Volume: 221, Published: 2 May 2023

Sri Lanka: Increasing cases of leptospirosis in Southern Province
Date: 30 April 2023; Disease: Leptospirosis; Location: Southern Province, Sri Lanka
Galle District community medical specialist says leptospirosis disease is spreading into a severe epidemic in the Southern Province. He pointed out that 19 deaths have been reported in Galle District due to leptospirosis so far this year (2023). The doctor further warned that the individuals who carry out any work related to impure water, wet soil or mud are at the risk of contracting the disease. Read more at Ada Derana.

Indonesia: Confirmation of African swine fever (ASF)
Date: 27 April 2023; Disease: ASF; Location: Sulawesi Tengah, Indonesia
2171 cases of domestic pigs were confirmed positive with ASF in Sulawesi Tengah. Read more at FAO Empresi.

Bhutan: Confirmation of African swine fever (ASF)
Date: 24 April 2023; Disease: ASF; Location: Sarpang, Dargaythang, Bhutan
Five pigs died of ASF and 32 were destroyed after the confirmation of the disease. 624 animals were at risk in the location. Read more at FAO Empresi.

Sri Lanka: Lumpy skin disease (LSD) reported in North Central Province
Date: 24 April 2023; Disease: LSD; Location: North Central province, Sri Lanka
The Agriculture Minister inquired about the measures taken to control LSD, which is currently spreading in several divisional secretariats in the North Central province. This disease, which was widespread in the Northern Province, has now been brought under control in that province. However, although the provincial livestock department had informed the farmers not to bring affected cattle to the North Central province, the livestock department revealed that the disease spread in the province due to the fact that the farmers in the North Central province ignored the advice. Increased close contact between animals, especially due to the release of animals into ponds and paddies to graze, has a major impact on the spread of this disease. Read more at Silumina (Sinhala).

Deer tests positive for COVID in El Dorado County
Date: 26 April 2023
SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, was detected for the first time in free-ranging California wildlife, according to state officials. A mule deer buck in El Dorado County was confirmed to be infected with SARS-CoV-2, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife shared. In California, SARS-CoV-2 has been confirmed in pets and zoo animals, but never in free-ranging wildlife before. The deer did not show any outward signs of illness. The deer was harvested in 2021 by a hunter and later tested for disease by CDFW. Read more at Kron4, LA Times and Lake County News.

Study suggests rodents likely origin of the Omicron variant
Date: 26 April 2023
The Omicron variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus may have originated from rodents, according to scientists. The scientists are investigating the means through which SARS-CoV-2 contracted so many mutations in the pandemic’s second year and suggest that reverse zoonosis, circulation in rodent population and subsequent spread as a zoonosis, probably led to the evolution and emergence of the Omicron VOC. The researchers from Christian Medical College, Vellore, and other Indian institutes have proposed their theory in a paper published in the journal Current Science for the likely origin of the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2, the virus causing COVID-19. Read more at DT Next, Tribune India or get full text at Current Science.

The epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 in white-tailed deer
Date: 26 April 2023
In a recent study posted to the Research Square preprint server, researchers explored the epidemiological factors of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in white-tailed deer. Researchers measured the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in North American WTD in this study. The study findings showed that SARS-CoV-2 was found in white-tailed deer populations in most counties where they are present. Peak infection prevalence time estimates were comparable across multiple sampled counties, indicating that human-to-deer spillover transmission may have been widespread. In conclusion, the study adds, similar peak infection prevalence teams across various counties provide evidence of human-to-deer transmission. However, the widespread estimates of local epidemiological reproduction numbers suggest that deer-to-deer transmission is also likely. The studies model estimated that 10% of infected WTD were from human infection pressure. Read more at News Medical and get full text at Research Square (DOI).

Study suggests the zoonotic-like avian H3N8 virus has limited efficiency for human-to-human transmission and is unlikely to cause severe disease in humans
Date: 27 April 2023
In a recent study published in the United States (U.S.) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Emerging Infectious Disease researchers demonstrated that the novel and avian hemagglutinin 3 neuraminidase 8 (H3N8) virus showed limited replication in explant cultures of lung and bronchial tissue. Results from the study indicated that in the bronchial tissue cultures, the levels of viral RNA were similar for the novel H3N8, avian H3N8, and H5N1 viruses. The pH1N1 virus had the highest viral RNA levels, while H9N2 had higher viral RNA levels than the avian and novel H3N8 and H5N1 viral strains. The H5N1 virus had the highest viral RNA levels in the human lung tissue culture, followed by the H9N2 strain. The avian H3N8 virus had the lowest viral RNA levels in lung tissue. Read more at News Medical and get full text at Emerging Infectious Disease.

Contribution of terrestrial animal source food to healthy diets for improved nutrition and health outcomes
Date: 27 April 2023
Diverse foods derived from livestock production systems, including grazing and pastoralist systems, and from the hunting of wild animals and wildlife farming, provide high-quality proteins, important fatty acids and various vitamins and minerals – contributing to healthy diets for improved nutrition and health. Preferences and socio-economic and cultural factors, which vary across agrifood systems and population subgroups, can shape demand for, and consumption of, terrestrial animal source food. FAO’s Committee on Agriculture requested a comprehensive, science- and evidence-based global assessment of the contribution of livestock to food security, sustainable food systems, nutrition and healthy diets, considering environmental, economic and social sustainability. The assessment consists of four component documents. This first component document provides a holistic analysis of the contribution of terrestrial animal source food to healthy diets for improved nutrition and health outcomes over the course of people’s lives. Read more at FAO (DOI), PDF.

FAO AMR Newsletter
Date: 27 April 2023
The latest issue of the AMR newsletter includes the coverage of World Antimicrobial Awareness Week; Action to support implementation of Codex AMR Texts (ACT) project; updates from the FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific and many more. Read the newsletter here (PDF).

China: Evolution of avian influenza virus (H3) with spillover into humans
Date: 17 April 2023
The continuous evolution of avian influenza viruses (AIVs) of subtype H3 in China and the emergence of human infection with AIV subtype H3N8 highlight their threat to public health. Through surveillance in poultry-associated environments during 2009-2022, we isolated and sequenced 188 H3 AIVs across China. Performing large-scale sequence analysis with publicly available data, we identified 4 sublineages of H3 AIVs established in domestic ducks in China via multiple introductions from wild birds from Eurasia. Using full-genome analysis, we identified 126 distinct genotypes, of which the H3N2 G23 genotype predominated recently. H3N8 G25 viruses, which spilled over from birds to humans, might have been generated by reassortment between H3N2 G23, wild bird H3N8, and poultry H9N2 before February 2021. Mammal-adapted and drug-resistance substitutions occasionally occurred in H3 AIVs. Ongoing surveillance for H3 AIVs and risk assessment are imperative for potential pandemic preparedness. Read more at PubMed and Flu.

First oral Rabies vaccine for dogs
Date: 30 March 2023
When it comes to free-roaming dogs, oral rabies vaccination (ORV) may play a crucial role in the global fight against canine rabies and could revolutionise the progress towards the ‘Zero by 30’ global strategic plan. For the first time, and according to scientific literature, there is an oral rabies vaccine for dogs. Regulatory approval of oral rabies vaccines and associated testing is cost-effective. A number of oral rabies vaccines, both attenuated or recombinant, have been developed and licensed for wildlife but not a single vaccine has yet claimed regulatory approval for dogs. However, if a vaccine is already licensed for wildlife, it may only take overcoming a few more hurdles to achieve this. As for wildlife, we need to ensure that an oral rabies vaccine, as well as the bait, are effective, safe and enticing for dogs. Most potential vaccine candidates have only been used experimentally in dogs, either in the laboratory or in the field. Only recently has a first oral rabies vaccine been reported to show high efficacy, immunogenicity and safety both under laboratory and field conditions and will apply for regulatory approval. Read more at WOAH Bulletin.

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