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Introduction: Immunosuppressive diseases, such as chicken infectious anemia virus (CIAV), pose a major threat to livestock farming due to reduced disease resistance, poor vaccine response, and overall poor productivity. CIAV, recognized globally for decades, shows a significant genetic diversity, but its implications remain underexplored. Methods: This study analyzed over 1,000 VP1 sequences and examined CIAV's epidemiology, evolution, and spread with various phylodynamic and phylogeographic approaches. Results: Findings suggest that CIAV likely originated in Japan in the early 20th century, followed by worldwide diversification in two main clades. Both clades exhibited no significant competition and similar global patterns, characterized by a progressive increase until about 2000, when a transient decline was observed for some years, potentially reflecting the increasing use of vaccines. Accordingly, although significant selective pressures were shaping viral evolution, comparable strengths were estimated in the two viral populations. The phylogeographic analysis identified several connections involving also distantly related regions, and more generally, multiple introduction events occurred in several countries and were followed by local evolution, indicative of unconstrained viral circulation. Discussion: Overall, the study highlights the ongoing circulation and evolution of different CIAV variants worldwide, where biosecurity measures and vaccination appear insufficient to prevent viral presence and dispersal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

African swine fever (ASF) is a highly contagious disease affecting wild and domestic pigs, characterised by severe haemorrhagic symptoms and high mortality rates. Originally confined to Sub-Saharan Africa, ASF virus genotype II has spread to Europe since 2014, mainly affecting Eastern Europe, and progressing through wild boar migrations and human action. In January 2022, the first case of ASF, due to genotype II, was reported in North-western Italy, in a wild boar carcass. Thereafter, numerous positive wild boars were identified, indicating an expanding wild epidemic, severely threatening Italian pig farming and trade. This study focused on the mapping of the suitable habitats for wild boars and their potential dispersal corridors in Northern Italy, using species distribution models and landscape connectivity analysis. The resulting maps identified areas with higher likelihood of wild boar presence, highlighting their preferential pathways crossing Northern Italy. The distribution of ASF positive wild boars along the major corridors predicted by the model suggests the obtained maps as valuable support to decision-makers to improve ASF surveillance and carcass early detection, aiming for eradication. The applied framework can be easily replicated in other regions and countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Phage WO represents the sole bacteriophage identified to infect Wolbachia , exerting a range of impacts on the ecological dynamics and evolutionary trajectories of its host. Given the extensive prevalence of Wolbachia across various species, phage WO is likely among the most prolific phage lineages within arthropod populations. To examine the diversity and evolutionary dynamics of phage WO, we conducted a screening for the presence of phage WO in Wolbachia -infected cricket species from China. Methods: The presence of phage WO was detected using a PCR-based methodology. To elucidate the evolutionary forces driving phage WO diversity, analyses of intragenic recombination were conducted employing established recombination techniques, and horizontal transmission was investigated through comparative phylogenetic analysis of the phages and their hosts. Results and discussion: Out of 19 cricket species infected with Wolbachia , 18 species were found to harbor phage WO. Notably, 13 of these 18 cricket species hosted multiple phage types, with the number of types ranging from two to 10, while the remaining five species harbored a single phage type. Twelve horizontal transmission events of phage WO were identified, wherein common phage WO types were shared among different Wolbachia strains. Notably, each phage WO horizontal transfer event was associated with distinct Wolbachia supergroups, specifically supergroups A, B, and F. Previous studies have found that four Wolbachia strains infect two to five species of crickets. However, among these cricket species, in addition to the shared phage WO types, all harbored species-specific phage WO types. This suggests that Wolbachia in crickets may acquire phage WO types through horizontal viral transfer between eukaryotes, independent of Wolbachia involvement. Furthermore, nine putative recombination events were identified across seven cricket species harboring multiple phage types. These findings suggest that horizontal transmission and intragenic recombination have played a significant role in the evolution of the phage WO genome, effectively enhancing the diversity of phage WO associated with crickets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aleutian mink disease (mink plasmacytosis) is a severe immune complex-mediated condition caused by the Aleutian Mink Disease Virus (AMDV), the most significant pathogen affecting mink health in the industry. Several studies have shown that AMDV epidemics can result in millions to tens of millions of dollars in economic losses worldwide each year. In this study, we developed a TaqMan probe-based real-time PCR technology (TaqMan-qPCR) for the specific, sensitive, and reproducible detection and quantification of AMDV in mink tissues by the VP2 gene, achieving detection limits as low as 1.69 × 101 copies/uL of plasmid DNA and 8.50 × 10−3 ng/uL of viral DNA, and the established TaqMan-qPCR assay is 100 times more sensitive than PCR. Clinical samples of mink from different provinces showed a high prevalence of AMDV infection, 89.55% in Heilongjiang, 90.74% in Shandong, 80.23% in Hebei, 83.70% in Jilin, and 82.35% in Liaoning Province. Tissue distribution analysis showed that viral loads were generally high in all organs, especially in the mesenteric lymph nodes and spleen, and the virus was also detected in non-lymphoid tissues such as the brain, confirming the widespread distribution of AMDV throughout the body of mink. The established TaqMan-qPCR assay will become an important diagnostic tool for the prevention and control of AMDV, which is essential for disease management in mink populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ovine pulmonary adenocarcinoma (OPA) is caused by Jaagsiekte sheep retrovirus (JSRV) and is considered an important potential animal model for human lung cancer. The precise mechanisms of OPA oncogenesis are still uncertain. The transcription factor signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is activated by interleukin-6 (IL-6) in many cancers, but this aspect is unknown in OPA. We therefore aimed to evaluate the expression of IL-6 and STAT3 in OPA for its potential role in pulmonary carcinogenesis. Results: Lung tissues from 9 grossly normal and JRSV-negative sheep and 20 cases of JSRV-positive OPA sheep were included in the study. Tissue samples were stained with antibodies against IL-6, STAT3, and JSRV-MA. IL-6 and STAT3 were further quantified in both groups using Western Blot (WB). Immunohistochemically, IL‑6 was expressed in stromal, inflammatory, and epithelial cells in all cases of OPA, while STAT3 immunoexpression was restricted to epithelial cells. In the OPA group, the percentage of immunolabelled cells for STAT3 accounted for a mean value of 96%. Using the H-SCORE method, 95% of cases were considered positive for STAT3 expression. Control tissues showed multifocal and weak immunoexpression for both markers. Using WB analyses, a highly significant amount of both IL-6 (p = 0.0078) and STAT3 (p < 0.0001) proteins were present in lung neoplasms, by comparison to the control lungs. Conclusions: Our data showed overexpression of IL-6 and STAT3 in lung tissues from OPA compared to lungs from JSRV-negative sheep. These results suggest a potential role of IL6-STAT3 in OPA carcinogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Cattle play a vital role in livestock farming. Viral diseases in cattle, even contagious ones, can cause huge economic losses to the farming industry. Bovine coronavirus is one of them. Due to the paucity of studies on bovine coronavirus in Southwest China, the characterisation and genetic composition of strains prevalent in this region remain elusive. This study aimed to fill this gap by isolating and sequencing the whole genome of three BCoV strains from diarrhoeic calves from several large farms in Southwest China. This study underscores the importance of monitoring cross-species transmission between cattle and goats, particularly in the mountainous regions of Southwestern China where mixed farming practices are common and where it will be important to pre-empt new public health challenges. The comprehensive genomic analysis of these BCoV strains not only fills a research gap but also provides critical insights for cross-species transmission studies, early prevention, and control measures, with potential applications in vaccine development. The global epidemic of bovine coronavirus (BCoV) has caused enormous economic losses. The characterisation and genetic composition of endemic strains in Southwest China remain elusive. This study aimed to fill this gap by isolating three BCoV strains from this region and sequencing their whole genomes. To elucidate the genetic evolution and characterisation of the prevalent strains, the results of BCoV sequences were compared in GenBank, with a focus on genetic evolution, mutation, and recombination patterns. The results showed close homology between strains NN190313 and NN230328, while strain NN221214 showed less similarity to these two strains but clustered with the French strain of the European branch. Intriguingly, NN190313 and NN230328 were grouped with goat-derived BCoV strains from Jiangsu Province in Eastern China in the Asian–American branch. In addition, recombination analyses revealed significant signals between NN230328 and either a Chinese goat-derived strain (XJCJ2301G) or a Shandong strain (ShX310). This study highlights the importance of monitoring cross-species transmission between cattle and goats, especially in the mountainous areas of Southwest China where mixed farming occurs, and thus, the monitoring of cross-species transmission between cattle and goats is important for preventing new public health challenges, providing important insights for research on cross-species transmission, early prevention, and control measures, with potential applications in vaccine development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a neglected tropical parasitic disease linked with significant social and economic burdens worldwide. The scientific community has minimal information on echinococcosis in Romanian people, and hospital medical records are the only sources that may be used to investigate its status. A 7-year retrospective clinical study on pediatric patients with CE from Southeast Romania was performed, and 39 children and adolescents were included, aged 2–15 years old. They were hospitalized with cystic echinococcosis in the Pediatric Department and Pediatric Surgery Department of Constanta County Clinical Emergency Hospital "St. Apostle Andrew" between 1 January 2017 and 1 October 2024. Twenty-nine (74.36%) pediatric patients came from rural zones, and 10 (25.64%) had urban residences. In total, 28 children (71.79%) had contact with four different animals (dogs, goats, pigs, and sheep); only four were from urban zones, and they had contact only with dogs. Data regarding the length of hospital stay, cyst location, and complications were collected and analyzed. According to the medical files, the diagnosis was established using imaging techniques and serological tests for CE. IgE and IgG reported appreciable variations in correlation with all parameters, and significant differences (p < 0.05) were recorded. IgE levels considerably increased in cases of no animal contact, pulmonary involvement, complications, surgical treatment, and multiple hospitalizations. Moderate IgE values were recorded in cases of urban residences, pig and sheep contact, and hepatic involvement. The IgG concentration considerably increased with sheep contact and moderately increased in cases of rural zones, hepatic involvement, complications, and surgical treatment. The results show that incidental discovery, symptoms, complications, multiple dissemination, pulmonary involvement, and dog and pig contact increase the hospitalization time. Extensive data analysis supports our results. Our findings highlight the complexity of managing E. granulosus infections in children and evidence the importance of a multidisciplinary approach, combining early diagnostic tools, tailored medical therapy, and careful surgical intervention when necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European subtype of tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV-Eur; species Orthoflavivirus encephalitidis, family Flaviviridae) was the only tick-borne flavivirus present in central Europe known to cause neurologic disease in humans and several animal species. Here, we report a tick-borne flavivirus isolated from Alpine chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra rupicapra) with encephalitis and attached ticks, present over a wide area in the Alps. Cases were detected in 2017 in Salzburg, Austria, and 2023 in Lombardy and Piedmont, Italy. The virus strains exhibit 94.8–97.3% nucleotide identities to each other and are more closely related to Louping ill viruses (LIV; Orthoflavivirus loupingi; 90–92% identities) than to TBEV-Eur (less than 88%). The chamois-derived virus strains, tentatively termed "Alpine chamois encephalitis virus", form a well-supported independent genetic clade with Spanish goat encephalitis virus, clearly separated from other LIV. This supports its designation as a new virus subtype with the proposed shared taxonomic name "Spanish goat and Alpine chamois encephalitis virus subtype" within the species Orthoflavivirus loupingi. The zoonotic potential of this newly identified virus subtype as well as its host range in other animal species including farm animals needs to be further investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Antibiotic resistance is a growing concern that affects both human and animal health, making infections harder to treat. This study focused on how the antibiotic tilmicosin affects the spread of antibiotic resistance genes in the gut microbiome of pigs. The pigs were given different concentrations of tilmicosin, and their manure was analyzed to track changes. The results showed that while there was no significant change in the total abundance of macrolide resistance genes, the high-concentration treatment led to a significant increase in the abundance of the multidrug resistance gene tolC. This gene has been associated with changes in the gut microbiota, particularly an increase in certain host bacteria. This study is important because it highlights how antibiotics can impact the gut microbiome and promote the transfer of resistance genes, which could ultimately affect both animal and human health. The impact of antibiotic therapy on the spread of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and its relationship to gut microbiota remains unclear. This study investigated changes in ARGs, mobile genetic elements (MGEs), and gut microbial composition following tilmicosin administration in pigs. Thirty pigs were randomly divided into control (CK), low-concentration (0.2 g/kg; L), and high-concentration (0.4 g/kg; H) groups. Tilmicosin concentration in manure peaked on day 16 of dosing and dropped below detectable levels by day 13 of the withdrawal period. While tilmicosin did not significantly affect the total abundance of macrolide resistance genes (MRGs) (p > 0.05), it significantly increased the abundance of the multidrug resistance gene tolC in the H group compared with the L and CK groups during the withdrawal period (p < 0.05). This increase was associated with a coincidental rise in the abundance of MGEs (e.g., int1 and int2) and the growth of potential tolC-hosting bacteria such as Paenalcaligenes and Proteiniclasticum. Redundancy analysis showed gut microbial composition as the primary driver of MRG abundance, with MGEs, tilmicosin concentration, and manure physicochemical properties playing secondary roles. These findings suggest that high-dose tilmicosin may alter the gut microbiota and promote ARG spread via MGE-mediated transfer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Calcidiol (25(OH)D3) has previously been shown to exhibit promising results concerning the expression of genes linked to decreased inflammatory reactions as well as increased muscle deposition in broilers. The purpose of the current study was to identify the impacts of supplemental 25(OH)D3 administered dietarily or by in ovo injection in conjunction with the in ovo delivery of Marek's Disease vaccine (MVD), on the expression of genes in the spleen and pectoralis major (P. major) of 40 days of age Ross 708 broilers. Although the dietary, rather than the in ovo source of 25(OH)D3, had a greater potency, when compared to MDV alone, both sources of 25(OH)D3 enhanced the expression of genes that function in adaptive immunity in both the spleen and P. major. Furthermore, they also potentiated enzymatic antioxidant activity and muscle deposition. In conclusion, supplemental 25(OH)D3, delivered either through the diet or by in ovo injection, can be used to promote the expression of genes involved in the growth and immunity of 40-day-old broilers that received an MDV vaccination by in ovo injection. Effects of in ovo and dietary sources of calcidiol (25(OH)D3), combined with Marek's disease vaccine (MDV), on the expression of genes involved with the antioxidant activity, muscle deposition, and immunity in the pectoralis major (P. major) muscle and spleen of 40 d of age (doa) broilers were investigated. The in ovo treatments were as follows: (1) non-injected; (2) the injection of 50 μL of commercial MDV, (3) MDV + 1.2, or (4) 2.4 μg of 25(OH)D3. All birds received either a commercial diet containing no supplemental 25(OH)D3 (control) or the same diet supplemented with an additional 69 µg of 25(OH)D3 per kg of feed (Hy-D diet). At 40 doa, the pectoralis major (P. major) muscle and spleen of 48 birds (six replicates per diet x in ovo treatment combination) were collected. When compared to un-supplemented commercial diet-fed birds, in birds that were fed the Hy-D diet, the expression of the TGF-β4 gene in the spleen and P. major muscle, and the GSH-P1, GSH-P7, SOD2, MyoG, MyoD1, and Pax3 genes in the P. major muscle were up-regulated, whereas the expression of the IL-1β, IL-8, and CYP24A1 genes in the spleen and P. major muscle were down-regulated. Nevertheless, birds that received any of the in ovo injection doses of 25(OH)D3 exhibited a higher expression of the IL-10, TGF-β4, and CYP27B1 genes in the spleen and P. major muscle. Furthermore, in comparison to the MDV-injected control group, the CAT, MyoD1, and Pax3 genes in the P. major muscle were up-regulated, and the expression of the INF-γ, IL-1β and CYP24A1 genes in the spleen and the IL-8, and IL-1β genes in the P. major muscle were down-regulated. In conclusion, a significant improvement in the expression of genes responsible for enzymatic antioxidant activity, protein synthesis, and inflammatory reactions in 40-day-old broilers occurred in response to in ovo and dietary supplemental 25(OH)D3, and supplemental 25OHD3 provided via either route was used to enhance the expression of genes linked to vitamin D activity (CYP27B1, CYP24A1). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To prevent H9N2 avian influenza virus (AIV) and Avian metapneumonovirus/C (aMPV/C) infections, we constructed recombinant aMPV/C viruses expressing the HA protein of H9N2 AIV. In addition, EGFP was inserted into the intermediate non-coding region of P-M protein in the aMPV/C genome using a reverse genetic system. The conditions for rescuing the recombinant virus were enhanced followed by insertion of the H9N2 AIV HA gene into the same location in the aMPV/C. The constructed recombinant virus raMPV/C-HA expressed the H9N2 AIV HA protein and showed good stability. Immunization of chicks with raMPV/C-HA increased the generation of neutralizing antibodies against aMPV and H9N2 AIV for 21 days. In the late challenge experiment, raMPV/C-HA effectively inhibited the replication of the virus in vivo , decreased the incidence of infection and conferred protection effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peccaries (collared peccary-CP-and white-lipped peccary-WLP) are an essential source of protein and income for rural communities in the Amazon region. Since 1980s, researchers in the Amazon have reported recurrent local disappearances of WLP populations. Although such disappearances impact the species conservation and the food security of rural societies, no studies have drawn consistent conclusions about the causes of these population collapses. However, it has recently been proposed that the overabundance of this species before its decline would be related to infectious disease outbreaks. In the current study, we aimed to determine the circulation (occurrence and exposure) of viruses relevant to swine health in CP and WLP populations, namely classical swine fever virus (CSFV), Aujeszky's disease virus (ADV), swine vesicular disease virus (SVDV), and porcine circoviruses (PCV). The study was conducted in two areas of the northeastern Peruvian Amazon: the Yavarí-Mirín River basin (2008 -2020), where WLPs experienced extreme population fluctuations, and the Pucacuro National Reserve (2012-2014), where no WLP disappearances have been reported. Since WLP is not easily found during population declines, we also sampled CP as an indicator of virus circulation in the area as they are likely to be susceptible to the same pathogens. CSFV and ADV antibodies were detected in both peccary species and both areas. Diseases caused by CSFV and ADV have the potential to act as ultimate causes of population collapse, especially in large WLP populations where overabundance could increase the rate of pathogen transmission. Our results were inconclusive in establishing whether or not these viruses drove the WLP population to collapse, but their potential role warrants deeper investigation, expanding the geographical coverage of studies on infectious diseases in peccaries., Competing Interests: Declarations. Conflict of interest: The authors declare no competing interests. Ethical Approval: All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the Institutional and/or National Research Committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. Human or Animal Rights: All applicable institutional and/or national guidelines for the care and use of animals were followed., (© 2025. The Author(s).)