Background/Objectives: This report documents the first confirmed case in Romania of fatal pneumonia and septicemia in a domestic rabbit caused by multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli, highlighting both its pathogenic potential and One Health implications. Case Study: An 8-month-old male German Giant Spotted rabbit raised on a rural farm under poor husbandry conditions developed acute respiratory distress and died within 48 h. Post-mortem examination revealed severe pulmonary congestion, tracheal inflammation, serofibrinous pericarditis, and systemic vascular lesions. Bacteriological analysis confirmed E. coli from lung, trachea, and bone marrow samples. The isolate demonstrated strong Congo red binding, was confirmed by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, and showed resistance to beta-lactams, fluoroquinolones, tetracyclines, sulfonamides, macrolides, and phenicols, remaining susceptible only to aminoglycosides. PCR screening identified virulence genes (fimH, papC, iutA, ompA) linked to adhesion, immune evasion, and iron acquisition, with potential for horizontal gene transfer. Conclusions: This first documented case in Romania emphasizes the clinical threat posed by multidrug-resistant E. coli in rabbits and the importance of early diagnosis, improved biosecurity, and responsible antimicrobial use. The zoonotic and environmental risks in backyard farming underscore the urgent need for integrated surveillance. Alternative control strategies, including phage therapy and probiotics, should be explored to reduce reliance on conventional antibiotics.

This cross-sectional study evaluated the seroprevalence and clinical impact of West Nile virus (WNV) infection in horses from three ecologically high-risk counties in western Romania (Timiș, Arad, and Bihor) between 2023 and 2025. A total of 306 unvaccinated horses were tested using a commercial ELISA, with 8.17% testing positive for WNV antibodies, indicating prior exposure. Passive surveillance for clinical signs during mosquito seasons identified 16 horses with acute neurological symptoms, four of which were confirmed as clinical cases based on WNV-specific IgM positivity, suggesting probable silent WNV circulation in the region. The overall case fatality rate among confirmed clinical cases was 25.0%. WNV seropositivity was highest in Bihor (8.85%), followed by Arad (8.57%) and Timiș (7.32%). Statistical comparisons using χ² tests and binary logistic regression indicated no significant differences in seroprevalence between counties, sexes, or age groups, consistent with the overlapping 95% confidence intervals. These findings suggest the continued silent circulation of WNV in the region and support the integration of equine surveillance into the One Health framework as a potential tool for early detection and risk mitigation. However, in the absence of molecular confirmation (e.g., RT-PCR or virus isolation), these results should be interpreted as indicative of prior exposure rather than direct evidence of ongoing viral activity.

Introduction: Ostrich farming is increasingly recognized for its economic potential but poses significant health challenges due to the risk of pathogen transmission, including multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli. Case study: This study reports a case of a four-month-old female ostrich from western Romania presenting with severe respiratory and digestive infections, progressing to septicemia and death. A post-mortem examination revealed extensive mucus in the trachea, pulmonary congestion, hemorrhagic enteritis, and approximately 1250 g of metal objects in the ventriculus. Pure cultures of E. coli were isolated from the lungs and bone marrow and identified via MALDI-TOF MS. The strain exhibited multidrug resistance to several antibiotics, including enrofloxacin, doxycycline, and amoxicillin, highlighting the critical issue of antimicrobial resistance in veterinary medicine. Discussions: This case underscores the need for enhanced management practices in ostrich farming to mitigate environmental and pathogenic risks, as well as the urgency of developing alternative strategies for controlling resistant bacterial infections in avian species. Conclusions: This case highlights the need for alternative treatments and stricter antimicrobial stewardship to combat multidrug-resistant E. coli in ostriches.

West Nile virus (WNV) is a mosquito-borne flavivirus that remains an important public and veterinary health concern across Europe. Periodic outbreaks affecting humans, horses, and wildlife highlight the complex ecological interactions underlying viral circulation. This narrative review aims to synthesize current knowledge regarding WNV epidemiology, transmission dynamics, and surveillance strategies in Europe, with particular attention to the Romanian context. Available surveillance data indicate recurrent seasonal transmission in several European regions; however, reported case numbers may be influenced by differences in diagnostic capacity, reporting practices, and surveillance intensity among countries. Recent studies suggest that environmental variability, vector adaptation, and host community composition play important roles in shaping regional transmission risk, although the relative contribution of these factors remains incompletely quantified. Despite expanding surveillance networks and One Health initiatives, important knowledge gaps persist regarding the integration of environmental risk indicators, vector ecology, and operational preparedness into coherent risk-assessment frameworks. This review therefore examines current epidemiological patterns, evaluates surveillance approaches, and discusses emerging drivers of WNV transmission in Europe. As a narrative synthesis based on published literature and surveillance reports, this review is subject to limitations related to heterogeneity in available data and differences in national reporting systems. Nevertheless, a clearer understanding of these interacting factors may support improved surveillance strategies and more adaptive public health responses to future WNV transmission events. Reported surveillance data should be interpreted cautiously, as differences in national surveillance intensity, diagnostic capacity, and reporting frameworks across Europe may influence notified case numbers. Consequently, reported outbreaks do not necessarily reflect proportional differences in transmission intensity.

West Nile Virus (WNV) is a mosquito-borne zoonosis with recurrent equine and human cases in Romania. Horses, although dead-end hosts, act as sentinels for local viral circulation. Farm-level risk conditions remain under-characterized. This pilot, exploratory cross-sectional study assessed 42 equine facilities in western Romania (2024). A standardized 10-item checklist was applied and a Composite Environmental Risk Score (CERS) (0–10, unweighted) was computed per facility. Spatial analysis in QGIS included distances to nearby water bodies. No serological or entomological data were collected; these are recommended for future validation. Stagnant water occurred at 71.4% (30/42) of facilities, uncovered rain-collecting containers at 64.3% (27/42), and outdoor housing of horses at 81.0% (34/42). Insect screens were present at 21.4% (9/42) and chemical/biological control at 33.3% (14/42). By design, the CERS ranged from 0 to 10; in our sample the observed range was 0–8 because not all assessed risk conditions co-occurred across sites. Overall, 42.9% (18/42) were classified as high risk (≥6). Neurological signs were reported anecdotally by some managers but were not analyzed. Mosquito-favorable conditions are widespread in Romanian equine facilities. CERS shows promise as a low-cost, rapid tool for routine facility-level assessment of environmental conditions favoring mosquito presence and prioritization of preventive actions. Integrating environmental risk scoring with entomological and serological surveillance could strengthen One Health early-warning systems. Such integration would support prevention of WNV and other mosquito-borne zoonotic pathogens in endemic European settings.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a major global health challenge that has intensified interest in multi-target nutraceuticals with potential adjunctive benefits. Ganoderma lucidum (Lingzhi/Reishi) is a medicinal mushroom traditionally used in East Asia and is increasingly investigated for its role in glycemic regulation and metabolic disturbances. This review critically synthesizes current evidence on its hypoglycemic effects, focusing on bioactive compounds, molecular mechanisms, and translational limitations. Unlike broader reviews on Ganoderma bioactivity and health-related benefits, this review specifically evaluates the alignment between taxonomic authentication, chemical standardization, preclinical mechanisms, and human clinical evidence in the context of glycemic regulation. This narrative review was based on a targeted literature search conducted in PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, and Scopus for studies published up to October 2025, supplemented by Google Scholar. The included studies comprised in vitro experiments, in vivo animal models, and human clinical trials evaluating glycemic and metabolic outcomes of Ganoderma preparations. In vitro and animal studies indicate that polysaccharides, including β-(1→3)/(1→6)-glucans and proteoglycans such as FYGL, may improve insulin sensitivity via AMPK (AMP-activated protein kinase) and PI3K/Akt pathways, promote GLUT4 (glucose transporter type 4) translocation, suppress hepatic gluconeogenesis, protect pancreatic β-cells, and modulate gut microbiota. In enzyme assays and preclinical models, lanostane-type triterpenoids act primarily by inhibiting α-glucosidase and α-amylase, thereby potentially reducing postprandial glucose excursions. Despite consistent preclinical evidence, clinical findings remain heterogeneous, with the largest randomized controlled trial reporting no significant glycemic benefit. Overall, Ganoderma lucidum shows strong mechanistic plausibility but insufficient clinical evidence for antidiabetic efficacy. Future research should prioritize species authentication, chemical standardization, and adequately powered clinical trials.