Understanding and combating antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is increasingly centered on the intricate relationship between humans, animals, and the environment, with Escherichia coli being the main source of AMR-related fatalities worldwide. E. coli, though prevalent in the intestines of humans and warm-blooded creatures, demonstrates wide ecological adaptability in both intestinal and extraintestinal habitats. This study explores the dynamics, implications, and future directions of antimicrobial-resistant E. coli (AREC) transmission and clinical significance. We investigated the spread of antibiotic-resistant strains among humans, animals, and the environment, illuminating the impact of healthcare and agriculture practices, as well as environmental contamination. The implications of AREC infections are addressed, emphasizing the challenges in treatment due to limited antibiotic options, increased morbidity and mortality rates, and economic burdens on healthcare systems and agriculture, as well as the urgent need for a One Health approach to combat AMR through collaborative efforts across disciplines. Proposed future directions encompass enhanced surveillance, innovative antimicrobial stewardship, and alternative treatment modalities.

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) poses a global public health concern. HEV has a single serotype and 8 genotypes. There is inadequate knowledge about risk factors and zoonotic transmission pathways of hepatitis E virus in Mongolia, although the prevalence of HEV is, on average, 12% among the Mongolian population. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence and risk factors of HEV G8 infection in Bayankhongor province, Mongolia. Human serum samples (309) were collected in Bogd, Bayangovi, and Bayanlig districts of Bayankhongor province, Mongolia, with a control group consisting of non-camel herders. An in-house indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit was used to detect anti-HEV IgG. The interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to gather the data. The assessment factors included age, sex, and occupation for the respondents. Univariate analyses were conducted using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 26. The same population was tested for hepatitis B and C viruses (HBVs and HCVs) using rapid tests. Of 309 samples, 41 (13.3%) tested positive for anti-HEV immunoglobulin G antibodies, 23 (7.4%) for HBV and 11 (3.6%) for HCV. HEV seropositivity was linked with water supply, khoormog consumption, and co-infection with HBV and HCV. HEV prevalence among Bayankhongor residents underscores potential transmission routes related to water supply and khoormog consumption, emphasizing the need for sequencing from human positive sera of HEV and preventive measures. We did not conduct the genotyping of positive human samples.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has infected more than 1 million people and caused more than 100,000 deaths in Indonesia. This condition was augmented by a less advanced health system, especially in providing diagnostic facilities for the novel coronavirus, and the high mutation rate of the novel coronavirus, which may promote the generation of specific strains in Indonesia. This study aimed to propose a specific primer (in-house primer) toward open reading frame 1a/b (<i>ORF1ab</i>) and the spike protein gene of SARS-CoV-2 to detect SARS-CoV-2 and to analyze the presence of mutations. One hundred and nine samples were collected from patients in Malang, East Java, Indonesia. The samples were extracted using QIAamp viral RNA kits. The in-house primer was designed using Clone Manager 9.0 and amplified using nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Then, the amplicon was analyzed through sequencing. The detection results were compared with those obtained using the quantitative PCR (qPCR). Nested PCR was 74.3% positive, whereas qPCR was 45.9% positive. Furthermore, sequencing analysis of the amplicon revealed the mutation at locations T3187C, T2889C/T, G3189T (spike), and C364T (<i>ORF1ab</i>). The sensitivity and specificity of nested PCR were 92.6% and 43.6%, respectively. This result indicated that the in-house primer performed well at screening. In-house primers could detect SARS-CoV-2 and mutations in samples from Malang, East Java, Indonesia. In the future, this method could be recommended as a screening tool for monitoring SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Free-roaming domestic animals (FRDAs) impact ecosystems and public health. The perception of the ecological and health risks posed by FRDAs can vary depending on individual, cultural, and social factors. In this study, we assessed the perception of ecological and health risks associated with FRDAs in the Batuco wetland (Chile) from a One Health perspective. This descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study was conducted using a questionnaire administered to 399 respondents. A Chi-square test, generalized linear models, and correlations were carried out to assess whether respondents’ status (resident or tourist), gender, age, and educational level explained their perception of risks and views on control and management actions for FRDAs. These data were used to propose interventions based on the One Health approach. Residents exhibited greater awareness of the presence of FRDAs in the Batuco wetland but had a lower perception of ecological risks and control and management actions than tourists. In contrast to men, women showed a higher level of knowledge regarding ecological and health risks and identified significantly more control and management actions. However, overall knowledge of ecological and health risks is limited across all groups. The results emphasize the need to implement community engagement and educational programs for residents and tourists using a One Health approach that promotes participation from both men and women to reduce gender gaps in ecological and health risk awareness associated with FRDAs.

Rabies is a zoonotic disease that persists endemic in numerous countries worldwide. In Vietnam, the main sources of rabies are dogs and cats, and they caused 76 human deaths annually by 2017–2021. Long An province has recently experienced an increasing burden of rabies, with seven fatal cases reported in the past 5 years. Various rabies control measures have been implemented in this province, including mass vaccination of the animal population, post-vaccination monitoring, diagnostic testing of suspected rabid dogs, dog bite investigation, animal management, pre-exposure treatment, post-exposure treatment (PET), and awareness programs. This study aimed to estimate the cost of rabies control measures for animals and humans in Long An province in 2022. An economic model was developed to estimate the costs of rabies control under two scenarios, with and without external financial support from the private sector. Inputs for the model included data from published literature, publicly available reports on rabies, government data, expert opinions, and a pilot study conducted in Vietnam. The total annual costs of rabies control, with or without external support, were estimated to be VND 62.62 and 62.77 billion (equivalent to USD 2.67 and 2.68 million), respectively. The highest proportion of costs was related to PET in humans (84.50% and 84.30%), followed by the cost of mass vaccination paid by animal owners (14.28% and 13.90%). Most of the expenses were paid by the private sector (98.87% and 98.98%) rather than the public sector (1.14% and 1.20%). This study described a transparent and reproducible method for estimating the economic costs of rabies control at the provincial level. The economic model developed showed that control of rabies by mass vaccination is more cost-effective than using PET to prevent human death. The model can be applied to future economic analyses of rabies control in other provinces of Vietnam and other rabies-endemic countries.

The Wild Animal Screening Center in Espírito Santo State (CETAS-ES), Brazil, treats wildlife from trafficking and illegal trade, accidents, captivity, and rescue from out of their habitat. The present study described the trends in wildlife admission to the CETAS-ES over the past 10 years and discussed the impact of animal exploitation. This descriptive study used a database provided by the CETAS-ES with data on animals admitted between 2011 and 2021, including admission year, origin, place of captivity, taxonomic category, sex, life stage, and health status. Over 10 years, 23,176 animals were admitted, with an annual average of 2,106 admissions. Seizing was the most common origin (60.39%), followed by rescues/collections (22.60%) and voluntary delivery (11.7%), whereas 5.3% had unidentified origins. Birds were the most frequently admitted animals (80.6%) and were predominant among those seized (97.5%), rescued/collected (46.7%), and voluntarily delivered (73.2%). Mammals represented 45.0% of rescues/collections and reptiles represented 19.0% of voluntary deliveries. The admissions reveal a vulnerable scenario for wildlife in the Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest of Espírito Santo State, mainly affecting birds. Seizing was a common occurrence over the decade, reinforcing the necessity of actions to prevent wildlife trafficking and illegal trade.

Nipah virus (NiV) poses a threat to human and animal health, particularly swine, which serve as primary vectors for human transmission. Despite its severe risks, no NiV vaccine currently exists for humans or animal hosts; thus, innovative vaccine development approaches that address cross-species transmission are required. This study was computationally designed to evaluate a multi-epitope messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccine targeting NiV for human and swine immunization. B and T lymphocyte epitopes were identified from NiV structural proteins using multiple epitope prediction tools. All epitopes were linked to form a multi-epitope construct, and various adjuvant combinations were analyzed for physicochemical properties and immune simulation. Molecular docking and dynamics were employed to visualize the construct’s interaction with a host immune receptor. Signal peptides were added to the construct, and mRNA sequences were generated using LinearDesign. The minimum free energies (MFEs) and codon adaptation indices (CAI) were used to select the final mRNA sequence of the vaccine construct. Computational tools predicted 10 epitopes within NiV structural proteins that can be recognized by human and swine immune receptors. The construct with β-defensin 2 adjuvant was selected as the final immunogenic region after showing favorable immunogenicity profiles and physicochemical properties. The final vaccine sequence had higher MFE and CAI compared to the BioNTech/Pfizer BNT162b2 and Moderna mRNA-1273 vaccines. The multi-epitope mRNA vaccine designed in this study shows promising results as a potential NiV vaccine candidate. Further in vivo and in vitro studies are required to confirm the efficacy.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the most pervasive health concerns worldwide in veterinary and human medicine. The inadequate use of antibiotics in the veterinary sector has contributed to antibiotic resistance (ABR), which negatively affects animal and human health. This study aimed to evaluate awareness about knowledge, attitude, and practice concerning the use of antibiotics and AMR among veterinarians and other practitioners in the field of animal health in the Wasit Governorate of Iraq. This study included 129 veterinarians and animal health workers from various areas of Wasit Governorate (Suwayra, Numaniyah, Kut, and Al-Hai) in eastern Iraq, southeast of Baghdad. Participants’ personal information (age, sex, education, employment history, region, workplace, and current position) and knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors regarding antibiotic usage and resistance were collected using a questionnaire. The Statistical Analysis System (SAS, 2018) was used to analyze the data. Based on 16 knowledge evaluation questions, only 43.75% had good knowledge, and 56.25% had fair to poor knowledge of antibiotic usage and AMR. There is a lack of understanding of the threat of treatment-resistant bacteria (34.88%). Similarly, there are some gaps in the understanding of the link between efficient management procedures in agriculture and the prevention of resistance development (36.43%). As per the 13 attitude questions, this research found that only 38.46% of the participants had a positive view on antibiotic usage and ABR, while the rest of 61.54% had a neutral view. High rates of participants (80.62%) considered it of great importance to provide sufficient antibiotic doses, proper management, immunization, and the use of animal antibiotics only when necessary and with veterinary assistance. Based on the six questions, our research found that half of the participants had excellent practices regarding antibiotic usage and resistance, whereas the other half had poor to moderate habits. There was a highly significant correlation (p ≤ 0.01) between the knowledge and attitude of the participants in this study, as well as a significant correlation (p ≤ 0.05) between the knowledge and practices and between the attitudes and practices of the participants. Participants’ compliance was poor despite having moderate knowledge of antibiotic use and AMR. Implementing educational and training programs may enhance veterinarians and animal health workers’ understanding, attitude, and behavior.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the top ten public health challenges affecting humans worldwide. Antibiotic use in livestock, agriculture, and fisheries is a significant yet often overlooked contributor to AMR. This study aimed to evaluate the preparedness of the veterinary department for AMR in a district in South India. The cross-sectional study involved all veterinary personnel in the department, with 73 participants (administrative officials, veterinary doctors, and para veterinarians). Data were collected using a validated questionnaire and an observational checklist to assess infection prevention and control (IPC) practices. Specific questionnaires were administered to veterinary doctors and para veterinarians to evaluate their knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding antibiotic use and resistance. Administrators were also surveyed regarding measures to prevent, detect, and respond to AMR. Administrative veterinary officers displayed significant disparities in knowledge and preparedness regarding AMR-related domains. This indicated a gap in communication and coordination to combat AMR at the administrative level. The shortage of veterinary doctors was noted, which paved the way for para-veterinarians to be involved in antibiotic prescription. Adherence to biomedical waste management and IPC practices were observed. The KAP survey revealed adequate knowledge and positive attitudes among veterinary doctors regarding antibiotic use, although familiarity with AMR action plans and antibiotic stewardship was limited. The veterinary department excels in infection control and medical countermeasures but needs to improve its implementation of preventive measures, early detection, surveillance, and human resources.