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Malgwi SA, Adeleke VT, Adeleke MA, Okpeku M. Multi-epitope Based Peptide Vaccine Candidate Against Babesia Infection From Rhoptry-Associated Protein 1 (RAP-1) Antigen Using Immuno-Informatics: An In Silico Approach. Bioinform Biol Insights 2024; 18:11779322241287114. [PMID: 39691583 PMCID: PMC11650595 DOI: 10.1177/11779322241287114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2024] [Accepted: 09/05/2024] [Indexed: 12/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Objective Babesiosis is a significant haemoparasitic infection caused by apicomplexan parasites of the genus Babesia. This infection has continuously threatened cattle farmers owing to its devastating effects on productivity and severe economic implications. Failure to curb the increase of the infection has been attributed to largely ineffective vaccines. This study was designed to develop a potential vaccine candidate. Method Rhoptry-associated protein-1 (RAP-1) was used to identify and design a potential multi-epitope vaccine candidate due to its immunogenic properties through an immunoinformatics approach. Results and conclusions A multi-epitope vaccine comprising 11 CD8+, 17 CD4+, and 3 B-cell epitopes was constructed using the AAY, GPGPG, and KK linkers. Beta-defensin-3 was added as an adjuvant to potentiate the immune response using the EAAK linker. The designed vaccine was computationally predicted to be antigenic (antigenicity scores: 0.6), soluble (solubility index: 0.730), and non-allergenic. The vaccine construct comprises 595 amino acids with a molecular weight of 64 152 kDa, an instability and aliphatic index of 13.89 and 65.82, which confers stability with a Grand average of hydropathicity (GRAVY) value of 0.122, indicating the hydrophobicity of the construct. Europe has the highest combined class population coverage, with a percentage of 96.07%, while Central America has the lowest population coverage, with a value of 22.94%. The DNA sequence of the vaccine construct was optimized and successfully cloned into a pET-28a (+) plasmid vector. Analysis of binding interactions indicated the stability of the complex when docked with Toll-like receptor-2 (TLR-2). The subunit vaccine construct was predicted to induce and boost sufficient host cellular and humoral responses in silico. However, further experimental research and analysis is required to validate the findings. Limitation This study is purely computational, and further experimental validation of these findings through in vivo and in vitro conditions is required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samson Anjikwi Malgwi
- Discipline of Genetics, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Victoria T Adeleke
- Discipline of Chemical Engineering, Mangosuthu University of Technology, Durban, South Africa
| | - Matthew Adekunle Adeleke
- Discipline of Genetics, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Moses Okpeku
- Discipline of Genetics, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
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Ulucesme MC, Ozubek S, Aktas M. Experimental infection of purebred Saanen goats high pathogenicity and virulence of Babesia aktasi. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2024; 18:e0012705. [PMID: 39621802 PMCID: PMC11637318 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0012705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2024] [Revised: 12/12/2024] [Accepted: 11/18/2024] [Indexed: 12/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Small ruminant babesiosis remains a neglected disease despite causing significant economic losses to sheep and goat herds in many regions around the world. The pathogenesis and clinical manifestations of ovine babesiosis are well-known, but there is a lack of information regarding caprine babesiosis. Since the discovery of the first Babesia spp. in 1888, several species/subspecies/genotypes, including Babesia aktasi, have been described. Our recent molecular survey revealed that the parasite is highly prevalent (22.5%) in indigenous goats from Mediterranean region of Türkiye. The aim of this experimental study was to determine the pathogenicity and virulence of B. aktasi in immunosuppressed (n = 5) and immunocompetent (n = 7) purebred Saanen goats. The goats were experimentally infected with fresh B. aktasi infected blood, and examined for clinical, parasitological, hematological, and serum biochemical findings throughout the infection. Following the parasite inoculation, intra-erythrocytic parasites were detected from the 1st day post-infection, followed by an increase in rectal temperature and parasitemia. The parasitemia was detected ranging from 4.3% to 33.5% in the immunosuppressed group, while it was 2.1% to 7.6% in the immunocompetent. Severe clinical symptoms characterized by anemia, jaundice, and hemoglobinuria developed in both groups. A statistically significant inverse correlation was observed between the increase in parasitemia and RBC, WBC, HCT, and Hb values in the goats compared to pre-infection levels. Values of AST, ALT, GGT, Total bilirubin, and Albumin showed a significant increase, with all the immunosuppressed goats dying on the 4th and 7th days post-infection, while four out of seven immunocompetent goats died on between 6-8th days. Severe edema in the lungs, frothy fluid in the trachea, jaundice in the subcutaneous and mesenteric fat, and dark red urine were detected in necropsy. The results obtained in this study demonstrated that B. aktasi was highly pathogenic to purebred Saanen goats. Current work assures valuable insights into the pathogenesis and virulence of B. aktasi and serves as a foundation for future studies to develop effective control strategies against caprine babesiosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehmet Can Ulucesme
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Fırat, Elazig, Turkey
| | - Sezayi Ozubek
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Fırat, Elazig, Turkey
| | - Munir Aktas
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Fırat, Elazig, Turkey
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Chen F, Fu S, Jiang JF, Feng H, Liu Z, Sun Y, Li M. Persistent human babesiosis with low-grade parasitemia, challenges for clinical diagnosis and management. Heliyon 2024; 10:e39960. [PMID: 39634383 PMCID: PMC11616506 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e39960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2024] [Revised: 10/28/2024] [Accepted: 10/29/2024] [Indexed: 12/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Human babesiosis, caused by several Babesia parasites and transmitted by tick bites and other blood-associated containments, has emerged as a major public health threat around the world. In the absence of readily discernible clinical manifestations, the diagnosis of human babesiosis has been contingent upon the identification of Babesia parasites through the utilization of detection arrays. Nevertheless, cases of persistent and relapsing babesiosis with low-grade parasitemia have been sporadically observed in patients with and without immunosuppression, prompting a challenge to the reliability of routine clinical laboratory tests and efficient anti-babesial therapy. In such instances, it is essential to implement repeated and prolonged monitoring until complete eradication of the parasites is achieved. This review presents an overview of the epidemiology of persistent and relapsing human babesiosis, current diagnostic techniques, the mechanism of persistent relapse and practical clinical management strategies. In order to respond effectively to the challenge of low-grade parasitemia infection in the aforementioned patients, it is essential to prioritize the development and validation of rapid, sensitive, and cost-effective point-of-care diagnostic techniques, as well as the development of novel pharmaceutical agents and their combinations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Academic Military Medical Sciences, Beijing 100071, China
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Huadong Hospital affiliated to Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, China
| | - Shuhong Fu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, the Second Medical Centre, Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China
| | - Jia-fu Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Academic Military Medical Sciences, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Hao Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Academic Military Medical Sciences, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Zhitong Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Academic Military Medical Sciences, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Yi Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Academic Military Medical Sciences, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Mianyang Li
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, the First Medical Centre, Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China
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4
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Aderanti T, Marshall JM, Thekkiniath J. Effect of protease inhibitors on the intraerythrocytic development of Babesia microti and Babesia duncani, the causative agents of human babesiosis. J Eukaryot Microbiol 2024:e13064. [PMID: 39556081 DOI: 10.1111/jeu.13064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2024] [Revised: 09/11/2024] [Accepted: 09/13/2024] [Indexed: 11/19/2024]
Abstract
Human babesiosis is a malaria-like, tick-borne infectious disease with a global distribution. Babesiosis is caused by intraerythrocytic, apicomplexan parasites of the genus Babesia. In the United States, human babesiosis is caused by Babesia microti and Babesia duncani. Current treatment for babesiosis includes either the combination of atovaquone and azithromycin or the combination of clindamycin and quinine. However, the side effects of these agents and the resistance posed by these parasites call for alternative approaches for treating human babesiosis. Proteases play several roles in the context of parasitic lifestyle and regulate basic biological processes including cell death, cell progression, and cell migration. Using the SYBR Green-1 assay, we screened a protease inhibitor library that consisted of 160 compounds against B. duncani in vitro and identified 13 preliminary hits. Dose response assays of hit compounds against B. duncani and B. microti under in vitro conditions identified five effective inhibitors against parasite growth. Of these compounds, we chose ixazomib, a proteasome inhibitor as a potential drug for animal studies based on its lower IC50 and a higher therapeutic index in comparison with other compounds. Our results suggest that Babesia proteasome may be an important drug target and that developing this class of drugs may be important to combat human babesiosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Temitope Aderanti
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University Fort Wayne, Fort Wayne, Indiana, USA
| | - Jordan M Marshall
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University Fort Wayne, Fort Wayne, Indiana, USA
| | - Jose Thekkiniath
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University Fort Wayne, Fort Wayne, Indiana, USA
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Petrone ME, Charon J, Grigg MJ, William T, Rajahram GS, Westaway J, Piera KA, Shi M, Anstey NM, Holmes EC. A virus associated with the zoonotic pathogen Plasmodium knowlesi causing human malaria is a member of a diverse and unclassified viral taxon. Virus Evol 2024; 10:veae091. [PMID: 39619416 PMCID: PMC11605544 DOI: 10.1093/ve/veae091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2024] [Revised: 10/24/2024] [Accepted: 10/29/2024] [Indexed: 12/11/2024] Open
Abstract
The Apicomplexa are a phylum of single-celled eukaryotes that can infect humans and include the mosquito-borne parasite Plasmodium, the cause of malaria. Viruses that infect non-Plasmodium spp. disease-causing protozoa affect the pathogen life cycle and disease outcomes. However, only one RNA virus (Matryoshka RNA virus 1) has been identified in Plasmodium, and none have been identified in zoonotic Plasmodium species. The rapid expansion of the known RNA virosphere via metagenomic sequencing suggests that this dearth is due to the divergent nature of RNA viruses that infect protozoa. We leveraged newly uncovered data sets to explore the virome of human-infecting Plasmodium species collected in Sabah, east (Borneo) Malaysia. From this, we identified a highly divergent RNA virus in two human-infecting P. knowlesi isolates that is related to the unclassified group 'ormycoviruses'. By characterizing 15 additional ormycoviruses identified in the transcriptomes of arthropods, we show that this group of viruses exhibits a complex ecology as noninfecting passengers at the arthropod-mammal interface. With the addition of viral diversity discovered using the artificial intelligence-based analysis of metagenomic data, we also demonstrate that the ormycoviruses are part of a diverse and unclassified viral taxon. This is the first observation of an RNA virus in a zoonotic Plasmodium species. By linking small-scale experimental data to advances in large-scale virus discovery, we characterize the diversity and confirm the putative genomic architecture of an unclassified viral taxon. This approach can be used to further explore the virome of disease-causing Apicomplexa and better understand how protozoa-infecting viruses may affect parasite fitness, pathobiology, and treatment outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary E Petrone
- Sydney Infectious Diseases Institute, School of Medical Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
- Laboratory of Data Discovery for Health Limited, 19 Science Park West Avenue, Hong Kong Science Park, Pak Shek Kok, New Territories, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Justine Charon
- Fruit Biology and Pathology Unit, University of Bordeaux, INRAE, 71 Av. Edouard Bourlaux, Villenave-d’Ornon, Bordeaux 33140, France
| | - Matthew J Grigg
- Global and Tropical Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, John Mathews Building (Bldg 58), Royal Darwin Hospital Campus, Rocklands Drv., Casuarina, Darwin, NT 8010, Australia
- Infectious Diseases Society Kota Kinabalu Sabah-Menzies School of Health Research Clinical Research Unit, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah 88200, Malaysia
| | - Timothy William
- Infectious Diseases Society Kota Kinabalu Sabah-Menzies School of Health Research Clinical Research Unit, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah 88200, Malaysia
- Subang Jaya Medical Centre, No. 1, Jalan SS12/1A, Ss 12, Subang Jaya, Selangor 47500, Malaysia
| | - Giri S Rajahram
- Infectious Diseases Society Kota Kinabalu Sabah-Menzies School of Health Research Clinical Research Unit, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah 88200, Malaysia
- Queen Elizabeth Hospital II, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Lorong Bersatu, Off, Jalan Damai, Luyang Commercial Centre, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah 88300, Malaysia
| | - Jacob Westaway
- Global and Tropical Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, John Mathews Building (Bldg 58), Royal Darwin Hospital Campus, Rocklands Drv., Casuarina, Darwin, NT 8010, Australia
| | - Kim A Piera
- Global and Tropical Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, John Mathews Building (Bldg 58), Royal Darwin Hospital Campus, Rocklands Drv., Casuarina, Darwin, NT 8010, Australia
| | - Mang Shi
- State Key Laboratory for Biocontrol, School of Medicine, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen 518107, China
- National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen 518063, China
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory for Systems Medicine in Inflammatory Diseases, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen 518063, China
- Guangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Nicholas M Anstey
- Global and Tropical Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, John Mathews Building (Bldg 58), Royal Darwin Hospital Campus, Rocklands Drv., Casuarina, Darwin, NT 8010, Australia
- Infectious Diseases Society Kota Kinabalu Sabah-Menzies School of Health Research Clinical Research Unit, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah 88200, Malaysia
| | - Edward C Holmes
- Laboratory of Data Discovery for Health Limited, 19 Science Park West Avenue, Hong Kong Science Park, Pak Shek Kok, New Territories, Hong Kong SAR, China
- School of Medical Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
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6
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Foo CPZ, Sutcliffe CG, Dibernardo A, Lindsay LR. Geographic range and minimum infection rate of Borrelia burgdorferi, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Babesia microti, and Borrelia miyamotoi in Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae) ticks in Manitoba, Canada from 1995 to 2017. Zoonoses Public Health 2024; 71:817-828. [PMID: 38807283 DOI: 10.1111/zph.13159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2023] [Revised: 05/03/2024] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The expanding geographical range of blacklegged ticks (BLTs), Ixodes scapularis, and its ability to transmit Borrelia burgdorferi, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Babesia microti, and Borrelia miyamotoi poses an emerging public health risk. Our study determined the geographic distribution and the minimum infection rate (MIR) of B. burgdorferi-, A. phagocytophilum-, Ba. microti-, and B. miyamotoi-infected BLTs in Manitoba submitted to the Public Health Agency of Canada's passive tick surveillance programme from 1995 to 2017. METHODS Regression models were used to test the association of the MIR by year for each pathogen. Ticks were tested using PCR for B. burgdorferi since 1995, A. phagocytophilum since 2006, and Ba. microti and B. miyamotoi since 2013. The global positioning system coordinates of infected and uninfected ticks submitted during the surveillance period were plotted on a map of Manitoba using ArcGIS Pro version 3.1.2 to detect changes in the geographic distribution of ticks over time. RESULTS The overall MIR for B. burgdorferi was 139.7 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 129.0-150.5) per 1000 BLTs; however, it varied over time. After remaining stable from 1995 to 2005, the MIR increased by 12.1 per 1000 BLTs per year from 2005 to 2017 (95% CI: 7.0%-17.2%, p-value <0.01). The geographic distribution of B. burgdorferi-infected BLTs was centred around Winnipeg, Manitoba, and spread outward from this locality. The MIRs of A. phagocytophilum, Ba. microti, and B. miyamotoi were 44.8 per 1000 BLTs (95% CI: 38.1-51.6), 10.8 (95% CI: 6.6-15.0), and 5.2 (95% CI: 2.3-8.1) per 1000 BLTs, respectively, and showed no significant change over time. CONCLUSION Passive surveillance revealed the presence of A. phagocytophilum-, Ba. microti-, and B. miyamotoi-infected BLTs in southern Manitoba and revealed an increased risk of exposure to B. burgdorferi-infected BLTs due to the increasing geographic range and MIR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheryl Pei Zhen Foo
- Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador, St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada
| | | | - Antonia Dibernardo
- National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Leslie Robbin Lindsay
- National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
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Gray J, Kahl O, Zintl A. Pathogens transmitted by Ixodes ricinus. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2024; 15:102402. [PMID: 39368217 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2024.102402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2024] [Revised: 09/24/2024] [Accepted: 09/24/2024] [Indexed: 10/07/2024]
Abstract
Ixodes ricinus is the most important tick vector in central and western Europe and one of the most researched parasites. However, in the published literature on the tick and the pathogens it transmits, conjecture about specific transmission cycles and the clinical significance of certain microbes is not always clearly separated from confirmed facts. This article aims to present up-to-date, evidence-based information about the well-researched human pathogens tick-borne encephalitis virus, louping-ill virus, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and several Babesia species, with a focus on their development in the tick, transmission dynamics and the reservoir hosts that support their circulation in the environment. Borrelia miyamotoi, Neoehrlichia mikurensis, Rickettsia helvetica and Rickettsia monacensis, which are much less common causes of disease but may affect immunocompromised patients, are also briefly discussed. Finally, the possible role of I. ricinus in the transmission of Coxiella burnetii, Francisella tularensis, Bartonella spp. and Spiroplasma ixodetis is reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy Gray
- UCD School of Biology and Environmental Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
| | | | - Annetta Zintl
- UCD School of Veterinary Sciences, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
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Guillot C, Pelletier J, Aenishaenslin C, Coatsworth H, Dibernardo A, Koffi JK, Kulkarni MA, Rocheleau JP, Wilson C, Russell C, Nelder MP, Badcock J, Carr J, Checkley S, Clow KM, Cooper S, Cork S, Dumas A, Dergousoff S, Faraone N, Fraser E, Graham-Derham S, Irace-Cima A, Iwasawa S, Jenkins E, Leighton PA, McKay R, Morshed M, Pelletier R, Ripoche M, Rochon K, Thivierge K, Voordouw MJ, Ogden NH, Bouchard C. The distribution of Babesia odocoilei in Ixodes species ticks in Canada: Implications for one health surveillance. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2024; 15:102413. [PMID: 39571507 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2024.102413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2024] [Revised: 10/25/2024] [Accepted: 11/09/2024] [Indexed: 12/17/2024]
Abstract
Ixodes scapularis and Ixodes pacificus are vectors of a range of pathogens of public health significance in North America. These ticks transmit pathogens to and from wild animal reservoir host species, but also bite humans and expose them to the pathogens. We describe the geographical and temporal distribution of the pathogen Babesia odocoilei, the causative agent of cervid babesiosis. Ixodes spp. ticks collected through active and passive surveillance were submitted to the National Microbiology Laboratory of the Public Health Agency of Canada for analysis of the presence of B. odocoilei from 2018 to 2021. Generalized linear models were constructed to evaluate the temporal change of B. odocoilei prevalence across Canada. Babesia odocoilei-positive I. scapularis are widespread across south-central and eastern regions of Canada, with an overall prevalence of 12.0 % in both nymphs (CI 95 % : 11.4-12.6) and adults (CI 95 % : 11.9-12.1) collected in passive surveillance and 13.2 % (CI 95 % : 12.9-13.5) and 10.0 % (CI 95 % : 9.8-10.2) in nymphs and adult, respectively, collected in active surveillance. A single I. pacificus tick tested positive in active surveillance out of 29 ticks collected in British Columbia, while no B odocoilei-positive I. scapularis were found in passive surveillance among the 11 adult ticks tested. Although B. odocoilei infection prevalence of adult I. scapularis was significantly higher in 2019 (14.1 %) than in 2018 (7.4 %), it remained stable from 2019 to 2021, suggesting that this pathogen may already be well established in endemic tick populations. The results provided in this article represent, to date, the most comprehensive picture of B. odocoilei distribution and prevalence in ticks in Canada and highlight the interest of maintaining One Health surveillance approaches to give added insight into disease transmission cycles for less well-characterized microorganisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camille Guillot
- Département de pathologie et microbiologie, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada; Groupe de recherche en épidémiologie des zoonoses et santé publique, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada; Centre de recherche en santé publique de l'Université de Montréal et CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de-l'Île-de-Montréal, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada.
| | - Jérôme Pelletier
- Département de pathologie et microbiologie, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada; Groupe de recherche en épidémiologie des zoonoses et santé publique, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada; Centre de recherche en santé publique de l'Université de Montréal et CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de-l'Île-de-Montréal, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada
| | - Cécile Aenishaenslin
- Département de pathologie et microbiologie, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada; Groupe de recherche en épidémiologie des zoonoses et santé publique, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada; Centre de recherche en santé publique de l'Université de Montréal et CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de-l'Île-de-Montréal, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada
| | - Heather Coatsworth
- Mycobacteriology, Vector-borne and Prion Diseases Division, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Antonia Dibernardo
- Mycobacteriology, Vector-borne and Prion Diseases Division, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Jules K Koffi
- Groupe de recherche en épidémiologie des zoonoses et santé publique, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada; Centre for Food-borne, Environmental and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Public Health Agency of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Manisha A Kulkarni
- School of Epidemiology & Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jean-Philippe Rocheleau
- Département de pathologie et microbiologie, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada; Groupe de recherche en épidémiologie des zoonoses et santé publique, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada; Département de santé animale, Cégep de Saint-Hyacinthe, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
| | - Christy Wilson
- Centre for Food-borne, Environmental and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Public Health Agency of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Curtis Russell
- Enteric, Zoonotic and Vector-Borne Diseases, Health Protection, Public Health Ontario, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Mark P Nelder
- Enteric, Zoonotic and Vector-Borne Diseases, Health Protection, Public Health Ontario, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jacqueline Badcock
- New Brunswick Department of Health, Government of New Brunswick, Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada
| | - Justin Carr
- Provincial Veterinary Laboratory, Department of Agriculture, Aquaculture, and Fisheries, New Brunswick, Canada
| | - Sylvia Checkley
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Katie M Clow
- Department of Population Medicine, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Stephanie Cooper
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Susan Cork
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Ariane Dumas
- Groupe de recherche en épidémiologie des zoonoses et santé publique, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada; Public Health Risk Sciences Division, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
| | - Shaun Dergousoff
- Lethbridge Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
| | - Nicoletta Faraone
- Chemistry Department, Acadia University, Wolfville, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Erin Fraser
- Communicable Disease and Immunization Service, British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Scott Graham-Derham
- Department of Education and Early Childhood Learning, Government of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Alejandra Irace-Cima
- Direction des risques biologiques, Institut national de santé publique du Québec, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Stefan Iwasawa
- Communicable Disease and Immunization Service, British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Centre for Coastal Health, Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Emily Jenkins
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Patrick A Leighton
- Département de pathologie et microbiologie, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada; Groupe de recherche en épidémiologie des zoonoses et santé publique, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada; Centre de recherche en santé publique de l'Université de Montréal et CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de-l'Île-de-Montréal, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada
| | - Roman McKay
- School of Epidemiology & Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Muhammad Morshed
- BCCDC Public Health Laboratory, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Roxane Pelletier
- Direction des risques biologiques, Institut national de santé publique du Québec, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Marion Ripoche
- Direction des risques biologiques, Institut national de santé publique du Québec, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Kateryn Rochon
- Department of Entomology, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Karine Thivierge
- Laboratoire de santé publique du Québec, Institut national de santé publique du Québec, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Québec, Canada; Institute of Parasitology, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Québec, Canada
| | - Maarten J Voordouw
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Nicholas H Ogden
- Groupe de recherche en épidémiologie des zoonoses et santé publique, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada; Public Health Risk Sciences Division, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
| | - Catherine Bouchard
- Département de pathologie et microbiologie, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada; Groupe de recherche en épidémiologie des zoonoses et santé publique, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada; Public Health Risk Sciences Division, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
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9
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Curtis MW, Lopez JE. Tick-Borne Diseases and Pregnancy: A Narrative Review Evaluating Pregnancy Complications Caused by Tick-Borne Diseases. Trop Med Infect Dis 2024; 9:254. [PMID: 39591260 PMCID: PMC11598240 DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed9110254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2024] [Revised: 10/17/2024] [Accepted: 10/19/2024] [Indexed: 11/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Ticks are vectors of public health concern because the pathogens they transmit can cause detrimental diseases in humans. Lyme disease, tick-borne relapsing fever, human granulocytic anaplasmosis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, tick-borne encephalitis, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, and babesiosis are some of the most common diseases caused by the pathogens transmitted by ticks. The overlap between human activities and tick habitats is growing, contributing to an increase in tick-borne disease cases. Unfortunately, pregnancy as a risk factor for tick-borne diseases is largely ignored. In this narrative review we use case reports, epidemiological studies, and animal studies to evaluate the maternal, pregnancy, and fetal outcomes caused by Lyme disease, tick-borne relapsing fever, human granulocytic anaplasmosis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, tick-borne encephalitis, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, and babesiosis during pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael W. Curtis
- Department of Pediatrics, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA;
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Job E. Lopez
- Department of Pediatrics, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA;
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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10
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Cook MJ, Puri BK. Babesiosis: Analysis of the Evidence for Infections in the United Kingdom. Int J Gen Med 2024; 17:4627-4631. [PMID: 39429956 PMCID: PMC11488525 DOI: 10.2147/ijgm.s485759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2024] [Accepted: 10/06/2024] [Indexed: 10/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Human babesiosis is caused when erythrocytes are invaded by Babesia. Infection can occur from the bite of an infected tick, blood transfusion or congenitally. Issues related to the infecting species, symptomology and testing technology are discussed and the implications of accurate incidence and prevalence of the disease discussed. Human babesiosis is considered to be relatively rare in the UK. With a considerable number of non-specific symptoms and diagnostic testing limitations, it is probable that true positives are being missed. Based on co-infection data for Borrelia and Babesia from Rhode Island and Connecticut, and on Borrelia seropositivity data from northeastern France, the prevalence of babesiosis in those aged under 35 years, 35 to 44 years, 45 to 54 years and 55 years and over would be expected to be 0.6%, 1.8%, 2.8% and 3.5%, respectively. Based on the prevalence of infections in ticks and canines and a disease model previously published, it is estimated that the UK incidence of human babesiosis is likely to be approximately 18,500 cases per year.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Basant K Puri
- CAR, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Psychology, Neapolis University, Pafos, 8042, Cyprus
- Faculty of Health and Wellbeing, University of Winchester, Winchester, UK
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11
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Eissa MM, Salem AE, El Skhawy N. Parasites revive hope for cancer therapy. Eur J Med Res 2024; 29:489. [PMID: 39367471 PMCID: PMC11453045 DOI: 10.1186/s40001-024-02057-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2024] [Accepted: 09/10/2024] [Indexed: 10/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Parasites have attained a life-long stigma of being detrimental organisms with deleterious outcomes. Yet, recently, a creditable twist was verified that can dramatically change our perception of those parasites from being a source of misery to millions of people to a useful anti-cancerous tool. Various parasites have shown promise to combat cancer in different experimental models, including colorectal, lung, and breast cancers, among others. Helminths and protozoan parasites, as well as their derivatives such as Echinococcus granulosus protein KI-1, Toxoplasma gondii GRA15II, and Trypanosoma cruzi calreticulin, have demonstrated the ability to inhibit tumor growth, angiogenesis, and metastasis. This article provides an overview of the literature on various cancer types that have shown promising responses to parasite therapy in both in vitro and in vivo animal studies. Parasites have shown anti-neoplastic activity through a variety of mechanisms that collectively contribute to their anti-cancer properties. These include immunomodulation, inhibition of angiogenesis, and molecular mimicry with cancer cells. This review article sheds light on this intriguing emerging field and emphasizes the value of collaborative multidisciplinary research projects with funding agencies and pharmaceutical companies. Thus, these strategies would secure continuous exploration of this new avenue and accelerate the advancement of cancer therapy research. Although experimental studies are heavily conducted by leaps and bounds, further steps are definitely lagging. Upgrading research from the experimental level to the clinical trial would be a wise progression toward efficient exploitation of the anti-neoplastic capabilities of parasites, ultimately saving countless lives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maha M Eissa
- Department of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt.
| | - Ahmed Ebada Salem
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, School of Medicine, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 48123, USA
| | - Nahla El Skhawy
- Department of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
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12
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Ssentongo P, Venugopal N, Zhang Y, Chinchilli VM, Ba DM. Beyond Human Babesiosis: Prevalence and Association of Babesia Coinfection with Mortality in the United States, 2015-2022: A Retrospective Cohort Study. Open Forum Infect Dis 2024; 11:ofae504. [PMID: 39381028 PMCID: PMC11460071 DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofae504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2024] [Accepted: 08/30/2024] [Indexed: 10/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Background The prevalence of Babesia coinfecting tick-borne zoonoses and mortality outcomes are not fully elucidated. The objective of the present study was to determine babesiosis coinfection prevalence rates and estimate the association with severe disease and mortality. Methods We queried the TriNetX database between 2015 and 2022 for patients with babesiosis. The prevalence of Babesia coinfecting tick-borne zoonoses was estimated. The analysis focused on babesiosis coinfection with Borrelia burgdorferi, ehrlichiosis, and anaplasmosis. The exposure was coinfection, and the control group was the Babesia-only group. The primary outcome was 90-day mortality from the diagnosis of Babesia. Secondary outcomes were prevalence of coinfection, association of coinfection with acute respiratory distress syndrome, multiorgan failure, and disseminated intravascular coagulation. A multivariable logistic regression model was employed to estimate the disease severity and mortality risk associated with coinfections. Results Of the 3521 patients infected with Babesia, the mean age (SD) was 56 (18) years, 51% were male, and 78% were White. The frequency of overall malignancies, lymphomas, and asplenia was 19%, 2%, and 2%, respectively. Temporal distribution of coinfections followed the overall babesiosis pattern, peaking in the summer months. The prevalence of 1 or more coinfections was 42% (95% CI, 40%-43%). The rate of coinfection with Borrelia burgdorferi was the highest at 41% (95% CI, 39%-42%), followed by ehrlichiosis at 3.7% (95% CI, 3.1%-4.4%) and anaplasmosis at only 0.3% (95% CI, 0.2%-0.6%). Doxycycline was more likely to be prescribed in the coinfection group than the Babesia-only group (25% vs 18%; P < .0001). Overall, 90-day mortality was 1.4% (95% CI, 1.0%-1.8%). After adjusting for potential confounding factors, compared with the babesiosis-only group, the likelihood of 90-day mortality was lower in the coinfection group (adjusted odds ratio, 0.43; 95% CI, 0.20-0.91). Severe disease did not differ significantly between the 2 groups. Conclusions In this extensive study of >3000 patients with babesiosis in the United States, 4 in 10 patients had coinfecting tick-borne zoonoses. The prevalence rates of coinfection were highest with Borrelia burgdorferi, followed by ehrlichiosis, and lowest with anaplasmosis. Coinfection with other tick-borne infections was not associated with severe disease. It is plausible that this finding is due to the likelihood of treatment of coinfections with doxycycline. Future studies are needed to investigate the possible therapeutic benefits of doxycycline in babesiosis patients as, to date, no trials with doxycycline have been conducted in human patients with Babesia infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paddy Ssentongo
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Epidemiology, Department of Medicine, Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Natasha Venugopal
- Department of Medicine, Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Yue Zhang
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Vernon M Chinchilli
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Djibril M Ba
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA
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13
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Nian Y, Zhang S, Wang J, Li X, Wang Y, Liu J, Liu Z, Ye Y, You C, Yin H, Guan G. A novel and low-cost cross-priming amplification assay for rapid detection of Babesia duncani infection. Exp Parasitol 2024; 265:108813. [PMID: 39117169 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2024.108813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2023] [Revised: 08/02/2024] [Accepted: 08/05/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024]
Abstract
Babesia duncani, responsible for human babesiosis, is one of the most important tick-borne intraerythrocytic pathogens. Traditionally, babesiosis is definitively diagnosed by detecting parasite DNA in blood samples and examining Babesia parasites in Giemsa-stained peripheral blood smears. Although these techniques are valuable for determining Babesia duncani, they are often time-consuming and laborious. Therefore, developing rapid and reliable B. duncani identification assays is essential for subsequent epidemiological investigations and prevention and control. In this study, a cross-priming amplification (CPA) assay was developed, combined with a vertical flow visualization strip, to rapidly and accurately detect B. duncani infection. The detection limit of this method was as low as 0.98 pg/μl of genomic DNA from B. duncani merozoites per reaction at 59 °C for 60 min. There were no cross-reactions between B. duncani and other piroplasms infective to humans and mammals. A total of 592 blood samples from patients bitten by ticks and experimental infected hamsters were accurately assessed using CPA assay. The average cost of the CPA assay is as low as approximately $ 0.2 per person. These findings indicate that the CPA assay may therefore be a rapid screening tool for detection B. duncani infection, based on its accuracy, speed, and cost-effectiveness, particularly in resource-limited regions with a high prevalence of human babesiosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yueli Nian
- Laboratory Medicine Center, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Cuiyingmen 82, Lanzhou, Gansu, 730030, PR China; State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Xujiaping 1, Lanzhou, Gansu, 730046, PR China
| | - Shangdi Zhang
- Laboratory Medicine Center, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Cuiyingmen 82, Lanzhou, Gansu, 730030, PR China
| | - Jinming Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Xujiaping 1, Lanzhou, Gansu, 730046, PR China
| | - Xiaoyun Li
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Xujiaping 1, Lanzhou, Gansu, 730046, PR China
| | - Yanbo Wang
- Laboratory Medicine Center, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Cuiyingmen 82, Lanzhou, Gansu, 730030, PR China
| | - Junlong Liu
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Xujiaping 1, Lanzhou, Gansu, 730046, PR China
| | - Zeen Liu
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Xujiaping 1, Lanzhou, Gansu, 730046, PR China
| | - Yuxin Ye
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Xujiaping 1, Lanzhou, Gansu, 730046, PR China
| | - Chongge You
- Laboratory Medicine Center, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Cuiyingmen 82, Lanzhou, Gansu, 730030, PR China.
| | - Hong Yin
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Xujiaping 1, Lanzhou, Gansu, 730046, PR China; Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for the Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Disease and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, PR China.
| | - Guiquan Guan
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Xujiaping 1, Lanzhou, Gansu, 730046, PR China.
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14
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Patiño LH, Castañeda S, Camargo M, Cao LY, Liggayu B, Paniz-Mondolfi A, Ramírez JD. Validation of real-time PCR assays for detecting Plasmodium and Babesia DNA species in blood samples. Acta Trop 2024; 258:107350. [PMID: 39134111 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2024.107350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2024] [Revised: 07/11/2024] [Accepted: 08/02/2024] [Indexed: 08/17/2024]
Abstract
Malaria and babesiosis are global health threats affecting humans, wildlife, and domestic animals, particularly in Africa, the Americas, and Europe. Malaria can lead to severe outcomes, while babesiosis usually resembles a mild illness but can be severe and fatal in individuals with weakened immune systems. Swift, accurate detection of these parasites is crucial for treatment and control. We evaluated a real-time PCR assay for diagnosing five Plasmodium and three Babesia species from blood samples, assessing its sensitivity, specificity, and analytical performance by analyzing 46 malaria-positive and 32 Babesia spp-positive samples diagnosed through microscopy. The limit of detection for Plasmodium species ranged from 30 to 0.0003 copies/µL. For mixed infections, it was 0.3 copies/µL for P. falciparum/P. vivax and 3 copies/µL for P. malariae/P. knowlesi. Babesia species had a detection limit of 0.2 copies/µL. No cross-reactivity was observed among 64 DNA samples from various microorganisms. The assay showed good sensitivity, detecting Plasmodium and Babesia species with 100 % accuracy overall, except for P. falciparum (97.7 %) and B. microti (12.5 %). The low sensitivity of detecting B. microti was attributed to limitations in microscopy for species identification. This technique heavily relies on the proficiency of the examiner, as species within the genus cannot be distinguished under a microscope. Additionally, Babesia can be confused with the early trophozoite stage (ring forms) of Plasmodium parasites. The findings support multiplex qPCR's diagnostic superiority over the gold standard, despite higher costs. It offers enhanced sensitivity, specificity, and detects mixed infections, crucial for effective monitoring and diagnosis of malaria and babesiosis in endemic regions with significant public health challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luz Helena Patiño
- Centro de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Biotecnología-UR (CIMBIUR), Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia; Molecular Microbiology Laboratory, Department of Pathology, Molecular and Cell-Based Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Sergio Castañeda
- Centro de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Biotecnología-UR (CIMBIUR), Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Milena Camargo
- Centro de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Biotecnología-UR (CIMBIUR), Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Li Yong Cao
- Molecular Microbiology Laboratory, Department of Pathology, Molecular and Cell-Based Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Bernadette Liggayu
- Molecular Microbiology Laboratory, Department of Pathology, Molecular and Cell-Based Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Alberto Paniz-Mondolfi
- Molecular Microbiology Laboratory, Department of Pathology, Molecular and Cell-Based Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Juan David Ramírez
- Centro de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Biotecnología-UR (CIMBIUR), Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia; Molecular Microbiology Laboratory, Department of Pathology, Molecular and Cell-Based Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA.
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15
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Zabala GA, Lever R, Chan XH, Bristowe H, Kilbride E, Richards D, Daly M, Brown M, Johnson N, Nabarro LE, Esmail H, Godbole G, Chiodini PL. Autochthonous Human Babesia divergens Infection, England. Emerg Infect Dis 2024; 30:2165-2168. [PMID: 39320329 PMCID: PMC11431931 DOI: 10.3201/eid3010.240866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/26/2024] Open
Abstract
We describe a case of autochthonous human Babesia divergens infection in an immunocompetent woman in England. The patient had fever, hemolysis, multiorgan failure, and 18% parasitemia. We confirmed B. divergens by 18S rDNA PCR and sequencing. Clinicians should consider babesiosis as a differential diagnosis in patients with unexplained hemolysis.
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16
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Petrone ME, Charon J, Grigg MJ, William T, Rajahram GS, Westaway J, Piera KA, Shi M, Anstey NM, Holmes EC. A virus associated with the zoonotic pathogen Plasmodium knowlesi causing human malaria is a member of a diverse and unclassified viral taxon. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.09.18.613759. [PMID: 39345442 PMCID: PMC11430064 DOI: 10.1101/2024.09.18.613759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/01/2024]
Abstract
Apicomplexa are single-celled eukaryotes that can infect humans and include the mosquito-borne parasite Plasmodium, the cause of malaria. Increasing rates of drug resistance in human-only Plasmodium species are reducing the efficacy of control efforts and antimalarial treatments. There are also rising cases of P. knowlesi, the only zoonotic Plasmodium species that causes severe disease and death in humans. Thus, there is a need to develop additional innovative strategies to combat malaria. Viruses that infect non-Plasmodium spp. Disease-causing protozoa have been shown to affect pathogen life cycle and disease outcomes. However, only one virus (Matryoshka RNA virus 1) has been identified in Plasmodium, and none have been identified in zoonotic Plasmodium species. The rapid expansion of the known RNA virosphere using structure- and artificial intelligence-based methods suggests that this dearth is due to the divergent nature of RNA viruses that infect protozoa. We leveraged these newly uncovered data sets to explore the virome of human-infecting Plasmodium species collected in Sabah, east (Borneo) Malaysia. We identified a highly divergent RNA virus in two human-infecting P. knowlesi isolates that is related to the unclassified group 'ormycoviruses'. By characterising fifteen additional ormycoviruses identified in the transcriptomes of arthropods we show that this group of viruses exhibits a complex ecology at the arthropod-mammal interface. Through the application of artificial intelligence methods, we then demonstrate that the ormycoviruses are part of a diverse and unclassified viral taxon. This is the first observation of an RNA virus in a zoonotic Plasmodium species. By linking small-scale experimental data to large-scale virus discovery advances, we characterise the diversity and genomic architecture of an unclassified viral taxon. This approach should be used to further explore the virome of disease-causing Apicomplexa and better understand how protozoa-infecting viruses may affect parasite fitness, pathobiology, and treatment outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary E. Petrone
- Sydney Institute for Infectious Diseases, School of Medical Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
- Laboratory of Data Discovery for Health Limited, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Justine Charon
- Fruit Biology and Pathology Unit, University of Bordeaux, INRAE, Bordeaux, France
| | - Matthew J Grigg
- Global and Tropical Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Australia
- Infectious Diseases Society Kota Kinabalu Sabah - Menzies School of Health Research Clinical Research Unit, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
| | - Timothy William
- Infectious Diseases Society Kota Kinabalu Sabah - Menzies School of Health Research Clinical Research Unit, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
- Subang Jaya Medical Centre, Subang Jaya, Malaysia
| | - Giri S Rajahram
- Infectious Diseases Society Kota Kinabalu Sabah - Menzies School of Health Research Clinical Research Unit, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
- Queen Elizabeth Hospital II, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
| | - Jacob Westaway
- Global and Tropical Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Australia
| | - Kim A Piera
- Global and Tropical Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Australia
| | - Mang Shi
- State Key Laboratory for Biocontrol, School of Medicine, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
- National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory for Systems Medicine in Inflammatory Diseases, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
- Guangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guangzhou, China
| | - Nicholas M. Anstey
- Global and Tropical Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Australia
- Infectious Diseases Society Kota Kinabalu Sabah - Menzies School of Health Research Clinical Research Unit, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
| | - Edward C. Holmes
- Laboratory of Data Discovery for Health Limited, Hong Kong SAR, China
- School of Medical Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
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17
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Kratou M, Maitre A, Abuin-Denis L, Piloto-Sardiñas E, Corona-Guerrero I, Cano-Argüelles AL, Wu-Chuang A, Bamgbose T, Almazan C, Mosqueda J, Obregón D, Mateos-Hernández L, Said MB, Cabezas-Cruz A. Disruption of bacterial interactions and community assembly in Babesia-infected Haemaphysalis longicornis following antibiotic treatment. BMC Microbiol 2024; 24:322. [PMID: 39237861 PMCID: PMC11378419 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-024-03468-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2024] [Accepted: 08/19/2024] [Indexed: 09/07/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND A previous study highlighted the role of antibiotic-induced dysbiosis in the tick microbiota, facilitating the transstadial transmission of Babesia microti from nymph to adult in Haemaphysalis longicornis. This study builds on previous findings by analyzing sequence data from an earlier study to investigate bacterial interactions that could be linked to enhanced transstadial transmission of Babesia in ticks. The study employed antibiotic-treated (AT) and control-treated (CT) Haemaphysalis longicornis ticks to investigate shifts in microbial community assembly. Network analysis techniques were utilized to assess bacterial interactions, comparing network centrality measures between AT and CT groups, alongside studying network robustness and connectivity loss. Additionally, functional profiling was conducted to evaluate metabolic diversity in response to antibiotic treatment. RESULTS The analysis revealed notable changes in microbial community assembly in response to antibiotic treatment. Antibiotic-treated (AT) ticks displayed a greater number of connected nodes but fewer correlations compared to control-treated (CT) ticks, indicating a less interactive yet more connected microbial community. Network centrality measures such as degree, betweenness, closeness, and eigenvector centrality, differed significantly between AT and CT groups, suggesting alterations in local network dynamics due to antibiotic intervention. Coxiella and Acinetobacter exhibited disrupted connectivity and roles, with the former showing reduced interactions in AT group and the latter displaying a loss of connected nodes, emphasizing their crucial roles in microbial network stability. Robustness tests against node removal showed decreased stability in AT networks, particularly under directed attacks, confirming a susceptibility of the microbial community to disturbances. Functional profile analysis further indicated a higher diversity and richness in metabolic capabilities in the AT group, reflecting potential shifts in microbial metabolism as a consequence of antimicrobial treatment. CONCLUSIONS Our findings support that bacterial interaction traits boosting the transstadial transmission of Babesia could be associated with reduced colonization resistance. The disrupted microbial interactions and decreased network robustness in AT ticks suggest critical vulnerabilities that could be targeted for managing tick-borne diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Myriam Kratou
- Laboratory of Microbiology, National School of Veterinary Medicine of Sidi Thabet, University of Manouba, Manouba, 2010, Tunisia.
| | - Apolline Maitre
- UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, Maisons-Alfort, 94700, France
- INRAE, UR 0045 Laboratoire de Recherches Sur Le Développement de L'Elevage (SELMET LRDE), Corte, France
- EA 7310, Laboratoire de Virologie, Université de Corse, Corte, France
| | - Lianet Abuin-Denis
- UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, Maisons-Alfort, 94700, France
- Animal Biotechnology Department, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, P.O. Box 6162, Avenue 31 Between 158 and 190, Havana, 10600, Cuba
| | - Elianne Piloto-Sardiñas
- UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, Maisons-Alfort, 94700, France
- Direction of Animal Health, National Center for Animal and Plant Health, Carretera de Tapaste y Autopista Nacional, Apartado Postal 10, San José de Las Lajas, Mayabeque, 32700, Cuba
| | - Ivan Corona-Guerrero
- Immunology and Vaccines Laboratory, C. A. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, Queretaro, Mexico
- C.A. Salud Animal y Microbiologia Ambiental. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Autonoma de Queretaro, Queretaro, Mexico
| | - Ana Laura Cano-Argüelles
- Parasitology Laboratory, Institute of Natural Resources and Agrobiology (IRNASA, CSIC), Cordel de Merinas, 40-52, Salamanca, 37008, Spain
| | - Alejandra Wu-Chuang
- UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, Maisons-Alfort, 94700, France
| | - Timothy Bamgbose
- Department of Biological Sciences, Microbiology Unit, Kings University, Odeomu, Osun State, Nigeria
- National Agency for Food and Drug Control and Administration (NAFDAC), Isolo, Lagos State, Nigeria
| | - Consuelo Almazan
- Immunology and Vaccines Laboratory, C. A. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, Queretaro, Mexico
- C.A. Salud Animal y Microbiologia Ambiental. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Autonoma de Queretaro, Queretaro, Mexico
| | - Juan Mosqueda
- Immunology and Vaccines Laboratory, C. A. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, Queretaro, Mexico
- C.A. Salud Animal y Microbiologia Ambiental. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Autonoma de Queretaro, Queretaro, Mexico
| | - Dasiel Obregón
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Lourdes Mateos-Hernández
- UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, Maisons-Alfort, 94700, France
| | - Mourad Ben Said
- Laboratory of Microbiology, National School of Veterinary Medicine of Sidi Thabet, University of Manouba, Manouba, 2010, Tunisia
- Department of Basic Sciences, Higher Institute of Biotechnology of Sidi Thabet, University of Manouba, Manouba, 2010, Tunisia
| | - Alejandro Cabezas-Cruz
- UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, Maisons-Alfort, 94700, France.
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Vydyam P, Chand M, Gihaz S, Renard I, Heffernan GD, Jacobus LR, Jacobus DP, Saionz KW, Shah R, Shieh HM, Terpinski J, Zhao W, Cornillot E, Ben Mamoun C. In vitro efficacy of next-generation dihydrotriazines and biguanides against babesiosis and malaria parasites. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2024; 68:e0042324. [PMID: 39136469 PMCID: PMC11373198 DOI: 10.1128/aac.00423-24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2024] [Accepted: 07/20/2024] [Indexed: 09/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Babesia and Plasmodium pathogens, the causative agents of babesiosis and malaria, are vector-borne intraerythrocytic protozoan parasites, posing significant threats to both human and animal health. The widespread resistance exhibited by these pathogens to various classes of antiparasitic drugs underscores the need for the development of novel and more effective therapeutic strategies. Antifolates have long been recognized as attractive antiparasitic drugs as they target the folate pathway, which is essential for the biosynthesis of purines and pyrimidines, and thus is vital for the survival and proliferation of protozoan parasites. More efficacious and safer analogs within this class are needed to overcome challenges due to resistance to commonly used antifolates, such as pyrimethamine, and to address liabilities associated with the dihydrotriazines, WR99210 and JPC-2067. Here, we utilized an in vitro culture condition suitable for the continuous propagation of Babesia duncani, Babesia divergens, Babesia MO1, and Plasmodium falciparum in human erythrocytes to screen a library of 50 dihydrotriazines and 29 biguanides for their efficacy in vitro and compared their potency and therapeutic indices across different species and isolates. We identified nine analogs that inhibit the growth of all species, including the P. falciparum pyrimethamine-resistant strain HB3, with IC50 values below 10 nM, and display excellent in vitro therapeutic indices. These compounds hold substantial promise as lead antifolates for further development as broad-spectrum antiparasitic drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pratap Vydyam
- Departments of Internal Medicine (Section of Infectious Diseases), Microbial Pathogenesis, and Pathology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Meenal Chand
- Departments of Internal Medicine (Section of Infectious Diseases), Microbial Pathogenesis, and Pathology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Shalev Gihaz
- Departments of Internal Medicine (Section of Infectious Diseases), Microbial Pathogenesis, and Pathology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Isaline Renard
- Departments of Internal Medicine (Section of Infectious Diseases), Microbial Pathogenesis, and Pathology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | | | - Laura R Jacobus
- Jacobus Pharmaceutical Company Inc., Princeton, New Jersey, USA
| | - David P Jacobus
- Jacobus Pharmaceutical Company Inc., Princeton, New Jersey, USA
| | - Kurt W Saionz
- Jacobus Pharmaceutical Company Inc., Princeton, New Jersey, USA
| | - Raju Shah
- Jacobus Pharmaceutical Company Inc., Princeton, New Jersey, USA
| | - Hong-Ming Shieh
- Jacobus Pharmaceutical Company Inc., Princeton, New Jersey, USA
| | - Jacek Terpinski
- Jacobus Pharmaceutical Company Inc., Princeton, New Jersey, USA
| | - Wenyi Zhao
- Jacobus Pharmaceutical Company Inc., Princeton, New Jersey, USA
| | - Emmanuel Cornillot
- Institut de Biologie Computationnelle (IBC), and Institut de Recherche en Cancérologie de Montpellier (IRCM - INSERM U1194), Institut régional du Cancer Montpellier (ICM) & Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Choukri Ben Mamoun
- Departments of Internal Medicine (Section of Infectious Diseases), Microbial Pathogenesis, and Pathology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
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19
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Lu Y, Zhang D, Han D, Yu F, Ye X, Zheng S. Case Report: Diagnosis of Hemolytic Anemia from Babesia and Secondary Multi-Pathogen Pneumonia Using a Metagenomic Next-Generation Sequencing Approach. Infect Drug Resist 2024; 17:3785-3791. [PMID: 39247756 PMCID: PMC11378987 DOI: 10.2147/idr.s472861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2024] [Accepted: 08/06/2024] [Indexed: 09/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Babesiosis, as a vector-borne infectious disease, remains relatively rare and is prone to being overlooked and misdiagnosed. Therefore, understanding the epidemiological characteristics and clinical manifestations of babesiosis is crucial for the prompt detection and treatment of the disease. We reported a 63-year-old male patient presenting with spontaneous fever and chills. Laboratory investigations revealed erythrocytopenia, reduced hemoglobin levels, and increased reticulocytes and total bilirubin. Bone marrow examination indicated vigorous cell proliferation, a decreased granulocyte to red cell ratio, and predominant erythroid cell proliferation, with a higher prevalence of intermediate and late-stage juvenile granulocyte and erythroid cells. Initial treatment focused on hemophagocytic syndrome triggered by Epstein-Barr virus infection yielded unsatisfactory results, leading to secondary multiple pulmonary infections. Metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) of sputum samples pointed to hemolytic anemia induced by Babesia infection, which was subsequently confirmed through peripheral blood smear analysis. The patient responded well to prompt administration of atovaquone and azithromycin, with symptoms resolving and laboratory parameters normalizing. Hemolytic anemia resulting from babesiosis should be distinguished from hemophagocytic syndrome caused by Epstein-Barr virus and other hematologic conditions. mNGS represents an efficient technique for Babesia detection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun Lu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, National Children's Regional Medical Center, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Dan Zhang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Clinical in vitro Diagnostic Techniques of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
- Institute of Laboratory Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Dongsheng Han
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Clinical in vitro Diagnostic Techniques of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
- Institute of Laboratory Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Fei Yu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Clinical in vitro Diagnostic Techniques of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
- Institute of Laboratory Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Xingnong Ye
- Department of Hematology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Shufa Zheng
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Clinical in vitro Diagnostic Techniques of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
- Institute of Laboratory Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
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20
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Maggi RG, Calchi AC, Moore CO, Kingston E, Breitschwerdt EB. Human Babesia odocoilei and Bartonella spp. co-infections in the Americas. Parasit Vectors 2024; 17:302. [PMID: 38992682 PMCID: PMC11241936 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-024-06385-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2024] [Accepted: 06/29/2024] [Indexed: 07/13/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In recent years, Babesia and Bartonella species co-infections in patients with chronic, nonspecific illnesses have continued to challenge and change the collective medical understanding of "individual pathogen" vector-borne infectious disease dynamics, pathogenesis and epidemiology. The objective of this case series is to provide additional molecular documentation of Babesia odocoilei infection in humans in the Americas and to emphasize the potential for co-infection with a Bartonella species. METHODS The development of improved and more sensitive molecular diagnostic techniques, as confirmatory methods to assess active infection, has provided increasing clarity to the healthcare community. RESULTS Using a combination of different molecular diagnostic approaches, infection with Babesia odocoilei was confirmed in seven people suffering chronic non-specific symptoms, of whom six were co-infected with one or more Bartonella species. CONCLUSIONS We conclude that infection with Babesia odocoilei is more frequent than previously documented and can occur in association with co-infection with Bartonella spp.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo G Maggi
- College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Intracellular Pathogens Research Laboratory Comparative Medicine Institute, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Ana Cláudia Calchi
- Department of Pathology, Reproduction and One Health, Vector-Borne Bioagents Laboratory (VBBL), School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences (FCAV) - São Paulo State University (UNESP), Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil
| | - Charlotte O Moore
- College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Intracellular Pathogens Research Laboratory Comparative Medicine Institute, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Emily Kingston
- College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Intracellular Pathogens Research Laboratory Comparative Medicine Institute, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Edward B Breitschwerdt
- College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Intracellular Pathogens Research Laboratory Comparative Medicine Institute, Raleigh, NC, USA.
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21
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Ansari MA, Nguyen TT, Kocurek KI, Kim WTH, Kim TK, Mulenga A. Recombinant Ixodes scapularis Calreticulin Binds Complement Proteins but Does Not Protect Borrelia burgdorferi from Complement Killing. Pathogens 2024; 13:560. [PMID: 39057787 PMCID: PMC11280304 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens13070560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2024] [Revised: 06/27/2024] [Accepted: 06/28/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Ixodes scapularis is a blood-feeding obligate ectoparasite responsible for transmitting the Lyme disease (LD) agent, Borrelia burgdorferi. During the feeding process, I. scapularis injects B. burgdorferi into the host along with its saliva, facilitating the transmission and colonization of the LD agent. Tick calreticulin (CRT) is one of the earliest tick saliva proteins identified and is currently utilized as a biomarker for tick bites. Our recent findings revealed elevated levels of CRT in the saliva proteome of B. burgdorferi-infected I. scapularis nymphs compared to uninfected ticks. Differential precipitation of proteins (DiffPOP) and LC-MS/MS analyses were used to identify the interactions between Ixs (I. scapularis) CRT and human plasma proteins and further explore its potential role in shielding B. burgdorferi from complement killing. We observed that although yeast-expressed recombinant (r) IxsCRT binds to the C1 complex (C1q, C1r, and C1s), the activator of complement via the classical cascade, it did not inhibit the deposition of the membrane attack complex (MAC) via the classical pathway. Intriguingly, rIxsCRT binds intermediate complement proteins (C3, C5, and C9) and reduces MAC deposition through the lectin pathway. Despite the inhibition of MAC deposition in the lectin pathway, rIxsCRT did not protect a serum-sensitive B. burgdorferi strain (B314/pBBE22Luc) from complement-induced killing. As B. burgdorferi establishes a local dermal infection before disseminating to secondary organs, it is noteworthy that rIxsCRT promotes the replication of B. burgdorferi in culture. We hypothesize that rIxsCRT may contribute to the transmission and/or host colonization of B. burgdorferi by acting as a decoy activator of complement and by fostering B. burgdorferi replication at the transmission site.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moiz Ashraf Ansari
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA; (M.A.A.); (T.-T.N.); (W.T.H.K.)
| | - Thu-Thuy Nguyen
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA; (M.A.A.); (T.-T.N.); (W.T.H.K.)
| | | | - William Tae Heung Kim
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA; (M.A.A.); (T.-T.N.); (W.T.H.K.)
| | - Tae Kwon Kim
- Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA;
| | - Albert Mulenga
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA; (M.A.A.); (T.-T.N.); (W.T.H.K.)
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22
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Hernández-Arvizu EE, Asada M, Kawazu SI, Vega CA, Rodríguez-Torres A, Morales-García R, Pavón-Rocha AJ, León-Ávila G, Rivas-Santiago B, Mosqueda J. Antiparasitic Evaluation of Aquiluscidin, a Cathelicidin Obtained from Crotalus aquilus, and the Vcn-23 Derivative Peptide against Babesia bovis, B. bigemina and B. ovata. Pathogens 2024; 13:496. [PMID: 38921794 PMCID: PMC11206629 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens13060496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2024] [Revised: 06/04/2024] [Accepted: 06/08/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Babesiosis is a growing concern due to the increased prevalence of this infectious disease caused by Babesia protozoan parasites, affecting various animals and humans. With rising worries over medication side effects and emerging drug resistance, there is a notable shift towards researching babesiacidal agents. Antimicrobial peptides, specifically cathelicidins known for their broad-spectrum activity and immunomodulatory functions, have emerged as potential candidates. Aquiluscidin, a cathelicidin from Crotalus aquilus, and its derivative Vcn-23, have been of interest due to their previously observed antibacterial effects and non-hemolytic activity. This work aimed to characterize the effect of these peptides against three Babesia species. Results showed Aquiluscidin's significant antimicrobial effects on Babesia species, reducing the B. bigemina growth rate and exhibiting IC50 values of 14.48 and 20.70 μM against B. ovata and B. bovis, respectively. However, its efficacy was impacted by serum presence in culture, and it showed no inhibition against a B. bovis strain grown in serum-supplemented medium. Conversely, Vcn-23 did not demonstrate babesiacidal activity. In conclusion, Aquiluscidin shows antibabesia activity in vitro and its efficacy is affected by the presence of serum in the culture medium. Nevertheless, this peptide represents a candidate for further investigation of its antiparasitic properties and provides insights into potential alternatives for the treatment of babesiosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edwin Esaú Hernández-Arvizu
- Immunology and Vaccine Research Laboratory, Natural Sciences College, Autonomous University of Queretaro, Queretaro 76230, Mexico; (E.E.H.-A.); (R.M.-G.); (A.J.P.-R.)
- PhD Program in Natural Sciences, Natural Sciences College, Autonomous University of Queretaro, Queretaro 76230, Mexico
| | - Masahito Asada
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medcine, Inadacho, Nishi 2-13, Obihiro 080-8555, Hokkaido, Japan; (M.A.); (S.-I.K.)
| | - Shin-Ichiro Kawazu
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medcine, Inadacho, Nishi 2-13, Obihiro 080-8555, Hokkaido, Japan; (M.A.); (S.-I.K.)
| | - Carlos Agustín Vega
- Natural Sciences College, Autonomous University of Queretaro, Queretaro 76230, Mexico; (C.A.V.); (A.R.-T.)
| | - Angelina Rodríguez-Torres
- Natural Sciences College, Autonomous University of Queretaro, Queretaro 76230, Mexico; (C.A.V.); (A.R.-T.)
| | - Rodrigo Morales-García
- Immunology and Vaccine Research Laboratory, Natural Sciences College, Autonomous University of Queretaro, Queretaro 76230, Mexico; (E.E.H.-A.); (R.M.-G.); (A.J.P.-R.)
| | - Aldo J. Pavón-Rocha
- Immunology and Vaccine Research Laboratory, Natural Sciences College, Autonomous University of Queretaro, Queretaro 76230, Mexico; (E.E.H.-A.); (R.M.-G.); (A.J.P.-R.)
| | - Gloria León-Ávila
- Department of Zoology, National School of Biological Sciences, National Polytechnic Institute, Carpio y Plan de Ayala S/N, C.P. 11340, Casco de Santo Tomas, Mexico City 11340, Mexico;
| | - Bruno Rivas-Santiago
- Medical Research Unit Zacatecas-Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Zacatecas 98053, Mexico;
| | - Juan Mosqueda
- Immunology and Vaccine Research Laboratory, Natural Sciences College, Autonomous University of Queretaro, Queretaro 76230, Mexico; (E.E.H.-A.); (R.M.-G.); (A.J.P.-R.)
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23
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Shahid M, Wechsler B, Parameswaran V, Diaz MA. Atovaquone-Proguanil: A Promising Therapy for Persistent Relapsing Babesiosis. Case Rep Infect Dis 2024; 2024:7168928. [PMID: 38774593 PMCID: PMC11108688 DOI: 10.1155/2024/7168928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2022] [Revised: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 02/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/24/2024] Open
Abstract
We report a challenging case of persistent relapsing babesiosis in an immunocompromised host that was successfully managed with atovaquone-proguanil (Malarone). Malignant B-cell transformation and immunosuppressants, such as rituximab, deplete normal B-cells which normally produce antibodies to combat Babesia infection. Treatment can be prolonged and challenging in immunocompromised hosts. Atovaquone-proguanil (Malarone) is a novel therapy that can be used as part of a salvage regimen in case antimicrobial resistance or failure exists. Weighing the risks and benefits of continuing cancer therapy treatment or reducing the level of immunosuppression may aid in treatment. These are just as important as the choice of antimicrobial therapy for effective treatment and eradication of Babesia infection, especially in immunocompromised hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahum Shahid
- University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine, Vermillion, SD, USA
| | - Brendan Wechsler
- University of Nebraska Medical Center, Department of Radiology, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Vinod Parameswaran
- Avera Medical Group, Oncology and Hematology Department, Sioux Falls, SD, USA
| | - Mark Anthony Diaz
- University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine, Vermillion, SD, USA
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24
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Eilbert W, Matella A. Tick-Borne Diseases. Emerg Med Clin North Am 2024; 42:287-302. [PMID: 38641392 DOI: 10.1016/j.emc.2024.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/21/2024]
Abstract
Ticks are responsible for the vast majority of vector-borne illnesses in the United States. The number of reported tick-borne disease (TBD) cases has more than doubled in the past 20 years. The majority of TBD cases occur in warm weather months in individuals with recent outdoor activities in wooded areas. The risk of contracting a TBD is also highly dependent on geographic location. Between 24 and 48 hours of tick attachment is required for most disease transmission to occur. Only 50% to 70% of patients with a TBD will recall being bitten by a tick, and TBDs are often initially misdiagnosed as a viral illness. Most TBDs are easily treated when diagnosed early in their course.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wesley Eilbert
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Illinois Chicago, College of Medicine, Room 469, COME, 1819 West Polk Street, Chicago, IL 60612, USA.
| | - Andrew Matella
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Illinois Chicago, College of Medicine, Room 469, COME, 1819 West Polk Street, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
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25
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Vydyam P, Chand M, Pou S, Winter RW, Liebman KM, Nilsen A, Doggett JS, Riscoe MK, Ben Mamoun C. Effectiveness of Two New Endochin-like Quinolones, ELQ-596 and ELQ-650, in Experimental Mouse Models of Human Babesiosis. ACS Infect Dis 2024; 10:1405-1413. [PMID: 38563132 PMCID: PMC11127568 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.4c00143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Endochin-like quinolones (ELQs) define a class of small molecule antimicrobials that target the mitochondrial electron transport chain of various human parasites by inhibiting their cytochrome bc1 complexes. The compounds have shown potent activity against a wide range of protozoan parasites, including the intraerythrocytic parasites Plasmodium and Babesia, the agents of human malaria and babesiosis, respectively. First-generation ELQ compounds were previously found to reduce infection by Babesia microti and Babesia duncani in animal models of human babesiosis but achieved a radical cure only in combination with atovaquone and required further optimization to address pharmacological limitations. Here, we report the identification of two second-generation 3-biaryl ELQ compounds, ELQ-596 and ELQ-650, with potent antibabesial activity in vitro and favorable pharmacological properties. In particular, ELQ-598, a prodrug of ELQ-596, demonstrated high efficacy as an orally administered monotherapy at 10 mg/kg. The compound achieved radical cure in both the chronic model of B. microti-induced babesiosis in immunocompromised mice and the lethal infection model induced by B. duncani in immunocompetent mice. Given its high potency, favorable physicochemical properties, and low toxicity profile, ELQ-596 represents a promising drug for the treatment of human babesiosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pratap Vydyam
- Department of Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Meenal Chand
- Department of Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Sovitj Pou
- Experimental Chemotherapy Lab, VA Medical Center, 3710 SW US Veterans Hospital Road, Portland, Oregon 97239
| | - Rolf W. Winter
- Experimental Chemotherapy Lab, VA Medical Center, 3710 SW US Veterans Hospital Road, Portland, Oregon 97239
| | - Katherine M. Liebman
- Experimental Chemotherapy Lab, VA Medical Center, 3710 SW US Veterans Hospital Road, Portland, Oregon 97239
| | - Aaron Nilsen
- Experimental Chemotherapy Lab, VA Medical Center, 3710 SW US Veterans Hospital Road, Portland, Oregon 97239
- Department of Chemical Physiology & Biochemistry, Oregon Health & Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, Oregon 97239
| | - J. Stone Doggett
- Experimental Chemotherapy Lab, VA Medical Center, 3710 SW US Veterans Hospital Road, Portland, Oregon 97239
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Oregon Health & Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, Oregon 97239
| | - Michael K. Riscoe
- Experimental Chemotherapy Lab, VA Medical Center, 3710 SW US Veterans Hospital Road, Portland, Oregon 97239
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Oregon Health & Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, Oregon 97239
| | - Choukri Ben Mamoun
- Department of Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
- Department of Pathology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
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26
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Because both incidence and awareness of tick-borne infections is increasing, review of major infections and recent advances related to their diagnosis and management is important. RECENT FINDINGS A new algorithm, termed modified two-tier testing, for testing for antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi , the cause of Lyme disease, has been approved and may replace traditional two-tier testing. In addition, doxycycline is now acceptable to use for treatment of and/or prophylaxis for Lyme disease for up to 21 days in children of any age. Borrelia miyamotoi , a bacterium in the relapsing fever type of Borrelia, is the first of this type of Borrelia that is transmitted by hard-bodied ticks such as Ixodes scapularis. SUMMARY Awareness of these infections and advances in their diagnosis and treatment is important to assure the best outcomes for affected patients. Table 1 contains a summary of infections discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma Taylor-Salmon
- Department of Pediatrics, Yale School of Medicine
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Eugene D Shapiro
- Department of Pediatrics, Yale School of Medicine
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
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27
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Kim HJ, Han B, Lee HI, Ju JW, Shin HI. Current Status of Trypanosoma grosi and Babesia microti in Small Mammals in the Republic of Korea. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:989. [PMID: 38612228 PMCID: PMC11010837 DOI: 10.3390/ani14070989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2024] [Revised: 03/13/2024] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Small mammals, such as rodents and shrews, are natural reservoir hosts of zoonotic diseases, including parasitic protozoa. To assess the risk of rodent-borne parasitic protozoa in the Republic of Korea (ROK), this study investigated the status of parasitic protozoa, namely Trypanosoma, Babesia, and Theileria, in small mammals. In total, 331 blood samples from small mammals were analyzed for parasites using PCR and sequenced. Samples were positive for Trypanosoma grosi (23.9%; n = 79) and Babesia microti (10%; n = 33) but not Theileria. Small mammals from Seogwipo-si showed the highest infection rate of T. grosi (48.4%), while the highest B. microti infection rate was observed in those from Gangneung-si (25.6%). Sequence data revealed T. grosi to be of the AKHA strain. Phylogenetic analysis of B. microti revealed the US and Kobe genotypes. B. microti US-type-infected small mammals were detected throughout the country, but the Kobe type was only detected in Seogwipo-si. To our knowledge, this is the first nationwide survey that confirmed T. grosi and B. microti infections at the species level in small mammals in the ROK and identified the Kobe type of B. microti. These results provide valuable information for further molecular epidemiological studies on these parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Hyun-Il Shin
- Division of Vectors and Parasitic Diseases, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, 187 Osongsaenmyeong 2-ro, Osong-eup, Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju 28159, Republic of Korea; (H.J.K.); (B.H.); (H.-I.L.); (J.-W.J.)
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28
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Wang Y, Xu Z, Zhang H, Zhou Y, Cao J, Zhang Y, Wang Z, Zhou J. Towards modelling tick-virus interactions using the weakly pathogenic Sindbis virus: Evidence that ticks are competent vectors. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2024; 14:1334351. [PMID: 38567020 PMCID: PMC10985168 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2024.1334351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Most tick-borne viruses (TBVs) are highly pathogenic and require high biosecurity, which severely limits their study. We found that Sindbis virus (SINV), predominantly transmitted by mosquitoes, can replicate in ticks and be subsequently transmitted, with the potential to serve as a model for studying tick-virus interactions. We found that both larval and nymphal stages of Rhipicephalus haemaphysaloides can be infected with SINV-wild-type (WT) when feeding on infected mice. SINV replicated in two species of ticks (R. haemaphysaloides and Hyalomma asiaticum) after infecting them by microinjection. Injection of ticks with SINV expressing enhanced Green Fluorescent Protein (eGFP) revealed that SINV-eGFP specifically aggregated in the tick midguts for replication. During blood-feeding, SINV-eGFP migrated from the midguts to the salivary glands and was transmitted to a new host. SINV infection caused changes in expression levels of tick genes related to immune responses, substance transport and metabolism, cell growth and death. SINV mainly induced autophagy during the early stage of infection; with increasing time of infection, the level of autophagy decreased, while the level of apoptosis increased. During the early stages of infection, the transcript levels of immune-related genes were significantly upregulated, and then decreased. In addition, SINV induced changes in the transcription levels of some functional genes that play important roles in the interactions between ticks and tick-borne pathogens. These results confirm that the SINV-based transmission model between ticks, viruses, and mammals can be widely used to unravel the interactions between ticks and viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanan Wang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology of Ministry of Agriculture, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhengmao Xu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology of Ministry of Agriculture, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Houshuang Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology of Ministry of Agriculture, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Yongzhi Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology of Ministry of Agriculture, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Jie Cao
- Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology of Ministry of Agriculture, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuqiang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zedong Wang
- Center of Infectious Diseases and Pathogen Biology, Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Transplantation of the Ministry of Education, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Jilin, China
| | - Jinlin Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology of Ministry of Agriculture, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, China
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29
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Jaenson TGT, Gray JS, Lindgren PE, Wilhelmsson P. Coinfection of Babesia and Borrelia in the Tick Ixodes ricinus-A Neglected Public Health Issue in Europe? Pathogens 2024; 13:81. [PMID: 38251388 PMCID: PMC10818971 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens13010081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Ixodes ricinus nymphs and adults removed from humans, and larvae and nymphs from birds, have been analysed for infection with Babesia species and Borrelia species previously in separately published studies. Here, we use the same data set to explore the coinfection pattern of Babesia and Borrelia species in the ticks. We also provide an overview of the ecology and potential public health importance in Sweden of I. ricinus infected both with zoonotic Babesia and Borrelia species. Among 1952 nymphs and adult ticks removed from humans, 3.1% were PCR-positive for Babesia spp. Of these Babesia-positive ticks, 43% were simultaneously Borrelia-positive. Among 1046 immatures of I. ricinus removed from birds, 2.5% were Babesia-positive, of which 38% were coinfected with Borrelia species. This study shows that in I. ricinus infesting humans or birds in Sweden, potentially zoonotic Babesia protozoa sometimes co-occur with human-pathogenic Borrelia spp. Diagnostic tests for Babesia spp. infection are rarely performed in Europe, and the medical significance of this pathogen in Europe could be underestimated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas G. T. Jaenson
- Evolutionary Biology Centre, Department of Organismal Biology, Uppsala University, Norbyvägen 18d, SE-752 36 Uppsala, Sweden;
| | - Jeremy S. Gray
- UCD School of Biology and Environmental Science, University College Dublin, D04 N2E5 Dublin, Ireland;
| | - Per-Eric Lindgren
- Division of Inflammation and Infection, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, SE-581 83 Linköping, Sweden;
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Region Jönköping County, SE-551 11 Jönköping, Sweden
| | - Peter Wilhelmsson
- Division of Inflammation and Infection, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, SE-581 83 Linköping, Sweden;
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Region Jönköping County, SE-551 11 Jönköping, Sweden
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30
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Vydyam P, Pal AC, Renard I, Chand M, Kumari V, Gennaro JC, Mamoun CB. Tafenoquine-Atovaquone Combination Achieves Radical Cure and Confers Sterile Immunity in Experimental Models of Human Babesiosis. J Infect Dis 2024; 229:161-172. [PMID: 38169301 PMCID: PMC10786256 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiad315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Human babesiosis is a potentially fatal tick-borne disease caused by intraerythrocytic Babesia parasites. The emergence of resistance to recommended therapies highlights the need for new and more effective treatments. Here we demonstrate that the 8-aminoquinoline antimalarial drug tafenoquine inhibits the growth of different Babesia species in vitro, is highly effective against Babesia microti and Babesia duncani in mice and protects animals from lethal infection caused by atovaquone-sensitive and -resistant B. duncani strains. We further show that a combination of tafenoquine and atovaquone achieves cure with no recrudescence in both models of human babesiosis. Interestingly, elimination of B. duncani infection in animals following drug treatment also confers immunity to subsequent challenge. Altogether, the data demonstrate superior efficacy of tafenoquine plus atovaquone combination over current therapies for the treatment of human babesiosis and highlight its potential in providing protective immunity against Babesia following parasite clearance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pratap Vydyam
- Department of Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Anasuya C Pal
- Department of Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Isaline Renard
- Department of Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Meenal Chand
- Department of Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Vandana Kumari
- Department of Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Joseph C Gennaro
- Department of Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Choukri Ben Mamoun
- Department of Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
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31
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Perez-Martinez MB, Moo-Llanes DA, Ibarra-Cerdeña CN, Romero-Salas D, Cruz-Romero A, López-Hernández KM, Aguilar-Dominguez M. Worldwide comparison between the potential distribution of Rhipicephalus microplus (Acari: Ixodidae) under climate change scenarios. MEDICAL AND VETERINARY ENTOMOLOGY 2023; 37:745-753. [PMID: 37427707 DOI: 10.1111/mve.12680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 06/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023]
Abstract
The cattle tick Rhipicephalus microplus (Acari: Ixodidae) has demonstrated its ability to increase its distribution raising spatially its importance as a vector for zoonotic hemotropic pathogens. In this study, a global ecological niche model of R. microplus was built in different scenarios using Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP), Socio-Economic Pathway (SSP), and a climatic dataset to determine where the species could establish itself and thus affect the variability in the presentation of the hemotropic diseases they transmit. America, Africa and Oceania showed a higher probability for the presence of R. microplus in contrast to some countries in Europe and Asia in the ecological niche for the current period (1970-2000), but with the climate change, there was an increase in the ratio between the geographic range preserved between the RCP and SSP scenarios obtaining the greatest gain in the interplay of RCP4.5-SSP245. Our results allow to determine future changes in the distribution of the cattle tick according to the increase in environmental temperature and socio-economic development influenced by human development activities and trends; this work explores the possibility of designing integral maps between the vector and specific diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- M B Perez-Martinez
- Laboratorio de Parasitología, Rancho "Torreón del Molino", Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Veracruzana, Veracruz, Mexico
| | - D A Moo-Llanes
- Grupo de Arbovirosis y Zoonosis, Centro Regional de Investigación en Salud Pública, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Tapachula, Mexico
| | - C N Ibarra-Cerdeña
- Departamento de Ecología Humana, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados (Cinvestav), Unidad Mérida, Mérida, Mexico
| | - D Romero-Salas
- Laboratorio de Parasitología, Rancho "Torreón del Molino", Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Veracruzana, Veracruz, Mexico
| | - A Cruz-Romero
- Laboratorio de Parasitología, Rancho "Torreón del Molino", Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Veracruzana, Veracruz, Mexico
| | - K M López-Hernández
- Laboratorio de Parasitología, Rancho "Torreón del Molino", Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Veracruzana, Veracruz, Mexico
| | - M Aguilar-Dominguez
- Laboratorio de Parasitología, Rancho "Torreón del Molino", Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Veracruzana, Veracruz, Mexico
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32
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Thomas R, Santodomingo A, Parragué-Migone C, Portillo E, Barrios M, Venzal JM, Muñoz-Leal S. A novel Babesia sp. of the "Western Babesia group", detected in opossums from Guatemala. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2023; 14:102248. [PMID: 37660526 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2023.102248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2022] [Revised: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023]
Abstract
Babesia spp. are tick-borne protozoans that involve birds and mammals in their transmission cycles and cause babesiosis, a severe hemolytic malaria-like disease. Opossums of the genus Didelphis are recognized hosts of tick-borne pathogens. Therefore, exploring tick-borne agents in Didelphis species is important to understand the circulation of pathogens in areas where opossums occur. In this study, we targeted Anaplasmataceae, Babesia, Borrelia and Hepatozoon DNA in ticks, blood and organ samples collected from three hunted Didelphis marsupialis specimens in eastern Guatemala. While the samples were negative for Hepatozoon and bacterial DNA, sequences of Babesia 18S rDNA, cox1 and cytb genes were retrieved from two opossums. Ticks collected on the animals included Amblyomma parvum and an undetermined Ornithodoros sp. The Babesia sp. detected in this study (Babesia sp. THB1-2) clusters phylogenetically within the "Western Babesia group", which includes pathogenic species such as Babesia conradae, Babesia duncani, and Babesia negevi. Our results represent the first record of a Babesia sp. in Guatemala and highlight the importance of D. marsupialis as potential spreaders of ticks and pathogens in Central America.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Thomas
- Departamento de Ciencia Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Concepción, Chillán, Chile
| | - Adriana Santodomingo
- Departamento de Ciencia Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Concepción, Chillán, Chile
| | - Catalina Parragué-Migone
- Departamento de Ciencia Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Concepción, Chillán, Chile
| | - Emerio Portillo
- Facultad de Ciencias Ambientales y Agrícolas, Universidad Rafael Landívar, Zacapa, Guatemala
| | - Manuel Barrios
- Instituto de Investigaciones, Centro Universitario de Zacapa, Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala, Zacapa, Guatemala
| | - José M Venzal
- Laboratorio de Vectores y enfermedades transmitidas, CENUR Litoral Norte, Universidad de la República, Salto, Uruguay
| | - Sebastián Muñoz-Leal
- Departamento de Ciencia Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Concepción, Chillán, Chile.
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33
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Drews SJ, Kjemtrup AM, Krause PJ, Lambert G, Leiby DA, Lewin A, O'Brien SF, Renaud C, Tonnetti L, Bloch EM. Transfusion-transmitted Babesia spp.: a changing landscape of epidemiology, regulation, and risk mitigation. J Clin Microbiol 2023; 61:e0126822. [PMID: 37750699 PMCID: PMC10595070 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.01268-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Babesia spp. are tick-borne parasites with a global distribution and diversity of vertebrate hosts. Over the next several decades, climate change is expected to impact humans, vectors, and vertebrate hosts and change the epidemiology of Babesia. Although humans are dead-end hosts for tick-transmitted Babesia, human-to-human transmission of Babesia spp. from transfusion of red blood cells and whole blood-derived platelet concentrates has been reported. In most patients, transfusion-transmitted Babesia (TTB) results in a moderate-to-severe illness. Currently, in North America, most cases of TTB have been described in the United States. TTB cases outside North America are rare, but case numbers may change over time with increased recognition of babesiosis and as the epidemiology of Babesia is impacted by climate change. Therefore, TTB is a concern of microbiologists working in blood operator settings, as well as in clinical settings where transfusion occurs. Microbiologists play an important role in deploying blood donor screening assays in Babesia endemic regions, identifying changing risks for Babesia in non-endemic areas, investigating recipients of blood products for TTB, and drafting TTB policies and guidelines. In this review, we provide an overview of the clinical presentation and epidemiology of TTB. We identify approaches and technologies to reduce the risk of collecting blood products from Babesia-infected donors and describe how investigations of TTB are undertaken. We also describe how microbiologists in Babesia non-endemic regions can assess for changing risks of TTB and decide when to focus on laboratory-test-based approaches or pathogen reduction to reduce TTB risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven J. Drews
- Microbiology, Donation Policy and Studies, Canadian Blood Services, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Division of Diagnostic and Applied Microbiology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Anne M. Kjemtrup
- California Department of Public Health, Vector-Borne Disease Section, Sacramento, California, USA
| | - Peter J. Krause
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health and Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Grayson Lambert
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health and Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - David A. Leiby
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Tropical Medicine, George Washington University, Washington, USA
| | - Antoine Lewin
- Epidemiology, Surveillance and Biological Risk Assessment, Medical Affairs and Innovation, Héma-Québec, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
- Département d'Obstétrique et de Gynécologie, Faculté de Médecine et des Sciences de la Santé, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada
| | - Sheila F. O'Brien
- Epidemiology and Surveillance, Canadian Blood Services, Donation Policy and Studies, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Christian Renaud
- Department of Microbiology, CHU Sainte-Justine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Laura Tonnetti
- American Red Cross, Scientific Affairs, Holland Laboratories for the Biomedical Sciences, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | - Evan M. Bloch
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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34
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Narasimhan S, Fish D, Pedra JHF, Pal U, Fikrig E. A ticking time bomb hidden in plain sight. Sci Transl Med 2023; 15:eadi7829. [PMID: 37851823 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.adi7829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2023]
Abstract
The deer tick transmits nearly half of the known tick-borne pathogens in the United States, and its expanding geographic range increases the risk of human infection. To decrease the abundance of and infection risk from deer ticks, approaches that include vaccines for human use and for animal hosts are desired.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sukanya Narasimhan
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Durland Fish
- Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT 06420, USA
- American Lyme Disease Foundation, Inc., New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Joao H F Pedra
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Utpal Pal
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Erol Fikrig
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
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35
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Meredith S, Majam V, Zheng H, Verma N, Puri A, Akue A, KuKuruga M, Oakley M, Kumar S. Protective efficacy and correlates of immunity of immunodominant recombinant Babesia microti antigens. Infect Immun 2023; 91:e0016223. [PMID: 37728332 PMCID: PMC10580920 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00162-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Babesia microti, an intraerythrocytic apicomplexan parasite, is the primary causative agent of human babesiosis and an emerging threat to public health in the United States and elsewhere. An effective vaccine against B. microti would reduce disease severity in acute babesiosis patients and shorten the parasitemic period in asymptomatic individuals, thereby minimizing the risk of transfusion-transmitted babesiosis. Here we report on immunogenicity, protective efficacy, and correlates of immunity following immunization with four immunodominant recombinantly produced B. microti antigens-Serine Reactive Antigen 1 (SERA1), Maltese Cross Form Related Protein 1 (MCFRP1), Piroplasm β-Strand Domain 1 (PiβS1), and Babesia microti Alpha Helical Cell Surface Protein 1 (BAHCS1)-delivered subcutaneously in Montanide ISA 51/CpG adjuvant in three doses to BALB/c mice. Following B. microti parasite challenge, BAHCS1 led to the highest reduction in peak parasitemia (67.8%), followed by SERA1 (44.8%) and MCFRP1 (41.9%); PiβS1 (27.6%) had minimal protective effect. All four B. microti antigens induced high ELISA total IgG and each isotype; however, antibody levels did not directly correlate with anti-parasitic activity in mice. Increased prechallenge levels of some cell populations including follicular helper T cells (TFH) and memory B cells, along with a set of six cytokines [IL-1α, IL-2, IL-3, IL-6, IL-12(p40), and G-CSF] that belong to both innate and adaptive immune responses, were generally associated with protective immunity. Our results indicate that mechanisms driving recombinant B. microti antigen-induced immunity are complex and multifactorial. We think that BAHCS1 warrants further evaluation in preclinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott Meredith
- Laboratory of Emerging Pathogens, Division of Emerging and Transfusion Transmitted Diseases, Office of Blood Research and Review, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | - Victoria Majam
- Laboratory of Emerging Pathogens, Division of Emerging and Transfusion Transmitted Diseases, Office of Blood Research and Review, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | - Hong Zheng
- Laboratory of Emerging Pathogens, Division of Emerging and Transfusion Transmitted Diseases, Office of Blood Research and Review, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | - Nitin Verma
- Laboratory of Emerging Pathogens, Division of Emerging and Transfusion Transmitted Diseases, Office of Blood Research and Review, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | - Ankit Puri
- Laboratory of Emerging Pathogens, Division of Emerging and Transfusion Transmitted Diseases, Office of Blood Research and Review, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | - Adovi Akue
- Division of Bacterial, Parasitic, and Allergenic Products, Office of Vaccines Research and Review, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | - Mark KuKuruga
- Division of Bacterial, Parasitic, and Allergenic Products, Office of Vaccines Research and Review, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | - Miranda Oakley
- Laboratory of Emerging Pathogens, Division of Emerging and Transfusion Transmitted Diseases, Office of Blood Research and Review, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | - Sanjai Kumar
- Laboratory of Emerging Pathogens, Division of Emerging and Transfusion Transmitted Diseases, Office of Blood Research and Review, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
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36
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McCormick DW, Brown CM, Bjork J, Cervantes K, Esponda-Morrison B, Garrett J, Kwit N, Mathewson A, McGinnis C, Notarangelo M, Osborn R, Schiffman E, Sohail H, Schwartz AM, Hinckley AF, Kugeler KJ. Characteristics of Hard Tick Relapsing Fever Caused by Borrelia miyamotoi, United States, 2013-2019. Emerg Infect Dis 2023; 29. [PMID: 37610298 PMCID: PMC10461660 DOI: 10.3201/eid2909.221912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Borrelia miyamotoi, transmitted by Ixodes spp. ticks, was recognized as an agent of hard tick relapsing fever in the United States in 2013. Nine state health departments in the Northeast and Midwest have conducted public health surveillance for this emerging condition by using a shared, working surveillance case definition. During 2013-2019, a total of 300 cases were identified through surveillance; 166 (55%) were classified as confirmed and 134 (45%) as possible. Median age of case-patients was 52 years (range 1-86 years); 52% were male. Most cases (70%) occurred during June-September, with a peak in August. Fever and headache were common symptoms; 28% of case-patients reported recurring fevers, 55% had arthralgia, and 16% had a rash. Thirteen percent of patients were hospitalized, and no deaths were reported. Ongoing surveillance will improve understanding of the incidence and clinical severity of this emerging disease.
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37
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Wang Y, Zhang Q, Zhang W, Chen J, Dai J, Zhou X. A conserved protein of Babesia microti elicits partial protection against Babesia and Plasmodium infection. Parasit Vectors 2023; 16:306. [PMID: 37649042 PMCID: PMC10469411 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-023-05825-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 05/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The protozoan parasite Babesia microti that causes the zoonotic disease babesiosis resides in the erythrocytes of its mammalian host during its life-cycle. No effective vaccines are currently available to prevent Babesia microti infections. METHODS We previously identified a highly seroactive antigen, named Bm8, as a B. microti conserved erythrocyte membrane-associated antigen, by high-throughput protein chip screening. Bioinformatic and phylogenetic analysis showed that this membrane-associated protein is conserved among apicomplexan hemoprotozoa, such as members of genera Babesia, Plasmodium and Theileria. We obtained the recombinant protein Bm8 (rBm8) by prokaryotic expression and purification. RESULTS Immunofluorescence assays confirmed that Bm8 and its Plasmodium homolog were principally localized in the cytoplasm of the parasite. rBm8 protein was specifically recognized by the sera of mice infected with B. microti or P. berghei. Also, mice immunized with Bm8 polypeptide had a decreased parasite burden after B. microti or P. berghei infection. CONCLUSIONS Passive immunization with Bm8 antisera could protect mice against B. microti or P. berghei infection to a certain extent. These results lead us to hypothesize that the B. microti conserved erythrocyte membrane-associated protein Bm8 could serve as a novel broad-spectrum parasite vaccine candidate since it elicits a protective immune response against Babesiosis and Plasmodium infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao Wang
- School of Biology and Basic Medical Sciences, Soochow University, No.199 Renai Road, Suzhou, 215123, People's Republic of China
| | - Qianqian Zhang
- Institutes of Biology and Medical Sciences, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Soochow University, No.199 Renai Road, Suzhou, 215123, People's Republic of China
| | - Wanruo Zhang
- School of Biology and Basic Medical Sciences, Soochow University, No.199 Renai Road, Suzhou, 215123, People's Republic of China
| | - Junhu Chen
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Diseases Control and Prevention (Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research), Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China (NHC), World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Center for Tropical Diseases, National Center for International Research on Tropical Diseases, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Jianfeng Dai
- Institutes of Biology and Medical Sciences, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Soochow University, No.199 Renai Road, Suzhou, 215123, People's Republic of China.
| | - Xia Zhou
- School of Biology and Basic Medical Sciences, Soochow University, No.199 Renai Road, Suzhou, 215123, People's Republic of China.
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Wang Y, Zhang S, Li X, Nian Y, Liu X, Liu J, Yin H, Guan G, Wang J. A high-resolution melting approach for the simultaneous differentiation of five human babesiosis-causing Babesia species. Parasit Vectors 2023; 16:299. [PMID: 37641091 PMCID: PMC10463647 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-023-05839-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2022] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Six species of apicomplexan parasites of the genus Babesia, namely B. microti, B. divergens, B. duncani, B. motasi, B. crassa-like and B. venatorum, are considered to be the primary causal agents of human babesiosis in endemic areas. These six species possess variable degrees of virulence for their primary hosts. Therefore, the accurate identification of these species is critical for the adoption of appropriate therapeutic strategies. METHODS We developed a real-time PCR-high-resolution melting (qPCR-HRM) approach targeting 18S ribosomal RNA gene of five Babesia spp. based on melting temperature (Tm) and genotype confidence percentage values. This approach was then evaluated using 429 blood samples collected from patients with a history of tick bites, 120 DNA samples mixed with plasmids and 80 laboratory-infected animal samples. RESULTS The sensitivity and specificity of the proposed qPCR-HRM method were 95% and 100%, respectively, and the detection limit was 1-100 copies of the plasmid with the cloned target gene. The detection level depended on the species of Babesia analyzed. The primers designed in this study ensured not only the high interspecific specificity of our proposed method but also a high versatility for different isolates from the same species worldwide. Additionally, the Tm obtained from the prepared plasmid standard is theoretically suitable for identifying isolates of all known sequences of the five Babesia species. CONCLUSIONS The developed detection method provides a useful tool for the epidemiological investigation of human babesiosis and pre-transfusion screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanbo Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Lanzhou, Gansu People’s Republic of China
- The Second Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Shangdi Zhang
- The Second Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xiaoyun Li
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Lanzhou, Gansu People’s Republic of China
| | - Yueli Nian
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Lanzhou, Gansu People’s Republic of China
- The Second Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xinyue Liu
- The Second Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Junlong Liu
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Lanzhou, Gansu People’s Republic of China
| | - Hong Yin
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Lanzhou, Gansu People’s Republic of China
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for the Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Disease and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009 China
| | - Guiquan Guan
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Lanzhou, Gansu People’s Republic of China
| | - Jinming Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Lanzhou, Gansu People’s Republic of China
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Akash S, Hosen ME, Mahmood S, Supti SJ, Kumer A, Sultana S, Jannat S, Bayıl I, Nafidi HA, Jardan YAB, Mekonnen AB, Bourhia M. Anti-parasitic drug discovery against Babesia microti by natural compounds: an extensive computational drug design approach. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1222913. [PMID: 37662005 PMCID: PMC10469490 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1222913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Tick-borne Babesiosis is a parasitic infection caused by Babesia microti that can infect both animals and humans and may spread by tick, blood transfusions, and organ transplantation. The current therapeutic options for B. microti are limited, and drug resistance is a concern. This study proposes using computational drug design approaches to find and design an effective drug against B. microti. The study investigated the potentiality of nine natural compounds against the pathogenic human B. microti parasite and identified Vasicinone and Evodiamine as the most promising drugs. The ligand structures were optimized using density functional theory, molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulations, quantum mechanics such as HOMO-LUMO, drug-likeness and theoretical absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity (ADMET), and pharmacokinetics characteristics performed. The results showed that Vasicinone (-8.6 kcal/mol and -7.8 kcal/mol) and Evodiamine (-8.7 kcal/mol and -8.5 kcal/mol) had the highest binding energy and anti-parasitic activity against B. microti lactate dehydrogenase and B. microti lactate dehydrogenase apo form. The strongest binding energy was reported by Vasicinone and Evodiamine; the compounds were evaluated through molecular dynamics simulation at 100 ns, and their stability when they form complexes with the targeted receptors was determined. Finally, the pkCSM web server is employed to predict the ADMET qualities of specific molecules, which can help prevent negative effects that arise from taking the treatment. The SwissADME web server is used to assess the Lipinski rule of five and drug-likeness properties including topological polar surface area and bioavailability. The Lipinski rule is used to estimate significant drug-likeness. The theoretical pharmacokinetics analysis and drug-likeness of the selected compounds are confirmed to be accepted by the Lipinski rule and have better ADMET features. Thus, to confirm their experimental value, these mentioned molecules should be suggested to carry out in wet lab, pre-clinical, and clinical levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shopnil Akash
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Daffodil International, University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Md. Eram Hosen
- Professor Joarder DNA and Chromosome Research Laboratory, Department of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi, Bangladesh
| | - Sajjat Mahmood
- Department of Microbiology, Jagannath University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Sumaiya Jahan Supti
- Department of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi, Bangladesh
| | - Ajoy Kumer
- Laboratory of Computational Research for Drug Design and Material Science, Department of Chemistry, European University of Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Shamima Sultana
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Health and Life Sciences. North South University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Sultana Jannat
- Department of Pharmacy, International Islamic University Chittagong, Chittagong, Bangladesh
| | - Imren Bayıl
- Department of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, Gaziantep University, Gaziantep, Türkiye
| | - Hiba-Allah Nafidi
- Department of Food Science, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, Laval University, Quebec, QC, Canada
| | - Yousef A. Bin Jardan
- Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Mohammed Bourhia
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ibn Zohr University, Laayoune, Morocco
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Bastos RG, Capelli-Peixoto J, Laughery JM, Suarez CE, Ueti MW. Vaccination with an in vitro culture attenuated Babesia bovis strain safely protects highly susceptible adult cattle against acute bovine babesiosis. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1219913. [PMID: 37583702 PMCID: PMC10424928 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1219913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Live in vivo attenuated Babesia bovis vaccines produced by sequential passages in splenectomized calves have historically been used to control acute bovine babesiosis in endemic areas worldwide. However, several constraints prevent the widespread use of these vaccines, including the need for several splenectomized calves to produce vaccine batches, and potential inconsistent parasite attenuation, which contraindicates their use for highly Babesia-susceptible adult cattle. Thus, the use of vaccines based on well-defined in vitro culture attenuated B. bovis strains emerges as a more sustainable and efficient alternative. Previous work demonstrated that the culture attenuated strain Att-S74-T3Bo is non-tick transmissible and able to safely protect calves against needle challenge with a B. bovis virulent strain. Methods and results Herein we evaluated safety and efficacy of Att-S74-T3Bo in preventing acute babesiosis in adult (>1.5 year of age) cattle. Results demonstrated that Att-S74-T3Bo vaccination of adult animals (n=5) induced self-limiting signs of acute infection and protected the vaccinated animals against challenge with the homologous virulent B. bovis strain Vir-S74-T3Bo. Att-S74-T3Bo-vaccinated adult cattle developed significant (P<0.05) monocytosis, with concomitant neutropenia and CD4+ leukopenia, in peripheral blood early after vaccination. Also, vaccinated animals developed a specific signature of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine expression in peripheral blood and significant levels of IgM, total IgG, IgG1, and IgG2 against the B. bovis immunodominant antigen RAP-1 CT. Strikingly, none of the vaccinated animals showed any signs of acute babesiosis after challenge with Vir-S74-T3Bo. In contrast, control adult cattle (n=5) showed pathognomonic symptoms of acute babesiosis, and significant decrease (P<0.05) in lymphocytes, monocytes, and neutrophils, starting on day 7 post-challenge. All control animals developed severe acute disease and were euthanized on days 10 through 12 days post-challenge. Discussion and conclusion Evidence from this study indicates that Att-S74-T3Bo safely protects highly susceptible adult cattle against challenge with a homologous virulent strain of B. bovis. In conclusion, Att-S74-T3Bo may be considered as a potential efficient and sustainable attenuated candidate vaccine strain to control acute bovine babesiosis in highly susceptible adult cattle. Future studies should focus on increasing the number of animals vaccinated, duration of immunity, and efficacy of this attenuated strain against heterologous virulent parasite strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reginaldo G. Bastos
- Animal Disease Research Unit, United States Department of Agricultural - Agricultural Research Service, Pullman, WA, United States
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, United States
| | - Janaina Capelli-Peixoto
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, United States
| | - Jacob M. Laughery
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, United States
| | - Carlos E. Suarez
- Animal Disease Research Unit, United States Department of Agricultural - Agricultural Research Service, Pullman, WA, United States
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, United States
| | - Massaro W. Ueti
- Animal Disease Research Unit, United States Department of Agricultural - Agricultural Research Service, Pullman, WA, United States
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, United States
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Chiummo R, Zschiesche E, Capári B, Farkas R, Chiquet M, Rapti D, Postoli R, Audry A, Leschnik M. Field efficacy of fluralaner (Bravecto ® chewable tablets) for preventing Babesia canis infection transmitted by Dermacentor reticulatus ticks to dogs. Parasit Vectors 2023; 16:252. [PMID: 37501160 PMCID: PMC10373369 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-023-05820-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The isoxazoline fluralaner is effective for prevention of Babesia canis transmission from infected Dermacentor reticulatus ticks to dogs for 84 days in a controlled environment. This study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of fluralaner chewable tablets for sustained prevention of B. canis infection of dogs in endemic areas under natural conditions. METHODS In Europe, privately owned, clinically healthy pet dogs were enrolled and randomized either to receive fluralaner at 25-56 mg/kg (Bravecto® chewable tablets) on days 0 and 84, or to remain untreated during the D. reticulatus season. Blood samples were collected to evaluate B. canis exposure: on days 0 and 21 (exposure before day 0), during the study and at the end of the tick season (dogs suspected of having become infected after day 0). Efficacy was determined by the percentage reduction in B. canis transmission risk based on the difference in B. canis-positive tests in fluralaner-treated dogs compared with untreated dogs. In addition, ticks collected at monthly intervals throughout the study were identified to species level and females tested for B. canis DNA. RESULTS A total of 152 dogs were enrolled in the study, although nine dogs were excluded because they tested positive for B. canis DNA or antibodies within 21 days after enrollment. During the study period, no fluralaner-treated dog became positive for B. canis, resulting in calculated efficacy of 100%. However, babesiosis infection was diagnosed in five untreated control dogs (Fisher's exact test, left-sided, P = 0.0312). Tick analyses revealed that one sample collected in Hungary was infected with B. canis. CONCLUSION Oral administration of Bravecto chewable tablets at the recommended dosage to dogs completely prevented B. canis transmission under field conditions in an endemic area for 12 weeks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafael Chiummo
- MSD Animal Health Innovation GmbH, Zur Propstei, 55270 Schwabenheim, Germany
| | - Eva Zschiesche
- MSD Animal Health Innovation GmbH, Zur Propstei, 55270 Schwabenheim, Germany
| | | | - Róbert Farkas
- Department of Parasitology and Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, 1078 Hungary
| | - Mathieu Chiquet
- Artemis Animal Health, 7, rue du Clos Rouillé, Champtocé-sur-Loire, France
| | - Dhimitër Rapti
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Agricultural University of Tirana, Tirana, Albania
| | - Rezart Postoli
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Agricultural University of Tirana, Tirana, Albania
| | - Alain Audry
- Clinique Vétérinaire, 2c Route de Grayan, 33780 Soulac sur Mer, France
| | - Michael Leschnik
- University Clinic for Small Animals, Veterinary University Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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Shor SM, Schweig SK. The Use of Natural Bioactive Nutraceuticals in the Management of Tick-Borne Illnesses. Microorganisms 2023; 11:1759. [PMID: 37512931 PMCID: PMC10384908 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11071759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2023] [Revised: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The primary objective of this paper is to provide an evidence-based update of the literature on the use of bioactive phytochemicals, nutraceuticals, and micronutrients (dietary supplements that provide health benefits beyond their nutritional value) in the management of persistent cases of Borrelia burgdorferi infection (Lyme disease) and two other tick-borne pathogens, Babesia and Bartonella species. Recent studies have advanced our understanding of the pathophysiology and mechanisms of persistent infections. These advances have increasingly enabled clinicians and patients to utilize a wider set of options to manage these frequently disabling conditions. This broader toolkit holds the promise of simultaneously improving treatment outcomes and helping to decrease our reliance on the long-term use of pharmaceutical antimicrobials and antibiotics in the treatment of tick-borne pathogens such as Borrelia burgdorferi, Babesia, and Bartonella.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel M Shor
- Internal Medicine of Northern Virginia, George Washington University Health Care Sciences, Reston, VA 20190, USA
| | - Sunjya K Schweig
- California Center for Functional Medicine, Oakland, CA 94619, USA
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Adjadj NR, Cargnel M, Ribbens S, Quinet C, Malandrin L, Mignon B, Mori M. Prevalence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, Rickettsia spp. and Babesia spp. in cattle serum and questing ticks from Belgium. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2023; 14:102146. [PMID: 37044019 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2023.102146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Revised: 01/26/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 04/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Anaplasmosis, borreliosis, rickettsiosis and babesiosis are tick-borne diseases of medical, veterinary and economic importance. In Belgium, little is known on the prevalence of these diseases in animals and previous screenings relate only to targeted geographic regions, clinical cases or a limited number of tested samples. We therefore performed the first nationwide seroprevalence study of Anaplasma spp., A. phagocytophilum, Borrelia spp., Rickettsia spp. and Babesia spp. in Belgian cattle. We also screened questing ticks for the aforementioned pathogens. METHODS ELISAs and IFATs were performed on a representative sample set of cattle sera stratified proportionally to the number of cattle herds per province. Questing ticks were collected in areas where the highest prevalence for the forenamed pathogens in cattle serum were observed. Ticks were analyzed by quantitative PCR for A. phagocytophilum (n = 783), B. burgdorferi sensu lato (n = 783) and Rickettsia spp. (n = 715) and by PCR for Babesia spp. (n = 358). RESULTS The ELISA screening for antibodies to Anaplasma spp. and Borrelia spp. in cattle sera showed an overall seroprevalence of 15.6% (53/339) and 12.9% (52/402), respectively. The IFAT screening for antibodies against A. phagocytophilum, Rickettsia spp. and Babesia spp. resulted in an overall seroprevalence of 34.2% (116/339), 31.2% (99/317) and 3.4% (14/412), respectively. At the provincial level, the provinces of Liege and Walloon Brabant harboured the highest seroprevalence of Anaplasma spp. (44.4% and 42.7% respectively) and A. phagocytophilum (55.6% and 71.4%). East Flanders and Luxembourg exhibited the highest seroprevalence of Borrelia spp. (32.4%) and Rickettsia spp. (54.8%) respectively. The province of Antwerp showed the highest seroprevalence of Babesia spp. (11%). The screening of field-collected ticks resulted in a prevalence of 13.8% for B. burgdorferi s.l., with B. afzelii and B. garinii being the most common genospecies (65.7% and 17.1%, respectively). Rickettsia spp. was detected in 7.1% of the tested ticks and the only identified species was R. helvetica. A low prevalence was found for A. phagocytophilum (0.5%) and no Babesia positive tick was detected. CONCLUSIONS The seroprevalence data in cattle indicate hot spots for tick-borne pathogens in specific provinces and highlights the importance of veterinary surveillance in anticipating the emergence of diseases among humans. The detection of all pathogens, with the exception of Babesia spp. in questing ticks, underlines the need of raising awareness among public and professionals on other tick-borne diseases along with lyme borreliosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadjah Radia Adjadj
- Sciensano, Bacterial zoonoses unit, Veterinary bacteriology, Brussels, Belgium; Sciensano, Unit of exotic viruses and vector-borne diseases, Brussels, Belgium.
| | - Mickaël Cargnel
- Sciensano, Department of epidemiology and public health, service of veterinary epidemiology, Brussels, Belgium.
| | | | - Christian Quinet
- Association Regionale de Sante et d'Identification Animales (ARSIA), Ciney, Belgium.
| | | | - Bernard Mignon
- University of Liège, department of infectious and parasitic diseases, Liège, FARAH (Fundamental and Applied Research for Animals and Health) Belgium.
| | - Marcella Mori
- Sciensano, Bacterial zoonoses unit, Veterinary bacteriology, Brussels, Belgium.
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Luan Y, Gou J, Zhong D, Ma L, Yin C, Shu M, Liu G, Lin Q. The Tick-Borne Pathogens: An Overview of China's Situation. Acta Parasitol 2023; 68:1-20. [PMID: 36642777 PMCID: PMC9841149 DOI: 10.1007/s11686-023-00658-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2022] [Accepted: 01/02/2023] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ticks are important medical arthropods that can transmit hundreds of pathogens, such as parasites, bacteria, and viruses, leading to serious public health burdens worldwide. Unexplained fever is the most common clinical manifestation of tick-borne diseases. Since the emergence of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the surge of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases led to the hospital overload and fewer laboratory tests for tick-borne diseases. Therefore, it is essential to review the tick-borne pathogens and further understand tick-borne diseases. PURPOSE The geographic distribution and population of ticks in the Northern hemisphere have expanded while emerging tick-borne pathogens have been introduced to China continuously. This paper focused on the tick-borne pathogens that are threatening public health in the world. Their medical significant tick vectors, as well as the epidemiology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and control measures, are emphasized in this document. METHODS In this study, all required data were collected from articles indexed in English databases, including Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, Science Direct, and Google Scholar. RESULTS Ticks presented a great threat to the economy and public health. Although both infections by tick-borne pathogens and SARS-CoV-2 have fever symptoms, the history of tick bite and its associated symptoms such as encephalitis or eschar could be helpful for the differential diagnosis. Additionally, as a carrier of vector ticks, migratory birds may play a potential role in the geographical expansion of ticks and tick-borne pathogens during seasonal migration. CONCLUSION China should assess the risk score of vector ticks and clarify the potential role of migratory birds in transmitting ticks. Additionally, the individual and collective protection, vector control, comprehensive surveillance, accurate diagnosis, and symptomatic treatment should be carried out, to meet the challenge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuxuan Luan
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, Shaanxi, People's Republic of China.,School of Basic Medical Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Jingmin Gou
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, Shaanxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Dongjie Zhong
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, Hubei, China
| | - Li Ma
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, Shaanxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Chuansong Yin
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, Shaanxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Minfeng Shu
- School of Basic Medical Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Guangyuan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, 730046, Gansu, China
| | - Qing Lin
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, Shaanxi, People's Republic of China. .,State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, 730046, Gansu, China.
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Lamba S, Roy A. Demystifying the potential of inhibitors targeting DNA topoisomerases in unicellular protozoan parasites. Drug Discov Today 2023; 28:103574. [PMID: 37003515 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2023.103574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 03/25/2023] [Indexed: 04/01/2023]
Abstract
DNA topoisomerases are a group of enzymes omnipresent in all organisms. They maintain the DNA topology during replication, repair, recombination, and transcription. However, the structure of topoisomerase in protozoan parasites differs significantly from that of human topoisomerases; thus, this enzyme acts as a crucial target in drug development against parasitic diseases. Although the therapeutic potential of drugs targeting the parasitic topoisomerase is well known, to manage the shortcomings of currently available therapeutics and the emergence of drug resistance, the discovery of novel antiparasitic molecules is an urgent need. In this review, we describe various investigational and repurposed topoisomerase inhibitors developed against protozoan parasites over the past few years. Teaser: Fatal parasitic diseases are an increasing cause for concern; here, we provide a compilation of different inhibitors targeting DNA topoisomerases, enzymes that are essential for, and unique to, protozoan parasites; therefore, inhibitors are efficient and have few adverse effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Swati Lamba
- Department of Biotechnology, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Ganeshkhind Road, Pune 411007, India
| | - Amit Roy
- Department of Biotechnology, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Ganeshkhind Road, Pune 411007, India.
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Elsworth B, Keroack C, Rezvani Y, Paul A, Barazorda K, Tennessen J, Sack S, Moreira C, Gubbels MJ, Meyers M, Zarringhalam K, Duraisingh M. Babesia divergens egress from host cells is orchestrated by essential and druggable kinases and proteases. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-2553721. [PMID: 36909484 PMCID: PMC10002801 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-2553721/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/04/2023]
Abstract
Apicomplexan egress from host cells is fundamental to the spread of infection and is poorly characterized in Babesia spp., parasites of veterinary importance and emerging zoonoses. Through the use of video microscopy, transcriptomics and chemical genetics, we have implicated signaling, proteases and gliding motility as key drivers of egress by Babesia divergens. We developed reverse genetics to perform a knockdown screen of putative mediators of egress, identifying kinases and proteases involved in distinct steps of egress (ASP3, PKG and CDPK4) and invasion (ASP2, ASP3 and PKG). Inhibition of egress leads to continued intracellular replication, indicating exit from the replication cycle is uncoupled from egress. Chemical genetics validated PKG, ASP2 and ASP3 as druggable targets in Babesia spp. All taken together, egress in B. divergens more closely resembles T. gondii than the more evolutionarily-related Plasmodium spp. We have established a molecular framework for biological and translational studies of B. divergens egress.
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Hildebrandt A, Gray J, Montero E. Characteristics of Human Babesiosis in Europe. Pathogens 2023; 12:pathogens12020323. [PMID: 36839594 PMCID: PMC9961061 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12020323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Abstract
One of the Editor's choice articles in 2021 published in Pathogens was a review of human babesiosis in Europe [...].
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Affiliation(s)
- Anke Hildebrandt
- Department of Internal Medicine I, St. Vincenz Hospital Datteln, 45711 Datteln, Germany
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, University Hospital Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany
- Correspondence:
| | - Jeremy Gray
- UCD School of Biology and Environmental Science, University College Dublin, D04 N2E5 Dublin, Ireland
| | - Estrella Montero
- Parasitology Reference and Research Laboratory, Centro Nacional de Microbiología, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Majadahonda, 28220 Madrid, Spain
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Continuous In Vitro Culture of Babesia duncani in a Serum-Free Medium. Cells 2023; 12:cells12030482. [PMID: 36766823 PMCID: PMC9914146 DOI: 10.3390/cells12030482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Revised: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Human babesiosis is an emerging tick-borne disease, caused by haemoprotozoa genus of Babesia. Cases of transfusion-transmitted and naturally acquired Babesia infection have been reported worldwide in recent years and causing a serious public health problem. Babesia duncani is one of the important pathogens of human babesiosis, which seriously endangers human health. The in vitro culture systems of B. duncani have been previously established, and it requires fetal bovine serum (FBS) to support long-term proliferation. However, there are no studies on serum-free in vitro culture of B. duncani. In this study, we reported that B. duncani achieved long-term serum-free culture in VP-SFM AGTTM (VP-SFM) supplemented with AlbuMaxTM I. The effect of adding different dilutions of AlbuMaxTM I to VP-SFM showed that 2 mg/mL AlbuMaxTM I had the best B. duncani growth curve with a maximum percentage of parasitized erythrocytes (PPE) of over 40%, and it can be used for long-term in vitro culture of B. duncani. However, the commonly used 20% serum-supplemented medium only achieves 20% PPE. Clearly, VP-SFM with 2 mg/mL AlbuMaxTM I (VP-SFMA) is more suitable for the in vitro proliferation of B. duncani. VP-SFM supplemented with CD lipid mixture was also tested, and the results showed it could support the parasite growth at 1:100 dilution with the highest PPE of 40%, which is similar to that of 2 mg/mL AlbuMaxTM I. However, the CD lipid mixture was only able to support the in vitro culture of B. duncani for 8 generations, while VP-SFMA could be used for long-term culture. To test the pathogenicity, the VP-SFMA cultured B. duncani was also subjected to hamster infection. Results showed that the hamster developed dyspnea and chills on day 7 with 30% PPE before treatment, which is similar to the symptoms with un-cultured B. duncani. This study develops a unique and reliable basis for further understanding of the physiological mechanisms, growth characteristics, and pathogenesis of babesiosis, and provides good laboratory material for the development of drugs or vaccines for human babesiosis and possibly other parasitic diseases.
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Kumar A, Kabra A, Igarashi I, Krause PJ. Animal models of the immunology and pathogenesis of human babesiosis. Trends Parasitol 2023; 39:38-52. [PMID: 36470781 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2022.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2022] [Revised: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
Animal models of human babesiosis have provided a basic understanding of the immunological mechanisms that clear, or occasionally exacerbate, Babesia infection and those pathological processes that cause disease complications. Human Babesia infection can cause asymptomatic infection, mild to moderate disease, or severe disease resulting in organ dysfunction and death. More than 100 Babesia species infect a wide array of wild and domestic animals, and many of the immunologic and pathologic responses to Babesia infection are similar in animals and humans. In this review, we summarize the knowledge gained from animal studies, their limitations, and how animal models or alternative approaches can be further leveraged to improve our understanding of human babesiosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhinav Kumar
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Aditya Kabra
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Ikuo Igarashi
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Peter J Krause
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT 06510, USA; Department of Infectious Diseases, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA.
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50
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Zeng Z, Zhou S, Xu G, Liu W, Han T, Liu J, Wang J, Deng Y, Xiao F. Prevalence and phylogenetic analysis of Babesia parasites in reservoir host species in Fujian province, Southeast China. Zoonoses Public Health 2022; 69:915-924. [PMID: 35819239 DOI: 10.1111/zph.12988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Revised: 06/15/2022] [Accepted: 06/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Babesiosis is a tick-borne disease that mainly affects small mammals and has been reported in at least five provinces in China. However, the host range and geographical distribution of the parasite in Fujian province are unclear. Therefore, we investigated the prevalence and genetic characteristics of Babesia in Fujian province, Southeast China, between 2015 and 2020. Rodent blood samples were collected from 26 different surveillance sites across Fujian province. Genomic DNA was extracted to screen for Babesia infection using polymerase chain reaction based on 18S rRNA. DNA samples from 316 domestic goats, 85 water buffalo, 56 domestic dogs and 18 domestic pigs were examined. The prevalence of Babesia was statistically analysed using the Chi-square test or Fisher's exact test. Babesia infections were detected in 3.96% (43/1,087; 95%CI: 2.80%, 5.12%) of rodents and 1.26% (6/475; 95%CI: 0.26%, 2.26%) of other mammals. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that irrigated cropland, shrubs and forests were risk factors for Babesia microti infections. The infection rates among domestic pigs, dogs and goats were 5.56%, 1.79% and 1.27%, respectively, with no infection found in water buffalo. The 18S rRNA gene sequencing revealed that rodents were infected with Babesia (sensu lato), whereas other mammals were infected with Babesia (sensu stricto). The geographical distribution and phylogenetic relationship of Babesia was determined in Southeast China. Mammals, particularly wild rodents, maybe the main natural hosts of Babesia in Fujian. Our findings provide a foundation for public health officials to develop prevention and control measures for Babesia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiwei Zeng
- Fujian Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Fuzhou, China
| | - Shuheng Zhou
- Fujian Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Fuzhou, China
| | - Guoying Xu
- Fujian Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Fuzhou, China
| | - Weijun Liu
- Fujian Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Fuzhou, China
| | - Tengwei Han
- Fujian Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Fuzhou, China
| | - Jing Liu
- Fujian Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Fuzhou, China
| | - Jiaxiong Wang
- Fujian Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Fuzhou, China
| | - Yanqin Deng
- Fujian Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Fuzhou, China
| | - Fangzhen Xiao
- Fujian Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Fuzhou, China
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