The One Health Concept: 10 Years Old and a Long Road Ahead

The application of One Health concept in China and its practice and innovation in cross-sector cooperation

Background

This study explores the opportunities and challenges associated with the One Health concept in China. Taking the practice of multi-sector health collaboration in China as an example, this study analyses the possible obstacles and opportunities.

Methods

From June to August 2023, 30 semi-structured interviews were conducted with experts from the Health Commission, Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Ecology and Environment, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Department of Transportation, Administration for Market Regulation, and other departments. Qualitative analysis of the interview data was performed using NVivo12.

Results

The One Health concept has universal appeal and application potential, but there are many challenges in practice. First of all, cross-departmental cooperation requires clear departmental responsibilities and coordination strategies, but in reality, it is often due to the overlapping of functions between departments or the lack of effective communication mechanism, resulting in insufficient cooperation. Secondly, the low two-way interaction and the lack of effective information exchange and data sharing mechanisms also limit the full implementation of the One Health concept. In addition, the shortage of professional human resources further exacerbates the problem, and finally, the degree of awareness and emphasis of society on public Health is also a key factor affecting the implementation of the One Health concept.

Conclusion

The concept of One Health has shown great potential and necessity in the collaborative work of multiple departments in China, but there are still significant obstacles in the implementation process of One Health concept in multiple departments. However, to fully realize this concept, more efforts are still needed in the areas of cooperation mechanisms, professional talent training, information exchange and social awareness. Future work should focus on strengthening intersectoral communication and coordination, raising public health awareness, and optimizing relevant policies and strategies to better address global public health challenges.

The relevance of biochar and co-applied SynComs on maize quality and sustainability: Evidence from field experiments

Adoption of sustainable maize cropping practices is urgently needed. Synthetic microbial communities (SynComs) made of plant growth-promoting microorganisms (PGPMs), coupled with biochar from residual biomass, offer an environmentally compatible alternative to inorganic fertilizers and may improve soil fertility. This article extends in a two-year field trial with preliminary results obtained in previous pot experiments, monitoring plant physiology, soil biology and chemistry, and kernel metabolomics. Here, we report the synergistic effect of the co-application of biochar, SynComs, and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on the soil microbiome, maize growth, and kernel metabolomic profile. SynComs application did not affect the diversity and richness of soil microbial communities; therefore, it posed a low risk of long-term effects on soil microbial ecology. With SynComs and biochar co-application to the soil, the physiology of maize plants was characterized by higher chlorophyll content, ear weight, and kernel weight. The combination of SynComs and biochar also affected the kernel metabolome, resulting in enriched health-beneficial and anti-stress metabolites. Since the preliminary evidence on the environmental and economic impact of these new associations was more favorable than that of conventional fertilizers, it seems reasonable that their large-scale implementation can eventually favor the transition to more sustainable agriculture.

Integrating "nature" in the water-energy-food Nexus: Current perspectives and future directions

Integrated approaches for managing natural resources are said to meet increasing demand for water, energy, and food, while maintaining the integrity of ecosystems, and ensuring equitable access to resources. The Water-Energy-Food (WEF) Nexus has been proposed as a cross-sectoral approach to manage trade-offs and exploit synergies that arise among these sectors. Although not initially included as a component of the Nexus, the role of nature in sustaining the water, energy, and food sectors and in regulating their interrelationships is increasingly recognised by Nexus researchers and practitioners. To converge existing approaches that integrate nature into the WEF Nexus and suggest a common framework, we - an interdisciplinary group of natural resources management researchers and systems thinkers from the European research network NEXUSNET COST Action - followed a collaborative process of knowledge creation combining literature review, elicitation of expert opinion and collaborative writing. Our results reveal a multiplicity of concepts utilised in the literature to represent, partially or fully, "nature" in the Nexus, such as "environment", "ecosystems", "ecosystem services", "social-ecological systems", and "biodiversity". Disparity was also found in the role attributed to nature, represented by three key paradigms: (1) ecosystems as the fourth component of an expanded Nexus, i.e., the WEF-Ecosystems (WEFE) Nexus; (2) ecosystems as a foundational layer to the Nexus; and (3) the WEF Nexus as a central component of social-ecological systems (SES). By creating a hybrid approach that brings together the benefits of the respective paradigms, we present a forward-looking WEFE Nexus conceptualisation. This paradigm expands the mutual interlinkages among water, energy and food to the entirety of SES, thus acknowledging the social-ecological processes that are affected by and affect the WEF Nexus. The results of this collaborative research effort intend to provide researchers and stakeholders with means to better understand and ultimately manage Nexus issues towards a transformative change.

Effective Innovative Technologies and One Health Strategies in Mitigating Aflatoxin Contamination in Peanut Oil: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Aflatoxin contamination in peanut oil poses significant health, agricultural, and environmental risks. This study assesses the effectiveness of advanced technologies and One Health strategies in mitigating these risks. Through systematic review and meta-analysis, we evaluate the effectiveness of integrated approaches. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies from PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science (September 2010-September 2024) on aflatoxin mitigation in peanut oil. We included studies involving agricultural, health, and environmental interventions, focusing on Aflasafe, ozonation, and One Health strategies. A random-effects meta-analysis was performed to calculate pooled effect sizes. Our review of 30 studies, including five meta-analyses, highlights that advanced mitigation methods like Aflasafe (90%, 95% CI: 85%-95%), Ozonation (85%, 95% CI: 70%-95%), and Biological Control (80%, 95% CI: 70%-90%) significantly reduce aflatoxin contamination in peanut oil. However, reduced efficacy was observed, with dexification found to be 58% (95% CI: 52%-64%) and a pooled effect size of 77% (95% CI: 67%-87%). One Health strategies also show substantial impact, with the highest effect size of 0.91 (95% CI: 0.81-1.00) through Aflasafe training, followed by integrated agricultural, environmental, and health education (0.70, 95% CI: 0.58-0.82) and health-sector risk awareness (0.68, 95% CI: 0.57-0.79), yielding a pooled effect size of 0.75 (95% CI: 0.70-0.80). This review highlights the effectiveness of advanced technologies and One Health strategies in reducing aflatoxin contamination in peanut oil. Combining Aflasafe, ozonation, and One Health approaches offers a promising strategy for both immediate control and sustainable management. Future research should prioritize cost-effective technologies and community-based interventions to enhance impact and scalability, especially in resource-limited settings.

Application of the Fpg-modified comet assay on three-spined stickleback in freshwater biomonitoring: toward a multi-biomarker approach of genotoxicity

Aquatic species are exposed to a wide spectrum of substances, which can compromise their genomic integrity by inducing DNA damage or oxidative stress. Genotoxicity biomarkers as DNA strand breaks and chromosomal damages developed on sentinel species have already proved to be relevant in aquatic biomonitoring. However, these biomarkers do not reflect DNA oxidative lesions, i.e., the 8-oxodG, recognized as pre-mutagenic lesion if not or mis-repaired in human biomonitoring. The relevance to include the measure of these lesions by using the Fpg-modified comet assay on erythrocytes of the three-spined stickleback was investigated. An optimization step of the Fpg-modified comet assay considering enzyme buffer impact, Fpg concentration, and incubation time has been performed. Then, this measure was integrated in a battery of genotoxicity and cytotoxicity biomarkers (considering DNA strand breaks, DNA content variation, and cell apoptosis/necrosis and density) and applied in a freshwater monitoring program on six stations of the Artois Picardie watershed (3-week caging of control fish). These biomarkers allowed to discriminate the stations regarding the genotoxic potential of water bodies and specifically by the measure of oxidative DNA lesions, which seem to be a promising tool in environmental genotoxicity risk assessment.

Comparison of pathogenicity factors of avian pathogenic and extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli isolates originating from broiler chickens

1. E. coli is an opportunist pathogen of animals, including food-producing ones and humans. Chickens may be a notable source of pathogenic and antimicrobial resistant E. coli for transmission to humans.2. This study compared virulence-associated genes (VGs) and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in avian pathogenic E. coli (APEC) and extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli (ExPEC) isolates from broiler chickens, specifically APEC isolates in liver samples (n = 78) and ExPEC or non-ExPEC isolates in litter samples (n = 34). Virulence was evaluated by PCR for feoB, hlyF, iroN, iss, iutA and ompT genes, while AMR was evaluated by using antimicrobials from seven classes and detecting blaSHV, blaTEM, blaOXA, qnrB, stcM, mrc1, mrc2, sul1 and tetA genes.3. The APEC isolates were found in 100% of livers, while ExPEC and non-ExPEC isolates were found in 44% and 56% of the litter samples. The predominant VG was feoB (100%), followed by ompT (63%), iutA (60%), iss (58%) and hlyF (43%). Surprisingly, iroN, omp T and iutA had higher prevalences in APEC isolates (85%, 96% and 96%, respectively) than in ExPEC isolates (73%, 87% and 73%, respectively) and non-ExPEC isolates (0% for all). The presence of all VG in 33% of isolates indicated high pathogenicity.4. The isolates were phenotypically resistant to ampicillin (93%), ceftazidime (72%) and nalidixic acid (82%). All APEC and ExPEC isolates (100%) were multidrug resistant (MDR), while 63% of non-ExPEC isolates were MDR. Genotypic AMR testing revealed that 53% and 52% of all isolates had stcM and tetA, respectively. No isolate was positive for blaSHV, blaOXA, mrc1 or mrc2, which suggested the benefits of colistin for treating carbapenem-resistant enteric pathogens, due to the high resistance detected to meropenem (47%).5. Given the potential pathogenicity of E. coli isolates, improving biosecurity practices in chicken flocks should be prioritised to eliminate transmission to humans through the food chain.

Zoonosis: social and environmental connections in the Mexico-United States border region

The emerging risks facing humanity have highlighted the need to address and prevent challenges through multilateral preventive strategies. The Mexico-United States (US) border is a region with great biological biodiversity and both countries shared a similar history and intense socioeconomic, and cultural interrelationships. Also, it has an extraordinary ecological contrast, resulting in an enormous biological diversity in a broad Nearctic-Neotropical transition zone. This dynamic region has important disparities due to the lack of bilateral strategies to face emerging issues (e.g., infectious diseases) in an integrated and holistic approach. In this context, we describe the various socio-ecosystemic contexts of the shared border and present different diseases transmitted, and different zoonoses that affect ecosystemic public health that must be addressed under collaborative schemes that can develop preventive policies under the One Health approach with emphasis on the Mexican zone. We describe the social determinants of health issues for the border, but we add ecological contexts infrequently studied in classical epidemiological approaches. Strategies towards One Health require international and multidisciplinary approaches that strengthen diagnostic capabilities, recognizing social, and environmental challenges. Recognizing these aspects will allow the establishment of joint monitoring, prevention, and mitigation strategies with benefits for both countries.

PHI-base - the multi-species pathogen-host interaction database in 2025

The Pathogen-Host Interactions Database (PHI-base) has, since 2005, provided manually curated genes from fungal, bacterial and protist pathogens that have been experimentally verified to have important pathogenicity, virulence and/or effector functions during different types of interactions involving human, animal, plant, invertebrate and fungal hosts. PHI-base provides phenotypic annotation and genotypic information for both native and model host interactions, including gene alterations that do not alter the phenotype of the interaction. In this article, we describe major updates to PHI-base. The latest version of PHI-base, 4.17, contains a 19% increase in genes and a 23% increase in interactions relative to version 4.12 (released September 2022). We also describe the unification of data in PHI-base 4 with the data curated from a new curation workflow (PHI-Canto), which forms the first complete release of PHI-base version 5.0. Additionally, we describe adding support for the Frictionless Data framework to PHI-base 4 datasets, new ways of sharing interaction data with the Ensembl database, an analysis of the conserved orthologous genes in PHI-base, and the increasing variety of research studies that make use of PHI-base. PHI-base version 4.17 is freely available at www.phi-base.org and PHI-base version 5.0 is freely available at phi5.phi-base.org.

Serosurvey of Rickettsia spp. and Ehrlichia canis in Dogs from Shelters in Sicily (Southern Italy)

Vector-borne diseases represent a serious threat to human and animal health, especially where environmental conditions favor pathogen-carrying vectors. Dogs serve as natural hosts for two tick-borne pathogens: Ehrlichia canis, which causes canine monocytic ehrlichiosis, and spotted fever group (SFG) Rickettsia spp., a zoonotic threat in the Mediterranean region. Rhipicephalus sanguineus is the primary vector for these pathogens. Shelter dogs, due to increased exposure to ticks and confined living conditions, facilitate the spread of vector-borne pathogens, raising the risk of zoonotic transmission. This study conducted a serological survey of 1287 dogs from two shelters, assessing exposure to Rickettsia spp. and E. canis and examining the influence of demographic and environmental factors. Seroprevalence rates were 41.8% for Rickettsia spp. and 24.5% for E. canis, with 14% of dogs positive for both pathogens. No significant association was found with sex or breed. A higher seroprevalence was observed in dogs older than 12 months and in those from the shelter on the Mediterranean coast compared to those from the Tyrrhenian coast, likely due to climatic differences. The study highlights the role of climate in disease spread and the need for public health interventions, supporting One Health initiatives to prevent zoonotic disease transmission.

Evolution of Sow Productivity and Evaluation Parameters: Spanish Farms as a Benchmark

This study examines the global evolution of sow productivity, with a particular focus on Spain. The analysis is based on key performance metrics such as piglets weaned per sow per year (PWSY), prolificacy, and pre-weaning mortality, utilizing data from literature reviews, the InterPIG, and BDporc® databases. Globally, significant advancements in genetic selection and management practices have led to productivity increases across major pig-producing countries, with notable improvements in prolificacy. However, higher prolificacy has been accompanied by rising piglet mortality rates during lactation, posing sustainability challenges. In Spain, the average productivity of commercial sows increased from 23.78 PWSY in 2009 to 29.45 PWSY in 2023, while Iberian sows reached an average of 17.44 PWSY. Despite these gains, Spain's figures remain slightly below the European Union average. The study highlights the need for new benchmarks, such as non-productive days, piglet survival, and sow longevity, to more accurately assess farm efficiency. These indicators, combined with considerations for animal welfare and environmental sustainability, are crucial for addressing current challenges such as piglet mortality, sow culling, and the carbon footprint. The findings emphasize the importance of adopting comprehensive management strategies that balance productivity with growing social and environmental demands on the swine industry.

Assessment of Risk Factors Associated with and Practices of Cattle Farmers in Kirehe District Rwanda with Respect to Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Pathogens

Rural Rwandan communities face health challenges for humans and animals, and the topography and climate of the Kirehe District of Rwanda put farmers at high risk for mosquito-borne diseases. Individuals from 92 Rwandan farms were surveyed about farm practices, as well as animal and human health histories between December 2017 and February 2018. Human, animal, and environmental factors were investigated to determine whether there is a pattern of risk for abortion incidence and/or history of malarial disease on the farm. Iterative, complementary logistic regression models were used to determine whether there was an association between variables and abortion history in animals. These factors were then used to investigate association with a reported history of malaria. Of the 92 farms in our study, 82 were family farms and 10 were commercial farms. On average, 88% of the farms had cattle, and 30% of farms had experienced a cattle abortion in the past 2 years. There was no observed statistical significance in the risk factors for history of abortion in cattle and the measured variables. Using One Health as a guiding framework, we sought to determine whether human, animal, and environmental factors were statistically associated with observed disease outcomes. From our study of the practices of the farmers with respect to biosafety and self-protection against disease, we have identified potential sources of risk that could be targeted to enhance education and protection on these farms.

Molecular analysis of feces reveals gastrointestinal nematodes in reintroduced wild asses of the Negev desert

Reintroduced animals face disease risks, potentially impacting both the reintroduced and the local wildlife/domestic populations. This study focuses on the Asiatic wild asses (Equus hemionus) reintroduced to the Negev desert in southern Israel. Despite potential threats of disease spill-over to and from domesticated donkeys and horses in the area, there are no records of the gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) of the wild ass population. We used DNA metabarcoding on fecal samples of wild asses collected across seasons and habitats, near water sources that they frequently use. Ten GIN species were detected in the feces, nine belonging to the family Strongylidae, which commonly infects and causes disease in equids worldwide, such as horses, zebras, and donkeys. Some of these Strongylidae species are also found in domesticated equids in Israel, thus raising concerns regarding potential parasite transmission between wild and domestic animals. The high prevalence of certain GIN species suggests frequent transmission, likely due to the congregation of the wild asses around water sources. While we observed statistically significant variations in some GIN species across seasons and habitats, we did not find clear overall differences between GIN communities. DNA metabarcoding proves to be a valuable tool for identifying GIN species in wild animals, with potential applications in monitoring their health and preventing disease transmission to and from domestic animals.

Ecosystem health appears neglected in the management of the human-macaque interface: A systematic review

Macaques (Macaca spp.) are reported in human-wildlife interaction in anthropogenic areas. The management of human-macaque interactions (HMI) requires an understanding of various perspectives and knowledge. One Health (OH) is a transdisciplinary approach to address the well-being and health of animals, humans, and ecosystems, which supports sustainable management through its three pillars: economy, ecology, and society. Thus, the OH approach could be applied to HMI management. To explore the HMI management within the context of the OH approach, we examined articles related to the management of HMI from 2013 to 2022 following the systematic review by PRISMA guidelines. Ninety-four publications were included in the study. Then, we extracted information on HMI framing, management activities, species, and location and categorized HMI framings and management activities into themes of three OH domains and three pillars of sustainability. We noticed an underrepresentation of the society and economy pillars in HMI management and the ecosystem health domain was the least explored in both the HMI and management activities. When we connected publications addressing all three pillars with OH domains in management activities, the number focused on ecosystem health (3/13) remained limited. The most frequently reported HMI theme was "crop feeding"(n=42) and management activities were "HMI management" (n=42). Most publications lacked any form of evaluation of the HMI management. The challenges to better consider ecosystem health in the HMI and to promote participatory governance present an opportunity to apply the OH approach in wildlife conservation and management.

One Health in Agricultural Sectors in Thailand, Lao PDR, and Vietnam: Interconnectedness Between Awareness and Socioeconomic Factors

Objective

The study aims to analyze the interconnectedness of farmers' socioeconomic factors and their awareness of the One Health framework.

Method

This study conducted a survey with 1,166 observations across Thailand, Lao, and Vietnam and employed binary logit regression for data analysis. Odds ratios were used for interpreting the results.

Results

The results indicated that certain socioeconomic factors-particularly household income, age, gender roles within the household, and household size-significantly influenced farmers' awareness and engagement with One Health literacy. Awareness levels varied across the three countries: for example, the composition of adults in Thai farming households was correlated with awareness of environmental health and infectious diseases. In Lao PDR, gender was significantly associated with awareness of animal health, while in Vietnam, it was linked to awareness of animal disease transmission.

Conclusion

These determinants contribute to the application of a more integrated One Health approach among farmers in these areas.

Biological control for One Health

Biological control has been effectively exploited by mankind since 300 CE. By promoting the natural regulation of pests, weeds, and diseases, it produces societal benefits at the food-environment-health nexus. Here we scrutinize biological control endeavours and their social-ecological outcomes through a holistic 'One-Health' lens, recognizing that the health of humans, animals, plants, and the wider environment are linked and interdependent. Evidence shows that biological control generates desirable outcomes within all One Health dimensions, mitigating global change issues such as chemical pollution, biocide resistance, biodiversity loss, and habitat destruction. Yet, its cross-disciplinary achievements remain underappreciated. To remedy this, we advocate a systems-level, integrated approach to biological control research, policy, and practice. Framing biological control in a One Health context helps to unite medical and veterinary personnel, ecologists, conservationists and agricultural professionals in a joint quest for solutions to some of the most pressing issues in planetary health.

'You're just a Guinea pig': Exploring the barriers and impacts of living with long COVID-19: A view from the undiagnosed

The COVID-19 pandemic had a disproportionate impact on ethnically minoritised and other marginalised communities, yet little is known about the impacts of long COVID-19 (LC) on this group. Living with LC takes its toll both physically, emotionally and financially and even more so when a diagnosis is hard to come by. By using qualitative interviews centring the view of undiagnosed and marginalised communities already classed as 'underserved' in the medical literature, we show the range of barriers and impacts faced by these groups in the UK, and the strategies of resilience they use. Whether trapped on a 'diagnostic odyssey' at the level of primary care, struggling to maintain employment and businesses, or managing family commitments, we argue many minoritised communities are caught in a liminal space of misrecognition, invalidation and ambiguity. We show how these impacts are generated by tensions and challenges in the process and categorisation of diagnosis, and how this effects the daily lives of many individuals already on the receiving end of health inequity. We also offer some examples and suggestions for best practices.

Exploratory actor mapping of social interactions within tick risk surveillance networks in France

Ticks are important zoonotic disease vectors for human and animal health worldwide. In Europe they are the principal vector of public health importance, responsible for Lyme disease, the most prevalent and widespread tick-borne disease (TBD). Tick presence and TBD incidence are increasing, questioning the effectiveness of existing surveillance systems. At the European level TBD burden is likely underestimated as surveillance differs amongst and within countries. France created its first national public health policy in 2016 to tackle TBDs, prompted by growing concern from the public, medical professionals and the scientific community for the lack of knowledge on tick-borne pathogen risk on the population. With global changes, France currently faces risk for TBD emergence (e.g. Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever) and re-emergence (e.g. tick-borne encephalitis), in addition to increasing Lyme disease cases. We conducted 13 semi-structured interviews with French tick risk surveillance actors to characterize how the national surveillance system functions. Qualitative descriptive analysis was conducted on interview transcripts to create actor maps and identify the barriers and levers for actor interactions. We identified four tick risk surveillance processes: surveillance-oriented research, risk evaluation, policy creation and policy application, to which interdisciplinary, intersectoral and multi-level actor interactions contribute. Actors express a pervasive need to reinforce intersectoral interactions between human, animal and environmental sectors for early risk detection, as well as multi-level interactions to accurately estimate risk and disseminate prevention information. Transdisciplinary, social-ecological system approaches may offer an adaptive framework for locally relevant surveillance activities in diverse social-ecological contexts.

Both Ends of the Leash: Animals in Australian Residential Aged Care Facilities, Views of Experienced Animal Trainers/handlers Working in Residential Aged Care Facilities

Research on animals in residential aged care facilities (RACFs) mainly focuses on the residents with little apparent concern for animal welfare. In the context of documented human welfare breaches in the sector the question arises - how do Australian RACF approach animal welfare. To understand animals' lived experiences in this context experienced dog-trainers with RACF employment history were interviewed. These experts were recruited using snowball sampling, with nine participating in semi-structured interviews about their experience of visiting and live-in animals in Australian RACFs. While initial inductive coding produced six themes (residents, animals, handlers, staff, facility and policy) pervasive animal welfare issues were noted. The outcomes of a subsequent, deductive, recoding using a welfare framework are reported here. Overall, with a focus on residents, and in a context of inadequate staffing, training and oversight, the interviews demonstrate systemic potential for compromised animal welfare with examples of dogs being frightened and one accidentally poisoned. These examples and the need to develop legislation and guidelines to guide safe, ethical, animal contact in RACFs are discussed.

Approaches and methods to study wildlife cancer

The last few years have seen a surge of interest from field ecologists and evolutionary biologists to study neoplasia and cancer in wildlife. This contributes to the One Health Approach, which investigates health issues at the intersection of people, wild and domestic animals, together with their changing environments. Nonetheless, the emerging field of wildlife cancer is currently constrained by methodological limitations in detecting cancer using non-invasive sampling. In addition, the suspected differential susceptibility and resistance of species to cancer often make the choice of a unique model species difficult for field biologists. Here, we provide an overview of the importance of pursuing the study of cancer in non-model organisms and we review the currently available methods to detect, measure and quantify cancer in the wild, as well as the methodological limitations to be overcome to develop novel approaches inspired by diagnostic techniques used in human medicine. The methodology we propose here will help understand and hopefully fight this major disease by generating general knowledge about cancer, variation in its rates, tumour-suppressor mechanisms across species as well as its link to life history and physiological characters. Moreover, this is expected to provide key information about cancer in wildlife, which is a top priority due to the accelerated anthropogenic change in the past decades that might favour cancer progression in wild populations.

Linkages between Soil Security and One Health: implications for the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals

Soil provides multiple and diverse functions (e.g., the provision of food and the regulation of carbon), which underpin the health of animals, humans, the environment and the planet. However, the world's soils face existential challenges. To this end, the concept of Soil Security was developed, compelled to: "maintain and improve soils worldwide so that they can continue to provide food, fiber and fresh water, contribute to energy and climate sustainability and help to maintain biodiversity and the overall protection of ecosystem goods and services." In parallel, the concept of One Health likewise works across the human-animal-environment interface, highly relevant for the goals of Soil Security. In this review, we evaluated the roles which both the Soil Security and One Health concepts have served in the literature between 2012 and 2023 and explore the potential linkages between both concepts. We outline that both concepts are used in disparate fields, despite considerable overlap in aims and objectives. We highlight the Soil Health concept as a potential connector between Soil Security and One Health. Overall, we argue that both Soil Security and One Health are highly complementary fields of scientific inquiry with solid leverage for translation into policy and practice. However, there is a need to define One Health dimensions, as has been done for Soil Security. As such, we proffer five measurable dimensions for One Health, the "5Cs"-Capacity, Condition, Capital, Connectivity and Codification-to allow for an overall measure of One Health. Finally, we advocate for a biosphere-focused framework to collectively make progress toward the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals and other global existential challenges.

Transmission Dynamics and Novel Treatments of High Risk Carbapenem-Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae: The Lens of One Health

The rise of antibiotic resistance and the dwindling antimicrobial pipeline have emerged as significant threats to public health. The emergence of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) poses a global threat, with limited options available for targeted therapy. The CRKP has experienced various changes and discoveries in recent years regarding its frequency, transmission traits, and mechanisms of resistance. In this comprehensive review, we present an in-depth analysis of the global epidemiology of K. pneumoniae, elucidate resistance mechanisms underlying its spread, explore evolutionary dynamics concerning carbapenem-resistant hypervirulent strains as well as KL64 strains of K. pneumoniae, and discuss recent therapeutic advancements and effective control strategies while providing insights into future directions. By going through up-to-date reports, we found that the ST11 KL64 CRKP subclone with high risk demonstrated significant potential for expansion and survival benefits, likely due to genetic influences. In addition, it should be noted that phage and nanoparticle treatments still pose significant risks for resistance development; hence, innovative infection prevention and control initiatives rooted in One Health principles are advocated as effective measures against K. pneumoniae transmission. In the future, further imperative research is warranted to comprehend bacterial resistance mechanisms by focusing particularly on microbiome studies' application and implementation of the One Health strategy.

Immunomics in one health: understanding the human, animal, and environmental aspects of COVID-19

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic underscores the critical need to integrate immunomics within the One Health framework to effectively address zoonotic diseases across humans, animals, and environments. Employing advanced high-throughput technologies, this interdisciplinary approach reveals the complex immunological interactions among these systems, enhancing our understanding of immune responses and yielding vital insights into the mechanisms that influence viral spread and host susceptibility. Significant advancements in immunomics have accelerated vaccine development, improved viral mutation tracking, and broadened our comprehension of immune pathways in zoonotic transmissions. This review highlights the role of animals, not merely as carriers or reservoirs, but as essential elements of ecological networks that profoundly influence viral epidemiology. Furthermore, we explore how environmental factors shape immune response patterns across species, influencing viral persistence and spillover risks. Moreover, case studies demonstrating the integration of immunogenomic data within the One Health framework for COVID-19 are discussed, outlining its implications for future research. However, linking humans, animals, and the environment through immunogenomics remains challenging, including the complex management of vast amounts of data and issues of scalability. Despite challenges, integrating immunomics data within the One Health framework significantly enhances our strategies and responses to zoonotic diseases and pandemic threats, marking a crucial direction for future public health breakthroughs.

First identified Toxoplasma gondii Type I in market-sold ducks in Fujian province, China: a significant for public health

Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is an intracellular protozoan that can cause toxoplasmosis in all warm-blooded hosts. This study focused on the prevalence and genetic characterize of T. gondii in ducks from Fujian province, China. Genomic DNA was extracted from duck tissue samples (heart, liver, lung, and muscle). To assess the genetic diversity of the T. gondii isolates, it was determined by using multilocus polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) technology. A total of 586 ducks from 5 cities in Fujian province were tested, and 35 (6.0%) of which were found to be positive for the T. gondii B1 gene. Further genotyping of these positive samples at 10 genetic markers (SAG1, SAG2, SAG3, BTUB, GRA6, c22-8, c29-2, L358, PK1, and Apico) using PCR-RFLP revealed that one tissue samples (heart samples from Fuzhou ducks) were identified as Type I (ToxoDB#10). This study is the first report on the prevalence and genetic characterization of T. gondii in ducks in Fujian province, and Type I (ToxoDB#10) is found in ducks in China for the first time. The findings document the genetic characterization of T. gondii in free-range ducks from Fujian Province, thereby enriching the understanding of T. gondii genetic diversity in China. Moreover, these results provide essential data support for further prospective studies and underscores the "One Health" concept, emphasizing the integral link among human, animal, and environmental health.

The Risk of Virus Emergence in South America: A Subtle Balance Between Increasingly Favorable Conditions and a Protective Environment

South American ecosystems host astonishing biodiversity, with potentially great richness in viruses. However, these ecosystems have not yet been the source of any widespread, epidemic viruses. Here we explore a set of putative causes that may explain this apparent paradox. We discuss that human presence in South America is recent, beginning around 14,000 years ago; that few domestications of native species have occurred; and that successive immigration events associated with Old World virus introductions reduced the likelihood of spillovers and adaptation of local viruses into humans. Also, the diversity and ecological characteristics of vertebrate hosts might serve as protective factors. Moreover, although forest areas remained well preserved until recently, current brutal, sudden, and large-scale clear cuts through the forest have resulted in nearly no ecotones, which are essential for creating an adaptive gradient of microbes, hosts, and vectors. This may be temporarily preventing virus emergence. Nevertheless, the mid-term effect of such drastic changes in habitats and landscapes, coupled with explosive urbanization and climate changes, must not be overlooked by health authorities.

Evaluation of Population Management Based on Trap-Neuter-Return and Trap-Neuter-Adoption Practices in a Free-Roaming Cat Colony in the Federal District, Brazil

Overpopulation of domestic animals leads to various problems, such as the formation of feline colonies. Population management methods for these colonies have been studied previously; however, no scientific consensus has been reached. This study evaluated the use of trap-neuter-return (TNR) in a free-roaming cat colony in Brazil's Federal District. The study was conducted over 18 months and involved 157 cats that had not previously been managed. The experiment had three parts: recognition and preparation, TNR intervention, and monitoring. The results showed a 47.8% reduction in colony size. Additionally, 98.8% of the animals were sterilized. The adoption, death, disappearance, abandonment, and immigration rates were 19.7%, 14.0%, 14.0%, 7.6%, and 4.5%, respectively. The TNR experiment conducted in the proposed manner, which included detailed pre-planning, mass sterilization, active management, continuous monitoring, and educational actions, proved to be efficient and humane. However, guidelines aimed at managing animal populations, promoting adoption, preventing abandonment, and educating people about responsible pet ownership are essential for achieving sustainable results.

Canine on the Couch: The New Canary in the Coal Mine for Environmental Health Research

Human health is intimately connected and tied to the health of our environment and ecosystem, with only a very small fraction of the risk for chronic diseases explained by genetics alone. Companion animals are prone to disease types that are shared with people, including cancers and endocrine disorders, reinforcing the thought that environmental factors contribute to the risks for chronic diseases. These factors include air and water pollution and the built environment. As such, there is increasing interest in pursuing research with companion animals, and specifically dogs, as sentinel species to inform comparative health assessments and identify risk factors for disease. Of the canine diseases for which environmental exposure research has been published, cancers have received the most attention. This review summarizes two main aspects of this comparative approach: (1) cancers that occur in dogs and which are similar to humans and (2) research investigating environmental exposures and health outcomes in dogs. The goal of this review is to highlight the diverse conditions in which pet dogs may provide unique perspectives and advantages to examine relationships between environmental exposures and health outcomes, with an emphasis on chemical pollution and cancer. Furthermore, this review seeks to raise awareness and stimulate discussion around the best practices for the use of companion animals as environmental health sentinels.

Semiochemicals and natural repellents in biting fly management

Biting flies, including stable flies and horn flies, are considered important pests of livestock, companion animals, and humans by inflicting painful bites and interrupting normal animal behavior and human recreational/outdoor activities. It is estimated that they cause an annual loss of over 3 billion dollars in the US livestock industry. Both groups of pest flies further transmit various infectious diseases to animals and humans. The present review summarizes recent research advancements in stable and horn fly chemical and sensory ecology, especially in the discovery of novel attractants and repellents, as well as their controls for these blood-sucking flies and beyond.

Morbidity of Rescued Wild Birds by Admission Causes in the Republic of Korea

Insufficient reports are available on what clinical and pathological conditions are observed in rescued free-living wild birds. This study investigated recent diagnoses of admitted wild birds based on admission causes in a southwestern area of South Korea over the past 2 years. A retrospective study was conducted on 1464 birds rescued from 2019 to February 2021. Overall, 12 admission subcategories were classified, and the diagnoses identified for each cause were analyzed. The three most frequently observed categories, general, integumentary, and musculoskeletal, each accounted for 20% of the total diagnoses. Trauma accounted for 71.4% of all diagnoses, and 81.5% featured inflammatory conditions, primarily due to trauma or infection. The proportion of birds that presented inflammatory conditions was much greater than the proportion of birds that were admitted due to trauma-related causes. This was because inflammatory diseases were identified at a high frequency, even from nontraumatic admission causes, and inflammatory conditions were not easily revealed. Suspecting an inflammatory condition in most rescued birds is advisable.

ChemFREE: a one-stop comprehensive platform for ecological and environmental risk evaluation of chemicals in one health world

Addressing health and safety crises stemming from various environmental and ecological issues is a core focus of One Health (OH), which aims to balance and optimize the health of humans, animals, and the environment. While many chemicals contribute significantly to our quality of life when properly used, others pose environmental and ecological health risks. Recently, assessing the ecological and environmental risks associated with chemicals has gained increasing significance in the OH world. In silico models may address time-consuming and costly challenges, and fill gaps in situations where no experimental data is available. However, despite their significant contributions, these assessment models are not web-integrated, leading to user inconvenience. In this study, we developed a one-stop comprehensive web platform for freely evaluating the eco-environmental risk of chemicals, named ChemFREE (Chemical Formula Risk Evaluation of Eco-environment, available in http://chemfree.agroda.cn/chemfree/). Inputting SMILES string of chemicals, users will obtain the assessment outputs of ecological and environmental risk, etc. A performance evaluation of 2935 external chemicals revealed that most classification models achieved an accuracy rate above 0.816. Additionally, the $Q_{F1}^2$ metric for regression models ranges from 0.618 to 0.898. Therefore, it will facilitate the eco-environmental risk evaluation of chemicals in the OH world.

Antimicrobial resistance in China across human, animal, and environment sectors - a review of policy documents using a governance framework

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a multifaceted threat to the human, animal, and environment sectors. In response, China has formulated a series of policies since the 2000s. Thus far, there has been no comprehensive assessment of these policy documents. This study aims to review the content of AMR policy documents at the national level using a governance framework covering three areas: Policy Design; Implementation Tools; and Monitoring and Evaluation. We identified 44 AMR documents from 2003 to 2022 sourced from government agency websites. Our findings have revealed noticeable discrepancies across the three governance areas. The Policy Design and Monitoring and Evaluation areas should be strengthened, particularly in the domains of 'Coordination', 'Accountability', 'Sustainability', and 'Effectiveness'. From a 'One Health' perspective, the environment sector has received less attention compared to the human and animal sectors. Effectively addressing these challenges requires a stronger commitment and widespread support from diverse stakeholders.

Hunting Dynamics and Identification of Potentially Pathogenic Bacteria in European Fallow Deer (Dama dama) across Three Hunting Reserves in Western Romania

The study focused on the hunting practices and potentially pathogenic bacterial species among European fallow deer (Dama dama). Within a five-year period, three hunting grounds from Western Romania were examined. During this period, a total of 1881 deer were hunted, and 240 samples were collected by rectal and nasal swabbing from 120 carcasses. Bacterial strains were identified utilizing bacteriological assays and the Vitek® 2 Compact system. Notably, the Socodor hunting ground exhibited a significant difference in harvesting quotas between the bucks (Group M) and does/yearlings (Group F), favoring the latter. In the Chișineu Criș-Sălișteanca hunting ground, a likely correlation in harvesting quotas between the two groups was observed. The identified potentially pathogenic bacteria were Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes and Enterococcus faecium. These results highlight the importance of effectively managing the deer population and recognize the potential for Dama dama to spread zoonotic pathogens, emphasizing the necessity of adopting a One Health approach and maintaining ongoing surveillance of this game species' population dynamics.

One Health

Bertram and colleagues introduce the One Health concept, an interdisciplinary framework that aims to sustainably advance and safeguard the health of humans, animals, and the environment.

A qualitative study on wildlife contact and healthcare-seeking behaviors among a cluster of Mani ethnic group in Manang district, Satun province of Thailand

Mani, or Maniq, or Sakai, are recognized as indigenous hunter-gatherers. Some are nomadic, while others have settled and modernized. Our knowledge of this ethnic group's healthcare-seeking and wildlife contact is limited. Thus, this qualitative study examined healthcare practices and wildlife interaction among a cluster of Mani ethnic group members in Manang District, Satun Province, Thailand, from November to December 2022. Four key informant interviews (KIIs) and focus group discussions (FGDs) were carried out, and the selection of the study respondents was based on information from a gatekeeper and local health officials. Coding, thematic, content, and triangulation analyses of audio transcriptions were implemented based on the study objectives. Mani's beliefs and lifestyle are deeply rooted in the forest, which significantly impacts numerous aspects of their lives. They encountered challenges such as food scarcity, legal issues, and access to modern healthcare. However, since obtaining national identification cards, their mobility has decreased. Their way of life has also changed, as they've become more dependent on outsiders. Nevertheless, they continue engaging in traditional practices such as gathering food, hunting in the forest, and treating illnesses with herbal remedies. They rarely develop serious illnesses. They have decided to seek treatment only if their condition persists or worsens. In addition, their knowledge of COVID-19, zoonotic diseases, and emerging animal-borne diseases was limited. In this regard, relevant governments and organizations should improve their health literacy about zoonotic diseases spread by wild animals to promote appropriate wildlife contact practices and reduce the potential risk of infection.

Uncovering associations between interest in One Health and pre-existing conditions and behaviours: Evidence from a UK survey

This paper endeavours to unveil individual characteristics associated with an interest in One Health. Through the distribution of an online survey randomly distributed among the United Kingdom population, we discovered significant correlations between pre-existing attitudes towards and relationships with nature and animals and interest in One Health, which is quantified by the number of additional pages of One Health information participants agreed to view at the survey's conclusion. Additionally, individuals with poorer mental health demonstrated a higher level of interest in One Health. The findings suggest that interest in One Health and people's connections with nature and animals are driven by the same personal preferences. These insights point towards the potential for more targeted communication strategies to specific groups, facilitating more effective promotion of the One Health concept.

Implementation of One Health surveillance systems: Opportunities and challenges - lessons learned from the OH-EpiCap application

As the complexity of health systems has increased over time, there is an urgent need for developing multi-sectoral and multi-disciplinary collaborations within the domain of One Health (OH). Despite the efforts to promote collaboration in health surveillance and overcome professional silos, implementing OH surveillance systems in practice remains challenging for multiple reasons. In this study, we describe the lessons learned from the evaluation of OH surveillance using OH-EpiCap (an online evaluation tool for One Health epidemiological surveillance capacities and capabilities), the challenges identified with the implementation of OH surveillance, and the main barriers that contribute to its sub-optimal functioning, as well as possible solutions to address them. We conducted eleven case studies targeting the multi-sectoral surveillance systems for antimicrobial resistance in Portugal and France, Salmonella in France, Germany, and the Netherlands, Listeria in The Netherlands, Finland and Norway, Campylobacter in Norway and Sweden, and psittacosis in Denmark. These evaluations facilitated the identification of common strengths and weaknesses, focusing on the organization and functioning of existing collaborations and their impacts on the surveillance system. Lack of operational and shared leadership, adherence to FAIR data principles, sharing of techniques, and harmonized indicators led to poor organization and sub-optimal functioning of OH surveillance systems. In the majority of studied systems, the effectiveness, operational costs, behavioral changes, and population health outcomes brought by the OH surveillance over traditional surveillance (i.e. compartmentalized into sectors) have not been evaluated. To this end, the establishment of a formal governance body with representatives from each sector could assist in overcoming long-standing barriers. Moreover, demonstrating the impacts of OH-ness of surveillance may facilitate the implementation of OH surveillance systems.

Evolution of environmental chemistry study program curricula in tertiary education: a case study and general implications

Societal and scientific progress has led to the formation of new study programs, often with multidisciplinary curricula. Guarantors and teachers of such programs must be prepared to quickly adapt to the needs and demands of students, society, the job market, and the commercial sphere since many issues start surfacing during the first years of the programs' life. Here we share our experience with such a process in the study program "Environment and Health" taught since 2019 at Masaryk University in Brno, Czech Republic. Feedback from students and alumni allows for improvement of the curriculum and organization of the program. We show feedback loops from three perspectives: Feedback from immediate short-term experience can be incorporated within a year, medium-term feedback loops can manifest after several years, and long-term ones even decades. While current students usually perceive only short- or medium-term issues, the philosophy and structure of the program must be built by predicting societal and commercial needs in the following decades. Such long-term aspects are often counterintuitive to students' vision, but still have to be considered for the program to remain attractive to new applicants. Balancing the original vision, preparing and applying changes, and dealing with feedback on all levels are key managerial challenges of successful study programs.

Flow Cytometry Coupled with Resuscitation Assays As a High-Resolution Tool to Inform Environmental Management and Disinfection of Settings Affected by Tuberculous Mycobacteria

Environmental decontamination and water disinfection practices are hallmarks of disease prevention and control in agricultural and public health settings. Informed fit-to-purpose biocontainment is thus dependent on methodologies accurately assessing microbial burden and viability. Also, rigorous evaluation of the efficacy of biocontrol measures implies monitoring microbial inactivation after decontamination/disinfection procedures. In this study, we used flow cytometry coupled with a resuscitation protocol to monitor the metabolic inactivation of bacteria capable of entering non-cultivable states, after the application of a chlorine-based water disinfectant. For this purpose, we used Mycobacterium bovis BCG as a model of slow-growing bacteria able to enter dormancy and representing a multi-host pathogen in a zoonotic disease system-animal tuberculosis-thriving both across temperate and semi-arid regions and involving environmental contamination. The biocide activity of a commercial sodium dichloroisocyanurate (NaDCC) disinfectant against M. bovis BCG was evaluated through mock environmental matrix tests. Using the manufacturer-recommended dosage of NaDCC, BCG cells were apparently inactivated after 24 h upon exposure. However, we show via flow cytometry that, upon exposure to optimal growth conditions, mycobacterial cells were able to regain metabolic activity shortly after, highlighting a sublethal effect of NaDCC at the recommended commercial dosage due to reversible BCG cell damage. In contrast, increasing twice the disinfectant dosage completely inactivated BCG cells after 24 h of exposure, with full irreversible loss of metabolic activity. Methodological workflows based on conventional culture or PCR would have missed the detection of these dormant subpopulations that were in fact able to resume growth when following the recommendations of a commercial disinfectant. This study highlights the superior, high-resolution value of single-cell approaches, such as flow cytometry, to accurately assess the activity of biocides against metabolically heterogeneous and dormant pathogenic bacteria with environmental cycles, supporting data-driven prioritization of environmental management and disinfection options in contaminated vulnerable settings.

Researcher, research thyself? Mapping the landscape of canine health and welfare research funding provided by UK not-for-profit organisations from 2012-2022

BACKGROUND

Research into canine health and welfare is supported by Government, charitable and private UK funding organisations. However, there is no current overall visibility or coordination of these funding activities, potentially compromising optimal distribution of limited resources. This study aimed to survey UK canine health and welfare funding by not-for-profit funders between 2012 and 2022, providing a novel baseline analysis to inform future sector stakeholder priorities.

RESULTS

Funding data were collected from 10 wide-scope funders (UK Government funding councils and medical charities), 18 animal-directed funders (organisations specifically concerned with animal health and welfare) and 81 breed community groups. These 109 UK funders together provided traceable canine-relevant funding of £57.8 million during the surveyed period, comprising 684 individual grant awards supporting over 500 separate research projects. Wide-scope funders contributed £41.2 million (71.2% of total funding); animal-directed organisations, £16.3 million (28.1% of total funding); and breed-specific groups, £370K (0.6% of total funding). Individual grants ranged from £2.3 million to £300. Funding patterns varied between sectors. Animal-directed funders provided £14.7 million of canine-relevant research funding that foregrounded the dog, 73% of all such funding; wide-scope funders provided £17.5 million of canine-relevant One Health research funding, 97% of all such funding. Customised metrics developed for this study assessed the 'benefit to the dog' and 'pathway to impact' of individual research projects. Overall, studies supported by animal-directed funders achieved significantly higher 'benefit to the dog' scores (Mann-Whitney U = 45235, p<0.001) and 'pathway to impact' scores (Mann-Whitney U = 43506.5, p<0.001) than those supported by wide-scope funders.

CONCLUSION

The landscape of UK not-for-profit funding of canine health and welfare research is complex, with considerable variation between providers. Although wide-scope funders provide the majority of overall canine-relevant research funding, animal-directed funders provide the majority of canine-focused funding and support research with greater direct impact on canine welfare. Visibility of past funding patterns will enable stakeholders in this sector to make more informed decisions about future research.

DEFINITIONS

To increase clarity, certain words and phrases are used in specific ways within the context of this paper. Animal-directed funders-Charities and other funding organisations whose remit primarily concerns animals or veterinary work Canine-focused research-Investigations where the primary purpose is to advance understandings of canine health and/or welfare Canine-relevant research-All research that is framed as advancing understandings of canine health and/or welfare as a primary or subsidiary purpose Institution-Refers to universities and other centres where research is carried out Organisation-Refers to funding bodies, including research councils, charities and other groups Research grant-A single funding event originating from one or more funders Research project-A cohesive piece of research concerning a particular topic; may involve multiple researchers and/or multiple research grants, in series or in parallel Wide-scope funders-Large organisations whose remit does not primarily concern animals, i.e. (in this dataset) UKRI councils and the Wellcome Trust.

A scoping review on bovine tuberculosis highlights the need for novel data streams and analytical approaches to curb zoonotic diseases

Zoonotic diseases represent a significant societal challenge in terms of their health and economic impacts. One Health approaches to managing zoonotic diseases are becoming more prevalent, but require novel thinking, tools and cross-disciplinary collaboration. Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is one example of a costly One Health challenge with a complex epidemiology involving humans, domestic animals, wildlife and environmental factors, which require sophisticated collaborative approaches. We undertook a scoping review of multi-host bTB epidemiology to identify trends in species publication focus, methodologies, and One Health approaches. We aimed to identify knowledge gaps where novel research could provide insights to inform control policy, for bTB and other zoonoses. The review included 532 articles. We found different levels of research attention across episystems, with a significant proportion of the literature focusing on the badger-cattle-TB episystem, with far less attention given to tropical multi-host episystems. We found a limited number of studies focusing on management solutions and their efficacy, with very few studies looking at modelling exit strategies. Only a small number of studies looked at the effect of human disturbances on the spread of bTB involving wildlife hosts. Most of the studies we reviewed focused on the effect of badger vaccination and culling on bTB dynamics with few looking at how roads, human perturbations and habitat change may affect wildlife movement and disease spread. Finally, we observed a lack of studies considering the effect of weather variables on bTB spread, which is particularly relevant when studying zoonoses under climate change scenarios. Significant technological and methodological advances have been applied to bTB episystems, providing explicit insights into its spread and maintenance across populations. We identified a prominent bias towards certain species and locations. Generating more high-quality empirical data on wildlife host distribution and abundance, high-resolution individual behaviours and greater use of mathematical models and simulations are key areas for future research. Integrating data sources across disciplines, and a "virtuous cycle" of well-designed empirical data collection linked with mathematical and simulation modelling could provide additional gains for policy-makers and managers, enabling optimised bTB management with broader insights for other zoonoses.

Where exactly do the social and behavioural sciences fit in One Health?

At its core, One Health promotes multidisciplinary cooperation amongst researchers and practitioners to improve the effectiveness and management of complex problems raised by the interplay of human, animal and environment interactions. Contemporary One Health literature has identified reducing disciplinary barriers as key to progress in the field, along with addressing the notable absence of social sciences from One Health frameworks, among other priorities. Efforts to position social scientists as experts on behaviour change and health decision-making has helped to articulate a concrete role for progressing One Health collaborations. Yet, there are other equally valuable functions the social scientist has in understanding complex systems, like One Health. We make explicit the multiple and diverse knowledge contributions the social sciences and humanities can make to progressing the One Health agenda. Articulating these more clearly invites a broader set of interdisciplinary perspectives to One Health discussions, allowing for stronger connections between sectors, actors, disciplines, and sub-systems. This perspective piece identifies a range of entry points for researchers and practitioners to better utilize the potential contributions social sciences and humanities scholars can make to One Health goals.

Computational methods in the analysis of SARS-CoV-2 in mammals: A systematic review of the literature

SARS-CoV-2 is an enveloped RNA virus that causes severe respiratory illness in humans and animals. It infects cells by binding the Spike protein to the host's angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). The bat is considered the natural host of the virus, and zoonotic transmission is a significant risk and can happen when humans come into close contact with infected animals. Therefore, understanding the interconnection between human, animal, and environmental health is important to prevent and control future coronavirus outbreaks. This work aimed to systematically review the literature to identify characteristics that make mammals suitable virus transmitters and raise the main computational methods used to evaluate SARS-CoV-2 in mammals. Based on this review, it was possible to identify the main factors related to transmissions mentioned in the literature, such as the expression of ACE2 and proximity to humans, in addition to identifying the computational methods used for its study, such as Machine Learning, Molecular Modeling, Computational Simulation, between others. The findings of the work contribute to the prevention and control of future outbreaks, provide information on transmission factors, and highlight the importance of advanced computational methods in the study of infectious diseases that allow a deeper understanding of transmission patterns and can help in the development of more effective control and intervention strategies.

Reverse Zoonotic Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and Monkeypox Virus: A Comprehensive Review

Reverse zoonosis reveals the process of transmission of a pathogen through the human-animal interface and the spillback of the zoonotic pathogen. In this article, we methodically demonstrate various aspects of reverse zoonosis, with a comprehensive discussion of SARS-CoV-2 and MPXV reverse zoonosis. First, different components of reverse zoonosis, such as humans, different pathogens, and numerous animals (poultry, livestock, pets, wild animals, and zoo animals), have been demonstrated. Second, it explains the present status of reverse zoonosis with different pathogens during previous occurrences of various outbreaks, epidemics, and pandemics. Here, we present 25 examples from literature. Third, using several examples, we comprehensively illustrate the present status of the reverse zoonosis of SARS-CoV-2 and MPXV. Here, we have provided 17 examples of SARS-CoV-2 reverse zoonosis and two examples of MPXV reverse zoonosis. Fourth, we have described two significant aspects of reverse zoonosis: understanding the fundamental aspects of spillback and awareness. These two aspects are required to prevent reverse zoonosis from the current infection with two significant viruses. Finally, the One Health approach was discussed vividly, where we urge scientists from different areas to work collaboratively to solve the issue of reverse zoonosis.

Characterising global antimicrobial resistance research explains why One Health solutions are slow in development: An application of AI-based gap analysis

The global health crisis posed by increasing antimicrobial resistance (AMR) implicitly requires solutions based a One Health approach, yet multisectoral, multidisciplinary research on AMR is rare and huge knowledge gaps exist to guide integrated action. This is partly because a comprehensive survey of past research activity has never performed due to the massive scale and diversity of published information. Here we compiled 254,738 articles on AMR using Artificial Intelligence (AI; i.e., Natural Language Processing, NLP) methods to create a database and information retrieval system for knowledge extraction on research perfomed over the last 20 years. Global maps were created that describe regional, methodological, and sectoral AMR research activities that confirm limited intersectoral research has been performed, which is key to guiding science-informed policy solutions to AMR, especially in low-income countries (LICs). Further, we show greater harmonisation in research methods across sectors and regions is urgently needed. For example, differences in analytical methods used among sectors in AMR research, such as employing culture-based versus genomic methods, results in poor communication between sectors and partially explains why One Health-based solutions are not ensuing. Therefore, our analysis suggest that performing culture-based and genomic AMR analysis in tandem in all sectors is crucial for data integration and holistic One Health solutions. Finally, increased investment in capacity development in LICs should be prioritised as they are places where the AMR burden is often greatest. Our open-access database and AI methodology can be used to further develop, disseminate, and create new tools and practices for AMR knowledge and information sharing.

One World, One Health: Zoonotic Diseases, Parasitic Diseases, and Infectious Diseases

When we take into account how the boundaries between human, animal, and environmental health are inextricably linked and increasingly intertwined, it comes as no surprise that the One Health approach has assumed an unprecedented level of importance over the past decade [...].

Multiple factors affecting Ixodes ricinus ticks and associated pathogens in European temperate ecosystems (northeastern France)

In Europe, the main vector of tick-borne zoonoses is Ixodes ricinus, which has three life stages. During their development cycle, ticks take three separate blood meals from a wide variety of vertebrate hosts, during which they can acquire and transmit human pathogens such as Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, the causative agent of Lyme borreliosis. In this study conducted in Northeastern France, we studied the importance of soil type, land use, forest stand type, and temporal dynamics on the abundance of ticks and their associated pathogens. Negative binomial regression modeling of the results indicated that limestone-based soils were more favorable to ticks than sandstone-based soils. The highest tick abundance was observed in forests, particularly among coniferous and mixed stands. We identified an effect of habitat time dynamics in forests and in wetlands: recent forests and current wetlands supported more ticks than stable forests and former wetlands, respectively. We observed a close association between tick abundance and the abundance of Cervidae, Leporidae, and birds. The tick-borne pathogens responsible for Lyme borreliosis, anaplasmosis, and hard tick relapsing fever showed specific habitat preferences and associations with specific animal families. Machine learning algorithms identified soil related variables as the best predictors of tick and pathogen abundance.

Antibiotic resistance genes profile in the surface sediments of typical aquaculture areas across 15 major lakes in China

Aquatic farming is considered as a major source of antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) for the natural environment of the lakes. ARB and ARGs in the natural environment have increased quickly because of the human activities. Here, we have profiled the diversity and abundance of ARGs in sediments from the typical aquaculture areas around 15 major lakes in China using PCR and qPCR, and further assessed the risk factor shaping the occurrence and distribution of ARGs. And class 1, 2 and 3 integrons were initially detected by PCR with specific primers. ARGs were widely distributed in the lakes: Weishan Lake and Poyang Lake showed high diversity of ARGs, followed by Dongting Lake, Chao Lake and Tai Lake. Generally, the ARGs in the Middle-Lower Yangtze Plain were more abundant than those in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Tetracycline resistance genes (tet(C), tet(A) & tet(M)) were prominent in sediments, and the next was AmpC β-lactamase gene group BIL/LAT/CMY, and the last was the genes resistance to aminoglycoside (strA-strB). Partial least squares path modeling analysis (PLS-PMA) revealed that livestock had a significant direct effect on the distribution of ARGs in lakes, and population might indirectly influence the profiles of ARGs by affecting the scale of livestock and aquaculture. The detectable rate of class 1, 2 and 3 integrons were 80%, 100% and 46.67%, respectively. The prevalence of integrons might play a key role in promoting more frequent horizontal gene transfer (HGT) events, resulting in the environmental mobilization and dissemination of ARGs between bacteria.

The role of rhizosphere phages in soil health

While the One Health framework has emphasized the importance of soil microbiomes for plant and human health, one of the most diverse and abundant groups-bacterial viruses, i.e. phages-has been mostly neglected. This perspective reviews the significance of phages for plant health in rhizosphere and explores their ecological and evolutionary impacts on soil ecosystems. We first summarize our current understanding of the diversity and ecological roles of phages in soil microbiomes in terms of nutrient cycling, top-down density regulation, and pathogen suppression. We then consider how phages drive bacterial evolution in soils by promoting horizontal gene transfer, encoding auxiliary metabolic genes that increase host bacterial fitness, and selecting for phage-resistant mutants with altered ecology due to trade-offs with pathogen competitiveness and virulence. Finally, we consider challenges and avenues for phage research in soil ecosystems and how to elucidate the significance of phages for microbial ecology and evolution and soil ecosystem functioning in the future. We conclude that similar to bacteria, phages likely play important roles in connecting different One Health compartments, affecting microbiome diversity and functions in soils. From the applied perspective, phages could offer novel approaches to modulate and optimize microbial and microbe-plant interactions to enhance soil health.

Health of Holochilus chacarius (Rodentia: Cricetidae) in rice agroecosystem in a neotropical wetland assessed by histopathology

Small mammals have a short lifetime and are strictly associated with their environment. This work aimed to use histopathology to assess the health of Holochilus chacarius in a rice agroecosystem in the Pantanal of Mato Grosso do Sul. During necropsy, fragments of the lung, kidney, skin, liver, and reproductive system of 33 animals were collected and submitted to histological processing. Tissue damages were evaluated as mild, moderate, and severe and arranged in a matrix for further statistical analysis. Furthermore, we used generalized linear models to verify the influence of tissue changes on the body condition, obtained by a regression between body mass and length. In the lungs, we found an intense inflammatory infiltrate associated with anthracosis that had a negative influence on the body's condition. Also, we observed degenerative and inflammatory changes in the liver, kidneys, skin, and reproductive system that ranged from mild to moderate. The histopathological lesions observed in this study may be associated with environmental alterations of anthropic origin such as the exposure to soot from wildfires and heavy metals, evidenced by lesions in the lung, kidney, and liver. The present study provided a histopathological matrix as a new approach that allows to classify and quantify the tissue alterations. Tissue changes when associated with body condition demonstrated to be an effective tool to assess the health of small free-living mammals, showing that these animals can be used as bioindicators of environmental condition.