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

{"title":"Field efficacy and safety of Felpreva® (tigolaner, emodepside and praziquantel) spot-on for the treatment of natural ear mite infestations (Otodectes cynotis) and notoedric mange (Notoedres cati) in cats","authors":"Katrin Blazejak ,&nbsp;Dejan Cvejić ,&nbsp;Klaus Hellmann ,&nbsp;Hannah Ringeisen ,&nbsp;Hannah Hamburg ,&nbsp;Gabriele Petry ,&nbsp;Tanja N. Knoppe ,&nbsp;Norbert Mencke","doi":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2023.100146","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crpvbd.2023.100146","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The miticide efficacy of a single treatment with Felpreva® (tigolaner, emodepside and praziquantel) spot-on solution for cats was evaluated in two European field studies. One study was conducted in cats naturally infested with <em>Otodectes cynotis</em>. The other study was conducted in cats naturally infested with <em>Notoedres cati</em>. In both studies, the presence of viable mites was confirmed prior to treatment (Day -1/Day 0) and re-evaluated on Day 14 (<em>O. cynotis</em> study) and on Day 28 (both studies). Efficacy was calculated based on the number of viable mites found after treatment. In the <em>O. cynotis</em> study, the primary criterion was the percentage of mite-free cats after treatment with Felpreva® compared to a sarolaner/selamectin combination (Stronghold® Plus, Zoetis) as a positive control. In the <em>N. cati</em> study, the primary criterion was the difference between arithmetic mean mite counts of cats treated with Felpreva® and cats treated with a placebo formulation (solketal). Secondary criteria in both studies were changes in clinical lesion scores after treatment. In both studies, all Felpreva®-treated cats were mite-free (100% parasitological cure) on Day 28, 4 weeks after treatment. Signs of mange on Day 28 were clinically improved in all <em>O. cynotis</em>-infested cats (100%) and clinically cured in all <em>N. cati</em>-infested cats (100%). There were no records of any adverse events or application site reactions in Felpreva®-treated cats.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":94311,"journal":{"name":"Current research in parasitology & vector-borne diseases","volume":"4 ","pages":"Article 100146"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667114X23000341/pdfft?md5=8a6a917a4046d0bcac1b4382bdd9ca0b&pid=1-s2.0-S2667114X23000341-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"91686576","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":"Entomological surveillance and spatiotemporal risk assessment of sand fly-borne diseases in Cyprus","authors":"Maria Christou ,&nbsp;Behich Koyutourk ,&nbsp;Kardelen Yetismis ,&nbsp;Angeliki F. Martinou ,&nbsp;Vasiliki Christodoulou ,&nbsp;Maria Koliou ,&nbsp;Maria Antoniou ,&nbsp;Christoforos Pavlou ,&nbsp;Yusuf Ozbel ,&nbsp;Ozge Erisoz Kasap ,&nbsp;Bulent Alten ,&nbsp;Pantelis Georgiades ,&nbsp;George K. Georgiou ,&nbsp;Theodoros Christoudias ,&nbsp;Yiannis Proestos ,&nbsp;Jos Lelieveld ,&nbsp;Kamil Erguler","doi":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2023.100152","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2023.100152","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Visceral and cutaneous leishmaniases are important public health concerns in Cyprus. Although the diseases, historically prevalent on the island, were nearly eradicated by 1996, an increase in frequency and geographical spread has recently been recorded. Upward trends in leishmaniasis prevalence have largely been attributed to environmental changes that amplify the abundance and activity of its vector, the phlebotomine sand flies. Here, we performed an extensive field study across the island to map the sand fly fauna and compared the presence and distribution of the species found with historical records. We mapped the habitat preferences of <em>Phlebotomus papatasi</em> and <em>P. tobbi</em>, two medically important species, and predicted the seasonal abundance of <em>P. papatasi</em> at unprecedented spatiotemporal resolution using a climate-sensitive population dynamics model driven by high-resolution meteorological forecasting. Our compendium holds a record of 18 species and the locations of a subset, including those of potential public and veterinary health concern. We confirmed that <em>P. papatasi</em> is widespread, especially in densely urbanized areas, and predicted that its abundance uniformly peaks across the island at the end of summer. We identified potential hotspots of <em>P. papatasi</em> activity even after this peak. Our results form a foundation to inform public health planning and contribute to the development of effective, efficient, and environmentally sensitive strategies to control sand fly populations and prevent sand fly-borne diseases.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":94311,"journal":{"name":"Current research in parasitology & vector-borne diseases","volume":"4 ","pages":"Article 100152"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667114X23000407/pdfft?md5=7853e3d32feb116cbe8e8f3dde4ee401&pid=1-s2.0-S2667114X23000407-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135456543","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":"Assessing the variability in experimental hut trials evaluating insecticide-treated nets against malaria vectors","authors":"Joseph D. Challenger ,&nbsp;Rebecca K. Nash ,&nbsp;Corine Ngufor ,&nbsp;Antoine Sanou ,&nbsp;K. Hyacinthe Toé ,&nbsp;Sarah Moore ,&nbsp;Patrick K. Tungu ,&nbsp;Mark Rowland ,&nbsp;Geraldine M. Foster ,&nbsp;Raphael N’Guessan ,&nbsp;Ellie Sherrard-Smith ,&nbsp;Thomas S. Churcher","doi":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2023.100115","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2023.100115","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Experimental hut trials (EHTs) are used to evaluate indoor vector control interventions against malaria vectors in a controlled setting. The level of variability present in the assay will influence whether a given study is well powered to answer the research question being considered. We utilised disaggregated data from 15 previous EHTs to gain insight into the behaviour typically observed. Using simulations from generalised linear mixed models to obtain power estimates for EHTs, we show how factors such as the number of mosquitoes entering the huts each night and the magnitude of included random effects can influence study power. A wide variation in behaviour is observed in both the mean number of mosquitoes collected per hut per night (ranging from 1.6 to 32.5) and overdispersion in mosquito mortality. This variability in mortality is substantially greater than would be expected by chance and should be included in all statistical analyses to prevent false precision of results. We utilise both superiority and non-inferiority trials to illustrate our methodology, using mosquito mortality as the outcome of interest. The framework allows the measurement error of the assay to be reliably assessed and enables the identification of outlier results which could warrant further investigation. EHTs are increasingly playing an important role in the evaluation and regulation of indoor vector control interventions so it is important to ensure that these studies are adequately powered.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":94311,"journal":{"name":"Current research in parasitology & vector-borne diseases","volume":"3 ","pages":"Article 100115"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9988481/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9093089","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":"Semi-field evaluation of a novel controlled release device using transfluthrin as spatial repellent to prevent entry of mosquitoes into military tents","authors":"Nagarajan R. Rajagopal ,&nbsp;Adam R. Bowman ,&nbsp;Floyd J. Aldana ,&nbsp;Christopher D. Batich ,&nbsp;Jerome A. Hogsette ,&nbsp;Daniel L. Kline","doi":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2023.100113","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2023.100113","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Mosquitoes can impact military operational readiness by transmission of disease-causing pathogens or through secondary effects, e.g., annoyance and bites. The focus of this research was to determine if an array of novel controlled release passive devices (CRPD) utilizing the spatial repellent, transfluthrin (TF), as the active ingredient could prevent entry of mosquitoes into military tents for up to 4 weeks. The TF-charged CRPDs were spaced along six strands of monofilament and hung across the tent entrance. Efficacy was evaluated with caged <em>Aedes aegypti</em> to indicate knockdown/mortality effects, and four species of free-flying mosquitoes, <em>Ae. aegypti</em>, <em>Aedes taeniorhynchus</em>, <em>Anopheles quadrimaculatus</em> and <em>Culex quinquefasciatus</em>, to indicate repellent effects. Bioassay cages containing <em>Ae. aegypti</em> were hung vertically at 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 ​m above ground level at designated locations inside of the tents. Knockdown/mortality counts were made every 15 min for the first hour, then at 2, 4 and 24 h post-exposure. Free fliers were recaptured in BG traps operated from 4 to 24 h post-exposure. Knockdown/mortality was gradual until 4 h post-exposure. This increased to near 100% by 24 h in the treated tent but was &lt; 2% in the control tent. There was a significant reduction in the recapture rates of all free-flying species in the treated tent compared with the control tent. Results indicate that TF-charged CRPDs can significantly reduce the numbers of mosquitoes entering military tents and that the four species were affected similarly by the TF. The needs for additional research are discussed.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":94311,"journal":{"name":"Current research in parasitology & vector-borne diseases","volume":"3 ","pages":"Article 100113"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9922915/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10739625","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":"Tularemia cases increase in the USA from 2011 through 2019","authors":"Alexandra Bishop ,&nbsp;Hsiao-Hsuan Wang ,&nbsp;Taylor G. Donaldson ,&nbsp;Emily E. Brockinton ,&nbsp;Esha Kothapalli ,&nbsp;Scott Clark ,&nbsp;Tanvi Vishwanath ,&nbsp;Tatyana Canales ,&nbsp;Krishnendu Sreekumar ,&nbsp;William E. Grant ,&nbsp;Pete D. Teel","doi":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2023.100116","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2023.100116","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Tularemia is a rare but potentially serious bacterial zoonosis, which has been reported in the 47 contiguous states of the USA during 2001–2010. This report summarizes the passive surveillance data of tularemia cases reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention from 2011 through 2019. There were 1984 cases reported in the USA during this period. The average national incidence was 0.07 cases per 100,000 person-years (PY), compared to 0.04 cases per 100,000 PY during 2001–2010. The highest statewide reported case 2011–2019 was in Arkansas (374 cases, 20.4% of total), followed by Missouri (13.1%), Oklahoma (11.9%), and Kansas (11.2%). Regarding race, ethnicity, and sex, tularemia cases were reported more frequently among white, non-Hispanic, and male patients. Cases were reported in all age groups; however, individuals 65 years-old and older exhibited the highest incidence. The seasonal distribution of cases generally paralleled the seasonality of tick activity and human outdoor activity, increasing during spring through mid-summer and decreasing through late summer and fall to winter lows. Improved surveillance and education of ticks and tick- and water-borne pathogens should play a key role in efforts to decrease the incidence of tularemia in the USA.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":94311,"journal":{"name":"Current research in parasitology & vector-borne diseases","volume":"3 ","pages":"Article 100116"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9972391/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10826687","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":"Study of the economic impact of cryptosporidiosis in calves after implementing good practices to manage the disease on dairy farms in Belgium, France, and the Netherlands","authors":"Maud Roblin ,&nbsp;Evi Canniere ,&nbsp;Anne Barbier ,&nbsp;Yvonne Daandels ,&nbsp;Martine Dellevoet-Groenewegen ,&nbsp;Pedro Pinto ,&nbsp;Anastasios Tsaousis ,&nbsp;Hélène Leruste ,&nbsp;Julii Brainard ,&nbsp;Paul R. Hunter ,&nbsp;Jérôme Follet","doi":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2023.100149","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2023.100149","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p><em>Cryptosporidium</em> spp. are widespread parasitic protozoans causing enteric infections in humans and animals. The parasites cause neonatal diarrhoea in calves, leading to a high mortality rate in the first three weeks. Losses are significant for farmers, but the cost of cryptosporidiosis remains poorly documented. In the absence of a vaccine, only preventive measures are available to farmers to combat the infection. This study, conducted between 2018 and 2021, aimed to evaluate the economic impact of <em>Cryptosporidium</em> spp. on European dairy farms and monitor changes in costs after implementing disease management measures. First, a field survey was carried out and questionnaires administered to 57 farmers in Belgium, France, and the Netherlands. The aim of the survey was to assess the losses associated with the occurrence of diarrhoea in calves aged between 3 days and 3 weeks. The economic impact of diarrhoea was calculated based on mortality losses, health expenditures, and additional labour costs. To refine the cost estimation specifically for <em>Cryptosporidium</em> spp., stool samples were collected from 10 calves per farm. The prevalence of <em>Cryptosporidium</em> spp. was determined, and the economic impact of diarrhoea was adjusted accordingly. The assumption was made that a certain percentage of costs was attributed to cryptosporidiosis based on the prevalence. These protocols were repeated at the end of the study to observe changes in costs. In the three years, the cost of diarrhoea for the 28 farms that stayed in the panel all along the study improved from €140 in 2018 to €106 on average per diarrhoeic calf in 2021. With a stable prevalence at 40%, the cost of cryptosporidiosis per infected calf decreased from €60.62 to €45.91 in Belgium, from €43.83 to €32.14 in France, and from €58.24 to €39.48 in the Netherlands. This represented an average of €15 saved per infected calf. The methodology employed in this study did not allow us to conclude that the improvement is strictly due to the implementation of preventive measures. However, with 11 million calves raised in the Interreg 2 Seas area covered by the study, it provided valuable insights into the economic burden of <em>Cryptosporidium</em> spp.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":94311,"journal":{"name":"Current research in parasitology & vector-borne diseases","volume":"4 ","pages":"Article 100149"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10628542/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"71524003","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":"Geometric morphometrics and ecological niche modelling for delimitation of Triatoma pallidipennis (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Triatominae) haplogroups","authors":"Daryl D. Cruz ,&nbsp;Sandra Milena Ospina-Garcés ,&nbsp;Elizabeth Arellano ,&nbsp;Carlos N. Ibarra-Cerdeña ,&nbsp;Elizabeth Nava-García ,&nbsp;Raúl Alcalá","doi":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2023.100119","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crpvbd.2023.100119","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>A recent phylogenetic analysis of <em>Triatoma pallidipennis</em>, an important Chagas disease vector in Mexico, based on molecular markers, revealed five monophyletic haplogroups with validity as cryptic species. Here, we compare <em>T. pallidipennis</em> haplogroups using head and pronotum features, environmental characteristics of their habitats, and ecological niche modeling. To analyze variation in shape, images of the head and pronotum of the specimens were obtained and analyzed using methods based on landmarks and semi-landmarks. Ecological niche models were obtained from occurrence data, as well as a set of bioclimatic variables that characterized the environmental niche of each analyzed haplogroup. Deformation grids for head showed a slight displacement towards posterior region of pre-ocular landmarks. Greatest change in head shape was observed with strong displacement towards anterior region of antenniferous tubercle. Procrustes ANOVA and pairwise comparisons showed differences in mean head shape in almost all haplogroups. However, pairwise comparisons of mean pronotum shape only showed differences among three haplogroups. Correct classification of all haplogroups was not possible using discriminant analysis. Important differences were found among the environmental niches of the analyzed haplogroups. Ecological niche models of each haplogroup did not predict the climatic suitability areas of the other haplogroups, revealing differences in environmental conditions. Significant differences were found between at least two haplogroups, demonstrating distinct environmental preferences among them. Our results show how the analysis of morphometric variation and the characterization of the environmental conditions that define the climatic niche can be used to improve the delimitation of <em>T. pallidipennis</em> haplogroups that constitute cryptic species.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":94311,"journal":{"name":"Current research in parasitology & vector-borne diseases","volume":"3 ","pages":"Article 100119"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49710362","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":"Molecular detection of Dirofilaria immitis and its Wolbachia endosymbionts in dogs from Myanmar","authors":"Saw Bawm ,&nbsp;Yadanar Khaing ,&nbsp;Hla Myet Chel ,&nbsp;Myint Myint Hmoon ,&nbsp;Shwe Yee Win ,&nbsp;Min Bo ,&nbsp;Tint Naing ,&nbsp;Lat Lat Htun","doi":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2023.100148","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crpvbd.2023.100148","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Heartworm disease in dogs and cats caused by <em>Dirofilaria immitis</em> continues to be a major clinical issue globally. This study focused on dogs suspicious of having tick-borne diseases (TBD) brought to a clinic and a veterinary teaching hospital in Myanmar. Blood samples were collected and initially screened using SNAP® 4Dx® Plus test kit. All dog blood samples were subjected to conventional PCR to detect both <em>Dirofilaria</em> spp. (<em>cox</em>1 gene) and <em>Wolbachia</em> spp. (16S rDNA) infections. Infection with <em>D. immitis</em> was detected in 14 (28.0%) of 50 examined samples, while the detection rate of TBD causative agents, including <em>Anaplasma phagocytophilum</em> and <em>Ehrlichia canis</em>, was 26.0% (13/50) and 26.0% (13/50), respectively, as determined by ELISA rapid test. In this study, <em>D. immitis</em> infection was moderately but significantly correlated with TBD infections (Pearson’s <em>r</em> = 0.397, <em>P</em> = 0.008). Comparative sequence and phylogenetic analyses provided molecular identification of <em>D. immitis</em> in Myanmar and confirmed the identity of its <em>Wolbachia</em> endosymbiont with <em>Wolbachia</em> endosymbionts isolated from <em>D. immitis</em>, <em>Rhipicephalus sanguineus</em> and <em>Aedes aegypti.</em> The present study contributes to our understanding of the coexistence of <em>D. immitis</em> and <em>Wolbachia</em> endosymbiosis in dogs, and the findings may benefit the future prevention and control of dirofilariasis in dogs.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":94311,"journal":{"name":"Current research in parasitology & vector-borne diseases","volume":"4 ","pages":"Article 100148"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667114X23000365/pdfft?md5=92efb38837b818c520ee69ca90d6160e&pid=1-s2.0-S2667114X23000365-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"92043998","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":"Discovery of the vector of visceral leishmaniasis, Phlebotomus (Artemievus) alexandri Sinton, 1928, in Kenya suggests complex transmission dynamics","authors":"Steve Kiplagat ,&nbsp;Jandouwe Villinger ,&nbsp;Collins K. Kigen ,&nbsp;Kevin O. Kidambasi ,&nbsp;Jackson M. Muema ,&nbsp;Stephie M. Mwangi ,&nbsp;Maureen Wangari ,&nbsp;Damaris Matoke-Muhia ,&nbsp;Daniel K. Masiga ,&nbsp;Joel L. Bargul","doi":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2023.100134","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crpvbd.2023.100134","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Visceral and cutaneous leishmaniasis are endemic to specific regions due to the ecological preferences of phlebotomine sand flies and <em>Leishmania</em> spp. transmission. Sand fly entomological data in northern Kenya are scarce due to limited studies and neglect of leishmaniasis. The aim of this study was to investigate: (i) sand fly diversity and distribution; (ii) occurrence of <em>Leishmania</em> DNA within sand flies; and (iii) blood-meal sources of sand flies in Laisamis, northern Kenya. We conducted an entomological survey during February and March of 2021 in five areas of Laisamis sub-county using standard CDC light traps. A total of 1009 sand flies (394 male and 615 female) were morphologically identified, and representative samples verified by PCR amplification and sequencing of the cytochrome <em>c</em> oxidase subunit 1 (<em>cox</em>1) gene. Similarly, we identified blood-meal sources and <em>Leishmania</em> DNA in female sand flies by PCR amplicon sequencing of the vertebrate <em>cytochrome b</em> (<em>cyt b</em>) gene and internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1) of the 28S rRNA gene, respectively. <em>Sergentomyia clydei</em> (59.8%) was the most abundant sand fly species. Though collected mainly from one locality (Tirgamo), 14.8% of samples belonged to <em>Phlebotomus</em> (<em>Artemievus</em>) <em>alexandri</em> Sinton, 1928. We detected DNA of <em>Leishmania major</em> in 5.19% of <em>Ph. alexandri</em>, whereas <em>Leishmania adleri</em> DNA was detected in <em>S. clydei</em> (7.51%), <em>Sergentomyia squamipleuris</em> (8.00%), and <em>Sergentomyia africanus</em> (8.33%). Nine of 13 blood-fed sand flies had obtained blood from humans, of which 33.3% had <em>L. major</em> DNA. Both <em>Ph. alexandri</em> and <em>S. clydei</em> primarily fed on humans and could potentially be involved in the transmission of cutaneous leishmaniasis. The findings of this study contribute to the understanding of sand fly vector populations and their potential to transmit leishmaniasis in the area.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":94311,"journal":{"name":"Current research in parasitology & vector-borne diseases","volume":"4 ","pages":"Article 100134"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49818963","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":"Laser-based killing of a macroparasite inside its live invertebrate host","authors":"Olivier Musset ,&nbsp;Aude Balourdet ,&nbsp;Marie-Jeanne Perrot-Minnot","doi":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2023.100135","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2023.100135","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Clearing infection is an essential step to address many issues in host-parasite interactions but is challenging when dealing with endoparasites of large size relative to that of their host. Here, we took advantage of the lethality, contactless and versatility of high-energy laser beam to achieve it, using thorny-headed worms (Acanthocephala) and their amphipod intermediate host as a model system. We show that laser-based de-parasitization can be achieved using 450 nm Blue Diode Laser targeting carotenoid pigments in the bird acanthocephalan <em>Polymorphus minutus</em>. Using proboscis evagination failure and DNA degradation to establish parasite death, we found that 80% <em>P. minutus</em> died from within-host exposure to 5 pulses of 50 ms duration, 1.4 W power. Survival of infected gammarids 11 days after laser treatment was 60%. Preliminary tests were also performed with Nanosecond-Green Laser targeting lipids in <em>Pomphorhynchus tereticollis,</em> another acanthocephalan parasite. We discuss the efficiency and side-effect of laser treatment in this host-parasite system and highlight the perspectives that this technology more generally offers in parasitology.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":94311,"journal":{"name":"Current research in parasitology & vector-borne diseases","volume":"4 ","pages":"Article 100135"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/d0/d8/main.PMC10424119.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10012943","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}