Thailand Nipah Virus Transmission Risk

Chaiyes et al. compiled predictive risk maps using habitat suitability with high-resolution data from Thailand to identify potential sites for Nipah Virus spillover via three transmission pathways. Their results can inform Nipah Virus awareness and prevention programs aimed at reducing disease outbreaks and associated economic losses.

Ethiopian Bats Shedding Coronavirus and Paramyxovirus

Lane et al. sampled insectivorous bats living in buildings and a roadside cave in Ethiopia. They found previously identified and novel coronaviruses and paramyxoviruses in the bats. Increased knowledge of the ecology, roosting habits, and viral diversity present in Ethiopian bats is important to understand the potential risk of viral spillover and for risk reduction efforts.

Map Zoonosis

Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) is a bacterium related to the agents that cause tuberculosis and leprosy. MAP causes Johne’s disease in non-human animals and Crohn’s disease in humans. Through molecular mimicry, MAP triggers disease-specific autoantibodies resulting in autoimmune diabetes and multiple sclerosis. Dow & Alvarez call for consideration of MAP as a zoonotic agent.

Fibropapillomatosis in Green Turtles

Chevallier et al. provides the first insight of fibropapillomatosis in Martinique Island, which is a critical development area for immature green turtles. The results show that 12.8% of the individuals were affected, and green turtles are more frequently affected on the upper body including on the eyes, fore flippers, and the neck. Fibropapillomatosis could represent a risk for immature green turtles’ survival in the French West Indies.

Rainfall, Flood, and Salmonellosis in Black Skimmers

Shender et al. report on an avian salmonellosis mortality event in black skimmers (Rynchops niger), a listed state-threatened species, in which nearly 40% of the colony’s fledglings died. The event was associated with heavy rainfall that caused multiple untreated sewage releases into the primary feeding grounds of the black skimmer colony.

Australian Bushfires, Covid-19, and Climate

Australia’s summer bushfires of 2020–2021 were catastrophic and exacerbated the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on public health. Young people are a priority population whose health and livelihoods are significantly impacted by these events. Gunasiri et al. demonstrated that some young people, while concerned about existential and real impacts of climate change, use contact with nature to cope and as motivation for taking actions to prevent climate change.

Malaysian Borneo Mosquitoes and Macaques

Several vector-borne human infections arise as spillover from wild primate populations, yet there is no reliable tool for examining vectors feeding on monkeys without unethical trapping. Brown et al. demonstrates for the first time that a Mosquito Magnet Independence Trap can be used to catch mosquitoes’ host seeking in the vicinity of long-tailed macaques.

Widespread Fly-Primate Associations

Gogarten et al. investigated whether synanthropic flies are unique to modern human populations, or also exist for highly mobile non-human primates in Kibale National Park, Uganda. The authors carried out multiple measurements of fly densities in 108 different social groups representing six sympatric primate species. They found that fly densities were generally higher within groups than outside of them, and that larger groups harbored higher fly densities. Results suggest flies represent an underappreciated cost of living in larger groups.

Bacterial Pathogens at the Wildlife-Livestock Interface

Evans & Drake leveraged known datasets of bacteria-mammal associations to identify novel bacterial pathogens in domestic cattle, sheep, and swine. Their study identified between 76 and 189 novel bacteria for each species, representing a 25% increase in the total bacterial community.

TGEV and PRCV Circulation in Argentinian Wild Suina

In Argentina, epidemiological surveillance of porcine transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV) and porcine respiratory coronavirus (PRCV) is conducted mainly in domestic pigs. Winter et al. surveyed the presence of antibodies against TGEV and PRCV in free-ranging wild boar (Sus scrofa) and captive collared peccary (Pecari tajacu). The data suggest coronavirus circulation in captive collared peccary.

Mosquito Larval Ecology in Côte D’ivoire

The presence of latex collection cups and the microclimate due to the canopy and vegetation could influence the dynamics of mosquito larval ecology in rubber plantation areas in Côte d’Ivoire. Traore et al. evaluated the effect of rubber plantations on mosquito larval ecology. The results showed a high species richness of 33 species including two major vectors (Anopheles gambiae s. l. and Aedes aegypti) and revealed a relatively higher abundance of breeding sites, density, and diversity of larvae in these rubber-growing areas.

Zoonotic Diseases in New Zealand Cattle

Grout et al. examined temporal patterns of campylobacteriosis and cryptosporidiosis in urban versus rural areas, and in areas with different dairy cattle densities. The authors found that disease notification rates displayed strong seasonal patterns and that areas with dairy cattle had higher notification rates than areas that had no dairy cattle. They argue that infected dairy calves may be a direct or indirect source of campylobacteriosis or cryptosporidiosis infection in humans through environmental or occupational exposure routes.

Outdoor Activity and Mental Health During Covid-19

Fernandez et al. leveraged an existing mobile phone application to determine how shifts in activity patterns during the COVID-19 pandemic might have affected mental health. They used self-reported data on participants’ daily outdoor activities, emotional well-being, and the role of COVID-19 in influencing decisions regarding outdoor activities. Their study suggests that outdoor activities may have improved mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Research Participation Reduces Zoonotic Risk

Bloomfield et al. showed that participation in zoonotic disease research has a long-term impact on rural communities located near wild animal habitat. The authors argue that research managers should consider the long-term impact of their engagement on community members when designing research protocols, performing data collection, and preventing or responding to emerging infectious diseases from animal sources.