Acta tropica最新文献

{"title":"Nation-wide surveillance of ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) on dogs and cats in Singapore","authors":"Mackenzie L. Kwak ,&nbsp;Abigail Ng ,&nbsp;Ryo Nakao","doi":"10.1016/j.actatropica.2025.107536","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.actatropica.2025.107536","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Companion animals are major reservoirs of zoonotic parasites and pathogens. Among these, ticks and tick-borne pathogens are of particular concern. Efforts to study the zoonotic risks associated with companion animals in Singapore have been hampered by a poor understanding of the ticks of local dogs and cats. To address this knowledge gap, ticks from companion animals were collected as part of Singapore's first nation-wide tick surveillance program beginning in 2018. Under the program, a total of 362 ticks were collected from dogs and one cat. These represented three tick genera and five species: <em>Haemaphysalis bispinosa, Haemaphysalis hystricis, Haemaphysalis papuana, Rhipicephalus linnaei,</em> and <em>Dermacentor auratus</em>. The most dominant species within companion animal-tick communities in Singapore were <em>H. bispinosa</em> and <em>R. linnaei</em>. The species diversity and health risks associated with companion animal ticks in Singapore are discussed.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7240,"journal":{"name":"Acta tropica","volume":"263 ","pages":"Article 107536"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143045442","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Exploring the mechanism and drug candidates of alveolar echinococcosis affecting liver fibrosis through analysis of existing microarray data","authors":"Jialing Wang ,&nbsp;Pengtao Li ,&nbsp;Yuqian Li ,&nbsp;Chunsheng Wang ,&nbsp;Kulaixi Xilizhati ,&nbsp;Jianrong Ye","doi":"10.1016/j.actatropica.2025.107532","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.actatropica.2025.107532","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Echinococcosis, a zoonotic disease, significantly impacts the liver, with alveolar echinococcosis (AE) often leading to liver fibrosis and, in severe cases, cirrhosis. However, the molecular mechanisms by which AE infection promotes liver fibrosis remain incompletely understood. This study utilized bioinformatic analysis of existing microarray data to explore the shared mechanisms between AE and liver fibrosis and to identify potential therapeutic drug candidates. We analyzed gene expression datasets to identify common differentially expressed genes (DEGs), followed by enrichment analyses using Gene Ontology and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes databases to determine biological functions and pathways. A protein-protein interaction network was constructed, and key hub genes were identified using Cytoscape software. Immune cell infiltration was evaluated and correlated with hub gene expression. Transcription factors regulating DEGs were predicted using the TRRUST database, and drug-target interactions were explored using DrugBank. A total of 260 DEGs were identified, primarily associated with cell cycle regulation and immune response pathways. Ten hub genes (DLGAP5, AURKA, MELK, CCNB2, CCNA2, NUF2, BUB1B, BUB1, TOP2A, and CCNB1) were highlighted for their significant interconnectivity and functional relevance. Immune infiltration analysis revealed dysregulation in immune responses, and transcription factor analysis identified E2F3 as a key regulatory factor with decreased expression in both AE and liver fibrosis. Finally, 135 candidate drugs targeting these hub genes were identified, offering new insights into therapeutic strategies. This study provides a foundation for understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying AE-related liver fibrosis and highlights potential drug candidates for clinical exploration.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7240,"journal":{"name":"Acta tropica","volume":"263 ","pages":"Article 107532"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143035826","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Morphological and molecular characterization of Henneguya chirodactyli n. sp. (Cnidaria: Myxosporea), a parasite of the Peruvian morwong Chirodactylus variegatus (Valenciennes, 1833) (Centrarchiformes: Latridae)","authors":"K. Mayta ,&nbsp;G. Sotil ,&nbsp;J.D. Chero","doi":"10.1016/j.actatropica.2024.107488","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.actatropica.2024.107488","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>A new species of <em>Henneguya</em> Thélohan, 1892 (Myxosporea: Bivalvulida: Myxobolidae) infecting the internal region of the stomach of the Peruvian morwong <em>Chirodactylus variegatus</em> (Valenciennes, 1833) (Centrarchiformes: Latridae), an economically important fish in Peruvian artisanal fishery, is described. Morphologically, <em>Henneguya chirodactyli</em> n. sp. differs from all its congeners due to the combination of myxospore dimensions, polar filament coil count, and an external envelope in the spore body. Phylogenetic analysis based on 18S rRNA gene sequences places this new species as sister to <em>H. lagunensis</em> de Azevedo, Negrelli, de Oliveira, Abdallah, Camara, Matos and Vieira, 2021. Furthermore, this species is located in a clade composed of 12 species of <em>Henneguya</em> and one of <em>Myxobolus</em> Bütschli, 1882, all of which infect marine fish. We emphasize that this is the first study performed with an integrative approach, including morphological (external), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and molecular descriptions, of a <em>Henneguya</em> species from a Peruvian marine environment.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7240,"journal":{"name":"Acta tropica","volume":"261 ","pages":"Article 107488"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142833490","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Circular RNAs as a new perspective in the diagnosis and mechanism of Leishmania infections","authors":"Hamid Alizadeh ,&nbsp;Can Muftuoğlu ,&nbsp;Zeph Nelson Omondi ,&nbsp;Ufuk Mert ,&nbsp;Milad Asadi ,&nbsp;Ahmet Ozbilgin ,&nbsp;Ayse Caner","doi":"10.1016/j.actatropica.2024.107509","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.actatropica.2024.107509","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Leishmaniasis is a neglected infectious disease that affects millions of people worldwide. Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) caused by <em>Leishmania infantum</em> and cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) caused by <em>L. major</em>/ <em>L. tropica</em> are the main clinical forms of this disease, which are life-threatening if not diagnosed and treated properly. Considering the problems in sampling and laboratory diagnosis of leishmaniasis, new molecular markers such as circular RNAs (circRNAs) are needed. circRNAs, a novel class of RNAs, have been one of the most promising targets for the diagnosis and prognosis of diseases. Although the therapeutic and diagnostic role of circRNAs in many diseases and some parasitic diseases are known, not much research has been done in the field of leishmaniasis. We determined the gene expressions of circRNAs in human leukemia monocytic (THP-1) cells after infection with <em>Leishmania</em>. For this, the human cell line THP-1 was differentiated into macrophages by Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) treatment. Differentiated THP-1 cells were infected with <em>L. infantum and L. tropica</em> promastigotes. After 24 hours, expression levels of circRNAs were determined by RT-qPCR technique. Also, the microRNAs associated with differentially expressed circRNAs were investigated. Then, the molecular pathways associated with expressed circRNAs were obtained by GO and Reactome. The results showed that five circRNAs were differentially expressed in THP1 macrophages infected with <em>L. infantum</em> and <em>L. tropica</em>. These findings suggest that some circRNAs may be potential biomarkers for diagnosis in <em>Leishmania</em>-infected patients. The enrichment analysis revealed that differentially expressed circRNAs are mainly involved in the regulation of protein stability, RNA catabolic process, and P53/PTK6 signaling mechanism. This is the first study to report an overview of <em>Leishmania</em>-induced circRNAs, which can be potential biomarker candidate for diagnosis especially at species level. Notably, expression of some circRNAs in supernatant of <em>Leishmania</em> infected macrophages suggests that these genes are available in body fluids, therefore, can easily be accessed from the patient without invasive methods especially during treatment monitoring.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7240,"journal":{"name":"Acta tropica","volume":"261 ","pages":"Article 107509"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142871054","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Assessing radiation-induced enzyme activation in Aedes aegypti: Potential challenges for SIT-based vector management","authors":"Edvane Borges da Silva ,&nbsp;Sloana Giesta Lemos Florêncio ,&nbsp;Ademir Amaral ,&nbsp;Maria Alice Varjal de Melo-Santos","doi":"10.1016/j.actatropica.2024.107518","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.actatropica.2024.107518","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study characterizes the <em>Aedes aegypti</em> population from Fernando de Noronha Island, Pernambuco, Brazil, prior to implementing the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT). The main objective was to assess changes in glutathione S-transferase (GST) enzyme activity, previously linked to cypermethrin resistance in this population, in 2010. GST activity was measured in both male and female mosquitoes, masse produced in lab, after exposure to ionizing radiation. The populational evaluation after six years showed a complete susceptibility to cypermethrin, deltamethrin and lambda-cyhalothrin, although GST activity remained altered, increasing furthermore following irradiation (50 % higher in irradiated males and 31 % higher in irradiated females compared to non-irradiated controls). This stress response to gamma radiation suggesting implications for the effectiveness and viability of sterile males, particularly when SIT is combined with chemical insecticides. These findings enhance our understanding of radiation's impact on metabolic responses of the sterile males and provide valuable insights for refining integrated control strategies in vector management programs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7240,"journal":{"name":"Acta tropica","volume":"261 ","pages":"Article 107518"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142913487","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Molecular characterization of Cryptosporidium spp. in symptomatic children from Cape Verde.","authors":"Denise Andrade Colito ,&nbsp;Antton Xabier Pinto Linaza ,&nbsp;Katherine García-Livia ,&nbsp;Edgar Baz-González ,&nbsp;Natalia Martin-Carrillo ,&nbsp;Hailton Spencer Da costa Lima ,&nbsp;Roberto Dorta-Guerra ,&nbsp;Pilar Foronda","doi":"10.1016/j.actatropica.2024.107498","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.actatropica.2024.107498","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Cryptosporidiosis has been identified as one of the leading causes of diarrhea and diarrhea-associated deaths in young children in sub-Saharan Africa. In Cape Verde, available data on human infections caused by <em>Cryptosporidium</em> spp. are limited. The aim of the present study was to analyze the molecular epidemiology of <em>Cryptosporidium</em> spp. in Cape Verde. Stool samples were obtained from patients on the Santiago and Sal islands (Cape Verde); 10/105 (9.5 % CI: 4.7; 16.8) from the Santiago Island and 4/85 (4.7 % CI: 1.3; 11.6) from the Sal Island presented <em>Cryptosporidium</em> sp.<em>,</em> and were analyzed by nested-PCR of the SSU rRNA gene and nested-PCR of the 60 kDa glycoprotein gene for subtyping. Two species, <em>Cryptosporidium hominis</em> and <em>Cryptosporidium felis</em>, were identified. In Santiago Island, only <em>C. hominis</em> was detected, while both species were found in Sal Island. <em>Cryptosporidium hominis</em> IfA 14G1R5 subtype was identified in children from Santiago and Sal. Although the consumption of non-bottled water is a risk factor for infection by <em>Cryptosporidium</em> spp. on Santiago Island, none of the factors analysed (age, gender, clinical symptoms, source of drinking water, presence of animals at home, attending kindergarten or school, and having a bathroom at home) were significantly related to the presence of <em>Cryptosporidium</em> spp. in Sal Island. <em>Cryptosporidium hominis</em> is the most commonly identified species associated with cryptosporidiosis in the studied population, indicating a predominance of anthroponotic transmission. This study provides the first data on <em>C. hominis</em> subtyping in Cape Verde and the first report of <em>C. felis</em> in humans from this region, demonstrating the possibility of zoonotic transmission. The obtained results highlight the need for further molecular and epidemiological studies of <em>Cryptosporidium</em> spp. infections in human and animals from Cape Verde, in order to investigate the transmission dynamics of cryptosporidiosis and develop effective control strategies to prevent the spread of the disease.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7240,"journal":{"name":"Acta tropica","volume":"261 ","pages":"Article 107498"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142821721","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"High-fat/high-fructose diet and Opisthorchis viverrini infection promote metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease via inflammation, fibrogenesis, and metabolic dysfunction","authors":"Lakhanawan Charoensuk ,&nbsp;Phonpilas Thongpon ,&nbsp;Chutima Sitthirach ,&nbsp;Apisit Chaidee ,&nbsp;Kitti Intuyod ,&nbsp;Chawalit Pairojkul ,&nbsp;Ei Htet Htet Khin ,&nbsp;Chanakan Jantawong ,&nbsp;Kanjana Thumanu ,&nbsp;Porntip Pinlaor ,&nbsp;Nuttanan Hongsrichan ,&nbsp;Somchai Pinlaor","doi":"10.1016/j.actatropica.2024.107491","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.actatropica.2024.107491","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and opisthorchiasis, caused by <em>Opisthorchis viverrini</em> (<em>O. viverrini</em>) infection, frequently co-exist in Northeast Thailand. However, the underlying pathophysiology remains unknown. We aimed to investigate the effect of a high-fat/high-fructose (HFF) diet combined with <em>O. viverrini</em> infection on MASLD. Four groups each of ten male golden hamsters were established: normal controls (NC), <em>O. viverrini</em>-infected (OV), HFF-fed, and HFF-fed plus <em>O. viverrini</em> infection (HFF+OV). After four months of treatment, histopathological study indicated substantial hepatic damage in groups given the HFF diet. In particular, the HFF+OV group demonstrated marked lipid-droplet accumulation, hepatocyte ballooning, inflammatory-cell clustering, and widespread fibrosis. Biochemical tests indicated that the HFF+OV group had the highest concentrations of alanine aminotransferase and triglycerides, but cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein levels had increased in both HFF groups. Increased expression of <em>Tgf-β1</em> and α-SMA, indicative of greater fibrosis, was demonstrated by picrosirius-red staining in the HFF+OV group. There was a significant increase in levels of inflammatory markers (HMGB-1, p65, and F4/80) and expression of genes related to the synthesis of fatty acids and glucose. FTIR microspectroscopy revealed distinct changes in fatty acids and proteins, associated with the more pronounced histopathology and impaired liver function in the HFF+OV group. The findings indicate that the interplay of a HFF diet and <em>O. viverrini</em> infection aggravates the progression of MASLD by augmenting liver damage, inflammation, fibrogenesis, and metabolic dysfunction. This study highlights the significance of incorporating both nutritional and infection factors into the management of liver disorders, especially in areas where opisthorchiasis is common.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7240,"journal":{"name":"Acta tropica","volume":"261 ","pages":"Article 107491"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142790890","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"New host record and redescription of Amblyomma cordiferum nymphs and larvae infesting Malaysian house rats (Rattus rattus diardii) in Peninsular Malaysia, with molecular evidence of Rickettsia, Borrelia, and Bartonella","authors":"Abdul Rahman Kazim ,&nbsp;Dzulhelmi Muhammad Nasir ,&nbsp;Tiong Kai Tan ,&nbsp;Vinnie-Siow Wei Yin ,&nbsp;Ariff Ateed Mohd Noh ,&nbsp;Chong-Chin Heo ,&nbsp;Van Lun Low","doi":"10.1016/j.actatropica.2024.107496","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.actatropica.2024.107496","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Nymphal and larval <em>Amblyomma cordiferum</em> ticks, a relatively rare species, were collected from the Malaysian house rat (<em>Rattus rattus diardii</em>) in Peninsular Malaysia. Redescription and molecular analysis of nymphs and larvae, based on the 12S rRNA, 16S rRNA, and <em>COI</em> genes, revealed divergence from <em>A. cordiferum</em> in Taiwan, suggesting that the Taiwanese tick specimens may represent a different taxon. Molecular analysis of the pathogens in these specimens revealed three sequences of <em>Rickettsia</em> closely related or identical to <em>Rickettsia raoultii</em> (99.71–100%), two sequences of relapsing fever <em>Borrelia</em> identical to <em>Borrelia theileri</em>, and four sequences of <em>Bartonella</em> identical to <em>Bartonella phoceensis</em>. This study also identifies a new host record for <em>A. cordiferum</em> in <em>R. r. diardii</em> and reports the first detection of <em>Rickettsia, Borrelia</em>, and <em>Bartonella</em> in this tick species.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7240,"journal":{"name":"Acta tropica","volume":"261 ","pages":"Article 107496"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142817026","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Fauna of simuliids (Diptera: Simuliidae) of the Tormes River hydrographic basin in central-western Spain and their responses to abiotic factors in their habitats","authors":"David López-Peña ,&nbsp;Manuel Salvador Portillo-Rubio ,&nbsp;Eduardo Moisés García-Roger ,&nbsp;Álvaro Lis-Cantín ,&nbsp;José Vicente Falcó-Garí","doi":"10.1016/j.actatropica.2024.107516","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.actatropica.2024.107516","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Delving into knowing the blackfly (Diptera: Simuliidae) species composition of Spain and their ecological requirements is crucial, due to their instrumental role in natural food webs as intermediaries in the flow of energy in aquatic ecosystems, and because of the haematophagic behaviour displayed by females of several species. The present study has analysed the abundance and distribution of the larvae and pupae of blackfly species in 105 sampling stations located in lotic water bodies of the provinces of Ávila, Salamanca, and Zamora of the Tormes River basin. The study has allowed to identify 24 species: 17 from Ávila, 13 from Salamanca, and seven from Zamora, classified in three genera (<em>Metacnephia, Prosimulium</em>, and <em>Simulium</em>), and five subgenera (<em>Boophthora, Eusimulium, Nevermannia, Simulium, Wilhelmia</em>). The results include four first records for Ávila province: <em>Simulium</em> (<em>Nevermannia</em>) <em>armoricanum</em> <span><span>Doby &amp; David, 1961</span></span>, <em>Simulium</em> (<em>Nevermannia</em>) <em>cryophilum</em> (Rubtsov, 1959), <em>Simulium</em> (<em>Nevermannia</em>) <em>naturale</em> Davies, 1966, and <em>Simulium</em> (<em>Simulium</em>) <em>variegatum</em> <span><span>Meigen, 1818</span></span>. Among them, <em>S. armoricanum</em> shows the widest elevational range (900-1650 m a.s.l.), <em>S. naturale</em> shows the widest water temperature range (6-15 °C), and <em>S. cryophilum</em> stands out for inhabiting very fast waters. Blackfly communities were best discriminated by elevation and temperature. Our analyses allowed us to estimate the optima and tolerance ranges of the described species, with <em>S. argygreatum, S. reptans, P. latimucro</em> and <em>P. tomosvaryi</em> standing out for their preference for altitudes above 1000 m a.s.l., although with wide tolerance ranges. In terms of temperature, these two <em>Prosimulium</em> species were best represented at the coldest waters.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7240,"journal":{"name":"Acta tropica","volume":"261 ","pages":"Article 107516"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142906258","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A review of acaricides and their resistance mechanisms in hard ticks and control alternatives with synergistic agents","authors":"Jose Felix Rojas-Cabeza ,&nbsp;Elena N. Moreno-Cordova ,&nbsp;Jesus Fernando Ayala-Zavala ,&nbsp;Adrian Ochoa-Teran ,&nbsp;Daniel E. Sonenshine ,&nbsp;Jesus G. Valenzuela ,&nbsp;Rogerio R. Sotelo-Mundo","doi":"10.1016/j.actatropica.2024.107519","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.actatropica.2024.107519","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Ticks are significant ectoparasites that transmit a variety of pathogens, leading to serious human and animal diseases, including Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, anaplasmosis, and many others. The emergence of acaricide resistance in hard ticks presents a formidable challenge for public health and livestock management, exacerbated by the increasing incidence of tick-borne diseases and associated economic losses, estimated at $20 billion annually in the livestock sector alone. This review examines the mechanisms underlying acaricide resistance, focusing on genetic mutations, metabolic detoxification processes, and behavioral adaptations in tick populations. We detail the role of commercial acaricides in tick control while emphasizing the adverse effects of their overuse, which contributes to the development of resistant strains. Innovative control strategies are explored, including using pesticide synergists that enhance the efficacy of existing acaricides by targeting the tick's phosphagen system. Additionally, this review highlights the importance of understanding the synergistic interactions between various control methods, including non-chemical approaches such as personal protection measures and landscape management. The review concludes by underscoring the urgent need for novel acaricides with new modes of action and implementing regular monitoring practices to combat acaricide resistance effectively. Addressing these challenges is vital for the sustainable management of tick populations and protecting public health and livestock productivity.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7240,"journal":{"name":"Acta tropica","volume":"261 ","pages":"Article 107519"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142919058","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}