Veterinary Research最新文献

{"title":"LY6E regulates Pseudorabies virus early infection via impairing viral internalization.","authors":"Tanveer Ali Fazlani, Tianxing Cao, Yichao Wang, Yi Wang, Asad Jahangir, Xing Chen, Fayu Yang, Haixue Zheng, Shilei Zhang, Zixiang Zhu","doi":"10.1186/s13567-026-01835-6","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13567-026-01835-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Pseudorabies virus (PRV) causes Aujeszky's disease, posing an emerging threat to the livestock industry and raising concern for human health. Host cells employ a wide range of intrinsic factors to combat viral infections; however, the host factors involved in restricting PRV entry remain poorly understood. In this study, using both human and porcine cell models, we identified a potent antiviral role of LY6E (lymphocyte antigen 6, family member E) in suppressing PRV infection. Overexpression of LY6E resulted in a significant reduction in PRV infection, whereas depletion of LY6E increased infection, supporting a promising antiviral role against PRV. Structure-function analyses identified that the proper structure of LY6E is indispensable for its full antiviral activity. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that LY6E modulates specific host signaling pathways during PRV infection without triggering global transcriptional alterations. Furthermore, LY6E was found to interact with PRV envelope glycoproteins, implying its role in regulating viral entry. Subsequent investigations revealed that LY6E does not interfere with the initial attachment of PRV to host cells but specifically impairs viral internalization. Collectively, this study identifies LY6E as a previously unrecognized host restriction factor for PRV and highlights the role of surface proteins in controling viral entry. Additionally, it broadens the antiviral spectrum of LY6E to DNA viruses, beyond its previously reported host-viral interaction in RNA viruses.</p>","PeriodicalId":23658,"journal":{"name":"Veterinary Research","volume":"57 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-09-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13570520/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148956635","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Brucella effector protein BtpB facilitates STAT3 activation to regulate polarization in macrophages during infection.","authors":"Ye Yuan, Minghui Wang, Mingyue Hao, Jialu Chen, Xiaofang Liu, Yuanhao Yang, Yimeng Cui, Shengnan Li, Wei Liu, Dong Zhou, Wei Liu, Yaping Jin, Aihua Wang","doi":"10.1186/s13567-026-01833-8","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13567-026-01833-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Brucella is a Gram-negative facultative intracellular pathogen that causes widespread zoonotic infections. Macrophages are crucial immune and antigen-presenting cells that differentiate into proinflammatory M1-type or anti-inflammatory M2-type cells in different microenvironments. The BtpB protein of Brucella is a type IV secretion system effector protein that modulates host inflammatory responses by inhibiting Toll-like receptor signaling and controlling dendritic cell activation. A high expression of intracellular proinflammatory factors is induced in B. suis deficient in BtpB (B. suis mutant strain ΔbtpB). However, the role of BtpB in macrophage polarization triggered by Brucella infection is uncertain. In this study, RAW264.7 macrophages were utilized as a model to investigate the impact of BtpB on macrophage polarization. The cells were infected with wild-type B. suis strain S2, B. suis mutant strain ΔbtpB, or the B. suis complemented strain C-ΔbtpB followed by flow cytometry, reverse transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR), western blotting, immunohistochemistry, and metabolic detection analyses. The expression of BtpB suppressed M1 polarization and promoted M2 macrophage polarization. Moreover, BtpB upregulated the expression of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) in host cells. Inhibition of STAT3 promoted the expression of nitric oxide synthase (NOS2) in cells infected with either B. suis or C-ΔbtpB, with no observable differences compared to cells infected with ΔbtpB. Conversely, STAT3 overexpression resulted in a downregulation of NOS2 levels in both wild-type and mutant cells. These findings were corroborated by messenger RNA (mRNA) assay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) that confirmed the regulatory role of STAT3 in modulating NOS2 expression. Additionally, intracellular proliferation assays under STAT3-modulated conditions indicated that STAT3 suppresses replication of Brucella. In conclusion, the results demonstrate that BtpB inhibits M1 polarization in macrophages by regulating STAT3 expression which provides a strong foundation for improved understanding of Brucella infection mechanisms.</p>","PeriodicalId":23658,"journal":{"name":"Veterinary Research","volume":"57 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-09-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13540847/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148881369","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Influence of Chlamydia suis on reproductive outcome in farms with and without tetracycline treatment of sows.","authors":"Gertrude Baumgartner, René Brunthaler, Lara Ergin, Michaela Koch, Manolis Lyrakis, Karoline Waldner, Andrea Buzanich-Ladinig, Christine Unterweger","doi":"10.1186/s13567-026-01831-w","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13567-026-01831-w","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Porcine genital chlamydiosis is considered a potential cause of reproductive failure, with Chlamydia (C.) suis being the most prevalent chlamydial species. To assess its pathogenic relevance, 50 Austrian piglet-producing farms were investigated: 40 farms with reproductive disorders (20 with tetracycline-treatment (tet), 20 without (no-tet)) and 10 clinically unaffected control farms. Samples from 770 sows (tet: n = 333, no-tet: n = 337, control: n =100) including blood, cervical and rectal swabs, dust samples and one pooled nursery fecal sample per farm were analyzed. Thirty-seven reproductive-tracts and six abortion cases were examined. Species-specific real-time PCR detected cervical C. suis shedding in 2.1% of sows (tet: n =5, no-tet: n = 10, control: n = 1). Rectal shedding was found on 45 farms and in 39.7% of sows overall (tet: n = 37.8%, no-tet: n = 39.2%, control: n = 48%). C. pecorum DNA was identified in one cervical and seven rectal swabs. Chlamydiaceae-specific antibodies were detected by complement fixation test on all farms and in 49.8% of sows overall, without association between study group and shedding or serological status. C. suis DNA was detected in 28% of dust and 96% of nursery fecal samples, whereas reproductive tract and abortion material were largely PCR-negative. Analyzing 42 C. suis isolates high rates of tetracycline resistance were found in all study groups via tetA(C) PCR (tet: n = 93.75%, no-tet: n = 78.3%, control: n = 100%) and in vitro susceptibility testing (tet: n = 75%, no-tet: n = 60.8%, control: n = 100%). Parity had negative effects on clinical signs, rectal shedding and antibody expression. C. suis appears to play a limited role in reproductive failure, while routine tetracycline treatment should be critically reconsidered due to frequent resistance.</p>","PeriodicalId":23658,"journal":{"name":"Veterinary Research","volume":"57 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-08-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13527907/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148867245","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Multidrug-resistant and virulent Streptococcus suis strains detected in clinically healthy pigs in Guangdong and Guangxi, China.","authors":"Zeren Peng, Hongkun Zhuang, Rongqi Liu, Fan Li, Shiyu Zhang, Pengcheng Du, Han Zheng, Jie Sun, Juan J Quereda, Zongfu Wu","doi":"10.1186/s13567-026-01832-9","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13567-026-01832-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Streptococcus suis is a major zoonotic pathogen, and strains originating from clinically healthy pigs pose an increasingly serious threat to human health. This study investigated 315 S. suis isolates collected from clinically healthy pigs in Guangdong and Guangxi provinces between 2024 and 2025. Among these isolates, 34 capsular polysaccharide (cps) types were identified, with 40.63% belonging to cps types associated with human infections. The isolates exhibited high genetic diversity, distributed across 80 sequence types (STs), 13 clonal complexes (CCs), and five minimum core genomes (MCGs). Animal infection models demonstrated that a considerable proportion of healthy-pig-derived strains displayed high virulence in zebrafish and mouse models. Cytotoxicity assays confirmed that isolates belonging to CC1, CC7, CC17, CC94, and CC108 caused significant cytotoxicity toward A549 and hBMEC cells. Alarmingly, 96.82% of the isolates were multidrug-resistant, and notably, 29.84% showed resistance to penicillin. Furthermore, various integrative and conjugative elements (ICEs) and prophages were identified in these strains. Homology analysis revealed that ICEs carried by highly virulent healthy-pig-derived strains shared high similarity with those from highly virulent human-derived strains and even human-derived Streptococcus agalactiae, raising concerns about the possible dissemination of virulence-associated determinants via ICEs. This study highlights the emergence of multidrug-resistant and highly virulent S. suis strains in healthy pig populations. The dual threat of pathogenicity and antimicrobial resistance, coupled with the horizontal gene transfer capacity of ICEs and prophages, constitutes a serious public health risk, underscoring the urgent need for enhanced surveillance.</p>","PeriodicalId":23658,"journal":{"name":"Veterinary Research","volume":"57 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-08-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13526302/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148857631","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Selective culling and the potential persistence of lumpy skin disease in cattle herds: insights from a mechanistic transmission model.","authors":"Clara Delecroix, Gaël Beaunée, Stéphane Bertagnoli, Thibaut Lurier, Brandon Hayes, Sébastien Picault, Guillaume Fournié, Timothée Vergne","doi":"10.1186/s13567-026-01828-5","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13567-026-01828-5","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The first epidemic of lumpy skin disease (LSD) in France was detected in June 2025, with a total of 117 outbreaks recorded by the end of the year. This fast-spreading vector-borne disease of cattle prompted the implementation of strict control measures, including total depopulation of affected herds, resulting in the culling of more than 3500 cattle. Over the course of the epidemic, this measure became increasingly unacceptable, leading to major protests. To contribute to this veterinary public health debate, we present a mathematical model, accounting for both cattle and vector populations, that compares within-herd transmission dynamics under selective or total depopulation strategies, and different vector control scenarios. The selective depopulation strategies are modelled based on a bi-daily test-and-cull approach implemented upon detection of the first clinical case in an unvaccinated herd, with imperfect diagnostic tests capable of detecting infection in asymptomatic cattle under different assumptions of test sensitivity and of time from infection to detectability. Our model shows that the selective culling strategy is insufficient to control the spread of the disease in the absence of vector population control, with the entire herd eventually becoming infected. In the best-case scenario with highly sensitive and timely diagnostic tests and an 80% reduction of the vector population, still 75% (95% simulation interval: 26, 100) of the herd becomes infected. Assuming more realistic diagnostic tests (30% sensitivity for detecting subclinical animals within 2-3 days before the onset of infectiousness), the model predicts that 94% of the herd (95% simulation interval: 44, 100) eventually becomes infected, representing only a marginal improvement over a total depopulation strategy.</p>","PeriodicalId":23658,"journal":{"name":"Veterinary Research","volume":"57 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-08-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13526299/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148857616","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The calf holobiont under challenge: longitudinal microbiota-pathogen dynamics and respiratory health.","authors":"Maverick Monié-Ibanes, Fatima-Zohra Sikht, Marie-Claude Hygonenq, Hortensia Robert, Gwendoline Pot, Tanguy Simon, Chloé Rivière, Laurent-Xavier Nouvel, Eric Baranowski, Christine Citti, Mariette F Ducatez, Gilles Meyer, Núria Mach","doi":"10.1186/s13567-026-01806-x","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s13567-026-01806-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The bovine respiratory disease complex (BRDC) is a major health and welfare challenge driven by multifactorial interactions among pathogens, the host, the microbiota, and environmental pressures, reflecting the holobiont nature of the calf. Many implicated bacterial pathogens are also respiratory tract commensals, complicating diagnosis, risk assessment, and prevention. Although the potential association of the respiratory and gut microbiotas in BRDC is only beginning to be recognized, their integrated effects have not yet been investigated. Here, we dynamically followed the microbiota, pathogen load, and host response in 30 calves over 147 days under commercial rearing conditions. Nearly half developed BRDC, presenting fever, cough, and abnormal lung sounds, with peak symptoms at day 58 after arrival. Notably, the large majority of these were acute cases, with only a small subset experiencing more than one episode. Pathogen detection in the nasal cavity revealed clear temporal dynamics. Mycoplasma bovis and bovine coronavirus (BCoV) showed their highest loads during the first 2 weeks of life. At 1 month, influenza D virus (IDV) and Histophilus somni peaked, and Pasteurella multocida also reached its maximum abundance and persisted thereafter. Mannheimia haemolytica became prominent later, with a marked increase after 2 months. Importantly, M. haemolytica and P. multocida loads correlated with higher BRDC scores, whereas BCoV was associated with diarrhea. Microbiota analysis showed that nasal beta-diversity diverged between groups at the symptomatic window, and that healthy animals exhibited early life fecal diversity and evenness. Respiratory pathobionts such as Pasteurella and Corynebacterium were enriched in diseased calves, whereas potentially protective families (Lachnospiraceae, Oscillospiraceae) were more abundant in healthy ones. Multivariate analyses further showed that antibiotic treatments and short-chain fatty acids, especially propionic, butyric, iso-valeric, and iso-butyric acids, modulated both fecal and nasal microbiota, with consistently stronger effects in diseased animals. Together, these findings indicate that BRDC outcomes are shaped not by pathogen burden alone but by the interplay among respiratory and digestive microbiotas, pathogens, environment, and management factors. Our study highlights the importance of a holobiont perspective that integrates both gut and respiratory microbiotas to better elucidate the complexity of BRDC. Such an inclusive framework may provide new insights into disease mechanisms and inform the development of innovative therapeutic strategies.</p>","PeriodicalId":23658,"journal":{"name":"Veterinary Research","volume":"57 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-08-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148850914","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evaluation of An I226R and A137R deletion mutant from a genotype I/II recombinant African swine fever virus strain as a live attenuated vaccine in pigs.","authors":"Han Zhang, Qixuan Li, Nannan Li, Ying Wang, Tianying Hou, Hongliang Wang, Rongliang Hu, Yanyan Zhang, Shoufeng Zhang, Faming Miao","doi":"10.1186/s13567-026-01827-6","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13567-026-01827-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The emergence of highly lethal genotype I/II recombinant African swine fever virus (ASFV) strains in China has rendered existing genotype II-based live attenuated vaccines ineffective, underscoring the urgent need for novel vaccine candidates. Although single-gene deletions of A137R or I226R have shown promise against genotype II strains, their efficacy and safety in the context of recombinant strains remain unexplored. Using homologous recombination, we constructed a single gene-deleted mutant (JX23-02ΔI226R) and a double gene-deleted mutant (JX23-02ΔI226RΔA137R) from the genotype I/II recombinant ASFV strain JX23-02. The replication kinetics, pathogenicity, immunogenicity, and protective efficacy of these mutants were evaluated in vitro and in pigs. Both deletion mutants exhibited significantly reduced replication in porcine alveolar macrophages. Immunization with JX23-02ΔI226R resulted in 40% survival, and surviving pigs were protected against lethal challenge. In contrast, JX23-02ΔI226RΔA137R was fully attenuated: all immunized pigs survived challenge without any clinical signs (maximum rectal temperature 40.2 °C) and developed detectable p54-specific antibody responses. Moreover, viral shedding and tissue viral loads were markedly lower in the double-deletion group than in the single-deletion group. The double gene-deleted mutant JX23-02ΔI226RΔA137R represents a promising live attenuated vaccine candidate against genotype I/II recombinant ASFV strains, supporting the use of multigene deletion strategies for ASF vaccine development.</p>","PeriodicalId":23658,"journal":{"name":"Veterinary Research","volume":"57 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-08-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13525649/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148850895","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Histologic atlas of the Egyptian rousette (Rousettus aegyptiacus) with an integrated review of macroscopic anatomy.","authors":"Jessica A Elbert, Brian R Amman, Tara K Sealy, Patrick Atimnedi, Jonathan S Towner, Elizabeth W Howerth","doi":"10.1186/s13567-026-01787-x","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13567-026-01787-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The Egyptian rousette (Rousettus aegyptiacus) has garnered escalating scientific interest owing to its remarkable physiological adaptations, its role as a natural reservoir for emerging zoonotic pathogens, and its potential as a model organism for comparative mammalian investigations. Despite this interest, comprehensive descriptions of normal tissue architecture in this species remain limited and fragmented, hindering interpretation of experimental and spontaneous disease processes. Here, we present a comprehensive histologic atlas derived from wild-caught Egyptian rousette specimens, documenting normal tissue architecture across major organ systems and establishing a standardized reference for future investigations. To contextualize these findings, we also integrate previously published descriptions of Egyptian rousette anatomy and histology, providing a consolidated summary of existing knowledge. This atlas serves as a foundational reference for studies of physiology, immunobiology, and pathology in Egyptian rousettes, facilitating comparative analyses, supporting investigations of host-pathogen interactions, and advancing broader understanding of chiropteran biology relevant to biomedical research, wildlife health, and public health surveillance.</p>","PeriodicalId":23658,"journal":{"name":"Veterinary Research","volume":"57 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-08-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13523447/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148841092","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Type VII secretion system promotes Streptococcus agalactiae virulence through magnesium acquisition and capsule maintenance.","authors":"Fengyang Li, Chen Xu, Weiyi Ma, Yong Zhou, Yang Zhou, Yong-An Zhang, Hui Zeng","doi":"10.1186/s13567-026-01816-9","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13567-026-01816-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Streptococcus agalactiae, also known as group B Streptococcus (GBS), is a major pathogen causing substantial economic losses in global tilapia aquaculture. The type VII secretion system (T7SS), present in Actinobacteria and Firmicutes, secretes effector proteins implicated in bacterial virulence, yet its functional mechanisms remain poorly defined. Here, we constructed an essC deletion mutant (∆essC) in S. agalactiae strain HN016 to investigate the role of T7SS in virulence. The ∆essC exhibited impaired growth and declined intracellular magnesium ion concentration in THB or magnesium-limited chemically defined medium (1 mM Mg²⁺-CDM); these defects were complemented by addition of wild-type culture supernatant. Transcriptomic and quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analyses revealed altered sugar metabolism and significant downregulation of capsule biosynthesis genes (cpsA, cpsB, and cpsD) in ∆essC. Consistent with this, the mutant produced markedly less capsular polysaccharide and displayed impaired capsule integrity. Furthermore, cellular assays confirmed that compared with HN016, the ∆essC mutant exhibited significantly reduced adhesion capacity, immune evasion ability, and cytotoxicity. More importantly, the ∆essC mutant showed attenuated virulence in vivo, with reduced bacterial loads in host tissues and diminished ability to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Our findings provide the first evidence that the T7SS influences magnesium homeostasis and is essential for maintaining capsule integrity, both of which contribute critically to pathogenicity. This study identifies T7SS as a potential target for novel therapeutic strategies against streptococcal disease in aquaculture.</p>","PeriodicalId":23658,"journal":{"name":"Veterinary Research","volume":"57 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-08-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13520451/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148841229","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Characterization of spontaneous gross and histologic findings in free-ranging Egyptian rousettes (Rousettus aegyptiacus) from Uganda with a review of reported pathogens.","authors":"Jessica A Elbert, Brian R Amman, Tara K Sealy, Patrick Atimnedi, Katy A Martin, Jonathan S Towner, Elizabeth W Howerth","doi":"10.1186/s13567-026-01785-z","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13567-026-01785-z","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The emergence of significant viral pathogens and their escalating threats to human and animal health have intensified scientific interest in bats as disease vectors and natural reservoir hosts. Among chiropteran species, the Egyptian rousette (Rousettus aegyptiacus) assumes particular epidemiological significance as the established natural reservoir for orthomarburgviruses, encompassing the two recognized members Marburg virus and Ravn virus. While contemporary research predominantly emphasizes the detection and characterization of specific zoonotic agents within these populations, fundamental knowledge regarding their baseline pathology and the comprehensive impacts of disease on morbidity remains limited. Pathological investigations of free-ranging bat populations face inherent methodological constraints, frequently hampered by insufficient sample sizes or selection bias toward compromised specimens (e.g., moribund or deceased animals). This study addresses these limitations through comprehensive post-mortem examination and histologic evaluation of 69 free-ranging Egyptian rousettes from Uganda. These specimens were procured during systematic efforts to identify filoviral reservoir hosts, thereby providing an unprecedented opportunity to investigate spontaneous disease processes within an ostensibly healthy, representative population. Gross pathological examination identified lesions in 85.5% (59/69) of specimens, including scarring and fibrosis of the plagiopatagium and dactylopatagium (85.5%; 59/69), focal fibrotic nodules (17.4%; 12/69), and lacerations (17.4%; 12/69) within wing membranes. Histopathological analysis demonstrated the universal presence of microscopic alterations (100%; 69/69), with a cumulative total of 794 discrete lesions documented across 28 organ systems. The liver emerged as the most frequently affected organ, along with multiorgan perivascular cellular aggregates (both 81.2%; 56/69). This investigation represents the first comprehensive characterization of naturally occurring pathological processes in free-ranging Egyptian rousettes from Uganda. Elucidating the intrinsic factors that modulate reservoir species health is fundamental to understanding zoonotic disease spillover dynamics and developing evidence-based strategies for mitigating future outbreak risks in human and susceptible animal populations.</p>","PeriodicalId":23658,"journal":{"name":"Veterinary Research","volume":"57 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-08-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13523373/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148841073","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}