Epidemiology of Q fever in humans in four selected regions, Spain, 2016 to 2022.

BackgroundQ fever is a bacterial zoonosis caused by Coxiella burnetii. Spain has the highest number of notified human cases in Europe. Small ruminants are a key reservoir for the pathogen, transmission from animals to humans is usually airborne.AimWe aimed at exploring temporal and spatial epidemiological patterns of sporadic and outbreak cases of Q fever in four Spanish regions with the highest number of notified cases.MethodsWe extracted data on Q fever cases in the Canary Islands, Basque Country, La Rioja and Navarre between 2016 and 2022 from the Spanish National Epidemiological Surveillance Network. We calculated standardised incidence ratios (SIR), spatial relative risks (sRR) and posterior probabilities (PP) utilising Besag-York-Mollié models.ResultsThere were 1,059 notifications, with a predominance of males aged 30-60 years. In Basque Country, La Rioja and Navarre area, 11 outbreaks were reported, while no in the Canary Islands. A seasonal increase in incidence rates was observed between March and June. In the Canary Islands, elevated sRR was seen in La Palma, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura. In Basque Country, La Rioja and Navarre area, the highest sRR was identified in the south of Biscay province.ConclusionGoats were the main source for humans in outbreaks reported in the literature. Seasonal increase may be related to the parturition season of small ruminants and specific environmental conditions. Local variations in sRR within these regions likely result from diverse environmental factors. Future One Health-oriented studies are essential to deepen our understanding of Q fever epidemiology.

Toxoplasma gondii exposure in wildlife in Spain: Is there any predictable threat for humans and domestic animals?

Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic zoonosis of key importance in veterinary and public health. This article summarizes the available data (from 2000 to 2023) of exposition to Toxoplasma gondii in wildlife species in Spain based on a systematic bibliographic search, as well as further analysis of its potential relationship with environmental variables, biodiversity, anthropogenic impact on the habitat, and the reported human cases of toxoplasmosis. The overall seroprevalence of T. gondii in carnivorous mammals, birds, ungulate and lagomorph species in Spain was estimated at 69.3 %, 36.4 %, 18.4 %, and 16.2 %, respectively. Among the studies considered, great heterogeneity was observed both between and within taxonomic groups [Cohen's d > 0.8; X2 = 1039.10, df = 4 (p < 0.01) I2 = 97 %, r2 = 1.88, (p < 0.001)] and between and within bioregions [Cohen's d > 0.5; X2 = 368.59, df = 4 (p < 0.01)]. The results of a generalized linear model explaining T. gondii seroprevalence in wild animals suggest the influence of abiotic variables [wetland (p < 0.001), unvegetated (p < 0.001), isothermality (p < 0.001), and mean temperature during wettest quarter (p < 0.05)] and number of intermediate host species as positively associated with increased exposure of wildlife to T. gondii (p < 0.01). Toxoplasma gondii DNA was detected in both wild birds and wild mammals (range: 0.0-51.2 %) mainly from north-centre, northeast, and central-west of Spain. Regarding hospitalisation rates due to toxoplasmosis in humans, some abiotic variables [permanent crops (p < 0.05) and mean temperature during wettest quarter (p < 0.05)] showed a positive association. Despite certain limitations, this research evidences a substantial gap of knowledge on the implication of wildlife in the life cycle of T. gondii in Spain. This lack of knowledge is particularly evident in areas where the human-livestock-wildlife interface overlaps, preventing us from accurately determining its true distribution in different habitats, as well as its potential direct or indirect implications on public and veterinary health.

The Role of Environmental Factors in Lyme Disease Transmission in the European Union: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Lyme disease (LD) is an emergent vector-borne disease caused by Borrelia spp. and transmitted through infected ticks, mainly Ixodes spp. Our objective was to determine meteorological and environmental factors associated with LD transmission in Europe and the effect of climate change on LD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A systematic review following the PRISMA guidelines was performed. We selected studies on LD transmission in the European Union (EU) and the European Economic Area (EEA) published between 2000 and 2022. The protocol was registered in the PROSPERO database. RESULTS: We included 81 studies. The impact of environmental, meteorological or climate change factors on tick vectors was studied in 65 papers (80%), and the impact on human LD cases was studied in 16 papers (19%), whereas animal hosts were only addressed in one study (1%). A significant positive relationship was observed between temperature and precipitation and the epidemiology of LD, although contrasting results were found among studies. Other positive factors were humidity and the expansion of anthropized habitats. CONCLUSIONS: The epidemiology of LD seems to be related to climatic factors that are changing globally due to ongoing climate change. Unfortunately, the complete zoonotic cycle was not systematically analyzed. It is important to adopt a One Health approach to understand LD epidemiology.

Epidemiology of reported cases of leptospirosis in the EU/EEA, 2010 to 2021.

BackgroundLeptospirosis is a zoonotic disease caused by bacteria of the genus Leptospira. Humans are infected by exposure to animal urine or urine-contaminated environments. Although disease incidence is lower in Europe compared with tropical regions, there have been reports of an increase in leptospirosis cases since the 2000s in some European countries.AimWe aimed to describe the epidemiology of reported cases of leptospirosis in the European Union/European Economic Area (EU/EEA) during 2010-2021 and to identify potential changes in epidemiological patterns.MethodsWe ran a descriptive analysis of leptospirosis cases reported by EU/EEA countries to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control with disease during 2010-2021. We also analysed trends at EU/EEA and national level.ResultsDuring 2010-2021, 23 countries reported 12,180 confirmed leptospirosis cases corresponding to a mean annual notification rate of 0.24 cases per 100,000 population. Five countries (France, Germany, the Netherlands, Portugal and Romania) accounted for 79% of all reported cases. The highest notification rate was observed in Slovenia with 0.82 cases per 100,000 population. Overall, the notification rate increased by 5.0% per year from 2010 to 2021 (95% CI: 1.2-8.8%), although trends differed across countries.ConclusionThe notification rate of leptospirosis at EU/EEA level increased during 2010-2021 despite including the first 2 years of the COVID-19 pandemic and associated changes in population behaviours. Studies at (sub)national level would help broaden the understanding of differences at country-level and specificities in terms of exposure to Leptospira, as well as biases in diagnosis and reporting.

COVID-19 Symptom-Related Google Searches and Local COVID-19 Incidence in Spain: Correlational Study.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 is one of the biggest pandemics in human history, along with other disease pandemics, such as the H1N1 influenza A, bubonic plague, and smallpox pandemics. This study is a small contribution that tries to find contrasted formulas to alleviate global suffering and guarantee a more manageable future. OBJECTIVE: In this study, a statistical approach was proposed to study the correlation between the incidence of COVID-19 in Spain and search data provided by Google Trends. METHODS: We assessed the linear correlation between Google Trends search data and the data provided by the National Center of Epidemiology in Spain-which is dependent on the Instituto de Salud Carlos III-regarding the number of COVID-19 cases reported with a certain time lag. These data enabled the identification of anticipatory patterns. RESULTS: In response to the ongoing outbreak, our results demonstrate that by using our correlation test, the evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic can be predicted in Spain up to 11 days in advance. CONCLUSIONS: During the epidemic, Google Trends offers the possibility to preempt health care decisions in real time by tracking people's concerns through their search patterns. This can be of great help given the critical, if not dramatic need for complementary monitoring approaches that work on a population level and inform public health decisions in real time. This study of Google search patterns, which was motivated by the fears of individuals in the face of a pandemic, can be useful in anticipating the development of the pandemic.

[Origin of SARS-CoV-2 theories, keys and unknowns of an emerged disease.] / Teorías del origen del SARS-CoV-2, claves e incógnitas de una enfermedad emergente.

In the midst of the SARS-CoV-2 public-health pandemic emergency, it is important to understand its zoonotic origin and how an animal virus finally infects humans. Identifying the circumstances in which a virus jumps species boundaries to infect humans so productively is objective of this work and will help us to determine the epidemiology and pathogenisis of this agent. Nowadays, it is known that bats serve as reservoir hosts for virus progenitor, but determine the possibility of a potential intermediate host of SARS-CoV-2 is still a challenge. Scientific investigations stablish the natural selection theory as the most probable (natural selection in an animal host before zoonotic transfer or acquired mutations in humans following crossing species barrier). It is necessary to find out how SARS-CoV-2 emerged, its rapidly spreads within a community and the optimal context in which this virus binds to human receptor. One Health is a multisectoral, collaborative and transdisciplinary approach which allows a cooperative working between animal and human health that will help us to introduce some possible control measures that might reduce the spread of the virus; improving sanitary management, identifying new outbreaks and preventing future zoonotic and pandemic events.

En el contexto de la actual pandemia puede resultar de especial interés el esclarecimiento de importantes aspectos relativos al origen del nuevo virus SARS-CoV-2 e identificar los mecanismos que han permitido a este agente zoonótico atravesar la barrera especie y colonizar al nuevo hospedador humano de un modo tan eficaz, objetivos ambos de este trabajo. Dudas cuya respuesta puede ser reveladora a la hora de entender ciertos aspectos patológicos y epidemiológicos del nuevo agente, facilitar la toma de decisiones e identificar posibles rebrotes. Las investigaciones llevadas a cabo hasta la fecha permiten establecer al murciélago como el huésped origen, valorar la posible presencia de un hospedador intermediario, todavía desconocido, y fijar la teoría de la selección natural como la más probable. Aun así, es pronto para determinar si las mutaciones que incrementaron la virulencia del virus o permitieron la inclusión de cadenas proteicas implicadas en el reconocimiento del receptor humano se produjeron antes o después de haber atravesado la barrera especie. Son necesarios estudios adicionales que ayuden a resolver éstas y otras incógnitas e insistir en la necesidad de aplicar a nivel mundial estrategias One Health para facilitar una gestión integrada de la salud humana, en coordinación con la sanidad animal, y prevenir así posibles eventos emergentes futuros.

Teorías del origen del SARS-COV-2, claves e incógnitas de una enfermedad emergente / Origin of SARS-CoV-2 theories, keys and unknowns of an emerged disease

En el contexto de la actual pandemia puede resultar de especial interés el esclarecimiento de importantes aspectos relativos al origen del nuevo virus SARS-CoV-2 e identificar los mecanismos que han permitido a este agente zoonótico atravesar la barrera especie y colonizar al nuevo hospedador humano de un modo tan eficaz, objetivos ambos de este trabajo. Dudas cuya respuesta puede ser reveladora a la hora de entender ciertos aspectos patológicos y epidemiológicos del nuevo agente, facilitar la toma de decisiones e identificar posibles rebrotes.Las investigaciones llevadas a cabo hasta la fecha permiten establecer al murciélago como el huésped origen, valorar la posible presencia de un hospedador intermediario, todavía desconocido, y fijar la teoría de la selección natural como la más probable. Aun así, es pronto para determinar si las mutaciones que incrementaron la virulencia del virus o permitieron la inclusión de cadenas proteicas implicadas en el reconocimiento del receptor humano se produjeron antes o después de haber atravesado la barrera especie. Son necesarios estudios adicionales que ayuden a resolver éstas y otras incógnitas e insistir en la necesidad de aplicar a nivel mundial estrategias One Health para facilitar una gestión integrada de la salud humana, en coordinación con la sanidad animal, y prevenir así posibles eventos emergentes futuros

In the midst of the SARS-CoV-2 public-health pandemic emergency, it is important to understand its zoonotic origin and how an animal virus finally infects humans. Identifying the circumstances in which a virus jumps species boundaries to infect humans so productively is objective of this work and will help us to determine the epidemiology and pathogenisis of this agent. Nowadays, it is known that bats serve as reservoir hosts for virus progenitor, but determine the possibility of a potential intermediate host of SARS-CoV-2 is still a challenge. Scientific investigations stablish the natural selection theory as the most probable (natural selection in an animal host before zoonotic transfer or acquired mutations in humans following crossing species barrier). It is necessary to find out how SARS-CoV-2 emerged, its rapidly spreads within a community and the optimal context in which this virus binds to human receptor. One Health is a multisectoral, collaborative and transdisciplinary approach which allows a cooperative working between animal and human health that will help us to introduce some possible control measures that might reduce the spread of the virus; improving sanitary management, identifying new outbreaks and preventing future zoonotic and pandemic events

Personal de mataderos y plantas de procesamiento de carnes: un colectivo muy vulnerable a la COVID-19 / No disponible

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