Background: Antimicrobial resistance is a pressing global concern affecting both human and animal health, with environment playing a key role in the dissemination of resistance determinants. This study aimed to investigate the presence of antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) associated with tetracyclines, β-lactams, macrolides, and sulfonamides in environmental matrices collected from 65 sheep and goat farms in central Portugal. Methods: Environmental samples, including water, soil, pasture, and bedding, were analyzed through qPCR for the detection of clinically relevant ARGs. Results: ARGs were detected in 83% of the samples, with over half exhibiting genes from three or more antibiotic classes, suggesting potential multidrug resistance. β-lactamase genes were the most prevalent, followed by those conferring resistance to tetracycline and sulfonamide resistance, while macrolide resistance genes were least frequent. The distribution of ARGs varied by farm type, host species, and municipality. Conclusions: These findings suggest that small ruminant farms serve as important reservoirs for ARGs. The results underscore the need for systematic surveillance and further research into the ecological and genetic factors driving ARG persistence and dissemination in extensive livestock systems, including proper waste management strategies to limit the spread and persistence of antibiotic resistance and mitigate broader public health risks.

Q fever is a zoonotic disease caused by Coxiella burnetii (C. burnetii), a pathogen with a high capability for infection. The disease primarily affects ruminants, leading to reproductive disorders, but can also be transmitted to humans through contact with infected animals or their products. In Algeria, Q fever is endemic, but little is known about the presence and circulation of C. burnetii in domestic goats. This study aimed to perform a multicentric serological analysis of C. burnetii antibodies in domestic goats from four provinces in the North East Region of Algeria. A total of 504 goat serum samples were collected from 77 herds, and serological analysis was performed using an indirect ELISA. The overall seroprevalence at the herd level was 35.06%, and 8.73% at the individual level. Herds with a history of abortions showed a high seropositivity rate of 88.9%. This research indicates the wide distribution of C. burnetii in goats in this region, suggesting the potential for zoonotic transmission to humans. Further studies and monitoring programs are essential to gain a comprehensive understanding of C. burnetii epidemiology in Algeria and to prevent or mitigate potential outbreaks. Awareness among practitioners and farmers is crucial to address this public health concern effectively.

Wild birds may be involved in the transmission of agents of infectious diseases, including zoonoses, a circumstance which raises a number of public and animal health issues. Migratory bird species play a significant role in the introduction of tick-borne pathogens to new geographic areas, contributing to the dissemination of various etiological agents. This preliminary study aimed to assess the occurrence of four potentially zoonotic pathogens (Hepatozoon spp., Borrelia spp., Babesia spp. and Theileria spp.) in the wild birds of Portugal. Blood and tissue samples were taken from 103 birds admitted at wildlife rehabilitation centers. Through the use of conventional PCR, our findings indicate no evidence of the circulation of these pathogens among the studied bird populations in the region. In the One Health context, it is relevant to understand how faraway avian populations play a role in the epidemiology of infectious diseases. Further molecular studies are needed to deepen the knowledge of avian piroplasmosis, borreliosis and hepatozoonosis.

Background: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing global health concern, driven in part by antibiotic use in animal production systems. Despite its relevance, the microbiome and resistome of small ruminant farm environments remain largely underexplored. Methods: In this study, shotgun metagenomics was applied to environmental samples from 46 sheep, goat and mixed-species farms across 14 municipalities in central Portugal. Results: Microbial profiling revealed a well-preserved microbiome with Pseudomonadota, Actinomycetota, Bacteroidota and Bacillota (syn. Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes respectively) as the most dominant phylum across different farm types. Regarding AMR, a total of 706 unique antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs), covering 15 antibiotic classes, were detected. Tetracycline, aminoglycoside and macrolide resistance genes dominated across all samples, forming a conserved core resistome. While overall resistome profiles were broadly similar among farm types, significant differences were observed in specific ARG classes, such as pleuromutilin and fosfomycin. Conclusions: These findings highlight small ruminant farm environments as potential reservoirs of clinically relevant ARGs, including WHO highest priority critically important antimicrobial (HPCIA) resistance genes for macrolides (mph(c), erm(f), erm(b)) and fluoroquinolones (qnrD1), as well as critically important antimicrobial (CIA) resistance genes for glycopeptides (vanR-SC, vanR-O) and aminoglycosides (str, aadA), supporting the need to incorporate these environments into surveillance strategies.

Background/Objectives: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a significant threat to public health, food security, and sustainable livestock production. Despite increasing concern, AMR remains poorly studied in cuniculture, particularly in regions where rabbit farming is predominantly small-scale and household-based. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and diversity of antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) in rabbit farms in northeastern Ukraine. Methods: A total of 100 fecal samples were collected from clinically healthy rabbits housed in two farms and one vivarium. DNA was extracted and analyzed using real-time PCR targeting 21 ARGs associated with resistance to major antibiotic classes, including tetracyclines, sulfonamides, β-lactams, macrolides, quinolones, carbapenems, and multidrug efflux systems. Results: A diverse and widespread resistome was identified. The most prevalent genes included sul1 (96%), blaTEM (95%), tetM (94%), and ermB (93%). AcrB (78%) and qnrS/oqxB (approximately 67%) were also frequently detected. Carbapenemase genes (blaKPC, blaNDM, blaVIM) were identified in 6% of samples, despite limited veterinary use of carbapenems. Notably, 96% of samples harbored ARGs from three or more antibiotic classes, indicating a high potential for multidrug resistance. Conclusions: The findings demonstrate a high prevalence and diversity of ARGs in rabbit farming systems in northeastern Ukraine. The presence of clinically significant resistance genes, including those conferring carbapenem resistance, underscores the urgent need for targeted AMR surveillance and improved antibiotic stewardship in cuniculture, particularly in regions with minimal regulatory oversight of antimicrobial use.

Cave environments represent extreme and underexplored ecosystems wherein fungi play a crucial role in nutrient cycling and ecological dynamics. This study provides the first comprehensive assessment of fungal diversity in air samples from caves across Portugal, with six samples from five locations being assessed through culture-dependent and metabarcoding approaches. From the five bat roosts studied, eleven morphologically distinct fungal colonies were isolated, with genera such as Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Chaetomium identified. Concurrently, Oxford Nanopore sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of fungal rDNA revealed 286 genera, with Aspergillus, Candida, and Calyptella dominating across the sites. Diversity indices and community composition analyses, including Principal Coordinate Analysis (PCoA) and hierarchical clustering, highlighted distinct fungal profiles influenced by site-specific environmental factors and human activity. The data underscores the dual role of fungi in bat roosts as essential decomposers, emphasizing their adaptability to oligotrophic conditions. These findings advance our understanding of subterranean fungal ecology and emphasize the need for targeted conservation efforts to protect cave ecosystems from anthropogenic impacts.