the number of black spots was counted to calculate prevalence, mean abundance, and mean intensity. Phylogenetic inference based on maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference revealed a rare black spot disease taxon, genus Uvulifer, which represents one of the first records in Europe on fish (second intermediate host), a first record from a Phoxinus host, a first record for the Adriatic drainage and Croatia, and a first record for Southern Europe in general. Furthermore, the monogenean was identified as Gyrodactylus sp., potentially representing a new species.

Currently, there is limited available information on the epidemiology of parasitic infections in captive non-human primates (NHPs) and their zoonotic potential. However, numerous cases of helminth infections in NHPs have been documented in several zoos around the world, with one of the most prevalent being those of the genus Trichuris. The main objective of this study is to investigate the occurrence of infection by Trichuris spp. in primates from zoological gardens in Spain and to ascertain, at the species level, the specific Trichuris species harbored by these hosts by using mitochondrial and ribosomal markers. A total of 315 stools collected from NPHs (n = 47) in the 13 zoological gardens analyzed yielded a prevalence rate of 19.05%. Nevertheless, not all the zoos exhibited parasitic infections; this was observed in only 53.85% of the zoos. Moreover, 15 host groups of 12 different species were found to be infected by Trichuris species, among which the identified species included Trichuris trichiura, Trichuris colobae, and Trichuris sp. Our findings suggest a substantial exposure of primates to zoonotic Trichuris species, suggesting that NHPs could potentially act as reservoirs capable of transmitting this parasite to humans. Hence, it is crucial to implement additional control and prevention measures and explore ways to eradicate parasitic infections in these areas. Further examination is warranted to minimize the risk of spreading drug-resistant parasite strains.

In September 2023, the UK Health Security Agency’s (UKHSA) South West Health Protection Team received notification of patients with Pseudomonas aeruginosa perichondritis. All five cases had attended the same cosmetic piercing studio and a multi-disciplinary outbreak control investigation was subsequently initiated. An additional five cases attending the same studio were found. Seven of the ten cases had isolates available for Variable Number Tandem Repeat (VNTR) typing at the UKHSA national reference laboratory. Clinical and environmental P. aeruginosa isolates from the patients, handwash sink, tap water and throughout the wall-mounted point-of-use water heater (including outlet water) were indistinguishable by VNTR typing (11,6,2,2,1,3,6,3,11). No additional cases were identified after control measures were implemented, which included replacing the sink and point-of-use heater.

The lack of specific recommendations to control for P. aeruginosa within Council-adopted ear-piercing byelaws or national guidance means that a cosmetic piercing artist could inadvertently overlook the risks from this bacterial pathogen despite every intention to comply with the law and follow industry best practice advice. Clinicians, Environmental Health Officers and public health professionals should remain alert for single cases of Pseudomonas perichondritis infections associated with piercings and have a low threshold for notification to local health protection teams.

Since 1996, the incidence of rickettsiosis has been increasing in Yucatán, Mexico, but recent prevalence data are lacking. This study aimed to determine exposure to the Spotted Fever Group (SFG) and Typhus Group (TG) in human serum samples suspected of tick-borne diseases (TBD) between 2015 and 2022. A total of 620 samples were analysed using indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) to detect IgG antibodies against SFG (Rickettsia rickettsii) and TG (Rickettsia typhi), considering a titer of ≥64 as positive. Results showed that 103 samples (17%) were positive for R. rickettsii and 145 (24%) for R. typhi, while 256 (41%) and 229 (37%) were negative, respectively. There was a cross-reaction in 244 samples (39%). Individuals with contact with vectors, such as ticks, showed significant exposure to fleas (p = 0.0010). The study suggests a high prevalence of rickettsiosis and recommends prospective studies to assess the disease burden and strengthen surveillance and prevention in Yucatán, considering factors like temperature and ecological changes.

The genus Enenterum Linton, 1910 comprises species which parasitize herbivorous kyphosid fish. In the present study, a new species is described based on fresh specimens collected from Kyphosus incisor from Rio de Janeiro. The new species is characterized by having the oral sucker infundibuliform with 10 lobes, prepharynx two times longer than pharynx, presence of oesophagus, testes slightly lobed, round ovary and rectum with muscular sphincter connected to the anus. New genetic sequences include partial 18S and 28S rDNA and ITS1-5.8S-ITS2. The phylogenetic analyses place Enenterum gomesae n. sp. as sister of Enenterum aureum, corroborating the morphological analyses. Enenterum aureum (=E. pimelopteri) previously described from Kyphosus spp. from Rio de Janeiro is now considered E. gomesae n. sp. The new species represents the only South American species so far described for this genus.

In 2023, Bangladesh experienced its largest and deadliest outbreak of the Dengue virus (DENV), reporting the highest-ever recorded annual cases and deaths. Historically, most of the cases were recorded in the capital city, Dhaka. We aimed to characterize the geographical transmission of DENV in Bangladesh. From 1 January–31 December 2023, we extracted and analyzed daily data on dengue cases and deaths from the Management Information System of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. We performed a generalized linear mixed model to identify the associations between division-wise daily dengue counts and various geographical and meteorological covariates. The number of dengue cases reported in 2023 was 1.3 times higher than the total number recorded in the past 23 years (321,179 vs. 244,246), with twice as many deaths than the total fatalities recorded over the past 23 years (1705 vs. 849). Of the 1,705 deaths in 2023, 67.4% (n = 1,015) died within one day after hospital admission. The divisions southern to Dhaka had a higher dengue incidence/1000 population (2.30 vs. 0.50, p <0.01) than the northern divisions. Festival-related travel along with meteorological factors and urbanization are likely to have contributed to the shift of dengue from Dhaka to different districts in Bangladesh.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreaks have repeatedly occurred in two districts of Kerala state, India, over the last few years. The outbreaks in the wetland areas coincided with the arrival of migratory birds. At the time, the factors responsible for local transmission in ducks were not known. This study aimed to identify the socio-economic factors responsible for spatial variation in the occurrence of HPAI outbreaks in the two districts using Bayesian network modelling (BNM) and Stochastic Partial Differential Equation (SPDE) model. Further, information was collected on the duck rearing practices in rice paddy fields to identify the risk factors for local – spread of the outbreaks. We found that the SPDE model without covariates explained variation in occurrence of outbreaks. The number of rice paddy fields used by the duck farmers was identified as risk factor. We concluded based on BNM and SPDE that the infected migratory birds were the source of infection for the first few duck farms in the wetland areas and subsequent transmission was driven by shifting of ducks from one rice paddy field to other fields. There is a probability of persistent and recurrent infections in the ducks and possible spill over to humans. Hence, it is important to have surveillance in ducks to prevent recurrent outbreaks in the region.

As astroviral infection rapidly increased in the summer of 2022 in Korea, this study aimed to determine the cause and genotype of astroviruses during this period. From January to December 2022, we tested 43,312 stool samples from patients with acute gastroenteritis utilizing multiplex PCR to detect HAstV. For the HAstV-positive samples, we determined the genotypes of the HAstVs by PCR and sequencing. The monthly positive rate from 2015 to 2022 showed a notable and abrupt increase of HAstV infection between June and August 2022, peaking at 9.8% in July 2022. The annual positivity rate of HAstV remained at 2–3% between 2015 and 2019, and then decreased to 0.5% in 2020, followed by an increase to 1.5% in 2021 and 3.6% in 2022.The genotyped astroviruses in 2022 were all identified as HAstV-1 type, and the nucleotide identity% among them was >99%. The GenBank accession number for the strain genetically closest to the strains identified in our study was ON571597.1, which was HAstV-1 isolated from Pingtan in 2019. Our results provide recent epidemiological data on HAstVs in Korea. The decline and surge in astrovirus positivity in recent years may be related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

A new species of Heligmostrongylus (Nematoda: Heligmonellidae) is described from the small rodents Ototylomys phyllotis (Cricetidae: Tylomyinae) and Heteromys gaumeri (Heteromyidae: Heteromyinae) in the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, based on studies of light and scanning electron microscopy, and partial sequences of COI, ITS1 and 28S rRNA. Heligmostrongylus yucatanensis n. sp. is characterized by a synlophe of 13 interrupted ridges (except those forming careen) in both sexes at midbody; males with a ventral cuticle inflation at anterior region of copulatory bursa, rays 9 and 10 long, comparable in length, and rays 9 strongly curved laterally at a right angle crossing ventrally rays 8; and females with a torsion of 180° to left of the posterior extremity. These characteristics were shared with Heligmostrongylus nematodes reported previously from O. phyllotis and Peromyscus yucatanicus (Cricetidae: Neotominae) also in the Yucatan Peninsula. The absence of intraspecific sequence variations in COI, and the low variation in D2-D3 expansion segments of 28S rRNA and ITS1 among the specimens obtained from the different hosts provided strong support that the worms found in the three rodent species belong to the same new species. The nine previously known species of Heligmostrongylus have been reported from caviomorph rodents of the families Cuniculidae, Dasyproctidae, Echimyidae, and Erethizontidae from the Neotropics. The occurrence of H. yucatanensis in three phylogenetically distant rodent species suggests that this nematode species could have the ability to expand its host range by colonizing new hosts.

Gastrointestinal tract (GIT) nematode infections have a significant negative impact on the well-being and productivity of animals. While it is common for a host to be co-infected with multiple species of nematode parasites simultaneously, there is a lack of effective tools to study the composition of these complex parasite communities. We describe the application of the “nemabiome” amplicon sequencing to study parasitic GIT nematode communities in captive wildlife at the National Zoological Garden, South African National Biodiversity Institute. A total of 13 samples from Roan antelope (n=1), Eland (n=1), Sable antelope (n=9), Arabian oryx (n=1), and Blue duiker (n=1) were analysed for the presence of GIT nematode infections. A total of 256 operational taxonomical units (OTUs) were generated and compared to a curated database with ≥99% identity to sequences in the NCBI database. The OTUs found represented nematode species which are commonly associated with wild ruminants. These belonged to members of the genera Haemonchus, Trichostrongylus, and Cooperia, with a few OTUs classified as unidentified genera detected. These were further classified to species level, with Haemonchus contortus and Trichostrongylus colubriformis having high relative abundance across all captive ungulate species. Utilizing amplicon sequencing to examine the nemabiome holds great potential for enhancing our basic knowledge of the biology of gastrointestinal nematodes and monitoring infections. This improved understanding could guide the development of more efficacious preventive and control measures against these significant parasites, which negatively impact animal health and productivity on a global scale.

Species of the family Echinostomatidae use diverse gastropod taxa as first intermediate hosts. However, identification of echinostomatid larvae often proves difficult because of incomplete information on their life cycles and lack of molecular data that can link larvae to the corresponding known adults. Here, echinostomatids that were isolated from freshwater limpets in South Africa were described using light and scanning electron microscopy, and ribosomal (28S, ITS, and 18S) and mitochondrial (cox1) DNA sequences. The analyses revealed three species: Petasiger radiatus, Petasiger sp., and Echinostomatidae gen. sp. Considering the close morphological resemblance between cercariae of Petasiger spp., the current species were compared with data from literature. The results showed that cercarial size is generally unsuitable for species discrimination. The numbers of flame cells and refractile granules in the excretory system, and penetration gland cell patterns, may indicate, but do not prove species identity. Although papillary patterns were distinct between species, papillae were clearly discernible only using scanning electron microscopy and are known for only a few species. Phylogenetic reconstruction indicated that 28S rDNA sequences of Petasiger on GenBank are for P. exaeretus, P. phalacrocoracis, P. radiatus, and six unnamed species. Furthermore, the results revealed that multiple ITS rDNA and cox1 sequences labelled as Stephanoprora amurensis and P. phalacrocoracis on GenBank, are from isolates whose identities are questionable. Echinostomatidae gen. sp. could not be assigned to any currently known genus. Expansion of the genetic database of the family Echinostomatidae is necessary for the delineation of putative species and elucidation of intergeneric relationships.