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Pelletier J, Bouchard C, Aenishaenslin C, Dibernardo A, Dimitri Masson G, Fernandez-Prada C, Gagnon S, Victoria Ibarra Meneses A, Lindsay R, Ogden N, Rocheleau JP, Leighton P. The effect of fluralaner treatment of small mammals on the endemic cycle of Borrelia burgdorferi in a natural environment. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2024; 61:1203-1213. [PMID: 39119633 PMCID: PMC11386212 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjae091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2023] [Revised: 06/25/2024] [Accepted: 07/17/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024]
Abstract
Among approaches aimed at reducing Lyme disease risk in the environment, those targeting reservoirs of Borrelia burgdorferi Johnson are promising because they have the potential to reduce both the density of questing Ixodes scapularis Say (Acari: Ixodidea) ticks and the prevalence of B. burgdorferi in the tick population. In this 4-yr field study, we treated a population of wild small mammals with 2 densities of fluralaner baits and investigated the effect of the treatment on 3 parameters of the endemic cycle of B. burgdorferi: (i) the prevalence of infected Peromyscus mice (PIM), (ii) the density of questing nymphs (DON), and (iii) the prevalence of infected questing nymphs (NIP). We demonstrated that fluralaner baiting is effective at reducing tick infestation of Peromyscus mice, the main reservoir of B. burgdorferi in central and northeastern North America, in the laboratory and the field. Results from this study showed a significant decrease in B. burgdorferi infection in mice (odds ratio: 0.37 [CI95: 0.17 to 0.83]). A reduction in the DON between 45.4% [CI95: 22.4 to 61.6] and 62.7% [CI95: 45.9 to 74.2] occurred in treated area when compared with control areas. No significant effect was reported on the NIP. These results confirm the hypothesis that fluralaner baits have an effect on B. burgdorferi endemic cycle, with the potential to reduce the density of B. burgdorferi-infected ticks in the environment. Further studies performed in various habitats and public health intervention contexts are needed to refine and operationalize this approach for reducing Lyme disease risk in the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- 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 du CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de-l'Île-de-Montréal, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Catherine Bouchard
- Groupe de recherche en épidémiologie des zoonoses et santé publique, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
- Public Health Risk Science Division, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
| | - Cecile 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 du CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de-l'Île-de-Montréal, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Antonia Dibernardo
- One Health division, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Gabrielle Dimitri Masson
- 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
| | - Christopher Fernandez-Prada
- Département de pathologie et microbiologie, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
- Groupe de recherché sur les maladies infectieuses en production animale, Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
| | - Simon Gagnon
- Département de pathologie et microbiologie, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
- Groupe de recherché sur les maladies infectieuses en production animale, Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
| | - Ana Victoria Ibarra Meneses
- Département de pathologie et microbiologie, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
- Groupe de recherché sur les maladies infectieuses en production animale, Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
| | - Robbin Lindsay
- One Health division, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Nicholas Ogden
- Public Health Risk Science Division, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
| | - Jean-Philippe Rocheleau
- 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
| | - Patrick 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 du CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de-l'Île-de-Montréal, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
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Ortíz-Zárate RJ, Rangel-Negrín A, Coyohua-Fuentes A, Ibáñez-Bernal S, Cristóbal-Azkarate J, Dias PAD. Bot fly parasitism in mantled howler monkeys (Alouatta palliata): General patterns and climate influences. Am J Primatol 2024:e23680. [PMID: 39192491 DOI: 10.1002/ajp.23680] [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: 02/25/2024] [Revised: 06/17/2024] [Accepted: 08/14/2024] [Indexed: 08/29/2024]
Abstract
Parasitism is a strong selective pressure, and its study is crucial for predicting the persistence of host species. Mantled howler monkeys are infected by the larvae of the bot fly Cuterebra baeri. This parasitosis produces myiasis and may have negative impacts on host health, although systematic information on the dynamics of this host-parasite relationship is very limited. Currently, all available information on infection patterns of C. baeri comes from a single mantled howler monkey population (Barro Colorado Island, Panama). Therefore, in this study we describe temporal variation in infection patterns for a newly mantled howler monkey population and analyze the relationship between climate and infection likelihood. We assessed the presence of C. baeri nodules in 17 adult individuals in Los Tuxtlas for 10 months through direct observation and compiled data on ambient temperature and rainfall. Most subjects had nodules during the study and there were no differences between sexes in the number of nodules. Nodules were usually located in the neck. Prevalence and abundance of nodules peaked thrice during the study (February, April, and September), a pattern that was very similar to that of parasitism intensity (February, April, and August). Incidence closely tracked these peaks, increasing before and decreasing after them. The likelihood of nodule appearance increased when both mean and minimum temperature decreased in the 24-21 prior days to nodule appearance. It also increased with decreased rainfall in the 5-2 prior days to nodule appearance. Although only three of the eight analyzed climate variables had a significant effect on parasitosis, these results suggest that climate may affect pupal development and the access of larvae to hosts. Besides contributing data on C. baeri parasitism for a new mantled howler monkey population, our study provides novel information on the influence of environmental factors on the dynamics of host-parasite systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo J Ortíz-Zárate
- Primate Behavioral Ecology Lab, Instituto de Neuro-etología, Universidad Veracruzana, Xalapa, México
| | - Ariadna Rangel-Negrín
- Primate Behavioral Ecology Lab, Instituto de Neuro-etología, Universidad Veracruzana, Xalapa, México
| | - Alejandro Coyohua-Fuentes
- Primate Behavioral Ecology Lab, Instituto de Neuro-etología, Universidad Veracruzana, Xalapa, México
| | - Sergio Ibáñez-Bernal
- Instituto de Ecología A. C. (INECOL), Red Ambiente y Sustentabilidad, Xalapa, México
| | - Jurgi Cristóbal-Azkarate
- Department of Basic Psychological Processes and their Development, University of the Basque Country, Donostia, España
| | - Pedro A D Dias
- Primate Behavioral Ecology Lab, Instituto de Neuro-etología, Universidad Veracruzana, Xalapa, México
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Ruiz-Carrascal D, Bastard J, Williams SC, Diuk-Wasser M. Modeling platform to assess the effectiveness of single and integrated Ixodes scapularis tick control methods. Parasit Vectors 2024; 17:339. [PMID: 39135071 PMCID: PMC11321154 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-024-06387-2] [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: 03/21/2024] [Accepted: 07/01/2024] [Indexed: 08/15/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lyme disease continues to expand in Canada and the USA and no single intervention is likely to curb the epidemic. METHODS We propose a platform to quantitatively assess the effectiveness of a subset of Ixodes scapularis tick management approaches. The platform allows us to assess the impact of different control treatments, conducted either individually (single interventions) or in combination (combined efforts), with varying timings and durations. Interventions include three low environmental toxicity measures in differing combinations, namely reductions in white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) populations, broadcast area-application of the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae, and fipronil-based rodent-targeted bait boxes. To assess the impact of these control efforts, we calibrated a process-based mathematical model to data collected from residential properties in the town of Redding, southwestern Connecticut, where an integrated tick management program to reduce I.xodes scapularis nymphs was conducted from 2013 through 2016. We estimated parameters mechanistically for each of the three treatments, simulated multiple combinations and timings of interventions, and computed the resulting percent reduction of the nymphal peak and of the area under the phenology curve. RESULTS Simulation outputs suggest that the three-treatment combination and the bait boxes-deer reduction combination had the overall highest impacts on suppressing I. scapularis nymphs. All (single or combined) interventions were more efficacious when implemented for a higher number of years. When implemented for at least 4 years, most interventions (except the single application of the entomopathogenic fungus) were predicted to strongly reduce the nymphal peak compared with the no intervention scenario. Finally, we determined the optimal period to apply the entomopathogenic fungus in residential yards, depending on the number of applications. CONCLUSIONS Computer simulation is a powerful tool to identify the optimal deployment of individual and combined tick management approaches, which can synergistically contribute to short-to-long-term, costeffective, and sustainable control of tick-borne diseases in integrated tick management (ITM) interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Ruiz-Carrascal
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology, Columbia University in the City of New York, New York, NY, USA
- International Research Institute for Climate and Society, Columbia University in the City of New York, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jonathan Bastard
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology, Columbia University in the City of New York, New York, NY, USA
| | - Scott C Williams
- Department of Environmental Science and Forestry, Center for Vector Biology & Zoonotic Diseases, The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Maria Diuk-Wasser
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology, Columbia University in the City of New York, New York, NY, USA.
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de Souza WM, Weaver SC. Effects of climate change and human activities on vector-borne diseases. Nat Rev Microbiol 2024; 22:476-491. [PMID: 38486116 DOI: 10.1038/s41579-024-01026-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024]
Abstract
Vector-borne diseases are transmitted by haematophagous arthropods (for example, mosquitoes, ticks and sandflies) to humans and wild and domestic animals, with the largest burden on global public health disproportionately affecting people in tropical and subtropical areas. Because vectors are ectothermic, climate and weather alterations (for example, temperature, rainfall and humidity) can affect their reproduction, survival, geographic distribution and, consequently, ability to transmit pathogens. However, the effects of climate change on vector-borne diseases can be multifaceted and complex, sometimes with ambiguous consequences. In this Review, we discuss the potential effects of climate change, weather and other anthropogenic factors, including land use, human mobility and behaviour, as possible contributors to the redistribution of vectors and spread of vector-borne diseases worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
- William M de Souza
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of Kentucky, College of Medicine, Lexington, KY, USA
- World Reference Center for Emerging Viruses and Arboviruses, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
- Institute for Human Infections and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
- Global Virus Network, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Scott C Weaver
- World Reference Center for Emerging Viruses and Arboviruses, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA.
- Institute for Human Infections and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA.
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA.
- Global Virus Network, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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Gupta S, Kaur R, Sohal JS, Singh SV, Das K, Sharma MK, Singh J, Sharma S, Dhama K. Countering Zoonotic Diseases: Current Scenario and Advances in Diagnostics, Monitoring, Prophylaxis and Therapeutic Strategies. Arch Med Res 2024; 55:103037. [PMID: 38981342 DOI: 10.1016/j.arcmed.2024.103037] [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: 11/29/2023] [Revised: 05/24/2024] [Accepted: 06/25/2024] [Indexed: 07/11/2024]
Abstract
Human life and health have interacted reciprocally with the surrounding environment and animal fauna for ages. This relationship is evident in developing nations, where human life depends more on the animal population for food, transportation, clothing, draft power, and fuel sources, among others. This inseparable link is a potent source of public health issues, especially in outbreaks of zoonotic diseases transmitted from animals to humans. Zoonotic diseases are referred to as diseases that are naturally transmitted between vertebrate animals and humans. Among the globally emerging diseases in the last decade, 75% are of animal origin, most of which are life-threatening. Since most of them are caused by potent new pathogens capable of long-distance transmission, the impact is widespread and has serious public health and economic consequences. Various other factors also contribute to the transmission, spread, and outbreak of zoonotic diseases, among which industrialization-led globalization followed by ecological disruption and climate change play a critical role. In this regard, all the possible strategies, including advances in rapid and confirmatory disease diagnosis and surveillance/monitoring, immunization/vaccination, therapeutic approaches, appropriate prevention and control measures to be adapted, and awareness programs, need to be adopted collaboratively among different health sectors in medical, veterinary, and concerned departments to implement the necessary interventions for the effective restriction, minimization, and timely control of zoonotic threats. The present review focuses on the current scenario of zoonotic diseases and their counteracting approaches to safeguard their health impact on humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saurabh Gupta
- Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Applied Sciences and Humanities, GLA University, Chaumuhan, Uttar Pradesh, India.
| | - Rasanpreet Kaur
- Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Applied Sciences and Humanities, GLA University, Chaumuhan, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Jagdip Singh Sohal
- Centre for Vaccine and Diagnostic Research, GLA University, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Shoor Vir Singh
- Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Applied Sciences and Humanities, GLA University, Chaumuhan, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Kaushik Das
- Biotechnology Research and Innovation Council-National Institute of Biomedical Genomics, West Bengal, India
| | - Manish Kumar Sharma
- Department of Biotechnology, Dr. Rammanohar Lohia Avadh University, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Jitendra Singh
- Department of Translational Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Saket Nagar, Madhya Pradesh, India
| | - Shalini Sharma
- Department of Veterinary Physiology and Biochemistry, LUVAS, Hisar, Haryana, India; Division of Veterinary Physiology and Biochemistry, SKUAST-J, Jammu, India
| | - Kuldeep Dhama
- Division of Pathology, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Uttar Pradesh, India
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González-Bernardo E, Moreno-Rueda G, Camacho C, Martínez-Padilla J, Potti J, Canal D. Environmental conditions influence host-parasite interactions and host fitness in a migratory passerine. Integr Zool 2024. [PMID: 38978458 DOI: 10.1111/1749-4877.12864] [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] [Indexed: 07/10/2024]
Abstract
The study of host-parasite co-evolution is a central topic in evolutionary ecology. However, research is still fragmented and the extent to which parasites influence host life history is debated. One reason for this incomplete picture is the frequent omission of environmental conditions in studies analyzing host-parasite dynamics, which may influence the exposure to or effects of parasitism. To contribute to elucidating the largely unresolved question of how environmental conditions are related to the prevalence and intensity of infestation and their impact on hosts, we took advantage of 25 years of monitoring of a breeding population of pied flycatchers, Ficedula hypoleuca, in a Mediterranean area of central Spain. We investigated the influence of temperature and precipitation during the nestling stage at a local scale on the intensity of blowfly (Protocalliphora azurea) parasitism during the nestling stage. In addition, we explored the mediating effect of extrinsic and intrinsic factors and blowfly parasitism on breeding success (production of fledglings) and offspring quality (nestling mass on day 13). The prevalence and intensity of blowfly parasitism were associated with different intrinsic (host breeding date, brood size) and extrinsic (breeding habitat, mean temperature) factors. Specifically, higher average temperatures during the nestling phase were associated with lower intensities of parasitism, which may be explained by changes in blowflies' activity or larval developmental success. In contrast, no relationship was found between the prevalence of parasitism and any of the environmental variables evaluated. Hosts that experienced high parasitism intensities in their broods produced more fledglings as temperature increased, suggesting that physiological responses to severe parasitism during nestling development might be enhanced in warmer conditions. The weight of fledglings was, however, unrelated to the interactive effect of parasitism intensity and environmental conditions. Overall, our results highlight the temperature dependence of parasite-host interactions and the importance of considering multiple fitness indicators and climate-mediated effects to understand their complex implications for avian fitness and population dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enrique González-Bernardo
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
- University of Oviedo, Oviedo, Asturias, Spain
| | | | - Carlos Camacho
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD-CSIC), Seville, Spain
| | - Jesús Martínez-Padilla
- Department of Biological Conservation and Ecosystem Restoration, Pyrenean Institute of Ecology (IPE-CSIC), Jaca, Spain
| | - Jaime Potti
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD-CSIC), Seville, Spain
| | - David Canal
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, National Museum of Natural Sciences (MNCN-CSIC), Madrid, Spain
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Logan JJ, Knudby A, Leighton PA, Talbot B, McKay R, Ramsay T, Blanford JI, Ogden NH, Kulkarni MA. Ixodes scapularis density and Borrelia burgdorferi prevalence along a residential-woodland gradient in a region of emerging Lyme disease risk. Sci Rep 2024; 14:13107. [PMID: 38849451 PMCID: PMC11161484 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-64085-6] [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: 04/19/2024] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024] Open
Abstract
The environmental risk of Lyme disease, defined by the density of Ixodes scapularis ticks and their prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi infection, is increasing across the Ottawa, Ontario region, making this a unique location to explore the factors associated with environmental risk along a residential-woodland gradient. In this study, we collected I. scapularis ticks and trapped Peromyscus spp. mice, tested both for tick-borne pathogens, and monitored the intensity of foraging activity by deer in residential, woodland, and residential-woodland interface zones of four neighbourhoods. We constructed mixed-effect models to test for site-specific characteristics associated with densities of questing nymphal and adult ticks and the infection prevalence of nymphal and adult ticks. Compared to residential zones, we found a strong increasing gradient in tick density from interface to woodland zones, with 4 and 15 times as many nymphal ticks, respectively. Infection prevalence of nymphs and adults together was 15 to 24 times greater in non-residential zone habitats. Ecological site characteristics, including soil moisture, leaf litter depth, and understory density, were associated with variations in nymphal density and their infection prevalence. Our results suggest that high environmental risk bordering residential areas poses a concern for human-tick encounters, highlighting the need for targeted disease prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- James J Logan
- School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
| | - Anders Knudby
- Department of Geography, Environment and Geomatics, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Patrick A Leighton
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC, Canada
| | - Benoit Talbot
- School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Roman McKay
- School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Tim Ramsay
- School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Justine I Blanford
- Department of Earth Observation Science, Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands
| | - Nicholas H Ogden
- Public Health Risk Sciences Division, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC, Canada
| | - Manisha A Kulkarni
- School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
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8
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Wang Y, Tian X, Pang B, Ma W, Kou Z, Wen H. Long-term effects of meteorological factors on severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome incidence in eastern China from 2014 to 2020: An ecological time-series study. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2024; 18:e0012266. [PMID: 38917232 PMCID: PMC11230590 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0012266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Revised: 07/08/2024] [Accepted: 06/01/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is an emerging tick-borne disease with susceptibility influenced by meteorological factors. However, there is limited understanding of the delayed and interactive impacts of meteorological factors on SFTS incidence. METHODS Daily incidence data of SFTS and corresponding meteorological factors for the Jiaodong Peninsula in northeast China were collected from January 1, 2014, to December 31, 2020. Random forest regression model, based on custom search, was performed to compare the importance of meteorological factors. Generalized additive model with quasi-Poisson regression was conducted to examine the nonlinear relationships and interactive effects using penalized spline methods. A distributed lag nonlinear model with quasi-Poisson regression was constructed to estimate exposure-lag effects of meteorological factors. RESULTS The most important meteorological factor was weekly mean lowest temperature. The relationship between meteorological factors and SFTS incidence revealed a nonlinear and intricate pattern. Interaction analyses showed that prolonged sunshine duration posed a climatic risk within a specific temperature range for SFTS incidence. The maximum relative risk (RR) observed under extremely low temperature (-4°C) was 1.33 at lag of 15 week, while under extremely high temperature (25°C), the minimum RR was 0.65 at lag of 13 week. The RRs associated with both extremely high and low sunshine duration escalated with an increase in lag weeks. CONCLUSIONS This study underscores that meteorological factors exert nonlinear, delayed, and interactive effects on SFTS incidence. These findings highlight the importance of understanding the dependency of SFTS incidence on meteorological factors in particular climates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao Wang
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
- Department of Microbiological Laboratory Technology, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Xueying Tian
- Infection Disease Control of Institute, Shandong Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Jinan, China
| | - Bo Pang
- Infection Disease Control of Institute, Shandong Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Jinan, China
| | - Wei Ma
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Zengqiang Kou
- Infection Disease Control of Institute, Shandong Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Jinan, China
| | - Hongling Wen
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
- Department of Microbiological Laboratory Technology, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
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Ownagh A, Rajabi SA, Enferadi A, Hadian M. Molecular detection and phylogenetic analysis of Borrelia Spp. In blood samples of cats and dogs by the nested-PCR method in West Azerbaijan Province, Iran. Braz J Microbiol 2024:10.1007/s42770-024-01401-2. [PMID: 38819772 DOI: 10.1007/s42770-024-01401-2] [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: 03/25/2024] [Accepted: 05/24/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024] Open
Abstract
The objective of this study was to investigate the presence and genetic attributes of Borrelia spp. in cats and dogs from the West Azerbaijan Province, located in the northwest of Iran. A total of 250 blood samples from cats and 300 blood samples from dogs were collected, and information regarding their age, sex, breed, ownership status, sampling time and region was recorded. The identification of positive samples was accomplished through nested-PCR and sequencing, with subsequent analysis of the gene sequences conducted using BioEdit software. The gene sequences for Borrelia spp. in this study showed 100% similarity to reference sequences in the GenBank® database. Phylogenetic trees were built using MEGA11. The outcomes indicated that among 250 blood samples from cats, 48 (19.2%) tested positive for Borrelia spp. gene, with a CI from 14.8 to 24.53% for cats. Similarly, out of 300 blood samples from dogs, 45 (15%) tested positive for the Borrelia spp. gene, with a CI from 11.4 to 19.48% for dogs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Ahmad Enferadi
- Department of Microbiology, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran
| | - Mojtaba Hadian
- Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Pathology, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran
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Szaroz D, Kulkarni M, Robayo González CX, Zinszer K. Study protocol for a scoping review of Lyme disease prediction methodologies. BMJ Open 2024; 14:e071402. [PMID: 38772589 PMCID: PMC11110606 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-071402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION In the temperate world, Lyme disease (LD) is the most common vector-borne disease affecting humans. In North America, LD surveillance and research have revealed an increasing territorial expansion of hosts, bacteria and vectors that has accompanied an increasing incidence of the disease in humans. To better understand the factors driving disease spread, predictive models can use current and historical data to predict disease occurrence in populations across time and space. Various prediction methods have been used, including approaches to evaluate prediction accuracy and/or performance and a range of predictors in LD risk prediction research. With this scoping review, we aim to document the different modelling approaches including types of forecasting and/or prediction methods, predictors and approaches to evaluating model performance (eg, accuracy). METHODS AND ANALYSIS This scoping review will follow the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Review guidelines. Electronic databases will be searched via keywords and subject headings (eg, Medical Subject Heading terms). The search will be performed in the following databases: PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, CAB Abstracts, Global Health and SCOPUS. Studies reported in English or French investigating the risk of LD in humans through spatial prediction and temporal forecasting methodologies will be identified and screened. Eligibility criteria will be applied to the list of articles to identify which to retain. Two reviewers will screen titles and abstracts, followed by a full-text screening of the articles' content. Data will be extracted and charted into a standard form, synthesised and interpreted. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION This scoping review is based on published literature and does not require ethics approval. Findings will be published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at scientific conferences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Szaroz
- École de santé publique, Département de médecine sociale et préventive, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Québec, Canada
- Centre de Recherche en Santé Publique (CReSP), Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Manisha Kulkarni
- School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa Faculty of Medicine, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Claudia Ximena Robayo González
- École de santé publique, Département de médecine sociale et préventive, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Québec, Canada
- Centre de Recherche en Santé Publique (CReSP), Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Kate Zinszer
- École de santé publique, Département de médecine sociale et préventive, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Québec, Canada
- Centre de Recherche en Santé Publique (CReSP), Montréal, Québec, Canada
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11
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Ghodrati S, Lesiczka PM, Zurek L, Szekely F, Modrý D. Rhipicephalus sanguineus from Hungarian dogs: Tick identification and detection of tick-borne pathogens. Vet Parasitol Reg Stud Reports 2024; 50:101007. [PMID: 38644036 DOI: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2024.101007] [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: 09/08/2023] [Revised: 02/16/2024] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/23/2024]
Abstract
The brown dog tick, Rhipicephalus sanguineus is a complex of tick species with an unsettled species concept. In Europe, R. sanguineus is considered mainly a Mediterranean tick with sporadic findings in central and northern Europe. R. sanguineus is known as a vector of a range of pathogens of medical and veterinary importance, most of which not yet reported as autochthonous in Hungary. A total of 1839 ticks collected by veterinarians from dogs and cats were obtained in Hungary. The study aims at precise determination of ticks identified as R. sanguineus and detection of pathogens in collected ticks. All ticks were morphologically determined and 169 individuals were identified as R. sanguineus. A subset of 15 ticks was selected for molecular analysis (16S rDNA, 12S rDNA, COI). Phylogenetic analyses invariably placed sequences of all three markers into a single haplotype identified as R. sanguineus sensu stricto. All 169 brown dog ticks were tested for the presence of A. platys, E. canis, R. conorii, B. vogeli and H. canis. None of the investigated ticks was positive for the screened pathogens, though A. phagocytophilum sequence was detected in a single tick.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sajjad Ghodrati
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlářská 2, Brno, Czech Republic; Biology Centre, Institute of Parasitology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Branišovská 31, České Budějovice, Czech Republic.
| | - Paulina Maria Lesiczka
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcka 129, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Ludek Zurek
- CEITEC, University of Veterinary Sciences, Palackého třída 1946/1, Brno, Czech Republic; Department of Microbiology, Nutrition and Dietetics/CINeZ, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, Prague, Czech Republic
| | | | - David Modrý
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlářská 2, Brno, Czech Republic; Biology Centre, Institute of Parasitology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Branišovská 31, České Budějovice, Czech Republic; Department of Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcka 129, Prague, Czech Republic
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12
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Dumas A, Bouchard C, Drapeau P, Lindsay LR, Ogden NH, Leighton PA. The risk of contact between visitors and Borrelia burgdorferi-infected ticks is associated with fine-scale landscape features in a southeastern Canadian nature park. BMC Public Health 2024; 24:1180. [PMID: 38671429 PMCID: PMC11055428 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-18673-w] [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: 03/22/2023] [Accepted: 04/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Infectious diseases are emerging across temperate regions of the world, and, for some, links have been made between landscapes and emergence dynamics. For tick-borne diseases, public parks may be important exposure sites for people living in urbanized areas of North America and Europe. In most cases, we know more about the ecological processes that determine the hazard posed by ticks as disease vectors than we do about how human population exposure varies in urban natural parks. METHODS In this study, infrared counters were used to monitor visitor use of a public natural park in southern Quebec, Canada. A risk index representing the probability of encounters between humans and infected vectors was constructed. This was done by combining the intensity of visitor trail use and the density of infected nymphs obtained from field surveillance. Patterns of risk were examined using spatial cluster analysis. Digital forest data and park infrastructure data were then integrated using spatially explicit models to test whether encounter risk levels and its components vary with forest fragmentation indicators and proximity to park infrastructure. RESULTS Results suggest that, even at a very fine scales, certain landscape features and infrastructure can be predictors of risk levels. Both visitors and Borrelia burgdorferi-infected ticks concentrated in areas where forest cover was dominant, so there was a positive association between forest cover and the risk index. However, there were no associations between indicators of forest fragmentation and risk levels. Some high-risk clusters contributed disproportionately to the risk distribution in the park relative to their size. There were also two high-risk periods, one in early summer coinciding with peak nymphal activity, and one in early fall when park visitation was highest. CONCLUSIONS Here, we demonstrate the importance of integrating indicators of human behaviour visitation with tick distribution data to characterize risk patterns for tick-borne diseases in public natural areas. Indeed, understanding the environmental determinants of human-tick interactions will allow organisations to deploy more effective risk reduction interventions targeted at key locations and times, and improve the management of public health risks associated with tick-borne diseases in public spaces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ariane Dumas
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC, Canada.
- Epidemiology of Zoonoses and Public Health Research Unit (GREZOSP), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC, Canada.
| | - Catherine Bouchard
- Epidemiology of Zoonoses and Public Health Research Unit (GREZOSP), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC, Canada
- Public Health Risk Sciences Division, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC, Canada
| | - Pierre Drapeau
- Department of Biological Sciences, Centre for Forest Research, Université du Québec À Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - L Robbin Lindsay
- One Health Division, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Nicholas H Ogden
- Epidemiology of Zoonoses and Public Health Research Unit (GREZOSP), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC, Canada
- Public Health Risk Sciences Division, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC, Canada
| | - Patrick A Leighton
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC, Canada
- Epidemiology of Zoonoses and Public Health Research Unit (GREZOSP), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC, Canada
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Habib J, Zenner L, Garel M, Mercier A, Poirel MT, Itty C, Appolinaire J, Amblard T, Benedetti P, Sanchis F, Benabed S, Abi Rizk G, Gibert P, Bourgoin G. Prevalence of tick-borne pathogens in ticks collected from the wild mountain ungulates mouflon and chamois in 4 regions of France. Parasite 2024; 31:21. [PMID: 38602373 PMCID: PMC11008225 DOI: 10.1051/parasite/2024011] [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: 10/28/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Ticks are major vectors of various pathogens of health importance, such as bacteria, viruses and parasites. The problems associated with ticks and vector-borne pathogens are increasing in mountain areas, particularly in connection with global climate change. We collected ticks (n = 2,081) from chamois and mouflon in 4 mountainous areas of France. We identified 6 tick species: Ixodes ricinus, Rhipicephalus bursa, Rh. sanguineus s.l., Haemaphysalis sulcata, H. punctata and Dermacentor marginatus. We observed a strong variation in tick species composition among the study sites, linked in particular to the climate of the sites. We then analysed 791 ticks for DNA of vector-borne pathogens: Babesia/Theileria spp., Borrelia burgdorferi s.l., Anaplasma phagocytophilum, A. marginale, A. ovis, and Rickettsia of the spotted fever group (SFG). Theileria ovis was detected only in Corsica in Rh. bursa. Babesia venatorum (2 sites), Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. (B. afzelii and B. garinii; 2 sites) and Anaplasma phagocytophilum (3 sites) were detected in I. ricinus. Anaplasma ovis was detected at one site in I. ricinus and Rh. sanguineus s.l. SFG Rickettsia were detected at all the study sites: R. monacensis and R. helvetica in I. ricinus at the 3 sites where this tick is present; R. massiliae in Rh. sanguineus s.l. (1 site); and R. hoogstraalii and Candidatus R. barbariae in Rh. bursa in Corsica. These results show that there is a risk of tick-borne diseases for humans and domestic and wild animals frequenting these mountain areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jad Habib
- Université de Lyon, VetAgro Sup – Campus Vétérinaire de Lyon, Laboratoire de Parasitologie Vétérinaire 1 avenue Bourgelat BP 83 69280 Marcy-l’Etoile France
- Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS, VetAgro Sup, UMR 5558, Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Évolutive 43 bd du 11 novembre 1918 69622 Villeurbanne France
- Université Libanaise, Faculté d’Agronomie et de Médecine Vétérinaire, Département de Médecine Vétérinaire 3 rue de l'université Beyrouth Lebanon
| | - Lionel Zenner
- Université de Lyon, VetAgro Sup – Campus Vétérinaire de Lyon, Laboratoire de Parasitologie Vétérinaire 1 avenue Bourgelat BP 83 69280 Marcy-l’Etoile France
- Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS, VetAgro Sup, UMR 5558, Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Évolutive 43 bd du 11 novembre 1918 69622 Villeurbanne France
| | - Mathieu Garel
- Office Français de la Biodiversité, Service Anthropisation et Fonctionnement des Écosystèmes Terrestres 5 allée de Bethléem, Z.I. Mayencin 38610 Gières France
| | - Antoine Mercier
- Université de Lyon, VetAgro Sup – Campus Vétérinaire de Lyon, Laboratoire de Parasitologie Vétérinaire 1 avenue Bourgelat BP 83 69280 Marcy-l’Etoile France
- Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS, VetAgro Sup, UMR 5558, Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Évolutive 43 bd du 11 novembre 1918 69622 Villeurbanne France
| | - Marie-Thérèse Poirel
- Université de Lyon, VetAgro Sup – Campus Vétérinaire de Lyon, Laboratoire de Parasitologie Vétérinaire 1 avenue Bourgelat BP 83 69280 Marcy-l’Etoile France
- Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS, VetAgro Sup, UMR 5558, Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Évolutive 43 bd du 11 novembre 1918 69622 Villeurbanne France
| | - Christian Itty
- Office Français de la Biodiversité, Service Appui aux Acteurs et Mobilisation des Territoires, Direction Régionale Occitanie 7 rue du Four, Fagairolles 34610 Castanet-le-Haut France
| | - Joël Appolinaire
- Office Français de la Biodiversité, Service Anthropisation et Fonctionnement des Écosystèmes Terrestres 5 allée de Bethléem, Z.I. Mayencin 38610 Gières France
| | - Thibaut Amblard
- Office Français de la Biodiversité, Service Anthropisation et Fonctionnement des Écosystèmes Terrestres 5 allée de Bethléem, Z.I. Mayencin 38610 Gières France
| | - Pierre Benedetti
- Office Français de la Biodiversité, Unité Espaces Naturels de Corse Funtanella 20218 Moltifao France
| | - Frédéric Sanchis
- Office Français de la Biodiversité, Unité Espaces Naturels de Corse Funtanella 20218 Moltifao France
| | - Slimania Benabed
- Université de Lyon, VetAgro Sup – Campus Vétérinaire de Lyon, Laboratoire de Parasitologie Vétérinaire 1 avenue Bourgelat BP 83 69280 Marcy-l’Etoile France
- Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS, VetAgro Sup, UMR 5558, Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Évolutive 43 bd du 11 novembre 1918 69622 Villeurbanne France
| | - Georges Abi Rizk
- Université Libanaise, Faculté d’Agronomie et de Médecine Vétérinaire, Département de Médecine Vétérinaire 3 rue de l'université Beyrouth Lebanon
| | - Philippe Gibert
- Office Français de la Biodiversité, Service Anthropisation et Fonctionnement des Écosystèmes Terrestres 5 allée de Bethléem, Z.I. Mayencin 38610 Gières France
| | - Gilles Bourgoin
- Université de Lyon, VetAgro Sup – Campus Vétérinaire de Lyon, Laboratoire de Parasitologie Vétérinaire 1 avenue Bourgelat BP 83 69280 Marcy-l’Etoile France
- Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS, VetAgro Sup, UMR 5558, Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Évolutive 43 bd du 11 novembre 1918 69622 Villeurbanne France
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14
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Chamsai T, Saechin A, Mongkolphan C, Sariya L, Tangsudjai S. Tick-borne pathogens Ehrlichia, Hepatozoon, and Babesia co-infection in owned dogs in Central Thailand. Front Vet Sci 2024; 11:1341254. [PMID: 38628944 PMCID: PMC11019389 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1341254] [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: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Tick-borne pathogens are transmitted by a wide range of tick species and affect both human and animal health. Understanding the diversity of these pathogens and their co-infection rates in domesticated animals in urban areas is crucial for effective disease management and prevention. In this study, a total of 565 owned dogs in the central region of Thailand were investigated for the infection rate of three genera of Ehrlichia, Hepatozoon, and Babesia infection using multiplex PCR. The results revealed an overall infection rate of 19.1%, with Ehrlichia having the highest infection rate (12.2%), followed by Babesia (2.5%) and Hepatozoon (1.4%). The rate of co-infection was 3%, with mixed infections involving two or three genera. Male dogs exhibited a slightly higher infection rate compared to females, although not statistically significant. Young adult dogs (1-3 years) showed the highest infection rate of both single infections and co-infections. Monthly infection rate indicated variations throughout the year, with co-infection rate significantly associated with overall infection rate. Clinical manifestations in three genera of infected dogs included thrombocytopenia and eosinopenia. The results of this study are useful to design strategies for the management and prevention of tick-borne diseases in the study area.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Siriporn Tangsudjai
- Monitoring and Surveillance Center for Zoonotic Diseases in Wildlife and Exotic Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand
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15
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Wei H, Xiong T, Wang SS, Wang BH, Du LF, Xu Q, Zheng JJ, Cui XM, Jia N, Jiang JF, Shi W, Zhao L, Cao WC. Investigating the pathogens associated with Dermacentor nuttalli and its global distribution: A study integrating metagenomic sequencing, meta-analysis and niche modeling. Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2024; 23:100907. [PMID: 38283887 PMCID: PMC10810740 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2024.100907] [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: 10/28/2023] [Revised: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 01/30/2024]
Abstract
Dermacentor nuttalli, a member of family Ixodidae and genus Dermacentor, is predominantly found in North Asia. It transmits various pathogens of human and animal diseases, such as Lymphocytic choriomeningitis mammarenavirus and Brucella ovis, leading to severe symptoms in patients and posing serious hazards to livestock husbandry. To profile pathogen abundances of wild D. nuttalli, metagenomic sequencing was performed of four field-collected tick samples, revealing that Rickettsia, Streptomyces, and Pseudomonas were the most abundant bacterial genera in D. nuttalli. Specifically, four nearly complete Rickettsia genomes were assembled, closely relative to Rickettsia conorii subsp. raoultii. Then, a comprehensive meta-analysis was performed to evaluate its potential threats based on detected pathogens and geographical distribution positions reported in literature, reference books, related websites, and field surveys. At least 48 pathogens were identified, including 20 species of bacteria, seven species of eukaryota, and 21 species of virus. Notably, Rickettsia conorii subsp. raoultii, Coxiella burnetii, and Brucella ovis displayed remarkably high positivity rates, which were known to cause infectious diseases in both humans and livestock. Currently, the primary distribution of D. nuttalli spans China, Mongolia, and Russia. However, an additional 14 countries in Asia and America that may also be affected by D. nuttalli were identified in our niche model, despite no previous reports of its presence in these areas. This study provides comprehensive data and analysis on the pathogens carried by D. nuttalli, along with documented and potential distribution, suggesting an emerging threat to public health and animal husbandry. Therefore, there is a need for heightened surveillance and thorough investigation of D. nuttalli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hua Wei
- Institute of EcoHealth, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China
| | - Tao Xiong
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Shan-Shan Wang
- Institute of EcoHealth, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China
| | - Bai-Hui Wang
- Institute of EcoHealth, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China
| | - Li-Feng Du
- Institute of EcoHealth, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China
| | - Qing Xu
- Institute of EcoHealth, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China
| | - Jia-Jing Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Xiao-Ming Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Na Jia
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Jia-Fu Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Wenqiang Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Lin Zhao
- Institute of EcoHealth, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China
| | - Wu-Chun Cao
- Institute of EcoHealth, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing 100071, China
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16
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Dickson CA, Ergun-Longmire B, Greydanus DE, Eke R, Giedeman B, Nickson NM, Hoang LN, Adabanya U, Payares DVP, Chahin S, McCrary J, White K, Moon JH, Haitova N, Deleon J, Apple RW. Health equity in pediatrics: Current concepts for the care of children in the 21st century (Dis Mon). Dis Mon 2024; 70:101631. [PMID: 37739834 DOI: 10.1016/j.disamonth.2023.101631] [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: 09/24/2023]
Abstract
This is an analysis of important aspects of health equity in caring for children and adolescents written by a multidisciplinary team from different medical centers. In this discussion for clinicians, we look at definitions of pediatric health equity and the enormous impact of social determinants of health in this area. Factors involved with pediatric healthcare disparities that are considered include race, ethnicity, gender, age, poverty, socioeconomic status, LGBT status, living in rural communities, housing instability, food insecurity, access to transportation, availability of healthcare professionals, the status of education, and employment as well as immigration. Additional issues involved with health equity in pediatrics that are reviewed will include the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, behavioral health concepts, and the negative health effects of climate change. Recommendations that are presented include reflection of one's own attitudes on as well as an understanding of these topics, consideration of the role of various healthcare providers (i.e., community health workers, peer health navigators, others), the impact of behavioral health integration, and the need for well-conceived curricula as well as multi-faceted training programs in pediatric health equity at the undergraduate and postgraduate medical education levels. Furthermore, ongoing research in pediatric health equity is needed to scrutinize current concepts and stimulate the development of ideas with an ever-greater positive influence on the health of our beloved children. Clinicians caring for children can serve as champions for the optimal health of children and their families; in addition, these healthcare professionals are uniquely positioned in their daily work to understand the drivers of health inequities and to be advocates for optimal health equity in the 21st century for all children and adolescents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheryl A Dickson
- Department of Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine, Western Michigan University, Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine, Kalamazoo, MI, United States
| | - Berrin Ergun-Longmire
- Department of Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine, Western Michigan University, Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine, Kalamazoo, MI, United States
| | - Donald E Greydanus
- Department of Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine, Western Michigan University, Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine, Kalamazoo, MI, United States.
| | - Ransome Eke
- Department of Community Medicine, Mercer University School of Medicine, Columbus, GA, United States
| | - Bethany Giedeman
- Western Michigan University, Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine, Kalamazoo, MI, United States
| | - Nikoli M Nickson
- Western Michigan University, Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine, Kalamazoo, MI, United States
| | - Linh-Nhu Hoang
- Department of Psychology, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI, United States
| | - Uzochukwu Adabanya
- Department of Community Medicine, Mercer University School of Medicine, Columbus, GA, United States
| | - Daniela V Pinto Payares
- Western Michigan University, Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine, Kalamazoo, MI, United States
| | - Summer Chahin
- Department of Psychology, C.S. Mott Children's Hospital/Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Jerica McCrary
- Center for Rural Health and Health Disparities, Mercer University School of Medicine, Columbus, GA, United States
| | - Katie White
- Department of Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine, Western Michigan University, Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine, Kalamazoo, MI, United States
| | - Jin Hyung Moon
- Department of Community Medicine, Mercer University School of Medicine, Columbus, GA, United States
| | - Nizoramo Haitova
- Department of Educational Leadership, Research and Technology, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI, United States
| | - Jocelyn Deleon
- Department of Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine, Western Michigan University, Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine, Kalamazoo, MI, United States
| | - Roger W Apple
- Department of Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine, Western Michigan University, Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine, Kalamazoo, MI, United States
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Bullivant A, Lozano-Huntelman N, Tabibian K, Leung V, Armstrong D, Dudley H, Savage VM, Rodríguez-Verdugo A, Yeh PJ. Evolution Under Thermal Stress Affects Escherichia coli's Resistance to Antibiotics. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.02.27.582334. [PMID: 38464198 PMCID: PMC10925296 DOI: 10.1101/2024.02.27.582334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
Exposure to both antibiotics and temperature changes can induce similar physiological responses in bacteria. Thus, changes in growth temperature may affect antibiotic resistance. Previous studies have found that evolution under antibiotic stress causes shifts in the optimal growth temperature of bacteria. However, little is known about how evolution under thermal stress affects antibiotic resistance. We examined 100+ heat-evolved strains of Escherichia coli that evolved under thermal stress. We asked whether evolution under thermal stress affects optimal growth temperature, if there are any correlations between evolving in high temperatures and antibiotic resistance, and if these strains' antibiotic efficacy changes depending on the local environment's temperature. We found that: (1) surprisingly, most of the heat-evolved strains displayed a decrease in optimal growth temperature and overall growth relative to the ancestor strain, (2) there were complex patterns of changes in antibiotic resistance when comparing the heat-evolved strains to the ancestor strain, and (3) there were few significant correlations among changes in antibiotic resistance, optimal growth temperature, and overall growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Austin Bullivant
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, USA
| | | | - Kevin Tabibian
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, USA
| | - Vivien Leung
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, USA
| | - Dylan Armstrong
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, USA
| | - Henry Dudley
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, USA
| | - Van M. Savage
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, USA
- Computational Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, USA
- Santa Fe Institute, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
| | | | - Pamela J Yeh
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, USA
- Santa Fe Institute, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
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Crandall KE, Millien V, Kerr JT. High-resolution environmental and host-related factors impacting questing Ixodes scapularis at their northern range edge. Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e10855. [PMID: 38384829 PMCID: PMC10879908 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10855] [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: 08/03/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024] Open
Abstract
The geographic range of tick populations has expanded in Canada due to climate warming and the associated poleward range shifts of their vertebrate hosts. Abiotic factors, such as temperature, precipitation, and snow, are known to directly affect tick abundance. Yet, biotic factors, such as the abundance and diversity of mammal hosts, may also alter tick abundance and consequent tick-borne disease risk. Here, we incorporated host surveillance data with high-resolution environmental data to evaluate the combined impact of abiotic and biotic factors on questing Ixodes scapularis abundance in Ontario and Quebec, Canada. High-resolution abiotic factors were derived from remote sensing satellites and meteorological towers, while biotic factors related to mammal hosts were derived from active surveillance data that we collected in the field. Generalized additive models were used to determine the relative importance of abiotic and biotic factors on questing I. scapularis abundance. Combinations of abiotic and biotic factors were identified as important drivers of abundances of questing I. scapularis. Positive and negative linear relationships were found for questing I. scapularis abundance with monthly mean precipitation and accumulated snow, but no effect was found for the relative abundance of white-footed mice. Positive relationships were also identified between questing I. scapularis abundance with monthly mean precipitation and mammal species richness. Therefore, future studies that assess I. scapularis should incorporate host surveillance data with high-resolution environmental factors to determine the key drivers impacting the abundance and geographic spread of tick populations and tick-borne pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirsten E. Crandall
- Department of BiologyUniversity of OttawaOttawaOntarioCanada
- Department of BiologyMcGill UniversityMontréalQuébecCanada
- Redpath MuseumMcGill UniversityMontréalQuébecCanada
| | - Virginie Millien
- Department of BiologyMcGill UniversityMontréalQuébecCanada
- Redpath MuseumMcGill UniversityMontréalQuébecCanada
| | - Jeremy T. Kerr
- Department of BiologyUniversity of OttawaOttawaOntarioCanada
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19
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Cordell GA. The contemporary nexus of medicines security and bioprospecting: a future perspective for prioritizing the patient. NATURAL PRODUCTS AND BIOPROSPECTING 2024; 14:11. [PMID: 38270809 PMCID: PMC10811317 DOI: 10.1007/s13659-024-00431-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/14/2024] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
Reacting to the challenges presented by the evolving nexus of environmental change, defossilization, and diversified natural product bioprospecting is vitally important for advancing global healthcare and placing patient benefit as the most important consideration. This overview emphasizes the importance of natural and synthetic medicines security and proposes areas for global research action to enhance the quality, safety, and effectiveness of sustainable natural medicines. Following a discussion of some contemporary factors influencing natural products, a rethinking of the paradigms in natural products research is presented in the interwoven contexts of the Fourth and Fifth Industrial Revolutions and based on the optimization of the valuable assets of Earth. Following COP28, bioprospecting is necessary to seek new classes of bioactive metabolites and enzymes for chemoenzymatic synthesis. Focus is placed on those performance and practice modifications which, in a sustainable manner, establish the patient, and the maintenance of their prophylactic and treatment needs, as the priority. Forty initiatives for natural products in healthcare are offered for the patient and the practitioner promoting global action to address issues of sustainability, environmental change, defossilization, quality control, product consistency, and neglected diseases to assure that quality natural medicinal agents will be accessible for future generations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geoffrey A Cordell
- Natural Products Inc., 1320 Ashland Avenue, Evanston, IL, 60201, USA.
- Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA.
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20
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Laverdeur J, Desmecht D, Hayette MP, Darcis G. Dengue and chikungunya: future threats for Northern Europe? FRONTIERS IN EPIDEMIOLOGY 2024; 4:1342723. [PMID: 38456075 PMCID: PMC10911022 DOI: 10.3389/fepid.2024.1342723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024]
Abstract
Arthropod-borne viral diseases are likely to be affected by the consequences of climate change with an increase in their distribution and intensity. Among these infectious diseases, chikungunya and dengue viruses are two (re)emergent arboviruses transmitted by Aedes species mosquitoes and which have recently demonstrated their capacity for rapid expansion. They most often cause mild diseases, but they can both be associated with complications and severe forms. In Europe, following the establishment of invasive Aedes spp, the first outbreaks of autochtonous dengue and chikungunya have already occurred. Northern Europe is currently relatively spared, but climatic projections show that the conditions are permissive for the establishment of Aedes albopictus (also known as the tiger mosquito) in the coming decades. It is therefore essential to question and improve the means of surveillance in northern Europe, at the dawn of inevitable future epidemics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justine Laverdeur
- Department of General Practice, University Hospital of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Daniel Desmecht
- Department of Animal Pathology, Fundamental and Applied Research for Animals & Health, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Marie-Pierre Hayette
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, University Hospital of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Gilles Darcis
- Department of Infectious Diseases and General Internal Medicine, University Hospital of Liège, Liège, Belgium
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21
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Deshpande G, Beetch JE, Heller JG, Naqvi OH, Kuhn KG. Assessing the Influence of Climate Change and Environmental Factors on the Top Tick-Borne Diseases in the United States: A Systematic Review. Microorganisms 2023; 12:50. [PMID: 38257877 PMCID: PMC10821204 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12010050] [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: 11/28/2023] [Revised: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
In the United States (US), tick-borne diseases (TBDs) have more than doubled in the past fifteen years and are a major contributor to the overall burden of vector-borne diseases. The most common TBDs in the US-Lyme disease, rickettsioses (including Rocky Mountain spotted fever), and anaplasmosis-have gradually shifted in recent years, resulting in increased morbidity and mortality. In this systematic review, we examined climate change and other environmental factors that have influenced the epidemiology of these TBDs in the US while highlighting the opportunities for a One Health approach to mitigating their impact. We searched Medline Plus, PUBMED, and Google Scholar for studies focused on these three TBDs in the US from January 2018 to August 2023. Data selection and extraction were completed using Covidence, and the risk of bias was assessed with the ROBINS-I tool. The review included 84 papers covering multiple states across the US. We found that climate, seasonality and temporality, and land use are important environmental factors that impact the epidemiology and patterns of TBDs. The emerging trends, influenced by environmental factors, emphasize the need for region-specific research to aid in the prediction and prevention of TBDs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Katrin Gaardbo Kuhn
- Department of Biostatistics & Epidemiology, Hudson College of Public Health, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA; (G.D.); (J.E.B.); (J.G.H.); (O.H.N.)
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22
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Tóth AG, Farkas R, Papp M, Kilim O, Yun H, Makrai L, Maróti G, Gyurkovszky M, Krikó E, Solymosi N. Ixodes ricinus tick bacteriome alterations based on a climatically representative survey in Hungary. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0124323. [PMID: 37966205 PMCID: PMC10715062 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.01243-23] [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: 03/22/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Climate-sensitive disease vectors, such as ticks, respond to the environment with changes in their microbiome. These changes can affect the emergence or re-emergence of various vector-borne pathogens, such as the causative agent of Lyme borreliosis (LB) or tick-borne encephalitis. This aspect is particularly emphasized in light of climate change. The climatically representative assessment of microbiome differences in various developmental stages of the most common Central European tick species, Ixodes ricinus, deepens our understanding of the potential climatic factors behind microbial relative abundance and interaction changes. This knowledge can support the development of novel disease vector control strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrienn Gréta Tóth
- Centre for Bioinformatics, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Róbert Farkas
- Department of Parasitology and Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Márton Papp
- Centre for Bioinformatics, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Oz Kilim
- Department of Physics of Complex Systems, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Haeun Yun
- Centre for Bioinformatics, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary
| | | | - Gergely Maróti
- Institute of Plant Biology, Biological Research Center, HUN-REN, Szeged, Hungary
- Faculty of Water Sciences, University of Public Service, Baja, Hungary
| | - Mónika Gyurkovszky
- Department of Parasitology and Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Eszter Krikó
- Centre for Bioinformatics, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Norbert Solymosi
- Centre for Bioinformatics, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary
- Department of Physics of Complex Systems, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
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23
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de Araújo FES, Martins TF, Ramos CCM, Nogueira RMS, Faccini JLH, Tavares MA, de Lima NJ, de Almeida Júnior EB, de Sousa-Paula LC, Dantas-Torres F, da Silva Krawczak F, Costa-Junior LM, Labruna MB, Dall Agnol LT, Luz HR. Seasonal dynamics of Amblyomma cajennense (Fabricius, 1787) sensu stricto in a degraded area of the Amazon biome, with notes on Rickettsia amblyommatis infection. Parasit Vectors 2023; 16:391. [PMID: 37891604 PMCID: PMC10612284 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-023-05978-9] [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: 08/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/23/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The tick Amblyomma cajennense sensu stricto (A. cajennense s.s.) frequently parasitizes animals and humans in the Amazon biome, in addition to being a vector of Rickettsia amblyommatis. In the present study, we evaluated both the population dynamics of A. cajennense s.s. in a degraded area of the Amazon biome and the presence of rickettsial organisms in this tick population. METHODS The study was carried out in a rural area of the Santa Inês municipality (altitude: 24 m a.s.l.), Maranhão state, Brazil. Ticks were collected from the environment for 24 consecutive months, from June 2021 to May 2023. The region is characterized by two warm seasons: a rainy season (November-May) and a dry season (June-October). We characterized the temporal activity of A. cajennense s.s. on the vegetation by examining questing activity for each life stage (larvae, nymphs, adults [males and females]) in relation to the dry and rainy season. Ticks collected in this study were randomly selected and individually tested by a TaqMan real-time PCR assay that targeted a 147-bp fragment of the rickettsial gltA gene. RESULTS Overall, 1843 (62.4%) adults (52.6% females, 47.4% males), 1110 (37.6%) nymphs and 398 larval clusters were collected. All adult females and nymphs were morphologically identified as A. cajennense s.s. Larval activity was observed from April to December, with a peak from June to September (dry season); nymph abundance peaked from September to November (transition period between dry and rainy seasons); and adult ticks were abundant from October to May (spring/summer/early autumn). The infection rate by R. amblyommatis in A. cajennense s.s. ticks was at least 7% (7/99). CONCLUSION Our data suggest a 1-year generation pattern for A. cajennense s.s., with a well-defined seasonality of larvae, nymphs and adults in the Amazon biome. Larvae predominate during the dry season, nymphs are most abundant in the dry-rainy season transition and adults are most abundant in the rainy season. The presence of R. amblyommatis in adult ticks suggests that animals and humans in the study region are at risk of infection by this species belonging to the spotted fever group of Rickettsia.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Thiago Fernandes Martins
- Pasteur Institute, São Paulo State Department of Health, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | | | - João Luiz Horacio Faccini
- Post-Graduation Program in Health Sciences, Center of Biological and Health Sciences, Federal University of Maranhão, São Luís, MA, Brazil
| | | | | | - Eduardo Bezerra de Almeida Júnior
- Post-Graduation Program in Biodiversity and Conservation, Center of Biological and Health Sciences, Federal University of Maranhão, São Luís, MA, Brazil
| | - Lucas Christian de Sousa-Paula
- Tick-Pathogen Transmission Unit, Laboratory of Bacteriology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Hamilton, MT, USA
| | - Filipe Dantas-Torres
- Department of Immunology, Aggeu Magalhães Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), Recife, PE, Brazil
| | | | - Livio Martins Costa-Junior
- Post-Graduation Program in Northeast Biotechnology Network (RENORBIO), Biodiversity and Conservation, Center of Biological and Health Sciences, Federal University of Maranhão, São Luís, MA, Brazil
| | - Marcelo Bahia Labruna
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Hermes Ribeiro Luz
- Post-Graduation Program in Health and Environment, Federal University of Maranhão, São Luís, MA, Brazil.
- Post-Graduation Program in Northeast Biotechnology Network (RENORBIO), Biodiversity and Conservation, Center of Biological and Health Sciences, Federal University of Maranhão, São Luís, MA, Brazil.
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24
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Vilibic-Cavlek T, Stevanovic V, Krcmar S, Savic V, Kovac S, Bogdanic M, Mauric Maljkovic M, Sabadi D, Santini M, Potocnik-Hunjadi T, Al-Mufleh M, Barbic L. Detection of Bhanja Bandavirus in Patients with Neuroinvasive Disease of Unknown Etiology in Croatia. Microorganisms 2023; 11:2155. [PMID: 37763999 PMCID: PMC10534515 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11092155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2023] [Revised: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although the Bhanja bandavirus (BHAV) is widely distributed in some European countries, human infections are rarely reported. This study analyzed the prevalence of BHAV antibodies in patients with neuroinvasive diseases of unsolved etiology. METHODS A total of 254 Croatian patients who developed neurological symptoms during the four consecutive arbovirus transmission seasons (April 2017-October 2021) were tested. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and urine samples were tested using RT-qPCR. In addition, CSF and serum samples were tested using a virus neutralization test. RESULTS BHAV RNA was not detected in any samples, while neutralizing (NT) antibodies were detected in serum samples of 53/20.8% of patients (95% CI = 16.0-26.3). In two patients, BHAV NT antibodies were detected in the CSF, indicating a recent infection. Both patients were inhabitants of rural areas in continental Croatia, and one reported a tick bite two weeks before symptoms onset. The seropositivity was high in all age groups (15.2-29.1%). The majority of seropositive patients (94.3%) resided at altitudes less than 200 m above sea level. The prevalence rates correlated positively with population density and negatively with certain climate parameters (temperature, number of hot/warm days). CONCLUSIONS The presented results indicate that BHAV is distributed in Croatia. Further studies are needed to determine the clinical significance of this neglected arbovirus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatjana Vilibic-Cavlek
- Department of Virology, Croatian Institute of Public Health, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia;
- School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia;
| | - Vladimir Stevanovic
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases with Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (S.K.); (L.B.)
| | - Stjepan Krcmar
- Department of Biology, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, 31000 Osijek, Croatia;
| | - Vladimir Savic
- Poultry Center, Croatian Veterinary Institute, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia;
| | - Snjezana Kovac
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases with Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (S.K.); (L.B.)
| | - Maja Bogdanic
- Department of Virology, Croatian Institute of Public Health, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia;
| | - Maja Mauric Maljkovic
- Department for Animal Breeding and Livestock Production, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia;
| | - Dario Sabadi
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Clinical Hospital Center Osijek, 31000 Osijek, Croatia;
- School of Medicine, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, 31000 Osijek, Croatia
| | - Marija Santini
- School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia;
- Department for the Immunocompromised Patients, University Hospital for Infectious Diseases “Dr. Fran Mihaljevic”, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | | | - Mahmoud Al-Mufleh
- Department of Infectious Diseases, County Hospital Cakovec, 40000 Cakovec, Croatia;
| | - Ljubo Barbic
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases with Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (S.K.); (L.B.)
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25
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Logan JJ, Hoi AG, Sawada M, Knudby A, Ramsay T, Blanford JI, Ogden NH, Kulkarni MA. Risk factors for Lyme disease resulting from residential exposure amidst emerging Ixodes scapularis populations: A neighbourhood-level analysis of Ottawa, Ontario. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0290463. [PMID: 37616268 PMCID: PMC10449184 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0290463] [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: 02/12/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Lyme disease is an emerging health threat in Canada due to the continued northward expansion of the main tick vector, Ixodes scapularis. It is of particular concern to populations living in expanding peri-urban areas where residential development and municipal climate change response impact neighbourhood structure and composition. The objective of this study was to estimate associations of socio-ecological characteristics with residential Lyme disease risk at the neighbourhood scale. We used Lyme disease case data for 2017-2020 reported for Ottawa, Ontario to determine where patients' residential property, or elsewhere within their neighbourhood, was the suspected site of tick exposure. Cases meeting this exposure definition (n = 118) were aggregated and linked to neighbourhood boundaries. We calculated landscape characteristics from composited and classified August 2018 PlanetScope satellite imagery. Negative binomial generalized linear models guided by a priori hypothesized relationships explored the association between hypothesized interactions of landscape structure and the outcome. Increases in median household income, the number of forest patches, the proportion of forested area, forest edge density, and mean forest patch size were associated with higher residential Lyme disease incidence at the neighbourhood scale, while increases in forest shape complexity and average distance to forest edge were associated with reduced incidence (P<0.001). Among Ottawa neighbourhoods, the combined effect of forest shape complexity and average forest patch size was associated with higher residential Lyme disease incidence (P<0.001). These findings suggest that Lyme disease risk in residential settings is associated with urban design elements. This is particularly relevant in urban centres where local ecological changes may impact the presence of emerging tick populations and how residents interact with tick habitat. Further research into the mechanistic underpinnings of these associations would be an asset to both urban development planning and public health management.
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Affiliation(s)
- James J. Logan
- School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Amber Gigi Hoi
- School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Michael Sawada
- Department of Geography, Environment and Geomatics, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Laboratory for Applied Geomatics and GIS Science, Department of Geography, Environment and Geomatics, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Anders Knudby
- Department of Geography, Environment and Geomatics, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Tim Ramsay
- School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Justine I. Blanford
- Department of Earth Observation Science, Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation, University of Twente, Enschede, Netherlands
| | - Nicholas H. Ogden
- Public Health Risk Sciences Division, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec, Canada
| | - Manisha A. Kulkarni
- School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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26
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Cuthbert RN, Darriet F, Chabrerie O, Lenoir J, Courchamp F, Claeys C, Robert V, Jourdain F, Ulmer R, Diagne C, Ayala D, Simard F, Morand S, Renault D. Invasive hematophagous arthropods and associated diseases in a changing world. Parasit Vectors 2023; 16:291. [PMID: 37592298 PMCID: PMC10436414 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-023-05887-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Biological invasions have increased significantly with the tremendous growth of international trade and transport. Hematophagous arthropods can be vectors of infectious and potentially lethal pathogens and parasites, thus constituting a growing threat to humans-especially when associated with biological invasions. Today, several major vector-borne diseases, currently described as emerging or re-emerging, are expanding in a world dominated by climate change, land-use change and intensive transportation of humans and goods. In this review, we retrace the historical trajectory of these invasions to better understand their ecological, physiological and genetic drivers and their impacts on ecosystems and human health. We also discuss arthropod management strategies to mitigate future risks by harnessing ecology, public health, economics and social-ethnological considerations. Trade and transport of goods and materials, including vertebrate introductions and worn tires, have historically been important introduction pathways for the most prominent invasive hematophagous arthropods, but sources and pathways are likely to diversify with future globalization. Burgeoning urbanization, climate change and the urban heat island effect are likely to interact to favor invasive hematophagous arthropods and the diseases they can vector. To mitigate future invasions of hematophagous arthropods and novel disease outbreaks, stronger preventative monitoring and transboundary surveillance measures are urgently required. Proactive approaches, such as the use of monitoring and increased engagement in citizen science, would reduce epidemiological and ecological risks and could save millions of lives and billions of dollars spent on arthropod control and disease management. Last, our capacities to manage invasive hematophagous arthropods in a sustainable way for worldwide ecosystems can be improved by promoting interactions among experts of the health sector, stakeholders in environmental issues and policymakers (e.g. the One Health approach) while considering wider social perceptions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ross N Cuthbert
- Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK.
| | | | - Olivier Chabrerie
- UMR CNRS 7058 "Ecologie et Dynamique des Systèmes Anthropisés" (EDYSAN), Université de Picardie Jules Verne, 1 rue des Louvels, 80037, Amiens Cedex 1, France
| | - Jonathan Lenoir
- UMR CNRS 7058 "Ecologie et Dynamique des Systèmes Anthropisés" (EDYSAN), Université de Picardie Jules Verne, 1 rue des Louvels, 80037, Amiens Cedex 1, France
| | - Franck Courchamp
- Ecologie Systématique Evolution, Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, AgroParisTech, Gif sur Yvette, France
| | - Cecilia Claeys
- Centre de Recherche sur les Sociétés et les Environnement Méditerranéens (CRESEM), UR 7397 UPVD, Université de Perpignan, Perpignan, France
| | - Vincent Robert
- MIVEGEC, Université Montpellier, IRD, CNRS, Montpellier, France
| | - Frédéric Jourdain
- MIVEGEC, Université Montpellier, IRD, CNRS, Montpellier, France
- Santé Publique France, Saint-Maurice, France
| | - Romain Ulmer
- UMR CNRS 7058 "Ecologie et Dynamique des Systèmes Anthropisés" (EDYSAN), Université de Picardie Jules Verne, 1 rue des Louvels, 80037, Amiens Cedex 1, France
| | - Christophe Diagne
- CBGP, Université Montpellier, CIRAD, INRAE, Institut Agro, IRD, 755 Avenue du Campus Agropolis, 34988, Cedex, Montferrier-Sur-Lez, France
| | - Diego Ayala
- MIVEGEC, Université Montpellier, IRD, CNRS, Montpellier, France
- Medical Entomology Unit, Institut Pasteur de Madagascar, BP 1274, Antananarivo, Madagascar
| | - Frédéric Simard
- MIVEGEC, Université Montpellier, IRD, CNRS, Montpellier, France
| | - Serge Morand
- MIVEGEC, Université Montpellier, IRD, CNRS, Montpellier, France
- Faculty of Veterinary Technology, CNRS - CIRAD, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - David Renault
- Université de Rennes, CNRS, ECOBIO (Ecosystèmes, Biodiversité, Évolution) - UMR 6553, Rennes, France
- Institut Universitaire de France, 1 Rue Descartes, Paris, France
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27
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Kjellander P, Bergvall UA, Chirico J, Ullman K, Christensson M, Lindgren PE. Winter activity of Ixodes ricinus in Sweden. Parasit Vectors 2023; 16:229. [PMID: 37430316 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-023-05843-9] [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: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In Europe, Ixodes ricinus (Acari: Ixodidae) is the most widespread and abundant tick species, acting as a vector for several microorganisms of medical and veterinary importance. In Northern and Central Europe, the tick has a bimodal activity pattern consisting of a peak in spring to the beginning of summer and a second peak at the end of summer. However, several findings of ticks on animals during winter have been reported, which raises the question of whether this is an overwintering strategy or whether ticks are active during winter in Scandinavia. The objectives of our study were to determine (i) whether ticks were active and finding hosts during winter, (ii) whether they parasitize their hosts, and (iii) what climatic factors-i.e., temperature, snow depth and precipitation-govern tick winter activity. METHODS Throughout three winter seasons, we examined wild-living and free-ranging roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) for ticks on 332 occasions. In total, 140 individual roe deer were captured in two climatically contrasting sites in south-central Sweden, Grimsö and the Bogesund research area, respectively. We re-examined individual roe deer up to 10 times within the same winter or approximately once a week (mean 10 days, median 7 days between re-examinations) and recorded the absence or presence of ticks on the animals, and tested to what extent meteorological factors affected tick activity. To determine the attachment day, we used the coxal/scutal index of 18 nymphs and 47 female ticks. RESULTS In total, 243 I. ricinus were collected from 301 roe deer captures between 14 December and 28 February at the Bogesund study site during three subsequent years (2013/2014-2015/2016). We found attached ticks every third to every second examination (32%, 48% and 32% of the examinations, respectively). However, we collected only three I. ricinus females from 31 roe deer captures at the Grimsö study site between 17 December 2015 and 26 February 2016. At the Bogesund study site, based on 192 captures of previously examined deer, we collected 121 ticks, and ticks were found at 33%, 48% and 26% of the examinations during the respective winters. The probability of finding an attached tick on a roe deer at a temperature of -5 °C was > 8% ± 5 (SE), and that probability increased to almost 20% ± 7 (SE) if the air temperature increased to 5 °C. CONCLUSIONS To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that winter-active nymphs and female ticks have been documented to attach and feed on roe deer during winter (December to February) in Scandinavia. The main weather conditions regulating winter activity for females were temperature and precipitation, and the lowest estimated air temperature for finding an active tick was well below 5 °C. The behaviour of winter-active and blood-feeding ticks was documented over several winters and in two contrasting areas, implying that it is a common phenomenon that should be investigated more thoroughly, since it may have important consequences for the epidemiology of tick-borne pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petter Kjellander
- Grimsö Wildlife Research Station, Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Riddarhyttan, Sweden.
| | - Ulrika A Bergvall
- Grimsö Wildlife Research Station, Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Riddarhyttan, Sweden
| | - Jan Chirico
- Department of Microbiology, National Veterinary Institute (SVA), Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Karin Ullman
- Department of Microbiology, National Veterinary Institute (SVA), Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Madeleine Christensson
- Grimsö Wildlife Research Station, Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Riddarhyttan, Sweden
| | - Per-Eric Lindgren
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Division of Inflammation and Infection, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
- Laboratory Medicine, Microbiological Laboratory, County Hospital Ryhov, Jönköping, Sweden
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Moser SK, Barnard M, Frantz RM, Spencer JA, Rodarte KA, Crooker IK, Bartlow AW, Romero-Severson E, Manore CA. Scoping review of Culex mosquito life history trait heterogeneity in response to temperature. Parasit Vectors 2023; 16:200. [PMID: 37316915 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-023-05792-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/28/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mosquitoes in the genus Culex are primary vectors in the US for West Nile virus (WNV) and other arboviruses. Climatic drivers such as temperature have differential effects on species-specific changes in mosquito range, distribution, and abundance, posing challenges for population modeling, disease forecasting, and subsequent public health decisions. Understanding these differences in underlying biological dynamics is crucial in the face of climate change. METHODS We collected empirical data on thermal response for immature development rate, egg viability, oviposition, survival to adulthood, and adult lifespan for Culex pipiens, Cx. quinquefasciatus, Cx. tarsalis, and Cx. restuans from existing literature according to the PRISMA scoping review guidelines. RESULTS We observed linear relationships with temperature for development rate and lifespan, and nonlinear relationships for survival and egg viability, with underlying variation between species. Optimal ranges and critical minima and maxima also appeared varied. To illustrate how model output can change with experimental input data from individual Culex species, we applied a modified equation for temperature-dependent mosquito type reproduction number for endemic spread of WNV among mosquitoes and observed different effects. CONCLUSIONS Current models often input theoretical parameters estimated from a single vector species; we show the need to implement the real-world heterogeneity in thermal response between species and present a useful data resource for researchers working toward that goal.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Kane Moser
- Genomics and Bioanalytics (B-GEN), Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, USA.
| | - Martha Barnard
- Information Systems and Modeling (A-1), Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, USA
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Rachel M Frantz
- Information Systems and Modeling (A-1), Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, USA
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Utah State University, Logan, UT, USA
| | - Julie A Spencer
- Information Systems and Modeling (A-1), Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, USA
| | - Katie A Rodarte
- Genomics and Bioanalytics (B-GEN), Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, USA
| | - Isabel K Crooker
- Information Systems and Modeling (A-1), Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, USA
- Department of Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Andrew W Bartlow
- Genomics and Bioanalytics (B-GEN), Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, USA
| | - Ethan Romero-Severson
- Theoretical Biology and Biophysics (T-6), Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, USA
| | - Carrie A Manore
- Theoretical Biology and Biophysics (T-6), Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, USA
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Kamani J, Vieira TSWJ, da Costa Vieira RF, Shekaro A, Nahum-Biala Y, Olubade T, Abasiama MS, Gajibo UA, Bukar L, Shand M, Harrus S, Baneth G. Molecular detection of Theileria annulata, Theileria mutans and Theileria velifera but no evidence of Theileria parva infected or vaccinated cattle in Nigeria despite extensive transboundary migrations. Vet Parasitol Reg Stud Reports 2023; 41:100887. [PMID: 37208076 DOI: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2023.100887] [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: 12/16/2022] [Revised: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
The extensive livestock management system predominant in Nigeria necessitates active disease surveillance for the early detection and prompt control of transboundary animal diseases. Theileriae are obligate intracellular protozoa which infect both wild and domestic bovidae throughout much of the world causing East Coast Fever (Theileria parva), Tropical or Mediterranean theileriosis (Theileria annulata) or benign theileriosis (Theileria mutans; Theileria velifera). This study aimed to detect and characterize Theileria spp. infecting cattle in Nigeria using conventional PCR and sequencing approach. Five hundred and twenty-two DNA samples obtained from different cattle blood samples were subjected to PCR targeting the 18S rRNA gene of piroplasmida and specifically, the p104 kDa and Tp1 genes for the evidence of infection or vaccination respectively, with T. parva. A total of 269 out of 522 (51.5%) of the cattle tested PCR- positive for DNA of piroplasmida. Nucleotide sequence and phylogenetic analyses showed that the cattle were infected with T. annulata, T. mutans and T. velifera. Piroplasmida DNA was associated with sex (ꭓ2 = 7.2; p = 0.007), breed (ꭓ2 = 115; p = 0.000002) of animals and the state where the samples were collected (ꭓ2 = 78.8; p = 0.000002). None of the samples tested positive for T. parva DNA or showed evidence of vaccination (Tp1 gene). This is the first report on the molecular detection and characterization of T. annulata in the blood of cattle from Nigeria. Continuous surveillance of Nigerian cattle for East Coast Fever (ECF) is encouraged considering the recent report of the disease in cattle in the neighboring country, Cameroon, where unregulated transboundary cattle movement into Nigeria has been observed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua Kamani
- National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI), PMB 01 Vom, Plateau State, Nigeria.
| | | | - Rafael Felipe da Costa Vieira
- Vector-borne Diseases Laboratory, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Universidade Federal do Parana, Brazil; Department of Public Health Sciences, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, USA; Center for Computational Intelligence to Predict Health and Environmental Risks (CIPHER), University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, USA
| | - Audu Shekaro
- National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI), PMB 01 Vom, Plateau State, Nigeria
| | - Yaarit Nahum-Biala
- Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Toyin Olubade
- National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI), PMB 01 Vom, Plateau State, Nigeria
| | | | - Umar A Gajibo
- National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI), PMB 01 Vom, Plateau State, Nigeria
| | - Laminu Bukar
- National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI), PMB 01 Vom, Plateau State, Nigeria
| | - Mike Shand
- School of Geographical & Earth Sciences, University of Glasgow, UK
| | - Shimon Harrus
- Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Gad Baneth
- Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
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Schulte PA, Jacklitsch BL, Bhattacharya A, Chun H, Edwards N, Elliott KC, Flynn MA, Guerin R, Hodson L, Lincoln JM, MacMahon KL, Pendergrass S, Siven J, Vietas J. Updated assessment of occupational safety and health hazards of climate change. JOURNAL OF OCCUPATIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE 2023; 20:183-206. [PMID: 37104117 PMCID: PMC10443088 DOI: 10.1080/15459624.2023.2205468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Workers, particularly outdoor workers, are among the populations most disproportionately affected by climate-related hazards. However, scientific research and control actions to comprehensively address these hazards are notably absent. To assess this absence, a seven-category framework was developed in 2009 to characterize the scientific literature published from 1988-2008. Using this framework, a second assessment examined the literature published through 2014, and the current one examines literature from 2014-2021. The objectives were to present literature that updates the framework and related topics and increases awareness of the role of climate change in occupational safety and health. In general, there is substantial literature on worker hazards related to ambient temperatures, biological hazards, and extreme weather but less on air pollution, ultraviolet radiation, industrial transitions, and the built environment. There is growing literature on mental health and health equity issues related to climate change, but much more research is needed. The socioeconomic impacts of climate change also require more research. This study illustrates that workers are experiencing increased morbidity and mortality related to climate change. In all areas of climate-related worker risk, including geoengineering, research is needed on the causality and prevalence of hazards, along with surveillance to identify, and interventions for hazard prevention and control.
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Affiliation(s)
- P. A. Schulte
- Advanced Technologies and Laboratories International, Inc, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - B. L. Jacklitsch
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - A. Bhattacharya
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - H. Chun
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID), Atlanta, Georgia
| | - N. Edwards
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Morgantown, West Virginia
| | - K. C. Elliott
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Anchorage, Alaska
| | - M. A. Flynn
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - R. Guerin
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - L. Hodson
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) (retired), Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - J. M. Lincoln
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - K. L. MacMahon
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - S. Pendergrass
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) (retired), Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - J. Siven
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - J. Vietas
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Cincinnati, Ohio
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Cuervo PF, Artigas P, Lorenzo-Morales J, Bargues MD, Mas-Coma S. Ecological Niche Modelling Approaches: Challenges and Applications in Vector-Borne Diseases. Trop Med Infect Dis 2023; 8:tropicalmed8040187. [PMID: 37104313 PMCID: PMC10141209 DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed8040187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Revised: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Vector-borne diseases (VBDs) pose a major threat to human and animal health, with more than 80% of the global population being at risk of acquiring at least one major VBD. Being profoundly affected by the ongoing climate change and anthropogenic disturbances, modelling approaches become an essential tool to assess and compare multiple scenarios (past, present and future), and further the geographic risk of transmission of VBDs. Ecological niche modelling (ENM) is rapidly becoming the gold-standard method for this task. The purpose of this overview is to provide an insight of the use of ENM to assess the geographic risk of transmission of VBDs. We have summarised some fundamental concepts and common approaches to ENM of VBDS, and then focused with a critical view on a number of crucial issues which are often disregarded when modelling the niches of VBDs. Furthermore, we have briefly presented what we consider the most relevant uses of ENM when dealing with VBDs. Niche modelling of VBDs is far from being simple, and there is still a long way to improve. Therefore, this overview is expected to be a useful benchmark for niche modelling of VBDs in future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo Fernando Cuervo
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Valencia, Av. Vicent Andres Estelles s/n, 46100 Burjassot, Valencia, Spain
- CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Instituto de Salud Carlos IIII, C/Monforte de Lemos 3-5. Pabellón 11, Planta 0, 28029 Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Correspondence:
| | - Patricio Artigas
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Valencia, Av. Vicent Andres Estelles s/n, 46100 Burjassot, Valencia, Spain
- CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Instituto de Salud Carlos IIII, C/Monforte de Lemos 3-5. Pabellón 11, Planta 0, 28029 Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jacob Lorenzo-Morales
- CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Instituto de Salud Carlos IIII, C/Monforte de Lemos 3-5. Pabellón 11, Planta 0, 28029 Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Instituto Universitario de Enfermedades Tropicales y Salud Pública de Canarias, Universidad de La Laguna, Av. Astrofísico Fco. Sánchez s/n, 38203 La Laguna, Canary Islands, Spain
| | - María Dolores Bargues
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Valencia, Av. Vicent Andres Estelles s/n, 46100 Burjassot, Valencia, Spain
- CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Instituto de Salud Carlos IIII, C/Monforte de Lemos 3-5. Pabellón 11, Planta 0, 28029 Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Santiago Mas-Coma
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Valencia, Av. Vicent Andres Estelles s/n, 46100 Burjassot, Valencia, Spain
- CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Instituto de Salud Carlos IIII, C/Monforte de Lemos 3-5. Pabellón 11, Planta 0, 28029 Madrid, Madrid, Spain
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Sundstrom SM, Angeler DG, Bell J, Hayes M, Hodbod J, Jalalzadeh-Fard B, Mahmood R, VanWormer E, Allen CR. Panarchy theory for convergence. SUSTAINABILITY SCIENCE 2023; 18:1-16. [PMID: 37363302 PMCID: PMC10013239 DOI: 10.1007/s11625-023-01299-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2022] [Accepted: 01/27/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
Coping with surprise and uncertainty resulting from the emergence of undesired and unexpected novelty or the sudden reorganization of systems at multiple spatiotemporal scales requires both a scientific process that can incorporate diverse expertise and viewpoints, and a scientific framework that can account for the structure and dynamics of interacting social-ecological systems (SES) and the inherent uncertainty of what might emerge in the future. We argue that combining a convergence scientific process with a panarchy framework provides a pathway for improving our understanding of, and response to, emergence. Emergent phenomena are often unexpected (e.g., pandemics, regime shifts) and can be highly disruptive, so can pose a significant challenge to the development of sustainable and resilient SES. Convergence science is a new approach promoted by the U.S. National Science Foundation for tackling complex problems confronting humanity through the integration of multiple perspectives, expertise, methods, tools, and analytical approaches. Panarchy theory is a framework useful for studying emergence, because it characterizes complex systems of people and nature as dynamically organized and structured within and across scales of space and time. It accounts for the fundamental tenets of complex systems and explicitly grapples with emergence, including the emergence of novelty, and the emergent property of social-ecological resilience. We provide an overview of panarchy, convergence science, and emergence. We discuss the significant data and methodological challenges of using panarchy in a convergence approach to address emergent phenomena, as well as state-of-the-art methods for overcoming them. We present two examples that would benefit from such an approach: climate change and its impacts on social-ecological systems, and the relationships between infectious disease and social-ecological systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shana M. Sundstrom
- Center for Resilience in Agricultural Working Landscapes, School of Natural Resources, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68583 USA
| | - David G. Angeler
- Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7059, 750 07 Uppsala, Sweden
- School of Natural Resources, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68583 USA
- The PRODEO Institute, San Francisco, CA USA
- IMPACT, The Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC Australia
| | - Jesse Bell
- School of Natural Resources, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68583 USA
- Department of Environmental, Agricultural, and Occupational Health, College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE USA
- Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE USA
| | - Michael Hayes
- School of Natural Resources, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68583 USA
| | - Jennifer Hodbod
- Sustainability Research Institute, School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT USA
| | - Babak Jalalzadeh-Fard
- Department of Environmental, Agricultural, and Occupational Health, College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198 USA
| | - Rezaul Mahmood
- High Plains Regional Climate Center, School of Natural Resources, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68583 USA
| | - Elizabeth VanWormer
- Center for Resilience in Agricultural Working Landscapes, School of Natural Resources, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68583 USA
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68583 USA
| | - Craig R. Allen
- Center for Resilience in Agricultural Working Landscapes, School of Natural Resources, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68583 USA
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Edelson PJ, Harold R, Ackelsberg J, Duchin JS, Lawrence SJ, Manabe YC, Zahn M, LaRocque RC. Climate Change and the Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases in the United States. Clin Infect Dis 2023; 76:950-956. [PMID: 36048507 DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciac697] [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: 05/23/2022] [Revised: 08/08/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The earth is rapidly warming, driven by increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide and other gases that result primarily from fossil fuel combustion. In addition to causing arctic ice melting and extreme weather events, climatologic factors are linked strongly to the transmission of many infectious diseases. Changes in the prevalence of infectious diseases not only reflect the impacts of temperature, humidity, and other weather-related phenomena on pathogens, vectors, and animal hosts but are also part of a complex of social and environmental factors that will be affected by climate change, including land use, migration, and vector control. Vector- and waterborne diseases and coccidioidomycosis are all likely to be affected by a warming planet; there is also potential for climate-driven impacts on emerging infectious diseases and antimicrobial resistance. Additional resources for surveillance and public health activities are urgently needed, as well as systematic education of clinicians on the health impacts of climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul J Edelson
- College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Rachel Harold
- Medical Society Consortium on Climate and Health, Center for Climate Change Communication, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia, USA
| | - Joel Ackelsberg
- New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Bureau of Communicable Disease, New York, New York, USA
| | - Jeffrey S Duchin
- Public Health-Seattle and King County, Seattle, Washington, USA.,Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | | | - Yukari C Manabe
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Matt Zahn
- Orange County Health Care Agency, Santa Ana, California, USA
| | - Regina C LaRocque
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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Touray M, Bakirci S, Ulug D, Gulsen SH, Cimen H, Yavasoglu SI, Simsek FM, Ertabaklar H, Ozbel Y, Hazir S. Arthropod vectors of disease agents: their role in public and veterinary health in Turkiye and their control measures. Acta Trop 2023; 243:106893. [PMID: 37004805 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2023.106893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2023] [Revised: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023]
Abstract
Mosquitoes, sandflies, and ticks are hematophagous arthropods that pose a huge threat to public and veterinary health. They are capable of serving as vectors of disease agents that can and have caused explosive epidemics affecting millions of people and animals. Several factors like climate change, urbanization, and international travel contribute substantially to the persistence and dispersal of these vectors from their established areas to newly invaded areas. Once established in their new home, they can serve as vectors for disease transmission or increase the risk of disease emergence. Turkiye is vulnerable to climate change and has experienced upward trends in annual temperatures and rising sea levels, and greater fluctuations in precipitation rates. It is a potential hotspot for important vector species because the climate in various regions is conducive for several insect and acari species and serves as a conduit for refugees and immigrants fleeing areas troubled with armed conflicts and natural disasters, which have increased substantially in recent years. These people may serve as carriers of the vectors or be infected by disease agents that require arthropod vectors for transmission. Although it cannot be supposed that every arthropod species is a competent vector, this review aims to (1)illustrate the factors that contribute to the persistence and dispersal of arthropod vectors, (2)determine the status of the established arthropod vector species in Turkiye and their capability of serving as vectors of disease agents, and (3)assess the role of newly-introduced arthropod vectors into Turkiye and how they were introduced into the country. We also provide information on important disease incidence (if there's any) and control measures applied by public health officials from different provinces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mustapha Touray
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Aydin Adnan Menderes University, Turkey.
| | - Serkan Bakirci
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Aydin Adnan Menderes University, Turkey
| | - Derya Ulug
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Aydin Adnan Menderes University, Turkey
| | - Sebnem H Gulsen
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Aydin Adnan Menderes University, Turkey
| | - Harun Cimen
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Aydin Adnan Menderes University, Turkey
| | | | - Fatih M Simsek
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Aydin Adnan Menderes University, Turkey
| | - Hatice Ertabaklar
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Aydin Adnan Menderes University, Turkey
| | - Yusuf Ozbel
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Ege University, Turkey
| | - Selcuk Hazir
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Aydin Adnan Menderes University, Turkey; Department of Biotechnology, Saveetha School of Engineering, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences (SIMATS), Chennai 602105, Tamil Nadu India
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Olechnowicz C, Leahy J, Gardner A, Sponarski CC. Perceived vulnerability for Lyme disease questionnaire: A social science tool for understanding tick-borne disease attitudes. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2023; 14:102120. [PMID: 36696753 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2023.102120] [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: 07/16/2022] [Revised: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Lyme disease has emerged as a growing epidemic across the U.S., with tick populations spreading north because of a plethora of human-induced factors. As the scope of this problem grows, there is a need to understand how vulnerable the public perceives themselves to be and how perceived vulnerability as a psychological construct influences public behavior. A growing body of literature has explored individual risk perceptions and individual preventative behaviors toward Lyme disease, but there remains a notable research gap regarding the concept of vulnerability. This empirical study establishes the first questionnaire for perceived vulnerability towards Lyme disease, modified from pre-existing infectious disease literature. This novel instrument was tested and compared with individual factors relating to preventative behaviors and source credibility of major information sources about Lyme disease in the state of Maine. Recent increases in black-legged tick (Ixodes scapularis) populations have affected the state of Maine in dramatic ways. This research specifically surveyed homeowners to explore their perceived vulnerability, source credibility, and individual protective intentions related to ticks and Lyme disease in Maine. Results from this study validate a modified perceived vulnerability scale for Lyme disease and highlight how understanding the relationships between these perceptions of vulnerability, individual behaviors, and sources of information can improve outreach and communication efforts about tick-borne diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jessica Leahy
- University of Maine, School of Forest Resources, Orono, ME, USA
| | - Allison Gardner
- University of Maine, School of Biology and Ecology, Orono, ME, USA
| | - Carly C Sponarski
- Canadian Forest Service, Northern Forestry Centre, Edmonton, AB, CAN
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Goren A, Viljugrein H, Rivrud IM, Jore S, Bakka H, Vindenes Y, Mysterud A. The emergence and shift in seasonality of Lyme borreliosis in Northern Europe. Proc Biol Sci 2023; 290:20222420. [PMID: 36809802 PMCID: PMC9943644 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2022.2420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Climate change has had a major impact on seasonal weather patterns, resulting in marked phenological changes in a wide range of taxa. However, empirical studies of how changes in seasonality impact the emergence and seasonal dynamics of vector-borne diseases have been limited. Lyme borreliosis, a bacterial infection spread by hard-bodied ticks, is the most common vector-borne disease in the northern hemisphere and has been rapidly increasing in both incidence and geographical distribution in many regions of Europe and North America. By analysis of long-term surveillance data (1995-2019) from across Norway (latitude 57°58'-71°08' N), we demonstrate a marked change in the within-year timing of Lyme borreliosis cases accompanying an increase in the annual number of cases. The seasonal peak in cases is now six weeks earlier than 25 years ago, exceeding seasonal shifts in plant phenology and previous model predictions. The seasonal shift occurred predominantly in the first 10 years of the study period. The concurrent upsurgence in case number and shift in case timing indicate a major change in the Lyme borreliosis disease system over recent decades. This study highlights the potential for climate change to shape the seasonal dynamics of vector-borne disease systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asena Goren
- Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis (CEES), Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, PO Box 1066 Blindern, Oslo NO-0316, Norway
| | - Hildegunn Viljugrein
- Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis (CEES), Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, PO Box 1066 Blindern, Oslo NO-0316, Norway.,Norwegian Veterinary Institute, PO Box 64, NO-1431 Ås, Norway
| | - Inger Maren Rivrud
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Sognsveien 68, NO-0855 Oslo, Norway
| | - Solveig Jore
- Zoonotic, Food and Waterborne Infections, The Norwegian Public Health Institute, PO Box 4404 Nydalen, NO-0403 Oslo, Norway
| | - Haakon Bakka
- Norwegian Veterinary Institute, PO Box 64, NO-1431 Ås, Norway
| | - Yngvild Vindenes
- Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis (CEES), Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, PO Box 1066 Blindern, Oslo NO-0316, Norway
| | - Atle Mysterud
- Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis (CEES), Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, PO Box 1066 Blindern, Oslo NO-0316, Norway.,Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), PO Box 5685 Sluppen, NO-7485 Trondheim, Norway
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Wimms C, Aljundi E, Halsey SJ. Regional dynamics of tick vectors of human disease. CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE 2023; 55:101006. [PMID: 36702303 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2023.101006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2022] [Revised: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The expansion of tick-borne diseases challenges ecologists, epidemiologists, and public health professionals to understand the mechanisms underlying its emergence. The vast majority of tick-borne disease research emphasizes Ixodes spp. and Borrelia burgdorferi, with less known about other Ixodidae ticks that serve as vectors for an increasing number of pathogens of public health concern. Here, we review and discuss the current knowledge of tick and tick-borne pathogens in an undersurveilled region of the United States. We discuss how landscape shifts may potentially influence tick vector dynamics and expansion. We also discuss the impact of climate change on the phenology of ticks and subsequent disease transmission. Increased efforts in the Central Plains to conduct basic science will help understand the patterns of tick distribution and pathogen prevalence. It is crucial to develop intensive datasets that may be used to generate models that can aid in developing mitigation strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chantelle Wimms
- Applied Computational Ecology Lab, School of Natural Resources, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Evan Aljundi
- Applied Computational Ecology Lab, School of Natural Resources, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Samniqueka J Halsey
- Applied Computational Ecology Lab, School of Natural Resources, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA.
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Lee JS, Chung SY. The Threat of Climate Change on Tick-Borne Infections: Rising Trend of Infections and Geographic Distribution of Climate Risk Factors Associated With Ticks. J Infect Dis 2023; 227:295-303. [PMID: 35861295 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiac300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2022] [Revised: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Ticks transmit a wide range of pathogens. The spread of tick-borne infections is an emerging, yet often overlooked, threat in the context of climate change. The infections have rapidly increased over the past few years in South Korea despite no significant changes in socioeconomic circumstances. We investigated the impact of climate change on the surge of tick-borne infections and identified potential disease hot spots at a resolution of 5 km by 5 km. A composite index was constructed based on multiple climate and environmental indicators and compared with the observed tick-borne infections. The surge of tick-borne episodes corresponded to the rising trend of the index over time. High-risk areas identified by the index can be used to prioritize locations for disease prevention activities. Monitoring climate risk factors may provide an opportunity to predict the spread of the infections in advance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jung-Seok Lee
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.,International Vaccine Institute, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Suh-Yong Chung
- Division of International Studies, Korea University, Seoul, South Korea
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Mauff AL, Cartereau A, Plantard O, Taillebois E, Thany SH. Effect of the combination of DEET and flupyradifurone on the tick Ixodes ricinus: Repellency bioassay and pharmacological characterization using microtransplantation of synganglion membranes. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2023; 14:102079. [PMID: 36417824 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2022.102079] [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: 05/22/2022] [Revised: 11/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Ticks are vectors of many human and animal pathogens, and represent a major threat to public health. In recent years, an increase in tick-borne diseases has been observed, and new strategies are therefore needed in order to control tick numbers and reduce human tick bites. In the present study, we adapted the previous tick repellency bioassay based on the exploration behavior of the tick, using the ToxTrac software and video-tracking, to compare the repellent effect of two compounds on the tick Ixodes ricinus: N,N-diethyl-methyl-m-toluamide (DEET), and butenolide, flupyradifurone (FLU). We found that when applied alone, 10% DEET or FLU have no/or low repellency effect. But, the combination of both 10% DEET and FLU demonstrated a significant repellency effect against I. ricinus, similar to the repellency of 20% DEET. Using membrane microtransplantation, we evaluated the effect of DEET and FLU on native acetylcholine receptors expressed on the tick synganglion. We found that DEET has no effect on acetylcholine-evoked currents, but significantly reduced nicotine-induced current amplitudes. FLU induced an ionic current but was not able to reduce acetylcholine or nicotine evoked currents. The combination of both DEET and FLU strongly reduced nicotine-evoked currents. Finally, we demonstrated that our recording device for repellency, as well as the use of membrane microtransplantation, could be used as methods to study the mode of action of active compounds on ticks.
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Affiliation(s)
- A L Mauff
- LBLGC USC INRAE 1328, Université d'Orléans, 1 rue de Chartres, Orléans 45067, France
| | - Alison Cartereau
- LBLGC USC INRAE 1328, Université d'Orléans, 1 rue de Chartres, Orléans 45067, France
| | | | - Emiliane Taillebois
- LBLGC USC INRAE 1328, Université d'Orléans, 1 rue de Chartres, Orléans 45067, France
| | - Steeve H Thany
- LBLGC USC INRAE 1328, Université d'Orléans, 1 rue de Chartres, Orléans 45067, France.
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Ferrari LD, Hassan-Kadle AA, Collere FC, Coradi VS, Ibrahim AM, Osman AM, Shair MA, André MR, Vieira TS, Machado RZ, Vieira RF. Hemoplasmas and ticks in cattle from Somalia. Acta Trop 2022; 236:106696. [DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2022.106696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2022] [Revised: 09/16/2022] [Accepted: 09/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
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Ma J, Guo Y, Gao J, Tang H, Xu K, Liu Q, Xu L. Climate Change Drives the Transmission and Spread of Vector-Borne Diseases: An Ecological Perspective. BIOLOGY 2022; 11:1628. [PMID: 36358329 PMCID: PMC9687606 DOI: 10.3390/biology11111628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2022] [Revised: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 11/04/2022] [Indexed: 07/30/2023]
Abstract
Climate change affects ecosystems and human health in multiple dimensions. With the acceleration of climate change, climate-sensitive vector-borne diseases (VBDs) pose an increasing threat to public health. This paper summaries 10 publications on the impacts of climate change on ecosystems and human health; then it synthesizes the other existing literature to more broadly explain how climate change drives the transmission and spread of VBDs through an ecological perspective. We highlight the multi-dimensional nature of climate change, its interaction with other factors, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on transmission and spread of VBDs, specifically including: (1) the generally nonlinear relationship of local climate (temperature, precipitation and wind) and VBD transmission, with temperature especially exhibiting an n-shape relation; (2) the time-lagged effect of regional climate phenomena (the El Niño-Southern Oscillation and North Atlantic Oscillation) on VBD transmission; (3) the u-shaped effect of extreme climate (heat waves, cold waves, floods, and droughts) on VBD spread; (4) how interactions between non-climatic (land use and human mobility) and climatic factors increase VBD transmission and spread; and (5) that the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on climate change is debatable, and its impact on VBDs remains uncertain. By exploring the influence of climate change and non-climatic factors on VBD transmission and spread, this paper provides scientific understanding and guidance for their effective prevention and control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Ma
- Vanke School of Public Health, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
- Institute for Healthy China, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Yongman Guo
- Vanke School of Public Health, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
- Institute for Healthy China, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Jing Gao
- Vanke School of Public Health, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
- Respiratory Medicine Unit, Department of Medicine & Centre for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Hanxing Tang
- Vanke School of Public Health, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
- Institute for Healthy China, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Keqiang Xu
- Clinical Pharmacy Center, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Qiyong Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases Prevention and Control, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Lei Xu
- Vanke School of Public Health, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
- Institute for Healthy China, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
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Wang Y, Pang B, Ma W, Kou Z, Wen H. Spatiotemporal analysis of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome in Shandong Province, China, 2014-2018. BMC Public Health 2022; 22:1998. [PMID: 36319995 PMCID: PMC9624039 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-022-14373-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Due to recent emergence, severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is becoming one of the major public health problems in Shandong Province, China. The numbers of reported SFTS cases in general and the area with reported SFTS cases are both continuously increasing in recent years. However, spatiotemporal patterns and clusters of SFTS in Shandong Province have not been investigated yet. METHODS The surveillance data of SFTS in Shandong Province, China, during 2014-2018 were extracted from China Information System for Disease Control and Prevention (CISDCP). Geoda software was used to explore spatial autocorrelation analysis, and Satscan software was used to identify spatio-temporal clustering of cases. The results were presented in ArcMap. RESULTS The annual average incidence was 0.567/100,000 in Shandong Province during 2014-2018. Results showed that the distribution of SFTS was not random but clustered in space and time. A most likely cluster including 15 counties was observed in the northeastern region of Shandong Province from January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2015 (Relative risk = 5.13, Log likelihood ratio = 361.266, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS The number of SFTS cases in Shandong Province increased overall. Geographic information system analysis coupled with spatial analysis illustrated regions with SFTS clusters. Our results provide a sound evidence base for future prevention and control programs of SFTS such as allocation of the health resources, surveillance in high-risk regions, health education, improvement of diagnosis and so on.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao Wang
- grid.27255.370000 0004 1761 1174Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012 China
| | - Bo Pang
- grid.512751.50000 0004 1791 5397Bacterial Infection Disease Control of Institute, Shandong Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Jinan, 250014 China
| | - Wei Ma
- grid.27255.370000 0004 1761 1174Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012 China
| | - Zengqiang Kou
- grid.512751.50000 0004 1791 5397Bacterial Infection Disease Control of Institute, Shandong Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Jinan, 250014 China
| | - Hongling Wen
- grid.27255.370000 0004 1761 1174Department of Microbiological Laboratory Technology, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012 China
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43
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Crandall KE, Kerr JT, Millien V. Emerging Tick-Borne Pathogens in Central Canada: Recent Detections of Babesia odocoilei and Rickettsia rickettsii. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2022; 22:535-544. [PMID: 36264197 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2022.0036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: The spread of emerging tick-borne pathogens has steadily increased in Canada with the widespread establishment of tick vectors and vertebrate hosts. At present, Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacterium causing Lyme disease, is the most common tick-borne pathogen in Canada and primarily transmitted by Ixodes scapularis. A low prevalence of other emerging tick-borne pathogens, such as Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Babesia species, Borrelia miyamotoi, and Francisella tularensis have also been detected through surveillance efforts in Canada. Although Rickettsia rickettsii has been historically detected in Haemaphysalis leporispalustris in Canada, the current prevalence and geographic extent of this pathogen is unknown. Material and Methods: In this study, we assessed the presence and prevalence of several emerging tick-borne pathogens in ticks and hosts collected through tick dragging and small mammal trapping in Central Canada. Results: Nested PCR testing detected three pathogen species in ticks, with Babesia odocoilei and B. burgdorferi in I. scapularis in addition to R. rickettsii in H. leporispalustris. Three pathogen species were detected in small mammals by nested PCR including B. odocoilei in Blarina brevicauda, Babesia microti in Peromyscus leucopus, and a Hepatozoon species in P. leucopus and Peromyscus maniculatus. B. burgdorferi and Babesia species were the pathogens most often detected in our samples, suggesting they are widely distributed across Central Canada. We also detected B. odocoilei and R. rickettsii beyond their known geographic distribution. Conclusions: Our results provide evidence that emerging tick-borne pathogens may be present outside defined risk areas identified by current surveillance efforts in Canada. As a result, emerging tick-borne pathogens introduced by the dispersal of infected ticks by migratory birds or maintained by hosts and vectors through cryptic transmission cycles may go undetected. More comprehensive testing including all tick life stages and additional tick-borne pathogens will help detect the spread and potential risk of emerging or re-emerging tick-borne pathogens for human and wildlife populations throughout Canada.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirsten E Crandall
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada.,Department of Biology, McGill University, Montréal, Canada.,Redpath Museum, McGill University, Montréal, Canada
| | - Jeremy T Kerr
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
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Zeng Y, Xiong Y, Yang C, He N, He J, Luo W, Chen Y, Zeng X, Wu Z. Investigation of Parasitic Infection in Crocodile Lizards ( Shinisaurus crocodilurus) Using High-Throughput Sequencing. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12202726. [PMID: 36290112 PMCID: PMC9597849 DOI: 10.3390/ani12202726] [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: 09/04/2022] [Revised: 10/03/2022] [Accepted: 10/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The highly endangered crocodile lizard (Shinisaurus crocodilurus) continues to be impacted by disease, especially in captive breeding populations. In this paper, based on high-throughput sequencing, we investigated parasitic infections in captive and wild crocodile lizard populations in the Daguishan National Nature Reserve and Guangdong Luokeng Shinisaurus crocodilurus National Nature Reserve. The results show that the overall parasitic infection rate in crocodile lizards was 33.33% (23/69). Four parasite genera were detected, including Eimeria, Cryptosporidium, Nematopsis, and Acanthamoeba, with infection rates of 15.94% (11/69), 17.39% (12/69), 7.25% (5/69), and 4.35% (3/69), respectively. Significant differences in the infection rate were found between the different parasite species (χ2 = 8.54, p < 0.05, chi-squared test). The parasitic infection rates in the captive and wild populations were 39.29% (22/56) and 7.69% (1/13), respectively, which were significantly different (p < 0.05, Fisher’s exact test). However, no significant differences in the infection rates of the four parasite genera were found between the captive and wild populations (p > 0.05, Fisher’s exact test). The parasitic infection rates in Daguishan and Luokeng were 34.09% (15/44) and 32.00% (8/25), respectively, which were not significantly different (p > 0.05, Fisher’s exact test). However, significant differences in terms of species were found in the two reserves (p < 0.01, Fisher’s exact test). Only Cryptosporidium infection showed a significant difference between the two regions (p < 0.01, Fisher’s exact test). Our results suggest that captive crocodile lizards are more susceptible to parasitic diseases than wild crocodile lizards and that Cryptosporidium infection varies by geographical region. This study provides basic information about the parasites of endangered crocodile lizards, as well as a reference for disease control and conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongru Zeng
- Key Laboratory of Ecology of Rare and Endangered Species and Environmental Protection, Guangxi Normal University, Ministry of Education, Guilin 541004, China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Rare and Endangered Animal Ecology, College of Life Science, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin 541004, China
| | - Yi Xiong
- Key Laboratory of Ecology of Rare and Endangered Species and Environmental Protection, Guangxi Normal University, Ministry of Education, Guilin 541004, China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Rare and Endangered Animal Ecology, College of Life Science, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin 541004, China
| | - Chunsheng Yang
- Daguishan National Nature Reserve for Crocodile Lizards, Hezhou 542824, China
| | - Nan He
- Guangdong Luokeng Shinisaurus crocodilurus National Nature Reserve, Shaoguan 512100, China
| | - Jiasong He
- Daguishan National Nature Reserve for Crocodile Lizards, Hezhou 542824, China
| | - Wenxian Luo
- Daguishan National Nature Reserve for Crocodile Lizards, Hezhou 542824, China
| | - Yaohuan Chen
- Daguishan National Nature Reserve for Crocodile Lizards, Hezhou 542824, China
| | - Xiaochen Zeng
- Daguishan National Nature Reserve for Crocodile Lizards, Hezhou 542824, China
| | - Zhengjun Wu
- Key Laboratory of Ecology of Rare and Endangered Species and Environmental Protection, Guangxi Normal University, Ministry of Education, Guilin 541004, China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Rare and Endangered Animal Ecology, College of Life Science, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin 541004, China
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +86-135-1783-6091
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Zhang Y, Li Z, Pang Z, Wu Z, Lin Z, Niu G. Identification of Jingmen tick virus (JMTV) in Amblyomma testudinarium from Fujian Province, southeastern China. Parasit Vectors 2022; 15:339. [PMID: 36167570 PMCID: PMC9513871 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-022-05478-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2022] [Accepted: 09/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Jingmen tick virus (JMTV) is a newly discovered tick-borne virus that can cause disease in humans. This virus has been authenticated as being extremely widespread worldwide and as posing a significant threat to public health and safety. Methods We collected 35 ticks belonging to two tick species from wild boars in Nanping, Fujian Province, China. JMTV-specific genes were amplified by qRT-PCR and nested PCR to confirm the presence of this pathogen. Results More than one third of of all ticks collected (11/35) were positive for JMTV. Viral sequences were obtained from three of the JMTV-positive ticks, including the complete genomic sequence from one tick. This was the first time that JMTV was identified in the hard-bodied tick Amblyomma testudinarium. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that JMTV from Fujian Province shared > 90% identity with other isolates derived from China, but was distinct from those reported in France and Cambodia. Conclusions JMTV is characterized by relatively low mutations and has its own local adaptive characteristics in different regions. Our findings provide molecular evidence of the presence of JMTV in an overlooked tick species from an area not unrecognized as being endemic. They also suggest that JMTV occupies a wider geographical distribution than currently believed and is a potential disease vector. Graphical abstract ![]()
Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13071-022-05478-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuli Zhang
- WeiFang Medical University, Weifang, 261053, China
| | - Zhenfeng Li
- Department of Public Health, Gaomi People's Hospital, Weifang, 261500, China
| | - Zheng Pang
- Tianjin International Joint Academy of Biomedicine, Tianjin, 300457, China
| | - Zhen Wu
- WeiFang Medical University, Weifang, 261053, China
| | - Zhijuan Lin
- WeiFang Medical University, Weifang, 261053, China.
| | - Guoyu Niu
- WeiFang Medical University, Weifang, 261053, China.
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Patterns of white-tailed deer movements in suburban Maryland: implications for zoonotic disease mitigation. Urban Ecosyst 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s11252-022-01270-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
Abstract
AbstractUnderstanding the ecology of the often dense white-tailed deer populations in urban and suburban landscapes is important for mitigating a variety of conflicts that arise with dense human populations, such as issues surrounding zoonotic disease mitigation. We collared white-tailed deer in highly suburban areas of Howard County, Maryland with high-resolution GPS collars. Then, we created autocorrelated kernel density home ranges for broader land use analyses and concurrently used general additive models to characterize fine-scale hourly measures of speed, activity, and proximity to residential buildings. Suburban deer home ranges encompassed approximately 35% direct residential land, and an average of 71 and 129 residential properties were found within female and male core ranges, respectively. Sex, time of day, and day of year all influenced fine-scale speeds, activity levels, and proximity to residential property buildings. Deer moved into residential areas nightly, especially in winter, and exhibited bouts of increased speed and activity shortly after sunrise and sunset, with distinctive seasonal changes. We discuss how variation in home ranges and movements may influence population management success and explore year-round periods of increased risk of deer transporting ticks to residential areas. These findings focus our broad understanding of deer movements in suburban and urban landscapes to improve deer population management and to mitigate the spread of ticks into residential areas.
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Molecular Characterization and Assessment of Risk Factors Associated with Theileria annulata Infection. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10081614. [PMID: 36014032 PMCID: PMC9412660 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10081614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2022] [Revised: 08/05/2022] [Accepted: 08/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Theileria annulata is a tick-associated parasite that causes tropical theileriosis in livestock and is responsible for huge economic losses. Studies have been neglected on the effect of Theileria spp. on cattle in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Pakistan. The present study was designed to determine the genetic diversity and assess the risk factors associated with Theileria infection in selected districts of KP. Information on the risk factors related to the Theileria infection was collected through a questionnaire. Blood samples were collected from symptomatic cattle from January 2019 to February 2020, identified morphologically through microscopic examination, and processed for molecular characterization using the 18S rRNA gene as a genetic marker. Of the 555 cattle examined (136, 24.5%) and (294, 53%) were found positive for Theileria spp. by microscopic examination and a PCR test, respectively. Based on the PCR test, the highest prevalence of infection was found in district Upper Dir (46/75, 61.3%), followed by Lower Dir (54/90, 60%); Malakand (51/88, 57.9%); Peshawar (40/80, 50%); and Charsadda (52/112, 46.4%), with the lowest in Bajaur (51/110, 46.34%). A BLAST analysis of the 18S rDNA sequences showed 99.5% identity with T. annulata. In a phylogenetic tree, the 18S rDNA sequence of T. annulata clustered with sequences from Pakistan, China, and Italy. A significant association was observed between the prevalence of infection and different host characteristics. The highest infection was found in adult cattle (216/360, 60%); females (218/377, 57.8%); and Holstein Friesian (120/180, 66.6%). Theileria infection was significantly associated with management practices. Higher infection rates were observed in free-grazing cattle (190/412, 42.2%); those kept in unhygienic conditions (246/405, 60.7%); cattle in combined farming systems (165/255, 64.8%); and those in congested stall systems (150/218, 68.8%). Seasonal patterns were found to be significantly associated with infection, and a higher infection rate was observed in summer (215/350, 61.4%) than in winter (79/205, 38.5%). Identified risk factors should be considered in designing practical control approaches to reduce the burden of Theileria infection. Large scale studies are required to explore the diversity of Theileria species in KP, Pakistan.
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Nogueira BCF, Campos AK, Muñoz-Leal S, Pinter A, Martins TF. Soft and hard ticks (Parasitiformes: Ixodida) on humans: A review of Brazilian biomes and the impact of environmental change. Acta Trop 2022; 234:106598. [PMID: 35841953 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2022.106598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2022] [Revised: 07/05/2022] [Accepted: 07/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Records of accidental parasitism by ticks in humans from Brazil are scarce, with most being reported by researchers who are parasitized during their research and by professionals who work with animals. In order to compile these records, an extensive literature review was carried out. Our revision includes studies published between 1909 and 2022, including nine species of the Argasidae family and 32 species of the Ixodidae family that were reported biting humans in the six biomes of the Brazilian territory. The species with the highest number of records of human parasitism was Amblyomma sculptum, followed by Amblyomma coelebs, Amblyomma cajennense sensu stricto, and Amblyomma brasiliense. The Atlantic Forest was the most frequent biome where human parasitism occurred, probably due to the greater number of inhabitants, universities, and researchers in the region; however, this does not mean that this biome is more conducive to the development of ticks and their parasitism in humans. In addition to Amblyomma ovale, a vector of Rickettsia parkeri in the country, two of the main species that act as vectors of Rickettsia rickettsii, A. sculptum, and Amblyomma aureolatum, have been reported, which is quite worrying considering that the wide distribution of the species and life stages most frequently mentioned in parasitism (i.e., nymphs and adults) are the ones that favour pathogen transmission. This research provides a significant contribution to the knowledge of tick species associated with human parasitism in Brazil; however, due to environmental change potentiated by deforestation and fires, it is expected that there will be a geographic expansion of some tick species and the pathogens that use them as a vector and an increase in human parasitism.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Artur Kanadani Campos
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brasil
| | - Sebastián Muñoz-Leal
- Departamento de Ciencia Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Concepción, Chillán, Chile
| | - Adriano Pinter
- Departamento de Laboratórios Especializados, Superintendência de Controle de Endemias, Secretaria de Estado da Saúde de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brasil
| | - Thiago Fernandes Martins
- Departamento de Laboratórios Especializados, Superintendência de Controle de Endemias, Secretaria de Estado da Saúde de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brasil; Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brasil.
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Spotted Fever Group Rickettsia spp. Diversity in Ticks and the First Report of Rickettsia hoogstraalii in Romania. Vet Sci 2022; 9:vetsci9070343. [PMID: 35878360 PMCID: PMC9317755 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci9070343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2022] [Revised: 07/05/2022] [Accepted: 07/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Ticks are important parasites that feed on the blood of various host species, representing the most important arthropods transmitting diseases in Europe. Continuous changes in both tick distribution and abundance are related to multiple factors, including climate change. These changes have strong implications for both animal and human health; therefore, continuous surveillance of tickborne diseases is required for an appropriate evaluation of the potential risks faced by animals and humans in a given area. The spotted fever group Rickettsia comprises a large number of zoonotic agents with an increasing importance recognized in the last 30 years. The aim of this study was to evaluate these bacteria in ticks in Romania. Five Rickettsia species were identified in different tick species, with new pathogen–tick associations reported. Rickettsia hoogstraalii, one member of this group, was detected for the first time in Romania and in Rhipicephalus rossicus ticks. This species was first described in 2006 in Croatia, and its pathogenicity is not well known. In addition, the detection of R. raoultii and R. monacensis in unfed larvae of Haemaphysalis punctata reinforce the hypothesis of transmission of Rickettsia from female ticks to larvae; therefore the bite of larvae could pose a health risk. Abstract Tickborne bacterial pathogens have been described worldwide as risk factors for both animal and human health. Spotted fevers caused by Rickettsiae may cause non-specific symptoms, which make clinical diagnosis difficult. The aim of the current study was to evaluate and review the diversity of SFG Rickettsiae in ticks collected in 41 counties in Romania. A total of 2028 questing and engorged ticks collected in Romania belonging to five species were tested by PCR amplification of Rickettsia spp. gltA and 17-D gene fragments: Ixodes ricinus (n = 1128), Dermacentor marginatus (n = 507), D. reticulatus (n = 165), Rhipicephalus rossicus (n = 128) and Haemaphysalis punctata (n = 100). Five Rickettsia species were identified following DNA sequence analysis: R. helvetica, R. monacensis, R. slovaca, R. raoultii, and R. hoogstraalii. The most common species detected was R. monacensis. Moreover, R. hoogstraalii was detected for the first time in Romania and in R. rossicus ticks. The detection of R. raoultii and R. monacensis in questing larvae of Hae. punctata suggests the possible transovarial transmission of these Rickettsia species in ticks. The detection of R. hoogstraalii for the first time in Romania increases the reported SFG Rickettsia diversity in the country.
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O’Keeffe KR, Oppler ZJ, Prusinski M, Falco RC, Oliver J, Haight J, Sporn LA, Backenson PB, Brisson D. Phylogeographic dynamics of the arthropod vector, the blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis). Parasit Vectors 2022; 15:238. [PMID: 35765050 PMCID: PMC9241328 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-022-05304-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2022] [Accepted: 04/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The emergence of vector-borne pathogens in novel geographic areas is regulated by the migration of their arthropod vectors. Blacklegged ticks (Ixodes scapularis) and the pathogens they vector, including the causative agents of Lyme disease, babesiosis and anaplasmosis, continue to grow in their population sizes and to expand in geographic range. Migration of this vector over the previous decades has been implicated as the cause of the re-emergence of the most prevalent infectious diseases in North America. METHODS We systematically collected ticks from across New York State (hereafter referred to as New York) from 2004 to 2017 as part of routine tick-borne pathogen surveillance in the state. This time frame corresponds with an increase in range and incidence of tick-borne diseases within New York. We randomly sampled ticks from this collection to explore the evolutionary history and population dynamics of I. scapularis. We sequenced the mitochondrial genomes of each tick to characterize their current and historical spatial genetic structure and population growth using phylogeographic methods. RESULTS We sequenced whole mitochondrial genomes from 277 ticks collected across New York between 2004 and 2017. We found evidence of population genetic structure at a broad geographic scale due to differences in the relative abundance, but not the composition, of haplotypes among sampled ticks. Ticks were often most closely related to ticks from the same and nearby collection sites. The data indicate that both short- and long-range migration events shape the population dynamics of blacklegged ticks in New York. CONCLUSIONS We detailed the population dynamics of the blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis) in New York during a time frame in which tick-borne diseases were increasing in range and incidence. Migration of ticks occurred at both coarse and fine scales in the recent past despite evidence of limits to gene flow. Past and current tick population dynamics have implications for further range expansion as habitat suitability for ticks changes due to global climate change. Analyses of mitochondrial genome sequencing data will expound upon previously identified drivers of tick presence and abundance as well as identify additional drivers. These data provide a foundation on which to generate testable hypotheses on the drivers of tick population dynamics occurring at finer scales.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Zachary J. Oppler
- Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA USA
| | | | | | - JoAnne Oliver
- Department of Health, Central New York Regional Office, Syracuse, NY 13202 USA
| | - Jamie Haight
- New York State Department of Health, Albany, NY USA
| | | | | | - Dustin Brisson
- Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA USA
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