African swine fever (ASF) in Asia and the Pacific is currently dominated by ASF virus transmission within and between domestic pig populations. The contribution made by wild suids is currently not well understood; their distribution, density and susceptibility to the virus has raised concerns that their role in the epidemiology of ASF in the region might be underestimated. Whilst in the Republic of Korea wild suids are considered important in the spread and maintenance of ASF virus, there is an apparent underreporting to official sources of the disease in wild suids from other countires and regions. A review of the current literature, an analysis of the official reporting resources and a survey of the World Organisation of Animal Health Member delegates in Asia and the Pacific were used to assess the potential role of wild suids in ASF outbreaks, and also to gain insight into what ASF management or control strategies are currently implemented for wild suids. Applying appropriate population control and management strategies can be increased in some areas, especially to assist in the conservation of endangered endemic wild suids in this region.

Brushtail possums Trichosurus vulpecula remain in many areas of Perth, Western Australia, despite urbanisation. However, there are no data available regarding parasitic infections in this species in this locale, despite the relevance to wildlife health, and to public health when considering anthropozoonoses (infections that can spread from humans to animals, and vice versa). Further, though urbanisation is speculated to entail changes to wildlife infection epidemiology, there are few data investigating this hypothesis in marsupial populations in urbanised environments in Australia. This study aimed to measure T. gondii seroprevalence, gastrointestinal parasite prevalences, and macroscopic ectoparasite prevalences and intensities, in brushtail possums in the greater Perth region. It also aimed to compare infection prevalences between brushtail possum trapped in urbanised environments and bushland. As part of a cross‐sectional study, 18 brushtail possums were trapped and sampled in bushland, 15 possums were trapped and sampled in urbanised environments, and 23 possum carcasses were obtained from a wildlife hospital, in the greater Perth region. This study provides parasite prevalence data, new host records for the ectoparasites Pygiopsylla tunneyi and Liponyssoides sp., and a new location record for the ectoparasite Haemaphysalis bremneri . Urbanised environments were inversely associated with prevalence of tick (Family Ixodidae) infections, and more specifically Amblyomma spp. infections. This study found no evidence that the Perth brushtail possum population is a substantial reservoir of anthropozoonotic parasites, though larger studies are required to confirm these findings.

Giardia spp. infections in wildlife populations have been linked to anthropogenic sources of infection and public health risk in a diversity of wildlife species and ecological locations worldwide. Quenda (Isoodon obesulus) remain in many urbanised areas of Perth, Western Australia, and can be gregarious in their interactions with humans and domestic animals. In a previous study, a high prevalence of Giardia spp. infection was identified amongst quenda trapped in urbanised environments and bushland in Perth, Western Australia. This study aimed to expand on that finding, by: identifying and estimating the prevalence of particular species of Giardia infecting quenda, and thus clarifying their anthropozoonotic/public health significance; identifying risk factors for Giardia spp. infection; and investigating putative associations between infection and indicators of ill health. Giardia spp. infections in Perth quenda are overwhelmingly of the host-adapted, non-zoonotic Giardia peramelis (apparent prevalence 22.2%; 95% CI 17.7-27.4%), indicating that quenda are not a substantial veterinary public health risk regarding this parasite genus. However, one case each of Giardia duodenalis and Giardia canis genotype D were identified in quenda trapped in urbanised environments (apparent prevalences 0.4%; 95% CI 0.1-1.9%). In quenda, Giardia spp. infection is associated with Cryptosporidium infection and flea infection intensity, which may reflect host population density, or regarding Cryptosporidium spp., similar transmission pathways or synergistic interactions between these taxa within the host. Giardia spp. infection is not associated with the measured indicators of ill health in Perth quenda, but this finding is representative of Giardia peramelis only, given the apparent rarity of other Giardia sp. infections in this study.

Severe bushfires in South-Eastern Australia during the summer of 2019/2020 killed tens of thousands of livestock, while many more survived on fire-affected properties. At the time, the literature on bushfire and livestock in Australia primarily described animals with burns. The mid- to long-term health effects, if any, of fire exposure and the effectiveness of recovery activities for surviving animals and farm enterprises were rarely reported. This study aimed to describe the key impacts of bushfire exposure on the health, welfare, and management of surviving cattle and sheep to inform recommendations for future fire-affected farmers and to guide future research. As part of a broad research programme, data on bushfire experiences, consequences for the livestock and the farm enterprise, and lessons learnt were gathered through face-to-face interviews and an online survey, collating information from 58 fire-affected farmers. A variety of health conditions at low frequency were reported in livestock surviving bushfires, including respiratory disease, eye disease, ruminal acidosis, lameness, and plant toxicities. No single disease was observed widely across participating farms, with many conditions likely associated with management changes post-fire rather than direct fire exposure. A variety of management and farm biosecurity challenges were also described by farmers. Key strategies for the prevention and treatment of health conditions in livestock post-bushfire include supporting effective farm management through the challenges of post-fire recovery and early detection for treatment on a case-by-case basis.

Introduction: Field trials and mathematical modelling studies suggest that elimination of dengue transmission may be possible through widespread release of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes infected with the insect bacterium Wolbachia pipientis ( w Mel strain), in conjunction with routine dengue control activities. This study aimed to develop a modelling framework to guide planning for the potential elimination of locally-acquired dengue in Yogyakarta, a city of almost 400,000 people in Java, Indonesia. Methods: A scenario tree modelling approach was used to estimate the sensitivity of the dengue surveillance system (including routine hospital-based reporting and primary-care based enhanced surveillance), and time required to demonstrate elimination of locally-acquired dengue in Yogyakarta city, assuming the detected incidence of dengue decreases to zero in the future. Age and gender were included as risk factors for dengue, and detection nodes included the probability of seeking care, probability of sample collection and testing, diagnostic test sensitivity, and probability of case notification. Parameter distributions were derived from health system data or estimated by expert opinion. Alternative simulations were defined based on changes to key parameter values, separately and in combination. Results: For the default simulation, median surveillance system sensitivity was 0.131 (95% PI 0.111 – 0.152) per month. Median confidence in dengue elimination reached 80% after a minimum of 13 months of zero detected dengue cases and 90% confidence after 25 months, across different scenarios. The alternative simulations investigated produced relatively small changes in median system sensitivity and time to elimination. Conclusion: This study suggests that with a combination of hospital-based surveillance and enhanced clinic-based surveillance for dengue, an acceptable level of confidence (80% probability) in the elimination of locally acquired dengue can be reached within 2 years. Increasing the surveillance system sensitivity could shorten the time to first ascertainment of elimination of dengue and increase the level of confidence in elimination. Key messages: What is already known on this topic - summarise the state of scientific knowledge on this subject before you did your study and why this study needed to be done: The incidence of dengue, a mosquito-borne viral disease, has increased worldwide in recent decades. However, a novel vector control intervention based on the release of Aedes aegypti vectors infected with the w Mel strain of Wolbachia pipientis bacteria, which inhibits arboviral infection and transmission in mosquitoes, has been shown to substantially decrease the incidence of dengue. A randomised controlled trial in Yogyakarta city, Indonesia, demonstrated a 77% reduction in dengue incidence in areas treated with the Wolbachia intervention. Field-based and modelling studies have predicted that the Wolbachia intervention could reduce dengue transmission to the point of elimination of locally-acquired dengue. The feasibility of elimination of dengue as a public health problem through city-wide deployment of Wolbachi a intervention, complemented by other vector control measures and enhanced clinical surveillance, is being tested in Yogyakarta city, Indonesia, as part of an additional study. For any planned infectious disease elimination program, demonstrating that elimination has been achieved requires effective surveillance for dengue and robust statistical methods. The aim of this study was to develop a scenario tree modelling framework to guide planning for the potential elimination of locally acquired dengue in Yogyakarta city, Indonesia. What this study adds - summarise what we now know as a result of this study that we did not know before: This study constructed a scenario tree model to represent the dengue surveillance system in Yogyakarta city, including hospital-based and clinic-based surveillance. The model was parameterised with risk factors for dengue, as well as the steps in the surveillance pathway, from healthcare seeking to notification of a positive case. This study suggests that with a combination of hospital-based surveillance and enhanced clinic-based surveillance for clinical dengue cases, an acceptable level of confidence (80% probability) in the elimination of locally acquired dengue in Yogyakarta city can be reached within 2 years of the last detected case. This suggests that routine clinic-based and hospital-based passive surveillance for dengue is sufficiently sensitive to plan for and confirm elimination of local dengue transmission in Yogyakarta city. How this study might affect research, practice or policy - summarise the implications of this study: The findings suggest that pragmatic demonstration of the elimination of locally-acquired dengue can be reached in a shorter timeframe than the alternative approach of convening an independent expert review panel, as commonly used for other infectious disease elimination programs. The scenario tree modelling framework offers a replicable, robust method for planning and assessing progress towards elimination of dengue as a public health problem following full implementation of the Wolbachia intervention and enhanced clinic-based dengue surveillance in Yogyakarta city, Indonesia. The framework can be readily expanded and adapted to different geographic settings where the Wolbachia intervention is also being implemented to control and eliminate dengue.