Zoonosis surveillance in Sanitary Zone of Spain, 2025: incidence, distribution and public health
Abstract
Background: Zoonotic diseases are re-emerging public health threats in Europe, exacerbated by climate change, land-use shifts and expanding wildlife-human interfaces. In Spain, Q fever, leishmaniasis, brucellosis and trichinosis remain endemic, yet sub-regional surveillance data are scarce. Toledo province Zone VI (533,690 inhabitants) combines intensive livestock farming, rural-periurban gradients and favourable conditions for vector expansion, making it an epidemiologically relevant sentinel area.
Objectives: To characterise the incidence, geographic distribution and exposure determinants of notifiable zoonoses in Sanitary Zone VI of Toledo during 2025.
Methods: Descriptive study of laboratory-confirmed zoonosis cases notified to the Spanish Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System (EDOS) in 2025. Variables: disease, municipality of residence, exposure factors. Incidence rates per 100,000 inhabitants were calculated and cases mapped at municipal level.
Results: Twelve cases were recorded (overall incidence: 2.25/100,000). Q fever accounted for 41.7%, leishmaniasis 33.3%, trichinosis 16.7% and brucellosis 8.3%. Cases were dispersed across 10 municipalities with no clustering in the provincial capital. Q fever concentrated in livestock-active municipalities. Leishmaniasis affected both rural and periurban areas, suggesting reservoir expansion beyond traditional rural settings. Both trichinosis cases were linked to game meat consumption. No significant temporal aggregation was detected.
Conclusions: Despite low overall incidence, the periurban expansion of leishmaniasis, consistent with European trends linked to reservoir spread and climate warming, warrants enhanced active surveillance. Targeted interventions should prioritise vector control, livestock worker education and game meat inspection in high-risk municipalities. A one health approach is essential to coordinate effective responses accross sanitation, agriculture and environment.
Key messages: • Leishmaniasis periurban expansion in Toledo mirrors European trends driven by climate change and reservoir spread, demanding proactive vector surveillance beyond traditional risk areas
• Effective zoonosis control in rural-periurban provinces requires a One Health response, coordinating human health, veterinary and environmental sectors.
Related
- Association between the december 2020 mass long-lasting insecticidal net distribution campaign and reported malaria incidence in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo: an interrupted time-series analysis of routine surveillance data.
- Spatial epidemiology of hepatitis C in Khenchela Province, Algeria: identifying HCV incidence hotspots and implications for regional public health
- A Blind Spot in US Public Health: The Case for Nocardia Surveillance
- Human biomonitoring of occupational benzene exposure among petroleum-exposed workers in nigeria and its implications for public health surveillance
- Early Adverse Neonatal Outcomes Among Women With Diabetes in Pregnancy in Uganda: Incidence, Distribution and Associated Factors in a Multicenter Prospective Cohort Study
BibTeX
@article{lecona2026zoonosis,
title = {{Zoonosis surveillance in Sanitary Zone of Spain, 2025: incidence, distribution and public health}},
author = {JA Sanchez Lecona and JM Andino Agurcia and M Sanchez Gomez and EJ Velasco Lucio and R Perea Rafael and MC Salas Butron},
journal = {The European Journal of Public Health},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1093/eurpub/ckag169.1281},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckag169.1281},
note = {CC BY-NC 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Zoonosis surveillance in Sanitary Zone of Spain, 2025: incidence, distribution and public health
AU - JA Sanchez Lecona
AU - JM Andino Agurcia
AU - M Sanchez Gomez
AU - EJ Velasco Lucio
AU - R Perea Rafael
AU - MC Salas Butron
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/01
JO - The European Journal of Public Health
DO - 10.1093/eurpub/ckag169.1281
UR - https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckag169.1281
AB - Background: Zoonotic diseases are re-emerging public health threats in Europe, exacerbated by climate change, land-use shifts and expanding wildlife-human interfaces. In Spain, Q fever, leishmaniasis, brucellosis and trichinosis remain endemic, yet sub-regional surveillance data are scarce. Toledo province Zone VI (533,690 inhabitants) combines intensive livestock farming, rural-periurban gradients and favourable conditions for vector expansion, making it an epidemiologically relevant sentinel area. Objectives: To characterise the incidence, geographic distribution and exposure determinants of notifiable zoonoses in Sanitary Zone VI of Toledo during 2025. Methods: Descriptive study of laboratory-confirmed zoonosis cases notified to the Spanish Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System (EDOS) in 2025. Variables: disease, municipality of residence, exposure factors. Incidence rates per 100,000 inhabitants were calculated and cases mapped at municipal level. Results: Twelve cases were recorded (overall incidence: 2.25/100,000). Q fever accounted for 41.7%, leishmaniasis 33.3%, trichinosis 16.7% and brucellosis 8.3%. Cases were dispersed across 10 municipalities with no clustering in the provincial capital. Q fever concentrated in livestock-active municipalities. Leishmaniasis affected both rural and periurban areas, suggesting reservoir expansion beyond traditional rural settings. Both trichinosis cases were linked to game meat consumption. No significant temporal aggregation was detected. Conclusions: Despite low overall incidence, the periurban expansion of leishmaniasis, consistent with European trends linked to reservoir spread and climate warming, warrants enhanced active surveillance. Targeted interventions should prioritise vector control, livestock worker education and game meat inspection in high-risk municipalities. A one health approach is essential to coordinate effective responses accross sanitation, agriculture and environment. Key messages: • Leishmaniasis periurban expansion in Toledo mirrors European trends driven by climate change and reservoir spread, demanding proactive vector surveillance beyond traditional risk areas • Effective zoonosis control in rural-periurban provinces requires a One Health response, coordinating human health, veterinary and environmental sectors.
SN - 1101-1262
SN - 1464-360X
ER -