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Bermúdez C SE, Félix ML, Domínguez A L, Araúz D, Venzal JM. Molecular screening of tick-borne microorganisms in ticks from rural areas of Panama, with the first record of Ehrlichia minasensis in Rhipicephalus microplus from Central America. Vet Res Commun 2024; 48:1301-1308. [PMID: 38221589 DOI: 10.1007/s11259-024-10306-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 01/16/2024]
Abstract
During a molecular screening of rickettsial, borrelial and protozoal agents in ticks from rural areas of Panama, we detected DNA of Rickettsia amblyommatis in four Amblyomma mixtum collected from horses in a locality in Los Santos province. Ehrlichia minasensis and Anaplasma marginale were identified from three and two Rhipicephalus microplus, respectively, collected on cows from Chiriqui province. No DNA from other tick-borne agents was found. These results increase the information of R. amblyommatis and A. marginale in Panama, and also mark the first record of E. minasensis in Central America.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergio E Bermúdez C
- Departamento de Investigación en Entomología Médica, Instituto Conmemorativo Gorgas de Estudios de la Salud, Avenida Justo Arosemena y Calle 35, Ciudad de Panamá, Panamá, Panama.
- Programa de Desarrollo de las Ciencias Básicas (PEDEClBA), Universidad de la República, Rivera, Salto, Uruguay.
| | - María L Félix
- Laboratorio de Vectores y Enfermedades Transmitidas, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, CENUR Litoral Norte, Universidad de la República, Rivera, Salto, Uruguay
| | - Lillian Domínguez A
- Departamento de Investigación en Entomología Médica, Instituto Conmemorativo Gorgas de Estudios de la Salud, Avenida Justo Arosemena y Calle 35, Ciudad de Panamá, Panamá, Panama
| | - Dimelza Araúz
- Departamento Investigación en Virología y Biotecnología, Instituto Conmemorativo Gorgas de Estudios de la Salud, Ciudad de Panamá, Panamá, Panama
| | - José M Venzal
- Laboratorio de Vectores y Enfermedades Transmitidas, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, CENUR Litoral Norte, Universidad de la República, Rivera, Salto, Uruguay
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2
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Carrera JP, Araúz D, Rojas A, Cardozo F, Stittleburg V, Morales Claro I, Galue J, Lezcano-Coba C, Romero Rebello Moreira F, -Rivera LF, Chen-Germán M, Moreno B, Capitan-Barrios Z, López-Vergès S, Pascale JM, Sabino EC, Valderrama A, Hanley KA, Donnelly CA, Vasilakis N, Faria NR, Waggoner JJ. Real-time RT-PCR for Venezuelan equine encephalitis complex, Madariaga, and Eastern equine encephalitis viruses: application in human and mosquito public health surveillance in Panama. J Clin Microbiol 2023; 61:e0015223. [PMID: 37982611 PMCID: PMC10729654 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.00152-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 11/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV), Madariaga virus (MADV), and Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus complex (VEEV) are New World alphaviruses transmitted by mosquitoes. They cause febrile and sometimes severe neurological diseases in human and equine hosts. Detecting them during the acute phase is hindered by non-specific symptoms and limited diagnostic tools. We designed and clinically assessed real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction assays (rRT-PCRs) for VEEV complex, MADV, and EEEV using whole-genome sequences. Validation involved 15 retrospective serum samples from 2015 to 2017 outbreaks, 150 mosquito pools from 2015, and 118 prospective samples from 2021 to 2022 surveillance in Panama. The rRT-PCRs detected VEEV complex RNA in 10 samples (66.7%) from outbreaks, with one having both VEEV complex and MADV RNAs. VEEV complex RNA was found in five suspected dengue cases from disease surveillance. The rRT-PCR assays identified VEEV complex RNA in three Culex (Melanoconion) vomerifer pools, leading to VEEV isolates in two. Phylogenetic analysis revealed the VEEV ID subtype in positive samples. Notably, 11.9% of dengue-like disease patients showed VEEV infections. Together, our rRT-PCR validation in human and mosquito samples suggests that this method can be incorporated into mosquito and human encephalitic alphavirus surveillance programs in endemic regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean-Paul Carrera
- Department of Biology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Pandemic Sciences Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Department of Research in Virology and Biotechnology, Gorgas Memorial Institute of Health Studies, Panama City, Panama
- Viral Emerging Disease Dynamics Group, Gorgas Memorial Institute of Health Studies, Panama City, Panama
| | - Dimelza Araúz
- Department of Research in Virology and Biotechnology, Gorgas Memorial Institute of Health Studies, Panama City, Panama
| | - Alejandra Rojas
- Departamento de Producción, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Nacional de Asunción, San Lorenzo, Paraguay
| | - Fátima Cardozo
- Departamento de Producción, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Nacional de Asunción, San Lorenzo, Paraguay
| | - Victoria Stittleburg
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Ingra Morales Claro
- Instituto de Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis (MRC-GIDA), Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Josefrancisco Galue
- Department of Research in Virology and Biotechnology, Gorgas Memorial Institute of Health Studies, Panama City, Panama
- Viral Emerging Disease Dynamics Group, Gorgas Memorial Institute of Health Studies, Panama City, Panama
| | - Carlos Lezcano-Coba
- Department of Research in Virology and Biotechnology, Gorgas Memorial Institute of Health Studies, Panama City, Panama
- Viral Emerging Disease Dynamics Group, Gorgas Memorial Institute of Health Studies, Panama City, Panama
| | - Filipe Romero Rebello Moreira
- MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis (MRC-GIDA), Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- Departamento de Genética, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Luis Felipe -Rivera
- Department of Research in Virology and Biotechnology, Gorgas Memorial Institute of Health Studies, Panama City, Panama
- Viral Emerging Disease Dynamics Group, Gorgas Memorial Institute of Health Studies, Panama City, Panama
| | - Maria Chen-Germán
- Department of Research in Virology and Biotechnology, Gorgas Memorial Institute of Health Studies, Panama City, Panama
| | - Brechla Moreno
- Department of Research in Virology and Biotechnology, Gorgas Memorial Institute of Health Studies, Panama City, Panama
| | - Zeuz Capitan-Barrios
- Department of Research in Virology and Biotechnology, Gorgas Memorial Institute of Health Studies, Panama City, Panama
- Viral Emerging Disease Dynamics Group, Gorgas Memorial Institute of Health Studies, Panama City, Panama
- Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Exactas y Tecnología, Universidad de Panamá, Ciudad de Panamá, Panama
| | - Sandra López-Vergès
- Department of Research in Virology and Biotechnology, Gorgas Memorial Institute of Health Studies, Panama City, Panama
| | - Juan Miguel Pascale
- Clinical of Tropical Diseases and Research Unit, Gorgas Memorial Institute of Health Studies, Panama City, Panama
| | - Ester C. Sabino
- Instituto de Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Anayansi Valderrama
- Viral Emerging Disease Dynamics Group, Gorgas Memorial Institute of Health Studies, Panama City, Panama
- Department of Medical Entomology, Gorgas Memorial Institute of Health Studies, Panama City, Panama
| | - Kathryn A. Hanley
- Department of Biology, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, New Mexico, USA
| | - Christl A. Donnelly
- Pandemic Sciences Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis (MRC-GIDA), Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Statistics, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Nikos Vasilakis
- Department of Pathology, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Population Health, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
- Center for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
- Center for Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
- Center for Tropical Diseases, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
- Institute for Human Infection and Immunity, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Nuno R. Faria
- Department of Biology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Instituto de Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis (MRC-GIDA), Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jesse J. Waggoner
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
- Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
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Sanchez J, Vigil-De Gracia P, Guerrero E, Gaitán M, Fu C, Chen-Germán M, Villalobos R, Coronado L, Martínez AA, Araúz D, Saenz L, Chavarría O, Góndola J, Moreno A, González C, Vega S, Campana S, Ng Chinkee J, López-Vergès S, Solís MA. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 detected in placentas of 2 coronavirus disease 2019-positive asymptomatic pregnant women-case report. AJOG Glob Rep 2021; 1:100001. [PMID: 33842905 PMCID: PMC7838577 DOI: 10.1016/j.xagr.2020.100001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
There is limited evidence regarding severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection in the placenta of pregnant women who tested positive, and if this could be a route for vertical transmission of the virus in utero. We present the cases of 2 pregnant women in their third trimester who were admitted for delivery by cesarean delivery and who, through universal screening, tested positive for coronavirus disease 2019. The maternal and fetal sides of the placenta were sectioned from both patients for viral analysis. Real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis of the placental-extracted RNA revealed a severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection on the fetal side of the placenta in both patients. The virus was isolated from the patient with the lowest cycle threshold value on the fetal side of the placenta. Whole genome sequencing showed that the virus detected in this placenta was from the B1 lineage. Immunohistochemical analysis of the placental tissue detected severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 in the endothelial cells of chorionic villi vessels proximal to both the maternal and fetal sides, with a granular cytoplasmic pattern and perinuclear reinforcement. Histologic examination of the placenta also detected a dense infiltrate of lymphoid cells around decidual vessels and endothelial cells with cytopathic changes, especially on the maternal side. Nasopharyngeal swabs from the infants that were subjected to reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction testing were negative for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 at 24 hours after birth. A follow-up analysis of the infants for immunoglobin G and immunoglobin M expression, clinical manifestations, and long-term developmental abnormalities is recommended.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaime Sanchez
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Hospital Santo Tomás, Panama City, Republic of Panama (Dr Sanchez)
| | - Paulino Vigil-De Gracia
- Division of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Complejo Hospitalario Metropolitano Dr Arnulfo Arias Madrid, Panama City, Republic of Panama (Dr Vigil-De Gracia, Dr Campana, and Dr Chinkee).,Sistema Nacional de Investigación, SENACYT, Panama City, Republic of Panama (Dr Vigil-De Gracia, Dr Martínez and Drs López-Vergès and Solís)
| | - Erika Guerrero
- Stem Cell Research Group, Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health Research, Gorgas Memorial Institute for Health Studies, Panama City, Republic of Panama (Dr Guerrero, Ms Fu, and Ms Vega and Dr Solis)
| | - Melissa Gaitán
- Department of Virology and Biotechnology Research, Gorgas Memorial Institute for Health Studies, Panama City, Republic of Panama (Ms Gaitán, Ms Chen-Germán, Ms Araúz, Saenz and Dr López-Vergès)
| | - Cindy Fu
- Stem Cell Research Group, Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health Research, Gorgas Memorial Institute for Health Studies, Panama City, Republic of Panama (Dr Guerrero, Ms Fu, and Ms Vega and Dr Solis)
| | - María Chen-Germán
- Department of Virology and Biotechnology Research, Gorgas Memorial Institute for Health Studies, Panama City, Republic of Panama (Ms Gaitán, Ms Chen-Germán, Ms Araúz, Saenz and Dr López-Vergès)
| | - Rodrigo Villalobos
- Department of Diagnostics, Pathology Service, Hospital Santo Tomás, Panama City, Republic of Panama (Dr Villalobos and Dr Coronado)
| | - Luis Coronado
- Department of Diagnostics, Pathology Service, Hospital Santo Tomás, Panama City, Republic of Panama (Dr Villalobos and Dr Coronado)
| | - Alexander A Martínez
- Department of Genomics and Proteomics Research, Gorgas Memorial Institute for Health Studies, Panama City, Republic of Panama (Dr Martínez, Ms Chavarría, Ms Góndola, Ms Moreno and Ms González).,Universidad de Panamá, Panama City, Republic of Panama (Dr Martínez, Ms González and Dr López-Vergès and Dr Solis).,Sistema Nacional de Investigación, SENACYT, Panama City, Republic of Panama (Dr Vigil-De Gracia, Dr Martínez and Drs López-Vergès and Solís)
| | - Dimelza Araúz
- Department of Virology and Biotechnology Research, Gorgas Memorial Institute for Health Studies, Panama City, Republic of Panama (Ms Gaitán, Ms Chen-Germán, Ms Araúz, Saenz and Dr López-Vergès)
| | - Lisseth Saenz
- Department of Virology and Biotechnology Research, Gorgas Memorial Institute for Health Studies, Panama City, Republic of Panama (Ms Gaitán, Ms Chen-Germán, Ms Araúz, Saenz and Dr López-Vergès)
| | - Oris Chavarría
- Department of Genomics and Proteomics Research, Gorgas Memorial Institute for Health Studies, Panama City, Republic of Panama (Dr Martínez, Ms Chavarría, Ms Góndola, Ms Moreno and Ms González)
| | - Jessica Góndola
- Department of Genomics and Proteomics Research, Gorgas Memorial Institute for Health Studies, Panama City, Republic of Panama (Dr Martínez, Ms Chavarría, Ms Góndola, Ms Moreno and Ms González)
| | - Ambar Moreno
- Department of Genomics and Proteomics Research, Gorgas Memorial Institute for Health Studies, Panama City, Republic of Panama (Dr Martínez, Ms Chavarría, Ms Góndola, Ms Moreno and Ms González)
| | - Claudia González
- Department of Genomics and Proteomics Research, Gorgas Memorial Institute for Health Studies, Panama City, Republic of Panama (Dr Martínez, Ms Chavarría, Ms Góndola, Ms Moreno and Ms González).,Universidad de Panamá, Panama City, Republic of Panama (Dr Martínez, Ms González and Dr López-Vergès and Dr Solis)
| | - Shantal Vega
- Stem Cell Research Group, Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health Research, Gorgas Memorial Institute for Health Studies, Panama City, Republic of Panama (Dr Guerrero, Ms Fu, and Ms Vega and Dr Solis)
| | - Sara Campana
- Division of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Complejo Hospitalario Metropolitano Dr Arnulfo Arias Madrid, Panama City, Republic of Panama (Dr Vigil-De Gracia, Dr Campana, and Dr Chinkee)
| | - Jorge Ng Chinkee
- Division of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Complejo Hospitalario Metropolitano Dr Arnulfo Arias Madrid, Panama City, Republic of Panama (Dr Vigil-De Gracia, Dr Campana, and Dr Chinkee)
| | - Sandra López-Vergès
- Department of Virology and Biotechnology Research, Gorgas Memorial Institute for Health Studies, Panama City, Republic of Panama (Ms Gaitán, Ms Chen-Germán, Ms Araúz, Saenz and Dr López-Vergès).,Universidad de Panamá, Panama City, Republic of Panama (Dr Martínez, Ms González and Dr López-Vergès and Dr Solis).,Sistema Nacional de Investigación, SENACYT, Panama City, Republic of Panama (Dr Vigil-De Gracia, Dr Martínez and Drs López-Vergès and Solís)
| | - Mairim Alexandra Solís
- Department of Virology and Biotechnology Research, Gorgas Memorial Institute for Health Studies, Panama City, Republic of Panama (Ms Gaitán, Ms Chen-Germán, Ms Araúz, Saenz and Dr López-Vergès).,Sistema Nacional de Investigación, SENACYT, Panama City, Republic of Panama (Dr Vigil-De Gracia, Dr Martínez and Drs López-Vergès and Solís)
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Pachar MR, Araúz D, Gundacker ND, Suárez M, Suárez JA, Moreno B, López-Vergès S, Araúz AB. Zika Virus-Associated Cerebellitis with Complete Clinical Recovery. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2019; 99:1318-1320. [PMID: 30255830 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.18-0261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Zika virus (ZIKV) was first detected in the Americas in Brazil in 2015, with a rapid spread to surrounding countries. In Panama, the outbreak began in November 2015 in an indigenous community located on the Caribbean side of the country. Zika virus is typically associated with a diffuse rash, fever, and conjunctivitis. It can rarely cause neurologic manifestations, most commonly microcephaly and Guillain-Barré syndrome. Encephalitis and acute encephalomyelitis are known complications, but ZIKV-associated cerebellitis has yet to be reported in the literature. Herein, we report a case of cerebellitis in a patient infected with ZIKV. This patient developed severe frontal headache and vertigo on the third day of illness, and dysarthria and ataxia on the fifth day. After 1 week of hospitalization, the patient completely recovered. The laboratory serological diagnosis was complicated because of the detection of antibodies against dengue, suggesting a secondary flavivirus infection.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Dimelza Araúz
- Gorgas Memorial Institute of Health Studies, Panama City, Panama
| | | | | | | | - Brechla Moreno
- Gorgas Memorial Institute of Health Studies, Panama City, Panama
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Araúz D, De Urriola L, Jones J, Castillo M, Martínez A, Murillo E, Troncoso L, Chen M, Abrego L, Armién B, Pascale JM, Sosa N, López-Verges S, Moreno B. Febrile or Exanthematous Illness Associated with Zika, Dengue, and Chikungunya Viruses, Panama. Emerg Infect Dis 2016; 22:1515-7. [PMID: 27139219 PMCID: PMC4982178 DOI: 10.3201/eid2208.160292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
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