ABSTRACT

Introduction

The increasing prevalence of viral diseases highlights the need for the destruction or inactivation of viruses on diverse material surfaces. While extensive research exists for human viruses, the interaction between metal surfaces and animal pathogens like BoHV-1 is not well understood. This study investigated the impact of copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), and iron (Fe) surfaces on the biological activity, virus, and viral DNA half-life time of BoHV-1.

Methods

MDBK-adapted BoHV-1 (strain 4016) was used to investigate the virucidal effect of copper, zinc, and iron surfaces. The virus was exposed for 1 and 24 hours under humid and dry conditions. Inactivation was evaluated by measuring the reduction in TCID₅₀ log₁₀, real-time PCR Ct values, and calculating half-lives for both the virus and its DNA.

Results

Herpesviruses were inactivated most rapidly on copper-coated surfaces in all cases. The virucidal effect after 1 hour of contact under humid and dry conditions was highly effective (3.25±0.29 log₁₀ TCID₅₀ and 4.5±0.1 log₁₀ TCID₅₀; p<0.01, p<0.05), with similar results after 24 hours under both conditions (4.5±0.25 log₁₀ TCID₅₀ and 4.5±0.1 log₁₀ TCID₅₀; p<0.05). Inactivation half-life time for the virus and viral DNA after 1 hour were shorter under dry conditions (4 minutes and 27 minutes) compared to humid conditions (6 minutes and 10 minutes). However, after 24 hours, inactivation half-life times were shorter under humid conditions (1 hour 31 minutes and 6 hours 20 minutes) compared to dry conditions (1 hour 36 minutes and 4 hours 7 minutes). Viral activity studies in cell culture correlated with real-time PCR, confirming copper’s strong effect on viral DNA under both conditions.

Conclusion

Copper surfaces demonstrated the highest virucidal activity against herpesviruses. The kinetics of inactivation were biphasic: while the immediate efficacy was higher after 1 hour under humid conditions, the long-term effect, considering both half-life measurements, proved to be superior in a dry environment.

Calf diarrhea and bovine mastitis caused by Escherichia coli represent globally significant diseases that impose substantial economic burdens on the dairy industry. The widespread and indiscriminate use of antibiotics has accelerated the emergence of multidrug-resistant bacterial strains, posing serious threats to both animal health and ecological stability. This study aimed to explore the therapeutic potential of bacteriophages as a viable and innovative alternative to conventional antibiotics for managing these infections in cattle. A meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate the current status of bacteriophage therapy in this field. An initial screening and review of 1,148 articles was performed, drawing from PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases, spanning the years 1983 to 2021. Based on the inclusion criteria, 15 articles were selected for detailed meta-analysis. In vivo assessments covered a total of 126 cattle treated with bacteriophages in 7 different studies. Of these, six focused on treating calf diarrhea, while one addressed bovine coliform mastitis, with all treated animals achieving clinical recovery. Furthermore, 8 in vitro experiments analyzed 738 E. coli strains subjected to bacteriophage lysis, resulting in an overall microbiological cure rate of 84.20%. These results highlight the promising efficacy, safety, and potential of bacteriophages as an alternative therapeutic strategy to control E. coli-induced diarrhea in calves and bovine mastitis, offering a sustainable alternative to traditional antimicrobial treatments.

Ectoparasites in companion animals are not only a clinical problem, but also a major epidemiological factor, being vectors for the transmission of pathogens, including some viruses of zoonotic importance. In particular, Rhipicephalus sanguineus, the brown dog tick, is recognized as a vector involved in the transmission of Crimean–Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (Nairoviridae) and some viruses of the Flaviviridae family. This species thus acquires particular relevance for veterinary medicine and public health, in the light of the One Health concept. The present study evaluated 100 clinical cases of dogs, cats and other companion animals presented to the Medicrisvet clinic (Fălticeni, Romania) in 2024, with the objective of determining the prevalence of ectoparasites and analyzing the associated risks. The results showed a prevalence of 54.8% for R. sanguineus, 26.9% for Demodex cati, 11.5% for Otodectes cynotis and 6.7% for Sarcoptes scabiei var. canis. Infestations were more frequent in the warm season, indicating a period of increased vulnerability for the transmission of pathogens, including viral ones. These results highlight the importance of ectoparasites as vectors with viral relevance in veterinary medicine and public health. The high prevalence of Rhipicephalus sanguineus in companion animals suggests a major epidemiological potential, with direct implications for zoonotic risk and the emergence of viral agents. The integration of these data in the current context of veterinary virology supports the strengthening of surveillance and control programs and emphasizes the need to develop health policies based on the One Health concept. Therefore, this study contributes to the understanding of the role of ectoparasites in viral ecology and to the substantiation of interdisciplinary preventive strategies, from risk assessment to limiting the transmission of pathogens.

Abstract

Introduction: The emergence and re-emergence of viral pathogens in livestock pose a significant threat to global food security and public health. The use of some molecular diagnostic techniques, such as ELISA and PCR, in the detection of viral nucleic acid is limited due to lack of efficiency, adaptability, and scalability.

Methods: Recent technological advances in CRISPR-based diagnostics, particularly CRISPR-Cas12 and Cas13 systems, have proven to be rapid, sensitive, and portable techniques for the detection of viral pathogens, especially when integrated with lateral flow assays or fluorescent readouts. Furthermore, some other CRISPR-based diagnostic tools like SHERLOCK and DETECTR have been proven effective in the detection of various viruses like African swine fever virus (ASFV), foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV), and avian influenza viruses in livestock. The combined use of CRISPR-based diagnostic tools with portable genome sequencing approaches enables rapid detection and detailed genomic insight within a few hours in the field. Portable genomic sequencing technologies, such as Oxford Nanopore Technologies' MinION, have been effectively used in the surveillance of peste des petits ruminant virus (PPRV) and bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) in the field without the need for a laboratory.

Results: Additionally, diagnostic approaches are shifting toward digital and decentralized diagnostics by integrating CRISPR with smartphone-based readers, AI-driven analysis tools, and cloud-linked biosurveillance platforms to enhance diagnostic throughput and usability.

Conclusions: Despite the intense revolution, the diagnosis of the virus is still challenged by ensuring regulatory validation, maintaining assay specificity in complex field samples, and reducing production costs for large-scale deployment. This review emphasizes the current trends of emerging diagnostic technologies for detecting viral diseases in livestock by analyzing their advantages, limitations, and integration potential in veterinary health systems.

Cutaneous papillomaviruses (PVs) are small, non-enveloped DNA viruses with strict host specificity and the capacity to induce proliferative epithelial lesions in a wide range of vertebrates. In wild cervids—including red deer (Cervus elaphus), moose (Alces alces), roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), and reindeer (Rangifer tarandus)—multiple species-specific PVs have been identified, including CePV1, AaPV1, CcaPV1, OvPV1, and RtPV1. These viruses typically cause papillomas and fibro papillomas on the skin and mucous membranes, presenting as rough, verrucous, and sometimes ulcerated lesions. Although often benign, PV-induced lesions can compromise animal welfare by affecting feeding, vision, mobility, or mating behaviours. In high-prevalence populations, especially among juveniles and immunocompromised individuals, these infections may have broader population-level impacts. Histopathological findings typically include epidermal hyperplasia, koilocytosis, and papillomatosis, with replication confined to keratinocytes. Transmission occurs via direct contact, microtraumas, and potentially through hematophagous ectoparasites. From a conservation perspective, PV infections in cervids are significant for several reasons. First, lesions may reduce individual fitness and contribute to population stress, particularly in fragmented or vulnerable populations. Second, the presence of papillomaviruses in cervid species cohabiting with livestock or other wildlife raises concerns about cross-species transmission, including spillover from bovine PVs. Third, these lesions may be misidentified as more serious conditions (e.g., sarcoids or neoplasia), complicating health assessments in the field. With cervids playing crucial ecological roles and serving as sentinel species in many ecosystems, understanding PV diversity, transmission dynamics, and pathology is essential for wildlife health monitoring and conservation planning. Ongoing molecular surveillance, pathology, and ecological studies are critical to assess the true burden of PV infections and to support evidence-based conservation medicine practices