Table 3.

Non-bacterial agents associated with sheep with minor zoonotic potential via milk or products made thereof.

Agent		Explanation of the possible risk for humans
Fungi
	Several species (such Candida albicans, Candida krusei, Candida tropicalis, and Trichophyton verrucosum)	In cattle, various pathogenic fungi can infect the udder and be exreted in milk. Of these species, only Candida albicans is considered a possible hazard in raw milk, but transmission via milk has not been reported. No information on the risk of fungi in sheep has been found. (Streinu-Cercel, 2012; Panelli et al., 2014; EFSA BIOHAZ Panel, 2015).
Parasites
	Cryptosporidium spp.	Zoonotic potential differs per species. Cryptosporidium parvum, and Cryptosporidium cervine, might be relevant. Milk borne human cases are not described (FAVV, 2015). Therefore, although considered to be transmissible via milk, Cryptosporidium spp. are not considered as a hazard in sheep milk in Europe (EFSA BIOHAZ Panel, 2015).
	Giardia duodenalis	Immunocompromised or young individuals are at risk (Giangaspero et al., 2005). G. duodenalis consists of several assemblages which seem more or less host specific (Monis and Thompson, 2003). Milk borne human illnesses are not described. Raw milk and dairy are not considered a transmission route (EFSA BIOHAZ Panel, 2015).
Viruses
	Orf virus	Causes skin lesions in humans and small ruminants. Lesions on the udder of small ruminants can be present. Nevertheless, direct contact is the main route of infection. The pathogen is not considered to be transmissible via milk (EFSA BIOHAZ Panel, 2015).
	Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV)	In humans, the course of infections can vary from asymptomatic to death (Miguel et al., 2015). Dromedary camels are strongly suspected to be the source of this zoonotic disease. Inoculation of sheep and goats did not result in shedding of MERS-CoV (Adney et al., 2016). Therefore, the possible role of MERS-CoV as zoonotic agent from sheep milk seems to be limited.