Veterinarians on Alert: The Alarming Rise of a Fatal 'Zombie Deer Disease
In a startling development, hunters across North America are unwittingly finding themselves on the front lines of a public health threat due to chronic wasting disease (CWD), a rapidly spreading and always fatal neurological condition affecting deer. Infectious disease experts are raising alarms about the potential risks of this disease, which is caused by misfolded proteins called prions and currently known to infect only members of the cervid family, including elk, deer, reindeer, caribou, and moose.
How much does biodiversity loss contribute to the spread of new infectious diseases?
Researchers widely agree that loss of biodiversity due to factors such as human interference with ecosystems contributes to the transmission of pathogens from animals to humans, which is known as a zoonosis. But how large is this effect? Quantifying this phenomenon is the goal of an international team of researchers headed by Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin. The researchers hope their findings will contribute to identifying an elevated risk of emerging zoonoses early on. Their newly launched project, titled “Zoonosis Emergence across Degraded and Restored Forest Ecosystems” (ZOE), is receiving about four million euros in funding from the European Commission for a period of four years.
African One Health network launched to prevent disease
The targeted involvement of local, regional and national stakeholders from the participating countries in the network over the entire project period (2023 to 2027) is intended to enhance their technical expertise and thus increase the efficiency of the network as a whole. “We involve policy-makers and other key stakeholders in the ministries of health and other institutions in the network countries in our work. This is how we hope to achieve the project’s objectives,” explains Abd El Wahed.
Infection with common cat-borne parasite associated with frailty in older adults
A common, cat-borne parasite already associated with risk-taking behavior and mental illness in humans may also contribute to exhaustion, loss of muscle mass, and other signs of “frailty” in older adults, suggests a study published Nov. 6 in the Journal of Gerontology: Medical Science.
Protective mechanisms unveiled: Study reveals insights into mitigating neurological effects of Brucellosis
Explore groundbreaking research into the brain's secret defenders! Learn how tiny cells and proteins are battling a silent threat, offering hope for a brighter future in the fight against Brucellosis.
Yale study reveals concentrated clusters of tick-borne Powassan virus transmission in New England
Yale study reveals concentrated clusters of the tick-borne Powassan virus in New England communities, prompting calls for targeted prevention and early intervention strategies to counter this emerging threat.