Zoonoses and Public Health最新文献

{"title":"Predator-Prey Trophic Interactions and Seasonality of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus in Denmark, 2016-2023.","authors":"Gemma Hancock, Carsten Kirkeby, Lene Jung Kjær, Timme Nyegaard, Anette Ella Boklund, Michael P Ward","doi":"10.1111/zph.70019","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/zph.70019","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Trophic interactions between populations of birds are assumed to facilitate the transmission of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV). However, evidence from the field is lacking to support the hypothesis of trophic AIV transmission.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We compared the timing of predatory versus prey wild bird HPAIV cases reported in Denmark (primarily via passive surveillance) between 2016 and 2023. We classified the species reported as 'predator' (case) or 'prey' (control). Spatial clusters of predator reports were identified using the scan statistic. Logistic regression models were fit.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Predator species were found more likely to be reported as HPAIV cases in winter (odds ratio (OR) 5.7, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.4-13.8), spring (14.1, 5.8-34.5) and summer (10.2, 2.1-49.6) than in autumn. Controlling for temporal (year of report) and spatial clustering, the estimated risk of predator reports increased in winter (12.1, 3.7-39.2) and spring (OR 21.5, 5.8-79.6) compared to autumn.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Our results suggest that predator species become infected later during the transmission season than prey species, which has implications for the design of HPAIV surveillance systems. For example, in active surveillance resources could be more focused on prey species in autumn, and predator species in winter and spring. Likewise, in passive surveillance public messaging could reflect this species shift. The sensitivity of surveillance might further be increased by considering potential seasonal changes in the spatial distribution of species affected by HPAIV.</p>","PeriodicalId":24025,"journal":{"name":"Zoonoses and Public Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-10-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145293755","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Colombian Standards for Antimicrobial Dosing in Cattle: Establishing Defined Daily Doses and Defined Course Doses.","authors":"Brahian Camilo Tuberquia-López, Nathalia M Correa-Valencia","doi":"10.1111/zph.70017","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/zph.70017","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Despite international efforts to monitor antimicrobial (AAM) use, gaps persist, especially in Colombia's livestock sector. Therefore, this study aims to assign Defined Daily Doses (DDDCo) and Defined Course Doses (DCDCo) for cattle in Colombia.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A systematic search was performed from the online veterinary products registry database to identify veterinary products containing at least one AAM, marketed in Colombia for use in cattle, between 2023 and 2024. The monograph was retrieved from the label, and standard weights were applied to compute doses if required. DDDCo and DCDCo were assigned by calculating an average of daily and course doses, respectively. Overall, 856 records containing at least one AAM were listed as active for the market.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 321 injectable parenteral medications and 32 oral parenteral products were identified. For non-systemic use, the medications included 89 intramammary, 14 intrauterine, and 38 topical formulations. DDDCo and DCDCo values were assigned successfully for each AAM identified by route of administration.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This study systematically assigned DDD and DCD to quantify antibiotic use in Colombian cattle, highlighting 90% comparability with Canada and Europe but noting differences in administration routes, drug combinations, and cattle weight assumptions.</p>","PeriodicalId":24025,"journal":{"name":"Zoonoses and Public Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-10-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145259491","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Socio-Economic Effects on the Temporal Importance of Breeding Site Types for Aedes aegypti in a Tropical Epidemic City.","authors":"Mariana Mayumi Zanoni, Luiz Gustavo Rodrigues Oliveira Santos, Alessandra Gutierrez de Oliveira","doi":"10.1111/zph.70018","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/zph.70018","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) is the vector of dengue, Zika, chikungunya, and yellow fever, arboviruses of major public health importance. The mosquito has a high adaptability, requiring the elimination of its primary breeding sites. In Brazil, breeding sites are classified by the Rapid Survey of Indices for Aedes aegypti (LIRAa) as water-holding containers suitable for larval development. They are categorized into five groups: A (A1-elevated water tanks, A2-ground-level water deposits), B (mobile containers), C (fixed containers), D (D1-tires, D2-trash), and E (natural breeding sites). This study aimed to verify whether the types of breeding sites changed in the course of 2 years and if socio-economic factors, neighbourhood population density, and illiteracy rates impact the occurrence of these types of breeding sites.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>Data were obtained from the larval surveillance program of the Vector-borne Disease Control Coordination (CCEV) and socio-economic data from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE). Spatiotemporal variations were assessed using an Additive Multinomial Multilevel Statistical Model with a Bayesian approach. We hypothesized that areas with higher human population density would show a higher presence of mobile containers and trash, while areas with higher illiteracy rates would show a frequency of water tanks and trash. Regarding seasonality, we hypothesized that water-filled water tanks and mobile containers would be more frequently present throughout the year.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Our findings highlight the predominance of trash and mobile containers, while natural breeding sites were the least relevant throughout the years analysed. Mobile containers' frequency increased in overcrowded neighbourhoods, and water tanks' frequency decreased. This finding suggests that urban density influences the frequency of these types of breeding sites. Areas with higher illiteracy rates showed a decrease in movable and fixed containers but an increase in trash and water tanks, indicating potential knowledge gaps or structural limitations in water storage practices.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>In conclusion, the variety of container types found in different urban and socioeconomic contexts emphasizes the need for interventions that are tailored to local conditions. These findings offer valuable insights for health agencies to improve entomological control strategies, potentially leading to a reduction in the incidence of arboviral diseases in Campo Grande, MS.</p>","PeriodicalId":24025,"journal":{"name":"Zoonoses and Public Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-10-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145245658","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Suspected Sources of Infection and Transmission Factors Associated With Campylobacteriosis in Northern Portugal.","authors":"Sofia Sousa, Catarina Magalhães Alves, Ana Mendes, Niza Ribeiro, Carlos Carvalho","doi":"10.1111/zph.70015","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/zph.70015","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Campylobacteriosis is considered the most common bacterial cause of human gastroenteritis worldwide, with food being one of the main sources of infection. The occurrence of human campylobacteriosis, however, may differ between geographical areas and other factors. Our study aims to identify possible sources of Campylobacter infection in the Northern region of Portugal.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A cross-sectional study was conducted, including all laboratory-confirmed campylobacteriosis cases notified through the Portuguese epidemiological surveillance system (SINAVE) between 2015 and 2017. We analysed socio-demographic and exposure variables, including contact with other ill individuals, contact with animals, consumption of suspect food items, consumption of non-controlled water and travelling.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 683 confirmed campylobacteriosis cases were reported between 2015 and 2017 in the Northern region of Portugal, corresponding to a notification rate of 6.3 per 100,000 population. The median age was 2 years old (IQR 0.96-4.6); 58.3% were male. Close contact with animals was the most common exposure (50.2%), followed by consumption of non-controlled water (26.1%), suspect food consumption (13.8%) and contact with ill individuals (8.8%). Campylobacteriosis cases from the Tâmega e Sousa subregion were more frequently exposed to non-controlled water (46.0% vs. 26.1%) than in the rest of the Northern region.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Contact with animals and exposure to non-controlled water were the main suspected sources of the campylobacteriosis cases notified in Northern Portugal in 2015-2017. Exposure to non-controlled water was predominant in the Tâmega e Sousa subregion, a socio-economically deprived area with lower access to public supply water per capita. Prevention and control interventions to reduce the burden of human campylobacteriosis should be implemented following a One Health approach with local stakeholders.</p>","PeriodicalId":24025,"journal":{"name":"Zoonoses and Public Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145186890","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Seroprevalence, Risk Factors and Molecular Detection of Toxoplasma gondii in Sheep Slaughtered for Human Consumption in the Red Sea State, Sudan.","authors":"Awadia Ali A Elhafiz, Manal Yousif Ishag, Adel Hussein Elduma, Osama Mohamed Mohamedkheir, Khalid A Enan, Yassir Adam Shuaib","doi":"10.1111/zph.70013","DOIUrl":"10.1111/zph.70013","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Toxoplasma gondii is a zoonotic parasite of significant public health concern, particularly in regions where consumption of undercooked meat is common. Despite the importance of sheep as a potential source of human infection, understanding of T. gondii seroprevalence and tissue distribution in sheep in the Red Sea State in Sudan remains limited.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A cross-sectional study was conducted to investigate the seroprevalence and tissue distribution of T. gondii in sheep slaughtered for human consumption in Port Sudan and Tokar localities between February and August 2010. Serum samples were analysed using the Latex Agglutination Test (LAT) for initial screening due to its simplicity and cost-effectiveness, and IgG-captured ELISA to confirm LAT doubtful results, while tissue samples from systematically selected seropositive animals were examined using real-time PCR targeting the 529 bp repeat element to assess tissue distribution patterns.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 700 sheep were tested for anti-T. gondii antibodies. The overall seroprevalence was 45.4% (318/700, 95% CI 41.8-49.1) by LAT, with 64% (57/89) of LAT-doubtful samples testing positive by IgG-captured ELISA. Multivariate analysis identified Etbawi eco-type (OR = 2.38, 95% CI 1.54-3.68, p = 0.001) and age > 2 years (OR = 2.45, 95% CI 1.17-5.14, p = 0.018) as significant risk factors. Real-time PCR detected T. gondii DNA in 16% (16/100) of tissue samples from seropositive sheep, with the highest positivity observed in brain (40%) samples. Notably, T. gondii DNA was detected exclusively in brain tissue in Port Sudan, while in Tokar, it was found in skeletal muscles, liver and diaphragm.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The high seroprevalence and molecular detection of T. gondii in edible tissues highlight a significant public health risk in the Red Sea State, particularly given local practices of consuming raw or undercooked meat. These findings emphasise the need for improved meat inspection and implementation of One Health approaches (e.g., integrated veterinary-public health surveillance systems) to reduce T. gondii transmission from sheep to humans despite the data being collected more than a decade ago.</p>","PeriodicalId":24025,"journal":{"name":"Zoonoses and Public Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145034224","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Widely Distributed Pigeon Paramyxovirus Sub-Genotypes Pose a Risk to Immunocompromised Humans.","authors":"Celia Abolnik, Michaela Hayes","doi":"10.1111/zph.70011","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/zph.70011","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Pigeon paramyxovirus type 1 (PPMV-1) is an antigenic variant of Avian Orthoavulavirus 1 (AOAV-1) (Newcastle disease virus) with a global distribution that causes lethal infections in pigeon and dove species. AOAV-1's infecting humans normally cause mild, self-limiting conjunctivitis, but since 2003, PPMV-1 has been associated with an increased number of severe and lethal respiratory and neurological infections in immunocompromised persons in the Netherlands, the USA, France, China and Australia.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>PPMV-1's isolated from free-living pigeons and doves across South Africa from 2012 to 2024 were sequenced using conventional or next generation technologies. Maximum likelihood and time-scaled phylogenetic analyses were conducted. Cases of human infections with AOAV-1 were reviewed, and where the genotypes were not previously assigned, the sequence data were re-analysed for classification purposes.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>PPMV-1 sub-genotype VI.2.1.1.2.1, present in South Africa since at least 2005, continued to circulate in 2021. Sub-genotype VI.2.1.1.2.2, that is widely distributed across Europe, Asia and Australia, was identified in South Africa for the first time, with introduction estimated around September 2017 (95% HPD January 2016-June 2019). Previously unclassified viruses causing lethal human infections in the Netherlands (2003), the USA (2007) and France (2021) were identified as sub-genotypes VI.2.1.1.2.2, VI.2.1.1.1 and XXI.1.1, respectively.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Five recorded AOAV-1-associated human fatalities since 1953 were all caused by PPMV-1. Three out of the five human fatalities, plus one seriously ill survivor, were associated with sub-genotype VI.2.1.1.2.2 viruses, and sub-genotypes VI.2.1.1.1 and XXI.1.1 each caused one human death. PPMV-1's, found widely in pigeons and doves, pose a serious health risk to immunocompromised persons.</p>","PeriodicalId":24025,"journal":{"name":"Zoonoses and Public Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145016298","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Occurrence of Hepatitis E Virus in Human Patients, Food and Animal Products From Slovakia","authors":"Alica Pavlova,&nbsp;Bozena Kocikova,&nbsp;Katarina Dudasova,&nbsp;Rene Mandelik,&nbsp;Michaela Urda Dolinska,&nbsp;Zuzana Paralicova,&nbsp;Anna Jackova","doi":"10.1111/zph.70012","DOIUrl":"10.1111/zph.70012","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is the only zoonotic pathogen that causes human viral hepatitis. Foodborne transmission of this virus is one of the most important transmission routes. In this study, performed in various hospitals between 2019 and 2024, we detected the HEV RNA in samples of 66 suspected patients in Eastern Slovakia. In total, 36 patients were found positive. Phylogenetic analysis of selected sequences (<i>n</i> = 26) showed that the majority (<i>n</i> = 22) clustered to genotype HEV-3 group 1. There were only four isolates that clustered to HEV-3 group 2. Statistically significant risk factors associated with viral hepatitis E were gender, age, health status and consumption of animal products. We also analysed suspected food products consumed by patients (<i>n</i> = 10) and animal product samples from stores (<i>n</i> = 218). Only 2 out of 55 (3.6%) pork liver samples from the same butchery shop were found positive for the HEV RNA, clustering to HEV-3 group 2. None of the other animal or food products were found to be positive. This report is the first to utilise genetic typing of the HEV from Slovakia in human patients, food and animal products. However, a direct relationship between human HEV infection and food was not found.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":24025,"journal":{"name":"Zoonoses and Public Health","volume":"72 7","pages":"690-695"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145001529","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Country-Level Canine Leishmaniosis Risk: A Literature Review, 2019-2023.","authors":"Samantha Swisher, Sheena Tarrant, Kaitlyn Krus, Francis Chu, Anne Carroll, Tucker Colvin, Jennifer J Fowler, Helen MacGregor, Kenneth Onyewurunwa, Sara Taetzsch, Andrew Abbott, Anne Straily, Emily Pieracci","doi":"10.1111/zph.70010","DOIUrl":"10.1111/zph.70010","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aims: </strong>Dogs are the primary reservoir for Leishmania infantum, a zoonotic, vector-borne pathogen that causes severe disease in people and dogs. International movement of dogs represents a risk for the introduction of L. infantum into nonendemic countries. Knowing the Leishmania status of the countries a dog has visited allows veterinary and public health professionals to more accurately assess the dog's leishmaniosis risk and take appropriate public health action. The aim of this review was to create a centralised source of information on leishmaniosis risk at the country level to support such assessments.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We reviewed literature and reports published from 2019 to 2023 relating to canine leishmaniosis, L. infantum, and the distribution of sandflies. We developed a scoring system and assigned a risk category to each country, ranging from 'no evidence of risk' to 'high risk'.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>We scored 91 countries as moderate or high risk, 107 as low risk or no evidence of risk and 44 had no data available. Among the countries scored, data availability was often limited.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This review represents a valuable centralised source of information on canine leishmaniosis risk to support public health assessments. Assessments would benefit from improved surveillance and reporting, especially systematic serosurveillance in dogs and inclusion of Leishmania species information in reports of human disease.</p>","PeriodicalId":24025,"journal":{"name":"Zoonoses and Public Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12414481/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144971559","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"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 Effect of Climate Change on Emergence and Evolution of Zoonotic Diseases in Asia","authors":"Roger S. Morris,&nbsp;Masako Wada","doi":"10.1111/zph.70007","DOIUrl":"10.1111/zph.70007","url":null,"abstract":"<p>As the climate of Asia changes under the influence of global warming, the incidence and spatial distribution of known zoonoses will evolve, and new zoonoses are expected to emerge as a result of greater exposure to organisms which currently occur only in wildlife. In order to evaluate the risks attached to different transmission methods and organism maintenance mechanisms, a classification system is provided which allocates diseases into nine epitypes. All animal diseases and zoonoses recognised as globally important can be categorised into an epitype, or in a few cases more than one epidemiologically distinct epitype. Within each epitype, evidence available on the effects of climatic factors is provided for selected diseases of zoonotic importance to illustrate likely future evolution of these diseases and the extent of currently available evidence for different diseases. Factors which are likely to influence the emergence of novel zoonotic pathogens in Asia are outlined. The range of methods available for analysis, prediction, and evaluation of likely changes in disease occurrence under the influence of climate change has grown rapidly; an introduction is given to the types of tools now available. These methods will need to be integrated into a surveillance and response strategy for Asia, and an approach to achieve this is outlined.</p>","PeriodicalId":24025,"journal":{"name":"Zoonoses and Public Health","volume":"72 7","pages":"587-611"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/zph.70007","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144971801","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"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":"Canine Spotted Fever Group Rickettsial Seroprevalence as an Indicator for Human Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever Case Rates in Arizona, USA.","authors":"Alec Oliva, Rachael Kreisler, Andrea Romkema, Soren Madsen, Haley Furman, Christopher Maag, Charles Schaefer, Jose A Hernandez, Jung Keun Lee, Michael Quinlan, John VandenBrooks","doi":"10.1111/zph.70009","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/zph.70009","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF), a rapidly progressing febrile disease caused by the bacterium Rickettsia rickettsii, is the deadliest tick-borne disease in the world. Human infection initially results in non-specific symptoms and, if untreated, can result in death in up to 35% of cases. Rhipicephalus sanguineus (brown dog tick) was discovered to spread RMSF in Arizona and Northern Mexico in the early 2000s, and the disease is now considered endemic in areas of the Southwestern United States. This study investigates the relationship between canine spotted fever group rickettsial (SFGR) seroprevalence and human RMSF case rates in Arizona.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Canine serum samples were opportunistically collected from 12 counties in Arizona between February 2018 and November 2022. Immunofluorescence assays were employed to determine the anti-SFGR antibody titers in each of the samples, with dilutions ≥ 1:64 considered positive. An exponential nonlinear regression was used to determine the association between canine SFGR seroprevalence and human RMSF case rates per 100,000 as reported by the Arizona Department of Health Services.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of the 423 dogs sampled, 21% (89/423) were found to be positive for anti-SFGR antibodies. Eight of the 12 counties had seropositive dogs. Geometric mean titers ranged from 64 to 464, with a median of 179. A nonlinear regression model demonstrated a strong association between canine SFGR seropositivity and human RMSF case rates, with the best-fitting model employing RMSF case rates lagged by 1 year. A similar model also showed a significant association between canine SFGR geometric mean titers and RMSF case rates.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Canine SFGR seroprevalence correlates with human RMSF case rates, with RMSF risk rising exponentially as canine SFGR seroprevalence increases. This lends support to the potential use of canine SFGR serology as an epidemiological tool for forecasting RMSF.</p>","PeriodicalId":24025,"journal":{"name":"Zoonoses and Public Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-08-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144971601","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}