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Background: • Q fever, known as coxiellosis in animals, represents a global zoonotic threat caused by the intracellular bacterium Coxiella burnetii (C. burnetii). The disease affects many animal species, including those considered significant reservoirs, such as cattle, sheep and goats. Transmission of the pathogen to other domestic animals, including companion animals, and then to humans has also been observed, highlighting the importance of understanding the epidemiology and prevalence of C. burnetii among companion animals. The present study aimed to determine the frequency of seroreagents for C. burnetii within pet dogs, cats and rabbits from urban Poland areas and identify possible risk factors for these animals., Results: • In total, serum samples from 491 dogs, 427 cats and 93 rabbits were used in the study. The seroprevalence of anti-C. burnetii antibodies in dogs and cats reached 0.61% (3/491; 95% CI: 0.21-1.78) and 0.23% (1/427; 95% CI: 0.04-1.31), respectively. No significant differences in seroprevalence across species and different subpopulations (age group, gender, exhibited symptoms, or sampling location) were found. All 93 samples from rabbits were negative for anti-C.burnetii antibodies., Conclusions: • The seroprevalence rates of C. burnetii in dogs and cats were low; however, our results confirm that pet dogs and cats in Poland can be exposed to C. burnetii and may exhibit serological reactions. It has been reported that people who come into contact with secretions and excretions from the reproductive systems of dogs and cats (such as breeders, veterinarians, and veterinary clinic staff) may be at risk of contracting C. burnetii. Based on the findings, it is advised to be particularly cautious, especially when assisting with dogs and cats giving birth. Coxiellosis should be considered a potential cause of reproductive disorders in these animals. The results indicate that rabbits are probably less important in the circulation of the C. burnetii in the present study. This is the first serological survey of C. burnetii in pet dogs, cats and rabbits in Poland., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: According to the Act on the Protection of Animals Used for Scientific or Educational Purposes in Poland adopted on 15 January 2015 and according to earlier regulations (Act on the Protection of Animals Used for Scientific or Educational Purposes in Poland adopted on 21 January 2005), the study described in this manuscript did not require the permission of the Local Ethical Commission for Investigations on Animals, as confirmed by Local Ethical Commission for Investigations on Animals in Poznań, Poznań University of Life Sciences. Informed consent was obtained from the owners of the animals included in the study. The reported study complies with the ARRIVE guidelines ( https://arriveguidelines.org ) for reporting animal experiments. All methods were performed following the relevant guidelines and regulations. Consent for publication: Informed consent for publishing the results was obtained from the patient’s owner. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The seroprevalence of Paslahepevirus balayani genotype 3 (hepatitis E virus genotype 3 - HEV-3; Hepeviridae family, genus Paslahepevirus) in pet cats, dogs and rabbits was evaluated. Samples from cats and dogs were collected from three veterinary practices from various parts of Poland: Poznan (wielkopolskie voivodeship), Przemysl (podkarpackie voivodeship) and Lublin (lubelskie voivodeship). Samples from rabbits were collected in Poznan. In total, serum samples from 90 cats, 82 dogs and 71 rabbits were selected and tested for specific anti-HEV-3 immunoglobulin (IgG) antibodies using a commercial ELISA test. Pathogen seroprevalence among rabbits was calculated at a 95% confidence interval (CI) for each gender, age (up to 12 months, 1-3 years, 4-7 years and over 8 years), symptoms group (healthy, gastrointestinal disorders, other disorders) and compared with a chi-squared test. No anti-HEV-3 IgG antibodies were detected in any of the samples from cats and dogs. Anti-HEV-3 IgG antibodies were detected in 2.82% of the serum samples from rabbits (2/71; 95% CI: 0.78-9.70). No significant correlations between seropositivity and gender, age, and symptoms (p > 0.05) were observed in rabbits. Our findings indicate that pet rabbits in Poland are exposed to HEV-3, develop humoral response due to infection and might constitute a source for HEV-3 transmission to humans., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Background: Neospora caninum (N. caninum) has a broad intermediate host range and might cause multisystemic lesions in various species of animals. Dogs are both intermediate and definitive hosts of the parasite and play a crucial role in the horizontal transmission of this protozoan to other animals. Cats and rabbits could be sensitive to infection with N. caninum, however, clinical symptoms and the exact route of infection in these species are unknown. The epidemiology of N. caninum in cats and rabbits has been barely researched, and there is no published record of the seroprevalence of N. caninum infection in these species in Poland. Thus, the present study aimed to determine the frequency of seroreagents for N. caninum within pet dogs, cats and rabbits from urban areas of Poland and to identify possible risk factors for these animals., Results: In total, serum samples from 184 cats (Felis catus), 203 dogs (Canis familiaris) and 70 rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) were used in the study. The seroprevalence of anti-N. caninum antibodies in dogs and cats reached 1.0% (2/203; 95% CI: 0.3-3.5) and 3.3% (6/184; 95% CI: 1.5-6.9), respectively. No significant differences in seroprevalence regarding age group, gender, symptoms or sampling location were found. All 70 samples from pet rabbits were negative for anti-N. caninum antibodies., Conclusions: The seroprevalence rates of N. caninum in dogs and cats in the present study were low, however, our results confirmed N. caninum circulates among dog and cat populations in Poland, and neosporosis should be included in the differential diagnosis of neuro-muscular disorders in these species. This is the first serological survey of N. caninum in European pet cats and rabbits. The role of pet rabbits in N. caninum epidemiology and circulation in Poland is marginal., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in domestic cats, dogs and rabbits was evaluated. Samples from cats and dogs were collected from five veterinary practices from various parts of Poland - Poznan (wielkopolskie voivodeship), Przemysl (podkarpackie voivodeship), Kluczbork (opolskie voivodeship), Lublin (lubelskie voivodeship) and Deblin (lubelskie voivodeship). Moreover, the samples from rabbits were collected in Poznan. In total, serum samples from 193 cats, 204 dogs and 71 rabbits were randomly selected and tested for specific antibodies against T. gondii using a commercial ELISA test. Pathogen seroprevalence among cats and dogs was calculated at a 95% confidence interval (CI) for each sex and age category (up to 12 months, 1-3 years, 4-7 years and over 8 years) and compared with a chi-squared test. The highest seroprevalence of T. gondii was noted in cats - 49.74% (96/193; 95% CI: 42.76-56.73). In dogs, it reached 28.92% (59/204; 95% CI: 23.13-35.49). Only 1 rabbit (3-year-old male) was seropositive, and the seroprevalence in rabbits was 1.41% (1/71; 95% CI: 0.25-7.56). A statistically significant correlation between seropositivity and age (p < 0.05) was observed in cats and dogs. No statistically significant difference in seroprevalence concerning gender or location was found in cats and dogs. Our findings indicate that cat and dog serum samples had a high frequency of anti-T. gondii antibodies, while rabbit serum samples had low frequency and that these species are exposed to T. gondii in Poland and develop humoral response due to infection., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Background: Simultaneous viral infections exhibit the phenomenon of viral interference, but understanding of the effect of one virus on another is limited., Objective: Evaluate and compare clinical characteristics, immune and acute phase response, viral shedding and viral load in pigs singly and doubly inoculated with swine influenza A virus (swIAV) and porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV)., Animals: Fifty-four 7-week-old piglets., Methods: Clinical status and gross lung lesions were scored. Titration of swIAV was carried out in Madin-Darby canine kidney cells. The PRRSV RNA was quantified using a commercial qPCR kit. Antibodies were detected by hemagglutination inhibition assay and commercial ELISA. A lymphocyte proliferation assay was used to measure antigen-specific T-cell responses. Acute phase proteins were determined using ELISA., Results: No differences were found between mean clinical scores, swIAV and PRRSV shedding, and magnitude of the humoral and T-cell response between single-inoculated and dual-inoculated groups. Concentrations of C-reactive protein and haptoglobin increased in PRRSV-inoculated and coinoculated groups, whereas serum amyloid A concentration was increased in groups inoculated or coinoculated with swIAV. Mean swIAV TCID 50 titers in the lungs did not differ significantly between coinoculated and swIAV single-inoculated pigs. A significantly higher mean copy number of PRRSV was found in the lungs of PRRSV only-inoculated pigs at 2 day postinoculation (DPI). From 4 DPI, no significant differences in PRRSV load were identified., Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Coinfection of pigs with swIAV and PRRSV did not potentiate clinical signs, lung lesions, immune response, and replication of the viruses in the respiratory tract., (© 2020 The Authors. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.)