The novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 likely emerged from a wildlife source with transmission to humans followed by rapid geographic spread throughout the globe and severe impacts on both human health and the global economy. Since the onset of the pandemic, there have been many instances of human-to-animal transmission involving companion, farmed and zoo animals, and limited evidence for spread into free-living wildlife. The establishment of reservoirs of infection in wild animals would create significant challenges to infection control in humans and could pose a threat to the welfare and conservation status of wildlife. We discuss the potential for exposure, onward transmission and persistence of SARS-CoV-2 in an initial selection of wild mammals (bats, canids, felids, mustelids, great apes, rodents and cervids). Dynamic risk assessment and targeted surveillance are important tools for the early detection of infection in wildlife, and here we describe a framework for collating and synthesising emerging information to inform targeted surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 in wildlife. Surveillance efforts should be integrated with information from public and veterinary health initiatives to provide insights into the potential role of wild mammals in the epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2.

Some wild animals have been recognized as potential reservoirs of Leishmania infantum infection (e.g. carnivores, lagomorphs, rodents, etc.). Leishmania infantum was also identified infecting humans and lagomorphs (i.e. hares and rabbits) over the period of 2009–2016, with the latter acting as the main reservoirs involved in the human leishmaniosis outbreak in Madrid. Two cases of clinical leishmaniosis are reported in orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus pygmaeus) housed at two different centres in Madrid. The first is the case of a 36-year-old male orangutan with severe weight loss and apathy. A complete blood count and biochemical profile revealed anaemia, neutropenia, hypoalbuminaemia and elevated transaminases. Hepato-splenomegaly was also observed. Four months later, due to worsening of clinical signs (mainly bilateral epistaxis), blood and bone marrow samples were collected. Amastigotes of L. infantum were detected in macrophages from a bone marrow aspirate and by specific polymerase chain reaction. The second case was a 34-year-old female orangutan with severe weight loss and apathy and no other apparent clinical signs. A complete blood count and biochemical profile revealed anaemia, pancytopenia and hypoalbuminaemia. Splenomegaly and pericardial effusion were also observed. As leishmaniosis was included in the differential diagnosis, both blood and bone marrow samples were collected. Leishmania infantum infection was confirmed by microscopy, molecular diagnosis and serology (immunofluorescence antibody test). Both animals were treated daily with oral miltefosine for 28 days; allopurinol was also given uninterruptedly in Case 2 for at least 6 months. During follow-up, though good clinical recovery was clear, a lack of parasitological cure was confirmed molecularly in both blood and bone marrow samples from the two orangutans. In both habitats, the presence of the sand fly vector identified as Phlebotomus perniciosus was confirmed. To our knowledge, this is the first report of L. infantum infection in great apes and in the endangered species P. p. pygmaeus. We are presently looking for L. infantum in other non-human primates living in the same peri-urban areas. If detected, we will examine the impacts of this serious disease on these critically endangered species.

During infectious disease outbreaks, acquiring genetic data across various kingdoms offers essential information to tailor precise treatment methodologies and bolster clinical, epidemiological, and public health awareness. Metagenomics sequencing has paved the way for personalized treatment approaches and streamlined the monitoring process for both co-infections and opportunistic infections. In this study, we conducted long-read metagenomic DNA sequencing on mpox-like lesion pustules from six suspected patients who were positive and confirmed to be infected with MPXV during the MPXV subclade Ib outbreak in the Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. The sequenced data were taxonomically classified as bacterial, fungal, and viral in composition. Our results show a wide spectrum of microorganisms present in the lesions. Bacteria such as Corynebacterium amycolatum, Gardnerella vaginalis, Enterococcus faecium, Enterobacter clocae, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia were found in the lesions. The viral classification of the reads pointed out the absolute predominance of the monkeypox virus. Taken together, the outcomes of this investigation underscore the potential involvement of microorganisms in mpox lesions and the possible role that co-infections played in exacerbating disease severity and transmission during the MPXV subclade Ib outbreak.

Altough zoonotic spillover events continue to drive human mpox outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the wildlife reservoir of mpox virus (MPXV) remains unkown. To address this gap, we screened samples from 2,701 wild mammals, mainly rodents (59.7%), bats (26.4%) and shrews (12.1%). Only six (0.2%) animals were Orthopoxvirus (OPV) PCR positive. Near full-length MPXV sequences were obtained from two squirrels ( Funisciurus anerythrus and Paraxerus sp.) and one soft furred mouse ( Praomys jacksoni ). A novel Taterapox virus was identified in a shrew ( Crocidura cf. denti ). All newly identified MPXV strains belong to clade Ia, but they cluster into different groups or subgroups, despite being collected from geographically close locations, and all are closely related to human MPXV strains from the same regions. Our study provides for the first time clear evidence that MPXV diversity is not restricted to a single rodent host species nor confined to a geographic area. Importantly, MPXV positive Paraxerus and Praomys specimens were sampled close to Kisangani, a city with more than one million habitants, highlighting that spillover events can also occur in or near major cities, with more favorable conditions for interhuman transmissions and potential emergence of new lineages.

The ongoing second-largest Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) was caused by contagious Bundibugyo virus (BDBV). So far, seven provinces of the DRC including Bas-Uele, Haut-Uele, Ituri, Nord-Kivu (North Kivu), Sud-Kivu (South Kivu), Sud-Ubangi (South Ubangi), and Tshopo provinces have confirmed cases of BDBV. Here, we report the clinical characteristics of the provincial index case of BDBV 2026 infection in South Kivu, DRC, and provide information about contacts who tested positive for BDBV. Collected clinical specimens tested with Polymerase Chain Reactions confirmed BDBV in the infected index case and its connections.

The ongoing second-largest Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is caused by contagious Bundibugyo virus (BDBV). So far, seven provinces of DRC including Bas-Uele, Haut-Uele, Ituri, Nord-Kivu (North Kivu), Sud-Kivu (South Kivu), Sud-Ubangi (South Ubangi), and Tshopo provinces have confirmed the cases of the BDBV. Here, we report the clinical characterises of the first index case of BDBV 2026 infection in South Kivu, DRC and provide information about its connections those also later found positive with the Ebola. Collected clinical specimens tested with Polymerase Chain Reactions confirmed the BDBV in the infected index case and its connections.