scholarly journals Role of the Lizard Teira dugesii as a Potential Host for Ixodes ricinus Tick-Borne Pathogens

2012 ◽  
Vol 78 (10) ◽  
pp. 3767-3769 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. De Sousa ◽  
I. Lopes de Carvalho ◽  
A. S. Santos ◽  
C. Bernardes ◽  
N. Milhano ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ixodes Ricinus ◽  
Lizard Species ◽  
Tissue Samples ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Pcr Screening ◽  
Transmission Cycle ◽  
Borrelia Lusitaniae ◽  
Rickettsia Monacensis ◽  
Ricinus Tick

ABSTRACTPCR screening of ticks and tissue samples collected from 151Teira dugesiilizards seems to indicate a potential role of this lizard species in the maintenance and transmission cycle of someIxodes ricinustick-borne agents, such asRickettsia monacensis,Rickettsia helvetica, andBorrelia lusitaniae, that are circulating on Madeira Island.

scholarly journals Infections and Coinfections of Questing Ixodes ricinus Ticks by Emerging Zoonotic Pathogens in Western Switzerland

2012 ◽  
Vol 78 (13) ◽  
pp. 4606-4612 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elena Lommano ◽  
Luce Bertaiola ◽  
Christèle Dupasquier ◽  
Lise Gern
Keyword(s):  
Ixodes Ricinus ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Borrelia Lusitaniae ◽  
Tick Borne Encephalitis ◽  
Rickettsia Monacensis ◽  
Questing Ticks ◽  
Ixodes Ricinus Ticks ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Tick Borne Encephalitis Virus ◽  
Neoehrlichia Mikurensis

ABSTRACTIn Europe,Ixodes ricinusis the vector of many pathogens of medical and veterinary relevance, among themBorrelia burgdorferisensu lato and tick-borne encephalitis virus, which have been the subject of numerous investigations. Less is known about the occurrence of emerging tick-borne pathogens likeRickettsiaspp.,Babesiaspp., “CandidatusNeoehrlichia mikurensis,” andAnaplasma phagocytophilumin questing ticks. In this study, questing nymph and adultI. ricinusticks were collected at 11 sites located in Western Switzerland. A total of 1,476 ticks were analyzed individually for the simultaneous presence ofB. burgdorferisensu lato,Rickettsiaspp.,Babesiaspp., “CandidatusNeoehrlichia mikurensis,” andA. phagocytophilum. B. burgdorferisensu lato,Rickettsiaspp., and “CandidatusNeoehrlichia mikurensis” were detected in ticks at all sites with global prevalences of 22.5%, 10.2%, and 6.4%, respectively.Babesia- andA. phagocytophilum-infected ticks showed a more restricted geographic distribution, and their prevalences were lower (1.9% and 1.5%, respectively). Species rarely reported in Switzerland, likeBorrelia spielmanii,Borrelia lusitaniae, andRickettsia monacensis, were identified. Infections with more than one pathogenic species, involving mostlyBorreliaspp. andRickettsia helvetica, were detected in 19.6% of infected ticks. Globally, 34.2% of ticks were infected with at least one pathogen. The diversity of tick-borne pathogens detected inI. ricinusin this study and the frequency of coinfections underline the need to take them seriously into consideration when evaluating the risks of infection following a tick bite.

scholarly journals Approaches for Reverse Line Blot-Based Detection of Microbial Pathogens in Ixodes ricinus Ticks Collected in Austria and Impact of the Chosen Method

2017 ◽  
Vol 83 (13) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna-Margarita Schötta ◽  
Michiel Wijnveld ◽  
Hannes Stockinger ◽  
Gerold Stanek
Keyword(s):  
Borrelia Burgdorferi ◽  
Ixodes Ricinus ◽  
Target Genes ◽  
Wide Spectrum ◽  
Microbial Interactions ◽  
Reverse Line Blot ◽  
Detection Methods ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Borrelia Lusitaniae ◽  
Neoehrlichia Mikurensis

ABSTRACT Ticks transmit a large number of pathogens capable of causing human disease. In this study, the PCR-reverse line blot (RLB) method was used to screen for pathogens in a total of 554 Ixodes ricinus ticks collected from all provinces of Austria. These pathogens belong to the genera Borrelia, Rickettsiae, Anaplasma/Ehrlichia (including “Candidatus Neoehrlichia”), Babesia, and Coxiella. The pathogens with the highest detected prevalence were spirochetes of the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato complex, in 142 ticks (25.6%). Borrelia afzelii (80/142) was the most frequently detected species, followed by Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto (38/142) and Borrelia valaisiana (36/142). Borrelia garinii/Borrelia bavariensis, Borrelia lusitaniae, and Borrelia spielmanii were found in 28 ticks, 5 ticks, and 1 tick, respectively. Rickettsia spp. were detected in 93 ticks (16.8%): R. helvetica (39/93), R. raoultii (38/93), R. monacensis (2/93), and R. slovaca (1/93). Thirteen Rickettsia samples remain uncharacterized. “Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis,” Babesia spp. (B. venatorum, B. divergens, B. microti), and Anaplasma phagocytophilum were found in 4.5%, 2.7%, and 0.7%, respectively. Coxiella burnetii was not detected. Multiple microorganisms were detected in 40 ticks (7.2%), and the cooccurrence of Babesia spp. and “Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis” showed a significant positive correlation. We also compared different PCR-RLBs for detection of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and Rickettsia spp. and showed that different detection approaches provide highly diverse results, indicating that analysis of environmental samples remains challenging. IMPORTANCE This study determined the wide spectrum of tick-borne bacterial and protozoal pathogens that can be encountered in Austria. Surveillance of (putative) pathogenic microorganisms occurring in the environment is of medical importance, especially when those agents can be transmitted by ticks and cause disease. The observation of significant coinfections of certain microorganisms in field-collected ticks is an initial step to an improved understanding of microbial interactions in ticks. In addition, we show that variations in molecular detection methods, such as in primer pairs and target genes, can considerably influence the final results. For instance, detection of certain genospecies of borreliae may be better or worse by one method or the other, a fact of great importance for future screening studies.

scholarly journals Seasonal Prevalence of Lyme Disease Spirochetes in a Heterothermic Mammal, the Edible Dormouse (Glis glis)

2014 ◽  
Vol 80 (12) ◽  
pp. 3615-3621 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joanna Fietz ◽  
Jürgen Tomiuk ◽  
Franz-Rainer Matuschka ◽  
Dania Richter
Keyword(s):  
Lyme Disease ◽  
Reservoir Host ◽  
Glis Glis ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Transmission Cycle ◽  
Western Germany ◽  
Edible Dormice ◽  
Study Sites ◽  
Reservoir Hosts

ABSTRACTIn Europe, dormice serve as competent reservoir hosts for particular genospecies of the tick-borne agent of Lyme disease (LD) and seem to support them more efficiently than do mice or voles. The longevity of edible dormice (Glis glis) and their attractiveness for ticks may result in a predominance of LD spirochetes in ticks questing in dormouse habitats. To investigate the role of edible dormice in the transmission cycle of LD spirochetes, we sampled skin tissue from the ear pinnae of dormice inhabiting five different study sites in south western Germany. Of 501 edible dormice, 12.6% harbored DNA of LD spirochetes. Edible dormice were infected most frequently with the pathogenic LD spirocheteBorrelia afzelii. The DNA ofB. gariniiandB. bavariensiswas detected in ca. 0.5% of the examined individuals. No spirochetal DNA was detectable in the skin of edible dormice until July, 6 weeks after they generally start to emerge from their obligate hibernation. Thereafter, the prevalence of spirochetal DNA in edible dormice increased during the remaining period of their 4 to 5 months of activity, reaching nearly 40% in September. Males were more than four times more likely to harbor LD spirochetes than females, and yearlings were almost twice more likely to be infected than adults. The seasonality of the prevalence of LD spirochetes in edible dormice was pronounced and may affect their role as a reservoir host in respect to other hosts.

scholarly journals Correlation of Borrelia burgdorferi Sensu Lato Prevalence in Questing Ixodes ricinus Ticks with Specific Abiotic Traits in the Western Palearctic

2011 ◽  
Vol 77 (11) ◽  
pp. 3838-3845 ◽  
Author(s):  
Agustín Estrada-Peña ◽  
Carmelo Ortega ◽  
Nely Sánchez ◽  
Lorenzo DeSimone ◽  
Bertrand Sudre ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Borrelia Burgdorferi ◽  
Ixodes Ricinus ◽  
Risk Index ◽  
Temporal Trends ◽  
Borrelia Burgdorferi Sensu Lato ◽  
Target Area ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Borrelia Lusitaniae ◽  
Western Palearctic ◽  
Palearctic Region

ABSTRACTThis meta-analysis of reports examining ticks throughout the Western Palearctic region indicates a distinct geographic pattern forBorrelia burgdorferisensu lato prevalence in questing nymphalIxodes ricinusticks. The greatest prevalence was reported between the 5°E and 25°E longitudes based on an analysis of 123 collection points with 37,940 nymphal tick specimens (87.43% of total nymphs; 56.35% of total ticks in the set of reports over the target area). Climatic traits, such as temperature and vegetation stress, and their seasonality correlated withBorreliaprevalence in questing ticks. The greatest prevalence was associated with mild winter, high summer, and low seasonal amplitude of temperatures within the range of the tick vector, higher vegetation indices in the May-June period, and well-connected vegetation patches below a threshold at which rates suddenly drop. Classification of the target territory using a qualitative risk index derived from the abiotic variables produced an indicator of the probability of finding infected ticks in the Western Palearctic region. No specific temporal trends were detected in the reported prevalence. The ranges of the differentB. burgdorferisensu lato genospecies showed a pattern of high biodiversity between 4°W and 20°E, partially overlapping the area of highest prevalence in ticks.Borrelia afzeliiandBorrelia gariniiare the dominant species in central Europe (east of ∼25°E), butB. gariniimay appear alone at southern latitudes andBorrelia lusitaniaeis the main indicator species for meridional territories.

scholarly journals Modeling the Life Cycle of the Intramitochondrial Bacterium “ Candidatus Midichloria mitochondrii” Using Electron Microscopy Data

mBio ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesco Comandatore ◽  
Giacomo Radaelli ◽  
Sebastiano Montante ◽  
Luciano Sacchi ◽  
Emanuela Clementi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Ixodes Ricinus ◽  
Bacterial Symbiont ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Electron Microscopy Data ◽  
Predatory Bacteria ◽  
Microscopy Data ◽  
Midichloria Mitochondrii

Our results suggest that Midichloria mitochondrii , the intramitochondrial bacterium, does not invade mitochondria like predatory bacteria do but instead moves from mitochondrion to mitochondrion within the oocytes of Ixodes ricinus . A better understanding of the lifestyle of M. mitochondrii will allow us to better define the role of this bacterial symbiont in the host physiology.

Long-term management of patients with multiple brain metastases after shaped beam radiosurgery

2004 ◽  
pp. 406-412
Author(s):  
Paul Okunieff ◽  
Michael C. Schell ◽  
Russell Ruo ◽  
E. Ronald Hale ◽  
Walter G. O'Dell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Brain Metastases ◽  
Tumor Control ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Negative Results ◽  
Multiple Metastases ◽  
Extracranial Disease ◽  
Successful Control ◽  
The Brain

✓ The role of radiosurgery in the treatment of patients with advanced-stage metastatic disease is currently under debate. Previous randomized studies have not consistently supported the use of radiosurgery to treat patients with numbers of brain metastases. In negative-results studies, however, intracranial tumor control was high but extracranial disease progressed; thus, patient survival was not greatly affected, although neurocognitive function was generally maintained until death. Because the future promises improved systemic (extracranial) therapy, the successful control of brain disease is that much more crucial. Thus, for selected patients with multiple metastases to the brain who remain in good neurological condition, aggressive lesion-targeting radiosurgery should be very useful. Although a major limitation to success of this therapy is the lack of control of extracranial disease in most patients, it is clear that well-designed, aggressive treatment substantially decreases the progression of brain metastases and also improves neurocognitive survival. The authors present the management and a methodology for rational treatment of a patient with breast cancer who has harbored 24 brain metastases during a 3-year period.

scholarly journals Vulnerable adults in police custody

2019 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-8
Author(s):  
Ian Cummins
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Research Literature ◽  
Police Custody ◽  
England And Wales ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Vulnerable Adults

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to discuss the recent National Appropriate Adult Network (NAAN) report on the role of the appropriate adult. Design/methodology/approach This paper is based on the NAAN report and a review of relevant policy and research literature. Findings There to Help 2 highlights that there are still significant gaps in the provision of appropriate adult schemes across England and Wales. These gaps potentially place vulnerable adults at increased risk. Originality/value This paper is a review of recent research.

Financial access and economic development: the moderating role of financial consumer protection

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 406-424 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maryam Kriese ◽  
Joshua Yindenaba Abor ◽  
Elikplimi Agbloyor
Keyword(s):  
Economic Development ◽  
World Bank ◽  
Financial Literacy ◽  
Compliance Monitoring ◽  
Financial Access ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The World Bank ◽  
Moderating Role

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the moderating role of financial consumer protection (FCP) in the access–development nexus. Design/methodology/approach The study is based on cross-country data on 102 countries surveyed in the World Bank Global Survey on FCP and Financial Literacy (2013). The White heteroscedasticity adjusted regressions and Two-stage least squares regressions (2SLS) are used for the estimation. Findings Interactions between FCP regulations that foster fair treatment, disclosure, dispute resolution and recourse and financial access have positive net effects on economic development. However, there is no sufficient evidence to suggest that interactions between financial access and enforcement and compliance monitoring regulations have a significant effect on economic development. Practical implications First, policy makers should continue with efforts aimed at instituting FCP regimes as part of strategies aimed at broadening access to financial services for enhanced economic development. Second, instituting FCP regimes per se may not be enough. Policy makers need to consider possible intervening factors such as the provision of adequate resources and supervisory authority, for compliance monitoring and enforcement to achieve the expected positive effect on economic development. Originality/value This study extends evidence in the law–finance–growth literature by providing empirical evidence on the effect of legal institution specific to the protection of retail financial consumers on the access–development nexus using a nouvel data set, the World Bank Global survey on FCP and Financial Literacy (2013).

Categorization flexibility and unconventional choices: is life an adventure?

2020 ◽  
Vol 54 (8) ◽  
pp. 1963-1986
Author(s):  
Tilottama G. Chowdhury ◽  
Feisal Murshed
Keyword(s):  
Interactive Effect ◽  
Interactive Effects ◽  
Cognitive Capacity ◽  
Purchase Behavior ◽  
Consumer Decision Making ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Cross Domain ◽  
Multiple Domains

Purpose This paper proposes that categorization flexibility, operationalized as the cognitive capacity that cross-categorizes products in multiple situational categories across multiple domains, might favorably influence a consumer’s evaluation of unconventional options. Design/methodology/approach Experimental research design is used to test the theory. An exploratory study first establishes the effect of categorization flexibility in a non-food domain. Study 1 documents the moderating role of decision domain, showing that the effect works only under low- (vs high-) consequence domain. Studies 2A and 2B further refine the notion by showing that individuals can be primed in a relatively higher categorization flexibility frame of mind. Study 3 demonstrates the interactive effect of categorization flexibility and adventure priming in a high-consequence domain. Study 4 integrates the interactive effects of decisions with low- vs high-consequence, adventure priming and categorization flexibility within a single decision domain of high consequence. Findings Consumers with higher- (vs lower-) categorization flexibility tend to opt for unconventional choices when the decision domain entails low consequences, whereas such a result does not hold under decision domain of high consequences. The categorization flexibility effects in case of low-consequence decision domain holds true even when consumers are primed to be categorization flexible. Furthermore, with additional adventure priming, consumers show an increased preference for unconventional options even under a decision domain with high consequence. Research limitations/implications This study could not examine real purchase behavior as results are based on cross-sectional, behavioral intention data. In addition, it did not examine the underlying reason for presence of cross-domain categorization flexibility index. Practical implications The results suggest that stimuli may be tailored to consumers in ways that increase the salience and the perceived attractiveness of unconventional choices. Further, data reinforce the notion of cross-categorical interrelations among different domains, which could be leveraged by marketers. Originality/value This study represents the first documentation of the potential ways by which unconventional product choice might be a function of individuals’ categorization flexibility level across different types of decision domains. The findings yield implications that are novel to both categorization and consumer decision-making literature.

The path of support-to-sales: mediating role of seller collaborative information exchange in social commerce

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Li Chen ◽  
Fengxia Zhu ◽  
Murali Mantrala
Keyword(s):  
Information Exchange ◽  
Instrumental Support ◽  
Trade Volume ◽  
Social Commerce ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Mediating Role ◽  
The Social ◽  
Source Data ◽  
Negative Effect

Purpose This paper aims to systematically investigate the direct and indirect effects of four types of support – peer instrumental support, peer emotional support, platform business support and platform communication support – on seller trade volume in social commerce. It also aims to uncover the path of support-to-sales of the seller from a platform perspective and provides a more complete picture of the social commerce phenomenon. Design/methodology/approach This paper uses multi-source data including primary survey data and secondary data on trade volume to test the hypotheses. PROCESS mediation model is used to analyze the multi-source data set. Findings This study finds that the positive effects of peer instrumental support, platform business support and platform communication support on seller trade volume are fully mediated by seller collaborative information exchange. Also, peer emotional support has a significant negative effect on seller trade volume and collaborative information exchange can serve as a buffer to mitigate the negative effect. Research limitations/implications The authors provide new insights into what types of support are or are not conducive to improving transaction volume of individual sellers and highlight the mediating role of seller information exchange in this value generation process in social commerce. These findings advance current knowledge of how seller interactions increase value in social commerce. The chosen research setting may limit the generalizability of the findings of this study. Practical implications This paper offers valuable implications for social commerce platforms on how to better serve their sellers to achieve high growth. Specifically, the findings suggest that platforms should encourage instrumental support and information exchange among peer sellers. In addition, platforms should expand seller support from a single-focus on sellers’ business to a dual-focus on both sellers’ business and socialization in social commerce. Originality/value This paper fulfills an identified need to study how sellers can better derive value from the social interactions and how social commerce platforms can effectively influence transactions, support sales and serve as a selling platform.

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