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This paper describes the epidemiology, prevalence, transmission, prevention and control of some infectious diseases in companion animals, livestock, wild animals and humans in Ontario, Canada, in 2022, including SARS-CoV-2;Echinococcus multilocularis, Leishmania spp. and SARS-CoV-2;antimicrobial stewardship resources;2 cases of rabid dogs imported from Iran (July 2021 and January 2022);prevalence of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacteriacea, Dirofilaria immitis, Brucella canis, canine parainfluenza and adeno- and herpes viruses in dogs recently imported from Asia;Paragonimus kellicotti lung flukes and Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus in dogs;African swine fever in pet pigs, backyard pigs and wild pigs and blastomycosis in dogs and humans.
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Background and purpose: The sequence of Omp25 is conserved in all Brucella species. The high antigenicity of the product of this gene stimulates the host's immune system. Using engineered probiotic bacteria is an appropriate method for vaccine transport. The aim of this study was to express the Omp25 of the Brucella abortus pathogenic bacterium in Lactococcus lactis probiotic bacterium. Materials and methods: In this experimental study, the required vector was designed and synthesized to include the gene of interest and a signal peptide (pNZ8148-Usp45-Omp25). E. coli strain TOP10F was transformed using the pNZ8148-Usp45-Omp25 expression vector based on induction by nisin. The recombinant plasmid was extracted from the transformed bacteria using a plasmid extraction kit. The L. lactis was transformed by pNZ8148-Usp45-Omp25 vector using electroporation. Evaluation of the expression of Omp25 gene at the RNA level was assessed by reverse transcription method and confirming the presence of recombinant Omp25 protein in the engineered bacteria using SDS-PAGE method. Results: Successful expression of B. abortus Omp25 in L. lactis was verified by RT-PCR. Subsequently, the proteins were separated based on molecular weight using sodium dodecyl sulfate- polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). The protein expression analysis showed the expression of Omp25 as a 25 kDa extra band in transformed L. lactis compared to the L. lactis receiving the vector lacking the target gene. Conclusion: This study shows that Omp25 is expressed in L. lactis transformed via pNZ8148-Usp45-Omp25 by electroporation. Transformed L. lactis can be successfully used as a subunit oral vaccine in prevention of Brucellosis.
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Background: Scrub typhus is an acute febrile illness caused by the bacteria - Orientia tsutsugamushi, transmitted through the bite of an infected chigger. This infection is endemic in tropical countries like India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. It usually presents with fever, headache, myalgia, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and tender lymphadenopathy. The presence of an eschar clinches the diagnosis clinically. Commonly encountered complications in scrub typhus include acute kidney injury (AKI), acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), acute liver injury, and rarely acute pancreatitis. Case Presentation: We report a case of a 70 year-old teetotaller male, who presented with acute febrile illness and respiratory distress during the peak period of the COVID -19 pandemic. During the course of illness, the patient developed acute pancreatitis as evidenced by elevated serum amylase and lipase as well as features of pancreatitis in the CT abdomen. Common causes of acute pancreatitis were ruled out with necessary investigations. He tested negative for malaria, dengue fever, enteric fever, and leptospirosis, but his IgM and IgG ELISA for scrub typhus were positive with high titres. He also had AKI, ARDS, and acute liver injury. The patient was treated symptomatically and with doxycycline. His condition improved gradually. Conclusion: Even though acute pancreatitis is one of the rare manifestations of scrub typhus, it should be suspected early and treated promptly.
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The possession of exotic animals as pets is a social practice that has become more visible in Mexico in recent years, so it is interesting to understand its environmental and social implications and those related to human health. The present study aims to identify the main species of exotic animals kept as pets and the zoonotic diseases reported in these species. We analyzed official figures of seizures of exotic fauna in Mexico and reviewed specialized literature on zoonotic diseases documented in Mexico in these species. We identified zoonoses in species of fauna that can be acquired legally and illegally in the country, reported in environments in which animals coexist with other species and are in direct contact with people, which represents an important factor in the spread and propensity of this type of disease. We conclude that the sanitary regulation of wildlife markets, the monitoring and studying microorganisms associated with wildlife are valuable strategies to prevent the emergence of zoonoses.
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Introduction: Scrub typhus is tropical zoonotic disease, commonly presented with multi organ dysfunction and high mortality rate in untreated patients. This study was done to identify clinical features commonly associated with scrub typhus during COVID pandemics, parameters associated with severe scrub typhus and mortality. Methods: This retrospective study was done in a tertiary care hospital with a total of 52 admitted scrub typhus positive patients in October 2020 to February 2022. Diagnosis was established by scrub IgM ELISA or Rapid antigen test. The clinical and laboratory data, duration of hospital stay and outcomes were collected. Common clinical and laboratory findings were of descriptive analysis. Factors associated with mortality were analysed using Chi-square test. Results: Fever was the most common presenting symptoms on admission (94.2%) followed by respiratory abnormalities (38.46%). Acute kidney injury was the most common organ failure on admission (67.3%), followed by acute liver injury (46.2%) and thrombocytopenia (32.7%). MODS was seen in 46.15%. Of the total, 30.8% were admitted in ICU. Mortality was seen in 7.7% of all patients. On Chi-square analysis, altered mental status and coagulopathy were associated with significant mortality with p value <0.05. Conclusion: Scrub typhus can manifest with potentially life-threatening complications such as acute kidney injury, acute liver injury, thrombocytopenia and MODS. The overall case-fatality rate was 7.7%, and presence of altered mental status and coagulopathy were associated with higher mortality. As per literature, COVID has changed few clinical profiles of scrub typhus compared to same center experience before.
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Objective: To gather information on the research status and the hot spots of zoonosis and zoonotic microorganisms worldwide, and to provide references for the prevention and control of zoonotic diseases in China. Method: COOC 12.6 and Citespace 5.8 R1 software were used to carry out frequency statistics, co-occurrence analysis, cluster analysis, timeline analysis and burst analysis on the keywords associated with zoonosis and zoonotic microorganisms in PubMed database. Result: According to the keywords frequency statistics and co-occurrence analysis results from the year of 2001 to 2021 in pubMed database, the zoonosis and zoonotic microorganisms arousing high international attentions were classified into the following three categories: the first category was commonly observed zoonotic microorganisms such as Brucella, hepatitis E virus, Streptococcus, Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Salmonella, to which continuous public attentions were still needed to be paid;the second category was the zoonotic microorganisms worldwide concerned in recent years such as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) and influenza A virus, which were worthy of more in-depth research to control the spread of these diseases as soon as possible;the third category was the zoonosis that had massively prevailed in specific regions abroad such as Q fever and middle east respiratory syndrome (MERS), and these diseases were expected to be noticed in terms of imported risks to avoid their outbreaks in China. In addition to the above mentioned zoonosis and zoonotic microorganisms, some keywords associated with detection and diagnosis such as phylogeny and PCR were also of high interests. The cluster analysis generated a total of 10 clusters, in which the tick-borne infectious disease cluster suggested the role of ticks in the transmission of zoonotic diseases;the results of timeline and burst analysis demonstrated that among the zoonotic microorganisms, the attentions being paid to influenza A virus and SARS-CoV-2 were gradually increasing. At the same time, the detection technology of zoonotic microorganisms was evolving from specific sequence detection to whole genome sequencing. These fields were likely to be the research direction and trend in the future.
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Today, pets are the source of numerous infectious diseases that can be transmitted to humans, as a result of their increasingly frequent contact. The most important viruses with zoonotic potential include rabies and influenza viruses as well as rotaviruses and noroviruses. However, the importance of individual viruses varies depending on the climate and infectious disease control systems in certain countries. Dogs, cats, and other increasingly popular types of pets can transmit bacterial zoonotic agents to humans in various ways. In addition to known pathogens such as the bacteria causing leptospirosis, salmonellosis, campylobacteriosis, or brucellosis, the bacteria Pasteurella multocida and Bartonella henselae transmitted by bites or scratches are also significant in human pathology. There has been a significant increase in the prevalence of methicillin-resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus in isolates originating from pets and the transmission of these strains between humans and animals requires special attention. Furthermore, fungi causing diseases such as sporotrichosis or dermatophytosis are linked to long-term and persistent infections in humans. The epidemiological situation caused by SARS-CoV-2, and the assumption of an interspecies jump of this virus from animals to humans, including its documented presence in domestic cats, dogs, tigers, and martens, have raised the question of the possibility of virus transmission from pets to humans. However, the current pandemic is caused exclusively by SARS-CoV-2 transmission in the human population, and these animals are not a source of infection for humans. A significant number of zoonoses originating from pets is a threat to public health, thus requiring the "One Health" approach through close cooperation between human and veterinary medicine to develop and implement effective health measures for both humans and animals. As part of responsible ownership, pet owners must be informed by veterinarians about measures to prevent infectious diseases and certain risks that are related to keeping certain species of animals.
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Exotic pest and disease investigations are managed and reported by the Ministry for Primary Industries' (MPI's) Diagnostic and Surveillance Directorate. This article presents a summary of investigations of suspect exotic and emerging pests and diseases in New Zealand during the period from July to September 2021.
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This special issue includes 11 articles focusing on development of container laboratories in response to COVID-19;COVID-19 in Fiji;Pacific Regional Infectious Disease Association (PRIDA) - capacity-building for microbiology and infectious disease across the Pacific;meningococcal surveillance in Southeast Asia and the Pacific;tropical fever in remote tropics;movement of arboviruses between Indonesia and Western Australia;Rotavirus surveillance informs diarrhoea disease burden in the WHO Western-Pacific region;surveillance for One Health and high consequence veterinary pathogens (Brucellosis, Coxiellosis and Foot and Mouth Disease) in Southeast Asia - Lao PDR and Cambodia in focus and the importance of international partnerships;Avian influenza H5N1.
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In September 2021 (from 00:00, 1 September to 24: 00, 30 September), a total of 500 929 cases of notifiable communicable diseases, including 2 172 deaths, were reported in China (except Hong Kong, Macao Special Administrative Regions and Taiwan Province, the same below). In communicable diseases in class A, no case and no death were reported. In communicable diseases in class B, no cases and no deaths of severe acute respiratory syndrome, poliomyelitis, human infection with highly pathogenic avian influenza virus, diphtheria and human infection with avian influenza A(H7N9) virus were reported. For the remaining 22 communicable diseases in class B, 272 332 cases were reported, a decrease of 0.9% compared with last month (274 917 cases) and a decrease of 5% compared with the same period in 2020 (287 923 cases). The first 5 diseases in terms of reported case number were viral hepatitis, pulmonary tuberculosis, syphilis, gonorrhea and brucellosis, accounting for 94% of the total reported cases in class B. A total of 2 172 deaths were reported, an increase of 5% (95 deaths) compared with last month (2 077 deaths) and a decrease of 5% compared with the same period in 2020 (2 291 deaths). According to the website of the National Health Commission of China, a total of 1 264 confirmed COVID-19 cases were reported, without death, by 31 provinces (municipalities, autonomous regions) and Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps from 00:00, 1 September to 24: 00, 30 September, 2021. In class C communicable diseases, a total of 228 597 cases were reported, an increase of 10% compared with last month (207 153 cases) and a decrease of 7% compared with the same period in 2020 (247 112 cases). The first 3 diseases in terms of reported case number were other infectious diarrhea, hand foot and mouth disease (HFMD) and influenza, accounting for 93% of the total reported cases in class C. Compared with last month, except filariasis, visceral leishmaniasis, leprosy and other infectious diarrhea which decreased by 1 case, 11 cases (39%), 12 cases (33%) and 12 747 cases (12%) respectively, the reported cases of all other diseases increased, the diseases with obvious case increases were HFMD (15 352 cases, 22%), influenza (14 160 cases, 66%) and mumps (4 253 cases, 51%). Compared with the same period in 2020, the diseases with reported case increases were influenza (17 269 cases, 95%), visceral leishmaniasis (4 cases, 31%), rubella (19 cases, 27%) and typhus fever (32 cases, 18%), filariasis had no incidences in both years, and the diseases with obvious reported case decreases were HFMD (26 506 cases, 23%). other infectious diarrhea (5 628 cases, 6%) and mumps (523 cases, 4%). No death caused by class C communicable diseases was reported, same to the last month and a decrease of 3 deaths compared with the same period in 2020 (3 deaths).
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The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) have published the EU One Health 2020 Zoonoses Report. Campylobacteriosis was the most reported zoonosis in the EU in 2020, with 120,946 cases compared to more than 220,000 the previous year. This was followed by salmonellosis, which affected 52,702 people, compared to 88,000 in 2019. The number of reported foodborne outbreaks fell by 47%, with the report acknowledging the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the drop in reported zoonotic diseases in humans. The next most commonly reported diseases were yersiniosis, with 5,668 cases, and infections caused by Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli, with 4,446 cases. Listeriosis was the fifth most reported zoonosis, mainly affecting people over the age of 64. Listeriosis and West Nile virus (WNV) infections were the diseases with the highest case fatality and hospitalisation rates, with most locally acquired human infections of WNV reported in Greece, Spain and Italy. The report also monitors foodborne outbreaks in the EU, events during which at least two people contract the same illness from the same contaminated food. A total of 3,086 foodborne outbreaks were reported in 2020, with Salmonella remaining the most frequently detected agent, causing around 23% of outbreaks. The most common sources of salmonellosis outbreaks were eggs, egg products and pig meat. The report also includes data on Mycobacterium bovis, Mycobacterium caprae, Brucella, Trichinella, Echinococcus, Toxoplasma gondii, rabies, Q fever and tularaemia.