Application of a comprehensive approach to pathogen screening in a stowaway rat on an airplane.

In April 2017, a rat was observed on an airplane during a flight from Miami (USA) to Berlin (Germany). After landing in Berlin, significant efforts were made to trap the rat and disinfect the airplane. As rats are known reservoir hosts for a variety of zoonotic pathogens, this event necessitated the establishment of a standard workflow for the detection of rodent-borne pathogens.

Emerging Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N1 Clade 2.3.4.4b Causes Neurological Disease and Mortality in Scavenging Ducks in Bangladesh.

Scavenging domestic ducks significantly contribute to the transmission and maintenance of highly pathogenic H5N1 clade 2.3.4.

First whole-genome sequence of Mycobacterium avium subsp. silvaticum isolated from a diseased Egyptian goose (Alopochen aegyptiaca).

Background: Among the non-tuberculous mycobacteria, Mycobacterium (M.) avium are important pathogens for humans and/or animals. Currently, there are four M.

Maternal immunity and African swine fever virus: understanding the limits of passive protection.

African swine fever (ASF) is an often-fatal disease impacting domestic and wild pigs world-wide. Understanding the role of maternal immunity in ASF pathogenesis is crucial for effective control. This study characterized kinetics and protective potential of maternal immunity against ASF virus (ASFV) in neonatal piglets.

Design and Analysis of Novel HEV Vaccine Variants and Evaluation of Two Selected Candidates in a Porcine Infection Model.

Background And Aims: Hepatitis E virus (HEV) poses a significant global health concern, with millions of annual infections and a notable impact on public health. Although HEV is the leading cause of acute viral hepatitis worldwide, there is a substantial lack of approved and licensed vaccines. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of several protein- and DNA-based vaccine candidates against HEV using a combined in vitro/in vivo workflow.

Summary of taxonomy changes ratified by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) from the Animal dsRNA and ssRNA(-) Viruses Subcommittee, 2025.

RNA viruses are ubiquitous in the environment and are important pathogens of humans, animals and plants. In 2024, the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses Animal dsRNA and ssRNA(-) Viruses Subcommittee submitted 18 taxonomic proposals for consideration. These proposals expanded the known virosphere by classifying 9 new genera and 88 species for newly detected virus genomes.

More similar than different: A comparison of human and veterinary maximum containment facilities.

Human maximum containment facilities-also known as biosafety level 4 (BSL-4) laboratories-for zoonotic viruses such as Ebola virus or Nipah virus and veterinary maximum containment (BSL-4vet) facilities, e.g. for foot-and-mouth disease virus or peste-de-petits-ruminants virus, share many similar features but also differ in their design, standard operating procedures and operational requirements.

Baseline immune profiles of local chicken breeds: linking biodiversity, animal health, and vaccination response.

Chickens are one of the world's most important farm animals. With an increasing demand for poultry meat and eggs in recent years, chickens play an essential role in global nutrition and agriculture. However, a severe loss of genetic diversity in livestock has been caused by the focus on high-performance lines, with many traditional and local breeds being threatened with extinction.

Benefit risk considerations for African swine fever virus live attenuated vaccines.

In response to the recent publication on safety concerns related to “ASFV-G-∆I177L” by van den Born et al. (2025), we emphasize the need for a thorough, context-specific risk assessment before drawing conclusions about the general field use of the ASFV-G-∆I177L vaccine strain. While valid safety concerns were raised, historical precedents highlight that potential risks, including reversion or recombination, can be managed effectively within structured vaccination strategies.

The pathogenesis of foot-and-mouth disease virus: current understandings and knowledge gaps.

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) continues to be one of the most important diseases of livestock globally based upon both biological features and regulatory aspects. Few pathogens have had comparable impact on global livestock production and regulation of international trade in animal-derived products. The pathogenesis (interaction between pathogen and host) is central to the importance of the disease ranging from how the causal pathogen, FMD virus (FMDV), transmits between hosts and is maintained in populations.

Annual (2024) taxonomic update of RNA-directed RNA polymerase-encoding negative-sense RNA viruses (realm : kingdom : phylum ).

In April 2024, following the annual International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) ratification vote on newly proposed taxa, the phylum was expanded by 1 new order, 1 new family, 6 new subfamilies, 34 new genera and 270 new species. One class, two orders and six species were renamed. Seven families and 12 genera were moved; ten species were renamed and moved; and nine species were abolished.

Coordinated implementation of a conventional PCR assay to detect all Ebola and Marburg virus species in a European laboratory network.

Background: Filoviruses, including Ebola and Marburg viruses, cause severe hemorrhagic fever in humans and primates. These viruses pose significant threats to public health, making rapid and sensitive detection critical for controlling outbreaks. We developed and validated a hemi-nested generic PanFilo assay to detect all Ebola virus species, Marburg viruses, and recently discovered bat filoviruses.

Live attenuated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine OTS-228 demonstrates efficacy, safety, and stability in preclinical model.

Live attenuated vaccines (LAV) have the potential to meet all the criteria for an efficacious vaccine. In addition to providing protection against the target disease, they offer the potential to prevent transmission, provide cross-protection by stimulating humoral and cellular immunity, and allow versatility in application routes. The SARS-CoV-2 LAV candidate, OTS-228, has demonstrated excellent safety and high efficacy in preclinical models, inducing transmission-blocking immunity and providing full protection, even against variants such as Omicron BA.

Pathological findings in raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides) in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany.

Raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides) originated from East Asia and are listed as invasive alien species of Union concern in the European Union. Apart from their potential negative impact on native fauna as predators and competitors, they are discussed as reservoirs and vectors for various infectious diseases. Between 2021 and 2022, comprehensive post-mortem examinations of 110 raccoon dogs were performed as part of a health and risk assessment study of selected invasive alien species in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany.

Immunogenicity and Protective Efficacy of Five Vaccines Against Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus H5N1, Clade 2.3.4.4b, in Fattening Geese.

The risk of the introduction of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) in geese breeding and fattening flocks is heightened due to the necessity of free-range access to grazing grounds. This study aimed to evaluate the safety, immunogenicity, and protective efficacy of five commercial vaccines against HPAIV subtype H5N1 (clade 2.3.

Borna disease virus 2 maintains genomic polymorphisms by superinfection in persistently infected cells.

Mammalian orthobornaviruses, such as Borna disease virus 1 (BoDV-1) and variegated squirrel bornavirus 1, are zoonotic pathogens that cause fatal encephalitis in humans. BoDV-2, another mammalian orthobornavirus with high genetic homology to BoDV-1, is believed to share the same geographical distribution as BoDV-1, indicating its potential risk to human health. However, due to the limited number of isolations, the virological characteristics of BoDV-2, such as pathogenicity and infectivity, remain largely unexplored.

Dominant HPAIV H5N1 genotypes of Germany 2021/2022 are linked to high virulence in Pekin ducklings.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses (HPAIV) of H5 clade 2.3.4.

Panzootic HPAIV H5 and risks to novel mammalian hosts.

The H5 subtype of highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses represents a significant challenge to animal and human health. H5 clade 2.3.

Ephrin B1 and B2 Mediate Cedar Virus Entry into Egyptian Fruit Bat Cells.

Cedar virus (CedV), closely related to the Hendra and Nipah viruses, is a novel that was originally isolated from flying foxes in Australia in 2012. Although its glycoprotein G exhibits relatively low sequence similarity with its counterparts of the Hendra and Nipah viruses, CedV also uses ephrin receptors, i.e.

Comparative genomics of Mycobacterium avium subsp. hominissuis strains within a group of captive lowland tapirs.

Within a group of three captive lowland tapirs (Tapirus terrestris) suffering from clinically apparent mycobacteriosis, non-tuberculous Mycobacterium avium subsp. hominissuis (MAH) strains were isolated from the animals and the tapir's enclosure. Based on MIRU-VNTR findings, which identified two closely related INMV profiles (124 and 246), a micro-evolutionary event was assumed, and four available MAH strains were submitted to whole genome sequencing (short- and long-read technologies).

Therapeutic treatment of hepatitis E virus infection in pigs with a neutralizing monoclonal antibody.

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) poses a significant risk to human health. In Europe, the majority of HEV infection are caused by the zoonotic genotype 3 (HEV-3), which can cause chronic hepatitis E in immunocompromised patients and those with pre-existing liver disease, and may eventually develop into fatal liver cirrhosis. In this study, we examined the effectiveness of a monoclonal antibody (MAb) treatment strategy using a well established HEV-3 pig model with intravenous infection.