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

{"title":"Seroprevalence of Rift Valley fever and associated risk factors in livestock of Afar Region, northeastern Ethiopia","authors":"Jemberu A. Megenas ,&nbsp;Mengistu L. Dadi ,&nbsp;Tesfu K. Mekonnen ,&nbsp;James W. Larrick ,&nbsp;Gezahegne M. Kassa","doi":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2024.100215","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2024.100215","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Rift Valley fever (RVF) is one of the emerging arthropod-borne zoonotic viral diseases with serious public and economic significance in the livestock and human populations of East Africa. Its epidemiology is inadequately recognized in Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study was conducted to investigate the seroprevalence and potential risk factors of RVF in domestic livestock of Amibara and Haruka districts of the Afar Region, northeastern Ethiopia. A total of 736 (224 cattle, 121 goats, 144 sheep, 155 camels and 92 donkeys) blood samples were collected, and serum extracted and tested using competitive ELISA. A questionnaire survey was used to assess potential risk factors of RVF infection. The overall seroprevalence was 22.0% (162/736; 95% CI: 19.41–24.79%). The seroprevalence was significantly higher in goats (42.2%, 95% CI: 39.61–44.99%) compared to that of cattle (14.3%, 95% CI: 11.74–17.09%), sheep (21.5%, 95% CI: 18.91–24.29%), or camels (30.97%, 95% CI: 28.38–33.76%) (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.001). The study showed that seropositivity for IgG antibody to RVFV infection was associated with locality and species of animal. Goats were two times more likely to be seropositive for RVFV infection than cattle (OR: 2.3, 95% CI: 1.462–3.574, <em>P</em> = 0.001). Livestock in the Kealatburi area were five times more likely to be seropositive for RVFV infection than those in the Halidegei area (OR: 5.074, 95% CI: 3.066–8.396, <em>P</em> = 0.001). This study revealed that RVF is an important animal health problem in the Afar Region. Therefore, monitoring of RVF in animals, humans, and vectors along with community sensitization of high-risk populations could benefit mitigating the risk posed by the disease. Quarantine measures should be implemented to reduce the risk of RVFV introduction and dissemination among susceptible animals and ultimately transmission to humans.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":94311,"journal":{"name":"Current research in parasitology & vector-borne diseases","volume":"6 ","pages":"Article 100215"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142438092","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":"The role of wildlife in the epidemiology of tick-borne diseases in Slovakia","authors":"Mária Kazimírová ,&nbsp;Barbara Mangová ,&nbsp;Michal Chvostáč ,&nbsp;Yuliya M. Didyk ,&nbsp;Paloma de Alba ,&nbsp;Anabela Mira ,&nbsp;Slávka Purgatová ,&nbsp;Diana Selyemová ,&nbsp;Veronika Rusňáková Tarageľová ,&nbsp;Leonhard Schnittger","doi":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2024.100195","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crpvbd.2024.100195","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Tick-borne diseases (TBD) represent an important challenge for human and veterinary medicine. In Slovakia, studies on the epidemiology of tick-borne pathogens (TBP) regarding reservoir hosts have focused on small mammals and to a lesser extent on birds or lizards, while knowledge of the role of the remaining vertebrate groups is limited. Generally, wild ungulates, hedgehogs, small- and medium-sized carnivores, or squirrels are important feeding hosts for ticks and serve as reservoirs for TBP. Importantly, because they carry infected ticks and/or are serologically positive, they can be used as sentinels to monitor the presence of ticks and TBP in the environment. With their increasing occurrence in urban and suburban habitats, wild ungulates, hedgehogs or foxes are becoming an important component in the developmental cycle of <em>Ixodes ricinus</em> and of TBP such as <em>Anaplasma phagocytophilum</em> or <em>Babesia</em> spp. On the other hand, it has been postulated that cervids may act as dilution hosts for <em>Borrelia burgdorferi</em> (<em>sensu lato</em>) and tick-borne encephalitis virus. In southwestern Slovakia, a high prevalence of infection with <em>Theileria</em> spp. (100%) was observed in some cervid populations, while <em>A. phagocytophilum</em> (prevalence of <em>c.</em>50%) was detected in cervids and wild boars. The following pathogens were detected in ticks feeding on free-ranging ungulates, birds, and hedgehogs: <em>A. phagocytophilum</em>, <em>Rickettsia</em> spp., <em>Coxiella burnetii</em>, <em>Neoehrlichia mikurensis</em>, <em>B. burgdorferi</em> (<em>s.l.</em>), and <em>Babesia</em> spp. The growing understanding of the role of wildlife as pathogen reservoirs and carriers of pathogen-infected ticks offers valuable insights into the epidemiology of TBP, providing a foundation for reducing the risk of TBD.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":94311,"journal":{"name":"Current research in parasitology & vector-borne diseases","volume":"6 ","pages":"Article 100195"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667114X24000268/pdfft?md5=6ee502b84524c83058db50502b059506&pid=1-s2.0-S2667114X24000268-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141434682","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 systematic review of ticks and tick-borne pathogens of cattle reared by smallholder farmers in South Africa","authors":"Katleho Sechaba Monakale ,&nbsp;Maphuthi Betty Ledwaba ,&nbsp;Rae Marvin Smith ,&nbsp;Realeboga Masego Gaorekwe ,&nbsp;Dikeledi Petunia Malatji","doi":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2024.100205","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2024.100205","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Ticks are important ectoparasites of domestic animals, wild animals and humans. They spread a variety of infective agents such as protozoans, viruses, and bacteria. Cattle reared by smallholder farmers are susceptible to ticks and tick-borne pathogens due to the type of production system practiced by the farmers. Hence, this review was focused on the occurrence of ticks and tick-borne pathogens in cattle reared by smallholder farmers in South Africa. The systematic search produced a total of 13,408 articles from four databases, and after screening processes, the review utilized 23 articles published between 1983 and 2023. A total of 26 tick species belonging to seven genera were identified in the reviewed articles, with <em>Rhipicephalus</em> (<em>Boophilus</em>) <em>decoloratus</em> and <em>Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi</em> being the most frequently reported tick species in South Africa followed by <em>Amblyomma hebreum</em>, <em>Rhipicephalus appendiculatus</em>, <em>Hyalomma marginatum rufipes</em>, <em>Rhipicephalus microplus</em>, <em>Rhipicephalus follis</em>, <em>Rhipicephalus gertrudae</em> and <em>Hyalomma truncatum</em>. The most frequently reported tick-borne pathogens across the provinces included <em>Babesia bigemina</em>, <em>Babesia bovis</em>, and <em>Anaplasma marginale</em>, with Eastern Cape Province accounting for most of the records followed by KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga Provinces. The findings of this review confirm that cattle reared by smallholder farmers harbour various ticks and tick-borne pathogens of veterinary, public health and economic importance, and regular monitoring of tick infestations in South Africa is recommended to avoid disease outbreaks.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":94311,"journal":{"name":"Current research in parasitology & vector-borne diseases","volume":"6 ","pages":"Article 100205"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667114X24000360/pdfft?md5=632d5bd718586a3c1fbb1cac7a95049e&pid=1-s2.0-S2667114X24000360-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141850652","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":"Geographical isolation and hyperendemicity of Hepatozoon felis: Epidemiological scenario in Skopelos, Greece, and phylogenetic analysis","authors":"Simone Morelli ,&nbsp;Donato Traversa ,&nbsp;Angela Di Cesare ,&nbsp;Mariasole Colombo ,&nbsp;Marika Grillini ,&nbsp;Barbara Paoletti ,&nbsp;Aurora Mondazzi ,&nbsp;Antonio Frangipane di Regalbono ,&nbsp;Raffaella Iorio ,&nbsp;Chiara Astuti ,&nbsp;Constantina N. Tsokana ,&nbsp;Anastasia Diakou","doi":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2024.100202","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2024.100202","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Feline hepatozoonosis is a vector-borne disease caused by different species of the genus <em>Hepatozoon</em>, i.e. <em>Hepatozoon felis</em>, <em>Hepatozoon silvestris</em> and <em>Hepatozoon canis</em>. Knowledge on the biology, epidemiology and taxonomy of <em>Hepatozoon</em> spp. is still limited, despite the fact that the number of documented <em>Hepatozoon</em> spp. infections in domestic cats increased in recent years in different countries. This study was carried out to evaluate the prevalence and the genetic profile of <em>Hepatozoon</em> spp. in cats living on the island of Skopelos, Greece. Individual blood samples were collected from 54 owned cats and were subjected to Giemsa-stained blood smear examination to investigate the presence of <em>Hepatozoon</em> spp. gamonts and to a specific PCR protocol targeting the 18S rRNA gene of <em>Hepatozoon</em>. A total of 45 cats (83.3%) were found infected by <em>Hepatozoon</em> spp. by at least one of the methods applied. In particular, 43 (79.6%) of the cats were PCR-positive, and in 6 (11.1%) cats gamonts of <em>Hepatozoon</em> spp. were found in the blood smears. A total of 26 <em>H. felis</em> sequences were obtained and the presence of three undescribed single nucleotide polymorphisms were detected. The present results indicate that <em>H. felis</em> species complex may be hyperendemic in isolated/confined areas. In such contexts, geographical isolation may favor the origin of new genotypes or haplotypes or even new species.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":94311,"journal":{"name":"Current research in parasitology & vector-borne diseases","volume":"6 ","pages":"Article 100202"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667114X24000335/pdfft?md5=8cf09959612460e3039dff1577b23965&pid=1-s2.0-S2667114X24000335-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141960248","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 duplex TaqMan-based quantitative PCR for rapid and accurate diagnosis of Leishmania (Mundinia) martiniquensis and Leishmania (Mundinia) orientalis, responsible for autochthonous leishmaniasis in Thailand","authors":"Kanok Preativatanyou ,&nbsp;Nopporn Songumpai ,&nbsp;Pathamet Khositharattanakool ,&nbsp;Rinnara Ampol ,&nbsp;Chulaluk Promrangsee ,&nbsp;Chatchapon Sricharoensuk ,&nbsp;Kobpat Phadungsaksawasdi ,&nbsp;Thanapat Pataradool ,&nbsp;Tomas Becvar ,&nbsp;Barbora Vojtkova ,&nbsp;Petr Volf ,&nbsp;Padet Siriyasatien","doi":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2024.100217","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2024.100217","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The World Health Organization has recently declared Thailand a leishmaniasis hotspot in Southeast Asia due to the continuous increase in new symptomatic and asymptomatic cases over the years. This emerging parasitic disease is known to be caused by two autochthonous species of <em>Leishmania</em> belonging to the newly described subgenus <em>Mundinia</em>, namely <em>L. martiniquensis</em> and <em>L. orientalis</em>. In Thailand, clinical cases due to <em>L. martiniquensis</em> typically present with visceral leishmaniasis, whereas <em>L. orientalis</em> mainly causes localized cutaneous leishmaniasis. Although <em>Leishmania</em> species confirmation is essential for clinical diagnosis and treatment planning, the availability of highly accurate and rapid diagnostic methods remains limited. In this study, we developed a duplex TaqMan quantitative PCR assay using newly designed species-specific primers and probes based on sequences from the nucleotide and genome databases of <em>Leishmania</em> spp. retrieved from GenBank. The duplex qPCR assay was optimized to specifically amplify the internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1) of <em>L. martiniquensis</em> and the heat shock protein 70 (type I) intergenic region (<em>HSP70-I</em> IR) of <em>L. orientalis</em> with high amplification efficiencies. The performance of the optimized duplex qPCR was evaluated by analyzing 46 DNA samples obtained from cultures, and clinical and insect specimens, consistent with the results of the previously validated 18S rRNA-qPCR and ITS1-PCR. The duplex qPCR could detect both species of <em>Leishmania</em> at a limit of detection of one copy per reaction and did not cross-amplify with other pathogen DNA samples. Standard curves of the singleplex and duplex assays showed good linearity with excellent amplification efficiency. Using conventional ITS1-PCR and plasmid sequencing as a reference standard assay, the duplex qPCR showed diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of 100% and positive and negative predictive values of 100% for both <em>Leishmania</em> species with a perfect level of agreement (kappa = 1.0). The novel duplex TaqMan-based qPCR has shown to be a rapid, cost-effective, and highly accurate diagnostic tool for the simultaneous detection and identification of two autochthonous <em>Leishmania</em> spp. in a variety of clinical and entomological samples. This will greatly facilitate early diagnosis, treatment monitoring, and surveillance, especially in leishmaniasis-endemic areas where sequencing-based diagnosis is not routinely available.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":94311,"journal":{"name":"Current research in parasitology & vector-borne diseases","volume":"6 ","pages":"Article 100217"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142420540","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":"Species abundance and density of malaria vectors in Western Thailand and implications for disease transmission","authors":"Thanyalak Fansiri,&nbsp;Boonsong Jaichapor,&nbsp;Arissara Pongsiri,&nbsp;Preeraya Singkhaimuk,&nbsp;Patcharee Khongtak,&nbsp;Wachiraphan Chittham,&nbsp;Nattaphol Pathawong,&nbsp;Duangkamon Pintong,&nbsp;Bussayagorn Sujarit,&nbsp;Alongkot Ponlawat","doi":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2024.100170","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crpvbd.2024.100170","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Understanding the dynamics of malaria vectors and their interactions with environmental factors is crucial for effective malaria control. This study investigated the abundance, species composition, seasonal variations, and malaria infection status of female mosquitoes in malaria transmission and non-transmission areas in Western Thailand. Additionally, the susceptibility of malaria vectors to pyrethroid insecticides was assessed. Entomological field surveys were conducted during the hot, wet, and cold seasons in both malaria transmission areas (TA) and non-transmission areas (NTA). The abundance and species composition of malaria vectors were compared between TA and NTA. The availability of larval habitats and the impact of seasonality on vector abundance were analyzed. Infection with <em>Plasmodium</em> spp. in primary malaria vectors was determined using molecular techniques. Furthermore, the susceptibility of malaria vectors to pyrethroids was evaluated using the World Health Organization (WHO) susceptibility test. A total of 9799 female mosquitoes belonging to 54 species and 11 genera were collected using various trapping methods. The number of malaria vectors was significantly higher in TA compared to NTA (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.001). <em>Anopheles minimus</em> and <em>An. aconitus</em> were the predominant species in TA, comprising over 50% and 30% of the total mosquitoes collected, respectively. Seasonality had a significant effect on the availability of larval habitats in both areas (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.05) but did not impact the abundance of adult vectors (<em>P</em> &gt; 0.05). The primary malaria vectors tested were not infected with <em>Plasmodium</em> spp. The WHO susceptibility test revealed high susceptibility of malaria vectors to pyrethroids, with mortality rates of 99–100% at discriminating concentrations. The higher abundance of malaria vectors in the transmission areas underscores the need for targeted control measures in these regions. The susceptibility of malaria vectors to pyrethroids suggests the continued effectiveness of this class of insecticides for vector control interventions. Other factors influencing malaria transmission risk in the study areas are discussed. These findings contribute to our understanding of malaria vectors and can inform evidence-based strategies for malaria control and elimination efforts in Western Thailand.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":94311,"journal":{"name":"Current research in parasitology & vector-borne diseases","volume":"5 ","pages":"Article 100170"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667114X24000013/pdfft?md5=a79733d1a2b9c6832c3ef524962366fe&pid=1-s2.0-S2667114X24000013-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139907623","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":"Meta-analysis of tick-borne and other pathogens: Co-infection or co-detection? That is the question","authors":"Stefania Porcelli,&nbsp;Pierre Lucien Deshuillers,&nbsp;Sara Moutailler,&nbsp;Anne-Claire Lagrée","doi":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2024.100219","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2024.100219","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This literature-based review aims to distinguish studies describing co-infection with tick-borne pathogens from those describing co-detection or co-exposure scenarios. The review analyzed 426 papers and identified only 20 with direct evidence of co-infection in humans and animals, highlighting the need for accurate terminology and proposing definitions for co-infection, co-exposure and co-detection. Current diagnostic methods - including serology and molecular techniques - have limitations in accurately identifying real co-infections, often leading to misinterpretation. The review highlights the importance of developing laboratory models to better understand tick-borne pathogen interactions, and advocates improved diagnostic strategies for tick screening by testing their RNA for co-infections. Moreover, the establishment of additional animal models for pathogen co-infection will help develop our understanding of selection pressures for various traits of tick-borne pathogens (such as virulence and transmissibility) over time. This comprehensive analysis provides insights into the complexity of tick-borne pathogen co-infections and calls for precise diagnostic terms to improve the clarity and effectiveness of future research.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":94311,"journal":{"name":"Current research in parasitology & vector-borne diseases","volume":"6 ","pages":"Article 100219"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142432534","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":"Xenodiagnosis in the wild: A methodology to investigate infectiousness for tick-borne bacteria in a songbird reservoir","authors":"Jens Zarka ,&nbsp;Dieter Heylen ,&nbsp;Hein Sprong ,&nbsp;Manoj Fonville ,&nbsp;Joris Elst ,&nbsp;Erik Matthysen","doi":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2024.100210","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2024.100210","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>A crucial factor to predict the persistence and spread of infections in natural systems is the capacity of reservoir hosts to maintain the infection and transmit it to others. This is known to greatly vary within and between species and through time, although the latter part of the variation is often less well understood in the wild. <em>Borrelia garinii</em> is one of the causal agents of Lyme disease in humans and is transmitted among avian hosts by the hard tick <em>Ixodes ricinus</em>. Great tits are known to be a reservoir in Europe for <em>B. garinii</em>. For tick-borne pathogens like <em>B. garinii</em>, infectiousness or host-to-vector transmission can be measured using xenodiagnosis where pathogen-free vectors are fed on a host, and the blood-fed vectors are subsequently tested for the pathogen. Here we describe and evaluate a methodology to quantify infectiousness for tick-borne pathogens in individual wild great tits (<em>Parus major</em>), involving captures and recaptures of targeted individuals. The methodology can potentially be applied to other species where recapturing is sufficiently guaranteed. We successfully recaptured most of the infested great tits two to three days after initial infestation (i.e. just before ticks have fully fed) with sufficient numbers of <em>I. ricinus</em> larval ticks, which were subsequently screened for <em>B. garinii</em> using a newly developed <em>B. garinii-</em>specific real-time PCR assay. Higher larval tick numbers were recovered from birds during the breeding seasons than during the winter months. Our novel <em>B. garinii-</em>qPCR performed well, and greatly reduced the amount of Sanger sequencing needed. Preliminary results suggest both seasonal and individual variation in infectiousness; heterogeneity that needs to be unravelled to further understand the contribution of resident birds to the epidemiology of <em>B. garinii</em>.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":94311,"journal":{"name":"Current research in parasitology & vector-borne diseases","volume":"6 ","pages":"Article 100210"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667114X24000414/pdfft?md5=2633ee90699dfa10b6a57f48c4cc0f3a&pid=1-s2.0-S2667114X24000414-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142238474","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":"The first record of the invasive mosquito species Aedes albopictus in Yemen","authors":"Alia Zayed ,&nbsp;Yasser Baheshm ,&nbsp;Mohammed Al Amoudi ,&nbsp;Salim Bin Shabiz ,&nbsp;Matthew Jensen Montgomery","doi":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2024.100233","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2024.100233","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The invasive mosquito <em>Aedes albopictus</em> is regarded as a public health threat due to its ability to transmit pathogens such as dengue and chikungunya viruses, its wide range of hosts, and its ecological plasticity. <em>Aedes albopictus</em> has already invaded parts of the Middle East region and further expansion is expected. Twenty-two sites in three districts of Yemen (Al Ghaydha, Hawf, and Sayhout) were screened for the presence of mosquitoes. We surveyed water bodies and containers, and deployed Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Biogents Sentinel (BG) traps, spray catches, and aspiration for adult collection. <em>Aedes albopictus</em> was recorded for the first time in Yemen in September 2023, during routine surveillance in Al Mahrah Governorate. Adults and immature stages of <em>Ae. albopictus</em> were identified in Hawf, a city 17 m above sea level in the easternmost part of the Governorate of Al Mahrah, which is located less than 8 km from the border with Oman. Our findings showed that <em>Ae. albopictus</em> adults were coexisting with both <em>Ae</em><em>des</em> <em>aegypti</em> and <em>Anopheles stephensi</em> in the same location and occupying the same containers with <em>Ae. aegypti</em> with a ratio of 1:2. This is the first report on the presence of <em>Ae. albopictus</em> in Yemen. The proximity, ongoing human activity and transportation exchanges between Al Mahrah and Oman may have played a role in the introduction of this species. Intensive efforts should be undertaken to monitor and manage <em>Ae. albopictus</em> spread in the country, in addition to coordinating cross-border surveillance with Oman. The presence of both <em>Aedes</em> spp. vectors together highlights the need for surveillance for associated diseases and consideration of countermeasures.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":94311,"journal":{"name":"Current research in parasitology & vector-borne diseases","volume":"6 ","pages":"Article 100233"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142698306","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":"Cats as a sentinel species for human infectious diseases – toxoplasmosis, trichinellosis, and COVID-19","authors":"Diana Selyemová ,&nbsp;Daniela Antolová ,&nbsp;Barbara Mangová ,&nbsp;Júlia Jarošová ,&nbsp;Martina Ličková ,&nbsp;Sabína Fumačová Havlíková ,&nbsp;Monika Sláviková ,&nbsp;Veronika Rusňáková Tarageľová ,&nbsp;Markéta Derdáková","doi":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2024.100196","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crpvbd.2024.100196","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>In this study, serological screening for <em>Toxoplasma gondii</em>, <em>Trichinella</em> spp., and SARS-CoV-2 in domestic cats was conducted, aiming to identify their exposure to the mentioned pathogens and to assess the risk of potential human infection. In total, serum samples from 481 (310 owned and 171 shelter cats) were collected in Bratislava from September 2020 to September 2021, a period that included the initial outbreak wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. The study showed a 37.4% (135/441) seroprevalence of <em>T. gondii</em> with a slightly lower seropositivity in shelter cats (35.9%; 61/170) than in owned cats (38.4%; 104/271), but this difference was not statistically significant. Overall, the seroprevalence of <em>Trichinella</em> spp. was 2.0% (9/441), with animals from shelters being positive but not significantly more often (2.9%; 5/170) than owned cats (1.5%; 4/271). SARS-CoV-2 antibodies were detected in 2.7% (13/481) of cat sera (2.9% in shelter cats; 2.6% in owned cats). Among ten samples positive by virus neutralisation assay, two were positive for the B.1 variant. The presence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in buccal and rectal swabs (<em>n</em> = 239) was not detected. The seroprevalence of almost 40% for <em>T. gondii</em> in cats suggests a non-negligible risk of human infection. The study confirmed the possibility of <em>Trichinella</em> spp. infection in cats, and thus the possibility of infection spreading between the sylvatic and synanthropic cycle <em>via</em> this animal species. The presented results also showed that the SARS-CoV-2 virus is likely to circulate in cat populations in Slovakia, not only in cats that may have been in contact with infected persons, but also in shelter cats.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":94311,"journal":{"name":"Current research in parasitology & vector-borne diseases","volume":"6 ","pages":"Article 100196"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667114X2400027X/pdfft?md5=f68cfe2bf7150607835a9d609f78689e&pid=1-s2.0-S2667114X2400027X-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141540306","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}