Current research in parasitology & vector-borne diseases最新文献

{"title":"Larvicidal activity of Bacillus thuringiensis strains against Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes","authors":"Prakai Rajchanuwong ,&nbsp;Sawaporn Peaboon ,&nbsp;Ratchadawan Ngoen-Klan ,&nbsp;Atsalek Rattanawannee ,&nbsp;Atirat Noosidum ,&nbsp;Boonhiang Promdonkoy ,&nbsp;Jariya Chanpaisaeng ,&nbsp;Theeraphap Chareonviriyaphap","doi":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2025.100245","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2025.100245","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Organophosphates, carbamates and synthetic pyrethroids are commonly used in Thailand to control mosquito vectors; however, long-term use of insecticides in vector control has led to the rapid development of insecticide resistance. In this study, we screened <em>Bacillus thuringiensis</em> strains as biological control agents for potential toxins against mosquito larvae as an additional control tool. Preliminary bioassays conducted on 434 strains demonstrated that 41 strains (11.64%) and 14 strains (3.97%) achieved 100% mortality against <em>Ae. aegypti</em> and <em>Cx. quinquefasciatus</em> larvae, respectively. Three strains (JC690, JC691, and JC699) showed toxicity to both mosquito species, compared with the reference Bti strain. Strains JC691 demonstrated the highest efficacy against <em>Ae. aegypti</em> and <em>Cx. quinquefasciatus</em>, with an LC₅₀ value of 6.96 × 10⁴ CFU/ml and 1.16 × 10³ CFU/ml, respectively. A comparison of LC₅₀ values revealed that JC691 exhibited higher efficacy against <em>Cx. quinquefasciatus</em> than that by Bti (Bti LC₅₀: 8.89 × 10⁴ CFU/ml) but lower efficacy against <em>Ae. aegypti</em> (Bti LC₅₀: 1.99 × 10³ CFU/ml). Scanning electron microscopy revealed that JC690, JC691, and JC699 are rod-shaped, have oval spores, and produce bi-pyramidal crystal proteins. Protein profile analysis using SDS-PAGE demonstrated distinct differences between these Thailand strains (JC690, JC691, and JC699) and the reference Bti strain. All three Thailand strains contained <em>cry</em>1I and <em>cry</em>2A genes, and only JC691 harbored the <em>cry</em>32 gene. Bayesian inference and maximum likelihood phylogenetic analyses of <em>cry</em>32 indicated that the partial sequences of <em>cry</em>32 in JC691 from Thailand were distinct from those of other <em>B. thuringiensis</em> strains from different countries. This study demonstrates the potential of JC690, JC691, and JC699 as biocontrol agents for <em>Ae. aegypti</em> and <em>Cx. quinquefasciatus</em>.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":94311,"journal":{"name":"Current research in parasitology & vector-borne diseases","volume":"7 ","pages":"Article 100245"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-01-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143149005","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Insights into the transmission cycle of cutaneous leishmaniasis from an endemic community in rural Guatemala","authors":"Yaimie Lopez ,&nbsp;Aitor Casas-Sanchez ,&nbsp;Byron Arana ,&nbsp;Nidia Rizzo ,&nbsp;Erick Duran ,&nbsp;Norma Padilla ,&nbsp;Andrea de la Vega ,&nbsp;Esteban Bustamante ,&nbsp;Álvaro Acosta-Serrano ,&nbsp;Renata Mendizabal-Cabrera","doi":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2025.100244","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2025.100244","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a parasitic vector-borne disease prevalent in 90 countries. Despite its endemicity in Guatemala, key transmission factors are still unknown. To address this, we characterized sand fly populations and <em>Leishmania</em> parasites in a Guatemalan community in 2022. We visited the households of 23 patients with lesions compatible with CL, sampled for sand flies and analysed <em>Leishmania</em> spp. presence in patients’ skin scrapings and in collected sand flies. We collected 93 sand flies, predominantly females including the vector species <em>Nyssomyia ylephiletor</em>, <em>Bichromomyia olmeca</em> and <em>Lutzomyia cruciata</em>. <em>Nyssomyia ylephiletor</em> was the most abundant species indoors. Four <em>Leishmania</em> spp. were identified including <em>L. panamensis</em>, <em>L. guyanensis</em>, <em>L. braziliensis</em> and <em>L. infantum</em> in CL lesions, <em>L. guyanensis</em> complex species (<em>L. guyanensis</em> or <em>L. panamensis</em>) and <em>Leishmania</em> sp. in sand flies. Sand fly species positive for <em>Leishmania</em> spp. were <em>Ny. ylephiletor</em>, <em>Dampfomyia deleoni</em>, <em>Dampfomyia</em> sp<em>.</em> and <em>Brumptomyia</em> sp. Blood-meal analysis revealed human and pig blood in engorged <em>Ny. ylephiletor</em> collected inside and in the proximity of the households. This is the first report of <em>L. guyanensis</em> in Guatemalan patients and provides insights into CL transmission dynamics, suggesting potential indoor transmission, pending more studies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":94311,"journal":{"name":"Current research in parasitology & vector-borne diseases","volume":"7 ","pages":"Article 100244"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143360315","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Rapid review: Recent advances in in vitro models for the study of Cryptosporidium parvum","authors":"Mathilde S. Varegg,&nbsp;Ian D. Woolsey,&nbsp;Lucy J. Robertson,&nbsp;Alejandro Jiménez-Meléndez","doi":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2025.100269","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2025.100269","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Cryptosporidium</em> research has been hampered by the lack of <em>in vitro</em> models that can recapitulate the life cycle of the parasite, thus relying on repeated animal infections. Traditional <em>in vitro</em> systems, employing cancerous cell lines, have been unable to support sexual reproduction, but have been widely employed for drug screening assays and allowed transcriptome mapping of the parasite, but extrapolation of those results to <em>in vivo</em> infections is limited. In recent years, intestinal organoids (enteroids), grown as 3D structures, have come to be recognized as more physiologically relevant, complex systems, since they more accurately reproduce the cell populations present in the small intestine. A key advantage of these systems is their ability to fulfil the life cycle of the parasite. However, studies employing bovine organoids, the target species of the major zoonotic species <em>Cryptosporidium parvum</em>, are lacking. Future research should emphasize bioengineered systems, with heterogeneous populations of intestinal epithelial and mesenchymal cells, to advance the <em>in vitro</em> field closer to <em>in vivo</em> infection models. The present review summarizes the history of cell line use in <em>Cryptosporidium</em> research and the most recent advances in organoids, bio-engineered and organ-on-a-chip platforms, including methodological approaches used to facilitate exposure of the apical side of the target cells to the parasite, and the influence of mechanical forces and microenvironment.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":94311,"journal":{"name":"Current research in parasitology & vector-borne diseases","volume":"7 ","pages":"Article 100269"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144116551","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Species distribution and screening of Trypanosoma DNA in phlebotomine sand flies from four southern provinces of Thailand","authors":"Nantatchaporn Klaiklueng ,&nbsp;Rawadee Kumlert ,&nbsp;Sopavadee Moonmake ,&nbsp;Toon Ruang-areerate ,&nbsp;Padet Siriyasatien ,&nbsp;Sakone Sunantaraporn ,&nbsp;Darawan Wanachiwanawin ,&nbsp;Pichet Ruenchit ,&nbsp;Sirichit Wongkamchai","doi":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2025.100263","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2025.100263","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Sand flies are principal vectors of <em>Leishmania</em> spp. and <em>Trypanosoma</em> spp. Identifying precise vector species is crucial for effective control. We conducted a study on the species distribution of phlebotomine sand flies in cave-dwelling and non-cave-dwelling in four southern provinces of Thailand. In this study, we collected 621 sand flies (346 females and 275 males) and identified all specimens based on morphology and DNA barcoding, employing cytochrome <em>c</em> oxidase subunit 1 (<em>cox</em>1) and cytochrome <em>b</em> (<em>cytb</em>) genes. In female specimens, we also screened the small subunit 18S ribosomal RNA (18S rRNA) gene for <em>Leishmania</em> spp. and <em>Trypanosoma</em> spp. Morphologically, 467 (75.2%) sand flies were identified to species level, 47 (7.57%) to subgenus level, and 107 (17.23%) to genus level. These included <em>Idiophlebotomus asperulus</em> (43.48%), <em>Sergentomyia khawi</em> (26.73%), <em>S. anodontis</em> (2.25%), <em>S. brevicaulis</em> (2.25%), <em>Grassomyia indica</em> (0.48%), <em>Phlebotomus</em> (<em>Euphlebotomus</em>) spp. (4.83%), <em>Phlebotomus</em> (<em>Lewisius</em>) spp. (2.74%), <em>Sergentomyia</em> spp. (9.18%), and <em>Phlebotomus</em> spp. (8.05%). Among the 107 specimens identified to genus level, DNA barcoding further identified 49 (45.79%) as <em>Sergentomyia barraudi</em> (1.61%), <em>S. bailyi</em> (0.16%), <em>Phlebotomus kiangsuensis</em> (2.9%), and <em>Ph. stantoni</em> (1.61%). No <em>Leishmania</em> DNA was detected, but <em>Trypanosoma</em> DNA was found in females of <em>S. khawi</em> from Narathiwat Province. Expanding genetic reference databases of sand flies located in four provinces of southern Thailand will improve barcoding accuracy. Understanding sand fly species composition and distribution is imperative for vector control and disease prevention in Thailand.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":94311,"journal":{"name":"Current research in parasitology & vector-borne diseases","volume":"7 ","pages":"Article 100263"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143868349","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The BiteBarrier perimeter: A passive spatial device for tick control and bite prevention","authors":"Maria V. Murgia ,&nbsp;Laurie Widder ,&nbsp;Catherine A. Hill","doi":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2025.100246","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2025.100246","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Tick-borne diseases (TBDs) impact human and animal health on a global scale. Prevention of TBDs relies primarily on prevention of tick bites. New bite-prevention technologies are needed as an alternative to current approaches such as topical repellents and treated clothing which suffer low user compliance. To date, no passive spatial devices have been commercialized for area protection against ticks. The BiteBarrier (formerly the Personal Insect Repellent Kit, PIRK), a passive, lightweight device that emits transfluthrin, offers to fill this gap. In a previous study, we demonstrated contact toxicity of the BiteBarrier substrate to three tick species, <em>Ixodes scapularis</em>, <em>Dermacentor variabilis</em> and <em>Amblyomma americanum</em>, and reported differences in efficacy depending on species and short-range spatial efficacy against <em>I. scapularis</em> adult females. Here, we extended analyses and demonstrated modest spatial activity of the BiteBarrier substrate against <em>A. americanum</em> and <em>D. variabilis</em> adult females. Using a dual-choice behavioral assay, we showed that the three tick species preferred an area of untreated substrate. Lastly, we present a novel perimeter assay, developed to assess the efficacy of the BiteBarrier ground-based prototype against ticks. At short-range in a Peet Grady-style chamber, the BiteBarrier perimeter induced greater than 90% knockdown of <em>I. scapularis</em> adult females at 1 and 2 h post-exposure and 90% mortality at 48 h post-exposure. Taken together, study findings indicate the potential of the BiteBarrier perimeter to control ticks at near range and potentially, to protect against tick bites.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":94311,"journal":{"name":"Current research in parasitology & vector-borne diseases","volume":"7 ","pages":"Article 100246"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143421670","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Monitoring of questing tick species distribution in Galicia, north-western Spain, over a period of 5.5 years","authors":"María Vilá Pena ,&nbsp;Inês Abreu Ramos ,&nbsp;Génesis Bautista García ,&nbsp;Elvira Íñiguez Pichel ,&nbsp;Cristiana Cazapal Monteiro ,&nbsp;José Ángel Hernández Malagón ,&nbsp;Adolfo Paz Silva ,&nbsp;Rita Sánchez-Andrade Fernández ,&nbsp;María Sol Arias Vázquez","doi":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2025.100254","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2025.100254","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>An active survey was performed by the Galician Vector Surveillance Network (ReGaViVec) to determine the distribution of questing tick species in the Autonomous Community of Galicia Galicia, north-western Spain. Monitoring of tick populations involved drag/flag sampling at 533 locations over a period of 5.5 years. The identification of tick species, sex, and stage was carried out according to morphological keys, and the results were analyzed considering three Köppen climate regions, i.e. Cfb (marine west coast climate), Csb (warm-summer Mediterranean climate), and Csa (hot-summer Mediterranean climate), season, environment (forest, rural, or urban), vegetation height (≤ 15 cm, 16–40 cm, and &gt; 40 cm); and altitude (&lt; 300 m, 301–500 m, 501–1000 m, and &gt;1000 m). A total of 1378 ticks were collected at 260 locations: 62.92% in Csb, 24.38% in Cfb, and 12.70% in Csa. Of these, 2% were larvae, 45.2% were nymphs, and 52.8% were adults (58.3% females and 41.7% males). Six species were recorded, i.e. <em>Ixodes ricinus</em> (57.90%), <em>Rhipicephalus sanguineus</em> (<em>sensu lato</em>) (26.05%), <em>Dermacentor reticulatus</em> (10.95%), <em>Dermacentor marginatus</em> (2.10%), <em>Haemaphysalis</em> sp. (2.61%), and <em>Rhipicephalus bursa</em> (0.36%). A seasonal pattern was recorded, with the relative abundance of <em>I. ricinus</em> and <em>R. sanguineus</em> (<em>s.l</em>.) peaking in spring-summer, and that of <em>Dermacentor</em> spp. and <em>Haemaphysalis</em> sp. peaking in autumn-winter. Significant differences were demonstrated in the species abundance distribution according to climate region, season, environment, and altitude. The highest tick abundance was recorded in summer, in rural areas, and at altitudes of &lt; 300 m. Because most of the tick species present in the environment of Galicia have vectorial competence for emerging tick-borne pathogens, it is important to maintain research and coordination of tick surveillance practices in the region.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":94311,"journal":{"name":"Current research in parasitology & vector-borne diseases","volume":"7 ","pages":"Article 100254"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143785288","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Impact of seasonal change on virus-rodent dynamics in Nigeria’s Edo-Ondo hotspot for Lassa fever","authors":"Akinlabi Oyeyiola ,&nbsp;Adetunji Samuel Adesina ,&nbsp;Adeoba Obadare ,&nbsp;Joseph Igbokwe ,&nbsp;Samuel Ayobami Fasogbon ,&nbsp;Chukwuyem Abejegah ,&nbsp;Patience Akhilomen ,&nbsp;Danny Asogun ,&nbsp;Ekaete Tobin ,&nbsp;Olufemi Ayodeji ,&nbsp;Omolaja Osoniyi ,&nbsp;Meike Pahlmann ,&nbsp;Stephan Günther ,&nbsp;Elisabeth Fichet-Calvet ,&nbsp;Ayodeji Olayemi","doi":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2025.100271","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2025.100271","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The zoonotic Lassa virus (LASV) is naturally maintained in rodents but commonly virulent in humans, killing thousands across West Africa annually. Human cases of Lassa fever surge during the dry season. In a hotspot for this disease, involving seven localities from Edo and Ondo states within Nigeria, we sought to depict how fluctuation patterns of LASV prevalence in rodents and levels of rodent infestation culminate in particularly heightened points of potential rodent-to-human transmission. We also explored how this variability may be driven by environmental and demographic factors. We determined active LASV infection by PCR and previous infection using an indirect immunofluorescence assay for IgG antibodies. Six out of the seven localities had active LASV infections, ranging between 3.7% (1/27) and 75.5% (37/49). In Ebudin and Ekpoma, where longitudinal sampling was conducted, prevalence differences were not statistically significant across locality, habitat, season, or year. Conversely, abundance peaked significantly indoors for <em>Mastomys natalensis</em> (the major LASV reservoir) and <em>Praomys daltoni</em> either during the dry or rainy season, depending on whether each of these rodent species occupied Ebudin or Ekpoma. Our results suggest that, since LASV occurrence is usually widespread in its natural reservoir within highly endemic areas, a more immediate component of zoonotic risk to prioritize for control would be the targeting of rodent infestation peaks when they occur inside human habitations. Over our two-year survey, these peaks in abundance were consistent in the months they occurred yearly for <em>M. natalensis</em> and <em>P. daltoni</em> per locality.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":94311,"journal":{"name":"Current research in parasitology & vector-borne diseases","volume":"7 ","pages":"Article 100271"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144105567","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Refining the annotation of Rhodnius prolixus aspartic proteases A1 family genes through proteogenomics","authors":"Radouane Ouali,&nbsp;Sabrina Bousbata","doi":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2025.100253","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2025.100253","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Rhodnius prolixus</em> Stål (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Triatominae) a hematophagous model organism and vector of Chagas disease, relies on a complex repertoire of digestive enzymes to process its blood meals. Among these, aspartic proteases from the A1 peptidase family play a crucial role in nutrient breakdown. This study aims to refine the gene annotation of the A1 peptidase family in this organism through proteogenomics. A comprehensive analysis of aspartic protease gene sequences and protein isoforms, identified by proteomics, revealed discrepancies in existing gene annotations, including the identification of novel open reading frames and the consolidation of previously separated gene sequences. Our efforts led to the correction of seven gene annotations, reducing the total count of A1 peptidase genes from 19 to 15. Notably, 11 of these genes were confirmed at the protein level, while two were supported by transcriptomic data. Furthermore, our findings highlight instances of alternative splicing, as seen in RPRC015076, where proteoforms T1IFK7 and R4G5J6 are expressed through intron retention. This study not only provides a more accurate and comprehensive genomic framework for the A1 peptidase family but also offers new insights into the functional complexity and regulation of digestive enzymes in <em>R. prolixus</em>. These findings pave the way for future studies on insect digestive biology and their potential applications in vector control strategies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":94311,"journal":{"name":"Current research in parasitology & vector-borne diseases","volume":"7 ","pages":"Article 100253"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143684031","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Density-dependence and different dimensions of changing weather shape adult abundance patterns of common mosquito species (Diptera: Culicidae) in Bloomington, Indiana, USA","authors":"Aidan Patrick Simons ,&nbsp;Amanda Lenfestey ,&nbsp;Luis Fernando Chaves","doi":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2025.100242","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2025.100242","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Understanding the factors driving changes in mosquito abundance are key to quantify the risk they pose as vectors of pathogens. Here, to study the impacts of weather changes and density-dependent regulation on mosquito species abundance, we used season long weekly time series of <em>Aedes japonicus</em> (Theobald), <em>Aedes triseriatus</em> (Say), <em>Aedes vexans</em> (Meigen), <em>Anopheles punctipennis</em> (Say), C<em>oquillettidia perturbans</em> (Walker), and <em>Culex pipiens</em> L., common mosquito species in the Bloomington, IN, USA, area. We use the forced Ricker model to estimate population growth and density-dependence parameters, as well as the forcing by weather variables. We found that weather factors important for the population dynamics of these species were different. We found that <em>Cx. pipiens</em> population dynamics was not associated with any weather variables, while <em>Ae. japonicus</em>, <em>Ae. triseriatus</em> and <em>Cq. perturbans</em> were forced by relative humidity, <em>Ae. vexans</em> by SD of rainfall, and <em>An. punctipennis</em> by the kurtosis of temperature. These results illustrate the diversity of ways in which mosquitoes can respond to changing weather patterns and highlight the need for a more nuanced understanding of how mosquitoes respond to climate change by coupling field studies with mathematical modeling.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":94311,"journal":{"name":"Current research in parasitology & vector-borne diseases","volume":"7 ","pages":"Article 100242"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143149067","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Small mammals as hosts of vector-borne pathogens in the High Tatra Mountains region in Slovakia, Central Europe","authors":"Bronislava Víchová ,&nbsp;Michal Stanko ,&nbsp;Martina Miterpáková ,&nbsp;Zuzana Hurníková ,&nbsp;Yaroslav Syrota ,&nbsp;Patrícia Schmer-Jakšová ,&nbsp;Petronela Komorová ,&nbsp;Lucia Vargová ,&nbsp;Veronika Blažeková ,&nbsp;Dana Zubriková ,&nbsp;Klaudia Mária Švirlochová ,&nbsp;Gabriela Chovancová","doi":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2024.100240","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2024.100240","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Rodents and insectivores are significant reservoirs of many zoonotic pathogens, contributing to the transmission of diseases affecting human and animal health. This study investigated the prevalence and diversity of vector-borne pathogens in small mammals within the High Tatras region of Slovakia, an area with substantial recreational activity and protected zones. A total of 156 small mammals, comprising ten species, were screened for pathogens such as <em>Bartonella</em> spp., <em>Borrelia</em> spp., <em>Anaplasma phagocytophilum</em>, and <em>Babesia</em> spp. The prevalence of vector-borne pathogens in the studied animals reached 74.35%, with <em>Bartonella</em> spp. being the most common, identified in 57.7% of the animals, particularly in <em>Apodemus flavicollis</em> and <em>Clethrionomys glareolus</em>. <em>Borrelia burgdorferi</em> (<em>sensu lato</em>) was detected in 11.5% of the rodents, with <em>Borrelia afzelii</em> identified as the predominant species. <em>Babesia microti</em> was found in <em>A. flavicollis</em> and <em>Mus musculus</em>, with a total prevalence of 3.2%. The lowest was the prevalence of <em>A. phagocytophilum</em> reaching 1.9%. This study provides evidence of the significant role of rodents as reservoirs of vector-borne pathogens in protected areas of the High Tatras region and Tatra National Park.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":94311,"journal":{"name":"Current research in parasitology & vector-borne diseases","volume":"7 ","pages":"Article 100240"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11751563/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143026256","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}