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Pathogens
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Emerging Infections in Domestic Animals
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Emerging Infections in Domestic Animals

A special issue of Pathogens (ISSN 2076-0817). This special issue belongs to the section "Emerging Pathogens".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 November 2023) | Viewed by 15044

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Ricardo Augusto Dias

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Universidade de São Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
Interests: epidemiology; emerging diseases; invasive species; biological invasion

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Most human diseases have an animal origin but even though the majority is transmitted by domestic animals, the domestication itself may be the cause of the attenuation of the severity of the involved pathogens. Nonetheless, some of these diseases are endemic in human populations due to occupational exposure or a lack of sanitary measures to prevent transmission, and in some cases, emerging or re-emerging pathogens originating from domestic animals can reach humans, causing outbreaks. Even though most of the attention regarding emerging pathogen surveillance is focused on those originating from wildlife, as these are mostly responsible for severe human infections, the emerging pathogens of domestic animal origins are sometimes neglected. Pathogens with a wide range of hosts, such as the canine distemper virus (CDV), which is currently a threat to the conservation of endangered species, are a rising concern considering its potential zoonotic threat.

For this Special Issue of Pathogens, we welcome you to submit papers on emerging diseases in domestic animals, especially those with zoonotic potential.

We look forward to publishing your latest research of new and exciting findings on emerging diseases in domestic animals.

Dr. Ricardo Augusto Dias
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Pathogens is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • zoonosis
  • emerging diseases
  • re-emerging diseases
  • surveillance
  • one health

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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22 pages, 5745 KiB  
Article
Assessing the Potential Role of Cats (Felis catus) as Generators of Relevant SARS-CoV-2 Lineages during the Pandemic
by Ninnet Gomez-Romero, Francisco Javier Basurto-Alcantara and Lauro Velazquez-Salinas
Pathogens 2023, 12(11), 1361; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens12111361 - 16 Nov 2023
Viewed by 880
Abstract
Several questions regarding the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 remain poorly elucidated. One of these questions is the possible evolutionary impact of SARS-CoV-2 after the infection in domestic animals. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the potential role of cats as generators of relevant [...] Read more.
Several questions regarding the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 remain poorly elucidated. One of these questions is the possible evolutionary impact of SARS-CoV-2 after the infection in domestic animals. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the potential role of cats as generators of relevant SARS-CoV-2 lineages during the pandemic. A total of 105 full-length genome viral sequences obtained from naturally infected cats during the pandemic were evaluated by distinct evolutionary algorithms. Analyses were enhanced, including a set of highly related SARS-CoV-2 sequences recovered from human populations. Our results showed the apparent high susceptibility of cats to the infection SARS-CoV-2 compared with other animal species. Evolutionary analyses indicated that the phylogenomic characteristics displayed by cat populations were influenced by the dominance of specific SARS-CoV-2 genetic groups affecting human populations. However, disparate dN/dS rates at some genes between populations recovered from cats and humans suggested that infection in these two species may suggest a different evolutionary constraint for SARS-CoV-2. Interestingly, the branch selection analysis showed evidence of the potential role of natural selection in the emergence of five distinct cat lineages during the pandemic. Although these lineages were apparently irrelevant to public health during the pandemic, our results suggested that additional studies are needed to understand the role of other animal species in the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 during the pandemic. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Infections in Domestic Animals)
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11 pages, 2684 KiB  
Article
The Sarcoptic Mange in Maned Wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus): Mapping an Emerging Disease in the Largest South American Canid
by Flávia Fiori, Rogério Cunha de Paula, Pedro Enrique Navas-Suárez, Ricardo Luiz Pires Boulhosa and Ricardo Augusto Dias
Pathogens 2023, 12(6), 830; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens12060830 - 15 Jun 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2408
Abstract
The maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus) is the largest South American canid. In Brazil, as in other countries, it is considered an endangered species. Habitat loss, landscape changes, hunting, and roadkill are the main threats to this species. In addition, invasive diseases [...] Read more.
The maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus) is the largest South American canid. In Brazil, as in other countries, it is considered an endangered species. Habitat loss, landscape changes, hunting, and roadkill are the main threats to this species. In addition, invasive diseases of domestic animals are considered to be an emerging threat to the maned wolf, where parasitic diseases are relevant. Sarcoptic mange is a skin disease caused by the mite Sarcoptes scabiei. This disease is currently almost globally distributed, with a remarkable host diversity. In Brazil, reports of sarcoptic mange in wildlife include several species, both wild and captive. However, the impact of this disease on wildlife is unknown. At the time of writing, there is only one published report of sarcoptic mange in maned wolves. This study sheds light on the occurrence of sarcoptic mange in free-ranging maned wolves in their natural range. A total of 52 cases (suspected and confirmed) of sarcoptic mange were identified through social media review, camera trapping, chemical immobilization and sample collection. These cases were distributed in southeastern Brazil, in the states of São Paulo (n = 34), Minas Gerais (n = 17), and Rio de Janeiro (n = 1), demonstrating a rapid and widespread spread of this disease, although it still only occurs in part of the species’ range. We expect that these results will help to subsidize future actions relevant to the control of this emerging disease. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Infections in Domestic Animals)
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12 pages, 1475 KiB  
Article
‘Candidatus Rickettsia andeanae’ and Probable Exclusion of Rickettsia parkeri in Ticks from Dogs in a Natural Area of the Pampa Biome in Brazil
by Felipe S. Krawczak, Lina C. Binder, Fábio Gregori, Thiago F. Martins, Gracielle T. Pádua, Jonas Sponchiado, Geruza L. Melo, Gina Polo and Marcelo B. Labruna
Pathogens 2023, 12(3), 446; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens12030446 - 12 Mar 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1646
Abstract
Spotted fever illness caused by the tick-borne pathogen Rickettsia parkeri has emerged in the Pampa biome in southern Brazil, where the tick Amblyomma tigrinum is implicated as the main vector. Because domestic dogs are commonly parasitized by A. tigrinum, this canid is also [...] Read more.
Spotted fever illness caused by the tick-borne pathogen Rickettsia parkeri has emerged in the Pampa biome in southern Brazil, where the tick Amblyomma tigrinum is implicated as the main vector. Because domestic dogs are commonly parasitized by A. tigrinum, this canid is also a suitable sentinel for R. parkeri-associated spotted fever. Herein, we investigate rickettsial infection in ticks, domestic dogs and small mammals in a natural reserve of the Pampa biome in southern Brazil. The ticks A. tigrinum, Amblyomma aureolatum and Rhipicephalus sanguineus were collected from dogs. Molecular analyses of ticks did not detect R. parkeri; however, at least 34% (21/61) of the A. tigrinum ticks were infected by the non-pathogenic agent ‘Candidatus Rickettsia andeanae’. Serological analyses revealed that only 14% and 3% of 36 dogs and 34 small mammals, respectively, were exposed to rickettsial antigens. These results indicate that the study area is not endemic for R. parkeri rickettsiosis. We tabulated 10 studies that reported rickettsial infection in A. tigrinum populations from South America. There was a strong negative correlation between the infection rates by R. parkeri and ‘Candidatus R. andeanae’ in A. tigrinum populations. We propose that high infection rates by ‘Candidatus R. andeanae’ might promote the exclusion of R. parkeri from A. tigrinum populations. The mechanisms for such exclusion are yet to be elucidated. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Infections in Domestic Animals)
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8 pages, 892 KiB  
Article
Epidemiological Situation of Glanders in the State of Pará, Brazil
by Ana Paula Vilhena Beckman Pinho, Fernando Ferreira, Jeferson Jacó Fuck, Jefferson Pinto de Oliveira, Ricardo Augusto Dias, José Henrique Hildebrand Grisi-Filho, Marcos Bryan Heinemann, Evelise Oliveira Telles and José Soares Ferreira Neto
Pathogens 2023, 12(2), 218; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens12020218 - 31 Jan 2023
Viewed by 1205
Abstract
Glanders is an anthropozoonosis caused by the bacteria Burkholderia mallei, affecting mainly equids. It has been eradicated in North America, Australia, and Western Europe, but continues to occur sporadically in countries in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and South America. Its notification [...] Read more.
Glanders is an anthropozoonosis caused by the bacteria Burkholderia mallei, affecting mainly equids. It has been eradicated in North America, Australia, and Western Europe, but continues to occur sporadically in countries in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and South America. Its notification is mandatory by the World Organization for Animal Health. After 30 years, the disease reappeared in Brazil in 1999 and, thereafter, 1,413 outbreaks have been reported. However, the epidemiological situation of the disease in the country is not adequately known. Thus, 2718 animals from 654 properties in the state of Pará were randomly selected by sampling and examined using a serial protocol with Complement Fixation and Western Blot serological tests. The prevalence of properties infected with glanders in the state was estimated at 1.68% [0.84; 3.33] and of seropositive animals at 0.50% [0.27; 0.94]. The introduction of animals was individualized as a risk factor for disease introduction in the properties (OR = 5.9 [1.4; 25.5]). Despite the low prevalence of infected properties and seropositive animals, the state must review actions to fight the disease, considering that the strategies implemented have not affected the endemic balance of the disease. This process must involve all public and private agents interested in the topic. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Infections in Domestic Animals)
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6 pages, 369 KiB  
Communication
Serological Screening for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus and Hepatitis E Virus in Camels in Kazakhstan
by Kobey Karamendin, Aigerim Seidalina, Temirlan Sabyrzhan, Sardor Nuralibekov, Yermukhammet Kasymbekov, Symbat Suleimenova, Elizaveta Khan, Oralbek Alikhanov, Uldana Narsha, Kalya Erkekulova and Aidyn Kydyrmanov
Pathogens 2022, 11(11), 1224; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens11111224 - 24 Oct 2022
Viewed by 1361
Abstract
After the recent Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS–CoV) pandemic in 2013, more attention has been paid to the camel as an important source of zoonotic viral infections. Almost simultaneously, in 2013, new genotypes 7 and 8 of the hepatitis E virus (HEV) [...] Read more.
After the recent Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS–CoV) pandemic in 2013, more attention has been paid to the camel as an important source of zoonotic viral infections. Almost simultaneously, in 2013, new genotypes 7 and 8 of the hepatitis E virus (HEV) were discovered in dromedary and Bactrian camels, respectively. HEV 7 was further shown to be associated with chronic viral hepatitis in a transplant recipient. In this study, serological screening for antibodies to MERS-CoV and hepatitis E virus was carried out on large camel farms in the south and west of Kazakhstan. 6.42% of the tested camels were found to be positive for antibodies to the hepatitis E virus, which indicates its circulation in local camel population. For the first time, antibodies to the hepatitis E virus were found in Bactrians, which have been little studied to date. Antibodies to MERS-CoV were not found in the camel sera. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Infections in Domestic Animals)
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26 pages, 7832 KiB  
Article
Metagenomic Analysis of RNA Fraction Reveals the Diversity of Swine Oral Virome on South African Backyard Swine Farms in the uMgungundlovu District of KwaZulu-Natal Province
by Ravendra P. Chauhan, James E. San and Michelle L. Gordon
Pathogens 2022, 11(8), 927; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens11080927 - 17 Aug 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2026
Abstract
Numerous RNA viruses have been reported in backyard swine populations in various countries. In the absence of active disease surveillance, a persistent knowledge gap exists on the diversity of RNA viruses in South African backyard swine populations. This is the first study investigating [...] Read more.
Numerous RNA viruses have been reported in backyard swine populations in various countries. In the absence of active disease surveillance, a persistent knowledge gap exists on the diversity of RNA viruses in South African backyard swine populations. This is the first study investigating the diversity of oral RNA virome of the backyard swine in South Africa. We used three samples of backyard swine oral secretion (saliva) collected from three distantly located backyard swine farms (BSFs) in the uMgungundlovu District, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Total viral RNA was extracted and used for the library preparation for deep sequencing using the Illumina HiSeq X instrument. The FASTQ files containing paired-end reads were analyzed using Genome Detective v 1.135. The assembled nucleotide sequences were analyzed using the PhyML phylogenetic tree. The genome sequence analysis identified a high diversity of swine enteric viruses in the saliva samples obtained from BSF2 and BSF3, while only a few viruses were identified in the saliva obtained from BSF1. The swine enteric viruses belonged to various animal virus families; however, two fungal viruses, four plant viruses, and five unclassified RNA viruses were also identified. Specifically, viruses of the family Astroviridae, according to the number of reads, were the most prevalent. Of note, the genome sequences of Rotavirus A (RVA) and Rotavirus C (RVC) at BSF2 and RVC and Hepatitis E virus (HEV) at BSF3 were also obtained. The occurrence of various swine enteric viruses in swine saliva suggests a high risk of diarrhoeic diseases in the backyard swine. Of note, zoonotic viruses in swine saliva, such as RVA, RVC, and HEV, indicate a risk of zoonotic spillover to the exposed human populations. We recommend the implementation of biosecurity to ensure sustainable backyard swine farming while safeguarding public health. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Infections in Domestic Animals)
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Review

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19 pages, 619 KiB  
Review
Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae: A Most Variable Pathogen
by Zinka Maksimović, Maid Rifatbegović, Guido Ruggero Loria and Robin A. J. Nicholas
Pathogens 2022, 11(12), 1477; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens11121477 - 05 Dec 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 4633
Abstract
Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae, a well-established respiratory pathogen of sheep and goats, has gained increased importance recently because of its detection in wild ruminants including members of the Cervidae family. Despite its frequent isolation from apparently healthy animals, it is responsible for outbreaks of [...] Read more.
Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae, a well-established respiratory pathogen of sheep and goats, has gained increased importance recently because of its detection in wild ruminants including members of the Cervidae family. Despite its frequent isolation from apparently healthy animals, it is responsible for outbreaks of severe respiratory disease which are often linked to infections with multiple heterologous strains. Furthermore, M. ovipneumoniae is characterized by an unusually wide host range, a high degree of phenotypic, biochemical, and genomic heterogeneity, and variable and limited growth in mycoplasma media. A number of mechanisms have been proposed for its pathogenicity, including the production of hydrogen peroxide, reactive oxygen species production, and toxins. It shows wide metabolic activity in vitro, being able to utilize substrates such as glucose, pyruvate, and isopropanol; these patterns can be used to differentiate strains. Treatment of infections in the field is complicated by large variations in the susceptibility of strains to antimicrobials, with many showing high minimum inhibitory concentrations. The lack of commercially available vaccines is probably due to the high cost of developing vaccines for diseases in small ruminants not presently seen as high priority. Multiple strains found in affected sheep and goats may also hamper the development of effective vaccines. This review summarizes the current knowledge and identifies gaps in research on M. ovipneumoniae, including its epidemiology in sheep and goats, pathology and clinical presentation, infection in wild ruminants, virulence factors, metabolism, comparative genomics, genotypic variability, phenotypic variability, evolutionary mechanisms, isolation and culture, detection and identification, antimicrobial susceptibility, variations in antimicrobial susceptibility profiles, vaccines, and control. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Infections in Domestic Animals)
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