João R. Mesquita
YOU?
Author Swipe
View article: Cross-Sectional Study on Zoonotic Bacteria Carriage by Small Ruminants from Portugal’s Central Region
Cross-Sectional Study on Zoonotic Bacteria Carriage by Small Ruminants from Portugal’s Central Region Open
Zoonotic bacteria, namely Campylobacter spp., Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp. and Staphylococcus aureus, are commonly implicated in human infections and can be transmitted from animals to humans through direct contact, the environment or…
View article: The genome sequence of a nematode, Thelazia callipaeda Railliet & Henry, 1910 (Rhabditida: Thelaziidae)
The genome sequence of a nematode, Thelazia callipaeda Railliet & Henry, 1910 (Rhabditida: Thelaziidae) Open
We present a genome assembly of Thelazia callipaeda (nematode; Nematoda; Chromadorea; Rhabditida; Thelaziidae). The genome sequence has a total length of 117.59 megabases. Most of the assembly (75.82%) is scaffolded into 4 chromosomal pse…
View article: Metagenomic analysis of viral diversity in Portuguese bats
Metagenomic analysis of viral diversity in Portuguese bats Open
View article: Mapping PRNP Polymorphisms in Portuguese Serra da Estrela Ovine Populations: Insights into Scrapie Susceptibility and Farm Animal Improvement
Mapping PRNP Polymorphisms in Portuguese Serra da Estrela Ovine Populations: Insights into Scrapie Susceptibility and Farm Animal Improvement Open
Scrapie (classical and atypical) susceptibility in sheep is strongly influenced by PRNP gene polymorphisms. In Portugal, limited data exist for native breeds such as Serra da Estrela, despite their relevance to animal conservation and food…
View article: Rickettsia parkeri Strain Atlantic Rainforest in Archived Amblyomma geayi from Three-Toed Sloth (Bradypus tridactylus) in Manaus, Brazil
Rickettsia parkeri Strain Atlantic Rainforest in Archived Amblyomma geayi from Three-Toed Sloth (Bradypus tridactylus) in Manaus, Brazil Open
In the Brazilian Amazon biome, there has been a rise in human spotted fever cases, but still significant knowledge gaps regarding the diversity and epidemiology of the tick–host–Rickettsia relationship. In the herein study, rickettsiae wer…
View article: High Prevalence of Antimicrobial Resistance Genes in Rabbit Farms from Sumy Region, Ukraine
High Prevalence of Antimicrobial Resistance Genes in Rabbit Farms from Sumy Region, Ukraine Open
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 …
View article: Fatal Pneumonia Caused by Beauveria bassiana in a Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle (Lepidochelys kempii, Garman, 1880) on the Portuguese Coast: Case Report and Review of Beauveria spp. Infections in Reptiles
Fatal Pneumonia Caused by Beauveria bassiana in a Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle (Lepidochelys kempii, Garman, 1880) on the Portuguese Coast: Case Report and Review of Beauveria spp. Infections in Reptiles Open
The Kemp’s ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys kempii) is the most critically endangered sea turtle species, with a distribution primarily restricted to the Gulf of Mexico. Its occurrence along the Iberian Peninsula is exceedingly rare. This s…
View article: Detection of PCV2d in pig industry of the Iberian Peninsula
Detection of PCV2d in pig industry of the Iberian Peninsula Open
Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) is a major viral pathogen affecting swine worldwide, causing significant economic losses through its association with porcine circovirus-associated diseases (PCVD), which can lead to reproductive failure, g…
View article: Serratia marcescens Isolates from Bovine Mastitic Milk: Antimicrobial Resistance and Virulence Features
Serratia marcescens Isolates from Bovine Mastitic Milk: Antimicrobial Resistance and Virulence Features Open
Background: Bovine mastitis (BM) is a major disease affecting dairy herds (DHs), with Serratia marcescens (S. marcescens) being increasingly implicated as a causative agent. The growing concern over antimicrobial resistance (AMR) extends t…
View article: Zoonotic Yersinia enterocolitica in Swine: One Health Implications for Food Safety and Public Health
Zoonotic Yersinia enterocolitica in Swine: One Health Implications for Food Safety and Public Health Open
Y. enterocolitica is a cold-tolerant, foodborne pathogen that poses a significant risk to public health, with pigs identified as its main reservoir. This review explores the current knowledge on the epidemiology, transmission, and virulenc…
View article: Hepatocellular Early Apoptosis Associated with HES 130/0.4 Administration for Volume Replacement in Pigs After Severe Bleeding
Hepatocellular Early Apoptosis Associated with HES 130/0.4 Administration for Volume Replacement in Pigs After Severe Bleeding Open
Hydroxyethyl starch (HES) 130/0.4 is commonly used for volume replacement, yet its hepatic effects in the context of acute haemorrhage remain unclear. This study aimed to evaluate hepatic histopathological changes related to HES 130/0.4 ad…
View article: Absence of hepatitis E virus RNA in bovines from Portugal
Absence of hepatitis E virus RNA in bovines from Portugal Open
View article: Rat Hepatitis E Virus (Rocahepevirus ratti): A Systematic Review of Its Presence in Water, Food-Related Matrices, and Potential Risks to Human Health
Rat Hepatitis E Virus (Rocahepevirus ratti): A Systematic Review of Its Presence in Water, Food-Related Matrices, and Potential Risks to Human Health Open
Rat hepatitis E virus (rat HEV) is an emerging zoonotic virus detected in rodents worldwide, with increasing evidence of presence in environmental sources such as surface water, wastewater and bivalves. This systematic review compiles and …
View article: Coxiella burnetii detected in Rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks collected in Portuguese autochthonous livestock
Coxiella burnetii detected in Rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks collected in Portuguese autochthonous livestock Open
Coxiella burnetii is a bacterium that causes coxiellosis in animals and Q fever in humans. While ruminants are the main reservoirs, the role of ticks in their transmission is still uncertain. This study looked for C. burnetii in ticks coll…
View article: Bat-associated coronavirus found in pigs in the Iberian Peninsula: insights into potential cross-species transmission
Bat-associated coronavirus found in pigs in the Iberian Peninsula: insights into potential cross-species transmission Open
Coronaviruses (CoVs) are a diverse group of RNA viruses that affect both human and animal health. Swine populations are particularly relevant in the ecology of CoVs, acting as potential intermediate hosts for zoonotic transmission. This st…
View article: The Prevalence of Antimicrobial Resistance Genes in the Environments of Small Ruminant Farms from Central Portugal
The Prevalence of Antimicrobial Resistance Genes in the Environments of Small Ruminant Farms from Central Portugal Open
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 …
View article: In Silico Discovery of a Novel Antiviral Scaffold for SARS-CoV-2 Targeting the Spike Glycoprotein through the Fatty Acid Binding Pocket
In Silico Discovery of a Novel Antiviral Scaffold for SARS-CoV-2 Targeting the Spike Glycoprotein through the Fatty Acid Binding Pocket Open
The key viral protein for infection by SARS-CoV-2 is the spike glycoprotein (S protein), mediating entry into host cells, which therefore represents a strong focus for the development of targeted therapeutics. In this work, we explored the…
View article: Assessing Q Fever Exposure in Veterinary Professionals: A Study on Seroprevalence and Awareness in Portugal, 2024
Assessing Q Fever Exposure in Veterinary Professionals: A Study on Seroprevalence and Awareness in Portugal, 2024 Open
Due to their frequent contact with animals, veterinarians may be at preferential risk of Coxiella burnetii exposure due to occupational contact with livestock. This study assesses the seroprevalence and risk factors associated with C. burn…
View article: Airborne Fungal Spore Diversity Assessment Using Culture-Dependent and Metabarcoding Approaches in Bat-Inhabited Natural and Anthropogenic Roosts in Portugal
Airborne Fungal Spore Diversity Assessment Using Culture-Dependent and Metabarcoding Approaches in Bat-Inhabited Natural and Anthropogenic Roosts in Portugal Open
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 …
View article: Environmental Surveillance of Hepatitis E Virus and Rat Hepatitis E Virus in Portugal and Spain, 2020–2022
Environmental Surveillance of Hepatitis E Virus and Rat Hepatitis E Virus in Portugal and Spain, 2020–2022 Open
Hepatitis E virus ( Paslahepevirus balayani [HEV]) is an important cause of acute viral hepatitis globally, with zoonotic genotypes linked to transmission through consumption of raw or undercooked swine meat or products. Recently, Rocahepe…
View article: Detection of Bartonella spp. in a Pipistrellus Pipistrellus Bat from Portugal
Detection of Bartonella spp. in a Pipistrellus Pipistrellus Bat from Portugal Open
In recent years, zoonotic pathogens have become increasingly more relevant in scientific research due to their implications on public health. Understanding their pathogenic potential, the pathways they use to infect and their reservoirs en…
View article: Airborne Fungal Spore Diversity Assessment Using Culture-Dependent and Metabarcoding Approaches in Bat-Inhabited Natural and Anthropogenic Roosts of Portugal
Airborne Fungal Spore Diversity Assessment Using Culture-Dependent and Metabarcoding Approaches in Bat-Inhabited Natural and Anthropogenic Roosts of Portugal Open
Cave environments represent extreme and underexplored ecosystems where 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 ca…
View article: Targeted-Amplicon NGS for Blastocystis sp. in Shepherd Dogs of Portugal Discriminates Co-Colonization with Multiple Zoonotic Subtypes
Targeted-Amplicon NGS for Blastocystis sp. in Shepherd Dogs of Portugal Discriminates Co-Colonization with Multiple Zoonotic Subtypes Open
Research on endoparasites in pet dogs has been growing, but shepherd dogs have largely been overlooked. These dogs frequently share close proximity not only with sheep, which are reservoirs of zoonotic subtypes of Blastocystis, but also wi…
View article: National survey of the rat hepatitis E virus in rodents in Spain, 2022 to 2023
National survey of the rat hepatitis E virus in rodents in Spain, 2022 to 2023 Open
Background Rat hepatitis E virus (ratHEV) is an emerging virus causing acute and chronic hepatitis in humans. Rats are the main natural reservoir of this pathogen. Large-scale studies assessing ratHEV circulation in rodents in Spain are la…
View article: Rabbit Hepatitis E Virus, Ukraine, 2024
Rabbit Hepatitis E Virus, Ukraine, 2024 Open
We identified hepatitis E virus (HEV) 3ra, a potentially zoonotic subtype, in rabbits in Ukraine, which highlights their potential role as reservoirs. Screening of rabbit fecal samples identified HEV-3ra. Public health services in this cou…
View article: Anthropogenic Blastocystis from Drinking Well and Coastal Water in Guinea-Bissau (West Africa)
Anthropogenic Blastocystis from Drinking Well and Coastal Water in Guinea-Bissau (West Africa) Open
This study provides the first comprehensive investigation of Blastocystis sp. contamination in the drinking well and coastal water sources in Guinea-Bissau, a region grappling with severe water quality challenges. Of the forty-five water s…
View article: First Molecular Detection of Rickettsia conorii and Rickettsia helvetica in Ticks from Dogs in Luxembourg
First Molecular Detection of Rickettsia conorii and Rickettsia helvetica in Ticks from Dogs in Luxembourg Open
Vector-borne diseases, particularly those caused by Rickettsia species, pose a significant public health threat in Europe. Despite extensive research on tick-borne pathogens in various European countries, Luxembourg has yet not been studie…
View article: Detection of Bagaza Virus in Europe: A Scoping Review
Detection of Bagaza Virus in Europe: A Scoping Review Open
The Bagaza virus (BAGV) belongs to the genus Orthoflavivirus (Ntaya serocomplex) and emerged in Europe, Spain, in 2010. The natural transmission cycle of this virus is perpetuated by Culex spp. mosquitoes and viraemic birds. The ability of…
View article: Histoplasma capsulatum in Bat Species in Portugal
Histoplasma capsulatum in Bat Species in Portugal Open
Histoplasmosis, caused by the fungus Histoplasma capsulatum, poses health risks to various mammals, including humans. Bats are primary wild carriers of Histoplasma capsulatum, playing a crucial role in its epidemiology. However, fecal shed…
View article: Screening Wild Birds for Tick-Borne Zoonotic Pathogens in Portugal
Screening Wild Birds for Tick-Borne Zoonotic Pathogens in Portugal Open
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 introductio…