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Q fever represents an important ‘neglected zoonosis’, with high prevalences recorded across the Middle East region. Among rural desert-dwelling communities in the region, camel milk is largely consumed raw, due to perceptions of dromedaries as a uniquely clean livestock species mentioned in the Qur’an and Islamic hadith, while milk from other livestock species is usually boiled. As a result, camels present a unique public health threat among such communities from milk-borne pathogens, including C. burnetii. In view of this, an epidemiological survey was conducted among dromedary herds in southern Jordan between September 2017 and October 2018, including 404 camels from 121 randomly selected herds. In addition, 510 household members associated with these herds were interviewed regarding potential high-risk practices for zoonotic transmission. Weight adjusted camel population seroprevalence for C. burnetii was 49.6% (95% CI: 44.7 – 54.5), with evidence of maternally derived immunity in calves ≤6 months old. Adjusted herd-level prevalence was 76.0% (95%CI 72.7–80.2), with 30.4% (144/477) of individuals estimated to consume raw milk from infected herds monthly or more. Following multivariable logistic regression analysis, seropositive status in camels was found to be associated with increasing age, high herd tick burdens, keeping the herd together throughout the year including when calving, and owning larger (>50) sheep and goat flocks, with goats presenting a higher risk than sheep. Racing camel status was found to be protective. Socioculturally appropriate interventions aimed at raising awareness of potential risks associated with drinking raw camel milk, alongside appropriate livestock management interventions, should be considered.

Host-virus associations have co-evolved under ecological and evolutionary selection pressures that shape cross-species transmission and spillover to humans. Observed virus-host associations provide relevant context for newly discovered wildlife viruses to assess knowledge gaps in host range and estimate pathways for potential human infection. Using models to predict virus-host networks, we predicted the likelihood of humans as host for 513 newly discovered viruses detected by large scale wildlife surveillance at high-risk animal-human interfaces in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Predictions indicated that novel coronaviruses are likely to infect a greater number of host species than viruses from other families. Our models further characterize novel viruses through prioritization scores and directly inform surveillance targets to identify host ranges for newly discovered viruses.

Background Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) is the principle cause of colibacillosis affecting poultry. The main challenge to the poultry industry is antimicrobial resistance and the emergence of multidrug resistant bacteria that threaten the safety of the food chain. Risk factors associated with emergence of antimicrobial resistance among avian pathogenic E. coli were correlated with the inappropriate use of antimicrobials along with inadequate hygienic practices, which encourages the selection pressure of antimicrobial resistant APEC. The aim of this study was to isolate, identify, serogroup and genotype APEC from broilers, assess their antibiotic resistance profile, expressed genes and the associated risk factors. Results APEC was isolated from the visceral organs of sick chickens with a prevalence of 53.4%. The most prevalent serotypes were O1, O2, O25 and O78, in percentage of 14.8, 12.6, 4.4 and 23.7%, respectively. Virulence Associated Genes; SitA, iss, iucD, iucC, astA, tsh cvi and irp2 were detected in rate of 97.4, 93.3, 75, 74, 71, 46.5, 39 and 34%, respectively and 186 (69.2%) isolates possess > 5–10 genes. The highest resistance was found against sulphamethoxazole-trimethoprim, florfenicol, amoxicillin, doxycycline and spectinomycin in percentage; 95.5, 93.7, 93.3, 92.2 and 92.2%, respectively. Sixty-eight percent of APEC isolates were found to have at least 5 out of 8 antimicrobial resistant genes. The most predominant genes were Int1 97%, tetA 78.4%, bla TEM 72.9%, Sul1 72.4%, Sul2 70.2%. Two risk factors were found to be associated with the presence of multi-drug resistant APEC in broiler chickens, with a P value ≤0.05; the use of ground water as source of drinking water and farms located in proximity to other farms. Conclusions This study characterized the VAGs of avian pathogenic E. coli and establish their antimicrobial resistance patterns. The widespread of antimicrobial resistance of APEC isolates and detection of ARGs highlighted the need to monitor the spread of ARGs in poultry farms and the environment in Jordan. Use of ground water and closely located farms were significant risk factors associated with the presence of MDR APEC in broiler chickens in Jordan. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12917-019-1901-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Questionnaire, Risk assessment of antibiotics resistance in broilers poultry farms In Jordan. (PDF 229 kb)

Spearman correlation test. (PDF 115 kb)

As the world continues to react and respond inefficiently to emerging infectious diseases, such as Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome and the Ebola and Zika viruses, a growing transdisciplinary community has called for a more proactive and holistic approach to prevention and preparedness - One Health. Such an approach presents important opportunities to reduce the impact of disease emergence events and also to mitigate future emergence through improved cross-sectoral coordination. In an attempt to provide proof of concept of the utility of the One Health approach, the US Agency for International Development's PREDICT project consortium designed and implemented a targeted, risk-based surveillance strategy based not on humans as sentinels of disease but on detecting viruses early, at their source, where intervention strategies can be implemented before there is opportunity for spillover and spread in people or food animals. Here, we share One Health approaches used by consortium members to illustrate the potential for successful One Health outcomes that can be achieved through collaborative, transdisciplinary partnerships. PREDICT's collaboration with partners around the world on strengthening local capacity to detect hundreds of viruses in wild animals, coupled with a series of cutting-edge virological and analytical activities, have significantly improved our baseline knowledge on the zoonotic pool of viruses and the risk of exposure to people. Further testament to the success of the project's One Health approach and the work of its team of dedicated One Health professionals are the resulting 90 peer-reviewed, scientific publications in under 5 years that improve our understanding of zoonoses and the factors influencing their emergence. The findings are assisting in global health improvements, including surveillance science, diagnostic technologies, understanding of viral evolution, and ecological driver identification. Through its One Health leadership and multi-disciplinary partnerships, PREDICT has forged new networks of professionals from the human, animal, and environmental health sectors to promote global health, improving our understanding of viral disease spillover from wildlife and implementing strategies for preventing and controlling emerging disease threats.

Poultry feed or treated improperly with antimicrobial agents can produce eggs contaminated with drug residues. The study aimed to detect the prevalence, distribution and effect of heat treatment on chlortetracycline and sulfanilamide in table egg. A percent of 12.8 of 2500 table eggs (forming 500 composite samples) screened using Premi test were positive for presence of antimicrobial residues. Antimicrobial residues were detected in either egg white, egg yolk or both. From all 64 antimicrobial positive samples, egg white had high prevalence (47 samples) of antimicrobial residues in comparison to that of yolk (17 samples) or the 9 samples that contain the residues in both yolk and white simultaneously. The distribution of antimicrobials in between white and yolk is mainly related to antimicrobial composition and egg compartments properties. Both chlortetracycline and sulfanilamide were quantified in the 64 positive samples and were detected in 1.2 and 4% respectively at concentration exceeding recommended MRL. The antimicrobials were highly sensitive to boiling temperature or frying (160 °C), where significant reduction rates in their concentrations within white or yolk were detected. The concentrations of chlortetracycline decreased by 24 and 61% in egg white and yolk, respectively, after boiling at 100 °C for 15 min. Whereas the reduction in sulfanilamide concentration was 66% in both egg white and yolk. The two antimicrobials were also unstable at refrigeration of 10 °C and a reduction percentage of 47% and 21% for chlortetracycline and sulfanilamide, respectively, were recorded after 4 weeks storage.

Despite the great efforts poultry breeding companies made towards eradication of pathogenic mycoplasmas from poultry flocks, Still Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) infection is of continuing economic concern in commercial broiler breeder chicken flocks. Control of MG infection in broiler breeder chicken flocks by chemotherapy is the most practical way to minimize economical losses. Tilmicosin is one of the most important antimicrobial agent used for treatment and control of MG infection. This study was carried out on eight broiler breeder chicken flocks with a history of MG challenge {signs, post mortem, and serology [enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)]}. Tilmicosin (Provitil powder® 30 mg/kg body weight) was used to limit MG infection in these flocks, and was given to birds for 3 successive days every 5 weeks for 4 months. 136 serum samples were collected from these flocks (16-18 samples per flock) before starting tilmicosin treatment and the same number of serum samples were collected following each three treatment course at 5 weeks interval. Mycoplasma gallisepticum ELISA was performed on these samples for the purpose of detecting MG antibodies in these flocks and analyzing data subsequently. The first and second course of tilmicosin treatment did not have any significant effect on MG ELISA results (GMT) (P>0.05), while after the third course, GMT had dropped significantly (P