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Adamu A, Reyer F, Lawal N, Hassan AJ, Imam MU, Bello MB, Kraiczy P. Aetiologies of bacterial tick-borne febrile illnesses in humans in Africa: diagnostic limitations and the need for improvement. Front Med (Lausanne) 2024; 11:1419575. [PMID: 39351006 PMCID: PMC11441061 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2024.1419575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2024] [Accepted: 08/19/2024] [Indexed: 10/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Tick-borne febrile illnesses caused by pathogens like Anaplasma spp., Bartonella spp., Borrelia spp., Ehrlichia spp., Coxiella burnetii, Francisella tularensis, and Rickettsia spp., are significant health concerns in Africa. The epidemiological occurrence of these pathogens is closely linked to the habitats of their vectors, prevalent in rural and semi-urban areas where humans and livestock coexist. The overlapping clinical presentations, non-specific symptoms, and limited access to commercially available in vitro diagnostics in resource-limited settings exacerbate the complexity of accurate diagnoses. This review aimed to systematically extract and analyze existing literature on tick-borne febrile illnesses in Africa, highlighting the diagnostic challenges and presenting an up-to-date overview of the most relevant pathogens affecting human populations. A comprehensive literature search from January 1990 to June 2024 using databases like PubMed, Cochrane Library, Science Direct, EMBASE, and Google Scholar yielded 13,420 articles, of which 70 met the inclusion criteria. Anaplasma spp. were reported in Morocco, Egypt, and South Africa; Francisella spp. in Kenya and Ethiopia; Ehrlichia spp. in Cameroon; Bartonella spp. in Senegal, Namibia, South Africa, and Ethiopia; Borrelia spp. in Senegal, Gabon, Tanzania, and Ethiopia; Coxiella burnetii in 10 countries including Senegal, Mali, and South Africa; and Rickettsia spp. in 14 countries including Senegal, Algeria, and Uganda. Data were analyzed using a fixed-effect model in R version 4.0.1 and visualized on an African map using Tableau version 2022.2. This review highlights the urgent need for improved diagnostics to better manage and control tick-borne febrile illnesses in Africa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdulrahman Adamu
- Centre for Advanced Medical Research and Training, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto, Sokoto, Nigeria
- Department of Animal Health and Production Technology, Federal Polytechnic Bali, Taraba State, Nigeria
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto, Sokoto, Nigeria
| | - Flavia Reyer
- Goethe University Frankfurt, Institute of Medical Microbiology and Infection Control, University Hospital of Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Nafiú Lawal
- Centre for Advanced Medical Research and Training, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto, Sokoto, Nigeria
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto, Sokoto, Nigeria
| | - Abdurrahman Jibril Hassan
- Centre for Advanced Medical Research and Training, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto, Sokoto, Nigeria
- Department of Veterinary Public and Preventive Medicine, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto, Sokoto, Nigeria
| | - Mustapha Umar Imam
- Centre for Advanced Medical Research and Training, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto, Sokoto, Nigeria
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto, Sokoto, Nigeria
| | - Muhammad Bashir Bello
- Infectious Disease Research Department, King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Peter Kraiczy
- Goethe University Frankfurt, Institute of Medical Microbiology and Infection Control, University Hospital of Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
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Salvioni Recalde OD, Rolón MS, Velázquez MC, Kowalewski MM, Alfonso Ruiz Diaz JJ, Rojas de Arias A, Moraes MO, Magdinier Gomes H, de Azevedo Baêta B, Dias Cordeiro M, Vega Gómez MC. Diversity of Anaplasmataceae Transmitted by Ticks (Ixodidae) and the First Molecular Evidence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Candidatus Anaplasma boleense in Paraguay. Microorganisms 2024; 12:1893. [PMID: 39338567 PMCID: PMC11433689 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12091893] [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: 06/19/2024] [Revised: 07/07/2024] [Accepted: 07/19/2024] [Indexed: 09/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Anaplasmataceae bacteria are emerging infectious agents transmitted by ticks. The aim of this study was to identify the molecular diversity of this bacterial family in ticks and hosts, both domestic and wild, as well as blood meal sources of free-living ticks in northeastern Paraguay. The bacteria were identified using PCR-HRM, a method optimized for this purpose, while the identification of ticks and their blood meal was performed using conventional PCR. All amplified products were subsequently sequenced. The bacteria detected in the blood hosts included Ehrlichia canis, Anaplasma platys, and Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Candidatus Anaplasma boleense, and Wolbachia spp., which had not been previously reported in the country. Free-living and parasitic ticks on dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) and wild armadillos (Dasypus novemcinctus) were collected and identified as Rhipicephalus sanguineus and Amblyomma spp. The species E. canis, A. platys, A. phagocytophilum, and Ca. A. boleense were detected in domestic dog ticks, and E. canis and A. platys were found for the first time in armadillos and free-living ticks. Blood feeding sources detected in free-living ticks were rodents, humans, armadillos and dogs. Results show a high diversity of tick-borne pathogens circulating among domestic and wild animals in the northeastern region of Paraguay.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oscar Daniel Salvioni Recalde
- Center for the Development of Scientific Research (CEDIC), Manduvira 635, Asunción 1255, Paraguay; (O.D.S.R.); (M.S.R.); (J.J.A.R.D.); (A.R.d.A.)
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil
| | - Miriam Soledad Rolón
- Center for the Development of Scientific Research (CEDIC), Manduvira 635, Asunción 1255, Paraguay; (O.D.S.R.); (M.S.R.); (J.J.A.R.D.); (A.R.d.A.)
| | | | - Martin M. Kowalewski
- Estación Biológica Corrientes CECOAL (Centro de Ecología Aplicada del Litoral) CONICET-UNNE, Corrientes 3400, Argentina;
| | - Jorge Javier Alfonso Ruiz Diaz
- Center for the Development of Scientific Research (CEDIC), Manduvira 635, Asunción 1255, Paraguay; (O.D.S.R.); (M.S.R.); (J.J.A.R.D.); (A.R.d.A.)
| | - Antonieta Rojas de Arias
- Center for the Development of Scientific Research (CEDIC), Manduvira 635, Asunción 1255, Paraguay; (O.D.S.R.); (M.S.R.); (J.J.A.R.D.); (A.R.d.A.)
| | - Milton Ozório Moraes
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular Aplicada à Micobactérias, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Av. Brasil 4365, Manguinhos 21045-900, Brazil;
| | - Harrison Magdinier Gomes
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular Aplicada à Micobactérias, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Av. Brasil 4365, Manguinhos 21045-900, Brazil;
| | - Bruna de Azevedo Baêta
- Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases of the Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRRJ), Km 07, Seropédica, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil; (B.d.A.B.); (M.D.C.)
| | - Matheus Dias Cordeiro
- Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases of the Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRRJ), Km 07, Seropédica, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil; (B.d.A.B.); (M.D.C.)
| | - María Celeste Vega Gómez
- Center for the Development of Scientific Research (CEDIC), Manduvira 635, Asunción 1255, Paraguay; (O.D.S.R.); (M.S.R.); (J.J.A.R.D.); (A.R.d.A.)
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil
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Molazadeh S, Tukmechi A, Hadian M, Dalir-Naghadeh B. Phylogenetic analysis of Ehrlichia species isolated from horses and dogs in Iran. Comp Immunol Microbiol Infect Dis 2023; 103:102080. [PMID: 37913628 DOI: 10.1016/j.cimid.2023.102080] [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: 09/06/2023] [Revised: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/22/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023]
Abstract
This study aimed to determine the prevalence and phylogenetic analysis of Ehrlichia spp. in horses and dogs in Iran. Blood samples were collected from 400 animals, including 200 horses and 200 dogs, from five different provinces in Iran. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to detect Ehrlichia spp. based on amplification of the 16S rRNA gene. The semi-nested PCR method was used to amplify the dsb, TRP36, and gltA genes. The results showed that 4.5 % of the samples (3 % horses and 6 % dogs) were positive for Ehrlichia sp. The highest prevalence was observed in Kerman and Khuzestan, while the lowest was found in West Azerbaijan, Golestan, and Mazandaran. The study suggests that the populations of dogs and horses in the country should be considered important factors in the epidemiology of ehrlichiosis. Phylogenetic analysis based on the dsb and TRP36 genes revealed that the prevalent species were E. canis and E. ruminantium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siamak Molazadeh
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia, West Azerbaijan, Iran.
| | - Amir Tukmechi
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia, West Azerbaijan, Iran.
| | - Mojtaba Hadian
- Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia, West Azerbaijan, Iran.
| | - Bahram Dalir-Naghadeh
- Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia, West Azerbaijan, Iran.
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Ali A, Ullah S, Numan M, Almutairi MM, Alouffi A, Tanaka T. First report on tick-borne pathogens detected in ticks infesting stray dogs near butcher shops. Front Vet Sci 2023; 10:1246871. [PMID: 37799410 PMCID: PMC10548827 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1246871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Public health is a major concern for several developing countries due to infectious agents transmitted by hematophagous arthropods such as ticks. Health risks due to infectious agents transmitted by ticks infesting butcher-associated stray dogs (BASDs) in urban and peri-urban regions have been neglected in several developing countries. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first study assessing public health risks due to ticks infesting BASDs in Pakistan's urban and peri-urban areas. A total of 575 ticks (390 from symptomatic and 183 from asymptomatic BASDs) were collected from 117 BASDs (63 symptomatic and 54 asymptomatic); the ticks belonged to 4 hard tick species. A subset of each tick species' extracted DNA was subjected to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to amplify the 16S rDNA and cox1 sequences of the reported tick species, as well as bacterial and protozoal agents. The ticks' 16S rDNA and cox1 sequences showed 99-100% identities, and they were clustered with the sequence of corresponding species from Pakistan and other countries in phylogenetic trees. Among the screened 271 ticks' DNA samples, Anaplasma spp. was detected in 54/271 (19.92%) samples, followed by Ehrlichia spp. (n = 40/271, 14.76%), Rickettsia spp. (n = 33/271, 12.17%), Coxiella spp. (n = 23/271, 4.48%), and Hepatozoon canis (n = 9/271, 3.32%). The obtained sequences and phylogenetic analyzes revealed that the pathogens detected in ticks were Ehrlichia minasensis, Ehrlichia sp., Hepatozoon canis, Coxiella burnetii, Coxiella sp., Anaplasma capra, Anaplasma platys, Anaplasma sp., Rickettsia massiliae, "Candidatus Rickettsia shennongii" and Rickettsia aeschlimannii. Tick-borne pathogens such as E. minasensis, H. canis, A. capra, A. platys, and R. aeschlimannii, were detected based on the DNA for the first time in Pakistan. This is the first report on public health risks due to ticks infesting BASDs. These results not only provided insights into the occurrence of novel tick-borne pathogens in the region but also revealed initial evidence of zoonotic threats to both public health and domestic life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abid Ali
- Department of Zoology, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan, Pakistan
| | - Shafi Ullah
- Department of Zoology, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Numan
- Department of Zoology, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan, Pakistan
| | - Mashal M. Almutairi
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdulaziz Alouffi
- King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Tetsuya Tanaka
- Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan
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Cândido SL, de Assis Pereira N, de Oliveira Rosa Fonseca MJ, de Campos Pacheco R, Morgado TO, Colodel EM, Nakazato L, Dutra V, Vieira TSWJ, de Aguiar DM. Molecular detection and genetic characterization of Ehrlichia canis and Ehrlichia sp. in neotropical primates from Brazil. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2023; 14:102179. [PMID: 36989601 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2023.102179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2022] [Revised: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023]
Abstract
The Anaplasmataceae family includes obligate, arthropod-transmitted intracellular bacteria that can be zoonotic and potentially fatal. Studies focusing on the interaction between neotropical primates and the agents of this family are scarce. The present study aimed to identify agents of the Anaplasmataceae family in the whole blood of free-living and captive neotropical primates in the State of Mato Grosso, Central-West Brazil. Thirty-eight samples of six nonhuman primate (NHP) species were collected in seven municipalities and analysed through polymerase chain reaction (PCR), nucleotide sequencing, and phylogenetic analysis of the dsb, groEL, 16S rRNA, and gltA genes. DNA fragments similar to those of Ehrlichia canis were detected in Sapajus apella and Ehrlichia chaffeensis from Mico melanurus. The sequences generated in this study and homologous sequences retrieved from GenBank® were used for phylogenetic analyses to characterize the Ehrlichial agents detected in NHPs. The agents were then grouped into clades corresponding to different isolates from the NHP species. In addition, an Anaplasma sp. closely related to Anaplasma marginale was identified in two S. apella individuals. These findings shed light on the susceptibility of neotropical NHPs to Anaplasmataceae agents. These bacteria are known to be transmitted by ticks, which can also serve as possible sources of infection for other animals, including humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stéfhano Luís Cândido
- Veterinary Microbiology and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine - FAVET, Veterinary Hospital - HOVET, Federal University of Mato Grosso - UFMT, 2367 Fernando Correa Avenue, Cuiabá, MT 78060-900, Brazil
| | - Nathalia de Assis Pereira
- Virology and Rickettsiosis Laboratory, HOVET, FAVET, UFMT, 2367 Fernando Correa Avenue, Cuiabá, MT 78060-900, Brazil
| | | | - Richard de Campos Pacheco
- Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases Veterinary Parasitology of Domestic and Wild Animals, HOVET, FAVET, UFMT, 2367 Fernando Correa Avenue, Cuiabá, MT 78060-900, Brazil
| | - Thais Oliveira Morgado
- Wild Animals Sector, HOVET, FAVET, UFMT, 2367 Fernando Correa Avenue, Cuiabá, MT 78060-900, Brazil
| | - Edson Moleta Colodel
- Veterinary Pathology Laboratory, HOVET, FAVET, UFMT, 2367 Fernando Correa Avenue, Cuiabá, MT 78060-900, Brazil
| | - Luciano Nakazato
- Veterinary Microbiology and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine - FAVET, Veterinary Hospital - HOVET, Federal University of Mato Grosso - UFMT, 2367 Fernando Correa Avenue, Cuiabá, MT 78060-900, Brazil
| | - Valéria Dutra
- Veterinary Microbiology and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine - FAVET, Veterinary Hospital - HOVET, Federal University of Mato Grosso - UFMT, 2367 Fernando Correa Avenue, Cuiabá, MT 78060-900, Brazil
| | - Thállitha Samih Wischral Jayme Vieira
- Vector-Borne Diseases Laboratory, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Paraná - UFPR, 1540 Funcionários Street, Curitiba, PR, 80035-050, Brazil
| | - Daniel Moura de Aguiar
- Virology and Rickettsiosis Laboratory, HOVET, FAVET, UFMT, 2367 Fernando Correa Avenue, Cuiabá, MT 78060-900, Brazil.
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Day CA, Butler RA, Durick HE, Chandler JG, Paulsen DJ, Mordoh SL, Foggin C, Parry R, Moyo I, Russo L, Kennedy MA, Trout Fryxell RT. An ecological and epidemiological single-season survey of Anaplasma and Ehrlichia positive ticks in Victoria Falls National Park, Zimbabwe. MEDICAL AND VETERINARY ENTOMOLOGY 2023; 37:195-208. [PMID: 36695750 DOI: 10.1111/mve.12640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
There is an urgent need for continued research on the ecology of tick-borne diseases in Africa. Our objective was to provide a preliminary description of the ecology and epidemiology of tick species, tick-borne pathogens, and animal hosts in Zimbabwe, focusing efforts at Victoria Falls National Park, for a single season. We tested the hypothesis that tick surveillance and pathogen screening data can be used to model associations among ticks, hosts, and pathogens. We collected ticks from domesticated animals and wildlife in Zimbabwe and screened the ticks for the presence of Anaplasma and Ehrlichia bacteria. Nearly 30% of the screened ticks were PCR-positive; 89% of tick species were PCR-positive, and 88% of animal species carried at least one PCR-positive tick. We sequenced a subset of amplicons that were similar to three Anaplasma species and three Ehrlichia species. The odds of a tick being PCR-positive increased when many ticks were collected from the host or the tick was collected from a cow (domesticated animal). Tick species shared host species more often than expected. We demonstrate that ticks in northwestern Zimbabwe present a One Health problem for nearby wildlife and humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- C A Day
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
| | - R A Butler
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
| | - H E Durick
- Center for Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
| | - J G Chandler
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
| | - David J Paulsen
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
| | - S L Mordoh
- Center for Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
| | - C Foggin
- Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust, Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
| | - R Parry
- Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust, Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
| | - I Moyo
- Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust, Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
| | - L Russo
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
| | - M A Kennedy
- Center for Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
| | - R T Trout Fryxell
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
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Duncan KT, Sundstrom KD, Hunt D, Lineberry MW, Grant A, Little SE. Survey on the Presence of Equine Tick-Borne Rickettsial Infections in Southcentral United States. J Equine Vet Sci 2022; 118:104135. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jevs.2022.104135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2022] [Revised: 09/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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Ouarti B, Fonkou DMM, Houhamdi L, Mediannikov O, Parola P. Lice and lice-borne diseases in humans in Africa: a narrative review. Acta Trop 2022; 237:106709. [PMID: 36198330 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2022.106709] [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: 07/27/2022] [Revised: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 10/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Lice are host-specific insects. Human lice include Pediculus humanus humanus (body lice) which are known to be vectors of serious human bacterial infectious diseases including epidemic typhus, relapsing fever, trench fever and plague; Pediculus humanus capitis (head lice) that frequently affect children; and Pthirus pubis, commonly known as crab lice. In Africa, human infections transmitted by lice remained poorly known and therefore, underestimated, perhaps due to the lack of diagnostic tools and professional knowledge. In this paper we review current knowledge of the microorganisms identified in human lice in the continent of Africa, in order to alert health professionals to the importance of recognising the risk of lice-related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Basma Ouarti
- Aix Marseille Univ, IRD, AP-HM, SSA, VITROME, Marseille, France; IHU-Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France.
| | | | - Linda Houhamdi
- Aix Marseille Univ, IRD, AP-HM, SSA, VITROME, Marseille, France; IHU-Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France.
| | - Oleg Mediannikov
- IHU-Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France; IRD, AP-HM, MEPHI, Aix Marseille University, Marseille, France.
| | - Philippe Parola
- Aix Marseille Univ, IRD, AP-HM, SSA, VITROME, Marseille, France; IHU-Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France.
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Challenges of Diagnosing Severe Ehrlichiosis in Orthotopic Liver Transplant Recipients. Case Rep Transplant 2021; 2021:8285326. [PMID: 34840851 PMCID: PMC8612778 DOI: 10.1155/2021/8285326] [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: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 10/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent solid organ transplant recipients, acute febrile illness is usually a source of grave concern and a diagnostic dilemma, especially if no response is noted after initiation of broad antimicrobial therapy. Human Monocytic Ehrlichiosis (HME) is a tick-borne illness caused by Ehrlichia chaffeensis and is not considered an opportunistic infection in immunocompromised patients such as solid organ transplant patients. Ehrlichiosis in immunocompromised patients can be life-threatening, and a strong index of suspicion is needed, especially in patients who live in endemic areas, for proper treatment initiation with doxycycline. We report a case of a 40-year-old male who received an orthotopic liver transplant six months earlier secondary to primary sclerosing cholangitis, on chronic immunosuppressive medication, who presented with complaints of sudden onset fever associated with nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Initial extensive infectious workup was negative and no response to empiric antimicrobials. There was suspicion for ehrlichiosis prompting empiric doxycycline use. Subsequently, E. chaffeensis polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was positive, and the antibiotic regimen was de-escalated to only doxycycline with complete resolution of his symptoms and progressive improvement in previously abnormal biochemical indices.
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Melo ALT, Luo T, Zhang X, Muraro LS, Pereira NA, Cabezas-Cruz A, Dantas-Torres F, McBride JW, de Aguiar DM. Serological evidence of Ehrlichia minasensis infection in Brazilian dogs. Acta Trop 2021; 219:105931. [PMID: 33901440 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2021.105931] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2020] [Revised: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Ehrlichia spp. are important tick-borne pathogens of animals in Brazil, and Ehrlichia canis is the most prevalent species infecting dogs. Moreover, Ehrlichia minasensis has also recently been identified as a novel ehrlichial agent that infects cattle in Brazil. The objective of this study was to determine whether dogs could be infected by E. minasensis. To investigate this possibility, sera (n = 429) collected from dogs in the Pantanal region were retrospectively analyzed for the presence of antibodies against E. canis and E. minasensis. Canine sera were screened by two isolates of E. canis in indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) and the majority (n = 298; 69.4%) had antibodies with endpoint titers ranging from 80 to 327,680. In order to further confirm E. canis-specific antibodies, IFA positive sera were analyzed by ELISA using E. canis-specific peptides (i.e. TRP19 and TRP36 US/BR/CR), which detected E. canis antibodies in 80.2% (239/298) of the dog sera. Fifty-nine (13.7%) samples had detectable antibodies to E. canis by IFA but were negative by E. canis peptide ELISA. These sera were then tested by E. minasensis IFA (Cuiaba strain) as antigen and 67.8% (40/59) were positive (titers ranging from 80 to 20,480). Eleven sera had antibody titers against E. minasensis at least two-fold higher than observed for E. canis and suggests that these dogs were previously infected with E. minasensis. The results of the present study suggest that multiple ehrlichial agents infect dogs in Brazil, which highlights the need to consider different Ehrlichia spp. in Brazilian dogs, particularly in areas where dogs are frequently exposed to multiple tick species. This investigation is the first to provide serologic evidence of E. minasensis infection in dogs from Brazil.
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