ETIDIOH - NEW

Abstract Free-ranging white-tailed deer (WTD) are highly susceptible to the SARS-CoV-2 virus . Through an opportunistic sampling of WTD in northeast Ohio, USA , during January–March 2023 , we identified 6 SARS-CoV-2 lineages from 36 sequences using the pangolin lineages tool, including the B.1.1.7 lineage (Alpha variant) and BQ.1.1, BQ.1.1.63, BQ.1.1.67, BQ.1.23, and XBB.1.5.35 lineages ( Omicron variant ). The Alpha variant, introduced by a single human-to-deer transmission event , was detected in 5 WTD in January 2023, more than 1 year after the most recent detection of the Alpha variant in humans in Ohio (August 2021). A genetically similar B.1.1.7 lineage virus from WTD in a nearby county in Pennsylvania was positioned with our Ohio deer transmission cluster, suggesting deer-to-deer transmission . The persistence of the Alpha variant in WTD in Ohio warrants continued surveillance to monitor if WTD can become a reservoir for displaced SARS-CoV-2 variants. Source: US Centers for Dise...

Abstract Avian influenza viruses (AIVs) pose a growing global health threat , particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where limited surveillance capacity and under-resourced healthcare systems hinder timely detection and response. Migratory birds play a significant role in the transboundary spread of AIVs, yet data from key regions along migratory flyways remain sparse. To address these surveillance gaps, we conducted a study between December 2021 and February 2023 using fresh bird guano collected across 10 countries in the Global South . Here, we show that remote, uninhabited regions in previously unsampled areas harbor a high diversity of AIV strains , with H5N1 emerging as the most prevalent . Some of these H5N1 samples also carry mutations that may make them less responsive to the antiviral drug oseltamivir . Our findings documented the presence of AIVs in several underrepresented regions and highlighted critical transmission hotspots where viral evolution may be ...

Abstract In this work, we performed the genetic characterization of a new variant of orthohantavirus associated with a fatal case of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome , outside the known endemic region, in northwestern Argentina . We first confirmed an orthohantavirus infection by ELISA , testing for the detection of IgM and IgG antibodies. Then, we extracted RNA from 100 microliters of serum, the only sample available, followed by RT-PCR. The amplicons were sequenced using Sanger and next-generation sequencing technology. We obtained partial sequences of 1253 bp, 799 bp and 1675 bp from the S-, M- and L-segments, respectively, showing low sequence identities with all the previously characterized hantaviruses (10.9%, 13.5% and 15.1% of the divergence, respectively). The phylogenetic analysis showed that this virus belongs to the Orthohantavirus andesense species (ANDV), and among the ANDV-like variants, it is more closely related to the Lechiguanas clade . Similar percentages of divergence...

 Two wild servals in Dhaka Region. Source: WOAH,  https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/6453 ____

 A Red Fox in Tromso Region. Source: WOAH,  https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/6450 ____

Abstract The avian influenza virus (AIV) primarily affects birds and poses an increasing concern due to its growing adaptability to other hosts , heightening zoonotic risks . The adaptability is a key factor in AIV to infect multiple non-avian species, including humans , companion animals , aquatic mammals , carnivores , and other mammals. The virus is evolving through genetic mutations and reassortments , leading to the emergence of AIV strains with enhanced virulence and adaptability in mammals. This highlights the critical need to understand the genetic factors of AIV, including mutations in polymerase proteins , surface antigens , and other regulatory proteins, as well as the dynamics of AIV- host interactions and environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, water salinity, and pH that govern the cross-species adaptability of the virus. This review provides comprehensive insights into the molecular/genetic changes AIV undergoes to adapt in mammalian hosts including bovines,...

ABSTRACT Background In 2021, the H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b Avian Influenza Viruses (AIVs) emerged on the American continent. At the same time, a further global spread took place. Infections have been reported in avian species as well as in over 50 mammalian species in 26 countries , and often result in severe disease with notable neurological pathology . Outbreaks in dairy cattle in the United States in 2024 illustrate viral transmission at a non-traditional interface and cross-species transmission. This development raises significant global concern regarding the virus's potential for wider spread. Given that H5N1 infections in birds reached record-high levels in Germany by late 2022, it is important to investigate whether Influenza A Virus (IAV) infections were also occurring in mammals sharing habitats with wild birds. Methods and Results Selected wild and domestic mammal populations were monitored over a two-year period (from January 2022 to December 2023), which coincided with a majo...

Two wild cats, two European Polecats, Forty-four Domestic Mustelidae, Twenty-two foxes in various Regions. Source: WOAH,  https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/4971?reportId=172740&fromPage=event-dashboard-url ____

Abstract Influenza viruses are highly capable of mutating and adapting in mammalian hosts . While these viruses have been extensively studied in birds, research on their presence in bats has been limited. However, influenza viruses circulating in bats have shown notable molecular divergence . The present study aimed to characterize the phylogenetic, evolutionary, and antigenic relationships of an influenza A virus detected in the fishing bat Noctilio albiventris . As part of a pathogen surveillance study of public health interest, 159 rectal samples were collected from bats in the Colombian Caribbean . The samples were sequenced using RNA-Seq. A genome (eight viral contigs) associated with the Orthomyxoviridae family was identified in a pool. Most segments showed approximately 90% similarity with H18N11, except for the neuraminidase. Analysis of the N protein shows that occupies a basal position relative to the N11 subtype, with its divergence date estimated to be approximately 50 year...

Abstract Henipaviruses, such as Hendra and Nipah viruses, are major zoonotic pathogens that cause encephalitis and respiratory infections in humans and animals . The recent emergence of Langya virus in China highlights the need to understand henipavirus host diversity and geographic spread to prevent future outbreaks. Our analysis of the National Center for Biotechnology Information Virus and VIRION databases revealed ≈1,117 henipavirus sequences and 142 complete genomes. Bats (64.7%) and shrews (11.7%) dominated the host species record, and the genera Pteropus and Crocidura contained key henipavirus hosts in Asia, Australia, and Africa . Henipaviruses found in the Eidolon bat genus exhibited the highest within-host genetic distance. Phylogenetic analysis revealed batborne and rodent- or shrew-derived henipaviruses diverged ≈11,000 years ago and the first known lineage originating in Eidolon genus bats ≈9,900 years ago. Pathogenic henipaviruses diverged from their ancestors 2,800–1,200...

Abstract We detected neutralizing antibodies, viral RNA, and sialic acid receptors for Alphainfluenzavirus influenzae in urban coatis (Nasua nasua) in Brazil , suggesting exposure and susceptibility. We used hemagglutination inhibition, reverse transcription qualitative PCR, and immunohistochemistry for detection. Increased epidemiologic wildlife surveillance would improve influenza A emergency event response. Source: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,  https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/31/3/23-1640_article ____

A tiger and three leopards in the Widlife Rescue Centre, Gorewada Zoo, Maharashtra State. Source: WOAH,  https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/6218 _____

{Excerpt} Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) subtype H5Nx viruses of the A/Goose/Guangdong/1/1996 (Gs/Gd) lineage have led to substantial economic losses within the poultry industry and represent an ongoing public health threat (1). The Gs/Gd lineage H5 viruses not only have evolved into 10 primary clades 0–9 with their subclades but are also reassorted with other influenza A viruses (2–4). Notably, since 2020, clade 2.3.4.4b HPAI H5N1 viruses have caused outbreaks across a broad geographic range, including Asia, Europe, Africa, North America, South America, and Antarctica (5–7). The infections of HPAI H5N1 viruses in mammals including wild, domestic, and humans underscore the potential zoonotic risk and pandemic potential of these evolving H5 viruses (8). (...) Source: Frontiers in Veterinary Sciences,  https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/veterinary-science/articles/10.3389/fvets.2024.1526118/full ____

Abstract The European subtype of tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV-Eur; species Orthoflavivirus encephalitidis , family Flaviviridae ) was the only tick-borne flavivirus present in central Europe known to cause neurologic disease in humans and several animal species . Here, we report a tick-borne flavivirus isolated from Alpine chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra rupicapra) with encephalitis and attached ticks , present over a wide area in the Alps . Cases were detected in 2017 in Salzburg, Austria , and 2023 in Lombardy and Piedmont, Italy . The virus strains exhibit 94.8–97.3% nucleotide identities to each other and are more closely related to Louping ill viruses (LIV; Orthoflavivirus loupingi ; 90–92% identities) than to TBEV-Eur (less than 88%). The chamois-derived virus strains, tentatively termed “ Alpine chamois encephalitis virus ”, form a well-supported independent genetic clade with Spanish goat encephalitis virus , clearly separated from other LIV. This supports its designation a...

Abstract Understanding wildlife-pathogen interactions is crucial for mitigating zoonotic risk . Through meta-transcriptomic sequencing we profiled the infectomes of 1,922 samples from 67 mammalian species across China , uncovering a remarkable diversity of viral, bacterial, fungal, and parasitic pathogens. Of the 195 pathogens identified , 62 were novel , including a bi- segmented coronavirus in diseased lesser pandas, which we propose represents a new genus – Zetacoronavirus . The orders Carnivora and Rodentia exhibited the highest pathogen diversity and were implicated in numerous host-jumping events. Comparative analysis of diseased versus healthy animals revealed a trend of higher pathogen loads in the former, with possible differences in tissue tropisms. In total, 48 zoonotic and 17 epizootic pathogens were identified, with frequent cross-species transmission , emphasizing the potential for emerging public health threats. This study highlights the urgent need for wildlife pathogen...

Abstract In recent years, infection cases of H5 subtype highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses (HPAIVs) in wild mammals have increased globally. To obtain recent epidemiological information regarding influenza A virus (IAV) infection in raccoons (Procyon lotor), the prevalence of anti-IAV antibodies in sera was analyzed among raccoons captured in Tokachi District, Hokkaido, Japan , from 2019 to 2023. Screening of serum samples using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and agar gel precipitation test detected anti-IAV antibodies in 5 of 114 (4.4 %) raccoons. All positive sera were from raccoons captured from 2022 to 2023. The hemagglutination inhibition test revealed that all five serum samples contained anti-H5 subtype HPAIV antibodies, and one also contained anti-H1 subtype antibodies . The neuraminidase inhibition test revealed that all five sera contained anti-N1 subtype antibodies, and one also contained anti-N8 subtype antibodies . In the virus neutralization test, these five ser...

Summary   H5Nx A/Goose/Guangdong/1/96 Eurasian lineage high pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI) viruses have been the main HPAI strains detected globally since 2005. These have spread around the world, causing a panzootic that has spanned six continents , with continual threat to not only wild and captive birds and poultry, but also wild, captive and domestic mammals and humans . The viruses’ ecology and epidemiology – especially the 2.3.4.4b clade – have changed, with over 489 species of birds infected and spreading the virus over migratory routes . This results in the death of many birds, including endangered species , and serves as a source of transmission to poultry and mammals . Improved surveillance and sharing of HPAI virus sequences, metadata and viruses across the veterinary, public health, wildlife and environment sectors are needed to elucidate the population dynamics of the infections, which is crucial to addressing this complex One Health issue . The development of ap...

Abstract The repeated emergence of pandemic viruses underscores the linkages between land-use change and wildlife disease , and urban-adapted wildlife are of special interest due to their close proximity to humans . However, viral diversity within urban-adapted species and their zoonotic potential remain largely unexplored. We compiled a large dataset on seven priority urban-adapted mammal species and their viruses covering over 115 countries from 1574 to 2023. These urban-adapted species host 286 virus species spanning 24 orders and 38 families , 14 of which are potentially high risk for human infection. Raccoons carried the most high-risk viruses, while raccoon dogs had increased viral positivity in urban habitats compared to raccoons, wild boars , and red foxes . Many viruses in urban-adapted species were phylogenetically related to those found in humans, and we also observed evidence of possible viral spillback . These results highlight zoonotic risks associated with urban-adapted ...