Clinical microbiology and infection : the official publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious DiseasesRasha Abdelsalam Elshenawy, Ada Cernaliu, Omobolanle Margaret Abe, Rishal Dsouza, Shumonto Mowla Chowdhury
BACKGROUND: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance has expanded faster than any other component of the global response, yet resistance continues to rise. In a growing number of settings, the principal constraint is the failure to translate available data into action, a disconnect we describe as the Surveillance-to-Stewardship (S2S) Gap. OBJECTIVES: To define the S2S Gap and its component gaps, examine where it binds across health systems of different maturity, analyse why it persists, and propose an operationalisable, testable framework for closing it. SOURCES: A cross-sectional analysis of WHO GLASS participation across all 55 South Centre member states; the UK ESPAUR programme (2019-2024); published implementation studies from India, Nigeria, and Bangladesh, read alongside three sector-specific systematic syntheses conducted by our group, all now published; and comparative governance analyses and implementation-science frameworks. CONTENT: Adopting the GLASS conception of surveillance (resistance plus antimicrobial use data), the gap recurs but binds at different stages by system maturity: as incomplete surveillance in many low- and middle-income countries (27% (15/55) of the states report both data types), as absent operational stewardship machinery despite near-universal awareness and policy, and as uncertain policy-to-outcome translation in the mature UK system, where a 2% fall in use has not yet been accompanied by falling resistance, for reasons that current data cannot distinguish. Six structural drivers (multi-level governance, diagnostics, workforce, financing, behaviour, and implementation capacity) explain persistence. South Africa illustrates process-level narrowing. The S2S Framework, a five-stage pathway from surveillance to outcomes aligned with CFIR, RE-AIM, and a One Health perspective, enables stage diagnosis and targeted intervention. IMPLICATIONS: Closing the gap requires funding translation as deliberately as data generation, with actions for WHO, governments, health systems, and funders, and an explicit agenda for empirically evaluating the framework itself.
Global genomic surveillance has emerged as a foundational pillar of public health in the twenty-first century, enabling real-time tracking of pathogen evolution and informing outbreak response. This chapter examines the strategic architecture of global genomic surveillance, focusing on its application to arboviruses such as chikungunya virus (CHIKV). It explores the integration of genomic data with epidemiological, clinical, and environmental information within a One Health framework, while addressing critical challenges in governance, equity, and interoperability. The discussion covers the entire genomic surveillance workflow, from sample collection and sequencing to bioinformatic analysis and phylogenetic inference, and highlights the transformative role of artificial intelligence (AI) in predictive surveillance. By analyzing global initiatives, operational barriers, and emerging technologies, this chapter underscores the necessity of sustainable, equitable, and interoperable genomic systems to proactively address current and future infectious disease threats.
Veterinary medicine and scienceMajed H Wakid, Dipesh Aryal, Sharifuzzaman, Saifa Saba Hossain, Abu Rakib M Beni Amin, Md Shafiqul Islam, Md Shahiduzzaman
INTRODUCTION: Cryptosporidium spp. are enteric protozoan parasites of public health importance, particularly in low-resource settings where humans, animals and environmental water sources frequently interact. This study investigated the prevalence, molecular diversity and environmental exposure-related variables in relation to Cryptosporidium infection in a rural community. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted using 180 faecal samples collected from humans, cattle, chickens, fish, cats, dogs, and ducks. Speciation and subtyping were determined through PCR amplification and sequencing of the 18S rRNA and gp60 genes. Epidemiological and environmental data were collected, and univariable analyses were conducted. An exploratory multivariable logistic regression model was subsequently performed for the human subset. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of Cryptosporidium infection was 9.40%, with the highest rates observed in humans (14.8%) and cattle (13.5%). Molecular characterisation identified C. hominis, C. parvum, C. bovis and C. felis. Among humans, C. hominis was the predominant, whereas C. parvum was also detected, including mixed infections. gp60 analysis identified multiple subtype families, including Ia, Ib, IIa, IIc and IId. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated close genetic relationships between Bangladeshi isolates and previously reported reference strains from South Asia and the Middle East. Higher odds of Cryptosporidium infection were observed among individuals reporting river bathing and consumption of untreated water, whereas lower odds were observed among those reporting regular handwashing. No statistically significant associations were identified between evaluated environmental variables and infection among non-human hosts. CONCLUSION: The study demonstrated the circulation of multiple Cryptosporidium species and subtype families within a shared human-animal ecosystem. The contaminated surface water and inadequate hygiene practices may represent important environmental exposure interfaces for Cryptosporidium infection in the study area. However, given the cross-sectional design and limited number of positive cases, the epidemiological findings should be interpreted as exploratory associations rather than definitive transmission pathways. Further longitudinal One Health investigations are needed.
Public health challengesJoseph M Kungu, Joan Neumbe, Dan Brian Kiganira, Patience Tino, Josephine Namayanja, Ronald Kassuja, Annet Nankya, John B Nizeyi
BACKGROUND: Mountain gorillas are endangered primates that share approximately 99% of their DNA with humans. Consequently, they may be susceptible to infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2), the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Understanding the burden of infection of human populations in the surroundings of these endangered species is critical to assess the potential risk of spillover. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of SARS-CoV2 and its associated risk factors in communities surrounding the Bwindi-Mgahinga Conservation Area in Uganda. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 576 participants from the districts of Kanungu, Kisoro and Rubanda. Nasopharyngeal swab samples were collected and analysed using real-time reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT qPCR) at the Uganda Virus Research Institute. Demographic and behavioural data were collected using a structured questionnaire administered via KoboToolbox. Data analysis was performed using Stata (version 16) with cross-tabulation to generate descriptive statistics of demographic characteristics, self-reported non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) and SARS-CoV2-specific RNA status. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of SARS-CoV2 was 8.0%. Prevalence was highest in Kanungu (10.7%), followed by Kisoro (6.1%) and Rubanda (5.0%). Washing hands often was the only self-reported NPI associated with SARS-CoV2 prevalence (X 2 = 5.5, p = 0.02). CONCLUSION: SARS-CoV2 was present among communities surrounding the Bwindi-Mgahinga Conservation Area. Strengthening adherence to preventive measures, such as hand hygiene, is essential to reduce transmission risk within communities and potential spillover to endangered mountain gorillas.
Global public healthYusuf Hared Abdi, Sharmake Gaiye Bashir
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the most consequential threats to global public health. In 2021, bacterial AMR was associated with an estimated 4.71 million deaths globally, including 1.14 million directly attributable to resistance. Yet, despite its designation as a global emergency, policy responses remain heavily focused on surveillance, antimicrobial stewardship, diagnostics, and pharmaceutical innovation. These interventions are necessary but insufficient without sustained action on the social and structural conditions shaping infection exposure, access to care, and antibiotic use. This commentary argues that the One Health framework, as currently operationalised, does not sufficiently centre poverty and structural inequality as core determinants of AMR. AMR is shaped by overcrowded living conditions, inadequate water and sanitation, disrupted health systems, weak diagnostic infrastructure, gender inequities, and unreliable access to quality-assured medicines, disproportionately affecting low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). We propose four linked policy directions: aligning national AMR action plans with the Sustainable Development Goals; integrating socioeconomic disaggregation into AMR surveillance; reforming international financing to expand fiscal space for health, WASH, and diagnostics; and embedding communities as co-designers of stewardship and governance. A justice-oriented One Health approach is essential to translate global AMR commitments into equitable and durable action.
MicrobiologyOpenTalita Vilalva Freire, Ana Carolina de Freitas Marques, Valéria Dos Santos Gonçalves, Iluska Senna Bonfá Moslaves, Mônica Cristina Toffoli-Kadri, Arthur Felici…
Bacterial resistance to antibiotics represents a critical global health challenge, demanding urgent alternative strategies to manage infections caused by multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens such as Acinetobacter baumannii, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Klebsiella pneumoniae. A promising approach to address this problem involves the use of combination therapies, in which plant-derived natural products represent an important reservoir of bioactive compounds with the potential to act as effective adjuvants, restoring or enhancing antibiotic efficacy. In this study, the ethanolic extract of Mouriri elliptica (EME) leaves was investigated for its antimicrobial and synergistic potential. EME showed moderate inhibitory activity against both standard and MDR strains, with the most significant effect against A. baumannii (MIC 78.1-312.5 µg/mL). Synergistic interactions were observed with conventional antibiotics, particularly ciprofloxacin against K. pneumoniae, reducing MIC values up to fifteen-fold, and with ampicillin against E. coli and S. aureus. The extract also inhibited biofilm formation, with 68% inhibition for E. coli at 500 µg/mL and 72.04% for S. aureus at 250 µg/mL, with atomic force microscopy images corroborating these findings. LC-MS profiling identified 41 compounds, including chlorogenic acid derivatives, flavonoids, ellagic acid derivatives, and triterpenes. Acute toxicity evaluation in mice at 2000 mg/kg revealed no adverse effects. Collectively, these findings support the potential of M. elliptica as a natural antibacterial adjuvant for enhancing the effectiveness of selected antibiotics against MDR pathogens, warranting further chemical, mechanistic, and in vivo investigation.
As companion animals live in close contact with humans, the presence of antimicrobial-resistant organisms in these animals is an important issue in veterinary medicine from a One Health perspective. In this study, we isolated a total of 385 Escherichia coli strains from fecal samples collected from 218 companion dogs and 167 companion cats that visited veterinary clinics in Tokyo, Japan, from 2021 to 2024. Antimicrobial resistance to third-generation cephalosporins and fluoroquinolones increased significantly with host age, even though fecal abnormalities were low relevance. A total of 60 isolates were resistant to at least one third-generation cephalosporin, and whole-genome analysis was performed to further characterize these isolates. The isolates were classified as CTX-M gene-carrying or AmpC-associated isolates, including those carrying acquired AmpC genes and those harboring chromosomal ampC promoter mutations. The age-associated increase was more pronounced among CTX-M gene-carrying isolates than among AmpC-associated isolates. CTX-M gene-carrying isolates frequently exhibited concurrent levofloxacin resistance and were predominantly represented by ST131. Core-genome multilocus sequence typing revealed that these CTX-M gene-carrying isolates were phylogenetically similar to previously reported isolates of both human and animal origin. These findings suggest that the age-associated increase in resistance is related to the expansion of specific CTX-M gene-carrying lineages rather than to a uniform increase across all cephalosporin-resistance mechanisms. Our results support the need for continuous investigation within a One Health framework and further epidemiological and genomic surveillance.
Environmental microbiology reportsIhab Habib, Moneeb A Qablan, Fatema Aaref Alzaabi, Fatema Rashed Alnuaimi, Ghalya Ahmed Almemari, Glindya Bhagya Lakshmi, Safeya Al Naqbi, Fatima Al Shamsi, Dh…
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a One Health challenge driven by microbial exchange among humans, animals and the environment. Zoological institutions offer useful settings for environmental AMR surveillance. This single-zoo cross-sectional study examined the occurrence, antimicrobial susceptibility and genomic characteristics of nontyphoidal Salmonella enterica (NTS) and clinically relevant Enterococcus spp. in faecal samples from 101 clinically healthy captive ungulates representing seven conservation-priority species at a major urban zoo in the United Arab Emirates. NTS was detected in 4/101 samples (3.9%), including serovars Schwarzengrund (n = 2), Kentucky (n = 1) and Chester (n = 1). Among the four recovered NTS isolates, all met the study MDR definition within the tested panel, including a Salmonella Kentucky ST198 isolate carrying multiple resistance genes and quinolone-associated mutations. Enterococcus spp. were detected in 77/101 samples (76.2%), dominated by Enterococcus faecium and Enterococcus casseliflavus (each 41.5%). Among 33 E. faecium/Enterococcus faecalis isolates tested phenotypically, resistance was generally low, with erythromycin and ciprofloxacin resistance each observed in 9.1%. One clinically important E. faecium isolate showed glycopeptide resistance and genetic markers associated with reduced daptomycin susceptibility. These single-institution cross-sectional data provide an initial regional baseline for AMR-relevant enteric bacteria in conservation-managed ungulates and identify priorities for broader longitudinal and interface-based surveillance.
Health systems and reformAniso Mohamed Abdi, Hibo Hassan Mohamed, Ilyas Abdullahi Khalif, Ahmed Mohamed Omar, Nour Ahmed Dahir
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is quietly becoming Somalia's next health catastrophe. While the world focuses on immediate crises, an estimated 8,400 deaths annually are directly attributed to AMR, with another 32,700 linked to AMR complications. These numbers place Somalia among the top 10 countries globally for AMR-related mortality, surpassing deaths from maternal disease, cardiovascular conditions, and infectious disease combined. Yet Somalia has a national action plan. The problem is not policy; it is implementation. Despite developing an AMR National Action Plan aligned with global strategies, Somalia's fragile health system, weak governance, limited laboratory capacity, and unregulated antibiotic markets have created a perfect storm for untreated resistance to flourish. Community-level drivers, including self-medication, over-the-counter antibiotic access, and incomplete treatment courses, remain unaddressed. This commentary argues that AMR in Somalia is fundamentally a governance failure, not a biomedical one. We identify critical barriers: absent laboratory surveillance systems, inadequate infection prevention and control, lack of Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) infrastructure, and missing community engagement strategies. Addressing AMR requires integrated, system-level approaches including strengthening multisectoral coordination, investing in diagnostic capacity, embedding community voices into policy design, and securing sustainable financing. Without urgent action to bridge the policy-implementation gap, AMR will become an unmanageable health security emergency in Somalia.
MicrobiologyOpenFiona K McDougall, Laura A Pulscher, Wayne S J Boardman, Karrie Rose, Mariel Fulham, Michelle L Power
Humans have historically been considered the only natural host of typical enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (tEPEC), a cause of human infantile diarrhoea. Recent findings of bat-specific tEPEC in two Australian bat species (Pteropus poliocephalus and Pteropus conspicillatus) revealed that these Pteropus spp. are also tEPEC hosts. tEPEC pathogenicity is associated with key virulence factors including intimin (eae) and the bundle-forming pilus (bfp) operon, which contains the bfpA gene. This study characterised 63 tEPEC isolates from five Australian Pteropus spp.; four from mainland Australia (P. poliocephalus, P. conspicillatus, P. alecto and P. scapulatus) and one from Christmas Island (P. natalis). The 63 tEPEC isolates included 10 novel tEPEC strains and eight previously identified Pteropus tEPEC strains. Faecal DNA samples (n = 386) from the five Australian Pteropus spp. were screened for eae and bfpA genes to identify tEPEC-positive samples. The estimated true prevalence of tEPEC ranged from 14.2% to 37.0% across the five Pteropus spp. Typing of 119 bfpA alleles (63 tEPEC isolates and 56 faecal DNA samples) from the five Pteropus spp. identified 27 bfpA allele types, 24 of which belonged to bat-specific bfpA lineages. Bat-specific bfpA alleles were shared between tEPEC strains, Pteropus spp. and across regions, including the geographically isolated P. natalis endemic to Christmas Island. This study reveals that diverse bat-specific tEPEC strains and bfpA types have evolved in Pteropus spp. and have been circulating among populations for an extensive period, thereby confirming that all Australian Pteropus spp. are natural tEPEC hosts.
Marine ecosystems are becoming important reservoirs for antimicrobial resistance (AMR). However, genomic data on ESBL (Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase)-producing Enterobacter species from marine environments are limited. The widespread blaCTX-M-15 gene, usually found in clinical and wastewater settings, has not been reported in marine Enterobacter from Bangladesh. A thermotolerant, lactose-fermenting isolate (LB01) from the Bay of Bengal seawater near Laboni Beach, Cox's Bazar, was isolated and identified as Enterobacter kobei based on > 99.4% average nucleotide identity and phylogenetic clustering. Its 4.62 Mb genome (55.05% GC) encoded 4410 genes, including blaCTX-M-15, blaACT-9, and qnrS1, with blaCTX-M-15 located next to an ISEc9-like insertion sequence, indicating a mobilizable resistance locus. The genome also contained efflux systems (acrAB, mdtABC, oqxAB), adhesion and iron uptake genes (fim, flh, ent, fep, chu), and comprehensive halotolerance modules (proVWX, betT, nhaA, kdpABC, mscL/S) consistent with its growth in up to 7% NaCl. This is the first genomic characterization of a marine E. kobei carrying blaCTX-M-15 resistant determinant in Bangladesh, showing convergence of resistance, virulence, and halotolerance traits that support persistence in saline, human-impacted environments. The findings broaden the ecological scope of clinically relevant ESBL genes and highlight the importance of coastal ecosystems as overlooked nodes in the global AMR network within a One Health framework.
Journal of medical primatologyAlan Salazar, Nofre Sanchez-Perea, Fabiola Díaz, María Del Aguila, Diego Cuicapuza, Miryam Quevedo-Urday, Guillermo Salvatierra
INTRODUCTION: Klebsiella spp. are opportunistic enterobacteria associated with a wide range of infections in humans and animals and are increasingly recognized as important pathogens due to their ability to acquire antimicrobial resistance. Captive wildlife populations, including non-human primates, may serve as carriers of these bacteria and are susceptible to bacterial outbreaks under certain management and environmental conditions. This study aimed to describe the antimicrobial susceptibility profile of Klebsiella spp. isolated from clinically healthy captive night monkeys (Aotus nancymaae) housed at the IVITA-Iquitos breeding center in the Peruvian Amazon. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 86 clinically healthy night monkeys were sampled. Rectal swabs were collected for bacterial isolation and identification. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method according to Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guidelines. Associations between bacterial isolation and demographic variables were evaluated. RESULTS: Klebsiella spp. were isolated from 10.5% (9/86) of the animals. The frequency of isolation was highest among juveniles, followed by infants and adults, with a significant association between age group and bacterial isolation (p < 0.05). No association was observed with sex. Most isolates (79.2%) were susceptible to all tested antimicrobials, four isolates (16.7%) exhibited intermediate susceptibility to at least one antimicrobial, and only one isolate (4.2%) showed resistance, specifically to ciprofloxacin. No multidrug-resistant isolates were identified. DISCUSSION: The results indicate a low frequency of antimicrobial resistance among Klebsiella spp. isolates recovered from clinically healthy captive night monkeys. These findings provide baseline information on the occurrence of Klebsiella spp. and antimicrobial susceptibility in this population. Continued microbiological surveillance is recommended to support preventive health management and facilitate the early detection of changes in antimicrobial susceptibility patterns in captive neotropical primates.
MicrobiologyOpenPinar Sagiroglu, Dursun Alp Gundog, Candan Gungor, Kursat Koskeroglu, Mustafa Altay Atalay, Adalet Dishan, Yeliz Ucar, Aytac Akcay, Huseyin Burak Disli, Harun …
This study aimed to assess the genetic diversity and potential epidemiological overlap of Staphylococcus aureus using molecular (spa and SCCmec typing) and phenotypic characterization of 108 isolates obtained along the farm-to-fork continuum (dairy and meat chains) and 50 human clinical isolates. Forty-four spa types, including 17 novel patterns, were identified, with t11284 and t127 predominating among animal-related MRSA and clinical MRSA, respectively. Six SCCmec types (I-VI) were detected in the majority of isolates (85.2%), with SCCmec IVa prevalent in farm-to-fork isolates (67%) and SCCmec III dominant in clinical isolates (28%). Spa repeat-based MST analysis revealed a heterogeneous distribution of isolates across clusters, with identical spa types detected in multiple source categories, indicating genetic relatedness rather than direct transmission events. Overall, 54.6% of isolates exhibited a multidrug-resistant phenotype. Farm-to-fork isolates showed mainly β-lactam resistance (≥ 85%), whereas clinical MRSA exhibited broader resistance profiles, including high fluoroquinolone resistance (≥ 92%). PVL was detected in 41 isolates (38%), predominantly in MRSA, and was associated with SCCmec IV/V and diverse spa types. Toxin genes (tst-1, sea, seb, and sed) were mainly confined to clinical MRSA, suggesting source-associated distribution of virulence determinants. Biofilm formation was observed in 49 isolates (45.3%), more frequently among farm-to-fork isolates. Our study demonstrate marked genetic and phenotypic diversity of S. aureus across farm-to-fork and human clinical sources and suggest the presence of shared genetic lineages among isolates from different sources. The results support the importance of integrated One Health surveillance for monitoring antimicrobial-resistant and virulent S. aureus populations across interconnected ecological compartments.
MicrobiologyOpenSanelisiwe Thinasonke Duze, Musa Marimani, Mrudula Patel
Typhoid fever remains a major public health concern in South Africa. However, the role of urban waterways as environmental reservoirs and contributors to the spread of resistant Salmonella Typhi remains poorly understood. This study characterized four S. Typhi isolates recovered from the Jukskei River in Johannesburg, South Africa, using whole-genome sequencing. Genomic DNA was extracted and sequenced on the Illumina NextSeq. 2000 platform, and assembled genomes were analyzed for sequence types (STs), AMR determinants, plasmids, virulence factors, and phylogenetic relatedness using 124 clinical Salmonella genomes for comparison. All isolates were confirmed as S. Typhi, comprising ST1 (n = 2) and ST2 (n = 2). The ST1 isolates belonged to the H58 lineage (genotype 4.3.1.1), with isolate BRSA001 further classified as a sublineage 4.3.1.1. EA1. The ST1 isolates were multidrug-resistant, carrying the IncQ1 plasmid and resistant genes, including aph(6)-Id, aph(3″)-Ib, blaTEM-1B, catA1, sul1, sul2, and dfrA7. All isolates possessed mercury resistance genes (merR, merT, merP, merC), while ST1 isolates additionally harbored qacEΔ1. Ten Salmonella Pathogenicity Islands (SPI-1 to SPI-10) were identified in ST1 isolates. Phylogenetic analysis revealed notable genetic diversity among the river isolates. All river isolates clustered tightly (≤ 5 allele differences) with at least two clinical isolates, indicating shared epidemiological links and possible localized transmission. This study provides the first report of multidrug-resistant H58 S. Typhi carrying qacEΔ1 in South African surface water and highlights the Jukskei River as a potential environmental source of resistant S. Typhi, reinforcing the need for strengthened One Health genomic surveillance.
Emerging infectious diseasesAlanis S Melgarejo, Mauricio Tavares, Derek B de Amorim, Sergio C Estima, Andrine Paiva, Caio R Soares-Oliveira, Liane A Dias, Renan C de Lima, Silvina Botta, …
We identified highly pathogenic avian influenza virus subtype H5 in stranded dolphins along the coastline of Brazil during 2023-2025. Infected animals included species classified as vulnerable or endangered. Our results highlight the need for ongoing surveillance of cetaceans susceptible to viral infections, which pose an additional threat to threatened species.
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in environmental systems represents an emerging One Health challenge, with anaerobic digesters potentially serving as reservoirs of resistance-associated genetic features. This study analysed four publicly available anaerobic digester shotgun metagenomic datasets (M2, M3, M12 and M17) retrieved from the NCBI Sequence Read Archive to characterise microbial functions, resistance-associated annotations and antibiotic target loci. The datasets were generated using Illumina HiSeq 2000 sequencing and analysed through quality assessment, assembly, functional annotation and resistome profiling. A total of 1082 resistance-associated annotations were identified, with the highest abundance detected in M2 (348), followed by M12 (276), M17 (259) and M3 (205). Detected annotations were associated with diverse antimicrobial categories, including aminoglycosides, quinolones, beta-lactams, tetracyclines, glycopeptides, macrolides and sulfonamides. Several frequently detected loci, including rpoB, rpoC, gyrA, gyrB, EF-Tu, EF-G, Ddl and KasA, were interpreted as antibiotic target or housekeeping loci rather than confirmed acquired resistance genes. Exploratory co-abundance analysis identified strong associations among functionally linked loci, including rpoB-rpoC and gyrA-gyrB, likely reflecting shared genomic occurrence or functional relationships. These findings highlight the resistome potential of anaerobic digesters while emphasising the need for host-resolved metagenomics, mobile genetic element analysis and mutation-level characterisation to clarify environmental AMR risks.
Emerging infectious diseasesMónica Azevedo, Alexandra Nunes, Maria-Leonor Lemos, Paulo Martins Costa, Ana Amaro, Lurdes Clemente, Célia Leão, Sónia Ramos, Isabel Santos, Katrine Grimstrup…
Campylobacter spp. remain the leading bacterial cause of foodborne gastroenteritis in Western countries. We report sustained, previously unrecognized circulation of a multidrug-resistant Campylobacter coli sequence type 10042 lineage across Europe during 2018-2025. Whole-genome sequencing of 217 isolates from 9 countries spanning human, animal, food, and environmental sources identified cross-border clusters, including a large lineage linking primarily Portugal and Luxembourg, as well as Germany, Ireland, Spain, and the United Kingdom. Genomic data indicates ongoing clonal expansion with increasing diversification over time. Isolates exhibited a conserved multidrug-resistant phenotype, including resistance to fluoroquinolones, tetracyclines, and β-lactams; reduced susceptibility to carbapenems was observed. Resistance was associated with GyrA Thr86Ile, tet(O/32/O)/tet(O) genes, and blaOXA-61 promoter variants; variation in porA was linked to variable amoxicillin/clavulanic acid and ertapenem susceptibility. Those findings demonstrate that C. coli infections can involve sustained international transmission rather than sporadic cases and highlight the need for coordinated, cross-sector genomic surveillance to detect emerging antimicrobial-resistant lineages.
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Indonesia harbors extraordinary non-human primate (NHP) diversity, yet deforestation, ecotourism, illegal wildlife trade, and urban encroachment are intensifying human-NHP contact, elevating pathogen spillover risk. This review synthesizes evidence on NHP-associated zoonoses within a One Health framework and proposes an integrated biosurveillance roadmap. METHODS: A structured search of PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science (2000-2025), informed by the PRISMA-ScR framework and using pre-specified host, geographic, and pathogen search terms, was conducted and supplemented by grey literature from WHO, FAO, BPOM, and Indonesia's Ministry of Health. RESULTS: Five priority zoonotic pathogen categories were identified: Plasmodium knowlesi malaria, Macacine alphaherpesvirus 1 (Herpes B virus), simian foamy virus, Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex, and zoonotic gastrointestinal parasites. Surveillance capacity is fragmented and NHP-specific pathogen monitoring is absent from national systems. CONCLUSIONS: NHP-derived zoonoses represent a growing public health threat in Indonesia. A NHP-inclusive One Health surveillance system integrating molecular diagnostics, geographic information systems, and cross-sectoral regulatory coordination is urgently needed.
JAC-antimicrobial resistanceCaoimhe Shields, Tracy Epton, Emma Berry, Laura J Sahm, Aoife Fleming, Ilias Lambrou, Rebecca Feeney, Najam Us Sahar, Mitch Dobbs, Chikondi C Kandulu, Ellen Me…
BACKGROUND: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing public health concern, influenced by public behaviours. This study aimed to systematically review and synthesize qualitative and quantitative studies on public knowledge, beliefs and behaviours related to antibiotics and AMR, and explore gender differences, in high-income countries. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eleven databases including Web of Science Core Collection, Medline and PsycINFO were searched for primary studies published between August 2014 and 12 June 2026. This article reports the high-income country subset of a larger global review; other results will be reported separately. We carried out a descriptive, non-meta-analytic synthesis at study- and country-level by calculating the mean, SD, median and range of the proportion of participants whose data demonstrated incorrect knowledge, misconceptions, and positive or negative behaviours. Gender differences were synthesized narratively. Qualitative data were synthesized under each outcome using deductive thematic analysis. RESULTS: Of 12 338 records identified, 121 were globally eligible. Thirty-three high-income country studies were included in this article (29 quantitative and 4 qualitative, with 33 252 participants). Cross-country variability was found in knowledge, beliefs and behaviours. Misunderstandings were prominent around the definition of AMR and its implications for health. Narrative gender differences were inconsistent and qualitative data were limited, but gave insight into potential drivers of behaviours. CONCLUSIONS: Despite international variations, knowledge gaps, misconceptions and counterproductive behaviours were widespread. Findings show that AMR is a system-wide issue that requires attention from all One Health stakeholders, and a unified, multi-faceted, multidisciplinary approach that can help tackle the continuing public health threat, and change behaviour to protect health.
Journal of the Royal Society of New ZealandAnnette Bolton, Isabelle Pattis, Sarah Nelson, Louise Weaver, Angela Baschieri, Ethan Williams
The landscape of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is changing across the animal, human and environmental ecosphere, with both climate change and AMR recognised as leading threats to human health. In this viewpoint, we argue that climate change is likely to reshape the conditions under which AMR emerges, persists and spreads, with important implications for how risks are understood and managed in Aotearoa New Zealand (ANZ). These risks arise because climate-related exposures interact with existing vulnerabilities and adaptive capacity across human, animal and environmental systems. Addressing AMR under climate change requires long-term, transdisciplinary planning that integrates surveillance, infrastructure resilience, emissions reduction and protection of human, animal and environmental systems. We highlight the need for a One Health lens to understand transmission pathways across human, animal and environmental systems, situated within a broader Planetary Health perspective that recognises AMR as part of interconnected challenges of climate change, including pollution and biodiversity loss. Therefore, embedding AMR within climate adaptation health planning is essential to strengthen resilience and reduce future public and environmental health risks.
Public health challengesAugustino Ngabirano, Matthew Chibunna Igwe, Charles Idehen
BACKGROUND: Canine rabies remains an endemic public health threat in Mitooma District, Uganda, where traditional, top-down public health interventions frequently fail to achieve the required 70% mass dog vaccination (MDV) coverage due to limited community engagement and one-way communication. OBJECTIVES: This exploratory study evaluated the effectiveness of participatory communication in enhancing community engagement in MDV programs at the human-dog-wildlife interface in Mitooma District and identified the sociocultural and ecological factors influencing rabies control. METHODS: Four gender-segregated focus group discussions were conducted across four purposively selected parishes (Kiyanga, Kaburara, Iraramira, and Kashasha) in Kiyanga sub-county, Mitooma District. Data were analyzed using thematic framework analysis. RESULTS: Critical gaps persist regarding paralytic rabies, non-bite transmission pathways, and wildlife reservoirs, whereas inadequate interactive education drives the adoption of harmful traditional wound care. Furthermore, top-down vaccination mismatches and utilitarian canine views trigger booster noncompliance and ownership denial to evade medical and legal liabilities. CONCLUSION: Rabies persistence in Mitooma District is fundamentally driven by a failure of bidirectional community engagement and multi-sectoral coordination. Shifting from top-down public health messaging to a One Health participatory communication framework is necessary to establish sustainable community co-ownership and break the transmission cycle.
One health (Amsterdam, Netherlands)Júlio Belo Fernandes
The Quadripartite One Health Joint Plan of Action (2022-2026), now extended to 2029, represents an important effort to consolidate One Health as a global policy framework. This article critically examines the Plan's achievements and structural constraints. Key strengths include the consolidation of political commitment, the formalisation of institutional alignment at global level, and the prioritisation of prevention, preparedness, and integrated surveillance. Environmental governance was formally included, recognising ecosystem degradation and biodiversity loss as upstream drivers of risk. However, although later guidance added an operational layer, the Plan remains predominantly normative, its financing guidance says more about mobilising investment than about sustaining recurrent functions, and participatory mechanisms remain predominantly consultative. Its framing continues to privilege health security over long-term socioecological determinants and routine practice. The article proposes priorities for the structured review and next phase: clearer implementation pathways with comparable reporting, coordinated investment, participatory governance, and One Health embedded in routine practice.
Journal of the Royal Society of New ZealandIsabelle Pattis, Angela Baschieri, Sarah Nelson, Annette Bolton, Louise Weaver
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is recognised as a significant global health threat, yet research, surveillance and intervention strategies remain largely focused on clinical and veterinary settings, with limited attention to environmental reservoirs and transmission pathways. Growing global evidence, including from Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ), points to a clear link between dominant sources of AMR entering the environment (such as wastewater) and its dissemination in receiving environments. Once in these environments, a wide range of microorganisms, both environmental and introduced, interact in complex ways, with their associated resistomes contributing to potential human exposure pathways. However, clear attribution of environmental AMR contributions to human (and animal) health outcomes remains limited and represents a critical next step for research and surveillance. This viewpoint highlights global and regional evidence on environmental contributions to AMR transmission and dissemination, with emphasis on co-selective pressures including antibiotics, heavy metals, biocides and plastics that promote resistance selection, persistence and horizontal gene transfer. We identify key gaps in NZ, notably the lack of integrated, cross-sector monitoring, robust attribution approaches and quantitative assessment of risks to human health. We conclude that effective mitigation requires integrated cross-sector frameworks linking environmental surveillance, genomic data, microbial source attribution and quantitative risk assessment to inform targeted, risk-based interventions. These interventions need to be based on a deeper understanding of the interactions between environmental reservoirs, co-selective pressures and the key drivers and pathways of AMR, including broader environmental influences such as co-contaminants and climate change.
One health (Amsterdam, Netherlands)Hyo-Min Woo, In Jung Jung, Beoul Kim, You-Jeong Lee, Jae-Woo Choi, Insu Choi, Garam Kim, Weon-Hwa Jheong, Byoungcheun Lee, Kyoo-Tae Kim, Min-Goo Seo
Zoos represent important One Health interfaces where captive wildlife, animal caretakers, visitors, and shared environments are closely connected. This study investigated intestinal parasites and selected zoonotic pathogens in zoo-housed mammals in Korea and characterized the detected enteric pathogens. A total of 367 individual fecal samples were collected from mammals in nine zoos between September and November 2025. Microscopic examination and molecular assays targeting Giardia intestinalis, Cryptosporidium spp., Enterocytozoon bieneusi, Toxoplasma gondii, Coxiella burnetii, Blastocystis sp., and severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV) were performed. The overall positivity rate was 6.0%. Microscopy detected coccidian oocysts, ascarid-type eggs, hookworm-like eggs, and trichostrongyle-type eggs. Molecular analysis identified E. bieneusi as the most frequently detected pathogen, followed by G. intestinalis and C. parvum, whereas T. gondii, C. burnetii, Blastocystis sp., and SFTSV were not detected. Phylogenetic analysis showed that G. intestinalis sequences clustered with assemblage B and C. parvum sequences clustered within the C. parvum clade. ITS sequence and phylogenetic analyses further identified E. bieneusi genotype Type IV within Group 1 and a distinct genotype provisionally designated SealKB1 within Group 11. To the best of our knowledge, this study provides the first molecular evidence of G. intestinalis in African crested porcupines and E. bieneusi in Eurasian lynxes and harbor seals in Korea. These findings provide baseline data for zoo-based pathogen surveillance and support continued One Health monitoring in zoological institutions.
Pteropine orthoreoviruses are emerging bat-borne zoonotic viruses of the genus Orthoreovirus (family Reoviridae), increasingly recognized as causes of acute respiratory disease in humans. Originally grouped with the largely non-pathogenic mammalian orthoreoviruses, they have challenged that view through their association with severe influenza-like illness, evidence of human-to-human transmission, and a broad geographic range across the Old World. Maintained primarily in fruit bats of the family Pteropodidae, they are now linked to neurological as well as respiratory disease. This narrative review synthesizes current knowledge of their molecular pathogenesis, zoonotic ecology, and global epidemiology, integrating recent advances in phylogeography, reassortment-driven evolution, spillover dynamics, and translational biomedical applications within a unified One Health framework. Genomic diversity, reassortment potential, and the unique fusion-associated small transmembrane proteins together underpin viral adaptability and pathogenicity. Major gaps nonetheless remain in transmission dynamics, host adaptation, shedding ecology, and pandemic potential. Future priorities should include integrated genomic surveillance, improved diagnostic strategies, validated experimental models, and interdisciplinary One Health approaches to strengthen outbreak preparedness and prevention.
One health (Amsterdam, Netherlands)Soawapak Hinjoy, Kittichai Unjit, Anyarat Thiptara, Wansane Toanan, Ariya Bunngamchairat, Pusana Rodsom, Sukunlaya Sirisukkarn, Sudarat Damrongwatanapokin, Ser…
BACKGROUND: Zoonotic and environmentally driven health threats increasingly emerge at the human-animal-environment interface, highlighting the need for prevention-oriented and community-centered One Health approaches. This study adapted the OHZDP tool developed by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S. CDC) for subnational use in Thailand, integrating environmental and social science perspectives and expanding community participation to ensure context-specific and operationally relevant prioritization. METHODS: A comparative mixed-methods case study was conducted in two Thai provinces-Ubon Ratchathani and Nan-using multisectoral, four-day participatory workshops in 2025. Approximately seventy participants per province represented human, animal, environmental health, local governance, and civil society sectors. Health hazards were identified using an all-hazards approach. Six decision criteria were weighted through multisectoral consensus, and hazards were scored using a structured multi-criteria framework, complemented by qualitative deliberation to generate consensus-based prioritization. RESULTS: Prioritization outcomes differed between provinces due to variations in criteria weighting. Ubon Ratchathani emphasized biomedical severity and cross-sectoral impact, prioritizing emerging infectious diseases, rabies, non-communicable diseases, and other high-mortality infections, reflecting a catastrophic risk preparedness profile. In contrast, Nan prioritized governance capacity and policy feasibility, resulting in rankings dominated by environmental and governance-dependent hazards, including PM2.5 air pollution, open waste burning, stray dog management, agricultural chemical exposure, and climate-related disasters. CONCLUSIONS: Community-led adaptation of prioritization tools strengthens subnational One Health action. Integrating governance, environmental, and social determinants into biomedical frameworks enhances multisectoral engagement, supports prevention-focused implementation, strengthens early warning systems, and builds community resilience against zoonotic disease emergence.
One health (Amsterdam, Netherlands)Arockiasamy Arun Prince Milton, Aleimo G Momin, M Saminathan, K Srinivas, D M Firake, P N Gandhale, Nagappa Karabasanavar, Purna Bahadur Chetri, Azhahianambi P…
Rapid urbanization has increased overlap between human and synanthropic rodent habitats. This intensifies human-animal-environment interactions and facilitates the emergence and re-emergence of zoonotic diseases, highlighting the importance of the "One Health" concept. Calodium hepaticum (syn. Capillaria hepatica) is a neglected zoonotic parasite where rodents serve as the principal reservoirs. Human infections are often asymptomatic, but they can also cause liver failure and death in severe cases, with definitive diagnosis requiring liver biopsy. This study was conducted in Meghalaya, Northeastern India, where 173 rodents and shrews representing seven species were captured from synanthropic environments, with B. bengalensis comprising the largest proportion of captured animals (49.13%), followed by B. indica (17.34%), S. murinus (14.45%), M. musculus (8.67%), R. rattus (4.63%), M. booduga (4.05%), and R. norvegicus (1.73%). Liver samples were examined using gross pathology, histopathology, parasitological, and molecular methods, including 18S rRNA gene sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. Histopathological examination revealed non-embryonated barrel-shaped eggs in hepatic tissues, while molecular analysis confirmed the identity of C. hepaticum. Based on molecular detection, the overall prevalence of C. hepaticum was 36.99% (64/173; 95% CI: 30.16-44.44). Species-level prevalence was highest in Bandicota indica (80%; 95% CI: 62.69-90.49), followed by Mus booduga (57.14%; 95% CI: 25.05-84.18), B. bengalensis (31.76%; 95% CI: 22.84-42.27), and M. musculus (26.67%; 95% CI: 10.90-51.95), with lower rates in S. murinus (16%; 95% CI: 6.40-34.65) and R. rattus (12.50%; 95% CI: 2.24-47.09). Given the high prevalence observed, appropriate rodent control and carcass disposal should be encouraged to minimize the potential risk of environmental contamination, as eggs may be released during decomposition, predation, or cannibalism and subsequently embryonate in soil, becoming infective to humans or other susceptible hosts.
One health (Amsterdam, Netherlands)Qi Xia, Jiayang Li, Wenqi Wu, Jiajie Wang, Zhitao Zhou, Meilin Wu, Mingjie Qiu, Li Xu, Jianan Ren, Xiuwen Wu
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a critical global health challenge, leading to substantial mortality and economic losses without science-based interventions. Conventional approaches to combating AMR have important limitations in addressing this escalating threat. Recent advances in AI, including deep learning, large language models, and protein language models, provide new opportunities to integrate multimodal data for AMR research. However, evidence remains uneven, with many approaches limited to computational benchmarking rather than real-world validation. Here, we critically review AI applications in AMR, focusing on rapid diagnosis, therapeutic discovery, and clinical decision support. AI-based diagnostic models can identify resistant pathogens and predict resistance profiles, but most lack prospective clinical evaluation. AI-assisted drug discovery and alternative therapies have generated promising candidates, although most remain at computational, in vitro, or early preclinical stages. Large language models may support decision-making, but their clinical use remains preliminary. Successful translation of AI into clinical and One Health practice will require representative datasets, independent validation, prospective evaluation, and robust governance.
One health (Amsterdam, Netherlands)Eva Iniguez, Mercy Tuluso, Steve Kiplagat, Araya Gebresilassie, Esayas Aklilu, Olivia Battistoni, Johnstone Ingonga, John Mark Makwatta, Mohamed Alamin, Osman …
East Africa is emerging as the global hot spot of visceral leishmaniasis (VL), yet efforts to eliminate it are hindered by substantial knowledge gaps in its ecoepidemiology. Here, we report on the high prevalence of Leishmania infection in Phlebotomus orientalis in Marsabit county, Kenya (3.9%), and Gedaref state, Sudan (3.6%), where this species comprised 99.8% (n = 1185) and 100% (n = 1350) of captured Phlebotomus females, respectively. In Aba Roba, Ethiopia, Phlebotomus martini accounted for 94.4% of 184 collected Phlebotomus females and had a lower infection rate of 1.5%. Phlebotomus orientalis and Phlebotomus martini exhibited different habitat and feeding preferences. While Phlebotomus orientalis was abundant in diverse peridomestic and sylvatic microhabitats, Phlebotomus martini was predominantly collected from termite hills. Moreover, Phlebotomus orientalis primarily fed on humans and less on domestic and sylvatic animals. In contrast, Phlebotomus martini exhibited zoophagic behavior, mostly feeding on cows and Ovis. Widespread transmission of Leishmania in our study sites is supported by high rK39 seroprevalence in both Kenya (17.9%) and Sudan (6.2%). An observed greater prevalence of antibodies to rK39 in individuals living near than away from VL cases in both Kenya (19.8% versus 7.4%, P = 0.0015) and Sudan (8.4% versus 2.1%, P = 0.0105) demonstrated that proximity to a VL case carries an increased risk of infection. Our findings highlight the need for a risk-based targeted site-specific one health elimination strategy that accounts for the intensity, diversity, and complexity of VL transmission in today's East Africa.
One health (Amsterdam, Netherlands)Alexandra Sack, Angellica Marta, Frida Sparaciari, Amber Barnes, Will Sack, Erik A Karlsson, Charifa Zemouri
Intensive farming, wildlife trade, and close human-animal contact in traditional markets for food (TMFs) are widely considered drivers of zoonotic disease emergence. However, comparative evidence assessing differences between farmed and wild-caught wildlife at the market interface remains limited. This study evaluated whether animals sourced from farmed versus wild-caught systems differ in pathogen detection as a proxy for zoonotic hazard and does not measure transmission or human infection outcomes. PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and MEDLINE were systematically searched up to August 11, 2025, without language restrictions. Comparative studies reporting zoonotic pathogens in farmed versus wild-caught animals were included. Odds ratios (ORs) were pooled using random-effects models, with heterogeneity assessed using χ2 and I2 statistics. Twenty studies were included from 23,840 identified titles. Farmed aquatic species had lower odds of parasitic infection than wild-caught species (OR 0.11, 95% CI 0.03-0.44). For bacterial zoonoses, the pooled OR was 1.21 (95% CI 0.44-3.34). Subgroup analyses showed higher odds in farmed frogs (OR 13.54) and freshwater turtles (OR 4.24). Data on terrestrial animals were limited to snakes, water monitor lizards, and rats. Farmed reptiles had lower odds of parasitic infection than wild-caught reptiles (OR 0.26, 95% CI 0.12-0.60). Farmed rats had lower odds of SARS-CoV-2 detection (OR 0.13, 95% CI 0.06-0·30). Overall, most studies had a high risk of bias, and heterogeneity was substantial (I2 up to 98%). Parasitic zoonoses with indirect life cycles were consistently less prevalent in farmed aquatic and reptile animals. In contrast, bacterial findings were inconsistent, and viral data was scarce. Despite widespread concern regarding zoonotic risk in wildlife trade, direct comparative evidence between production systems remains limited and highly heterogeneous. Overall, zoonotic hazard is likely influenced by environmental and management conditions, although the current evidence base is insufficient to support generalised conclusions. High heterogeneity and risk of bias warrant cautious interpretation and further standardised research.
One health (Amsterdam, Netherlands)Nicola Spezia, Alfonso Rosamilia, Cosimo Paladini, Luisa Loli Piccolomini, Fabio Ostanello
BACKGROUND: Biosecurity is a cornerstone of infectious disease prevention in livestock production and a key component of the One Health approach. Although Regulation (EU) 2016/429 established a common risk-based framework, its implementation has resulted in substantial regulatory and operational heterogeneity across European countries. This scoping review aimed to map the available evidence on the implementation, assessment, and governance of on-farm biosecurity across Europe. METHODS: Following the PRISMA-ScR guidelines, PubMed, Scopus, and ScienceDirect were searched for peer-reviewed studies published between 2016 and 2025. Selected institutional documents identified through reference screening were also included if they contained original evidence or structured information directly relevant to biosecurity implementation. Eligible sources addressed the implementation, assessment, or governance of on-farm biosecurity in European Union or the United Kingdom. Of the 2729 records initially identified, 61 sources met the inclusion criteria. RESULTS: The reviewed literature highlighted substantial heterogeneity in biosecurity assessment approaches, implementation strategies, and governance frameworks across countries and livestock sectors. The included sources were grouped into five predominant categories based on a combination of their primary methodological approach and source type: 22 (36.07%) used checklists or assessment tools, 19 (31.15%) were survey-based, 8 (13.11%) employed qualitative interviews or focus groups, 7 (11.48%) consisted of technical or legislative reports and scientific opinions, and 5 (8.2%) formed a heterogeneous residual category comprising qualitative social research approach, perspective article, conceptual analysys, descriptive policy overview and Expert Knowledge Elicitation process. Although standardized checklists provide valuable benchmarking, their generic design may limit their applicability to heterogeneous production systems, particularly small-scale and mountain farms. The evidence also showed that the adoption of biosecurity measures is influenced by psychosocial and economic factors, indicating that effective implementation requires approaches that extend beyond infrastructure-based assessments. CONCLUSION: The available evidence supports the development of more pragmatic and context-sensitive approaches to livestock biosecurity. Harmonized minimum requirements, multi-step assessment procedures, and interoperable core datasets could improve comparability across countries while preserving the flexibility needed to accommodate different animal species, production systems, and local epidemiological conditions. Farm veterinarians are well positioned to act as key facilitators within a broader governance network involving farmers, competent authorities, industry organizations, and other supply-chain stakeholders.
One health (Amsterdam, Netherlands)Hazim O Khalifa, Temesgen Mohammed, Hazem Ramadan, Afra Abdalla, Ann Mary Joseph, Natassia Mannina, Uday Kishore, Arve Lee Willingham
BACKGROUND: The global spread of carbapenemase- and extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Gram-negative bacteria represents a major One Health challenge, driven by interconnected human, animal, and environmental reservoirs. However, genomic data on antimicrobial-resistant bacteria associated with aquatic and terrestrial animals in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) remain scarce, limiting assessment of their potential role in resistance dissemination. This study investigated the phenotypic and genomic characteristics of resistant Gram-negative bacteria recovered from these animal reservoirs. METHODS: Sixty aquarium-associated samples were collected, yielding 69 Gram-negative isolates. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing, phenotypic detection of ESBL and carbapenemase activity, molecular screening of resistance genes, and whole-genome sequencing of selected isolates were performed. Phylogenetic analyses were conducted to assess evolutionary relatedness with global strains. RESULTS: The isolates were mainly identified as Citrobacter, Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter, and Escherichia coli. Resistance to β-lactam antibiotics was widespread, with 87% of isolates confirmed as ESBL producers and 37.7% classified as multidrug resistant. Carbapenemase activity was detected in 14.5% of isolates. Genomic analyses revealed diverse ESBL, AmpC, and carbapenemase genes, including bla CTX-M-15, bla CTX-M-55, bla CMY-82, bla NDM-1, and for the first time multiple OXA-type carbapenemases (bla OXA-51, bla OXA-421, and bla OXA-848, bla OXA-1005, bla OXA-211-like, and bla OXA-396-like), frequently associated with mobile genetic elements. ESBL-producing E. coli ST602 and ST10 clustered closely with human, food, wildlife, and environmental strains from national and international sources. CONCLUSION: Aquatic and terrestrial animals in the UAE serve as important reservoirs for clinically relevant antimicrobial resistance. These findings underscore the need for integrated One Health genomic surveillance to mitigate the transboundary spread of high-risk resistant lineages.
Gut microbesSimeng Liu, Shuangyu Xie, Yongshan Song, Ruichao Li, Andrea Brenciani, Stefan Schwarz, Wanjiang Zhang, Yao Zhu
Oxazolidinones are critical last-resort antimicrobials against severe infections caused by Gram-positive bacteria, whereas mobile oxazolidinone resistance genes (MORGs, including cfr, optrA, poxtA) severely compromise their clinical efficacy. To date, most surveillance and mechanistic studies focusing on MORGs have focused on aerobic pathogens, while anaerobic commensal and opportunistic bacteria are largely overlooked as hidden resistance reservoirs, leading to critical knowledge gaps under the One Health framework. Here, we identified six MORG-carrying anaerobic gut bacteria belonging to four distinct genera. Notably, this is the first report on the identification of cfr (B) in Gram-negative bacteria and optrA in three previously unreported host species. Genomic dissection further confirmed diverse mobile genetic elements driving horizontal dissemination of MORGs across phylogenetically distant anaerobes. Multiple additional resistance genes coexisted with MORGs in these gut anaerobes. Our findings demonstrate that intestinal anaerobic bacteria constitute a neglected critical reservoir for clinically vital MORGs, highlighting an urgent need for strengthened antimicrobial resistance surveillance of anaerobes across animal and human hosts.
International journal for parasitology. Parasites and wildlifeGaram Kim, So-Jeong Kim, Beongchul Shin, Seungmin Lim, Weon-Hwa Jheong
Toxoplasma gondii is a widespread zoonotic parasite that can infect nearly all warm-blooded vertebrates. Wild boars (Sus scrofa) are valuable indicator hosts because of their broad habitat use, omnivorous feeding behavior, and frequent contact with both natural and human-modified environments. However, comprehensive nationwide data on T. gondii exposure in wildlife in South Korea remain limited. This study aimed to investigate the seroprevalence, associated risk factors, and spatial distribution of T. gondii exposure in wild boars in South Korea using nationwide surveillance samples collected between 2022 and 2025. Seroprevalence remained consistently high, ranging from 61.7% in 2022 to 70.0% in 2025. Body weight was the strongest independent predictor of seropositivity, with higher body weights associated with greater odds of seropositivity. At the regional level, metropolitan areas generally had higher odds of seropositivity than non-metropolitan regions. Spatial analysis identified hotspots of high seroprevalence in central and southern South Korea. Local spatial autocorrelation analysis showed that high-high seroprevalence clusters were significantly associated with high densities of both cat and wild boar activity, with a stronger association for wild boar activity. This study provides nationwide baseline data on T. gondii seroprevalence in wild boars in South Korea and supports their use as sentinel hosts for wildlife toxoplasmosis surveillance within a One Health framework.
Acta tropicaIra Nurmala, Muthmainnah, Yuli Puspita Devi, Lutfi Agus Salim, Salahudin Muhidin, Suria Zainuddin, Annisa Clara Salsabila, Aisyah Amalia, I Komang Lindayani
INTRODUCTION: Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF) remains a major public health problem in tropical regions, including Indonesia. Its transmission is influenced by complex interactions between environmental, animal, and human factors. This study applies a One Health approach to examine spatial interactions between livestock environments, urban conditions, and dengue incidence in Denpasar, Bali. METHODS: This study used a cross-sectional spatial design at the subdistrict level, using secondary data from 2025. Dengue cases were analyzed as the dependent variable, while the number of pig farmers and slum areas represented animal and environmental factors, respectively. Spatial analysis was conducted using QGIS and GeoDa, applying Bivariate Moran's I and BiLISA to identify global and local spatial relationships. RESULTS: The analysis showed a significant positive spatial association between the number of pig farmers and dengue incidence (Moran's I = 0.127; p = 0.041), indicating a clustering pattern. Slum areas were not significantly associated with dengue incidence (p = 0.487). Local analysis identified a High-High cluster in Padangsambian Kaja and several Low-High clusters, suggesting potential spatial spillover effects between neighboring areas. DISCUSSION: The findings indicate that livestock-related environments may indirectly influence dengue transmission by creating conditions favorable for mosquito breeding. The presence of spatial clustering and spillover effects highlights the importance of considering interregional connectivity and environmental context in disease control strategies. CONCLUSION: Dengue distribution in Denpasar is shaped by spatial and environmental dynamics, particularly livestock-related factors. Targeted, spatially informed interventions using a One Health approach are essential to improve the effectiveness of dengue prevention and control.
BACKGROUND: Climate variability may influence tuberculosis (TB) burden, but associations between the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and TB incidence remain poorly characterized across China. OBJECTIVE: To quantify associations of ENSO and meteorological factors with TB notification incidence and assess regional and age-specific heterogeneity. METHODS: Monthly TB surveillance data from 31 provincial-level administrative divisions in mainland China during 2005-2020 were analyzed using quasi-Poisson regression with distributed lag nonlinear models. Meteorological variables were examined alongside ENSO, with adjustment for relevant environmental and socioeconomic covariates. Subgroup analyses were conducted by geographic region and age group. RESULTS: ENSO-related associations emerged at approximately 9 months, peaked at 10 months, and persisted for about 3 months. At lag 9 months, strong El Niño and strong La Niña conditions were associated with higher TB notification incidence than neutral conditions, with relative risks (RRs) of 1.048 (95% CI, 1.007-1.091) and 1.058 (95% CI, 1.032-1.085), respectively. Temperature showed a U-shaped association with TB notification incidence. Relative humidity of 67-87% was associated with higher TB notification incidence, peaking at 81% (RR, 1.101; 95% CI, 1.063-1.140). Regional and age-stratified analyses indicated heterogeneous exposure-response patterns. CONCLUSIONS: ENSO and local meteorological factors were associated with TB notification incidence through nonlinear and delayed exposure-response patterns. Climate forecasts may provide supplementary information for climate-sensitive TB surveillance within the environmental dimension of One Health.
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in wildlife is often interpreted as a spillover consequence of anthropogenic contamination, but the effects of long-term human depopulation remain poorly understood. We investigated quinolone-resistant Escherichia coli (QRE) and third-generation cephalosporin-resistant E. coli (3CRE) in wildlife and environmental samples from the Difficult-to-Return zones (DRZ), where human activity has been restricted since the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident, and from areas outside the DRZ (OUTSIDE), where human activity is present. Samples were collected from wild boar (n = 326), raccoons (n = 177), masked palm civets (n = 51), other wildlife (n = 39), wallows (n = 5), rivers (n = 9), and ponds (n = 9). Generalized additive models (GAMs) evaluated QRE occurrence using camera-trap-derived wildlife density, land-use variables, and livestock indices; core genome single-nucleotide polymorphism (cgSNP) analysis assessed genomic relatedness and transmission. QRE detection in wild boar was significantly higher in the DRZ, and cgSNP analysis indicated extensive clonal sharing among DRZ wild boar. GAM analysis further showed that QRE carriage increased with local wild boar density, supporting density-associated clonal expansion. In raccoons and masked palm civets, QRE carriage was associated with agricultural land, suggesting an influence of human-modified landscapes. Additionally, bla CTX-M-15 was disseminated across host species via a conserved mobile genetic element, suggesting horizontal gene transfer alongside clonal spread. These findings show that long-term human depopulation can reshape wildlife AMR dynamics and highlight the importance of integrating wildlife population management into One Health-based AMR risk assessments for human reinhabitation.
One health (Amsterdam, Netherlands)Saifullahi Idris Umar, Sadiq Muhammad Maaji, Ibrahim Isma'il Beli, Zara Muhammad Nura
Climate change and environmental degradation affect not only ecosystems and physical health but also psychological well-being. Eco-anxiety-defined as chronic or anticipatory distress related to perceived environmental decline-has emerged as a growing public mental health concern. Although One Health frameworks recognise the interdependence of human, animal, and environmental health, psychosocial processes shaping behavioural responses to environmental change remain underdeveloped within One Health discourse. This conceptual review positions eco-anxiety as a psychosocial determinant operating within the One Health-One Planet-One Mind continuum. Rather than treating eco-anxiety solely as a mental health outcome, we conceptualize it as a mediating and bidirectional process through which environmental disruption influences human behavior, multispecies health outcomes, and system-level resilience. Drawing on interdisciplinary evidence from environmental psychology, planetary mental health, and One Health literature, we synthesise pathways through which eco-anxiety may promote adaptive behaviors-such as environmental stewardship and community mobilization-or, when unaddressed, contribute to maladaptive responses including disengagement and reduced resilience. We propose a conceptual framework that embeds eco-anxiety within One Health architecture, illustrating feedback loops linking planetary change, psychosocial responses, behavioural pathways, and multispecies health outcomes. We conclude by outlining implications for One Health policy, monitoring, and intervention, highlighting the value of integrating psychosocial determinants into multisectoral strategies addressing climate-related health challenges.
One health (Amsterdam, Netherlands)Ayuub Ahmed Osman, Maryan Ali Adam, Ilyas Abdullahi Khalif
Climate change is reshaping pastoralist mobility across Somalia, creating overlooked pathways for zoonotic disease emergence. Recurrent droughts, floods, and environmental degradation force livestock-dependent communities into new ecological interfaces where humans, livestock, wildlife, and vectors increasingly interact. Weak surveillance, fragile health systems, and limited cross-border coordination further heighten outbreak risks. Strengthening One Health surveillance through community-based reporting, mobile health and veterinary services, integrated laboratory systems, and regional data sharing is essential to improve early detection, reduce spillover risk, and strengthen health security in the Horn of Africa.
Food and waterborne parasitologyAbigail Hui En Chan, Borimas Hanboonkunupakarn, Rachatawan Chiabchalard, Dorn Watthanakulpanich
Food-borne helminth infections impose a substantial public health burden worldwide, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions. Environmental, socioeconomic, behavioral, and cultural factors all favor sustained transmission of food-borne helminths, especially in Southeast Asia (SEA). To provide an updated overview of the distribution, prevalence, and treatment regimens for six important food-borne helminths (Opisthorchis viverrini, Fasciola spp., Taenia spp., Angiostrongylus spp., Gnathostoma spinigerum, and Trichinella spp.) in SEA, a systematic review following the PRISMA guidelines was conducted. Anthelminthic drug treatment regimens based on the extracted studies were compared with those recommended by internationally recognized organizations. Of the 11 SEA countries, the highest proportion of peer-reviewed articles (47.2%) originated from Thailand, followed by Lao PDR (20.2%). All six helminths were reported in Vietnam, while five were found in Thailand. Meta-analyses were conducted for O. viverrini, taeniasis, and cysticercosis, as these had the greatest number of articles, and the overall pooled prevalences were 22.2%, 3.4%, and 4.7%, respectively. The country with the highest prevalence for O. viverrini infection and taeniasis was Lao PDR, with a prevalence of 43.2% and 3.6%, respectively. Drug treatment regimens reported in studies from SEA are in line with relevant international recommendations. However, the continued presence of food-borne helminthiases suggests sustained transmission despite appropriate treatment regimens. Moreover, the uneven distribution of studies across SEA reflects differences in research emphasis and diagnostic capabilities, highlighting the need for strengthened surveillance and coordinated efforts, especially in underrepresented countries. A One Health approach and regional collaborations will be critical for reducing the burden of food-borne helminthiases.