Other bacterial diseasesAnaplasmosis, ehrlichiosis and neorickettsiosis

Author(s):  
Richard Birtles

In 2001, taxonomic reorganization of the bacterial genera Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, Cowdria and Neorickettsia resulted in the transfer of numerous species between these taxa, and the renaming of the transferred species to reflect their new taxonomic position (Dumler et al. 2001). Among the members of these genera, there are four species of established zoonotic importance, which are therefore the subject of this chapter. Two of these species were affected by the changes outlined above.Although these four species possess markedly different ecologies, they share the fundamental biological character of being obligate intracellular bacteria that reside within vacuoles of eukaryotic cells. This lifestyle underlies their fastidious nature in the laboratory and hence our limited knowledge of their biology and pathogenicity. Nonetheless, despite this shortfall, all four are associated with diseases of established or emerging importance: E. chaffeensis provokes human monocytic ehrlichiosis (HME), E. ewingii causes human ewingii ehrlichiosis (HEE), A. phagocytophilum causes human granulocytic anaplasmosis (HGA), N. sennetsu is the agent of sennetsu neorickettsiosis.The first three pathogens are transmitted by hard (ixodid) ticks and are encountered across the temperate zones of the northern hemisphere (and maybe beyond), although the vast majority of human infections caused by them are currently reported in the USA. There, HME and HGA are second only to Lyme disease (caused by Borrelia burgdorferi) in terms of public health significance. Furthermore, given that there is evidence of increasing population sizes and changing distributions for ixodid species (Scharlemann et al. 2008), it is not unreasonable to predict that the infections they transmit will present an increased medical burden in the future. N. sennetsu remains an enigmatic pathogen; case reports remain scarce, but serological surveys suggest high levels of exposure. The widespread consumption of raw fish across east Asia presents specific infection risks to this region, and an increased awareness that sennetsu neorickettsiosis is among the infections that can be acquired from this source is required before its public health importance can be accurately assessed.

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 40-47 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick L. Scheid

Many case reports emphasize the fact that Free-Living Amoebae (FLA) can relatively easily get in contact with humans or animals. The presence of several facultative parasitic FLA in habitats related to human activities supports their public health relevance. While some strains of Acanthamoeba,Naegleria fowleri,Balamuthia mandrillarisand several other FLA have been described as facultative human pathogens, it remains controversial whetherVermamoeba vermiformisstrains may have a pathogenic potential, or whether this FLA is just an incidental contaminant in a range of human cases. However, several cases support its role as a human parasite, either as the only etiological agent, or in combination with other pathogens. Additionally, a wide range of FLA is known as vectors of microorganisms (endocytobionts), hereby emphasizing their environmental significance. Among those FLA serving as hosts for and vectors of (pathogenic) endocytobionts, there are also descriptions ofV. vermiformisas a vehicle and a reservoir of those endocytobionts. The involvement in animal and human health, the role as vector of pathogenic microorganisms and the pathogenicity in cell cultures, led to the assumption thatV. vermiformisshould be considered relevant in terms of public health and environmental health.


Author(s):  
Mohamed-Yousif Ibrahim Mohamed

Campylobacter and Escherichia coli (E. coli) are prominent bacterial causes of human gastroenteritis in the developing countries and the emergence of antibiotic resistance of these bacteria has been widely reported to be on the increase, particularly because of the increase in the number of resistant Campylobacter and E. coli isolated from human infections. The widespread use of antimicrobial drugs for therapeutic, prophylactic, and preventive purposes in modern food animal husbandry is a great concern in terms of the development of antibiotic resistance in many bacteria, and, therefore, a potential public health threat. This review simply describes the occurrence, spreading and public health significance of antimicrobial resistance in Campylobacter and E. coli.


1977 ◽  
Vol 34 (7) ◽  
pp. 887-898 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Margolis

Larvae of the nematode Phocanema decipiens (Ascaridida: Anisakidae), known as "codworm" in the vernacular, occur in the musculature of some cod and other marine fishes in both hemispheres, particularly in the temperate and polar climatic zones. The natural definitive hosts are Pinnipedia (seals, sea lions, walruses). For many years regarded incapable of surviving in man, recent reports from Japan indicate that in certain circumstances codworm larvae may temporarily invade the human gastric mucosa, producing clinical symptoms. Several nonclinical cases, in which the larval worms were expelled orally or in the feces of humans, have been reported from Canada (1), the USA (5), Greenland (1), and the U.K. (1). The source of human infections was raw, lightly marinated, or insufficiently cooked sea fish. The ability of codworm larvae to penetrate the stomach wall of other mammals has been demonstrated experimentally in rabbits, rats, dogs, and pigs. Natural infection of a dog in Hokkaido has been reported. For the human cases, information on age and sex of patients, specific source of infection, symptoms, and gross pathology are reviewed. The name applied to human infections and their diagnosis, treatment, prognosis, prevention, and public health implications are discussed. Cooking at 70 °C for 7 min or 60 °C for 10 min and freezing at −20 °C for 24 h are lethal to codworm larvae in fish flesh, thus providing reliable methods for preventing human infections. Some comparisons are made with larval Anisakis infections in man and future research needs, particularly in relation to the public health question, are discussed.


2020 ◽  
Vol 69 (6) ◽  
pp. 781-791 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ilia Rochlin ◽  
Alvaro Toledo

Ticks are the most important vectors of human pathogens, leading to increased public health burdens worldwide. Tick-borne pathogens include viruses (e.g. tick-borne encephalitis and Powassan); bacteria, such as the causative agents of Lyme disease, spotted fever rickettsiosis and human anaplasmosis; and malaria-like protozoan parasites causing babesiosis. Tick-borne diseases are emerging due to the geographical expansion of their tick vectors, especially in the northern hemisphere. Two examples of this phenomenon are Ixodes scapularis and Amblyomma americanum, which have expanded their ranges in the USA in recent decades and are responsible for the continuous emergence of Lyme disease and human ehrlichiosis, respectively. This phenomenon is also occurring worldwide and is reflected by the increasing number of tick-borne encephalitis and haemorrhagic fever cases in Europe and Asia. In this review, we provide a concise synopsis of the most medically important tick-borne pathogen worldwide, with a particular emphasis on emerging public health threats.


Parasitology ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 143 (6) ◽  
pp. 659-685 ◽  
Author(s):  
FARHAN AHMAD ATIF

SUMMARYTheAnaplasmaspecies are important globally distributed tick-transmitted bacteria of veterinary and public health importance. These pathogens, cause anaplasmosis in domestic and wild animal species including humans.Rhipicephalus, Ixodes, DermacentorandAmblyommagenera of ticks are the important vectors ofAnaplasma.Acute anaplasmosis is usually diagnosed upon blood smear examination followed by antibodies and nucleic acid detection. All age groups are susceptible but prevalence increases with age. Serological cross-reactivity is one of the important issues amongAnaplasmaspecies. They co-exist and concurrent infections occur in animals and ticks in same geographic area. These are closely related bacteria and share various common attributes which should be considered while developing vaccines and diagnostic assays. Movement of susceptible animals from non-endemic to endemic regions is the major risk factor of bovine/ovine anaplasmosis and tick-borne fever. Tetracyclines are currently available drugs for clearance of infection and treatment in humans and animals. Worldwide vaccine is not yet available. Identification, elimination of reservoirs, vector control (chemical and biological), endemic stability, habitat modification, rearing of tick resistant breeds, chemotherapy and tick vaccination are major control measures of animal anaplasmosis. Identification of reservoirs and minimizing the high-risk tick exposure activities are important control strategies for human granulocytic anaplasmosis.


2003 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 49-59
Author(s):  
Mark Tomita

The Global Health Disparities CD-ROM Project reaffirmed the value of professional associations partnering with academic institutions to build capacity of the USA public health education workforce to meet the challenges of primary prevention services. The Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE) partnered with the California State University, Chico to produce a CD-ROM that would advocate for global populations that are affected by health disparities while providing primary resources for public health educators to use in programming and professional development. The CD-ROM development process is discussed


2003 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 49-59
Author(s):  
Mark Tomita

The Global Health Disparities CD-ROM Project reaffirmed the value of professional associations partnering with academic institutions to build capacity of the USA public health education workforce to meet the challenges of primary prevention services. The Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE) partnered with the California State University, Chico to produce a CD-ROM that would advocate for global populations that are affected by health disparities while providing primary resources for public health educators to use in programming and professional development. The CD-ROM development process is discussed.


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