Sharon I Brummitt, Anne M Kjemtrup, Woutrina A Smith, Christopher M Barker, Danielle J Harvey
{"title":"Clinical and Epidemiological Information Required for Lyme Disease Surveillance in a Low-Incidence State, California 2011-2017.","authors":"Sharon I Brummitt, Anne M Kjemtrup, Woutrina A Smith, Christopher M Barker, Danielle J Harvey","doi":"10.1089/vbz.2024.0043","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1089/vbz.2024.0043","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b><i>Background:</i></b> Between January 1, 2011, and December 31, 2017, over 12,000 case reports of Lyme disease (LD) were submitted to the California Reportable Disease Information Exchange for further investigation. The number of case reports has tripled compared to previous years, emphasizing the need for efficient estimation and classification methods. We evaluated whether estimation procedures can be implemented in a low-incidence state such as California to correctly classify a case of LD, similar to those procedures used in high-incidence states. <b><i>Objective:</i></b> The purpose of this study was to identify whether a minimum number of variables was sufficient to reliably classify cases in California and potentially reduce workload while maintaining the ability to track LD trends in California. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> To determine the relative value of diagnostic information, we compared five candidate logistic regression models that were used to classify cases based on information that varied in its degree of difficulty for collection. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Our results using California's surveillance data showed that automatically reported data were not sufficient, additional information such as, a patient's clinical presentation and travel history were necessary in a low-incidence state to improve the overall sensitivity of the models. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> This study may help inform public health surveillance efforts by demonstrating that both clinical and travel information are required to accurately classify a case of LD in a low-incidence state.</p>","PeriodicalId":23683,"journal":{"name":"Vector borne and zoonotic diseases","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2024-12-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142772763","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Precognition of Known And Unknown Biothreats: A Risk-Based Approach.","authors":"Romelito L Lapitan","doi":"10.1089/vbz.2023.0169","DOIUrl":"10.1089/vbz.2023.0169","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Data mining and artificial intelligence algorithms can estimate the probability of future occurrences with defined precision. Yet, the prediction of infectious disease outbreaks remains a complex and difficult task. This is demonstrated by the limited accuracy and sensitivity of current models in predicting the emergence of previously unknown pathogens such as Zika, Chikungunya, and SARS-CoV-2, and the resurgence of Mpox, along with their impacts on global health, trade, and security. Comprehensive analysis of infectious disease risk profiles, vulnerabilities, and mitigation capacities, along with their spatiotemporal dynamics at the international level, is essential for preventing their transnational propagation. However, annual indexes about the impact of infectious diseases provide a low level of granularity to allow stakeholders to craft better mitigation strategies. A quantitative risk assessment by analytical platforms requires billions of near real-time data points from heterogeneous sources, integrating and analyzing univariable or multivariable data with different levels of complexity and latency that, in most cases, overwhelm human cognitive capabilities. Autonomous biosurveillance can open the possibility for near real-time, risk- and evidence-based policymaking and operational decision support.</p>","PeriodicalId":23683,"journal":{"name":"Vector borne and zoonotic diseases","volume":" ","pages":"795-801"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2024-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142074085","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Hsiao-Hsuan Wang, Adam Baker, Michael Mogg, Zakary Derouen, Jennifer Borski, William E Grant
{"title":"<i>Correction of:</i> \"Adam Baker, Hsiao-Hsuan Wang, Michael Mogg, Zakary Derouen, Jennifer Borski, and William E. Grant. Increasing Incidence of Anaplasmosis in the United States, 2012 Through 2016. Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases. Nov 2020. 855-859.\" doi: 10.1089/vbz.2019.2598.","authors":"Hsiao-Hsuan Wang, Adam Baker, Michael Mogg, Zakary Derouen, Jennifer Borski, William E Grant","doi":"10.1089/vbz.2024.0057","DOIUrl":"10.1089/vbz.2024.0057","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":23683,"journal":{"name":"Vector borne and zoonotic diseases","volume":" ","pages":"848-849"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2024-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141752854","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Harish Kumar Shah, P A Fathima, P M Ajithlal, Jessu S Mathew, Prasanta Saini
{"title":"Molecular Identification of Host Blood Meal from Phlebotomine Sandflies (Diptera: Psychodidae) from Kerala, India.","authors":"Harish Kumar Shah, P A Fathima, P M Ajithlal, Jessu S Mathew, Prasanta Saini","doi":"10.1089/vbz.2023.0168","DOIUrl":"10.1089/vbz.2023.0168","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b><i>Background:</i></b> Female phlebotomine sandflies serve as vectors for the transmission of Leishmania parasites, perpetuating an enzootic cycle by disseminating between sylvatic and domestic animals. Humans form a part of this cycle because the sandflies search for a blood source required for egg development. The present study aimed to identify the feeding preferences of different sandfly fauna from six districts of Kerala, India, using molecular tools. <b><i>Materials and Methods:</i></b> An entomological survey was conducted during 2021-2023 in Kollam, Kottayam, Thiruvananthapuram, Thrissur, Malappuram, and Palakkad. Both indoor and outdoor habitats were targeted from sandfly collection using different standard tools and methods. Sandflies were identified using standard taxonomic keys, and DNA was extracted from blood meal collected from sandflies. <b><i>Results:</i></b> A total of 7366 sandfly specimens were collected during the study period, which belonged to three different genera and 19 species. Blood source was successfully identified from 119 sandflies revealing that the Sergentomyia genus preferably fed on small reptiles and amphibians, whereas Phlebotomus genus was found to mainly feed on mammalian and avian blood. Sergentomyia zeylanica was an exception, as it primarily fed on mammalian blood sources. Interestingly, humans were the second feeding source for Phlebotomus species, which are the proven vectors. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> Comprehending the feeding patterns of sandflies is crucial, not just for public health but also for obtaining insights into the ecological dynamics between vectors and hosts, ultimately enabling more efficient strategies for disease control and prevention.</p>","PeriodicalId":23683,"journal":{"name":"Vector borne and zoonotic diseases","volume":" ","pages":"808-816"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2024-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141789180","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Philip Raj Abraham, Tharini Gopinath, Akash Dhotre, Ashwani Kumar
{"title":"Commercial Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay Kit Is Useful for Detection of Recombinant and Secretory Nonstructural-1 Protein Antigen of Dengue Virus.","authors":"Philip Raj Abraham, Tharini Gopinath, Akash Dhotre, Ashwani Kumar","doi":"10.1089/vbz.2024.0009","DOIUrl":"10.1089/vbz.2024.0009","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background:</b> Dengue is a mosquito-borne tropical disease, caused by the Dengue virus (DENV). It has become a severe problem and is a rising threat to public health. In this study, we have evaluated commercial Merilisa i Dengue NS1 Antigen kit (Meril LifeSciences India Pvt. Ltd.) to detect recombinant dengue virus 2 NS1 antigen (rDNS1Ag) and secreted forms of NS1 antigen (sDNS1Ag). <b>Methods:</b> To determine the detection limit of the kit, 100 nanogram (ng) to 0.001 ng rDNS1Ag was tested. The sensitivity and specificity of the kit was determined using recombinant NS1 antigens of all serotypes of DENV and other flaviviruses. For testing sDNS1Ag, the culture supernatant of the Vero cell lines infected with DENV-2 was tested. Further, a spiking experiment was carried out to check the sensitivity of the kit to detect rDNS1Ag in the pools of <i>Aedes aegypti</i> mosquitoes. <b>Results:</b> It was observed that the kit can detect the rDNS1Ag at 1 ng concentration. The kit was sensitive to detect NS1 antigen of DENV-1, DENV-2 and DENV-3 serotypes and specific for detection of only DNS1Ag as it did not cross-react with NS1 antigen of flaviviruses. The kit was sensitive to detect rDNS1Ag in the mosquito pools as well. In addition, the kit was able to detect the sDNS1Ag in Vero cell culture supernatant. <b>Conclusions:</b> Overall, we observed that the Merilisa i Dengue NS1 Ag kit is sensitive and specific for the detection of DNS1Ag both in recombinant and secretory forms.</p>","PeriodicalId":23683,"journal":{"name":"Vector borne and zoonotic diseases","volume":" ","pages":"817-825"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2024-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141971956","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Oliver Sánchez-Rodríguez, Erika G Palomares-Resendiz, Efrén Díaz-Aparicio, Beatriz Arellano-Reynoso, Luary C Martínez-Chavarría, Guadalupe Martínez-Serrano, Rigoberto Hernández-Castro
{"title":"Molecular Detection of <i>Coxiella burnetii</i> in Vaginal Swab Samples from Sheep That Aborted.","authors":"Oliver Sánchez-Rodríguez, Erika G Palomares-Resendiz, Efrén Díaz-Aparicio, Beatriz Arellano-Reynoso, Luary C Martínez-Chavarría, Guadalupe Martínez-Serrano, Rigoberto Hernández-Castro","doi":"10.1089/vbz.2023.0153","DOIUrl":"10.1089/vbz.2023.0153","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b><i>Background:</i></b> <i>Coxiella burnetii</i>, an obligate intracellular bacterium, is the etiological agent of Q fever in humans and one of the causes of abortion in small ruminants. Although coxiellosis is considered an exotic disease, there are a few reports in Mexico. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> The objective of this work was to determine the presence of <i>C</i>. <i>burnetii</i> DNA in vaginal samples from sheep that presented abortion and ram semen. A total of 180 vaginal exudate samples and 20 semen samples were obtained from five Central and Southern States of Mexico. Total DNA was extracted from vaginal swabs and <i>C</i>. <i>burnetii</i> was identified by PCR amplification and sequencing of the IS<i>1111</i> insertion sequence. <b><i>Results and Conclusion:</i></b> In total, 110 (110/180) vaginal samples and 12 (12/20) semen samples were positive for <i>C</i>. <i>burnetii</i>. This is the first report of <i>C</i>. <i>burnetii</i> in sheep that aborted and in ram semen in Mexico.</p>","PeriodicalId":23683,"journal":{"name":"Vector borne and zoonotic diseases","volume":" ","pages":"838-841"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2024-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141580960","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Hsiao-Hsuan Wang, Alexandra Bishop, Jennifer Borski, Taylor G Donaldson, Avery Michalk, Annie Montgomery, Samantha Heldman, Michael Mogg, Zakary Derouen, William E Grant, Pete D Teel
{"title":"<i>Correction of:</i> \"Alexandra Bishop, Jennifer Borski, Hsiao-Hsuan Wang, Taylor G. Donaldson, Avery Michalk, Annie Montgomery, Samantha Heldman, Michael Mogg, Zakary Derouen, William E. Grant, and Pete D. Teel. Increasing Incidence of Spotted Fever Group Rickettsioses in the United States, 2010-2018.<i>Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases</i>. Sep 2022. 491-497.\" doi: 10.1089/vbz.2022.0021.","authors":"Hsiao-Hsuan Wang, Alexandra Bishop, Jennifer Borski, Taylor G Donaldson, Avery Michalk, Annie Montgomery, Samantha Heldman, Michael Mogg, Zakary Derouen, William E Grant, Pete D Teel","doi":"10.1089/vbz.2024.0059","DOIUrl":"10.1089/vbz.2024.0059","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":23683,"journal":{"name":"Vector borne and zoonotic diseases","volume":" ","pages":"850-851"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2024-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141627817","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Rogelio Lagarde-Guerrero, María de Jesús Navarro-Arias, Sergio Alonso Duran-Pérez, Ignacio Osuna-Ramírez, Lorenzo Ulises Osuna-Martínez, Elizabeth Gonzáles-Durán, José Guadalupe Rendon-Maldonado
{"title":"Frequency of <i>Leptospira</i> in the Blood of Patients with Fever of Unknown Origin in Sinaloa, Mexico.","authors":"Rogelio Lagarde-Guerrero, María de Jesús Navarro-Arias, Sergio Alonso Duran-Pérez, Ignacio Osuna-Ramírez, Lorenzo Ulises Osuna-Martínez, Elizabeth Gonzáles-Durán, José Guadalupe Rendon-Maldonado","doi":"10.1089/vbz.2024.0001","DOIUrl":"10.1089/vbz.2024.0001","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b><i>Background</i></b><i>: Leptospira</i> is a genus of bacteria that causes the zoonotic disease known as leptospirosis, which mainly affects countries with tropical and subtropical climates. Its prevalence may be underestimated because the initial stage of the infection is characterized by presenting a febrile condition that is easily confused with other diseases, such as dengue. This work reports the frequency of leptospirosis in the blood of patients with febrile symptoms of unknown origin. <b><i>Materials and Methods:</i></b> A total of 218 peripheral blood samples were analyzed from volunteer participants from Culiacan Sinaloa in June 2019, one half corresponded to patients with undiagnosed febrile symptoms and the other half to asymptomatic volunteers. Data collected included the age and sex of the participants. <i>Leptospira</i> was detected by qPCR using a fragment of the <i>lipL32</i> gene from the bacteria's genome as a target. Fisher's exact test was used as a statistical method to estimate the relationship between the infection and the data collected. <b><i>Results:</i></b> The study group comprised 134 female and 84 male patients ranging from ages 1 to 92 years, averaging 41 years. In this study, <i>Leptospira</i> infection was identified in the blood of 22/218 participating volunteers (10.09%), of which 20/109 (18.34%) presented febrile symptoms, whereas 2/109 (1.83%) were asymptomatic. The most affected participants were women with ages between 27 and 59 years. However, the analysis of the relationship between infection and the variables studied did not show statistical significance. <b><i>Conclusions</i></b>: Leptospirosis was detected in blood samples from patients with undiagnosed febrile illness and asymptomatic symptoms in Sinaloa. The <i>lipL32</i> gene is useful as a target in identifying Leptospira in human blood in the acute phase of the disease.</p>","PeriodicalId":23683,"journal":{"name":"Vector borne and zoonotic diseases","volume":" ","pages":"802-807"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2024-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141634668","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Emily Kon, Hansi Adikari, Yvonne Simpson, Quantine Wong, Jonathan Laley, Navdeep Chahil, Muhammad Morshed
{"title":"Lyme Disease Confirmatory Western Blot Is Redundant for Screen Negative Samples in Low Endemic Areas, British Columbia, Canada.","authors":"Emily Kon, Hansi Adikari, Yvonne Simpson, Quantine Wong, Jonathan Laley, Navdeep Chahil, Muhammad Morshed","doi":"10.1089/vbz.2024.0042","DOIUrl":"10.1089/vbz.2024.0042","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b><i>Background:</i></b> <i>Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto</i> is the causative agent of Lyme disease (LD). Possible early symptoms include flu-like symptoms and erythema migrans and later, the risk of disruption of the nervous system, joints, and heart. A two-tiered testing method is employed for serological diagnostics. The Public Health Agency of Canada guidelines recommend that samples tested negative on first-tiered test need not be confirmed by second-tiered test. Due to the challenging nature of diagnosis leading to misconceptions among physicians about false negatives, confirmatory testing is requested despite the initial negative result. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> Hundred screen-negative Lyme patient samples from 2007 to 2016 were tested by Western blot (WB) second-tiered confirmatory test upon physician's request in British Columbia to study the first-tiered screening test sufficiency. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Those negative for first-tiered enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were also negative by WB. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> Results demonstrate that confirmatory testing is not necessary on screen-negative samples. Hence, first-tiered test is sufficient to rule out LD.</p>","PeriodicalId":23683,"journal":{"name":"Vector borne and zoonotic diseases","volume":" ","pages":"835-837"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2024-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141752855","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Prevalence, Isolation, and Molecular Characterization of Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome Virus in Cattle from the Republic of Korea.","authors":"Jeong-Byoung Chae, Ji-Min Rim, Sun-Woo Han, Yoon-Kyoung Cho, Jun-Gu Kang, Joon-Seok Chae","doi":"10.1089/vbz.2024.0008","DOIUrl":"10.1089/vbz.2024.0008","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b><i>Background:</i></b> Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is an emerging tick-borne disease caused by <i>Bandavirus dabieense</i>. Initially identified in China, this disease has spread throughout Asian countries via tick bites and animal-to-human transmission. However, reports of the prevalence of SFTS virus (SFTSV) in cattle in Korea are lacking. This study aimed to investigate SFTSV infections in grazing cattle in the Republic of Korea (ROK). <b><i>Materials and Methods:</i></b> In total, 845 grazing cattle serum samples were collected over 2 years (2019 and 2020) in the ROK, and viral RNA was extracted using a kit. One-step RT-nested PCR was performed to amplify the S-segment of SFTSV. Positive serum samples were used to isolate SFTSV in Vero E6 cells, and the full sequences were analyzed. A phylogenetic tree was constructed using the maximum-likelihood method with MEGA X. In addition, immunoglobulin G antibodies against SFTSV were investigated using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Here, 4.0% of serum samples (34/845) were positive for SFTSV S-segments, and one virus isolate was cultured in Vero E6 cells. Phylogenetic analysis based on the partial S-segment classified 4 SFTSV isolates as the B-2 genotype, 9 as the B-3 genotype, 18 as an unclassified B genotype, and 3 as the D genotype. One cultured virus was classified as the B-2 genotype based on SFTSV L-, M-, and S-segments. Antibody detection results showed that 21.1% of serum samples (161/763) were positive for SFTSV. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study performed to identify the prevalence of SFTSV in grazing cattle in the ROK. Our findings indicate the necessity for more intensive and continuous SFTSV monitoring, not only in cattle but also in other animals, to comprehend the genetic diversity of the virus and its potential eco-epidemiological impact on human health.</p>","PeriodicalId":23683,"journal":{"name":"Vector borne and zoonotic diseases","volume":" ","pages":"826-834"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2024-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141727902","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}