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

{"title":"Wildlife and parasitic infections: A One Health perspective in Greece","authors":"Constantina N. Tsokana,&nbsp;Georgios Sioutas,&nbsp;Isaia Symeonidou,&nbsp;Elias Papadopoulos","doi":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2024.100184","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2024.100184","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>While research on the parasitic fauna of wildlife in Greece is currently limited, conducted studies have provided valuable insights into the prevalence of parasitic infections in wild carnivores, omnivores, and herbivores. This review consolidates the existing data on the endoparasites detected in wild animals in Greece, specifically focusing on those that pose established or potential zoonotic risks. Over the last 60 years, various parasite species such as <em>Leishmania infantum</em>, <em>Cryptosporidium</em> spp., <em>Toxoplasma gondii</em>, <em>Sarcocystis</em> spp., <em>Toxocara canis</em>, <em>Ancylostoma caninum, Capillaria</em> spp<em>., Baylisascaris</em> spp<em>., Trichinella</em> spp<em>., Thelazia callipaeda, Dirofilaria immitis</em>, <em>Echinococcus granulosus</em>, <em>Mesocestoides</em> sp., <em>Taenia</em> spp., <em>Alaria alata</em>, and <em>Dicrocoelium dendriticum</em> have been identified in wildlife in Greece. These findings have become increasingly relevant due to the growing interaction between humans and wild animals, which now extends to urban environments, as well as the increased contact between wild and domestic animals. This is further complicated by the geographical expansion of vector-borne diseases due to global warming and the increased movements of humans and animals. Surveillance and monitoring of parasitic infections in Greek wildlife is warranted, and it should be based on interdisciplinary investigations considering the interconnectedness of human, wild, and domestic animals, as well as environmental health, in line with the One Health approach.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":94311,"journal":{"name":"Current research in parasitology & vector-borne diseases","volume":"6 ","pages":"Article 100184"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667114X24000153/pdfft?md5=06b169f01b0db792494b1d02b033f49a&pid=1-s2.0-S2667114X24000153-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141280277","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":"Endemisation and management of Babesia divergens on a beef production farm","authors":"Andrea Springer ,&nbsp;Daniela Jordan ,&nbsp;Martin Höltershinken ,&nbsp;Dieter Barutzki ,&nbsp;Christina Strube","doi":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2024.100188","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2024.100188","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The hard tick <em>Ixodes ricinus</em> transmits a variety of zoonotic pathogens, including <em>Babesia divergens</em>, the most common cause of bovine babesiosis in northern Europe. In endemic areas, cattle are rarely clinically affected, as animals up to the age of nine months are resistant against relevant clinical disease and develop protective premunity. However, outbreaks in immunologically naïve herds may lead to considerable losses. Such an outbreak with a high mortality rate occurred in 2018 on a northern German beef production farm, as previously reported. The present study provides an update on the epidemiological situation and management strategy of the farm. In spring 2022, blood samples were taken from 46 animals for PCR and serological testing before pasture turnout. Although no clinical cases had been noticed since 2019, <em>B. divergens</em> DNA was detected by quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR), followed by amplification and sequencing of the 18S rRNA gene, in 6.5% (3/46) of cattle blood samples. Presence of anti-<em>B. divergens</em> antibodies was confirmed in 26.1% (12/46) of animals, while further 10.9% (5/46) had a borderline antibody titre. The antibody status of 23 of these animals had already been determined in 2018 and/or 2020, revealing fluctuating titre patterns indicative of repeated pathogen exposure. Moreover, 457 questing <em>I. ricinus</em> specimens collected on the farm’s pastures and 83 <em>I. ricinus</em> specimens detached from cattle were screened for <em>Babesia</em> spp. DNA by qPCR, followed by 18S rDNA amplification and sequencing. Endemisation of <em>B. divergens</em> was confirmed by 0.9% (4/457) positive questing <em>I. ricinus</em>, while the ticks detached from cattle were <em>Babesia</em>-negative. The farm’s management strategy includes annual metaphylactic treatment with imidocarb dipropionate during the main tick exposure period in spring. However, the antibody titre fluctuations and the persistent infections at the end of the housing period indicate that the absence of clinical disease is primarily due to a rising level of premunity. Metaphylactic treatment with imidocarb seems to be a suitable management option to protect newly acquired immunologically naïve animals. The endemisation of <em>B. divergens</em> is also of public health significance, as the pastures are located close to a tourist destination in a popular hiking area.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":94311,"journal":{"name":"Current research in parasitology & vector-borne diseases","volume":"6 ","pages":"Article 100188"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667114X24000190/pdfft?md5=5b1ac1ebb11eb5b702449716424939b3&pid=1-s2.0-S2667114X24000190-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141394026","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":"Tick exposure biomarkers: A One Health approach to new tick surveillance tools","authors":"Alexis Dziedziech ,&nbsp;Eva Krupa ,&nbsp;Kristina E.M. Persson ,&nbsp;Richard Paul ,&nbsp;Sarah Bonnet","doi":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2024.100212","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2024.100212","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The spread of tick-borne disease (TBD) is escalating globally, driven by climate change and socio-economic shifts, underlining the urgency to improve surveillance, diagnostics, and control strategies. Ticks can transmit a range of pathogens increasing the risk of transmission of human and veterinary diseases such as Lyme disease, tick-borne encephalitis, theileriosis, anaplasmosis, or Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever. Surveillance methods play a crucial role in monitoring the spread of tick-borne pathogens (TBP). However, there are shortcomings in the current surveillance methods regarding risks related to ticks. Human-tick encounters offer a novel metric for disease risk assessment, integrating human behavior into traditional surveillance models. However, to more reliably measure tick exposure, a molecular marker is needed. The identification of antibodies against arthropod salivary proteins as biomarkers for vector exposure represents a promising avenue for enhancing existing diagnostic and surveillance metrics. Here we explore how the use of tick saliva biomarkers targeting recombinant proteins and synthetic peptides could significantly improve the assessment of TBD transmission risk and the effectiveness of vector control measures. With focused efforts on creating a biomarker against tick exposure suitable for humans and domestic animals alike, tick surveillance, diagnosis and control would be more achievable and aid in reducing the mounting threat of TBP through a One Health lens.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":94311,"journal":{"name":"Current research in parasitology & vector-borne diseases","volume":"6 ","pages":"Article 100212"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667114X24000438/pdfft?md5=dcab7b606be5357b7b265d22e1f46a5a&pid=1-s2.0-S2667114X24000438-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142128823","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":"Exploring the impact of Anaplasma phagocytophilum on colonization resistance of Ixodes scapularis microbiota using network node manipulation","authors":"Lianet Abuin-Denis ,&nbsp;Elianne Piloto-Sardiñas ,&nbsp;Apolline Maître ,&nbsp;Alejandra Wu-Chuang ,&nbsp;Lourdes Mateos-Hernández ,&nbsp;Dasiel Obregon ,&nbsp;Belkis Corona-González ,&nbsp;Andréa Cristina Fogaça ,&nbsp;Vaidas Palinauskas ,&nbsp;Justė Aželytė ,&nbsp;Alina Rodríguez-Mallon ,&nbsp;Alejandro Cabezas-Cruz","doi":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2024.100177","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crpvbd.2024.100177","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Upon ingestion from an infected host, tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) have to overcome colonization resistance, a defense mechanism by which tick microbiota prevent microbial invasions. Previous studies have shown that the pathogen <em>Anaplasma phagocytophilum</em> alters the microbiota composition of the nymphs of <em>Ixodes scapularis</em>, but its impact on tick colonization resistance remains unclear. We analyzed tick microbiome genetic data using published Illumina 16S rRNA sequences, assessing microbial diversity within ticks (alpha diversity) through species richness, evenness, and phylogenetic diversity. We compared microbial communities in ticks with and without infection with <em>A. phagocytophilum</em> (beta diversity) using the Bray-Curtis index. We also built co-occurrence networks and used node manipulation to study the impact of <em>A. phagocytophilum</em> on microbial assembly and network robustness, crucial for colonization resistance. We examined network robustness by altering its connectivity, observing changes in the largest connected component (LCC) and the average path length (APL). Our findings revealed that infection with <em>A. phagocytophilum</em> does not significantly alter the overall microbial diversity in ticks. Despite a decrease in the number of nodes and connections within the microbial networks of infected ticks, certain core microbes remained consistently interconnected, suggesting a functional role. The network of infected ticks showed a heightened vulnerability to node removal, with smaller LCC and longer APL, indicating reduced resilience compared to the network of uninfected ticks. Interestingly, adding nodes to the network of infected ticks led to an increase in LCC and a decrease in APL, suggesting a recovery in network robustness, a trend not observed in networks of uninfected ticks. This improvement in network robustness upon node addition hints that infection with <em>A. phagocytophilum</em> might lower ticksʼ resistance to colonization, potentially facilitating further microbial invasions. We conclude that the compromised colonization resistance observed in tick microbiota following infection with <em>A. phagocytophilum</em> may facilitate co-infection in natural tick populations.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":94311,"journal":{"name":"Current research in parasitology & vector-borne diseases","volume":"5 ","pages":"Article 100177"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667114X24000086/pdfft?md5=1a32518a61c629ac7accccd88fdddb4f&pid=1-s2.0-S2667114X24000086-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140843929","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":"East-to-west dispersal of bird-associated ixodid ticks in the northern Palaearctic: Review of already reported tick species according to longitudinal migratory avian hosts and first evidence on the genetic connectedness of Ixodes apronophorus between Siberia and Europe","authors":"Andor Pitó ,&nbsp;Denis Fedorov ,&nbsp;Vojtěch Brlík ,&nbsp;Jenő Kontschán ,&nbsp;Gergő Keve ,&nbsp;Attila D. Sándor ,&nbsp;Nóra Takács ,&nbsp;Sándor Hornok","doi":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2024.100201","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2024.100201","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Birds are long-known as important disseminators of ixodid ticks, in which context mostly their latitudinal, south-to-north migration is considered. However, several bird species that occur in the eastern part of the northern Palaearctic are known to migrate westward. In this study, a female tick collected from the sedge warbler, <em>Acrocephalus schoenobaenus</em>, in Lithuania was identified morphologically and analyzed with molecular-phylogenetic methods. In addition, literature data were reviewed on ixodid tick species known to be associated with birds that have recorded east-to-west migratory route in the Palaearctic. The tick collected from <em>A. schoenobaenus</em> was morphologically identified as <em>Ixodes apronophorus</em>. Two mitochondrial genetic markers for this specimen showed 100% identity with a conspecific tick reported previously in Western Siberia, Russia. Based on literature data, as many as 82 bird species from 11 orders were found to have records of ringing in the easternmost part of the northern Palaearctic and recaptures in Europe. Of these bird species, 31 ixodid tick species were reported in the Euro-Siberian region. Nearly all passeriform bird species with east-to-west migration were reported to carry ticks, whereas no reports of tick infestation were documented from the majority of wetland-associated bird species, mostly from the orders Anseriformes and Charadriiformes. The first European sequences of <em>bona fide I. apronophorus</em> revealed genetic connectedness with conspecific ticks reported from Siberia. Since the principal hosts of this tick species are rodents which do not migrate large distances, the most likely explanation for genetic similarity in this direction is dispersal of this tick species <em>via</em> migratory birds. Given the high number of tick species that are known to associate with bird species migrating in westward direction, this appears to be an important means of the gene flow between geographically distant tick populations in the northern Palaearctic.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":94311,"journal":{"name":"Current research in parasitology & vector-borne diseases","volume":"6 ","pages":"Article 100201"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667114X24000323/pdfft?md5=29220dea9986f3be28f2db95e5eaa836&pid=1-s2.0-S2667114X24000323-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141690791","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":"Level of involvement of four selected cytochrome P450s (CYPs) in pyrethroid-resistant Anopheles gambiae (s.s.) and Anopheles coluzzii across Côte d’Ivoire","authors":"Joseph Chabi ,&nbsp;Constant V.A. Edi ,&nbsp;Bernard L. Kouassi ,&nbsp;Constant N.G. Gbalegba ,&nbsp;Armand E. Kouassi ,&nbsp;Jackson K.I. Kouame ,&nbsp;Yves K.A. Kadio ,&nbsp;Firmain N. Yokoly ,&nbsp;Louise B. Golou ,&nbsp;Janice Gouaméné ,&nbsp;Jean-Baptiste Assamoi ,&nbsp;Emmanuel Tia ,&nbsp;Roseline M. Yapo ,&nbsp;Lucien Y. Konan ,&nbsp;Roméo N. N’Tamon ,&nbsp;Alphonsine A. Koffi ,&nbsp;Antoine M. Tanoh ,&nbsp;Ndombour Ging-Cissé ,&nbsp;Pascal Zinzindohoué ,&nbsp;Blaise Kouadio ,&nbsp;Matthew Kirby","doi":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2024.100223","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.crpvbd.2024.100223","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In Côte d'Ivoire, there is a high intensity of pyrethroid resistance in malaria vectors which may threaten successful vector control. Molecular studies of the target site mutation in the voltage-gated sodium channel (VGSC) <em>1014F</em> show that the gene frequencies of these mutations are high, widely spread across Côte d’Ivoire, and even fixed in some areas. To further characterize insecticide resistance in Côte d’Ivoire beyond target site mutations, the metabolic resistance mechanism was explored. Overexpression of the metabolic enzyme cytochrome <em>CYP6M2</em>, <em>CYP6P3</em>, <em>CYP6P4</em>, and <em>CYP6P5</em> was investigated in <em>Anopheles gambiae</em> (<em>s.s.</em>) and <em>An. coluzzii</em> collected from 30 insecticide resistance monitoring sites across the country in 2021 and 2022. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) assay was carried out using RNA-later preserved 60 surviving mosquitoes from each site after phenotypic susceptibility tests. Additionally, a subsample of about 100 mosquitoes from each site was identified to species by PCR, and the frequency of the VGSC <em>1014F</em> and <em>1014S</em> was determined. All four CYPs were found to be overexpressed in Côte d’Ivoire with at least one CYP statistically significantly overexpressed in 27 of the 30 sites investigated compared to the susceptible <em>An. gambiae</em> (<em>s.s.</em>) Kisumu (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.005). <em>CYP6M2</em> was overexpressed in 89% of sites and was the sole overexpressed gene in 10 sites, while the overexpression of <em>CYP6P3</em> was found in only 10 sites. <em>CYP6P4</em> and <em>CYP6P5</em> were overexpressed in 16 and 13 sites, respectively. Furthermore, seven sites (Adzopé, Bongouanou, Daloa, Gagnoa, Guiglo Jacqueville, and Sassandra) had overexpression of all four CYPs. Overall, <em>An. coluzzii</em> showed higher overexpression of CYPs than <em>An. gambiae</em> (<em>s.s.</em>). This study highlights the involvement of selected CYPs in insecticide resistance where target site mutation genes are already present, suggesting that insecticide resistance is complex and multifaceted at a molecular level. Where feasible, it may be helpful to include metabolic resistance surveillance to further characterize insecticide resistance.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":94311,"journal":{"name":"Current research in parasitology & vector-borne diseases","volume":"6 ","pages":"Article 100223"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142660491","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":"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}