From Africa to Europe: the rise of epizootic haemorrhagic disease virus serotype 8.

Since late 2022, epizootic haemorrhagic disease virus serotype 8 (EHDV-8) has emerged as a major threat to ruminant health in Europe, most likely introduced from North Africa through windborne Culicoides midges. The virus has caused extensive outbreaks in cattle and red deer across Italy, Spain, France, and Portugal, exposing vulnerabilities in current outbreak prevention and control measures. This review provides an updated overview of EHDV-8, focusing on its clinical presentation in domestic and wild ruminants, its recent geographic spread in Europe, and the rapid development of targeted vaccines.

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A (H5N1) Infection in Bearded Vultures in Spain.

We report mortality in bearded vultures ( Gypaetus barbatus ) associated with highly pathogenic avian influenza HPAI A H5N1 clade 2.3.4.

Seroepidemiological study of Chlamydia abortus in domestic and wild ruminants in Spanish Mediterranean ecosystems.

Chlamydia abortus is a worldwide bacterium that can affect a wide range of mammal species, being considered an occupational zoonotic pathogen. In small domestic ruminants, C. abortus infection causes ovine enzootic abortion, a major cause of reproductive disorders.

Prevalence of tick-borne pathogens in grey wolves (Canis lupus) in southwestern Europe.

In Europe, studies on tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) in wolves are limited, primarily focusing on one population. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of TBPs in grey wolves (Canis lupus) from Spain (n = 129), Italy (n = 113), and Portugal (n = 43) between 2001 and 2023. The presence of Anaplasma spp.

Zoonotic rat hepatitis E virus infection in pigs: farm prevalence and public health relevance.

Rat hepatitis E virus (ratHEV) is an emerging zoonotic pathogen causing acute and chronic hepatitis, with zoonotic transmission pathways that remain unclear. While rats are its primary reservoir, recent experimental studies revealed that pigs are susceptible to ratHEV infection. To better understand its epidemiology, we assessed the herd prevalence of ratHEV in 64 extensively managed pig farms in southwestern Spain.

Large-scale serosurvey of Chlamydia abortus in zoo ungulates in Spain.

Chlamydia abortus is a zoonotic bacterium worldwide distributed, which mainly leads to reproductive disorders in different domestic and wild species. Although C. abortus infection has been widely reported in free-ranging ungulates, information regarding this pathogen in captive wild ungulates remains limited.

Seroepidemiological study of in equines in Northern Egypt.

Introduction: Toxoplasmosis, caused by the intracellular protozoan (), continues to be a widespread parasitic zoonotic disease globally. The seroepidemiology of infection in Egyptian equids, particularly donkeys, remains insufficiently explored. The present study was designed to assess the seroprevalence of in equines from Northern Egypt.

Equine viral arteritis: Seroprevalence patterns and risk factors in equids from western Europe.

Equine viral arteritis is a notifiable infectious disease with sanitary and economic implications at a global scale. A cross-sectional serosurvey was performed to determine the exposure of equids to the Alphaarterivirus equid [Equine Arteritis Virus (EAV)] in three regions in western Europe. Serum samples from 1425 equids (1196 horses, 104 donkeys, and 125 mules/hinnies) from Catalonia (northeastern Spain), Andalusia (southern Spain) and southeastern United Kingdom (UK) were collected during the period 2011-2023.

Rickettsia spp. and Anaplasmataceae in Ticks From Domestic Animals in Northern Colombia.

Introduction: Tick-borne diseases have a significant impact on public and animal health and represent a considerable financial burden on livestock farming. However, in many regions of Latin America, comprehensive epidemiological data, including species identification, geographical distribution and molecular profiling of ticks and their associated pathogens, remain scarce. The aims of the present study were: 1) to establish the distribution of tick species collected from domestic animals and 2) to molecularly characterise the rickettsial bacteria present in ticks from the department of Atlántico, area Caribe, Colombia.

Evaluation of techniques for post-mortem diagnosis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex infection in goats.

Goats are highly susceptible to Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) infection and can play an important role in the epidemiology of animal tuberculosis (TB) in certain epidemiological scenarios. Historically, culture has been considered the only gold standard technique for post-mortem confirmation of MTBC infection. However, it is constrained by its low sensitivity, the slow growth of MTBC, and stringent biosecurity requirements.

Rat hepatitis E virus as an aetiological agent of acute hepatitis of unknown origin.

Background & Aims: Rat hepatitis E virus (ratHEV) is an emerging cause of acute hepatitis worldwide. The limited number of ratHEV cases may be associated with the lack of a proper method for molecular diagnosis; thus, the clinical impact and breadth of ratHEV as a cause of acute hepatitis remain uncertain.

Methods: The study was carried out in four phases.

Serosurvey of Leishmania infantum in equids in different European countries.

Leishmaniosis is a vector-borne and zoonotic disease with major sanitary implications at global scale. In Europe, Leishmania infantum is the only endemic etiologic agent, which has been previously reported in a wide range of mammal. However, the information about the role of equids in the L.

in dromedary camels () in Egypt: a comparative seroepidemiological study in Upper and Lower Egypt.

Toxoplasmosis remains a prevalent parasitic zoonosis worldwide, raising public health concerns. The global information available regarding the role of camels in the epidemiology of is still limited. This study aimed to assess the seroprevalence of in dromedary camels () from northern and southern Egypt.

Occurrence and molecular identification of haemotropic Mycoplasma species in grey wolves (Canis lupus) from southern Europe.

Although wild and domestic carnivores share some haemotropic Mycoplasma species, information about the circulation of this pathogen in grey wolves (Canis lupus) populations is still very limited. Thus, a geographically broad-based investigation was performed for determining the occurrence and diversity of Mycoplasma spp. in three different wolf populations from southern Europe.

Dietary profiles of wild carnivores and Blastocystis occurrence: The case of the endangered Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) and systematic review.

Recent molecular and metagenomic studies have revealed that the obligate anaerobic protist Blastocystis is found more prevalently and with higher subtype diversities in herbivore species than in carnivore species. However, information on wild carnivore species is scarce. Here, we investigated the presence of Blastocystis by molecular methods in fecal DNA samples of free-ranging and captive Iberian lynxes from Spain (n = 243) and Portugal (n = 30).

in Wild Lagomorphs in Southern Spain's Mediterranean Ecosystems.

is a vector-borne zoonotic bacterium that causes tularemia, a disease of great importance for animal and public health. Although wild lagomorphs are considered one of the major reservoirs of this bacterium, information about the circulation of in European wild rabbit () and Iberian hare () populations in Europe is still very limited. In Spain, is present in northern central regions, with recurrent outbreaks occurring annually.

Assessment of SARS-CoV-2 exposure in exotic pets in Spain.

Evidence of SARS-CoV-2 infections in different animal species raises concerns about the potential for animal reservoirs and transmission to humans. Here, we evaluate the exposure of exotic pet species to this virus throughout the early years of the pandemic (2020 - 2022) in southern Spain. A total of 180 exotic pets (126 domestic rabbits, 31 ferrets, and 23 rodents) were analyzed for antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 using two different ELISAs.

Free-Ranging Wolves (Canis lupus) are Natural Reservoirs of Intestinal Microeukaryotes of Public Health Significance in Southwestern Europe.

Introduction: Intestinal microeukaryote parasites are major contributors to the burden of diarrhoea in humans and domestic animals, but their epidemiology in wildlife is not fully understood. We investigated the frequency, genetic diversity and zoonotic potential of protists of animal and public health significance in free-ranging grey wolf (Canis lupus) populations in south-western Europe.

Methods: Individually formed faecal samples collected from necropsied wolves or scat trails in Italy (n = 47), Portugal (n = 43) and Spain (n = 225) during the period 2011-2023 were retrospectively analysed using molecular (PCR and Sanger sequencing) methods.

Seroepidemiology of in Domestic and Wild Ruminant Species in Southern Spain.

The European Food Safety Authority has recently listed Q fever as a priority for setting up a coordinated surveillance system. Although Spain is the country with the highest human incidence of the disease in the European Union, updated data on in ruminants are still limited. A total of 780 serum samples from small ruminants and 605 sera from wild ruminants were collected in the Mediterranean ecosystems of southern Spain during the period 2015-2023.

Re-emergence of Bagaza virus in wild birds from southern Spain.

Bagaza virus (BAGV; Orthoflavivirus bagazaense) is an emerging vector-borne flavivirus affecting avian species with severe implications for animal health, and whose zoonotic potential has also been suggested. The aim of the present study was to monitor the epidemic outbreak of BAGV in wild birds from Spain in 2021. BAGV cases were confirmed in game bird species, including red-legged partridges (Alectoris rufa) and common pheasants (Phasianus colchicus) from 24 hunting areas.

Longitudinal survey of hepatitis E virus in extensively raised pigs in Spain.

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is an emerging zoonotic virus of public health concern, of which pigs, wild boar and red deer are the main reservoirs. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has recently prioritized the development of monitoring programs of HEV at different stages of the pig food chain, including outdoor pig farming. Pigs managed under these extensive production systems frequently share habitat and natural resources with wild boar and red deer during fattening stages and cross-species transmission of HEV among these species has previously been suggested.