{"title":"First insights into using outline-based geometric morphometrics of wing cell contours to distinguish three morphologically similar species of Tabanus (Diptera: Tabanidae)","authors":"Tanasak Changbunjong , Thekhawet Weluwanarak , Tanawat Chaiphongpachara","doi":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2024.100218","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2024.100218","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Accurate species identification of horse flies (Diptera: Tabanidae) is crucial due to their role as vectors for various pathogens, which is essential for understanding their biology, devising strategies to control their populations, and enhancing disease surveillance. This study assessed the efficacy of outline-based geometric morphometrics (GM) by analyzing the wing cell contours of discal, first submarginal, and second submarginal cells to distinguish three morphologically similar <em>Tabanus</em> species commonly found in Thailand, <em>T. megalops</em>, <em>T. rubidus</em>, and <em>T. striatus</em>. Statistical analysis demonstrated significant size differences between <em>T. rubidus</em> and the two other species (<em>P</em> < 0.05), with <em>T. rubidus</em> exhibiting larger wing cells. <em>Tabanus megalops</em> and <em>T. striatus</em> had similar sizes; their size differences were not statistically significant. The accuracy of size analysis based on validated classification tests was relatively low, ranging from 64.67% to 68.67%. Nonetheless, all wing cell contours showed significant shape differences between the three species, as confirmed by Mahalanobis distance comparisons using 1000 permutation tests (<em>P</em> < 0.05). The shape of the first submarginal cell contour showed the highest classification accuracy (86.67%). Outline-based GM offers a significant advantage for analyzing fly specimens with incomplete wings that have intact cells. For damaged specimens, analyzing the contour of the first submarginal cell through this technique can be a viable alternative.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":94311,"journal":{"name":"Current research in parasitology & vector-borne diseases","volume":"6 ","pages":"Article 100218"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142420475","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}
Nannet D. Fabri , Tim R. Hofmeester , Frauke Ecke , Hein Sprong , Jordi Timmermans , Hans Heesterbeek , Joris P.G.M. Cromsigt
{"title":"Ixodes ricinus tick presence is associated with abiotic but not biotic factors","authors":"Nannet D. Fabri , Tim R. Hofmeester , Frauke Ecke , Hein Sprong , Jordi Timmermans , Hans Heesterbeek , Joris P.G.M. Cromsigt","doi":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2024.100206","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2024.100206","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Species composition and densities of wild ungulate communities in Europe have changed over the last decades. As ungulates play an important role in the life-cycle of the tick species <em>Ixodes ricinus</em>, these changes could affect both the life-cycle of <em>I. ricinus</em> and the transmission of tick-borne pathogens like <em>Borrelia burgdorferi</em> (<em>s.l.</em>) and <em>Anaplasma phagocytophilum</em>. Due to morphological and behavioural differences among the ungulate species, these species might have different effects on the densities of questing <em>I. ricinus</em>, either directly through a bloodmeal or indirectly <em>via</em> the impact of ungulates on rodent numbers <em>via</em> the vegetation. In this study, we aimed to investigate these direct and indirect effects of five different ungulate species, fallow deer (<em>Dama dama</em>), roe deer (<em>Capreolus capreolus</em>), red deer (<em>Cervus elaphus</em>), moose (<em>Alces alces</em>), and wild boar (<em>Sus scrofa</em>), on the presence and abundance of <em>I. ricinus</em> ticks. In the summer of 2019, on 20 1 × 1 km transects in south-central Sweden that differed in ungulate community composition, we collected data on tick presence and abundance (by dragging a cloth), ungulate community composition (using camera traps), vegetation height (using the drop-disc method), temperature above field layer and rodent abundance (by snap-trapping). Using generalized linear mixed models we did not find any associations between vegetation height and tick presence/abundance or ungulate visitation frequencies, or between ungulate visitation frequencies and the presence/abundance of questing <em>I. ricinus</em>. The power of our analyses was, however, low due to very low tick and rodent numbers. We did find a negative association between adult ticks and air temperature, where we were more likely to find adult ticks if temperature in the field layer was lower. We conclude that more elaborate long-term studies are needed to elucidate the investigated associations. Such future studies should differentiate among the potential impacts of different ungulate species instead of treating all ungulate species as one group.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":94311,"journal":{"name":"Current research in parasitology & vector-borne diseases","volume":"6 ","pages":"Article 100206"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667114X24000372/pdfft?md5=d78d97c867c1e26c504c7c612f324270&pid=1-s2.0-S2667114X24000372-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141978312","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}
Blessings Chiepa , Rex Mbewe , Michelle C. Stanton , Blessings Kapumba , Eggrey Kambewa , Lucy Kaunga , John Chiphwanya , Themba Mzilahowa , Christopher M. Jones , J. Russell Stothard
{"title":"A baseline epidemiological survey for malaria and schistosomiasis reveals an alarming burden in primary schools despite ongoing control in Chikwawa District, southern Malawi","authors":"Blessings Chiepa , Rex Mbewe , Michelle C. Stanton , Blessings Kapumba , Eggrey Kambewa , Lucy Kaunga , John Chiphwanya , Themba Mzilahowa , Christopher M. Jones , J. Russell Stothard","doi":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2024.100183","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crpvbd.2024.100183","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Our study rationale was to establish contemporary epidemiological data on malaria and schistosomiasis among school-going children in Chikwawa District before future environmental changes associated with the Shire Valley Transformation Programme occurred. Our cross-sectional surveys tested 1134 children from 21 government-owned primary schools (approximately 50 children per school); rapid diagnostic tests for malaria (Humasis Pf/PAN) and intestinal schistosomiasis (urine-Circulating Cathodic Antigen) were used, with urine reagents strips and egg-filtration with microscopy for urogenital schistosomiasis. All infected children were treated with an appropriate dose of Lonart® (for malaria) and/or Cesol® (for schistosomiasis). Across 21 schools the overall prevalence was 9.7% (95% CI: 8.8–10.6%) for malaria, 1.9% (95% CI: 1.4–2.3%) for intestinal schistosomiasis, and 35.0% (95% CI: 33.6–36.5%) for egg-patent urogenital schistosomiasis. The prevalence of co-infection of malaria with urogenital schistosomiasis was 5.5% (95% CI: 4.8–6.2%). In a third of the schools, the prevalence of malaria and urogenital schistosomiasis was above national averages of 10.5% and 40–50%, respectively, with two schools having maxima of 36.8% and 84.5%, respectively. Set against a background of ongoing control, our study has revealed an alarming burden of malaria and schistosomiasis in southern Malawi. These findings call for an immediate mitigating response that significantly bolsters current control interventions to better safeguard children's future health.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":94311,"journal":{"name":"Current research in parasitology & vector-borne diseases","volume":"5 ","pages":"Article 100183"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667114X24000141/pdfft?md5=e0418d55be1ce6c81a22a176e889c049&pid=1-s2.0-S2667114X24000141-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141286029","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}
Anisa Abdulai , Christopher Mfum Owusu-Asenso , Christodea Haizel , Sebastian Kow Egyin Mensah , Isaac Kwame Sraku , Daniel Halou , Richard Tettey Doe , Abdul Rahim Mohammed , Yaw Akuamoah-Boateng , Akua Obeng Forson , Yaw Asare Afrane
{"title":"The role of car tyres in the ecology of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes in Ghana","authors":"Anisa Abdulai , Christopher Mfum Owusu-Asenso , Christodea Haizel , Sebastian Kow Egyin Mensah , Isaac Kwame Sraku , Daniel Halou , Richard Tettey Doe , Abdul Rahim Mohammed , Yaw Akuamoah-Boateng , Akua Obeng Forson , Yaw Asare Afrane","doi":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2024.100176","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crpvbd.2024.100176","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p><em>Aedes aegypti</em> is an important vector of arboviral diseases including dengue and yellow fever. Despite the wide distribution of this mosquito species, there are limited data on the ecology of <em>Ae</em>. <em>aegypti</em> in Ghana. In this study, we report on the oviposition preference and the larval life tables of <em>Ae</em>. <em>aegypti</em> mosquitoes in Accra, Ghana. The oviposition preference of the mosquitoes to three habitat types (car tyres, drums and bowls) was measured by setting up ovitraps. We recorded the presence and abundance of larvae every 3 days. Two-hour-old <em>Ae. aegypti</em> larvae were introduced and raised in three habitat types to undertake larval life tables. The number of surviving larvae at each developmental stage was recorded daily until they emerged as adults. Car tyres showed a higher abundance of <em>Ae. aegypti</em> larvae (52.3%) than drums (32.5%) and bowls (15.1%) (ANOVA, <em>F</em><sub>(2,</sub><sub>159)</sub> = 18.79, <em>P</em> < 0.001). The mean development time of <em>Ae. aegypti</em> larvae was significantly lower in car tyres (7 ± 1 days) compared to that of bowls (9 ± 0.0 days) and drums (12.6 ± 1.5 days) (<em>P</em> = 0.024). The differences in pupation rates and emergence rates were not significant across the habitat types; however, the highest pupation rate was observed in bowls (0.92 ± 0.17) and the emergence rate was highest in tyres (0.84 ± 0.10). The proportion of first-instar larvae that survived to emergence was significantly higher in car tyres (0.84 ± 0.10) compared to that of bowls (0.72 ± 0.20) and drums (0.62 ± 0.20) (<em>P</em> = 0.009). No mortalities were observed after 9 days in car tyres, 10 days in bowls and 15 days in drums. The results confirm that discarded car tyres were the preferred habitat choice for the oviposition of gravid female <em>Ae</em>. <em>aegypti</em> mosquitoes and provide the best habitat conditions for larval development and survival. These findings are necessary for understanding the ecology of <em>Ae. aegypti</em> to develop appropriate strategies for their control in Ghana.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":94311,"journal":{"name":"Current research in parasitology & vector-borne diseases","volume":"5 ","pages":"Article 100176"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667114X24000074/pdfft?md5=ca76a1e2a611c72f7fac999ff49aa441&pid=1-s2.0-S2667114X24000074-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140880125","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":"Exploratory actor mapping of social interactions within tick risk surveillance networks in France","authors":"Iyonna Zortman , Laurence Vial , Thomas Pollet , Aurélie Binot","doi":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2024.100222","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2024.100222","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Ticks are important zoonotic disease vectors for human and animal health worldwide. In Europe they are the principal vector of public health importance, responsible for Lyme disease, the most prevalent and widespread tick-borne disease (TBD). Tick presence and TBD incidence are increasing, questioning the effectiveness of existing surveillance systems. At the European level TBD burden is likely underestimated as surveillance differs amongst and within countries. France created its first national public health policy in 2016 to tackle TBDs, prompted by growing concern from the public, medical professionals and the scientific community for the lack of knowledge on tick-borne pathogen risk on the population. With global changes, France currently faces risk for TBD emergence (e.g. Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever) and re-emergence (e.g. tick-borne encephalitis), in addition to increasing Lyme disease cases. We conducted 13 semi-structured interviews with French tick risk surveillance actors to characterize how the national surveillance system functions. Qualitative descriptive analysis was conducted on interview transcripts to create actor maps and identify the barriers and levers for actor interactions. We identified four tick risk surveillance processes: surveillance-oriented research, risk evaluation, policy creation and policy application, to which interdisciplinary, intersectoral and multi-level actor interactions contribute. Actors express a pervasive need to reinforce intersectoral interactions between human, animal and environmental sectors for early risk detection, as well as multi-level interactions to accurately estimate risk and disseminate prevention information. Transdisciplinary, social-ecological system approaches may offer an adaptive framework for locally relevant surveillance activities in diverse social-ecological contexts.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":94311,"journal":{"name":"Current research in parasitology & vector-borne diseases","volume":"6 ","pages":"Article 100222"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142540133","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}
Phoebe Rivory , Miguel Bedoya-Pérez , Michael P. Ward , Jan Šlapeta
{"title":"Older urban rats are infected with the zoonotic nematode Angiostrongylus cantonensis","authors":"Phoebe Rivory , Miguel Bedoya-Pérez , Michael P. Ward , Jan Šlapeta","doi":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2024.100179","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2024.100179","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Rats, being synanthropic, are hosts to agents of zoonotic diseases that pose a threat to human and domestic animal health. The nematode parasite <em>Angiostrongylus cantonensis</em>, commonly known as the rat lungworm, is no exception; it can cause potentially fatal neural disease in humans, dogs and other species. The distribution of <em>A. cantonensis</em> (haplotypes SYD.1 and Ac13) and its close relative, <em>Angiostrongylus mackerrasae</em> is not well understood in Australia. We investigated the prevalence of <em>Angiostrongylus</em> in rats in Sydney, Australia, primarily <em>via</em> faecal qPCR, and identified the species and haplotypes using partial <em>cox</em>1 sequencing. We found a moderate prevalence of infection (29%; 95% CI: 16.1–46.6%) in black (<em>Rattus rattus</em>) and brown (<em>Rattus norvegicus</em>) rats around public parks and residential areas. This study demonstrates that Sydney’s urban rat population is a reservoir for <em>A. cantonensis</em>. Modelling infection status as a function of rat species, sex, tibia length (as a proxy for age), and health index (a measure of weight by size) revealed that older rats are statistically more likely to be infected (<em>χ</em><sup>2</sup><sub>1</sub> = 5.331, <em>P</em> = 0.021). We observed a dominant presence of the <em>A. cantonensis</em> SYD.1 haplotype, for which the implications are not yet known. No <em>A. mackerassae</em> was detected, leading us to suspect it may have a more restricted host- and geographical range. Overall, this study illustrates the presence and potential risk of <em>A. cantonensis</em> infection in Sydney. Public education regarding transmission routes and preventative measures is crucial to safeguard human and animal health.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":94311,"journal":{"name":"Current research in parasitology & vector-borne diseases","volume":"5 ","pages":"Article 100179"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667114X24000104/pdfft?md5=911084a9ef1b8fc2258110b24fbe4479&pid=1-s2.0-S2667114X24000104-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141144716","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}
Consuelo Almazán , Lorena Torres Rodríguez , Abdullah D. Alanazi , Jan Šlapeta
{"title":"American mitogenome reference for the tropical brown dog tick, Rhipicephalus linnaei (Audouin, 1826)","authors":"Consuelo Almazán , Lorena Torres Rodríguez , Abdullah D. Alanazi , Jan Šlapeta","doi":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2024.100194","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crpvbd.2024.100194","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The brown dog tick, <em>Rhipicephalus linnaei</em> (Audouin, 1826), is distributed across the American continent and is formerly known as the “tropical lineage”. It belongs to the <em>Rhipicephalus sanguineus</em> (Latreille, 1806) species complex, referred to as <em>R. sanguineus</em> (<em>sensu lato</em>). Mitochondrial genome sequences are frequently used for the identification and represent reference material for field studies. In the present study, the entire mitochondrial genomes of <em>R. linnaei</em> (∼15 kb) collected from dogs in Mexico were sequenced and compared with available mitogenomes of <em>R. sanguineus</em> (<em>s.l</em>.). The mitochondrial genome is ∼90% identical to the reference genome of <em>R. sanguineus</em> (<em>sensu stricto</em>, former “temperate lineage”) and > 99% identical to <em>R. linnaei</em> mitogenome derived from the neotype. Two additional mitogenomes were obtained and described as <em>R. linnaei</em> and <em>R. turanicus</em> from dogs in Saudi Arabia. The present study delivers a molecular reference for <em>R. linnaei</em> from America and complements <em>R. linnaei</em> mitogenomes from Africa, Asia and Australia. We propose to consider the complete mitogenome, as the reference for American <em>R. linnaei</em>, even when partial mitochondrial <em>cox</em>1, <em>12S</em> rRNA or <em>16S</em> rRNA genes are characterised.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":94311,"journal":{"name":"Current research in parasitology & vector-borne diseases","volume":"6 ","pages":"Article 100194"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667114X24000256/pdfft?md5=72c8cf2360604ef2777b47fb388b7cff&pid=1-s2.0-S2667114X24000256-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141484203","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}
Valérie O. Baede , Oumayma Jlassi , Paulina M. Lesiczka , Hend Younsi , Hans J. Jansen , Khalil Dachraoui , Jane Segobola , Mourad Ben Said , Wouter J. Veneman , Ron P. Dirks , Hein Sprong , Elyes Zhioua
{"title":"Similarities between Ixodes ricinus and Ixodes inopinatus genomes and horizontal gene transfer from their endosymbionts","authors":"Valérie O. Baede , Oumayma Jlassi , Paulina M. Lesiczka , Hend Younsi , Hans J. Jansen , Khalil Dachraoui , Jane Segobola , Mourad Ben Said , Wouter J. Veneman , Ron P. Dirks , Hein Sprong , Elyes Zhioua","doi":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2024.100229","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2024.100229","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The taxa <em>Ixodes ricinus</em> and <em>Ixodes inopinatus</em> are sympatric in Tunisia. The genetics underlying their morphological differences are unresolved. In this study, ticks collected in Jouza-Amdoun, Tunisia, were morphologically identified and sequenced using Oxford Nanopore Technologies. Three complete genome assemblies of <em>I. inopinatus</em> and three of <em>I. ricinus</em> with BUSCO scores of ∼98% were generated, including the reconstruction of mitochondrial genomes and separation of both alleles of the TRPA1, TROSPA and calreticulin genes. Deep sequencing allowed the first descriptions of complete bacterial genomes for “<em>Candidatus</em> Midichloria mitochondrii”, <em>Rickettsia helvetica</em> and <em>R. monacensis</em> from North Africa, and the discovery of extensive integration of parts of the <em>Spiroplasma ixodetis</em> and “<em>Ca</em>. M. mitochondrii” into the nuclear genome of these ticks. Phylogenetic analyses of the mitochondrial genome, the nuclear genes, and symbionts showed differentiation between Tunisian and Dutch ticks, but high genetic similarities between Tunisian <em>I. ricinus</em> and <em>I. inopinatus</em>. Subtraction of the genome assemblies identified the presence of some unique sequences, which could not be confirmed when screening a larger batch of <em>I. ricinus</em> and <em>I. inopinatus</em> ticks using PCR. Our findings yield compelling evidence that <em>I. inopinatus</em> is genetically highly similar, if not identical, to sympatric <em>I. ricinus.</em> Defined morphological differences might be caused by extrinsic factors such as micro-climatic conditions or bloodmeal composition. Our findings support the existence of different lineages of <em>I. ricinus</em> as well of its symbionts/pathogens from geographically dispersed locations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":94311,"journal":{"name":"Current research in parasitology & vector-borne diseases","volume":"6 ","pages":"Article 100229"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142698134","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}
Ana Filipa Lopes , Mariana Ribeiro Ferreira , Beatriz do Vale , Marlene Santos , Inês Silveira , Sofia Claudino , Manuel Martins , Telma Brida , Luís Figueira , Luís Cardoso , Ana Patrícia Lopes , Ana Cláudia Coelho , Manuela Matos , Ana Cristina Matos
{"title":"Update on infections with Thelazia callipaeda in European wildlife and a report in a red fox, Vulpes vulpes, in Portugal","authors":"Ana Filipa Lopes , Mariana Ribeiro Ferreira , Beatriz do Vale , Marlene Santos , Inês Silveira , Sofia Claudino , Manuel Martins , Telma Brida , Luís Figueira , Luís Cardoso , Ana Patrícia Lopes , Ana Cláudia Coelho , Manuela Matos , Ana Cristina Matos","doi":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2024.100211","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2024.100211","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p><em>Thelazia callipaeda</em>, also known as the “oriental eye worm”, is a zoonotic parasitic nematode with a wide range of hosts, particularly wild and domestic carnivores, but also lagomorphs and humans. Currently, ocular thelaziosis presents an expanding distribution range throughout Europe, including Portugal. This study provides an update on <em>T</em>. <em>callipaeda</em> infection reports (30 studies) in European wildlife comprising 54 host-locality records in 10 host species from nine European countries. The prevalence of <em>T</em>. <em>callipaeda</em> varied widely, with ranges from around 1% in red foxes and European hares to almost 50% in red foxes. The lowest mean intensity was 2.7 nematodes/host in European wildcats and the highest was 38.0 nematodes/host in wolves. In addition, a massive infection with <em>T. callipaeda</em> in a juvenile male red fox from eastern-central Portugal is also described, representing the southernmost report in a wild animal in this country. A total of 188 nematodes (139 females and 49 males) were collected from both eyes and were submitted to morphological and molecular characterization. Collected nematodes were morphologically identified as <em>T</em>. <em>callipaeda</em>. Given the endemicity of <em>T</em>. <em>callipaeda</em> in eastern-central Portugal, surveillance system should be implemented to monitor its presence among wild and domestic animals.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":94311,"journal":{"name":"Current research in parasitology & vector-borne diseases","volume":"6 ","pages":"Article 100211"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667114X24000426/pdfft?md5=9801eaa30055e263a86a3129adb9727b&pid=1-s2.0-S2667114X24000426-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142084150","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":"A brief review and guidance on the spatiotemporal sampling designs for disease vector surveillance","authors":"Abdollah Jalilian , Jorge Mateu , Luigi Sedda","doi":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2024.100208","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2024.100208","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Obtaining a representative sample of disease vectors (mosquitoes, flies, ticks, etc.) is essential for researchers to draw meaningful conclusions about the entire vector population in a target study area and during a specific study period. To achieve this, a carefully chosen surveillance design is required to ensure that the sample captures essential spatial and temporal variations in the target vector population(s) and/or that the study results can be generalized to the entire population. Designed-based and model-based spatiotemporal sampling (or in our context surveillance) designs can be used to maximize information gain within given resource constraints. In this paper, we aim to offer a concise overview of common spatiotemporal field sampling designs, their advantages and disadvantages and their practical applications in the context of surveillance and management of vector-borne diseases. At the end of the article, we offer guidance to help vector-borne disease surveillance planners design effective spatiotemporal surveillance interventions.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":94311,"journal":{"name":"Current research in parasitology & vector-borne diseases","volume":"6 ","pages":"Article 100208"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667114X24000396/pdfft?md5=47755f5661f99f9f08a5637ef8ffc394&pid=1-s2.0-S2667114X24000396-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142097806","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}