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

{"title":"Seasonal distribution and cercarial shedding of Bulinus spp. snails: Implications for urogenital schistosomiasis control in the Simiyu Region, northwestern Tanzania","authors":"Nyanda C. Justine ,&nbsp;Humphrey D. Mazigo ,&nbsp;Antje Fuss ,&nbsp;Bonnie L. Webster ,&nbsp;Eveline T. Konje ,&nbsp;Klaus Brehm ,&nbsp;Andreas Mueller","doi":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2025.100248","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2025.100248","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Urogenital schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease of significant public health concern caused by the trematode species <em>Schistosoma haematobium</em>. Its transmission is localised and heterogeneous, with seasonal occurrences in Tanzania primarily facilitated by <em>Bulinus</em> spp. snails, which serve as intermediate hosts. To plan effective, data-driven control measures, it is crucial to understand the epidemiology of schistosomes in these snails. This study aimed to investigate the seasonal distribution, abundance, and <em>Schistosoma</em> spp. infections (assessed <em>via</em> cercarial emergence) in <em>Bulinus</em> spp. snails in two districts, Maswa and Meatu, in the Simiyu Region of Tanzania. Malacological surveys were conducted at 90 sites in total, comprising sites in 35 rivers, 32 ponds, and 23 branching streams. Each study site was sampled once during the rainy season and once during the dry season. Snails were collected using a standard scoop- and handpicking technique by two people for 15 min at each site. The collected snails were morphologically identified and subjected to a cercarial emergence experiment. Water physicochemical characteristics were recorded simultaneously with snail collection using a portable multiparameter water meter. The data were analysed using STATA v. 17. A total of 4997 <em>Bulinus</em> spp<em>.</em> snails were collected from 90 sites in the two districts. Of these, 91.4% (95% CI: 90.5–92.1%) were morphologically identified as <em>Bulinus nasutus</em> and 8.6% (95% CI: 7.8–9.4%) were identified as <em>Bulinus globosus</em>. <em>Bulinus</em> spp. snail abundance was almost evenly distributed across seasons, with 50.4% (95% CI: 48.9–51.7%) collected during the dry season and 49.6% (95% CI: 48.2–51.0%) collected during the rainy season. Water temperature and salinity were significantly negatively correlated with snail abundance (both <em>P</em> &lt; 0.001). <em>Schistosoma</em> spp. cercarial emergence followed a seasonal pattern and was significantly higher during the rainy season (<em>P</em> = 0.005). Our findings underscore that <em>B. nasutus</em> was the most abundant freshwater snail distributed at nearly all the study sites during the rainy and dry seasons. Therefore, appropriate snail control strategies are recommended to complement ongoing schistosomiasis control strategies in the Simiyu Region.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":94311,"journal":{"name":"Current research in parasitology & vector-borne diseases","volume":"7 ","pages":"Article 100248"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143149006","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":"Genetic diversity of Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium falciparum field isolates from Honduras in the malaria elimination phase","authors":"Alejandro Zamora ,&nbsp;Alejandra Pinto ,&nbsp;Denis Escobar ,&nbsp;Hugo O. Valdivia ,&nbsp;Lesly Chaver ,&nbsp;Gloria Ardón ,&nbsp;Erick Carranza ,&nbsp;Gustavo Fontecha","doi":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2024.100230","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2024.100230","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Malaria continues to be a major threat to public health in tropical regions, primarily affecting sub-Saharan Africa but also Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America. Malaria cases in Honduras have seen a significant decline and the country aims to eliminate the disease by 2030. This study examines the genetic diversity of <em>Plasmodium falciparum</em> and <em>Plasmodium vivax</em> in Honduras using four molecular markers (<em>Pfama1</em>, <em>Pfglurp</em>, <em>Pvmsp3α</em>, and <em>Pvmsp3β</em>), and the chloroquine resistance marker <em>pfcrt</em> in the context of the elimination phase. Our findings indicate that <em>P. falciparum</em> populations in Honduras are more homogeneous compared to <em>P. vivax</em>. The multilocus sequence typing (MLST) approach, using four loci from <em>Pvmsp3α</em> and <em>Pvmsp3β</em>, proved more effective in assessing the genetic diversity of <em>P. vivax</em> than individual marker analyses. No geographical clustering was observed for <em>P. vivax</em> haplotypes, either within Honduras or globally. In Honduras, <em>P. falciparum</em> appears to be under more effective control, while <em>P. vivax</em> presents a greater challenge due to its higher genetic diversity. This requires enhanced surveillance, targeted control strategies, and measures to prevent the reintroduction of variants. The isolates of <em>P. falciparum</em> also displayed a wild-type <em>Pfcrt</em> phenotype, suggesting susceptibility to chloroquine.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":94311,"journal":{"name":"Current research in parasitology & vector-borne diseases","volume":"7 ","pages":"Article 100230"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11699087/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142934276","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":"Unveiling hidden threats: Molecular surveillance of bacterial and protozoan infections in Asian water monitors (Varanus salvator) at Thailand’s Khao-zon Wildlife Breeding Station","authors":"Witchuta Junsiri ,&nbsp;Jitkamol Thanasak ,&nbsp;Tawewan Issarankura Na Ayudhaya ,&nbsp;Somjit Chaiwattanarungruengpaisan ,&nbsp;Piyanan Taweethavonsawat","doi":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2025.100250","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2025.100250","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Asian water monitors (<em>Varanus salvator</em>) are often exposed to harmful microorganisms such as species of <em>Hepatozoon</em>, <em>Anaplasma</em>, <em>Rickettsia</em>, and <em>Borrelia</em>. These pathogens pose significant risks to wildlife and public health. In this study, we aimed to investigate the presence and genetic diversity of pathogenic microorganisms in <em>V. salvator</em> from the Khao-zon Wildlife Breeding Station, Ratchaburi, Thailand. Sixteen <em>V. salvator</em> were collected, and thin blood smears and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays of the DNA isolated from blood were used to identify infections. Blood smear analysis revealed two positive samples (2/16; 12.5%) for <em>Hepatozoon</em> sp. PCR results confirmed the presence of <em>Hepatozoon</em> sp. (6/16; 37.5%), <em>Anaplasma</em> sp. (3/16; 18.75%), <em>Rickettsia</em> sp. (2/16; 12.5%), <em>Borrelia</em> sp. (4/16; 25.0%) and <em>Burkholderia</em> sp. (1/16; 6.25%). Phylogenetic analysis revealed 99.86% similarity of <em>Hepatozoon</em> sp. sequences with <em>Hepatozoon ophisauri</em> (GenBank: MN723845) in <em>Pseudopus apodus</em> from Iran, whereas the <em>gltA</em> gene of <em>Rickettsia</em> sp. was closely related to <em>Rickettsia conorii raoultii</em> (GenBank: MF002515) in <em>Dermacentor nuttalli</em> from China. This study represents the first detection of the five pathogens in <em>V. salvator</em> from Thailand and provides valuable insights into the genetic diversity of these microorganisms. Our findings suggest that <em>V. salvator</em> may serve as reservoir for multiple pathogens, posing potential threats to both wildlife and humans. The presence of zoonotic agents such as <em>Rickettsia</em> spp., <em>Anaplasma</em> spp., and <em>Borrelia</em> spp. underscores the importance of continued surveillance in wildlife populations to mitigate the risk of emerging infectious diseases.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":94311,"journal":{"name":"Current research in parasitology & vector-borne diseases","volume":"7 ","pages":"Article 100250"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143600501","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":"Novel zoonotic Enterocytozoon and Encephalitozoon genotypes in domestic pigeons (Columba livia domestica) in Iran: Public health implications","authors":"Alireza Sazmand ,&nbsp;Monireh Khordadmehr ,&nbsp;Zuhal Önder ,&nbsp;Ahmad Oryan ,&nbsp;Farinaz Jigari-Asl ,&nbsp;Farzad Katiraee ,&nbsp;Mehdi Namavari ,&nbsp;Zahra Bahiraei ,&nbsp;Andrew Hemphill ,&nbsp;Domenico Otranto","doi":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2024.100232","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2024.100232","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>To determine the occurrence of microsporidiosis in domestic pigeons in Iran, privately-owned pigeons presenting weight loss and diarrhea were tested through molecular and histopathological methods. Multiplex-PCR findings showed 57%, 30%, and 14% positivity for <em>Enterocytozoon</em>, <em>Encephalitozoon</em>, and mixed infection in the fecal samples, respectively. A novel <em>Enterocytozoon bieneusi</em> genotype, named IrnEb1, falling into zoonotic group 1 of <em>E. bieneusi</em>, and a novel genotype of <em>Encephalitozoon hellem</em>, named Irn2E, clustering as a sister taxon to genotype 2B were identified in pigeons for the first time using Sanger sequencing and phylogenetic analyses. Histopathological examination revealed the occurrence of non-suppurative enteritis, nephritis, pneumonia, hepatitis, and encephalitis associated with focal necrosis and inflammatory cell infiltration. Data shown herein present a high prevalence of microsporidiosis in pigeons in Iran. Considering that both detected microsporidian species are zoonotic parasites, these findings suggest that the infected pigeons could pose a risk to public health.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":94311,"journal":{"name":"Current research in parasitology & vector-borne diseases","volume":"7 ","pages":"Article 100232"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2024-11-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142720880","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":"Seasonal dynamics, resting behaviour and insecticide susceptibility of Anopheles mosquitoes across two differentially malaria-endemic regions in Ethiopia","authors":"Delelegn Woyessa ,&nbsp;Delenasaw Yewhalaw","doi":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2024.100224","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2024.100224","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Information on bionomics of <em>Anopheles</em> species composition, seasonal dynamics and insecticide susceptibility status is important to understand malaria transmission in any particular eco-epidemiological setting and for the design of effective vector control strategies. Here, adult mosquitoes were collected using CDC light traps (CDC LTs) and human landing catches (HLC) for 17 months between June 2018 and September 2020 from Lare District of Ethiopia. Larvae and pupae of anopheline mosquitoes were collected from breeding sites of Lare District and Jimma and reared to adulthood. Bioassays were conducted on non-blood-fed, 3–5-day-old emerged adult female mosquitoes using WHO insecticide-impregnated papers. <em>Plasmodium</em> spp. infection in <em>Anopheles pharoensis</em> and <em>An. coustani</em> were identified using TaqMan qPCR. Of 11,048 <em>Anopheles</em> mosquitoes collected, <em>An. coustani</em> was the most common (46.20%, <em>n</em> = 5103), followed by <em>An. pharoensis</em> (27.89%, <em>n</em> = 3082), <em>An. gambiae</em> (<em>s.l.</em>) (16.04%, <em>n</em> = 1772) and <em>An. funestus</em> (9.88%, <em>n</em> = 1091). Most of the mosquitoes (73.17%, <em>n</em> = 8084) were collected using CDC LTs and 26.83% (<em>n</em> = 2964) were captured using HLC. The mean density of <em>An. gambiae</em>, <em>An. pharoensis</em> and <em>An. coustani</em> was generally higher in June-November as compared to other months during the study period. However, the mean density of <em>An. funestus</em> was relatively higher through November-January following the peak malaria period in Lare. <em>Anopheles pharoensis</em>, <em>An. gambiae</em> (<em>s.l</em>.) and <em>An. coustani</em> complex were susceptible to pirimiphos-methyl, propoxur and bendiocarb. However, <em>An. pharoensis</em> and <em>An. gambiae</em> (<em>s.l.</em>) were resistant to DDT, deltamethrin, permethrin and malathion, whilst members of the <em>An. coustani</em> complex were resistant to DDT and deltamethrin. No <em>Plasmodium</em> spp. infection was detected from samples of <em>Anopheles coustani</em> and <em>An. pharoensis</em>. There was temporal variation in mean density of <em>Anopheles</em> mosquitoes and higher mean mosquito density was recorded during June-November (except for <em>An. funestus</em>). The higher outdoor mean mosquito density coupled with multiple insecticide resistance of malaria vector populations and occurrence of <em>An. funestus</em> in the dry season call for regular monitoring and intervention considering the behavioural dynamics of <em>Anopheles</em> species across seasons.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":94311,"journal":{"name":"Current research in parasitology & vector-borne diseases","volume":"6 ","pages":"Article 100224"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142660400","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":"Filarial disease in the Brazilian Amazon and emerging opportunities for treatment and control","authors":"Cleudecir Siqueira Portela ,&nbsp;Cláudia Patrícia Mendes de Araújo ,&nbsp;Patrícia Moura Sousa ,&nbsp;Carla Letícia Gomes Simão ,&nbsp;João Carlos Silva de Oliveira ,&nbsp;James Lee Crainey","doi":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2023.100168","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2023.100168","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Following the successful eradication of <em>Wuchereria bancrofti</em>, there are now just three species of conventional microfilaremic human filarial parasites endemic to the Brazilian Amazon region: <em>Mansonella ozzardi</em>, <em>Mansonella perstans</em> and <em>Onchocerca volvulus.</em> The zoonotic filarial parasite <em>Dirofilaria immitis</em> is also found in the Amazon region as are several sylvatic filarial parasites, some of which have been recorded causing zoonoses and some of which have never been recorded outside the region. <em>Onchocerca volvulus</em> is only found in the Amazonia onchocerciasis focus in the Brazilian state of Roraima where it affects the people of the Yanomami tribe living around the densely forested Venezuela border region. <em>Mansonella ozzardi</em> is by far the most common filarial parasite in Brazil and has a broad but patchy distribution throughout the western Amazon region. Recorded in the Brazilian states of Acre, Roraima, Matto Grosso, and within almost every municipality of Amazonas state, it is believed that pollution of the urban stream and river systems prevents the development of the simuliid vectors of <em>M. ozzardi</em> and explains the parasiteʼs reduced distribution within urban areas and an absence of recent reports from the state capital Manaus. Decades of WHO-led periodic ivermectin treatment of Yanomami tribeʼs people have resulted in the partial suppression of <em>O. volvulus</em> transmission in this focus and has also probably affected the transmission of <em>M. ozzardi</em> in the region. <em>Mansonella perstans</em>, <em>O. volvulus</em> and very probably <em>M. ozzardi</em> infections can all be treated and most likely cured with a 4–6-week treatment course of doxycycline. The Brazilian Ministry of Health does not, however, presently recommend any treatment for mansonellosis infections and thus parasitic infections outside the Amazonia focus are typically left untreated. While the long treatment courses required for doxycycline-based mansonellosis therapies preclude their use in control programmes, new fast-acting filarial drug treatments are likely to soon become available for the treatment of both onchocerciasis and mansonellosis in the Amazon region. Filarial disease management in the Brazilian Amazon is thus likely to become dramatically more viable at a time when the public health importance of these diseases is increasingly being recognized.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":94311,"journal":{"name":"Current research in parasitology & vector-borne diseases","volume":"5 ","pages":"Article 100168"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667114X23000560/pdfft?md5=01131ef8399d2fad5247e4829f450f96&pid=1-s2.0-S2667114X23000560-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139194688","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":"Spatial and temporal variation of five different pathogens and symbionts in Ixodes ricinus nymphs in the Netherlands","authors":"Nienke Hartemink ,&nbsp;Gerrit Gort ,&nbsp;Aleksandra I. Krawczyk ,&nbsp;Manoj Fonville ,&nbsp;Arnold J.H. van Vliet ,&nbsp;Willem Takken ,&nbsp;Hein Sprong","doi":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2024.100209","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2024.100209","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The incidence of diseases caused by pathogens transmitted by the tick <em>Ixodes ricinus</em> vary over time and space through incompletely understood mechanisms. An important determinant of the disease risk is the density of infected ticks, which is the infection prevalence times the density of questing ticks. We therefore investigated the spatial and temporal variation of four pathogens and one of the most abundant symbionts in <em>Ixodes ricinus</em> in questing nymphs over four years of monthly collections in 12 locations in the Netherlands. The infection prevalence of all microbes showed markedly different patterns with significant spatial variation for <em>Borrelia burgdorferi</em> (<em>s.l.</em>), <em>Neoehrlichia mikurensis</em>, <em>Rickettsia helvetica</em>, and <em>Midichloria mitochondrii</em>, significant seasonal variation of <em>B. burgdorferi</em> (<em>s.l.</em>), <em>N. mikurensis</em>, and <em>M. mitochondrii</em> and a significant interannual variation of <em>R. helvetica</em>. Despite its ubiquitous presence, no spatio-temporal variation was observed for the infection prevalence of <em>B. miyamotoi</em>. The variation in infection prevalence was generally smaller than the variation in the density of nymphs, which fluctuated substantially both seasonally and between locations. This means that the variation in the densities of infected nymphs for all pathogens was mostly the result of the variation in densities of nymphs. We also investigated whether there were positive or negative associations between the symbionts, and more specifically whether ticks infected with vertically transmitted symbionts like <em>M. mitochondrii</em> and <em>R. helvetica</em>, have a higher prevalence of horizontally transmitted symbionts, such as <em>B. burgdorferi</em> (<em>s.l.</em>) and <em>N. mikurensis</em>. We indeed found a clear positive association between <em>M. mitochondrii</em> and <em>B. burgdorferi</em> (<em>s.l.</em>). The positive association between <em>R. helvetica</em> and <em>B. burgdorferi</em> (<em>s.l.</em>) was less clear and was only shown in two locations. Additionally, we found a clear positive association between <em>B. burgdorferi</em> (<em>s.l.</em>) and <em>N. mikurensis</em>, which are both transmitted by rodents. Our longitudinal study indicated strong between-location variation, some seasonal patterns and hardly any differences between years for most symbionts. Positive associations between symbionts were observed, suggesting that infection with a (vertically transmitted) symbiont may influence the probability of infection with other symbionts, or that there is a common underlying mechanism (e.g. feeding on rodents).</p></div>","PeriodicalId":94311,"journal":{"name":"Current research in parasitology & vector-borne diseases","volume":"6 ","pages":"Article 100209"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667114X24000402/pdfft?md5=475ce81c057fa00593d2b70de9bd4575&pid=1-s2.0-S2667114X24000402-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142157873","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":"Diversity of questing ticks and prevalence of tick-associated pathogens in Khao Kheow-Khao Chomphu Wildlife Sanctuary, Chon Buri, Thailand","authors":"Wittawat Wechtaisong ,&nbsp;Chalida Sri-in ,&nbsp;Kritsada Thongmeesee ,&nbsp;Elizabeth Riana ,&nbsp;Thuong Thi Huyen Bui ,&nbsp;Lyric C. Bartholomay ,&nbsp;Sonthaya Tiawsirisup","doi":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2024.100220","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2024.100220","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Ixodid ticks are important vectors for tick-borne diseases distributed worldwide, including Thailand. Recreation areas within wildlife habitats are considered high-risk zones for tick exposure and tick-borne disease in humans. The study aimed to determine seasonal variations in tick diversity and pathogen prevalence in Khao Kheow-Khao Chomphu Wildlife Sanctuary, Chon Buri, Thailand. From November 2021 to March 2023, a total of 1331 immature ticks were collected by dragging. The proportion of collected larvae was highest in February 2022, while the number of collected nymphs peaked in December 2021. Seven tick species were molecularly identified: <em>Haemaphysalis lagrangei</em>, <em>H. wellingtoni</em>, <em>H. shimoga</em>, <em>H. obesa</em>, <em>Dermacentor auratus</em>, <em>Rhipicephalus microplu</em>s, and <em>Amblyomma integrum</em>. Of 80 tick pools, <em>Anaplasma</em>, piroplasms (<em>Babesia</em> and <em>Theileria</em>), <em>Bartonella</em>, and <em>Rickettsia</em> were detected in 10% (8/80), 3.75% (3/80), 1.25% (1/80), and 3.75% (3/80) of tick pools, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis grouped the newly generated sequences in the clades of <em>Anaplasma bovis</em>, <em>Babesia gibsoni</em>, <em>Theileria cervi</em>, <em>Bartonella henselae</em>, and <em>Rickettsia montanensis</em>. A seasonal pattern of pathogen appearance was detected during November to February, the cool season in Thailand. Based on our results indicating the highest peak of immature ticks and prevalence of pathogens, visitors should take precautions to avoid tick exposure during this season.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":94311,"journal":{"name":"Current research in parasitology & vector-borne diseases","volume":"6 ","pages":"Article 100220"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142540134","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":"Isolation and genetic characterization of Toxoplasma gondii from chickens from public markets in Pernambuco State, Brazil","authors":"Renato Amorim da Silva ,&nbsp;Raissa Santana Renovato ,&nbsp;Hannah Tsuruzaki Kirzner de Barros e Silva ,&nbsp;Maria Luiza Didier Marques ,&nbsp;Pollyanne Raysa Fernandes Oliveira ,&nbsp;Jéssica de Crasto Souza Carvalho-Reis ,&nbsp;Paul M. Bartley ,&nbsp;Frank Katzer ,&nbsp;Érika Fernanda Torres Samico-Fernandes ,&nbsp;Renata Pimentel Bandeira de Melo ,&nbsp;Rinaldo Aparecido Mota","doi":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2024.100207","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2024.100207","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>This study aimed to evaluate the presence and viability of <em>Toxoplasma gondii</em> in chickens intended for human consumption in the Pernambuco State, Brazil. Blood and tissue samples were collected from 25 chickens sold in markets in Recife, Pernambuco. Samples were evaluated by indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) to detect antibodies to <em>T. gondii</em>. Pools of brain and heart of seropositive chickens were subjected to bioassay in two Swiss Webster mice, which were evaluated for 45 days then tested by IFA to detect seroconversion. The mice were euthanized, and their brains were evaluated for cysts. Peritoneal lavage was also conducted in mice that exhibited clinical signs. Brains containing cysts or peritoneal lavage with tachyzoites were inoculated into MA-104 cells. Brains of mice inoculated with the same tissue were pooled and analysed by ITS1-PCR. We obtained a frequency of antibodies to <em>T. gondii</em> of 68.00% (17/25) in chickens, and a seroconversion rate of 70.58% (24/34) in mice. Detection of <em>Toxoplasma</em> ITS1 DNA confirmed an isolation rate of 41.1% (7/17). Three isolates were characterized by mnPCR-RFLP as genotypes ToxoDB#36 and ToxoDB#114. We highlight the occurrence of ToxoDB#36 in chickens in Pernambuco State and the parasitesʼ viability in chickens intended for human consumption.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":94311,"journal":{"name":"Current research in parasitology & vector-borne diseases","volume":"6 ","pages":"Article 100207"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667114X24000384/pdfft?md5=2d3289921f7bef72b4cf3afac5917ca5&pid=1-s2.0-S2667114X24000384-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142011254","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":"Next-generation sequencing metabarcoding assays reveal diverse bacterial vector-borne pathogens of Mongolian dogs","authors":"Cassandra Davitt ,&nbsp;Lucas G. Huggins ,&nbsp;Martin Pfeffer ,&nbsp;Lkhagvasuren Batchimeg ,&nbsp;Malcolm Jones ,&nbsp;Banzragch Battur ,&nbsp;Anke K. Wiethoelter ,&nbsp;Rebecca Traub","doi":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2024.100173","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crpvbd.2024.100173","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Bacterial vector-borne pathogens (BVBPs) negatively impact canine health worldwide, with several also being zoonotic, posing an additional disease risk to humans. To date, BVBPs have been reported in humans and various sylvatic and domestic animal hosts across multiple Mongolian aimags (provinces); however, there has been no published data on these pathogens within Mongolia’s canine populations. Collection of such data is important given Mongolia’s size, diverse number of climatic regions, and large population of dogs, most of which closely share their environment with humans and livestock. Therefore, a bacteria-targeting next-generation sequencing metabarcoding (mNGS) assay was used to test the feasibility of mNGS as a proof-of-concept study to ascertain the detection of BVBP in 100 Mongolian dogs. The majority of dogs (<em>n</em> = 74) were infected with at least one of six BVBPs identified; including three species of haemoplasmas (also known as haemotropic mycoplasmas, <em>n</em> = 71), <em>Bartonella rochalimae</em> (<em>n</em> = 3), <em>Ehrlichia</em> spp. (<em>n</em> = 2) and <em>Anaplasma platys</em> (<em>n</em> = 1). Univariable analysis found sex, housing, and role of the dog to be associated with BVBP infection. Male dogs had 4.33 (95% CI: 1.61–11.62, <em>P</em> = 0.003) times the odds of infection with BVBPs compared to females. The majority of dogs included in this study were kept outdoors and had regular direct contact with both livestock and humans, indicating that dogs may contribute to the transmission and dissemination of BVBPs in Mongolia and could act as epidemiological sentinels. This study underscores the importance of pathogen surveillance studies in under-researched regions, reinforces the efficacy of mNGS as an explorative diagnostic tool, and emphasises the need for further larger-scale seroprevalence studies of Mongolian dogs.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":94311,"journal":{"name":"Current research in parasitology & vector-borne diseases","volume":"5 ","pages":"Article 100173"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667114X24000049/pdfft?md5=4f9e8add780865edee11d8ecc663a0c9&pid=1-s2.0-S2667114X24000049-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140162618","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}