Débora Jiménez-Martín

Rat hepatitis E virus (ratHEV-C1) is a newly zoonotic and globally distributed virus of increasing public health concern. Although rats of the genus Rattus are the main reservoir of this emerging virus, the role of other small mammals in the epidemiology of ratHEV-C1 in Europe is unknown as large-scale survey studies specifically assessing the circulation of ratHEV-C1 in these species have not yet been conducted. In this study, we examined active ratHEV-C1 infection in 514 animals from seven different small mammal species sampled throughout Spain. The presence of viral RNA was evaluated for ratHEV-C1 infection using RT-qPCRs in liver tissue. Sequencing and analysis of ratHEV-C1 shedding in faeces were carried out in positive animals. Viral RNA was detected in 15 individuals (mean Ct value: 34.5), supposing a frequency of 2.9% (95% CI: 1.8–4.8). We confirmed ratHEV infection in house mice (14.5%; 11/76), common voles (0.7%; 2/288) and garden dormice (25.0%; 2/8) and viral shedding in faeces in 36.4% (4/11) of positive house mice. Infected animals were detected in urban areas, small ruminant farms and rural areas throughout Spain. Our sequences showed a considerable genetic diversity, and they were closely related with ratHEV-C1 strains detected in human and rats from Spain, Germany and Hungary. Our study confirms that ratHEV is not limited to Rattus genus, identifying other rodents’ species as potential host of ratHEV-C1 in Europe. Our results highlight the importance of continued surveillance in animals to fully understand the dynamics of ratHEV-C1 and its impact on public health.

Toxoplasmosis remains a prevalent parasitic zoonosis worldwide, raising public health concerns. The global information available regarding the role of camels in the epidemiology of Toxoplasma gondii is still limited. This study aimed to assess the seroprevalence of T. gondii in dromedary camels (Camelus dromedarius) from northern and southern Egypt. A total of 513 serum samples were obtained from camels across Cairo (Lower Egypt) and Aswan (Upper Egypt) governorates. The Modified Agglutination Test (MAT) was performed to screen for anti-T. gondii antibodies. The overall seroprevalence was 13.84% (71/513; 95CI%:10.85–16.83). The bivariate analysis showed that animals aged 4–8 years (13.84%, 36/260) and older than 8 years (18.45%, 31/168) showed significantly higher seropositivity compared to those young individuals (≤ 4 years old) (p = 0.011). Additionally, the multiple logistic regression analysis highlighted the geographic region as a potential risk factor for T. gondii exposure. Thus, camels from Lower Egypt had significantly higher seroprevalence of T. gondii (19.92%, 51/256) compared to those from Upper Egypt (7.78%; 20/257; p < 0.001; odds ratio [OR] = 2.94; 95% CI: 1.70–5.10). Our results provide evidence of moderate, widespread, and heterogeneous spatial distribution of T. gondii among camel populations in Egypt, which might have important implications for animal and public health in that country. Surveillance and control programs should be implemented to reduce the risk of exposure of T. gondii in camels.

Background: West Nile virus (WNV) is the most widely distributed mosquito‐borne flavivirus. Over the past decade, its spread across Europe has raised significant concerns for both public and animal health. Although WNV exposure has been evidenced in various wild mammal species in Spain, no seroepidemiological studies have been conducted on this flavivirus in wild lagomorphs so far.Aim: This study aimed to assess WNV exposure in European wild rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) and Iberian hare (Lepus granatensis) populations inhabiting Spanish Mediterranean ecosystems.Methods: Sera from 540 wild lagomorphs (399 European wild rabbit and 141 Iberian hares), from 106 hunting grounds distributed throughout Andalusia (southern Spain), were collected between the 2018/2019 and 2022/2023 hunting seasons.Results: Antibodies against flavivirus were detected by blocking enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (bELISA) in 5.0% (27/540; 95% CI: 3.2–6.8) of the wild lagomorphs. Exposure to WNV was confirmed in 4.8% (19/394; 95% CI: 2.7–6.9) of wild rabbits and 0.7% (1/141; 95% CI: 0.0–2.1) of Iberian hares by virus microneutralisation test. Anti‐WNV antibodies were found in wild lagomorphs sampled from three (2.8%) hunting grounds located in western Andalusia during the seasons 2020–2021 and 2021–2022. Remarkably, this spatiotemporal distribution overlaps with the largest outbreak of WNV in Spain. Antibodies against Usutu virus and Bagaza virus were not detected in the wild lagomorph populations analysed.Conclusions: This study constitutes the first report of WNV exposure in wild rabbit in Spain and in Iberian hare worldwide. While these species seem not play a primary role in the epidemiology of the virus, they could serve as sentinel for monitoring WNV in Iberian Mediterranean ecosystems.

Francisella tularensis is a vector-borne zoonotic bacterium that causes tularemia, a disease of great importance for animal and public health. Although wild lagomorphs are considered one of the major reservoirs of this bacterium, information about the circulation of F. tularensis in European wild rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) and Iberian hare (Lepus granatensis) populations in Europe is still very limited. In Spain, F. tularensis is present in northern central regions, with recurrent outbreaks occurring annually. However, southern Spain has been neglected in terms of monitoring and research. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence of F. tularensis in wild lagomorphs in the Mediterranean ecosystems of southern Spain through using molecular techniques. Spleen samples from 774 European wild rabbits and 178 Iberian hares were collected on 135 hunting grounds between the 2017/2018 and 2022/2023 hunting seasons. A primer set targeting the 16S rRNA gene was used for the detection of F. tularensis DNA. None of the 952 (0.0%; 95%CI: 0.0–0.4) wild lagomorphs sampled showed presence of F. tularensis DNA. Our finding indicates the absence or very low circulation of the bacterium in wild rabbit and Iberian hare populations in the Mediterranean ecosystems of southern Spain, denoting a limited risk of transmission of this pathogen from wild lagomorphs to other sympatric species, including human beings, in this Iberian region.