Risk factors associated with increased Toxoplasma gondii seroprevalence in South Australian Sheep.

Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is a protozoan parasite of substantial impact to small ruminants, with reproductive failure a possible outcome of exposure. This observational study assessed T.

Absence of Coxiella burnetii in kangaroo ticks (Amblyomma triguttatum) from a high seroprevalence population of eastern grey kangaroos.

Q fever, caused by Coxiella burnetii, is an important zoonotic and public health concern worldwide. Kangaroos are thought to be a likely wildlife reservoir for C. burnetii in Australia and the kangaroo tick (Amblyomma triguttatum) has often been considered a vector.

Characterising Eastern Grey Kangaroos () as Hosts of .

Macropods are often implicated as the main native Australian reservoir hosts of (Q fever); however, the maintenance and transmission capacity of these species are poorly understood. The objective of this cross-sectional study was to describe the epidemiology of in a high-density population of eastern grey kangaroos () in a peri-urban coastal nature reserve in New South Wales, Australia. Blood, faeces and swabs were collected from forty kangaroos as part of a population health assessment.

Tissue distribution of Coxiella burnetii and antibody responses in macropods co-grazing with livestock in Queensland, Australia.

Coxiella burnetii, the causative agent of Q fever, is a zoonotic bacteria of global public health significance. The organism has a complex, diverse, and relatively poorly understood animal reservoir but there is increasing evidence that macropods play some part in the epidemiology of Q fever in Australia. The aim of this cross-sectional survey was to estimate the animal- and tissue-level prevalence of coxiellosis amongst eastern grey (Macropus giganteus) and red (Osphranter rufus) kangaroos co-grazing with domestic cattle in a Q fever endemic area in Queensland.

Where are you hiding the pangolins? screening tools to detect illicit contraband at international borders and their adaptability for illegal wildlife trafficking.

The illegal movement of wildlife poses a public health, conservation and biosecurity threat, however there are currently minimal screening tools available at international ports of entry to intercept wildlife trafficking efforts. This review first aimed to explore the screening tools available or under development for the detection of concealed wildlife contraband at international ports, including postal services, airlines, road border crossings and maritime routes. Where evidence was deficient, publications detailing the use of methods to uncover other illicit substances, such as narcotics, weapons, human trafficking, explosives, radioactive materials, or special nuclear material, were compiled and assessed for their applicability to the detection of wildlife.

Examining the international bushmeat traffic in Belgium: A threat to conservation and public health.

The carriage of bushmeat into the European Union is an infringement of EU Animal Health and Wildlife Trade legislation and poses a threat to biodiversity and public health. To explore the nature and scale of the international bushmeat trade, seized leaking luggage and passengers arriving at Brussels Zaventem airport from sub-Saharan Africa between 2017 and 2018 were searched for "meat" (bushmeat and livestock) by border control authorities. Visual identification, radiography and genetic analysis were applied to derive information from seized specimens, including at least ten CITES-listed species.

A systematic review of the intercontinental movement of unregulated African meat imports into and through European border checkpoints.

There is an urgent need for biosurveillance of unregulated African meat imports at border points of entry in destination markets. This is underscored by recent pandemics linked to exotic wildlife products. Our objective was to catalog the quantity of meat that is informally transported from Africa into and through Europe often without any veterinary or sanitary checks.

Canine olfactory detection of SARS-CoV-2-infected humans-a systematic review.

Purpose: To complement conventional testing methods for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 infections, dogs' olfactory capability for true real-time detection has been investigated worldwide. Diseases produce specific scents in affected individuals via volatile organic compounds. This systematic review evaluates the current evidence for canine olfaction as a reliable coronavirus disease 2019 screening tool.

Ehrlichia canis rapid spread and possible enzooty in northern South Australia and distribution of its vector Rhipicephalus linnaei.

Recent concerns have arisen in Australia regarding detections of the exotic bacterium Ehrlichia canis which has resulted in ehrlichiosis outbreaks. In Australia, it is spread by the tropical brown dog tick Rhipicephalus linnaei, formerly Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato tropical lineage. Previously, the tick has been recorded in South Australia in the Coober Pedy and the Oodnadatta areas.

Orbivirus Screening from Imported Captive Oryx in the United Arab Emirates Stresses the Importance of Pre-Import and Transit Measures.

From 1975 to 2021, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) imported more than 1300 live Arabian oryxes (AOs) and scimitar-horned oryxes (SHOs) for conservation programs. The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of orbiviruses Bluetongue virus (BTV) and epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV) in AOs and SHOs from captive herds in the UAE. Between October 2014 and April 2015, 16 AOs and 13 SHOs originating from Texas (USA) and 195 out of about 4000 SHOs from two locations in the UAE were blood sampled to be tested by indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) assays.

Validation of an Indirect Immunofluorescence Assay and Commercial Q Fever Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay for Use in Macropods.

Kangaroos are considered to be an important reservoir of Q fever in Australia, although there is limited knowledge on the true prevalence and distribution of coxiellosis in Australian macropod populations. Serological tests serve as useful surveillance tools, but formal test validation is needed to be able to estimate true seroprevalence rates, and few tests have been validated to screen wildlife species for Q fever. In this study, we modified and optimized a phase-specific indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) for the detection of IgG antibodies against Coxiella burnetii in macropod sera.

Evaluation of canine detection of COVID-19 infected individuals under controlled settings.

Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) is currently the standard diagnostic method to detect symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals infected with Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). However, RT-PCR results are not immediate and may falsely be negative before an infected individual sheds viral particles in the upper airways where swabs are collected. Infected individuals emit volatile organic compounds in their breath and sweat that are detectable by trained dogs.

Brucella melitensis biovar 1 isolation in a captive wildlife population in the United Arab Emirates. First isolation in the scimitar-horned Oryx (Oryx dammah).

In 2013, Brucella melitensis biovar 1 was recovered from the stomach contents of a scimitar-horned Oryx - SHO (Oryx dammah) aborted foetus, and from the articular fluid of a sand gazelle (Gazella marica) in a captive wildlife collection near Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Other evidence of exposure to the pathogen was collected through serological testing (Rose Bengal test) and B. melitensis-specific PCR of samples from captive wildlife kept in six different enclosures.

Q fever prevention: Perspectives from university animal science and veterinary students and livestock farmers.

Objective: To explore animal science and veterinary students' and livestock farmers' perceptions concerning Q fever prevention.

Design: An online survey with an open-ended question seeking knowledge and perceptions about Q fever prevention was distributed among participants during March-September 2019. We applied thematic analysis to identify emerging themes.

Q fever prevention in Australia: general practitioner and stakeholder perspectives on preparedness and the potential of a One Health approach.

Objective: To examine stakeholder perspectives on the factors of an effective approach to reduce Q fever risk including disease prevention, and the perceived potential benefits of a One Health framework.

Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with general practitioners (GPs), veterinarians, government authorities, researchers, and representatives from the farming industry. Transcripts were thematically analysed.