Rat hepatitis E virus as an aetiological agent of acute hepatitis of unknown origin.

Background And Aim: Rat hepatitis E virus (ratHEV) is an emerging cause of acute hepatitis worldwide. The limited number of ratHEV cases may be associated with the lack of a proper molecular diagnosis method; thus, the clinical impact and breadth of ratHEV as a cause of acute hepatitis remain uncertain.

Methods: The study was carried out in four phases.

Dietary profiles of wild carnivores and Blastocystis occurrence: The case of the endangered Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) and systematic review.

Recent molecular and metagenomic studies have revealed that the obligate anaerobic protist Blastocystis is found more prevalently and with higher subtype diversities in herbivore species than in carnivore species. However, information on wild carnivore species is scarce. Here, we investigated the presence of Blastocystis by molecular methods in fecal DNA samples of free-ranging and captive Iberian lynxes from Spain (n = 243) and Portugal (n = 30).

Domestic Cat Hepadnavirus Infection in Iberian Lynxes.

We conducted a survey for domestic cat hepadnavirus, an analog of human hepatitis B virus, in the endangered felid species Iberian lynx. Results revealed specific antibodies in 32.3% of serum samples and DNA in 0.

in Wild Lagomorphs in Southern Spain's Mediterranean Ecosystems.

is a vector-borne zoonotic bacterium that causes tularemia, a disease of great importance for animal and public health. Although wild lagomorphs are considered one of the major reservoirs of this bacterium, information about the circulation of in European wild rabbit () and Iberian hare () populations in Europe is still very limited. In Spain, is present in northern central regions, with recurrent outbreaks occurring annually.

Assessment of SARS-CoV-2 exposure in exotic pets in Spain.

Evidence of SARS-CoV-2 infections in different animal species raises concerns about the potential for animal reservoirs and transmission to humans. Here, we evaluate the exposure of exotic pet species to this virus throughout the early years of the pandemic (2020 - 2022) in southern Spain. A total of 180 exotic pets (126 domestic rabbits, 31 ferrets, and 23 rodents) were analyzed for antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 using two different ELISAs.

Monitoring of Leishmania infantum exposure in the Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus).

Leishmaniosis, caused by phlebotomine sand fly-borne Leishmania spp., is a multi-host and zoonotic disease in tropical, subtropical and temperate climates, worldwide. Leishmania infantum is the only endemic pathogenic species in Europe, and exposure to this protozoan has previously been reported in a wide range of wild mammals, including felids.

Seroepidemiology of in Domestic and Wild Ruminant Species in Southern Spain.

The European Food Safety Authority has recently listed Q fever as a priority for setting up a coordinated surveillance system. Although Spain is the country with the highest human incidence of the disease in the European Union, updated data on in ruminants are still limited. A total of 780 serum samples from small ruminants and 605 sera from wild ruminants were collected in the Mediterranean ecosystems of southern Spain during the period 2015-2023.

Longitudinal survey of hepatitis E virus in extensively raised pigs in Spain.

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is an emerging zoonotic virus of public health concern, of which pigs, wild boar and red deer are the main reservoirs. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has recently prioritized the development of monitoring programs of HEV at different stages of the pig food chain, including outdoor pig farming. Pigs managed under these extensive production systems frequently share habitat and natural resources with wild boar and red deer during fattening stages and cross-species transmission of HEV among these species has previously been suggested.

Monitoring of Coxiella burnetii in the Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus).

Coxiella burnetii is a multi-host bacterium of major public and animal health concern. This pathogen circulates among several wild species in the Iberian Peninsula, however, the role of the Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) in the epidemiology of this emerging pathogen is still unknown. The objective of this work was to assess the circulation of C.

Serological and molecular survey of rat hepatitis E virus () in drug users.

Rat hepatitis E virus (ratHEV) is an emerging cause of acute hepatitis of zoonotic origin. Since seroprevalence studies are scarce, at-risk groups are almost unknown. Because blood-borne infections frequently occur in people with drug use, who are particularly vulnerable to infection due to lack of housing and homelessness, this population constitutes a priority in which ratHEV infection should be evaluated.

Absence of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus in wild lagomorphs and their ticks in Spanish Mediterranean ecosystems.

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) is an emerging tick-borne pathogen in different European countries. Since 2013, clinical and fatality cases associated with CCHFV infection have been reported in humans in Spain. During the last few years, endemic circulation of this virus has been detected in ticks and wild ungulates in this country, but the role of other sympatric wild species in the sylvatic cycle of this multi-host virus remains poorly understood.

Survey of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 in captive and free-ranging wildlife from Spain.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), considered a zoonotic agent of wildlife origin, can infect various animal species, including wildlife in free-range and captive environments. Detecting susceptible species and potential reservoirs is crucial for preventing the transmission, spread, genetic evolution, and further emergence of viral variants that are major threats to global health. This study aimed to detect exposure or acute infection by SARS-CoV-2 in 420 animals from 40 different wildlife species, including terrestrial and aquatic mammals, from different regions of Spain during the 2020-2023 coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Serosurvey of Blood Donors to Assess West Nile Virus Exposure, South-Central Spain.

We analyzed West Nile Virus (WNV) exposure from 1,222 blood donors during 2017-2018 from an area of south-central Spain. Results revealed WNV seroprevalence of 0.08% (95% CI 0.

Occurrence of Coxiella burnetii in wild lagomorphs and their ticks in Spanish Mediterranean ecosystems.

Background: Coxiella burnetii, the causative agent of Q fever, is a zoonotic multi-host vector-borne pathogen of major public health importance. Although the European Food Safety Authority has recently made the monitoring of this bacterium in wildlife a priority, the role of wild lagomorphs in the transmission and maintenance of C. burnetii is poorly understood.

Epidemiologic Survey of Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus in Suids, Spain.

We conducted a cross-sectional study in wild boar and extensively managed Iberian pig populations in a hotspot area of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) in Spain. We tested for antibodies against CCHFV by using 2 ELISAs in parallel. We assessed the presence of CCHFV RNA by means of reverse transcription quantitative PCR protocol, which detects all genotypes.

Exposure to in Wild Lagomorphs in Spanish Mediterranean Ecosystems.

is an important zoonotic pathogen of worldwide distribution that can infect a wide range of wild and domestic species. The European wild rabbit () can play a role as a reservoir for this bacterium in certain epidemiological scenarios, but, to date, a very limited numbers of large-scale serosurveys have been conducted for this species worldwide. Although exposure in hare species has also been described, in Iberian hare () has never been assessed.