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Diarra AZ, Kelly P, Davoust B, Parola P. Tick-Borne Diseases of Humans and Animals in West Africa. Pathogens 2023; 12:1276. [PMID: 38003741 PMCID: PMC10675719 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12111276] [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: 08/18/2023] [Revised: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Ticks are a significant group of arthropod vectors that transmit a large variety of pathogens responsible for human and animal diseases worldwide. Ticks are the second biggest transmitters of vector-borne diseases, behind mosquitoes. However, in West Africa, there is often only limited knowledge of tick-borne diseases. With the scarcity of appropriate diagnostic services, the prevalence of tick-borne diseases is generally underestimated in humans. In this review, we provide an update on tick-borne pathogens reported in people, animals and ticks in West Africa by microscopic, immunological and molecular methods. A systematic search was conducted in PubMed and Google Scholar. The selection criteria included all studies conducted in West Africa reporting the presence of Rickettsia, Borrelia, Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, Bartonella, Coxiella burnetii, Theileria, Babesia, Hepatozoon and Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever viruses in humans, animals or ticks. Our intention is to raise awareness of tick-borne diseases amongst human and animal health workers in West Africa, and also physicians working with tourists who have travelled to the region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adama Zan Diarra
- IHU-Méditerranée Infection, 13005 Marseille, France; (A.Z.D.); (B.D.)
- Aix Marseille Univ, IRD, AP-HM, SSA, VITROME, 13005 Marseille, France
| | - Patrick Kelly
- Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, Basseterre P.O. Box 334, Saint Kitts and Nevis;
| | - Bernard Davoust
- IHU-Méditerranée Infection, 13005 Marseille, France; (A.Z.D.); (B.D.)
- Aix Marseille Univ, IRD, AP-HM, MEPHI, 13005 Marseille, France
| | - Philippe Parola
- IHU-Méditerranée Infection, 13005 Marseille, France; (A.Z.D.); (B.D.)
- Aix Marseille Univ, IRD, AP-HM, SSA, VITROME, 13005 Marseille, France
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2
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Shah JS, Burrascano JJ, Ramasamy R. Recombinant protein immunoblots for differential diagnosis of tick-borne relapsing fever and Lyme disease. J Vector Borne Dis 2023; 60:353-364. [PMID: 38174512 DOI: 10.4103/0972-9062.383641] [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: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Lyme disease (LD) is caused by a group of tick-borne bacteria of the genus Borrelia termed Lyme disease Borreliae (LDB). The detection of serum antibodies to specific LDB antigens is widely used to support diagnosis of LD. Recent findings highlight a need for serological tests that can differentiate LD from tick-borne relapsing fever (TBRF) caused by a separate group of Borrelia species termed relapsing fever Borreliae. This is because LD and TBRF share some clinical symptoms and can occur in overlapping locations. The development of serological tests for TBRF is at an early stage compared with LD. This article reviews the application of line immunoblots (IBs), where recombinant proteins applied as lines on nitrocellulose membrane strips are used to detect antibodies in patient sera, for the diagnosis and differentiation of LD and TBRF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jyotsna S Shah
- IGeneX Inc. Milpitas; ID-FISH Technology Inc., California, USA
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Mangombi-Pambou JB, Granjon L, Flirden F, Kane M, Niang Y, Davoust B, Fenollar F, Mediannikov O. Molecular Survey of Rodent-Borne Infectious Agents in the Ferlo Region, Senegal. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:1107. [PMID: 37239466 PMCID: PMC10218615 DOI: 10.3390/genes14051107] [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: 04/22/2023] [Revised: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Zoonotic pathogens are responsible for most infectious diseases in humans, with rodents being important reservoir hosts for many of these microorganisms. Rodents, thus, pose a significant threat to public health. Previous studies in Senegal have shown that rodents harbour a diversity of microorganisms, including human pathogens. Our study aimed to monitor the prevalence of infectious agents in outdoor rodents, which can be the cause of epidemics. We screened 125 rodents (both native and expanding) from the Ferlo region, around Widou Thiengoly, for different microorganisms. Analysis, performed on rodent spleens, detected bacteria from the Anaplasmataceae family (20%), Borrelia spp. (10%), Bartonella spp. (24%) and Piroplasmida (2.4%). Prevalences were similar between native and the expanding (Gerbillus nigeriae) species, which has recently colonised the region. We identified Borrelia crocidurae, the agent responsible for tick-borne relapsing fever, which is endemic in Senegal. We also identified two other not-yet-described bacteria of the genera Bartonella and Ehrlichia that were previously reported in Senegalese rodents. Additionally, we found a potential new species, provisionally referred to here as Candidatus Anaplasma ferloense. This study highlights the diversity of infectious agents circulating in rodent populations and the importance of describing potential new species and evaluating their pathogenicity and zoonotic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joa Braïthe Mangombi-Pambou
- Centre Interdisciplinaire de Recherches Médicales de Franceville (CIRMF), Franceville BP 769, Gabon;
- Department of Epidemiology of Parasitic Diseases, Aix-Marseille University, IRD, AP-HM, MEPHI, 13005 Marseille, France; (F.F.); (B.D.)
- IHU Méditerranée Infection, 13005 Marseille, France;
| | - Laurent Granjon
- CBGP, IRD, CIRAD, INRAE, Institut Agro, University Montpellier, 34000 Montpellier, France;
| | - Fabien Flirden
- Department of Epidemiology of Parasitic Diseases, Aix-Marseille University, IRD, AP-HM, MEPHI, 13005 Marseille, France; (F.F.); (B.D.)
- IHU Méditerranée Infection, 13005 Marseille, France;
| | - Mamadou Kane
- BIOPASS, CBGP-IRD, ISRA, UCAD, CIRAD, Campus de Bel-Air, Dakar 1386, Senegal; (M.K.)
| | - Youssoupha Niang
- BIOPASS, CBGP-IRD, ISRA, UCAD, CIRAD, Campus de Bel-Air, Dakar 1386, Senegal; (M.K.)
| | - Bernard Davoust
- Department of Epidemiology of Parasitic Diseases, Aix-Marseille University, IRD, AP-HM, MEPHI, 13005 Marseille, France; (F.F.); (B.D.)
- IHU Méditerranée Infection, 13005 Marseille, France;
| | - Florence Fenollar
- IHU Méditerranée Infection, 13005 Marseille, France;
- IRD, AP-HM, SSA, VITROME, Aix-Marseille University, 13005 Marseille, France
| | - Oleg Mediannikov
- Department of Epidemiology of Parasitic Diseases, Aix-Marseille University, IRD, AP-HM, MEPHI, 13005 Marseille, France; (F.F.); (B.D.)
- IHU Méditerranée Infection, 13005 Marseille, France;
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4
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Ouarti B, Sall M, Ndiaye EHI, Diatta G, Zan Diarra A, Berenger JM, Sokhna C, Granjon L, Le Fur J, Parola P. Pathogen Detection in Ornithodoros sonrai Ticks and Invasive House Mice Mus musculus domesticus in Senegal. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10122367. [PMID: 36557620 PMCID: PMC9786131 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10122367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Revised: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Ornithodoros sonrai (O. sonrai) ticks are the only known vectors of Borrelia crocidurae, an agent of tick-borne relapsing fever (TBRF) borreliosis. Rodents serve as principal natural reservoirs for Borrelia. Our research objective was to detect TBRF Borrelia and other zoonotic bacterial infections in ticks and in house mice Mus musculus domesticus, an invasive species currently expanding in rural northern Senegal. Real-time and conventional PCR were utilized for detecting Borrelia and other bacterial taxa. The analyses were performed on 253 specimens of O. sonrai and 150 samples of brain and spleen tissue from rodents. Borrelia crocidurae was found in one O. sonrai tick and 18 Mus musculus domesticus samples, with prevalences of 0.39 percent and 12 percent, respectively, as well as Ehrlichia sp. in one Mus musculus domesticus. Further, we were able to detect the presence of a potentially infectious novel species belonging to the Anaplasmataceae family for the first time in O. sonrai ticks. More attention should be paid to the house mouse and O. sonrai ticks, as they can be potential hosts for novel species of pathogenic bacteria in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Basma Ouarti
- Aix-Marseille University, IRD, SSA, AP-HM, VITROME, 13005 Marseille, France
- IHU-Méditerranée Infection, 13005 Marseille, France
| | - Moussa Sall
- UFR des Sciences Appliquées et de Technologie, Section Informatique, University Gaston Berger, Saint-Louis 32000, Senegal
| | - El Hadji Ibrahima Ndiaye
- Aix-Marseille University, IRD, SSA, AP-HM, VITROME, 13005 Marseille, France
- IHU-Méditerranée Infection, 13005 Marseille, France
- Institut de Recherche Pour le Développement (IRD), VITROME IRD 257, Campus International IRD-UCAD, Hann, Dakar 1386, Senegal
| | - Georges Diatta
- Institut de Recherche Pour le Développement (IRD), VITROME IRD 257, Campus International IRD-UCAD, Hann, Dakar 1386, Senegal
| | - Adama Zan Diarra
- Aix-Marseille University, IRD, SSA, AP-HM, VITROME, 13005 Marseille, France
- IHU-Méditerranée Infection, 13005 Marseille, France
| | - Jean Michel Berenger
- Aix-Marseille University, IRD, SSA, AP-HM, VITROME, 13005 Marseille, France
- IHU-Méditerranée Infection, 13005 Marseille, France
| | - Cheikh Sokhna
- Aix-Marseille University, IRD, SSA, AP-HM, VITROME, 13005 Marseille, France
- IHU-Méditerranée Infection, 13005 Marseille, France
- Institut de Recherche Pour le Développement (IRD), VITROME IRD 257, Campus International IRD-UCAD, Hann, Dakar 1386, Senegal
| | - Laurent Granjon
- Centre de Biologie Pour la Gestion des Populations, Institut de Recherche Pour Développement, Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique Pour le Développement, Institut National de Recherche Pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement, Institut Agro Montpellier, University Montpellier, Lez CEDEX, 34988 Montferrier, France
| | - Jean Le Fur
- Centre de Biologie Pour la Gestion des Populations, Institut de Recherche Pour Développement, Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique Pour le Développement, Institut National de Recherche Pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement, Institut Agro Montpellier, University Montpellier, Lez CEDEX, 34988 Montferrier, France
| | - Philippe Parola
- Aix-Marseille University, IRD, SSA, AP-HM, VITROME, 13005 Marseille, France
- IHU-Méditerranée Infection, 13005 Marseille, France
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +33-(0)4-13-73-24-01; Fax: +33-(0)4-13-73-24-02
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5
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Margos G, Henningsson AJ, Markowicz M, Fingerle V. Borrelia Ecology and Evolution: Ticks and Hosts and the Environment. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10081513. [PMID: 35893571 PMCID: PMC9332563 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10081513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2022] [Revised: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Gabriele Margos
- National Reference Center for Borrelia, Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Veterinärstr, 2, 85764 Oberschleissheim, Germany;
- Correspondence:
| | - Anna Jonsson Henningsson
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Division of Inflammation and Infection, Linköping University, 581 83 Linköping, Sweden;
- Department of Clinical Microbiology in Jönköping, Linköping University, Region Jönköping County, 581 83 Linköping, Sweden
- Department of Clinical Microbiology in Linköping, Linköping University, 581 83 Linköping, Sweden
| | - Mateusz Markowicz
- AGES—Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety, 1090 Vienna, Austria;
| | - Volker Fingerle
- National Reference Center for Borrelia, Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Veterinärstr, 2, 85764 Oberschleissheim, Germany;
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6
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Kogan K, Haapasalo K, Kotila T, Moore R, Lappalainen P, Goldman A, Meri T. Mechanism of Borrelia immune evasion by FhbA-related proteins. PLoS Pathog 2022; 18:e1010338. [PMID: 35303742 PMCID: PMC8967061 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1010338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2021] [Revised: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 02/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Immune evasion facilitates survival of Borrelia, leading to infections like relapsing fever and Lyme disease. Important mechanism for complement evasion is acquisition of the main host complement inhibitor, factor H (FH). By determining the 2.2 Å crystal structure of Factor H binding protein A (FhbA) from Borrelia hermsii in complex with FH domains 19–20, combined with extensive mutagenesis, we identified the structural mechanism by which B. hermsii utilizes FhbA in immune evasion. Moreover, structure-guided sequence database analysis identified a new family of FhbA-related immune evasion molecules from Lyme disease and relapsing fever Borrelia. Conserved FH-binding mechanism within the FhbA-family was verified by analysis of a novel FH-binding protein from B. duttonii. By sequence analysis, we were able to group FH-binding proteins of Borrelia into four distinct phyletic types and identified novel putative FH-binding proteins. The conserved FH-binding mechanism of the FhbA-related proteins could aid in developing new approaches to inhibit virulence and complement resistance in Borrelia. Relapsing fever and Lyme Disease are infectious diseases caused by borrelia bacteria. Relapsing fever occurs sporadically worldwide, whereas distribution of Lyme Disease is restricted to the Northern Hemisphere. Both infections are transmitted to humans by blood eating ticks or lice. These infections are often difficult to diagnose due to nonspecific symptoms. To be able to cause infection, borrelia must circumvent the human immune responses. Here we describe a mechanism, how borrelia bacteria protect themselves in the human host by utilizing host proteins. By using X-ray crystallography, we solved the structure of an outer membrane protein FhbA from a relapsing fever causing borreliae, Borrelia hermsii, in complex with human complement regulator factor H. FhbA has a unique alpha-helical fold that has not been reported earlier. The structure of the complex revealed how FhbA binds factor H in a very specific manner. Factor H bound to FhbA on the surface of borrelia protects bacteria from the complement system and lysis. Based on the structure, we performed structure-guided sequence database analysis, which suggests that similar proteins are present in all relapsing fever causing borrelia and possibly in some Lyme disease agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Konstantin Kogan
- HiLife Institute of Biotechnology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Karita Haapasalo
- Department of Bacteriology and Immunology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Tommi Kotila
- HiLife Institute of Biotechnology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Robin Moore
- Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Pekka Lappalainen
- HiLife Institute of Biotechnology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Adrian Goldman
- Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Astbury Center for Structural Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Taru Meri
- Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- * E-mail:
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7
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Abdullah HHAM, Aboelsoued D, Farag TK, Abdel-Shafy S, Abdel Megeed KN, Parola P, Raoult D, Mediannikov O. Molecular characterization of some equine vector-borne diseases and associated arthropods in Egypt. Acta Trop 2022; 227:106274. [PMID: 34954258 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2021.106274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Revised: 12/08/2021] [Accepted: 12/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Equine vector-borne diseases (EVBDs) are emerging and re-emerging diseases, and most of them are zoonotic. This study aimed to investigate EVBDs in equines and associated arthropods (ticks and flies) from Egypt using molecular analyses, in addition to a preliminary characterization of associated ticks and flies by the matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight (MALDI-TOF) and molecular techniques. In this study, 335 blood samples were obtained from equines that appeared to be in good health (320 horses and 15 donkeys) in Cairo and Beni Suef provinces, Egypt. From the same animals, 166 arthropods (105 sucking flies and 61 ticks) were collected. Ticks and flies were preliminary characterized by the MALDI-TOF and molecular tools. Quantitative PCR (qPCR) and standard PCR coupled with sequencing were performed on the DNA of equines, ticks, and flies to screen multiple pathogens. The MALDI-TOF and molecular characterization of arthropods revealed that louse fly (Hippobosca equina) and cattle tick (Rhipicephalus annulatus) infesting equines. Anaplasma platys-like (1.6%), Anaplasma marginale (1.6%), Candidatus Ehrlichia rustica (6.6%), a new Ehrlichia sp. (4.9%), and Borrelia theileri (3.3%) were identified in R. annulatus. Anaplasma sp. and Borrelia sp. DNAs were only detected in H. equina by qPCR. A. marginale, Anaplasma ovis, and Theileria ovis recorded the same low infection rate (0.6%) in donkeys, while horses were found to be infected with Theileria equi and a new Theileria sp. Africa with recorded prevalence rates of 1.2% and 2.7%, respectively. In conclusion, different pathogens were first detected such as A. platys-like, Candidatus E. rustica, and a new Ehrlichia sp. in R. annulatus; A. marginale, A. ovis, and T. ovis in donkeys; and a new Theileria sp. "Africa" in horses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hend H A M Abdullah
- Department of Parasitology and Animal Diseases, Veterinary Research Institute, National Research Centre, Dokki, Giza, Egypt; Aix Marseille Univ, IRD, AP-HM, MEPHI, IHU-Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France.
| | - Dina Aboelsoued
- Department of Parasitology and Animal Diseases, Veterinary Research Institute, National Research Centre, Dokki, Giza, Egypt
| | - Tarek K Farag
- Department of Parasitology and Animal Diseases, Veterinary Research Institute, National Research Centre, Dokki, Giza, Egypt
| | - Sobhy Abdel-Shafy
- Department of Parasitology and Animal Diseases, Veterinary Research Institute, National Research Centre, Dokki, Giza, Egypt
| | - Kadria N Abdel Megeed
- Department of Parasitology and Animal Diseases, Veterinary Research Institute, National Research Centre, Dokki, Giza, Egypt
| | - Philippe Parola
- Aix Marseille Univ, IRD, AP-HM, SSA, VITROME, IHU-Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
| | - Didier Raoult
- Aix Marseille Univ, IRD, AP-HM, MEPHI, IHU-Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
| | - Oleg Mediannikov
- Aix Marseille Univ, IRD, AP-HM, MEPHI, IHU-Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
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8
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Schäfer M, Pfaff F, Höper D, Silaghi C. Early Transcriptional Changes in the Midgut of Ornithodoros moubata after Feeding and Infection with Borrelia duttonii. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10030525. [PMID: 35336101 PMCID: PMC8948914 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10030525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Studies on tick-pathogen-host interactions are helping to identify candidates for vaccines against ticks and tick-borne diseases and to discover potent bioactive tick molecules. The tick midgut is the main tissue involved in blood feeding and, moreover, the first organ to have contact with pathogens ingested through the blood meal. As little is known about the molecular biology of feeding and tick defence mechanisms against microorganisms, but important for understanding vector-pathogen interactions, we explored the early transcriptional changes in the midgut of Ornithodoros moubata after feeding and in response to challenge with the relapsing-fever spirochete Borrelia duttonii using the Ion S5XL platform. Besides transcripts with metabolic function and immune-related transcripts we discovered numerous putative and uncharacterized protein sequences. Overall, our analyses support previous studies and provides a valuable reference database for further functional proteomic analysis of midgut proteins of O. moubata.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mandy Schäfer
- Institute of Infectology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany;
- Correspondence:
| | - Florian Pfaff
- Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany; (F.P.); (D.H.)
| | - Dirk Höper
- Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany; (F.P.); (D.H.)
| | - Cornelia Silaghi
- Institute of Infectology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany;
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Lorusso V. Parasitology and One Health-Perspectives on Africa and Beyond. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10111437. [PMID: 34832594 PMCID: PMC8620987 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10111437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Revised: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 10/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
This concept paper reviews issues pertaining to parasitic and vector-borne infections, of humans, animals, or both, of topical relevance to the African continent as well as to neighbouring and interconnected geographies. This analysis is carried out through the "One Health" lens, being mindful of the central role of agriculture and livestock keeping in Africa's sustainable development. The possible agricultural transformation that the continent may undergo to fulfil the rising demand for animal protein of its growing population, coupled with the ongoing climate changes, may lead to potentially enhanced interactions among humans, domesticated and wild animals, in a fast-changing environment. In this view, tackling parasitic conditions of livestock can prove being multidimensionally beneficial by improving animal health as well as communities' food security, livelihood and public health. Accordingly, the value of applying the One Health approach to drug discovery and development in the fight against parasitic neglected tropical diseases and zoonoses, is also underscored. Overall, this article upholds the adoption of a holistic, global, interdisciplinary, multisectoral, harmonised and forward-looking outlook, encompassing both life and social sciences, when dealing with parasitic conditions of humans and animals, in Africa and beyond, in COVID-19 times and further.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincenzo Lorusso
- Global Research & Intellectual Property, Vetoquinol, 37 Rue de la Victoire, 75009 Paris, France; or
- University of Salford Tick Infections (USALTI)-Afrique, School of Science, Engineering & Environment, University of Salford, Greater Manchester, Salford M5 4WT, UK
- African Institute of One Health Research and Diagnostics (AIOHRD), University of Abuja, km 23 Airport Road, Abuja 900110, Nigeria
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10
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Trevisan G, Cinco M, Trevisini S, di Meo N, Ruscio M, Forgione P, Bonin S. Borreliae Part 2: Borrelia Relapsing Fever Group and Unclassified Borrelia. BIOLOGY 2021; 10:1117. [PMID: 34827110 PMCID: PMC8615063 DOI: 10.3390/biology10111117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Revised: 10/21/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Borreliae of the relapsing fever group (RFG) are heterogenous and can be divided mainly into three groups according to vectors, namely the soft-tick-borne relapsing fever (STBRF) Borreliae, the hard-tick-borne relapsing fever (HTBRF) Borreliae, the louse-borne relapsing fever (LBRF) Borreliae, and the avian relapsing fever ones. With respect to the geographical distribution, the STBRF Borreliae are further subdivided into Old World and New World strains. Except for the Avian relapsing fever group Borreliae, which cause avian spirochetosis, all the others share infectivity in humans. They are indeed the etiological agent of both endemic and epidemic forms of relapsing fever, causing high spirochaetemia and fever. Vectors are primarily soft ticks of Ornithodoros spp. in the STBRF group; hard ticks, notably Ixodes sp., Amblyomma sp., Dermacentor sp., and Rhipicephalus sp., in the HTBRF group; and the louse pediculus humanus humanus in the TBRF one. A recent hypothesis was supported for a common ancestor of RFG Borreliae, transmitted at the beginning by hard-body ticks. Accordingly, STBRF Borreliae switched to use soft-bodied ticks as a vector, which was followed by the use of lice by Borrelia recurrentis. There are also new candidate species of Borreliae, at present unclassified, which are also described in this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giusto Trevisan
- DSM-Department of Medical Sciences, University of Trieste, 34149 Trieste, Italy
| | - Marina Cinco
- DSV-Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, 34149 Trieste, Italy
| | - Sara Trevisini
- ASUGI-Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Giuliano Isontina, 34129 Trieste, Italy
| | - Nicola di Meo
- DSM-Department of Medical Sciences, University of Trieste, 34149 Trieste, Italy
- ASUGI-Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Giuliano Isontina, 34129 Trieste, Italy
| | - Maurizio Ruscio
- ASUGI-Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Giuliano Isontina, 34129 Trieste, Italy
| | - Patrizia Forgione
- UOSD Dermatologia, Centro Rif. Regionale Malattia di Hansen e Lyme, P.O. dei Pellegrini, ASL Napoli 1 Centro, 80145 Naples, Italy
| | - Serena Bonin
- DSM-Department of Medical Sciences, University of Trieste, 34149 Trieste, Italy
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Abdullah HHAM, Amanzougaghene N, Dahmana H, Louni M, Raoult D, Mediannikov O. Multiple vector-borne pathogens of domestic animals in Egypt. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2021; 15:e0009767. [PMID: 34587171 PMCID: PMC8480906 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Vector Borne Diseases (VBDs) are considered emerging and re-emerging diseases that represent a global burden. The aim of this study was to explore and characterize vector-borne pathogens in different domestic animal hosts in Egypt. A total of 557 blood samples were collected from different animals using a convenience sampling strategy (203 dogs, 149 camels, 88 cattle, 26 buffaloes, 58 sheep and 33 goats). All samples were tested for multiple pathogens using quantitative PCR and standard PCR coupled with sequencing. We identified Theileria annulata and Babesia bigemina in cattle (15.9 and 1.1%, respectively), T. ovis in sheep and buffaloes (8.6 and 7.7%, respectively) and Ba. canis in dogs (0.5%) as well as Anaplasma marginale in cattle, sheep and camels (20.4, 3.4 and 0.7%, respectively) and Coxiella burnetii in sheep and goats (1.7 and 3%; respectively). New genotypes of An. centrale, An. ovis, An. platys-like and Borrelia theileri were found in cattle (1.1,3.4, 3.4 and 3.4%, respectively), An. platys-like in buffaloes (7.7%), An. marginale, An. ovis, An. platys-like and Bo. theileri in sheep (3.4, 1.7, 1.7 and 3.4%, respectively), An. platys, An. platys-like and Setaria digitata in camels (0.7, 5.4 and 0.7%, respectively) and Rickettsia africae-like, An. platys, Dirofilaria repens and Acanthocheilonema reconditum in dogs (1.5, 3.4, 1 and 0.5%, respectively). Co-infections were found in cattle, sheep and dogs (5.7, 1.7, 0.5%, respectively). For the first time, we have demonstrated the presence of several vector-borne zoonoses in the blood of domestic animals in Egypt. Dogs and ruminants seem to play a significant role in the epidemiological cycle of VBDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hend H. A. M. Abdullah
- Department of Parasitology and Animal Diseases, Veterinary Research Division, National Research Centre, Dokki, Giza, Egypt
- Aix Marseille Univ, IRD, AP-HM, MEPHI, IHU-Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
| | - Nadia Amanzougaghene
- Aix Marseille Univ, IRD, AP-HM, MEPHI, IHU-Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
| | - Handi Dahmana
- Aix Marseille Univ, IRD, AP-HM, MEPHI, IHU-Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
| | - Meriem Louni
- Aix Marseille Univ, IRD, AP-HM, MEPHI, IHU-Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
| | - Didier Raoult
- Aix Marseille Univ, IRD, AP-HM, MEPHI, IHU-Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
| | - Oleg Mediannikov
- Aix Marseille Univ, IRD, AP-HM, MEPHI, IHU-Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
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Kahlig P, Paris DH, Neumayr A. Louse-borne relapsing fever-A systematic review and analysis of the literature: Part 1-Epidemiology and diagnostic aspects. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2021; 15:e0008564. [PMID: 33705384 PMCID: PMC7951878 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0008564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Louse-borne relapsing fever (LBRF) is a classical epidemic disease, which in the past was associated with war, famine, poverty, forced migration, and crowding under poor hygienic conditions around the world. The disease's causative pathogen, the spirochete bacterium Borrelia recurrentis, is confined to humans and transmitted by a single vector, the human body louse Pediculus humanus. Since the disease has had its heyday before the days of modern medicine, many of its aspects have never been formally studied and to date, remain incompletely understood. In order to shed light on some of these aspects, we have systematically reviewed the accessible literature on LBRF, since the recognition of its mode of transmission in 1907, and summarized the existing data on epidemiology and diagnostic aspects of the disease. Publications were identified by using a predefined search strategy on electronic databases and a subsequent review of the reference lists of the obtained publications. All publications reporting patients with a confirmed diagnosis of LBRF published in English, French, German, and Spanish since 1907 were included. Data extraction followed a predefined protocol and included a grading system to judge the certainty of the diagnosis of reported cases. Historically, Ethiopia is considered a stronghold of LBRF. The recognition of LBRF among East African migrants (originating from Somalia, Eritrea, and Ethiopia) arriving to Europe in the course of the recent migration flow from this region suggests that this epidemiological focus ostensibly persists. Currently, there is neither evidence to support or refute active transmission foci of LBRF elsewhere on the African continent, in Latin America, or in Asia. Microscopy remains the most commonly used method to diagnose LBRF. Data are lacking on sensitivity and specificity of most diagnostic methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pascal Kahlig
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Daniel H. Paris
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Andreas Neumayr
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Queensland, Australia
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Abstract
Ticks exist on all continents and carry more zoonotic pathogens than any other type of vector. Ticks spend most of their lives in the external environment away from the host and are thus expected to be affected by changes in climate. Most empirical and theoretical studies demonstrate or predict range shifts or increases in ticks and tick-borne diseases, but there can be a lot of heterogeneity in such predictions. Tick-borne disease systems are complex, and determining whether changes are due to climate change or other drivers can be difficult. Modeling studies can help tease apart and understand the roles of different drivers of change. Predictive models can also be invaluable in projecting changes according to different climate change scenarios. However, validating these models remains challenging, and estimating uncertainty in predictions is essential. Another focus for future research should be assessing the resilience of ticks and tick-borne pathogens to climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucy Gilbert
- Institute for Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, United Kingdom;
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14
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Diagnostic tools for bacterial infections in travellers: Current and future options. Travel Med Infect Dis 2020; 37:101856. [PMID: 32841728 DOI: 10.1016/j.tmaid.2020.101856] [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: 04/03/2019] [Revised: 04/30/2020] [Accepted: 08/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
International travel has increased dramatically over the past 50 years, and travel destinations have diversified. Although physicians are more familiar with the panel of aetiological agents responsible for illnesses of returning travellers, thanks to regular epidemiological studies, the spectrum of pathogens potentially encountered in various travel destinations is nevertheless increasing. In addition, the wide array of approaches currently available and addressed in this paper could render the procedures for microbiological analyses increasingly complex. As the time to result is crucial to adequately manage patients, modern approaches have been developed to shorten diagnosis delays. The syndromic approach, which consists of simultaneously testing a wide panel of microorganisms, substantially increases the diagnostic yield with significant time savings, particularly when coupled with point-of-care laboratories. The tools commonly used for this purpose are immunochromatographic tests, mainly targeting bacterial antigens, and multiplex real-time PCR. The emergence of next-generation sequencing technologies, which enable random amplification of genetic material of any microbe present in a clinical specimen, provides further exciting perspectives in the diagnosis of infectious diseases.
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15
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Qiu Y, Nakao R, Hang'ombe BM, Sato K, Kajihara M, Kanchela S, Changula K, Eto Y, Ndebe J, Sasaki M, Thu MJ, Takada A, Sawa H, Sugimoto C, Kawabata H. Human Borreliosis Caused by a New World Relapsing Fever Borrelia-like Organism in the Old World. Clin Infect Dis 2020; 69:107-112. [PMID: 30423022 DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciy850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2018] [Accepted: 10/01/2018] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Relapsing fever is an infectious disease previously neglected in Africa, which imposes a large public health burden in the country. We aimed to investigate and report on a case of relapsing fever borreliosis in Zambia. METHODS A previously unknown Borrelia species was isolated from the blood of a febrile patient. Investigations of the presumptive vector ticks and natural hosts for the Borrelia species were conducted by culture isolation and/or DNA detection by Borrelia-specific polymerase chain reaction. Using culture isolates from the patient and bat specimens, genetic characterization was performed by multilocus sequence analysis based on the draft genome sequences. RESULTS The febrile patient was diagnosed with relapsing fever. The isolated Borrelia species was frequently detected in Ornithodoros faini (n = 20/50 [40%]) and bats (n = 64/237 [27%]). Multilocus sequence analysis based on a draft genome sequence revealed that the Borrelia species isolates from the patient and presumptive reservoir host (bats) formed a monophyletic lineage that clustered with relapsing fever borreliae found in the United States. CONCLUSIONS A febrile illness caused by a Borrelia species that was treatable with erythromycin was identified in Zambia. This is the first study to report on relapsing fever Borrelia in Zambia and suggesting the likely natural reservoir hosts of the isolated Borrelia species. Interestingly, the isolated Borrelia species was more closely related to New World relapsing fever borreliae, despite being detected in the Afrotropic ecozone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongjin Qiu
- Hokudai Center for Zoonosis Control in Zambia, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, Lusaka
| | - Ryo Nakao
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | | | - Kozue Sato
- Department of Bacteriology I, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo
| | - Masahiro Kajihara
- Division of Global Epidemiology, Hokkaido University Research Center for Zoonosis Control, Sapporo, Japan
| | | | - Katendi Changula
- Department of Paraclinical Studies, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, Lusaka
| | - Yoshiki Eto
- Division of Global Epidemiology, Hokkaido University Research Center for Zoonosis Control, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Joseph Ndebe
- Department of Disease Control, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, Lusaka
| | - Michihito Sasaki
- Division of Molecular Pathobiology, Hokkaido University Research Center for Zoonosis Control
| | - May June Thu
- Unit of Risk Analysis and Management, Hokkaido University Research Center for Zoonosis Control
| | - Ayato Takada
- Division of Global Epidemiology, Hokkaido University Research Center for Zoonosis Control, Sapporo, Japan.,Department of Disease Control, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, Lusaka.,Global Institution for Collaborative Research and Education, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Hirohumi Sawa
- Department of Disease Control, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, Lusaka.,Division of Molecular Pathobiology, Hokkaido University Research Center for Zoonosis Control.,Global Institution for Collaborative Research and Education, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan.,Global Virus Network, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Chihiro Sugimoto
- Department of Disease Control, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, Lusaka.,Global Institution for Collaborative Research and Education, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan.,Division of Collaboration and Education, Hokkaido University Research Center for Zoonosis Control, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Hiroki Kawabata
- Department of Bacteriology I, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo
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16
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Ehlers J, Krüger A, Rakotondranary SJ, Ratovonamana RY, Poppert S, Ganzhorn JU, Tappe D. Molecular detection of Rickettsia spp., Borrelia spp., Bartonella spp. and Yersinia pestis in ectoparasites of endemic and domestic animals in southwest Madagascar. Acta Trop 2020; 205:105339. [PMID: 31935354 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2020.105339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2019] [Revised: 01/09/2020] [Accepted: 01/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Little is known about the presence of vector-borne bacteria in southwest Madagascar. Anthropogenic alteration of natural habitats represents an important driver for the emergence of new diseases. Especially the involvement of livestock and the involuntary maintaining of invasive synanthropic animals (particularly rats) facilitate disease transmission from wildlife to humans and associated animals and vice versa. The dissemination or acquisition of ectoparasites is most likely in regions where human/wildlife contact is increasing. Little is known about the presence of vector-borne bacteria in southwest Madagascar. In 2016 and 2017, ectoparasites were collected from various introduced (cattle and goats, cats, dogs and chicken, rats and mice) and native animal species (mouse lemurs [Microcebus griseorufus], Grandidier's mongooses [Galidictis grandidieri], bastard big-footed mice [Macrotarsomys bastardi], greater hedgehog tenrecs [Setifer setosus] and lesser hedgehog tenrecs [Echinops telfairi]) in the northern portion of Tsimanampetsotsa National Park and the adjacent littoral region. Thirteen species of blood-feeding ectoparasites (235 individuals of ticks [5 species], 414 lice [4 spp.] and 389 fleas [4 spp.]) were investigated for the presence and identity of rickettsiae, borreliae, bartonellae and Yersinia pestis using PCR techniques. Rickettsia spp. were detected in every single ectoparasite species (Amblyomma variegatum, A. chabaudi, Rhipicephalus microplus, Haemaphysalis simplex, Argas echinops, Ctenocephalides felis, Echidnophaga gallinacea, Pulex irritans, Xenopsylla cheopis, Haematopinus quadripertusus, Linognathus africanus, L. vituli, Lemurpediculus verruculosus). Lice and ticks were found harboring rickettsiae identified as Rickettsia africae, while Rickettsia felis-like bacteria were associated with fleas. Borrelia spp. were detected in 5% of H. simplex and 1% of R. microplus ticks. Bartonella spp. were detected in 40% of H. quadripertusus pools and in 5% of L. verruculosus pools. Y. pestis was detected in X. cheopis and E. gallinacea fleas collected from a rat. This study presents the detection of a broad spectrum of vector-borne bacteria including potential pathogens, and an unexpected finding of Y. pestis far off the known plague foci in Madagascar.
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A soft tick Ornithodoros moubata salivary protein OmCI is a potent inhibitor to prevent avian complement activation. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2019; 11:101354. [PMID: 31866440 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2019.101354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2019] [Revised: 11/15/2019] [Accepted: 12/02/2019] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Complement is a key first line innate host defense system in the blood of vertebrates. Upon activation, this powerful defense mechanism can elicit inflammatory responses, lyse non-self-cells, or mark them for opsonophagocytic removal. Blood-feeding arthropods thus require the ability to block host complement activation in the bloodmeal to prevent undesired cell or tissue damage during feeding. The soft tick Ornithodoros moubata produces a complement inhibitory protein, OmCI. This protein binds to a mammalian complement protein C5 and blocks further activation of complement cascades, which results in the prevention of complement-mediated bacterial killing through membrane attack complex. Interestingly, the amino acids involved in OmCI binding are highly conserved among mammalian and avian C5, but the ability of this protein to inhibit the complement from birds remains unclear. Here we demonstrated that OmCI is capable of preventing quail complement-mediated erythrocyte lysis, inhibiting the capability of this animal's complement to eliminate a serum-sensitive Lyme disease bacterial strain. We also found that the ability of OmCI to inhibit quail complement-mediated killing of Lyme disease bacteria can be extended to different domestic and wild birds. Our results illustrate the utility of OmCI to block bird complement. These results provide the foundation for further use of this protein as a tool to study the molecular basis of avian complement and pathogen evasion to such a defense mechanism.
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18
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Line Immunoblot Assay for Tick-Borne Relapsing Fever and Findings in Patient Sera from Australia, Ukraine and the USA. Healthcare (Basel) 2019; 7:healthcare7040121. [PMID: 31640151 PMCID: PMC6955669 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare7040121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2019] [Revised: 09/25/2019] [Accepted: 10/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Tick-borne relapsing fever (TBRF) is caused by spirochete bacteria of the genus Borrelia termed relapsing fever Borreliae (RFB). TBRF shares symptoms with Lyme disease (LD) caused by related Lyme disease Borreliae (LDB). TBRF and LD are transmitted by ticks and occur in overlapping localities worldwide. Serological detection of antibodies used for laboratory confirmation of LD is not established for TBRF. A line immunoblot assay using recombinant proteins from different RFB species, termed TBRF IB, was developed and its diagnostic utility investigated. The TBRF IBs were able to differentiate between antibodies to RFB and LDB and had estimated sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of 70.5%, 99.5%, 97.3%, and 93.4%, respectively, based on results with reference sera from patients known to be positive and negative for TBRF. The use of TBRF IBs and analogous immunoblots for LD to test sera of patients from Australia, Ukraine, and the USA with LD symptoms revealed infection with TBRF alone, LD alone, and both TBRF and LD. Diagnosis by clinical criteria alone can, therefore, underestimate the incidence of TBRF. TBRF IBs will be useful for laboratory confirmation of TBRF and understanding its epidemiology worldwide.
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Gras E, Bailly E, Le Brun C, Lemaignen A, Lanotte P. Borrelia crocidurae tick-borne relapsing fever upon return from Senegal. Med Mal Infect 2019; 49:624-625. [PMID: 31202618 DOI: 10.1016/j.medmal.2019.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2018] [Revised: 12/22/2018] [Accepted: 05/21/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- E Gras
- Service de bactériologie-virologie-hygiène hospitalière, hôpital Bretonneau, CHRU de Tours, 2 boulevard Tonnellé, 37044 Tours, France
| | - E Bailly
- Service de parasitologie-mycologie, hôpital Bretonneau, CHRU de Tours, 2 boulevard Tonnellé, 37044 Tours, France
| | - C Le Brun
- Service de bactériologie-virologie-hygiène hospitalière, hôpital Bretonneau, CHRU de Tours, 2 boulevard Tonnellé, 37044 Tours, France
| | - A Lemaignen
- Service de médecine interne et maladies infectieuses, Hôpital Bretonneau, CHRU de Tours, 2 boulevard Tonnellé, 37044 Tours, France
| | - P Lanotte
- Service de bactériologie-virologie-hygiène hospitalière, hôpital Bretonneau, CHRU de Tours, 2 boulevard Tonnellé, 37044 Tours, France; Infectiologie et santé publique, INRA, université de Tours, UMR1282, 37380 Nouzilly, France.
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20
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Stete K, Rieg S, Margos G, Häcker G, Wagner D, Kern WV, Fingerle V. Case Report and Genetic Sequence Analysis of Candidatus Borrelia kalaharica, Southern Africa. Emerg Infect Dis 2019; 24:1659-1664. [PMID: 30124191 PMCID: PMC6106409 DOI: 10.3201/eid2409.171381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Tickborne relapsing fever caused by Borrelia species is rarely reported in travelers returning from Africa. We report a case of a 71-year-old woman who sought treatment at University Medical Center in Freiburg, Germany, in 2015 with recurrent fever after traveling to southern Africa. We detected spirochetes in Giemsa-stained blood smears. Treatment with doxycycline for suspected tickborne relapsing fever was successful. Sequence analyses of several loci (16S rRNA, flagellin, uvrA) showed high similarity to the recently described Candidatus Borrelia kalaharica, which was found in a traveler returning from the same region earlier that year. We provide additional information regarding the genetic relationship of Candidatus B. kalaharica. Sequence information for an additional 6 housekeeping genes enables improved comparability to other borrelial species that cause relapsing fever. Our report underlines the importance and possible emergence of the only recently delineated pathogen in southern Africa.
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21
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Killing Clothes Lice by Holding Infested Clothes Away from Hosts for 10 Days to Control Louseborne Relapsing Fever, Bahir Dah, Ethiopia. Emerg Infect Dis 2019. [PMCID: PMC6346454 DOI: 10.3201/eid2502.181226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Louseborne relapsing fever (LBRF) was once a cosmopolitan disease, but it now occurs only in the Horn of Africa. Recent cases in refugees to Europe made LBRF topical again. Crowded boarding houses and church dwellings in Ethiopia are analogous to the crowded air-raid shelters of World War II. Thus, we might learn from experiments the London School of Tropical Hygiene and Medicine conducted during World War II. When the vector of Borrelia recurrentis (Pediculus humanus lice) was held away from the host for 10 days, 100% of nymphal and adult lice starved to death and 100% of eggs did not hatch. We hypothesize that holding infested clothes away from hosts in plastic shopping bags will kill enough lice to control LBRF in Ethiopia. Owning 2 sets of clothes might be useful; 1 set might be held in a plastic shopping bag for 10 days to kill lice and their eggs.
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Maze MJ, Bassat Q, Feasey NA, Mandomando I, Musicha P, Crump JA. The epidemiology of febrile illness in sub-Saharan Africa: implications for diagnosis and management. Clin Microbiol Infect 2018; 24:808-814. [PMID: 29454844 PMCID: PMC6057815 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmi.2018.02.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2017] [Revised: 02/08/2018] [Accepted: 02/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fever is among the most common symptoms of people living in Africa, and clinicians are challenged by the similar clinical features of a wide spectrum of potential aetiologies. AIM To summarize recent studies of fever aetiology in sub-Saharan Africa focusing on causes other than malaria. SOURCES A narrative literature review by searching the MEDLINE database, and recent conference abstracts. CONTENT Studies of multiple potential causes of fever are scarce, and for many participants the infecting organism remains unidentified, or multiple co-infecting microorganisms are identified, and establishing causation is challenging. Among ambulatory patients, self-limiting arboviral infections and viral upper respiratory infections are common, occurring in up to 60% of children attending health centres. Among hospitalized patients there is a high prevalence of potentially fatal infections requiring specific treatment. Bacterial bloodstream infection and bacterial zoonoses are major causes of fever. In recent years, the prevalence of antimicrobial resistance among bacterial isolates has increased, notably with spread of extended spectrum β-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae and fluoroquinolone-resistant Salmonella enterica. Among those with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteraemia has been confirmed in up to 34.8% of patients with sepsis, and fungal infections such as cryptococcosis and histoplasmosis remain important. IMPLICATIONS Understanding the local epidemiology of fever aetiology, and the use of diagnostics including malaria and HIV rapid-diagnostic tests, guides healthcare workers in the management of patients with fever. Current challenges for clinicians include assessing which ambulatory patients require antibacterial drugs, and identifying hospitalized patients infected with organisms that are not susceptible to empiric antibacterial regimens.
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Affiliation(s)
- M J Maze
- Centre for International Health, University of Otago, New Zealand; Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre, Moshi, Tanzania.
| | - Q Bassat
- Centro de Investigação em Saúde de Manhiça (CISM), Maputo, Mozambique; ISGlobal, Barcelona Ctr. Int. Health Res. (CRESIB), Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; ICREA, Pg. Lluís Companys 23, Barcelona, Spain; Paediatric Infectious Diseases Unit, Paediatrics Department, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu (University of Barcelona), Barcelona, Spain
| | - N A Feasey
- Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK; Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Programme, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - I Mandomando
- Centro de Investigação em Saúde de Manhiça (CISM), Maputo, Mozambique; Instituto Nacional de Saúde, Ministério da Saúde, Maputo, Mozambique
| | - P Musicha
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - J A Crump
- Centre for International Health, University of Otago, New Zealand; Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre, Moshi, Tanzania; Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College, Tumaini University, Moshi, Tanzania
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Ticks are the second most important vectors of infectious diseases after mosquitoes worldwide. The growth of international tourism including in rural and remote places increasingly exposes travelers to tick bite. Our aim was to review the main tick-borne infectious diseases reported in travelers in the past 5 years. RECENT FINDINGS In recent years, tick-borne bacterial diseases have emerged in travelers including spotted fever group (SFG) rickettsioses, borrelioses, and diseases caused by bacteria of the Anaplasmataceae family. African tick-bite fever, due to Rickettsia africae, is the most frequent agent reported in travelers returned from Sub-Saharan areas. Other SFG agents are increasingly reported in travelers, and clinicians should be aware of them. Lyme disease can be misdiagnosed in Southern countries. Organisms causing tick-borne relapsing fever are neglected pathogens worldwide, and reports in travelers have allowed the description of new species. Infections due to Anaplasmataceae bacteria are more rarely described in travelers, but a new species of Neoehrlichia has recently been detected in a traveler. The treatment of these infections relies on doxycycline, and travelers should be informed before the trip about prevention measures against tick bites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carole Eldin
- Aix Marseille University, IRD, AP-HM, SSA, Vecteurs-Infections Tropicales et Méditerranéennes (VITROME), IHU-Méditerranée Infection, 19-21 Boulevard Jean Moulin, 13005, Marseille, France.
| | - Philippe Parola
- Aix Marseille University, IRD, AP-HM, SSA, Vecteurs-Infections Tropicales et Méditerranéennes (VITROME), IHU-Méditerranée Infection, 19-21 Boulevard Jean Moulin, 13005, Marseille, France
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24
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Rodríguez Y, Rojas M, Gershwin ME, Anaya JM. Tick-borne diseases and autoimmunity: A comprehensive review. J Autoimmun 2018; 88:21-42. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jaut.2017.11.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2017] [Revised: 11/20/2017] [Accepted: 11/20/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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Lafri I, El Hamzaoui B, Bitam I, Leulmi H, Lalout R, Mediannikov O, Chergui M, Karakellah M, Raoult D, Parola P. Detection of relapsing fever Borrelia spp., Bartonella spp. and Anaplasmataceae bacteria in argasid ticks in Algeria. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2017; 11:e0006064. [PMID: 29145396 PMCID: PMC5708834 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0006064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2017] [Revised: 11/30/2017] [Accepted: 10/22/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Argasid ticks (soft ticks) are blood-feeding arthropods that can parasitize rodents, birds, humans, livestock and companion animals. Ticks of the Ornithodoros genus are known to be vectors of relapsing fever borreliosis in humans. In Algeria, little is known about relapsing fever borreliosis and other bacterial pathogens transmitted by argasid ticks. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Between May 2013 and October 2015, we investigated the presence of soft ticks in 20 rodent burrows, 10 yellow-legged gull (Larus michahellis) nests and animal shelters in six locations in two different bioclimatic zones in Algeria. Six species of argasid ticks were identified morphologically and through 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The presence and prevalence of Borrelia spp., Bartonella spp., Rickettsia spp. and Anaplasmataceae was assessed by qPCR template assays in each specimen. All qPCR-positive samples were confirmed by standard PCR, followed by sequencing the amplified fragments. Two Borrelia species were identified: Borrelia hispanica in Ornithodoros occidentalis in Mostaganem, and Borrelia cf. turicatae in Carios capensis in Algiers. One new Bartonella genotype and one new Anaplasmataceae genotype were also identified in Argas persicus. CONCLUSIONS The present study highlights the presence of relapsing fever borreliosis agents, although this disease is rarely diagnosed in Algeria. Other bacteria of unknown pathogenicity detected in argasid ticks which may bite humans deserve further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ismail Lafri
- Unité de Recherche en Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales Emergentes (URMITE), Aix Marseille Université, UM63, CNRS 7278, IRD 198, Inserm 1095, AP-HM, Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
- Institut des Sciences Vétérinaires, Université Blida 1, Blida, Algeria
| | - Basma El Hamzaoui
- Unité de Recherche en Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales Emergentes (URMITE), Aix Marseille Université, UM63, CNRS 7278, IRD 198, Inserm 1095, AP-HM, Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
| | - Idir Bitam
- Unité de Recherche en Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales Emergentes (URMITE), Aix Marseille Université, UM63, CNRS 7278, IRD 198, Inserm 1095, AP-HM, Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
- Université de Bab Ezzouar, Laboratoire d’Ecologie et Environnement, Algiers, Algeria
- Ecole Supérieure en Sciences de l'Aliment et des Industries Agroalimentaires (ESSAIA), El Harrach, Algiers, Algeria
| | - Hamza Leulmi
- Unité de Recherche en Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales Emergentes (URMITE), Aix Marseille Université, UM63, CNRS 7278, IRD 198, Inserm 1095, AP-HM, Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
- Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire de Toulouse, 23 chemin des capelles Toulouse, France
| | - Reda Lalout
- EPH de Sidi Ali. Mostaganem. Ministère de la santé, de la population et de la réforme hospitalière, Mostaganem, Algeria
| | - Oleg Mediannikov
- Unité de Recherche en Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales Emergentes (URMITE), Aix Marseille Université, UM63, CNRS 7278, IRD 198, Inserm 1095, AP-HM, Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
| | - Mohamed Chergui
- EPH de Sidi Ali. Mostaganem. Ministère de la santé, de la population et de la réforme hospitalière, Mostaganem, Algeria
| | - Mohamed Karakellah
- EPH de Sidi Ali. Mostaganem. Ministère de la santé, de la population et de la réforme hospitalière, Mostaganem, Algeria
| | - Didier Raoult
- Unité de Recherche en Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales Emergentes (URMITE), Aix Marseille Université, UM63, CNRS 7278, IRD 198, Inserm 1095, AP-HM, Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
| | - Philippe Parola
- Unité de Recherche en Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales Emergentes (URMITE), Aix Marseille Université, UM63, CNRS 7278, IRD 198, Inserm 1095, AP-HM, Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
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Marosevic D, Margos G, Wallich R, Wieser A, Sing A, Fingerle V. First insights in the variability of Borrelia recurrentis genomes. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2017; 11:e0005865. [PMID: 28902847 PMCID: PMC5612729 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0005865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2017] [Revised: 09/25/2017] [Accepted: 08/10/2017] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Borrelia recurrentis is the causative agent of louse-borne relapsing fever, endemic to the Horn of Africa. New attention was raised in Europe, with the highest number of cases (n = 45) reported among migrants in 2015 in Germany and sporadically from other European countries. So far only one genome was sequenced, hindering the development of specific molecular diagnostic and typing tools. Here we report on modified culture conditions for B. recurrentis and the intraspecies genome variability of six isolates isolated and cultured in different years in order to explore the possibility to identify new targets for typing and examine the molecular epidemiology of the pathogen. Methodology/Principal findings Two historical isolates from Ethiopia and four isolates from migrants from Somalia (n = 3) and Ethiopia (n = 1) obtained in 2015 were cultured in MPK-medium supplemented with 50% foetal calf serum. Whole DNA was sequenced using Illumina MiSeq technology and analysed using the CLC Genomics Workbench and SPAdes de novo assembler. Compared to the reference B. recurrentis A1 29–38 SNPs were identified in the genome distributed on the chromosome and plasmids. In addition to that, plasmids of differing length, compared to the available reference genome were identified. Conclusions/Significance The observed low genetic variability of B. recurrentis isolates is possibly due to the adaptation to a very conserved vector-host (louse-human) cycle, or influenced by the fastidious nature of the pathogen and their resistance to in vitro growth. Nevertheless, isolates obtained in 2015 were bearing the same chromosomal SNPs and could be distinguished from the historical isolates by means of whole genome sequencing, but not hitherto used typing methods. This is the first study examining the molecular epidemiology of B. recurrentis and provides the necessary background for the development of better diagnostic tools. Louse-borne relapsing fever, as the name suggests, is the only relapsing fever transmitted by lice, and caused by the spirochaete Borrelia recurrentis. Today it is endemic to the Horn of Africa, but due to the cosmopolitan nature of the vector, the pathogen still bears epidemic potential to spread globally among vulnerable populations. The most recent account of that has been observed among migrants arriving to Europe in 2015. Up to date, only one strain was sequenced, thus hampering the development of species-specific typing tools. We employed state-of-the-art high-throughput sequencing to six B. recurrentis isolates obtained at different time-points and currently available in culture. Our aim was to address the question of genome variability of this pathogen at the highest resolution and provide information necessary for the development of specific typing tools. B. recurrentis has highly conserved genomes, differing in 29–38 SNPs compared to the reference genome B. recurrentis A1, all identified outside the loci currently developed and used for relapsing fever Borrelia typing. Therefore, applying these typing methods would render them indistinguishable, while at the SNP level we found a distinction between isolates obtained in 2015 from migrants and the two historical isolates. Our data provide first insights in the genome variability and baseline information necessary for further studies of the molecular epidemiology of the pathogen and for the development of improved diagnostic tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Durdica Marosevic
- German National Reference Centre for Borrelia, Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority (LGL), Oberschleißheim, Germany
- European Programme for Public Health Microbiology Training, European Centre of Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), Stockholm, Sweden
- * E-mail:
| | - Gabriele Margos
- German National Reference Centre for Borrelia, Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority (LGL), Oberschleißheim, Germany
| | | | - Andreas Wieser
- Department of Bacteriology, Max von Pettenkofer Institute (LMU), Munich, Germany
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Medical Center of the University of Munich (LMU), Munich, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Andreas Sing
- German National Reference Centre for Borrelia, Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority (LGL), Oberschleißheim, Germany
| | - Volker Fingerle
- German National Reference Centre for Borrelia, Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority (LGL), Oberschleißheim, Germany
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Naddaf SR, Ghazinezhad B, Kazemirad E, Cutler SJ. Relapsing fever causative agent in Southern Iran is a closely related species to East African borreliae. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2017; 8:882-886. [PMID: 28736193 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2017.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2017] [Revised: 07/07/2017] [Accepted: 07/07/2017] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
We obtained two blood samples from relapsing fever patients residing in Jask County, Hormozgan Province, southern Iran in 2013. Sequencing of a partial fragment of glpQ from two samples, and further characterization of one of them by analyzing flaB gene, and 16S-23S spacer (IGS) revealed the greatest sequence identity with East African borreliae, Borrelia recurrentis, and Borrelia duttonii, and Borrelia microti from Iran. Phylogenetic analyses of glpQ, flaB, and concatenated sequences (glpQ, flab, and IGS) clustered these sequences amongst East African Relapsing fever borreliae and B. microti from Iran. However, the more discriminatory IGS disclosed a unique 8-bp signature (CAGCCTAA) separating these from B. microti and indeed other relapsing fever borreliae. In southern Iran, relapsing fever cases are mostly from localities in which O. erraticus ticks, the notorious vector of B. microti, prevail. There are chances that this argasid tick serves as a host and vector of several closely related species or ecotypes including the one we identified in the present study. The distribution of this Borrelia species remains to be elucidated, but it is assumed to be endemic to lowland areas of the Hormozgan Province, as well as Sistan va Baluchistan in the southeast and South Khorasan (in Persian: Khorasan-e Jonobi) in the east of Iran.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saied Reza Naddaf
- Department of Parasitology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran.
| | | | - Elham Kazemirad
- Department of Parasitology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
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Abstract
Blood parasites are considered some of the most significant pathogens for the conservation of penguins, due to the considerable morbidity and mortality they have been shown to produce in captive and wild populations of these birds. Parasites known to occur in the blood of penguins include haemosporidian protozoans (Plasmodium, Leucocytozoon, Haemoproteus), piroplamid protozoans (Babesia), kinetoplastid protozoans (Trypanosoma), spirochete bacteria (Borrelia) and nematode microfilariae. This review provides a critical and comprehensive assessment of the current knowledge on these parasites, providing an overview of their biology, host and geographic distribution, epidemiology, pathology and implications for public health and conservation.
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Mégraud F, Musso D, Drancourt M, Lehours P. Curved and Spiral Bacilli. Infect Dis (Lond) 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-7020-6285-8.00182-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022] Open
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Keller C, Zumblick M, Streubel K, Eickmann M, Müller D, Kerwat M, Becker S, Gress T. Hemorrhagic Diathesis in Borrelia recurrentis Infection Imported to Germany. Emerg Infect Dis 2016; 22:917-9. [PMID: 27088458 PMCID: PMC4861516 DOI: 10.3201/eid2205.151557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
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Lucchini A, Lipani F, Costa C, Scarvaglieri M, Balbiano R, Carosella S, Calcagno A, Audagnotto S, Barbui AM, Brossa S, Ghisetti V, Dal Conte I, Caramello P, Di Perri G. Louseborne Relapsing Fever among East African Refugees, Italy, 2015. Emerg Infect Dis 2016; 22:298-301. [PMID: 26812354 PMCID: PMC4734540 DOI: 10.3201/eid2202.151768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
During June 9–September 30, 2015, five cases of louseborne relapsing fever were identified in Turin, Italy. All 5 cases were in young refugees from Somalia, 2 of whom had lived in Italy since 2011. Our report seems to confirm the possibility of local transmission of louse-borne relapsing fever.
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Diatta G, Mediannikov O, Boyer S, Sokhna C, Bassène H, Fenollar F, Chauvancy G, Ndiaye AA, Diene F, Parola P, Raoult D. An Alternative Strategy of Preventive Control of Tick-Borne Relapsing Fever in Rural Areas of Sine-Saloum, Senegal. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2016; 95:537-45. [PMID: 27430543 PMCID: PMC5014255 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.15-0776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2015] [Accepted: 06/09/2016] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
In Senegal, tick-borne relapsing fever (TBRF) is a major cause of morbidity and a neglected public health problem. Borreliosis cases commonly detected in two villages led us to implement a borreliosis preventive control including cementing of floors in bedrooms and outbuildings attended by inhabitants to avoid human contacts with tick vectors. Epidemiological and medical monitoring of the TBRF incidence was carried out at Dielmo and Ndiop by testing the blood of febrile patients since 1990 and 1993, respectively. Intra-domiciliary habitat conditions were improved by cementing, coupled with accompanying measures, from March 2013 to September 2015. Application of this strategy was associated with a significant reduction of borreliosis incidence. This was more evident in Dielmo, dropping from 10.55 to 2.63 cases per 100 person-years (P < 0.001), than in Ndiop where it changed from 3.79 to 1.39 cases per 100 person-years (P < 0.001). Thirty-six cases of TBRF were estimated to be prevented at a cost of €526 per infection. The preventive control strategy was successful in Dielmo and Ndiop, being associated with decreased incidence by 89.8% and 81.5%, respectively, suggesting that TBRF may be widely decreased when the population is involved. Public health authorities or any development stakeholders should adopt this effective tool for promoting rural health through national prevention programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georges Diatta
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Unité de Recherche sur les Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales Émergentes (UMR 198 IRD), Campus International de Recherche IRD/UCAD de Hann, Dakar, Senegal
| | - Oleg Mediannikov
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Unité de Recherche sur les Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales Émergentes (UMR 198 IRD), Campus International de Recherche IRD/UCAD de Hann, Dakar, Senegal. Unité de Recherche sur les Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales Émergentes (URMITE), Unité Mixte (UM63), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS 7278), Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD 198), Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM 1095), Aix Marseille Université, Marseille, France
| | - Sylvie Boyer
- Sciences Economiques and Sociales de la Santé and Traitement de l'Information Médicale (SESTIM/INSERM), Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Aix Marseille Université, Marseille, France
| | - Cheikh Sokhna
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Unité de Recherche sur les Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales Émergentes (UMR 198 IRD), Campus International de Recherche IRD/UCAD de Hann, Dakar, Senegal
| | - Hubert Bassène
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Unité de Recherche sur les Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales Émergentes (UMR 198 IRD), Campus International de Recherche IRD/UCAD de Hann, Dakar, Senegal
| | - Florence Fenollar
- Unité de Recherche sur les Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales Émergentes (URMITE), Unité Mixte (UM63), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS 7278), Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD 198), Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM 1095), Aix Marseille Université, Marseille, France
| | - Gilles Chauvancy
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Unité de Recherche sur les Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales Émergentes (UMR 198 IRD), Campus International de Recherche IRD/UCAD de Hann, Dakar, Senegal
| | - Abdoul Aziz Ndiaye
- Département Santé Communautaire, Université Alioune Diop de Bambey, Bambey, Senegal. Service de Santé des Armées, Camp Dial Diop, Dakar, Senegal
| | | | - Philippe Parola
- Unité de Recherche sur les Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales Émergentes (URMITE), Unité Mixte (UM63), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS 7278), Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD 198), Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM 1095), Aix Marseille Université, Marseille, France
| | - Didier Raoult
- Unité de Recherche sur les Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales Émergentes (URMITE), Unité Mixte (UM63), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS 7278), Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD 198), Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM 1095), Aix Marseille Université, Marseille, France.
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Mourembou G, Lekana-Douki JB, Mediannikov O, Nzondo SM, Kouna LC, Essone JCBB, Fenollar F, Raoult D. Possible Role of Rickettsia felis in Acute Febrile Illness among Children in Gabon. Emerg Infect Dis 2016; 21:1808-15. [PMID: 26402580 PMCID: PMC4593428 DOI: 10.3201/eid2110.141825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Infection is widespread but most prevalent among young, rural residents with fever. Rickettsia felis has been reported to be a cause of fever in sub-Saharan Africa, but this association has been poorly evaluated in Gabon. We assessed the prevalence of this bacterium among children <15 years of age in 4 areas of Gabon; the locations were in urban, semiurban, and rural areas. DNA samples from 410 febrile children and 60 afebrile children were analyzed by quantitative PCR. Overall, the prevalence of R. felis among febrile and afebrile children was 10.2% (42/410 children) and 3.3% (2/60 children), respectively. Prevalence differed among febrile children living in areas that are urban (Franceville, 1.3% [1/77]), semiurban (Koulamoutou, 2.1% [3/141]), and rural (Lastourville, 11.2% [15/134]; Fougamou, 39.7% [23/58]). Furthermore, in a rural area (Fougamou), R. felis was significantly more prevalent in febrile (39.7% [23/58]) than afebrile children (5.0% [1/20]). Additional studies are needed to better understand the pathogenic role of R. felis in this part of the world.
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Antinori S, Mediannikov O, Corbellino M, Grande R, Parravicini C, Bestetti G, Longhi E, Ricaboni D, Ehounoud CB, Fenollar F, Raoult D, Rimoldi SG. Louse-Borne Relapsing Fever (Borrelia recurrentis) in a Somali Refugee Arriving in Italy: A Re-emerging Infection in Europe? PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2016; 10:e0004522. [PMID: 27149282 PMCID: PMC4858251 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0004522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Spinello Antinori
- Department of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences Luigi Sacco, University of Milano, Milano, Italy
- III Division of Infectious Diseases, Luigi Sacco Hospital, Milano, Italy
- * E-mail:
| | - Oleg Mediannikov
- Unité de Recherche sur le Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales Emergentes (URMITIE) IRD198, CNRS 7278, INSERM 1095, Institute Hospitalo-Universitaire (IHU) Mediterranee-Infection, Aix-Marseille Université, Faculté de Médecine, Marseille, France
| | - Mario Corbellino
- III Division of Infectious Diseases, Luigi Sacco Hospital, Milano, Italy
| | - Romualdo Grande
- Department of Diagnostic Services, Clinical Microbiology, Virology and Bioemergence Diagnostics, Luigi Sacco Hospital, Milano, Italy
| | - Carlo Parravicini
- Department of Diagnostic Services Pathology Unit, Luigi Sacco Hospital, Milano, Italy
| | - Giovanna Bestetti
- III Division of Infectious Diseases, Luigi Sacco Hospital, Milano, Italy
| | - Erika Longhi
- Department of Diagnostic Services Pathology Unit, Luigi Sacco Hospital, Milano, Italy
| | - Davide Ricaboni
- III Division of Infectious Diseases, Luigi Sacco Hospital, Milano, Italy
| | - Cyrille Bilé Ehounoud
- Unité de Recherche sur le Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales Emergentes (URMITIE) IRD198, CNRS 7278, INSERM 1095, Institute Hospitalo-Universitaire (IHU) Mediterranee-Infection, Aix-Marseille Université, Faculté de Médecine, Marseille, France
| | - Florence Fenollar
- Unité de Recherche sur le Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales Emergentes (URMITIE) IRD198, CNRS 7278, INSERM 1095, Institute Hospitalo-Universitaire (IHU) Mediterranee-Infection, Aix-Marseille Université, Faculté de Médecine, Marseille, France
| | - Didier Raoult
- Unité de Recherche sur le Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales Emergentes (URMITIE) IRD198, CNRS 7278, INSERM 1095, Institute Hospitalo-Universitaire (IHU) Mediterranee-Infection, Aix-Marseille Université, Faculté de Médecine, Marseille, France
| | - Sara Giordana Rimoldi
- Department of Diagnostic Services, Clinical Microbiology, Virology and Bioemergence Diagnostics, Luigi Sacco Hospital, Milano, Italy
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Fingerle V, Pritsch M, Wächtler M, Margos G, Ruske S, Jung J, Löscher T, Wendtner C, Wieser A. "Candidatus Borrelia kalaharica" Detected from a Febrile Traveller Returning to Germany from Vacation in Southern Africa. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2016; 10:e0004559. [PMID: 27031729 PMCID: PMC4816561 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0004559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2015] [Accepted: 02/28/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
A 26 year-old female patient presented to the Tropical Medicine outpatient unit of the Ludwig Maximilians-University in Munich with febrile illness after returning from Southern Africa, where she contracted a bite by a large mite-like arthropod, most likely a soft-tick. Spirochetes were detected in Giemsa stained blood smears and treatment was started with doxycycline for suspected tick-borne relapsing fever. The patient eventually recovered after developing a slight Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction during therapy. PCR reactions performed from EDTA-blood revealed a 16S rRNA sequence with 99.4% similarity to both, Borrelia duttonii, and B. parkeri. Further sequences obtained from the flagellin gene (flaB) demonstrated genetic distances of 0.066 and 0.097 to B. parkeri and B. duttonii, respectively. Fragments of the uvrA gene revealed genetic distance of 0.086 to B. hermsii in genetic analysis and only distant relations with classic Old World relapsing fever species. This revealed the presence of a novel species of tick-borne relapsing fever spirochetes that we propose to name “Candidatus Borrelia kalaharica”, as it was contracted from an arthropod bite in the Kalahari Desert belonging to both, Botswana and Namibia, a region where to our knowledge no relapsing fever has been described so far. Interestingly, the novel species shows more homology to New World relapsing fever Borrelia such as B. parkeri or B. hermsii than to known Old World species such as B. duttonii or B. crocidurae. A patient reported an arthropod bite on her dorsal metatarsal region 2/3 of her anterior foot during a trip to the Kalahari Desert in Southern Africa. Eventually, a rash developed at the site of the bite and high-grade fever started 8 days later. Spirochetes were detected in the blood smear and the patient was treated with the suspected diagnosis of tick-borne relapsing fever. The presence of Borrelia spp. in fresh patient blood could be confirmed using DNA amplification and sequencing techniques. Homology searches of the obtained sequences from 16S rRNA, flaB, and uvrA revealed surprisingly distant relationships to known Borrelia species. It is concluded that the infection was caused by a new species of tick-borne relapsing fever Borrelia capable of infecting humans that we propose to name “Candidatus Borrelia kalaharica”, which is described within this manuscript. The blood sample was discarded after initial analysis; therefore, no successful culture could be obtained.
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Affiliation(s)
- Volker Fingerle
- National Reference Centre for Borrelia, Bayerisches Landesamt für Gesundheit und Lebensmittelsicherheit (LGL), Dienststelle Oberschleißheim, Germany
| | - Michael Pritsch
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Medical Center of the LMU, Munich, Germany
| | - Martin Wächtler
- Department of Haematology, Oncology, Immunology, Palliative Care, Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Klinikum Schwabing, Akademisches Lehrkrankenhaus der Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität und Technischen Universität, Munich, Germany
| | - Gabriele Margos
- National Reference Centre for Borrelia, Bayerisches Landesamt für Gesundheit und Lebensmittelsicherheit (LGL), Dienststelle Oberschleißheim, Germany
| | - Sabine Ruske
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Medical Center of the LMU, Munich, Germany
| | - Jette Jung
- Department of Bacteriology, Max von Pettenkofer-Institute LMU Munich, Germany
| | - Thomas Löscher
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Medical Center of the LMU, Munich, Germany
| | - Clemens Wendtner
- Department of Haematology, Oncology, Immunology, Palliative Care, Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Klinikum Schwabing, Akademisches Lehrkrankenhaus der Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität und Technischen Universität, Munich, Germany
| | - Andreas Wieser
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Medical Center of the LMU, Munich, Germany
- Department of Bacteriology, Max von Pettenkofer-Institute LMU Munich, Germany
- College of Public Health and Medical Science, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia
- * E-mail:
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Zammarchi L, Antonelli A, Bartolini L, Pecile P, Trotta M, Rogasi PG, Santini MG, Dilaghi B, Grifoni S, Rossolini GM, Bartoloni A. Louse-Borne Relapsing Fever with Meningeal Involvement in an Immigrant from Somalia to Italy, October 2015. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2016; 16:352-5. [PMID: 26938933 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2015.1928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Borrelia recurrentis, transmitted by Pediculus humanus humanus, is the etiological agent of louse-borne relapsing fever (LBRF). Currently the main focus of endemicity of LBRF is localized in East African countries. From July 2015 to October 2015, 36 cases of LBRF have been diagnosed in Europe in immigrants from the Horn of Africa. Here we report a case of LBRF with meningitis diagnosed in Florence, Italy, in an immigrant arrived from Somalia. CASE STUDY In October 2015, a 19-year-old Somali male presented to the emergency department of the Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy, with a 3-day history of high fever. The patient had disembarked in Sicily 10 days before admission after a long migration trip from his country of origin. On clinical examination, neck stiffness was found. Main laboratory findings were thrombocytopenia, increased procalcitonin, and increased polymorphonucleates in the cerebrospinal fluid. Suspecting a possible meningitis, the patient was treated with ceftriaxone, pending results of laboratory testing for malaria, and developed severe hypotension that was treated with fluid resuscitation and hydrocortisone. Hemoscopic testing revealed the presence of spirochetes and no malaria parasites. The patient rapidly improved with doxycycline for 7 days and ceftriaxone for 11 days, then was lost to follow-up. Total DNA from blood was extracted, and amplification and sequencing with universal 16S rDNA primers D88 and E94 revealed a 100% identity with B. recurrentis A1. CONCLUSIONS LBRF is a rare but emerging infectious disease among vulnerable displaced immigrants from the Horn of Africa. Since immigrants from endemic areas can carry the vector with them, the infection should be suspected even in subjects with compatible clinical features living in the same place where new arrival immigrants are hosted. Healthcare providers should be aware of this condition to implement adequate diagnostic, therapeutic, and public health measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorenzo Zammarchi
- 1 Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale e Clinica, Università di Firenze , Florence, Italy .,2 SOD Malattie Infettive e Tropicali, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Careggi , Florence, Italy
| | - Alberto Antonelli
- 1 Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale e Clinica, Università di Firenze , Florence, Italy .,3 Dipartimento di Biotecnologie Mediche, Università di Siena , Siena, Italy
| | - Laura Bartolini
- 4 SOD Microbiologia e Virologia, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Careggi , Florence, Italy
| | - Patrizia Pecile
- 4 SOD Microbiologia e Virologia, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Careggi , Florence, Italy
| | - Michele Trotta
- 2 SOD Malattie Infettive e Tropicali, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Careggi , Florence, Italy
| | - Pier Giorgio Rogasi
- 2 SOD Malattie Infettive e Tropicali, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Careggi , Florence, Italy
| | | | - Beatrice Dilaghi
- 6 Dipartimento di Medicina d'Urgenza, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Careggi , Florence, Italy
| | - Stefano Grifoni
- 6 Dipartimento di Medicina d'Urgenza, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Careggi , Florence, Italy
| | - Gian Maria Rossolini
- 1 Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale e Clinica, Università di Firenze , Florence, Italy .,3 Dipartimento di Biotecnologie Mediche, Università di Siena , Siena, Italy .,4 SOD Microbiologia e Virologia, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Careggi , Florence, Italy .,7 I.R.C.C.S. Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi , Florence, Italy
| | - Alessandro Bartoloni
- 1 Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale e Clinica, Università di Firenze , Florence, Italy .,2 SOD Malattie Infettive e Tropicali, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Careggi , Florence, Italy
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Johnson TL, Landguth EL, Stone EF. Modeling Relapsing Disease Dynamics in a Host-Vector Community. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2016; 10:e0004428. [PMID: 26910884 PMCID: PMC4765964 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0004428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2015] [Accepted: 01/13/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Vector-borne diseases represent a threat to human and wildlife populations and mathematical models provide a means to understand and control epidemics involved in complex host-vector systems. The disease model studied here is a host-vector system with a relapsing class of host individuals, used to investigate tick-borne relapsing fever (TBRF). Equilibrium analysis is performed for models with increasing numbers of relapses and multiple hosts and the disease reproduction number, R0, is generalized to establish relationships with parameters that would result in the elimination of the disease. We show that host relapses in a single competent host-vector system is needed to maintain an endemic state. We show that the addition of an incompetent second host with no relapses increases the number of relapses needed for maintaining the pathogen in the first competent host system. Further, coupling of the system with hosts of differing competencies will always reduce R0, making it more difficult for the system to reach an endemic state. An important development in the study of infectious diseases is the application of mathematical models to understand the interplay between various factors that determine epidemiological processes. Vector-borne diseases are additionally complex with interactions between multiple host and vector species. Understanding the transmission dynamics of vector-borne diseases is an important step towards controlling outbreaks and mitigating human infection risk. Identifying the biotic and abiotic interactions and mechanisms that may contribute to disease emergence, establishment and persistence is necessary for assessing current and future disease risk, as well as developing effective control strategies. Tick-borne relapsing fever (TBRF) is found around the world and is caused by several species of Borrelia spirochetes, which are vectored by soft ticks of the genus Ornithodoros. TBRF is a cryptic disease that still causes significant morbidity and mortality, especially in some African countries. Here, we develop and adapt a compartmentalized mathematical model (SIR) with a relapsing component to investigate the dynamics of TBRF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tammi L. Johnson
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Erin L. Landguth
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana, United States of America
| | - Emily F. Stone
- Department of Mathematical Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana, United States of America
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Antinori S, Mediannikov O, Corbellino M, Raoult D. Louse-borne relapsing fever among East African refugees in Europe. Travel Med Infect Dis 2016; 14:110-4. [PMID: 26872415 DOI: 10.1016/j.tmaid.2016.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2015] [Revised: 01/19/2016] [Accepted: 01/20/2016] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Louse-borne relapsing fever a neglected and forgotten disease by western physicians has recently re-emerged among East African migrants seeking asylum in Europe. We review here the cases observed so far together with a critical reappraisal of several issues regarding clinical presentation, diagnosis and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Spinello Antinori
- Department of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences Luigi Sacco, University of Milano, Italy; III Division of Infectious Diseases, Luigi Sacco Hospital, Milano, Italy.
| | - Oleg Mediannikov
- Aix-Marseille Université, URMITE, UM63, CNRS 7278, IRD 198, Inserm U1095, Faculté de Médecine, Marseille, France.
| | - Mario Corbellino
- Department of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences Luigi Sacco, University of Milano, Italy; III Division of Infectious Diseases, Luigi Sacco Hospital, Milano, Italy.
| | - Didier Raoult
- Aix-Marseille Université, URMITE, UM63, CNRS 7278, IRD 198, Inserm U1095, Faculté de Médecine, Marseille, France.
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Fotso Fotso A, Mediannikov O, Nappez C, Azza S, Raoult D, Drancourt M. Monoclonal Antibodies for the Diagnosis of Borrelia crocidurae. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2015; 94:61-67. [PMID: 26598566 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.15-0436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2015] [Accepted: 10/02/2015] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Relapsing fever borreliae, produced by ectoparasite-borne Borrelia species, cause mild to deadly bacteremia and miscarriage. In the perspective of developing inexpensive assays for the rapid detection of relapsing fever borreliae, we produced 12 monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against Borrelia crocidurae and characterized the two exhibiting the highest titers. P3A10 MAb reacts with the 35.6-kDa flagellin B (flaB) of B. crocidurae while P6D9 MAb recognizes a 35.1-kDa variable-like protein (Vlp) in B. crocidurae and a 35.2-kDa Vlp in Borrelia duttonii. Indirect immunofluorescence assay incorporating relapsing fever and Lyme group borreliae and 11 blood-borne organisms responsible for fever in West Africa confirmed the reactivity of these two MAbs. Combining these two MAbs in indirect immunofluorescence assays detected relapsing fever borreliae including B. crocidurae in ticks and the blood of febrile Senegalese patients. Both antibodies could be incorporated into inexpensive and stable formats suited for the rapid point-of-care diagnosis of relapsing fever. These first-ever MAbs directed against African relapsing fever borreliae are available for the scientific community to promote research in this neglected field.
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Fotso Fotso A, Drancourt M. Laboratory Diagnosis of Tick-Borne African Relapsing Fevers: Latest Developments. Front Public Health 2015; 3:254. [PMID: 26618151 PMCID: PMC4641162 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2015.00254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2015] [Accepted: 10/29/2015] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
In Africa, relapsing fevers caused by ectoparasite-borne Borrelia species are transmitted by ticks, with the exception of Borrelia recurrentis, which is a louse-borne spirochete. These tropical diseases are responsible for mild to deadly spirochetemia. Cultured Borrelia crocidurae, Borrelia duttonii, and Borrelia hispanica circulate alongside at least six species that have not yet been cultured in vectors. Direct diagnosis is hindered by the use of non-specific laboratory tools. Indeed, microscopic observation of Borrelia spirochaeta in smears of peripheral blood taken from febrile patients lacks sensitivity and specificity. Although best visualized using dark-field microscopy, the organisms can also be detected using Wright–Giemsa or acridine orange stains. PCR-based detection of specific sequences in total DNA extracted from a specimen can be used to discriminate different relapsing fever Borreliae. In our laboratory, we developed a multiplex real-time PCR assay for the specific detection of B. duttonii/recurrentis and B. crocidurae: multispacer sequence typing accurately identified cultured relapsing fever borreliae and revealed diversity among them. Other molecular typing techniques, such as multilocus sequence analysis of tick-borne relapsing fever borreliae, showed the potential risk of human infection in Africa. Recent efforts to culture and sequence relapsing fever borreliae have provided new information for reassessment of the diversity of these bacteria. Recently, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry has been reported as a means of identifying cultured borreliae and of identifying both vectors and vectorized pathogens such as detecting relapsing fever borreliae directly in ticks. The lack of a rapid diagnosis test restricts the management of such diseases. We produced monoclonal antibodies against B. crocidurae in order to develop cheap assays for the rapid detection of relapsing fever borreliae. In this paper, we review point-of-care diagnosis and confirmatory methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aurélien Fotso Fotso
- Aix Marseille Université, URMITE, UMR 6236, CNRS 7278, IRD 198, INSERM 1095, IFR 48, Méditerranée Infection, Faculté de Médecine , Marseille , France
| | - Michel Drancourt
- Aix Marseille Université, URMITE, UMR 6236, CNRS 7278, IRD 198, INSERM 1095, IFR 48, Méditerranée Infection, Faculté de Médecine , Marseille , France
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Fotso Fotso A, Angelakis E, Mouffok N, Drancourt M, Raoult D. Blood-Borne Candidatus Borrelia algerica in a Patient with Prolonged Fever in Oran, Algeria. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2015; 93:1070-3. [PMID: 26416117 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.15-0124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2015] [Accepted: 06/03/2015] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
To improve the knowledge base of Borrelia in north Africa, we tested 257 blood samples collected from febrile patients in Oran, Algeria, between January and December 2012 for Borrelia species using flagellin gene polymerase chain reaction sequencing. A sequence indicative of a new Borrelia sp. named Candidatus Borrelia algerica was detected in one blood sample. Further multispacer sequence typing indicated this Borrelia sp. had 97% similarity with Borrelia crocidurae, Borrelia duttonii, and Borrelia recurrentis. In silico comparison of Candidatus B. algerica spacer sequences with those of Borrelia hispanica and Borrelia garinii revealed 94% and 89% similarity, respectively. Candidatus B. algerica is a new relapsing fever Borrelia sp. detected in Oran. Further studies may help predict its epidemiological importance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aurélien Fotso Fotso
- Unité de Recherche en Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales Emergentes (URMITE), UMR 6236, CNRS 7278, IRD 198, INSERM 1095, IFR 48, Méditerranée Infection, Faculté de Médecine, Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, France; Service des Maladies Infectieuses, Centre Hospitalo-Universitaire d'Oran, Oran, Algeria
| | - Emmanouil Angelakis
- Unité de Recherche en Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales Emergentes (URMITE), UMR 6236, CNRS 7278, IRD 198, INSERM 1095, IFR 48, Méditerranée Infection, Faculté de Médecine, Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, France; Service des Maladies Infectieuses, Centre Hospitalo-Universitaire d'Oran, Oran, Algeria
| | - Nadjet Mouffok
- Unité de Recherche en Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales Emergentes (URMITE), UMR 6236, CNRS 7278, IRD 198, INSERM 1095, IFR 48, Méditerranée Infection, Faculté de Médecine, Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, France; Service des Maladies Infectieuses, Centre Hospitalo-Universitaire d'Oran, Oran, Algeria
| | - Michel Drancourt
- Unité de Recherche en Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales Emergentes (URMITE), UMR 6236, CNRS 7278, IRD 198, INSERM 1095, IFR 48, Méditerranée Infection, Faculté de Médecine, Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, France; Service des Maladies Infectieuses, Centre Hospitalo-Universitaire d'Oran, Oran, Algeria
| | - Didier Raoult
- Unité de Recherche en Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales Emergentes (URMITE), UMR 6236, CNRS 7278, IRD 198, INSERM 1095, IFR 48, Méditerranée Infection, Faculté de Médecine, Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, France; Service des Maladies Infectieuses, Centre Hospitalo-Universitaire d'Oran, Oran, Algeria
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Elbir H, FotsoFotso A, Diatta G, Trape JF, Arnathau C, Renaud F, Durand P. Ubiquitous bacteria Borrelia crocidurae in Western African ticks Ornithodoros sonrai. Parasit Vectors 2015; 8:477. [PMID: 26382232 PMCID: PMC4574609 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-015-1089-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2015] [Accepted: 09/09/2015] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background In West Africa, tick-borne relapsing fever is a neglected arthropod-borne infection caused by Borrelia crocidurae transmitted by the argasid tick Ornithodoros sonrai. From an epidemiological point of view, it is of interest to know whether some genotypes of the vector are specialized in carrying certain genotypes of the pathogen. Findings Thirty-five O. sonrai ticks collected in Mali, Senegal, Mauritania and Morocco confirmed to be B. crocidurae-infected, were genotyped by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. B. crocidurae was genotyped by Multispacer Sequence Typing. The 35 O. sonrai ticks grouped into 12 genotypes with strong geographical structuration. MST resolved the 35 B. crocidurae isolates into 29 genotypes with pairwise divergence of 0.09 - 1.56 % without strict geographical structuration as genotype ST22 was found in Mali, Senegal and Mauritania. There was no evidence of tick-borrelia specialization as one O. sonrai genotype carried several B. crocidurae genotypes and one B. crocidurae genotype was found in different O. sonrai genotypes. Conclusions This report illustrates a non-specialized circulation of B. crocidurae borreliae within O. sonrai ticks in West Africa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haitham Elbir
- Aix Marseille, Université, Unité de Recherche sur les Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales Emergentes (URMITE), UMR CNRS 7278, IRD 198, INSERM 1095, Marseille, France
| | - Aurélien FotsoFotso
- Aix Marseille, Université, Unité de Recherche sur les Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales Emergentes (URMITE), UMR CNRS 7278, IRD 198, INSERM 1095, Marseille, France
| | - Georges Diatta
- Aix Marseille, Université, Unité de Recherche sur les Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales Emergentes (URMITE), UMR CNRS 7278, IRD 198, INSERM 1095, Marseille, France.,Campus commun UCAD-IRD d'Hann, Dakar, Senegal
| | - Jean François Trape
- MIVEGEC, UMR-CNRS 5290, IRD 224, Parasitologie-Mycologie, CHRU Site Balmès, Montpellier, France.,Campus commun UCAD-IRD d'Hann, Dakar, Senegal
| | - Céline Arnathau
- MIVEGEC, UMR-CNRS 5290, IRD 224, Parasitologie-Mycologie, CHRU Site Balmès, Montpellier, France
| | - François Renaud
- MIVEGEC, UMR-CNRS 5290, IRD 224, Parasitologie-Mycologie, CHRU Site Balmès, Montpellier, France
| | - Patrick Durand
- MIVEGEC, UMR-CNRS 5290, IRD 224, Parasitologie-Mycologie, CHRU Site Balmès, Montpellier, France.
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Current and past strategies for bacterial culture in clinical microbiology. Clin Microbiol Rev 2015; 28:208-36. [PMID: 25567228 DOI: 10.1128/cmr.00110-14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 281] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
A pure bacterial culture remains essential for the study of its virulence, its antibiotic susceptibility, and its genome sequence in order to facilitate the understanding and treatment of caused diseases. The first culture conditions empirically varied incubation time, nutrients, atmosphere, and temperature; culture was then gradually abandoned in favor of molecular methods. The rebirth of culture in clinical microbiology was prompted by microbiologists specializing in intracellular bacteria. The shell vial procedure allowed the culture of new species of Rickettsia. The design of axenic media for growing fastidious bacteria such as Tropheryma whipplei and Coxiella burnetii and the ability of amoebal coculture to discover new bacteria constituted major advances. Strong efforts associating optimized culture media, detection methods, and a microaerophilic atmosphere allowed a dramatic decrease of the time of Mycobacterium tuberculosis culture. The use of a new versatile medium allowed an extension of the repertoire of archaea. Finally, to optimize the culture of anaerobes in routine bacteriology laboratories, the addition of antioxidants in culture media under an aerobic atmosphere allowed the growth of strictly anaerobic species. Nevertheless, among usual bacterial pathogens, the development of axenic media for the culture of Treponema pallidum or Mycobacterium leprae remains an important challenge that the patience and innovations of cultivators will enable them to overcome.
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Mourembou G, Fenollar F, Socolovschi C, Lemamy GJ, Nzoughe H, Kouna LC, Toure-Ndouo F, Million M, Mbiguino AN, Lekana-Douki JB, Raoult D. Molecular Detection of Fastidious and Common Bacteria as Well as Plasmodium spp. in Febrile and Afebrile Children in Franceville, Gabon. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2015; 92:926-32. [PMID: 25802432 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.14-0699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2014] [Accepted: 02/07/2015] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Malaria was considered as the main cause of fever in Africa. However, with the roll back malaria initiative, the causes of fever in Africa may change. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of bacteria and Plasmodium spp. in febrile and afebrile (controls) children from Franceville, Gabon. About 793 blood samples from febrile children and 100 from controls were analyzed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) coupled with sequencing. Plasmodium spp. was the microorganism most detected in febrile (74.5%, 591/793) and controls (13%, 13/100), P < 0.0001. Its coinfection with bacteria was found only in febrile children (P = 0.0001). Staphylococcus aureus was the most prevalent bacterium in febrile children (2.8%, 22/793) and controls (3%, 3/100). Eight cases of Salmonella spp. (including two Salmonella enterica serovar Paratyphi) and two of Streptococcus pneumoniae were found only among febrile children. Borrelia spp. was found in 2 controls while Rickettsia felis was detected in 10 children (in 8 febriles and 2 afebriles). No DNA of other targeted microorganisms was detected. Plasmodium spp. remains prevalent while Salmonella spp., Staphylococcus aureus, and Streptococcus pneumoniae were common bacteria in Gabon. Two fastidious bacteria, Rickettsia felis and Borrelia spp., were found. Inclusion of controls should improve the understanding of the causes of fever in sub-Saharan Africa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaël Mourembou
- URMITE, Aix Marseille Université, Marseille, France; Unité de Parasitologie Médicale (UPARAM) CIRMF, Franceville, Gabon; Ecole Doctorale Régionale d'Afrique Centrale, Franceville, Gabon; Département de Biologie Cellulaire et Génétique, Université des Science de la Santé, Libreville, Gabon; Département de Parasitologie Mycologie et de Médecine Tropicale, Université des Science de la Santé, Libreville, Gabon; Département de Microbiologie, Laboratoire National de Référence IST/sida, Faculté de Médecine, Université des Sciences de la Santé, Libreville, Gabon
| | - Florence Fenollar
- URMITE, Aix Marseille Université, Marseille, France; Unité de Parasitologie Médicale (UPARAM) CIRMF, Franceville, Gabon; Ecole Doctorale Régionale d'Afrique Centrale, Franceville, Gabon; Département de Biologie Cellulaire et Génétique, Université des Science de la Santé, Libreville, Gabon; Département de Parasitologie Mycologie et de Médecine Tropicale, Université des Science de la Santé, Libreville, Gabon; Département de Microbiologie, Laboratoire National de Référence IST/sida, Faculté de Médecine, Université des Sciences de la Santé, Libreville, Gabon
| | - Cristina Socolovschi
- URMITE, Aix Marseille Université, Marseille, France; Unité de Parasitologie Médicale (UPARAM) CIRMF, Franceville, Gabon; Ecole Doctorale Régionale d'Afrique Centrale, Franceville, Gabon; Département de Biologie Cellulaire et Génétique, Université des Science de la Santé, Libreville, Gabon; Département de Parasitologie Mycologie et de Médecine Tropicale, Université des Science de la Santé, Libreville, Gabon; Département de Microbiologie, Laboratoire National de Référence IST/sida, Faculté de Médecine, Université des Sciences de la Santé, Libreville, Gabon
| | - Guy Joseph Lemamy
- URMITE, Aix Marseille Université, Marseille, France; Unité de Parasitologie Médicale (UPARAM) CIRMF, Franceville, Gabon; Ecole Doctorale Régionale d'Afrique Centrale, Franceville, Gabon; Département de Biologie Cellulaire et Génétique, Université des Science de la Santé, Libreville, Gabon; Département de Parasitologie Mycologie et de Médecine Tropicale, Université des Science de la Santé, Libreville, Gabon; Département de Microbiologie, Laboratoire National de Référence IST/sida, Faculté de Médecine, Université des Sciences de la Santé, Libreville, Gabon
| | - Hermann Nzoughe
- URMITE, Aix Marseille Université, Marseille, France; Unité de Parasitologie Médicale (UPARAM) CIRMF, Franceville, Gabon; Ecole Doctorale Régionale d'Afrique Centrale, Franceville, Gabon; Département de Biologie Cellulaire et Génétique, Université des Science de la Santé, Libreville, Gabon; Département de Parasitologie Mycologie et de Médecine Tropicale, Université des Science de la Santé, Libreville, Gabon; Département de Microbiologie, Laboratoire National de Référence IST/sida, Faculté de Médecine, Université des Sciences de la Santé, Libreville, Gabon
| | - Lady Charlene Kouna
- URMITE, Aix Marseille Université, Marseille, France; Unité de Parasitologie Médicale (UPARAM) CIRMF, Franceville, Gabon; Ecole Doctorale Régionale d'Afrique Centrale, Franceville, Gabon; Département de Biologie Cellulaire et Génétique, Université des Science de la Santé, Libreville, Gabon; Département de Parasitologie Mycologie et de Médecine Tropicale, Université des Science de la Santé, Libreville, Gabon; Département de Microbiologie, Laboratoire National de Référence IST/sida, Faculté de Médecine, Université des Sciences de la Santé, Libreville, Gabon
| | - Fousseyni Toure-Ndouo
- URMITE, Aix Marseille Université, Marseille, France; Unité de Parasitologie Médicale (UPARAM) CIRMF, Franceville, Gabon; Ecole Doctorale Régionale d'Afrique Centrale, Franceville, Gabon; Département de Biologie Cellulaire et Génétique, Université des Science de la Santé, Libreville, Gabon; Département de Parasitologie Mycologie et de Médecine Tropicale, Université des Science de la Santé, Libreville, Gabon; Département de Microbiologie, Laboratoire National de Référence IST/sida, Faculté de Médecine, Université des Sciences de la Santé, Libreville, Gabon
| | - Matthieu Million
- URMITE, Aix Marseille Université, Marseille, France; Unité de Parasitologie Médicale (UPARAM) CIRMF, Franceville, Gabon; Ecole Doctorale Régionale d'Afrique Centrale, Franceville, Gabon; Département de Biologie Cellulaire et Génétique, Université des Science de la Santé, Libreville, Gabon; Département de Parasitologie Mycologie et de Médecine Tropicale, Université des Science de la Santé, Libreville, Gabon; Département de Microbiologie, Laboratoire National de Référence IST/sida, Faculté de Médecine, Université des Sciences de la Santé, Libreville, Gabon
| | - Angelique Ndjoyi Mbiguino
- URMITE, Aix Marseille Université, Marseille, France; Unité de Parasitologie Médicale (UPARAM) CIRMF, Franceville, Gabon; Ecole Doctorale Régionale d'Afrique Centrale, Franceville, Gabon; Département de Biologie Cellulaire et Génétique, Université des Science de la Santé, Libreville, Gabon; Département de Parasitologie Mycologie et de Médecine Tropicale, Université des Science de la Santé, Libreville, Gabon; Département de Microbiologie, Laboratoire National de Référence IST/sida, Faculté de Médecine, Université des Sciences de la Santé, Libreville, Gabon
| | - Jean Bernard Lekana-Douki
- URMITE, Aix Marseille Université, Marseille, France; Unité de Parasitologie Médicale (UPARAM) CIRMF, Franceville, Gabon; Ecole Doctorale Régionale d'Afrique Centrale, Franceville, Gabon; Département de Biologie Cellulaire et Génétique, Université des Science de la Santé, Libreville, Gabon; Département de Parasitologie Mycologie et de Médecine Tropicale, Université des Science de la Santé, Libreville, Gabon; Département de Microbiologie, Laboratoire National de Référence IST/sida, Faculté de Médecine, Université des Sciences de la Santé, Libreville, Gabon
| | - Didier Raoult
- URMITE, Aix Marseille Université, Marseille, France; Unité de Parasitologie Médicale (UPARAM) CIRMF, Franceville, Gabon; Ecole Doctorale Régionale d'Afrique Centrale, Franceville, Gabon; Département de Biologie Cellulaire et Génétique, Université des Science de la Santé, Libreville, Gabon; Département de Parasitologie Mycologie et de Médecine Tropicale, Université des Science de la Santé, Libreville, Gabon; Département de Microbiologie, Laboratoire National de Référence IST/sida, Faculté de Médecine, Université des Sciences de la Santé, Libreville, Gabon
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Transstadial transmission of Borrelia turcica in Hyalomma aegyptium ticks. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0115520. [PMID: 25695663 PMCID: PMC4335052 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0115520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2014] [Accepted: 11/25/2014] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Borrelia turcica comprises the third major group of arthropod-transmitted borreliae and is phylogenetically divergent from other Borrelia groups. The novel group of Borrelia was initially isolated from Hyalomma aegyptium ticks in Turkey and it was recently found in blood and multiple organs of tortoises exported from Jordan to Japan. However, the ecology of these spirochetes and their development in ticks or the vertebrate hosts were not investigated in detail; our aims were to isolate the pathogen and to evaluate the possibility of transstadial transmission of Borrelia turcica by H. aegyptium ticks. Ticks were collected from Testudo graeca tortoises during the summer of 2013 from southeastern Romania. Engorged nymphs were successfully molted to the adult stage. Alive B. turcica was isolated from molted ticks by using Barbour-Stoenner-Kelly (BSK) II medium. Four pure cultures of spirochetes were obtained and analyzed by PCR and sequencing. Sequence analysis of glpQ, gyrB and flaB revealed 98%–100% similarities with B. turcica. H. aegyptium ticks collected from T. graeca tortoises were able to pass the infection with B. turcica via transstadial route, suggesting its vectorial capacity.
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Genome Sequence of Borrelia crocidurae Strain 03-02, a Clinical Isolate from Senegal. GENOME ANNOUNCEMENTS 2014; 2:2/6/e01150-14. [PMID: 25377717 PMCID: PMC4223468 DOI: 10.1128/genomea.01150-14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The draft genome sequence of Borrelia crocidurae strain 03-02, a blood isolate from a febrile Senegalese patient, comprises a 920,021-bp linear chromosome (27.7% G+C content), 32 tRNAs, 818 open reading frames, and one cluster of regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats. Its genotype differs from that of the Achema reference strain.
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Fotso Fotso A, Mediannikov O, Diatta G, Almeras L, Flaudrops C, Parola P, Drancourt M. MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry detection of pathogens in vectors: the Borrelia crocidurae/Ornithodoros sonrai paradigm. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2014; 8:e2984. [PMID: 25058611 PMCID: PMC4109908 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0002984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2014] [Accepted: 05/14/2014] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In Africa, relapsing fever borreliae are neglected vector-borne pathogens that cause mild to deadly septicemia and miscarriage. Screening vectors for the presence of borreliae currently requires technically demanding, time- and resource-consuming molecular methods. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) has recently emerged as a tool for the rapid identification of vectors and the identification of cultured borreliae. We investigated whether MALDI-TOF-MS could detect relapsing fever borreliae directly in ticks. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS As a first step, a Borrelia MALDI-TOF-MS database was created to house the newly determined Mean Spectrum Projections for four Lyme disease group and ten relapsing fever group reference borreliae. MALDI-TOF-MS yielded a unique protein profile for each of the 14 tested Borrelia species, with 100% reproducibility over 12 repeats. In a second proof-of-concept step, the Borrelia database and a custom software program that subtracts the uninfected O. sonrai profile were used to detect Borrelia crocidurae in 20 Ornithodoros sonrai ticks, including eight ticks that tested positive for B. crocidurae by PCR-sequencing. A B. crocidurae-specific pattern consisting of 3405, 5071, 5898, 7041, 8580 and 9757-m/z peaks was found in all B. crocidurae-infected ticks and not found in any of the un-infected ticks. In a final blind validation step, MALDI-TOF-MS exhibited 88.9% sensitivity and 93.75% specificity for the detection of B. crocidurae in 50 O. sonrai ticks, including 18 that tested positive for B. crocidurae by PCR-sequencing. MALDI-TOF-MS took 45 minutes to be completed. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE After the development of an appropriate database, MALDI-TOF-MS can be used to identify tick species and the presence of relapsing fever borreliae in a single assay. This work paves the way for the use of MALDI-TOF-MS for the dual identification of vectors and vectorized pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aurélien Fotso Fotso
- URMITE, UMR 6236, CNRS 7278, IRD 198, INSERM 1095, Méditerranée Infection, Faculté de Médecine, Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, France
| | - Oleg Mediannikov
- URMITE, UMR 6236, CNRS 7278, IRD 198, INSERM 1095, Méditerranée Infection, Faculté de Médecine, Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, France; URMITE, UMR, IRD 198, Campus IRD Ham Manisty, Dakar, Senegal
| | - Georges Diatta
- URMITE, UMR, IRD 198, Campus IRD Ham Manisty, Dakar, Senegal
| | - Lionel Almeras
- URMITE, UMR 6236, CNRS 7278, IRD 198, INSERM 1095, Méditerranée Infection, Faculté de Médecine, Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, France
| | - Christophe Flaudrops
- Pôle de Maladies Infectieuses, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Marseille, CHU Timone, Marseille, France
| | - Philippe Parola
- URMITE, UMR 6236, CNRS 7278, IRD 198, INSERM 1095, Méditerranée Infection, Faculté de Médecine, Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, France
| | - Michel Drancourt
- URMITE, UMR 6236, CNRS 7278, IRD 198, INSERM 1095, Méditerranée Infection, Faculté de Médecine, Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, France
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Elbir H, Abi-Rached L, Pontarotti P, Yoosuf N, Drancourt M. African relapsing Fever borreliae genomospecies revealed by comparative genomics. Front Public Health 2014; 2:43. [PMID: 25229054 PMCID: PMC4157404 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2014.00043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2014] [Accepted: 04/29/2014] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Relapsing fever borreliae are vector-borne bacteria responsible for febrile infection in humans in North America, Africa, Asia, and in the Iberian Peninsula in Europe. Relapsing fever borreliae are phylogenetically closely related, yet they differ in pathogenicity and vectors. Their long-term taxonomy, based on geography and vector grouping, needs to be re-apprised in a genomic context. We therefore embarked into genomic analyses of relapsing fever borreliae, focusing on species found in Africa. Results: Genome-wide phylogenetic analyses group Old World Borrelia crocidurae, Borrelia hispanica, B. duttonii, and B. recurrentis in one clade, and New World Borrelia turicatae and Borrelia hermsii in a second clade. Accordingly, average nucleotide identity is 99% among B. duttonii, B. recurrentis, and B. crocidurae and 96% between latter borreliae and B. hispanica while the similarity is 86% between Old World and New World borreliae. Comparative genomics indicates that the Old World relapsing fever B. duttonii, B. recurrentis, B. crocidurae, and B. hispanica have a 2,514-gene pan genome and a 933-gene core genome that includes 788 chromosomal and 145 plasmidic genes. Analyzing the role that natural selection has played in the evolution of Old World borreliae species revealed that 55 loci were under positive diversifying selection, including loci coding for membrane, flagellar, and chemotaxis proteins, three categories associated with adaption to specific niches. Conclusion: Genomic analyses led to a reappraisal of the taxonomy of relapsing fever borreliae in Africa. These analyses suggest that B. crocidurae, B. duttonii, and B. recurrentis are ecotypes of a unique genomospecies, while B. hispanica is a distinct species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haitham Elbir
- URMITE, UMR63, CNRS 7278, IRD 198, INSERM 1095, Aix Marseille Université , Marseille , France
| | - Laurent Abi-Rached
- Equipe ATIP, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Laboratoire d'Analyse, Topologie, Probabilités - Unité Mixte de Recherche 7353, Aix Marseille Université , Marseille , France
| | - Pierre Pontarotti
- Equipe EBM, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Laboratoire d'Analyse, Topologie, Probabilités - Unité Mixte de Recherche 7353, Aix-Marseille Université , Marseille , France
| | - Niyaz Yoosuf
- URMITE, UMR63, CNRS 7278, IRD 198, INSERM 1095, Aix Marseille Université , Marseille , France
| | - Michel Drancourt
- URMITE, UMR63, CNRS 7278, IRD 198, INSERM 1095, Aix Marseille Université , Marseille , France
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