Ecohealth最新文献

The emissions, vulnerability, and readiness nexus illustrate several interrelated disparities between the Global North and South. We examine these disparities by mapping country-level CO₂ emissions against climate-related mortality. Global North countries and China are the main contributors to CO₂ emissions, whereas African countries and India are the most affected. This relationship is further reflected in a strong negative association between readiness for and vulnerability to climate change. The dichotomy between the Global North's contribution and the Global South's vulnerability to climate change risks underscores the urgent need for equitable climate policies that address these imbalances and bolster global readiness.

Between July 2021 and July 2022, a cross-sectional parasitological survey was conducted on 97 free-ranging Crocodylus moreletii individuals across four Mexican states: Campeche, Quintana Roo, Yucatán, and Tabasco. Sampling was conducted out at 12 sites representing varying degrees of anthropogenic disturbance, categorized as conserved, moderately disturbed, and highly disturbed habitats. Parasitological analysis identified seven nematode taxa: Contracaecum sp. type 1, Contracaecum sp. type 2, Terranova crocodili, Micropleura sp., Dujardinascaris helicina, Eustrongylides sp., and Goezia nonipapillata, belonging to four families: Ascarididae, Anisakidae, Micropleuridae, and Dioctophymidae. The most prevalent species were Contracaecum sp. type 1 (51%), followed by Contracaecum sp. type 2 (41%) and D. helicina (28%), while Eustrongylides sp. showed the lowest prevalence (4.1%). Parasite composition differed significantly among sites with varying levels of anthropogenic disturbance (PERMANOVA, p < 0.05). Contracaecum sp. type 1 reached a prevalence of 100% in moderately disturbed habitats. Additionally, Contracaecum sp. type 2, D. helicina, and T. crocodili exhibited moderate to high prevalence across all surveyed localities, irrespective of habitat disturbance levels. Eustrongylides sp. and G. nonipapillata were found exclusively in urban environments. These findings highlight the importance of monitoring host-parasite dynamics across environmental gradients of anthropogenic impact to better assess zoonotic risks and promote both public and wildlife health.

Here we report the first evidence of microplastic ingestion by arboreal primates. We found green-colored microplastic fiber filaments (< 5 mm) in the stomachs of two red howler monkey (Alouatta juara) individuals from central Amazonian várzea forests during seasonal floods. We infer that the plastic particles may have been derived from the decomposition of ghost nets (abandoned fishing nets) deposited on trees during annual flooding of the várzea forests. Our findings highlight the need for further research to assess the extent of plastic ingestion by forest-dwelling species and the possible consequences for the health of wild animals, humans, and ecosystems.

Outdoor workers are at increased risk of tick-borne diseases, yet we poorly understand the interaction between occupational risk factors and worker behavior. This study integrates active tick surveillance with worker-reported survey data to assess how occupational behaviors, demographic characteristics, and tick-prevention knowledge influence exposure to infected ticks. We collected blacklegged ticks (Ixodes scapularis) from three Minnesota counties to determine the infection prevalence and density of infected ticks for Borrelia burgdorferi and Anaplasma phagocytophilum. Molecular surveillance was coupled with outdoor worker surveys that ascertained exposure characteristics to model individual-specific probabilities of encountering infected ticks during their job responsibilities. From May to July 2023-2024, 872 ticks were collected, where 45.6% (n = 398) were infected with B. burgdorferi and 7.2% (n = 78) were infected with A. phagocytophilum. Across both years, maximum infected tick densities peaked in Carlos Avery Wildlife Management Area at 0.80 (0.22 [IQR 0.16, 0.48]) per 100 m², were intermediate in Lake Elmo Park Reserve at 0.35 (0.12 [IQR 0.05, 0.18]) per 100 m², and lowest in Whitewater Wildlife Management Area at 0.25 (0.04 [IQR 0.02, 0.13]) per 100 m². Forty-two survey responses revealed individual probabilities of encountering infected ticks ranged from ~ 5 to 65% for B. burgdorferi and ~ 0-25% for A. phagocytophilum. Our results suggest that outdoor workers have a high probability of encountering infected ticks through occupational exposure, which was marginally associated with demographic factors (e.g., age) and preventive behaviors (e.g., tick checks, repellent use). This study reports elevated B. burgdorferi infection prevalence from adult (62.1%) and nymphal (36.5%) blacklegged ticks within Minnesota.

Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) is a fungal pathogen responsible for dramatic declines of amphibian populations around the world. Experimental exposure studies have documented differences in host susceptibility to Bd, but variation in study designs may limit our ability to compare inferences across studies. Using laboratory-maintained pathogen cultures that may lose virulence over time (i.e., pathogen attenuation) or exposing hosts to foreign or local strains are choices that could affect hosts differently. To test how these study design choices affect resulting inference, we exposed a vulnerable anuran species, the boreal toad (Anaxyrus boreas boreas), to three strains of Bd that varied in passage history and geographic origin and measured differences on host survival. We also examined strain-specific information reported in 58 publications of Bd exposure experiments to investigate the potential for reproducibility across studies. We found that boreal toads exposed to strains with many passes had higher weekly survival probabilities than those exposed to the strain with few passes, indicating likely pathogen attenuation in strains with higher passage history. We also found evidence for local adaptation of Bd to its host. Eighty-eight percent of publications summarized did not report the number of Bd passages. Our findings suggest that strains with fewer passes in culture are better suited for exposure studies seeking to understand differences in host susceptibility and that the amount of passes can dramatically affect inference gained across studies.

Wild birds serve as reservoirs and vectors for many different pathogens. Changes in their distribution and abundance, due to environmental change, will influence disease risk. We investigated potential changes in abundance for three commonly occurring species that are likely major drivers of a wide range of diseases: blackbirds, mallards and house sparrows. These are competent hosts for avian influenza and West Nile virus, among other pathogens. Using the Netherlands as a case study, we created random forest models for predicting the distribution and (relative) abundance of these species, both now (1991-2020) and in the future (2036-2065). The three species had different spatial distributions, largely related to their preferred habitat and food availability. In the future, mallard and house sparrow populations were predicted to increase, while there was little change for blackbirds. These changes in abundance have a potentially strong relationship with disease risk, since species abundance is linked to the size of pathogen reservoirs. We demonstrate this relationship by linking blackbird abundance to cases of Usutu virus in the Netherlands. Our work illustrates the potential value of forecasting (relative) abundance to estimate future disease risk and to assist planning of disease management actions.

Zoonotic tuberculosis is a neglected subject that has the potential to impede the effectiveness of the TB elimination program. The present study aimed to determine the genetic diversity and drug resistance in the Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates from captive wild animals. A total of 67 tissue samples were collected from 33 animals, comprising 21 wild captive animals from various species and 12 slaughtered domestic buffaloes. These samples were subjected to the detection of Mycobacterial species by culture isolation, and further molecular identification by mPCR, Xpert-Ultra and TrueNat MTB/Rif assay; followed by drug susceptibility profiling by MTBDRplus and Spoligotyping of the isolates. Of the 67 samples from captive zoo animals, 44 samples were culture positive. Of these, 38 isolates were identified as Mycobacterium tuberculosis Complex (MTBC) and remaining 6 were identified as non- tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM). All NTM isolates were from different tissues of a Tigress which also had mixed infection with MTBC. All the 38 culture isolates were further subjected to phenotypic drug susceptibility testing (pDST) and genotyping. Twenty-eight (73.69%) of them, were pan-susceptible, 9 (23.68%) exhibited isoniazid mono-resistance, and 1 (2.63%) was rifampicin mono-resistant. On genotyping, 27 (71.05%) of the samples were classified as 'Orphan'. Ten (26.32%) isolates were identified as CAS1_DELHI, clustered within SIT number 375, while one sample (2.63%) remained unidentified. The drug resistance and genotyping patterns were similar to the human population. Our results show that M. tuberculosis was major cause of Zoonotic TB and should be considered as potential reverse zoonotic agent in India.

The hypothetical link between a reduction in biodiversity and increased zoonotic diseases remains debatable. We tested this by utilising remote vegetation density and protected areas (PAs) as proxies for biodiversity and examined their relationship with triatomine richness and occupancy. Triatomine bugs serve as the primary vector for Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease. Although no link was found between triatomine species richness and vegetation, triatomine occupancy was lower within PAs than outside. Consequently, our findings suggest that reduced biodiversity may lead to a greater occupancy of triatomines, which could increase the risk of Chagas disease.

Antibiotic resistance poses a critical global health threat, demanding robust surveillance systems to monitor its prevalence, patterns, and trends. The One Health approach has emerged as a comprehensive framework, emphasizing the interconnectedness of human health, animal health, and the environment in addressing this complex issue. This article explores the potential of One Health-based antibiotic resistance surveillance, integrating big data analytics and interdisciplinary collaboration. Challenges and opportunities in harmonizing surveillance efforts across sectors are discussed, underscoring the importance of data sharing and standardization. Advanced technologies like genomics and metagenomics are examined for understanding the genetic basis of antibiotic resistance and tracking its spread. The article also highlights the potential of real-time monitoring and early warning systems to inform evidence-based policies and antimicrobial stewardship programs. By analyzing the state-of-the-art in antibiotic resistance surveillance, this article sheds light on the transformative potential of One Health approaches, leveraging big data and interdisciplinary collaboration to combat antibiotic resistance effectively. The urgency of adopting a united global effort to safeguard the efficacy of antibiotics for future generations is emphasized.

This study focuses on monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 in free-living animals in the Vale dos Sinos region, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, aiming to verify the presence of this emerging virus using next-generation sequencing (NGS) technique. Rectal and oral swab samples were collected from 52 white-eared opossums (Didelphis albiventris) and submitted to metagenomics and subsequently directed SARS-CoV-2 genome sequencing. Five positive samples were found to originate from these animals' contact with human waste or contaminated water bodies, indicating the spillover of SARS-CoV-2 to D. albiventris.