Parasites & Vectors最新文献

{"title":"Rapid and supersensitive allele detection of Plasmodium falciparum chloroquine resistance via a Pyrococcus furiosus argonaute-triggered dual-signal biosensing platform.","authors":"Liying Chen, Wencheng Chen, Huagui Wei, Wenai Lin, Cheng Zhang, Hongfei Hu, Chunfang Wang, Jiangtao Chen, Xueyan Liang, Daiqian Zhu, Junli Wang, Zongyun Lin, Yuxia Wei, Jian Li, Min Lin","doi":"10.1186/s13071-024-06575-0","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-024-06575-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Malaria remains a serious public health problem worldwide, particularly in Africa. Resistance to antimalarial drugs is an essential issue for malaria control and elimination. Currently, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) combined with Sanger sequencing is regarded as the gold standard for mutation detection. However, this method fails to meet the requirements of point-of-care testing (POCT) because of its time-consuming, expensive instruments and professional dependence. To support this strategy, we developed a novel diagnostic platform that combines recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) with the Pyrococcus furiosus argonaute (PfAgo) protein and was designed to detect gene mutations related to antimalarial drug resistance. The Pfcrt haplotypes CVMNK and CVIET of chloroquine resistance (CQR) were used as examples and were assessed in this study.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>By meticulously designing strategies, RPA primers, guide DNAs, and probes were screened, the reaction was optimized, and the resulting parameters were employed to ascertain the genotype of Pfcrt. The recombinant plasmids pUC57/Pfcrt-CVIET and pUC57/Pfcrt-CVMNK were constructed and diluted for sensitivity detection. The pUC57/Pfcrt-CVIET plasmid mixture was added to the pUC57/Pfcrt-CVMNK plasmid mixture in different additions to configure several specific proportions of mixed plasmid mixtures. The RPA-PfAgo platform was used, and the mixed plasmid was detected simultaneously via nest-PCR (nPCR) and Sanger sequencing. The platform was then evaluated on 85 clinical samples and compared with Sanger sequencing.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The entire process achieves the key mutation Pfcrt-CVMNK/CVIET genotype identification of CQR within 90 min. The platform achieved 1.8 × 10⁴ copies/μL sensitivity and could detect as little as 3% CVIET in mixed plasmids, which is a higher sensitivity than that of Sanger sequencing (5%). Notably, the platform shows 100% concordance with the gold standard method when 85 clinical samples are tested. The sensitivity and specificity were 100% for the 85 clinical samples.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This study established an RPA-PfAgo platform for genotyping the key mutation Pfcrt-CVMNK/CVIET of CQR. This method can rapidly produce reliable results and avoid the disadvantages of nPCR with sequencing. This approach has the characteristics of a short operation time, low device dependence, and a good match to the POCT strategy, suggesting that the platform can be easily applied locally or on site.</p>","PeriodicalId":19793,"journal":{"name":"Parasites & Vectors","volume":"17 1","pages":"488"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142710682","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Detection of human enteric viral genes in a non-native winter crane fly, Trichocera maculipennis (Diptera) in the sewage treatment facilities at Antarctic stations.","authors":"Sook-Young Lee, Ji Hee Kim, Seunghyun Kang, Kye Chung Park, Sung Mi Cho, Carla Ximena Salinas, Lorena Rebolledo, Hugo A Benítez, Tamara Contador Mejías, Alvaro Soutullo, Eduardo Juri, Sanghee Kim","doi":"10.1186/s13071-024-06555-4","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-024-06555-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The Antarctic environment is susceptible to the introduction of non-native species due to its unique ecosystem, which has evolved under geographical isolation and extreme climatic conditions over an extended period. The recent introduction of the non-native winter crane fly, Trichocera maculipennis, to maritime Antarctica may pose a potential threat to the Antarctic ecosystem. In this study, we evaluated the possibility of the mechanical transmission of viruses by T. maculipennis.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We assessed the potential for the mechanical transmission of viruses using next-generation sequencing (NGS), quantitative PCR (qPCR), and virus isolation methods from T. maculipennis (Tm)-related samples (Tm body-wash fluid and Tm body-ground samples) collected from habitats and sewage treatment facilities located at three research stations in Antarctica.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Virome analysis detected the genomic fragments of human adenovirus (AdV) and human endogenous retrovirus (HERV) in Tm-related samples. These viruses are commonly found in human feces. In addition, plant viruses, such as pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV) and cucumber green mottle mosaic virus (CGMMV), both known indicators of enteric viruses, were identified in all Tm-related samples, likely originating from wastewater. However, the low quantities of AdV and HERV genomes detected in Tm-related samples through qPCR, coupled with the non-viability of AdV in virus isolation tests, indicate that T. maculipennis has limited potential for mechanical transmission under the conditions in the studies.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Our study represents the first evaluation of the potential risk of non-native species serving as vectors for viral pathogens in Antarctica. Although the viruses detected were in relatively low quantities and non-viable, this study highlights the importance of further evaluating the risks associated with non-native species, particularly as the likelihood of their introduction increases to Antarctica due to climate change and increased human activity.</p>","PeriodicalId":19793,"journal":{"name":"Parasites & Vectors","volume":"17 1","pages":"485"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142710676","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Neoliberalism in academia: reflections from a parasitologist.","authors":"Robin B Gasser","doi":"10.1186/s13071-024-06574-1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-024-06574-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This article examines the major transformation within the higher education sector, specifically the shift from traditional academia to neoliberal academia, with an emphasis on its impact on academics who entered the field in the 2000s. Many of these individuals may not fully recognise the extensive political and structural changes driven by neoliberalism over the past 2 decades. Published literature shows how the widespread adoption of managerialism in a neoliberal context-particularly in the Anglo-Saxon world-has markedly altered the academic landscape. This shift has led to the marketisation of education, characterised by increased student tuition fees, performance metrics and a change in academic values, including professional autonomy and academic freedom. The present article further explores how these alterations have affected the wellbeing of academics, particularly early- and mid-career scholars, by institutions prioritising economic efficiency over intellectual enquiry, increasing administrative workloads and promoting a consumerist model of education. Drawing on both evidence from the peer-reviewed literature and experiences, the implications of these changes for academic careers, job satisfaction and the broader mission of universities as centres of scholarship and public service are discussed. The article concludes with a call to action for academic leaders and policymakers to recognise and address challenges posed by neoliberalism and managerialism, emphasising the need to support and protect the core values of academia in the face of ongoing changes.</p>","PeriodicalId":19793,"journal":{"name":"Parasites & Vectors","volume":"17 1","pages":"487"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142710678","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Thelazia leesei Railliet & Henry, 1910 (Spirurida: Thelaziidae) of dromedary camel Camelus dromedarius: further morphological description, molecular characterization, and epidemiology in Iran.","authors":"Javad Khedri, Alireza Sazmand, Soheil Sadr, Mourad Ben Said, Shigehiko Uni, Domenico Otranto, Hassan Borji","doi":"10.1186/s13071-024-06558-1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-024-06558-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>In camels, thelaziosis is mainly caused by Thelazia leesei Railliet & Henry, 1910, a little-known eyeworm species. Given the paucity of scientific data, this study aimed to provide new insights into the morphology, molecular characterization, and phylogenetic relationship of T. leesei and its occurrence in camels from Iran, where animals suffer from the high burden of eyeworms.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>From December 2020 to November 2022, slaughtered camels (n = 400) of different sex and age groups were examined in Sistan-va-Baluchestan province in Southeast Iran's local abattoirs. Adult eyeworms were fixed and stored for morphological identification by light and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products corresponding to the partial sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (cox1) of eyeworms were Sanger sequenced and analyzed phylogenetically.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 118 (29.5%) camels from all five counties examined were infected with eyeworms, with an abundance of 0.9 and a mean intensity of 3.2 (i.e., up to 18 worms from a single animal). The infection rate was higher in camels older than 4 years of age (P = 0.01901). Lachrymation was associated with infection in animals (P < 0.00001). The morphology of our specimens resembled that of T. leesei, with the exception of the position of the nerve ring and esophagus length. Genetic analysis showed that the cox1 partial sequences of our T. leesei specimens had genetic distances of 8.8% to 13.5% compared with other Thelazia species.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>On the basis of the morphometrics and morphological characteristics, we identified our specimens as T. leesei. In the phylogenetic tree, T. leesei herein isolated formed a monophyletic group together with its congeners, and T. leesei formed a sister clade to T. lacrymalis. In addition, we demonstrated the epidemiology of the infestation of T. leesei in camels in the endemic areas of southeastern Iran. The data presented are crucial for better understanding the pathogenic role of T. leesei and developing effective treatment strategies. In particular, studies on the intermediate host(s) of T. leesei in these regions will support effective control strategies for this parasitosis.</p>","PeriodicalId":19793,"journal":{"name":"Parasites & Vectors","volume":"17 1","pages":"486"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142710687","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Long-lasting residual efficacy of a new indoor residual spraying product, VECTRON^™ T500 (broflanilide), against pyrethroid-resistant malaria vectors and its acceptance in a community trial in Burkina Faso.","authors":"Aristide Sawdetuo Hien, Koama Bayili, Samina Maiga, Welbeck Oumbouke, Jean Birba, Dieudonné Diloma Soma, Adissa Ya Ouattara, Delphine Ouissamien Karama, Marlize Coleman, Janneke Snetselaar, Graham Small, Shinya Niimi, Kawase Ayumi, Sidzabda Kompaoré, Katsutoshi Tsuchiya, Roch Kounbobr Dabiré, Abdoulaye Diabaté","doi":"10.1186/s13071-024-06577-y","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-024-06577-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The WHO Global Malaria Programme advocates for a comprehensive, strategic approach to managing insecticide resistance, highlighting the importance of using multiple insecticides with different modes of action through rotations and combinations. To slow the spread of resistance, it is essential to develop and evaluate new formulations that feature unique modes of action and extended residual effects. Addressing this need, Mitsui Chemicals Crop & Life Solutions, Inc., developed VECTRON™ T500, a new indoor residual spraying (IRS) formulation using broflanilide, applied at a dosage of 100 mg AI/m². This formulation was tested in a Phase III community trial, alongside Actellic^® 300CS, a commonly used IRS product containing pirimiphos-methyl, applied at the recommended dosage of 1000 mg AI/m².</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Monthly WHO wall cone bioassays were performed to assess the efficacy of the interventions using three mosquito strains: the laboratory-bred, insecticide-susceptible Anopheles gambiae s.s. Kisumu strain, the insecticide-resistant Anopheles coluzzii VKPer strain, and wild Anopheles gambiae s.l. mosquitoes from the Vallée du Kou, where the study was conducted. Vector surveillance was carried out to compare the results between sites treated with VECTRON™ T500, Actellic^® 300CS, and an untreated control site. In addition, any reported adverse effects were closely monitored to evaluate the community's acceptance of VECTRON^™ T500.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>VECTRON™ T500 consistently achieved 100% mortality across all wall types for both susceptible and resistant mosquito strains over the 12-month period. In comparison, Actellic^® 300CS induced < 80% mortality for both strains, irrespective of the wall substrate. When assessing delayed mortality in An. gambiae s.l. mosquitoes collected from sites treated with Actellic^® 300CS (VK1) and VECTRON™ T500 (VK3), a statistically significant difference was noted after a 72-h holding period compared to the control site (RR = 0.51, CI95% = [0.31-0.6], P = 0.0026). Additionally, no adverse events were reported in households sprayed with VECTRON™ T500.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The residual efficacy of VECTRON^™ T500 extended for 12 months post-spraying, effectively covering the full malaria transmission season while maintaining high mortality rates in pyrethroid-resistant malaria vectors. VECTRON^™ T500 demonstrated non-inferiority in performance compared to Actellic^® 300CS, the standard reference product. This new IRS formulation has the potential to play a crucial role in managing insecticide resistance by being integrated into a rotational strategy alongside other IRS products containing insecticides with different modes of action.</p>","PeriodicalId":19793,"journal":{"name":"Parasites & Vectors","volume":"17 1","pages":"484"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142695722","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Upregulation of CD244 promotes CD8⁺ T cell exhaustion in patients with alveolar echinococcosis and a murine model.","authors":"Maolin Wang, Bingqing Deng, Tiemin Jiang, Adilai Duolikun, Yinshi Li, Abidan Ainiwaer, Xuejiao Kang, Xuran Zheng, Zibigu Rousu, Qian Yu, Jing Li, Hui Wang, Chuanshan Zhang, Tuerganaili Aji, Yingmei Shao","doi":"10.1186/s13071-024-06573-2","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13071-024-06573-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>In patients with alveolar echinococcosis (AE), CD8⁺ T cells undergo functional exhaustion, which accelerates the malignant progression of AE. However, the role of inhibitory receptor CD244 in mediating CD8⁺ T cell exhaustion remains elusive.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>CD244 expression on exhausted CD8⁺ T cells in the close liver tissue (CLT) of AE patients was analyzed using single-cell RNA sequencing data. Immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence were employed to detect CD244 expression. Flow cytometry was used to assess the impact of CD244 on differentiation and effector function of CD8⁺ T cells in patients with AE, in vitro and in vivo models. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and oxygen consumption rate (OCR) were measured to evaluate the influence of CD244 on mitochondrial function of CD8⁺ T cells.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>CD244⁺CD8⁺ T cells in the CLT of AE patients exhibit a more terminal differentiation phenotype, with reduced secretion of IFN-γ and TNF-α. In vitro studies revealed that CD8⁺ T cells from CD244-deficient mice produced higher levels of IFN-γ, TNF-α and Granzyme B. In vivo studies revealed that CD244 deficiency enhanced the secretion capacity of IFN-γ and TNF-α by CD8⁺ T cells, inhibiting the growth of metacestodes. Moreover, CD244 deficiency leads to a decrease in ROS levels in liver CD8⁺ T cells, while significantly increasing their adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-linked oxygen consumption rate.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>CD244 facilitates AE disease progression by mediating immune exhaustion in CD8⁺ T cells.</p>","PeriodicalId":19793,"journal":{"name":"Parasites & Vectors","volume":"17 1","pages":"483"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11585139/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142693265","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Insights into the virome of Hyalomma marginatum in the Danube Delta: a major vector of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus in Eastern Europe.","authors":"Bianca Elena Bratuleanu, Delphine Chretien, Thomas Bigot, Beatrice Regnault, Philippe Pérot, Gheorghe Savuta, Marc Eloit, Sarah Temmam","doi":"10.1186/s13071-024-06557-2","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13071-024-06557-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Ticks are significant vectors of pathogens, including viruses, bacteria, and protozoa. With approximately 900 tick species worldwide, many are expanding their geographical range due to changing socioeconomic and climate factors. The Danube Delta, one of Europe's largest wetlands, is an ecosystem that, despite its ecological importance, remains understudied concerning the risk of introducing new tick-borne viruses. This region serves as a critical habitat for migratory birds, which can carry ticks over long distances, potentially introducing exotic tick species and their pathogens into the local ecosystem. Hyalomma marginatum ticks, the primary vector of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV), are of particular concern due to their expanding presence in Europe and potential to spread other arboviruses. In addition to being the primary vector for CCHFV, Hyalomma sp. ticks are capable of transmitting other pathogens of medical and veterinary importance, including Dugbe virus, West Nile virus, African horse sickness virus, and Kyasanur forest disease virus. Therefore, it is essential to monitor the presence of Hyalomma sp. ticks while simultaneously surveilling arbovirus circulation in tick populations to mitigate the risk of arboviral outbreaks.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In this work, we used an RNA sequencing technique to analyze the virome of H. marginatum ticks collected from the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve, Romania, one of the major bird migration hubs from Africa to Europe.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Among the viral taxa detected in H. marginatum ticks, sequences belonging to Volzhskoe tick virus (VTV), Balambala tick virus (BMTV) and Bole tick virus 4 (BTV4) were identified. In addition, we report the first identification of a novel Rhabdoviridae-related virus, Hyalomma marginatum rhabdovirus (HMRV). No CCHFV or any CCHFV-related nairovirus were detected in this study.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>To summarize, detecting new viruses is essential for monitoring potential viral outbreaks. Our research expands the understanding of virus diversity in Eastern Europe, including the identification of novel viruses. This insight is crucial for monitoring viruses that may pose risks to both animal and human health, such as CCHFV.</p>","PeriodicalId":19793,"journal":{"name":"Parasites & Vectors","volume":"17 1","pages":"482"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11585161/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142693263","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Spatial and temporal distribution of Ixodes scapularis and tick-borne pathogens across the northeastern United States.","authors":"Lucas E Price, Jonathan M Winter, Jamie L Cantoni, Duncan W Cozens, Megan A Linske, Scott C Williams, Griffin M Dill, Allison M Gardner, Susan P Elias, Thomas F Rounsville, Robert P Smith, Michael W Palace, Christina Herrick, Melissa A Prusinski, Patti Casey, Eliza M Doncaster, Joseph D T Savage, Dorothy I Wallace, Xun Shi","doi":"10.1186/s13071-024-06518-9","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13071-024-06518-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The incidence of tick-borne diseases is increasing across the USA, with cases concentrated in the northeastern and midwestern regions of the country. Ixodes scapularis is one of the most important tick-borne disease vectors and has spread throughout the northeastern USA over the past four decades, with established populations in all states of the region.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>To better understand the rapid expansion of I. scapularis and the pathogens they transmit, we aggregated and analyzed I. scapularis abundance and pathogen prevalence data from across the northeastern USA, including the states of Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, New York and Vermont, from 1989 to 2021. Maine was the only state to collect data during the entire time period, with the other states collecting data during a subset of this time period starting in 2008 or later. We harmonized I. scapularis abundance by county and tick season, where the nymph season is defined as May to September and the adult season is October to December, and calculated I. scapularis pathogen infection prevalence as the percentage of ticks that tested positive for Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Babesia microti, Borrelia burgdorferi, and Borrelia miyamotoi. We then explored temporal trends in I. scapularis abundance and pathogen prevalence data using linear models.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The resulting dataset is one of the most spatially and temporally comprehensive records of tick abundance and pathogen prevalence in the USA. Using linear models, we found small or insignificant changes in the abundance of nymphs and adults over time; however, A. phagocytophilum, B. microti and B. burgdorferi prevalence in both nymphs and adults has increased over time. For the period 2017-2021, the statewide average prevalence of B. burgdorferi ranged from 19% to 25% in I. scapularis nymphs and from to 49% to 54% in I. scapularis adults. The statewide average prevalence of all other pathogens in I. scapularis for 2017-2021, including A. phagocytophilum (4-6% for nymphs, 4-9% for adults), B. microti (4-8% for nymphs, 2-13% for adults) and B. miyamotoi (1-2% for nymphs, 1-2% for adults), was considerably less.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Our efforts revealed the complications of creating a comprehensive dataset of tick abundance and pathogen prevalence across time and space due to variations in tick collection and pathogen testing methods. Although tick abundance has not changed along the more southern latitudes in our study over this time period, and only gradually changed in the more northern latitudes of our study, human risk for exposure to tick-borne pathogens has increased due to increased pathogen prevalence in I. scapularis. This dataset can be used in future studies of I. scapularis and pathogen prevalence across the northeastern USA and to evaluate models of I. scapularis ecology and population dynamics.</p>","PeriodicalId":19793,"journal":{"name":"Parasites & Vectors","volume":"17 1","pages":"481"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11583392/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142688418","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Design and evaluation of vaccines for the control of the etiological agent of East Coast fever.","authors":"José de la Fuente, Isidro Sobrino, Margarita Villar","doi":"10.1186/s13071-024-06517-w","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13071-024-06517-w","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>East Coast fever is a tick-borne theileriosis caused by Theileria parva, a protozoan parasite with the primary vector being the tick Rhipicephalus appendiculatus. This disease poses significant challenges in sub-Saharan Africa, leading to severe economic losses by causing the death of over one million livestock annually. Current control measures include vector control with acaricides and the \"infection and treatment\" method, which involves immunization with live sporozoites of the pathogen and treatment with long acting oxytetracycline. Despite their effectiveness, these methods face scalability and usability issues, necessitating the development of new prevention strategies, particularly in the field of vaccines for the effective and sustainable control of East Coast fever. In this primer focus, East Coast fever serves as a case study to highlight recent concepts and advancements in tick and tick-borne disease vaccine research. Vaccine design and evaluation processes are reviewed, encompassing the utilization of omics datasets and knowledge on vectors and pathogens, and exploring new design methods, such as quantum vaccinomics and messenger RNA (mRNA)-based vaccines. Key limitations and areas requiring further research are addressed, including insufficient understanding of host-pathogen molecular interactions, the impact of post-translational modifications, and vaccine efficacy variability across different trials. Additionally, new research objectives are proposed to address East Coast fever but with possible impact on other tick-borne diseases. It includes advancing knowledge on tick-pathogen-host molecular interactions, studying tick microbiota, developing novel design approaches, such as combining tick and pathogen epitopes in chimeric vaccines (exemplified by the q38-p67c case), and exploring new immunological enhancers and delivery platforms.</p>","PeriodicalId":19793,"journal":{"name":"Parasites & Vectors","volume":"17 1","pages":"479"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11580188/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142681591","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Resistance intensity test (RIT): a novel bioassay for quantifying the level of acaricide resistance in Rhipicephalus microplus ticks.","authors":"Frans Jongejan, Laura Berger, Laura Homminga, Iris Hulsebos, Alita Petersen, Priscila Teixeira Ferreira, José Reck, Guilherme Klafke","doi":"10.1186/s13071-024-06561-6","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13071-024-06561-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>One bioassay for detecting acaricide resistance in livestock ticks is the adult immersion test (AIT), wherein engorged ticks are briefly immersed into a solution of a particular acaricidal compound and examined for mortality, their egg-laying capacity and offspring hatchability in vitro. Usually, the recommended label dose or an established discriminating dose of an acaricide is used to determine high mortality (≥ 95%) of susceptible tick strains. Such a test intends to detect the presence of resistance in a tick population. However, the adult immersion test does not directly translate the bioassay results to the predicted efficacy in the field. In this paper, we used the AIT as an initial screening bioassay supplemented with the resistance intensity test (RIT), a novel larval-based bioassay, wherein the resistance level can be determined and translated to the expected field efficacy. This was done by adopting World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines for resistance detection in mosquitoes, which combines a 1 × recommended dose with 5 × and 10 × concentrated doses to reveal low, moderate and high resistance intensity, respectively.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Engorged Rhipicephalus microplus ticks were collected from cattle at six different ranches across Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, as part of the state's acaricide resistance surveillance program. Groups of adult ticks from each field collection were subjected to the AIT from each field sample. Additionally, engorged female ticks from each ranch were allowed to lay eggs, and their larval progeny aged 14 to 28 days were then used in the RIT. Deltamethrin and a combination of cypermethrin, chlorpyrifos and piperonyl butoxide were used in both tests, and the results were statistically analysed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The in vitro efficacy of deltamethrin against adult ticks in the AIT ranged between 8.74% and 25.38%. The corresponding RIT results on their larval progeny indicated a high resistance level. In the immersion test, the in vitro efficacy of the combination of cypermethrin, chlorpyrifos, and piperonyl butoxide against adult ticks ranged between 49.31% and 100%. The corresponding RIT results on their larval progeny indicated a similar response ranging from fully susceptible to low or moderate resistance. The Pearson correlation coefficient (r = 0.883) showed a high correlation between tick mortality at the 1 × recommended concentrations of acaricides in both tests.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The resistance intensity test is a valuable addition to the range of bioassays currently available for detecting acaricide resistance by determining the level of acaricide resistance. This is relevant to whether or not to continue using a particular acaricidal class for controlling cattle ticks.</p>","PeriodicalId":19793,"journal":{"name":"Parasites & Vectors","volume":"17 1","pages":"480"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11580224/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142681607","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}