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Documented natural infections with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in exotic and companion animals following human exposures are uncommon. Those documented in animals are typically mild and self-limiting, and infected animals have only infrequently died or been euthanized. Through a coordinated One Health initiative, necropsies were conducted on 5 animals from different premises that were exposed to humans with laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. The combination of epidemiologic evidence of exposure and confirmatory real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction testing confirmed infection in 3 cats and a tiger. A dog was a suspect case based on epidemiologic evidence of exposure but tested negative for SARS-CoV-2. Four animals had respiratory clinical signs that developed 2 to 12 days after exposure. The dog had bronchointerstitial pneumonia and the tiger had bronchopneumonia; both had syncytial-like cells with no detection of SARS-CoV-2. Individual findings in the 3 cats included metastatic mammary carcinoma, congenital renal disease, and myocardial disease. Based on the necropsy findings and a standardized algorithm, SARS-CoV-2 infection was not considered the cause of death in any of the cases. Continued surveillance and necropsy examination of animals with fatal outcomes will further our understanding of natural SARS-CoV-2 infection in animals and the potential role of the virus in development of lesions.

Coronaviruses are a family of RNA viruses whose large genomes, propensity for mutation, and frequent recombination events have resulted in a diversity of strains and species that are capable of [...]

Background and Aims Methods and Results Conclusions Louse‐borne Bartonella quintana infection and flea‐borne murine typhus are two potentially serious vector‐borne diseases that have led to periodic outbreaks among people experiencing homelessness in the United States. Little is known about louse‐ and flea‐borne disease awareness and prevention among staff who provide services to the population. We surveyed staff in seven US states to identify gaps in knowledge and prevention practices for these diseases.Surveys were administered to 333 staff at 89 homeless shelters and outreach teams in California, Colorado, Georgia, Maryland, Minnesota, New York and Washington from August 2022 to April 2023. Most participants (>68%) agreed that body lice and fleas are a problem for people experiencing homelessness. About half were aware that diseases could be transmitted by these vectors; however, most could not accurately identify which diseases. Less than a quarter of staff could describe an appropriate protocol for managing body lice or fleas. Misconceptions included that clients must isolate or be denied services until they are medically cleared.Our findings reveal significant knowledge gaps among staff who provide services to people experiencing homelessness in the prevention and control of louse‐ and flea‐borne diseases. This demonstrates an urgent need for staff training to both reduce disease and prevent unnecessary restrictions on services and housing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From July–November 2020, mink (Neogale vison) on 12 Utah farms experienced an increase in mortality rates due to confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. We conducted epidemiologic investigations on six farms to identify the source of virus introduction, track cross-species transmission, and assess viral evolution. Interviews were conducted and specimens were collected from persons living or working on participating farms and from multiple animal species. Swabs and sera were tested by SARS-CoV-2 real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) and serological assays, respectively. Whole genome sequencing was attempted for specimens with cycle threshold values <30. Evidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection was detected by rRT-PCR or serology in ≥1 person, farmed mink, dog, and/or feral cat on each farm. Sequence analysis showed high similarity between mink and human sequences on corresponding farms. On farms sampled at multiple time points, mink tested rRT-PCR positive up to 16 weeks post-onset of increased mortality. Workers likely introduced SARS-CoV-2 to mink, and mink transmitted SARS-CoV-2 to other animal species; mink-to-human transmission was not identified. Our findings provide critical evidence to support interventions to prevent and manage SARS-CoV-2 in people and animals on mink farms and emphasizes the importance of a One Health approach to address emerging zoonoses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article describes the epidemiologic and clinical features of children and adolescents aged <18 years with monkeypox in the U.S. from May to September 24, 2022. Data shows the demographic characteristics of children and adolescents by sex, race or ethnicity and exposure setting and route, as well as clinical features and treatment including condition, symptoms, location and number of lesion and treatment outcomes.

Cache Valley Virus (CVV) is an arbovirus transmitted between mosquitos and several vertebrate species, including small ruminants. Infections in adult sheep and goats is generally subclinical, but infection during pregnancy is a growing animal welfare issue as it can result in embryo or pregnancy loss, fetal malformation, and dystocia. Diagnosis in fetal tissue or neonates is made using serologic or molecular testing. Serologic diagnosis in the dam can indicate past infection but does not confirm CVV infection in the fetus. ARS first noted clinical signs of possible CVV during the Nov/ Dec 2015 lambing; first seropositive dam was identified in Jan 2021. To estimate incidence of CVV infections among ewes bred from 2019-2023 and lambing in Jan/Feb (n = 185), adverse pregnancy outcome such as embryo loss, birth of dead, deformed, or weak lambs, were used as surrogate markers. The relationship of animal BW (ewes at breeding and post-breeding; lambs at birth and ~60 d of age), dam age, lamb outcome, and breeding year were compared by likely CVV infection status. To estimate seroprevalence in ewes and correlate serology results with pregnancy outcomes, serum was collected from ewes (n = 46) exposed to rams in Aug 2022 at 0 (first day of ram exposure) and ~60 d later. Tissue from aborted or dead lambs and serum from live lambs exhibiting signs of CVV (swollen joints, parrot mouth, deformities) were collected. Serum was screened for neutralizing antibodies using a CVV-specific plaque reduction neutralization test using a 50% cut-off (PRNT50). For this preliminary analysis, specimens with PRNT50 antibody titers > 10 were considered positive. Tissue specimens were tested using bunyavirus and CVV RT-PCR. Data were analyzed by GLM (SAS). Using surrogate markers, an estimate of incidence of CVV during pregnancy was 26.5 ± 2.9% without year differences (P = 0.16) or age (yearling vs older ewes, P = 0.44). There was no association between CVV and dam BW (P > 0.10), number of live+dead lambs born, but CVV possibly reduced number of live lambs by 18% (P = 0.02) and those weaned by 27% (P = 0.002). Live litter birth (CVV, P < 0.001) and weaning BW (CVV x year, P = 0.04) were reduced by CVV. Of 42 ewes bred in Aug 2022, 9 (21%) had a positive titer in Aug (pre-pregnancy) indicating possible past infection, 3 (11%) seroconverted in Oct, indicating possible infection during pregnancy. Of those, 2 (6.7%) had adverse pregnancy outcomes, including one stillbirth with deformities that had a positive RT-PCR on kidney tissue. Further studies are needed to determine whether CVV is becoming more widely prevalent in small ruminants, as are new technologies for early detection and prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zoonotic diseases represent a heavy global burden, causing important economic losses, impacting animal health and production, and costing millions of human lives. The vaccination of animals and humans to prevent inter-species zoonotic disease transmission is an important intervention. However, efforts to develop and implement vaccine interventions to reduce zoonotic disease impacts are often limited to the veterinary and agricultural sectors and do not reflect the shared burden of disease. Multisectoral collaboration, including co-development opportunities for human and animal vaccines, expanding vaccine use to include animal reservoirs such as wildlife, and strategically using vaccines to interrupt complex transmission cycles is needed. Addressing zoonoses requires a multi-faceted One Health approach, wherein vaccinating people and animals plays a critical role. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2), besides causing human infection, has been shown to naturally infect several susceptible animal species including large cats (tigers, lions, pumas, spotted leopards), dogs, cats, ferrets, gorillas and minks. Cats and minks are continuing to be the most reported species with SARS‐CoV‐2 infections among animals but it needs to be investigated further. Methods and Results: We report the detection of SARS‐CoV‐2 from a domestic cat that exhibited respiratory disease after being exposed to SARS‐CoV‐2 virus from humans in the same household. SARS‐CoV‐2 RNA was detected in two oropharyngeal swabs collected at two time points, 11 days apart; the first, when the cat was reported to be sick and the second, before euthanasia due to poor prognosis. The viral nucleic acid detected at two time points showed no genomic variation and resembled the clade GH circulating in humans in the United States. Clinical and pathological findings noted in this 16‐year‐old cat were consistent with respiratory and cardiac insufficiency. Conclusions: SARS‐CoV‐2 viral infection was likely an incidental clinical finding, as the virus was not detected in fixed lungs, heart, or kidney tissues. Only fresh lung tissue collected at necropsy showed the presence of viral nucleic acid, albeit at a very low level. Further research is needed to clarify the clinical course of SARS‐CoV‐2 in companion animals of advanced age and underlying cardiac disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examine losses in affordable rental units in central cities in a key region of the United States, the South. We examine changes in low-cost rented units across eight large central cities, and then identify neighbourhood characteristics associated with such changes. Finally, we estimate a similar model in two of the cities with the greatest amount of loss in low-cost units and that have different overall housing market conditions - one a ‘hot market’ (Nashville, Tennessee) and one a ‘cool market’ (Memphis, Tennessee). We find that, generally, a number of neighbourhood conditions are associated with greater losses of low-cost units, including more young (25-34) adults, fewer public housing units, more initial low-cost units, and a larger percentage of newer units. However, these relationships do not show up consistently in the Memphis and Nashville models. The presence of younger adults (especially those aged 25-34) is a strong predictor of losing low-cost rental units in Nashville but is not a significant predictor in Memphis. Second, the presence of public housing units appears to serve as a buffer against the loss in low-cost units in a neighbourhood, but not in Memphis or Nashville, perhaps because they have fewer public housing units altogether. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on place-based economic development in the form of public infrastructure projects is by nature inclusive and that projects can serve as a catalyst for growth and development. It mentions goal of attracting investment in distressed and underserved neighborhoods adjacent to the project which has brought rapid gentrification in most of its 45 neighborhoods. It also mentions communities have turned their backs on riverfronts, rails, and other infrastructure.