Spatial Modeling of Human Risk of Exposure to Vector-Borne Pathogens Based on Epidemiological Versus Arthropod Vector Data

2008 ◽  
Vol 45 (2) ◽  
pp. 181-192 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca J. Eisen ◽  
Lars Eisen
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Modeling ◽  
Vector Data ◽  
Arthropod Vector ◽  
Human Risk ◽  
Vector Borne ◽  
Risk Of Exposure

scholarly journals Associations between clinical canine leishmaniosis and multiple vector-borne co-infections: a case-control serological study

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Charalampos Attipa ◽  
Laia Solano-Gallego ◽  
Christian M. Leutenegger ◽  
Kostas Papasouliotis ◽  
Francesca Soutter ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Structural Equation ◽  
Case Control ◽  
Canine Leishmaniosis ◽  
Equation Modelling ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Healthy Control ◽  
Vector Borne ◽  
Risk Of Exposure ◽  
And Control ◽  
Antibody Tests

Abstract Background Dogs that have clinical leishmaniosis (ClinL), caused by the parasite Leishmania infantum, are commonly co-infected with other pathogens, especially vector-borne pathogens (VBP). A recent PCR-based study found that ClinL dogs are more likely to be additionally infected with the rickettsial bacteria Ehrlichia canis. Further information on co-infections in ClinL cases with VBP, as assessed by serology, is required. The research described in this report determined if dogs with ClinL are at higher risk of exposure to VBP than healthy control dogs using a case-control serology study. Results Of the 47 dogs with ClinL, anti-E. canis/ Ehrlichia ewingii antibodies were detected in 17 (36.2%), anti-Anaplasma phagocytophilum/Anaplasma platys antibodies in 5 (10.6%) and antigen for Dirofilaria immitis in 2 (4.3%). Of the 87 control dogs, anti-E. canis/E. ewingii antibodies were detected in 14 (16.1%) and anti-A. phagocytophilum/A. platys antibodies in 2 (2.3%). No anti-Borrelia burgdorferi antibody tests were positive. No statistical differences between the ClinL dogs and control dogs regarding lifestyle or use of ectoparasitic prevention, were identified. The ClinL was significantly associated with anti-E. canis/E. ewingii antibodies (odds ratio = 2.9, 95% confidence interval: 1.3–6.7, P = 0.010) compared to controls by both multivariable logistic regression and structural equation modelling. Conclusions It was demonstrated that an increased risk for E. canis/E. ewingii seropositivity is present in dogs with ClinL compared to clinically healthy control dogs, despite similar ectoparasitic prevention use and lifestyle. Based on these findings it is suggested that dogs with ClinL should not only be tested for E. canis co-infection using PCR but also serologically for E. canis/E. ewingii.

scholarly journals Ecology of Francisella tularensis

2020 ◽  
Vol 65 (1) ◽  
pp. 351-372 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sam R. Telford ◽  
Heidi K. Goethert
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Francisella Tularensis ◽  
Vector Borne Disease ◽  
Human Risk ◽  
Vector Borne ◽  
Enzootic Cycle

Tularemia is a Holarctic zoonosis caused by the gamma proteobacterium Francisella tularensis and is considered to be a vector-borne disease. In many regions, human risk is associated with the bites of flies, mosquitoes, or ticks. But the biology of the agent is such that risk may be fomite related, and large outbreaks can occur due to inhalation or ingestion of contaminated materials. Such well-documented human risk factors suggest a role for these risk factors in the enzootic cycle as well. Many arthropods support the growth or survival of the agent, but whether arthropods (ticks in particular) are obligately required for the perpetuation of F. tularensis remains to be demonstrated. As with most zoonoses, our knowledge of the ecology of F. tularensis has been driven with the objective of understanding human risk. In this review, we focus on the role of the arthropod in maintaining F. tularensis, particularly with respect to long-term enzootic persistence.

scholarly journals Emerging roles of non-coding RNAs in vector-borne infections

2020 ◽  
Vol 134 (5) ◽  
pp. jcs246744
Author(s):  
Chaima Bensaoud ◽  
Larissa Almeida Martins ◽  
Hajer Aounallah ◽  
Michael Hackenberg ◽  
Michail Kotsyfakis
Keyword(s):  
Protein Activity ◽  
Arthropod Vector ◽  
Vector Borne Diseases ◽  
Defense Systems ◽  
Sequencing Studies ◽  
Vector Borne ◽  
Vertebrate Hosts ◽  
Non Coding Rnas ◽  
Eukaryotic Genomes

ABSTRACTNon-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are nucleotide sequences that are known to assume regulatory roles previously thought to be reserved for proteins. Their functions include the regulation of protein activity and localization and the organization of subcellular structures. Sequencing studies have now identified thousands of ncRNAs encoded within the prokaryotic and eukaryotic genomes, leading to advances in several fields including parasitology. ncRNAs play major roles in several aspects of vector–host–pathogen interactions. Arthropod vector ncRNAs are secreted through extracellular vesicles into vertebrate hosts to counteract host defense systems and ensure arthropod survival. Conversely, hosts can use specific ncRNAs as one of several strategies to overcome arthropod vector invasion. In addition, pathogens transmitted through vector saliva into vertebrate hosts also possess ncRNAs thought to contribute to their pathogenicity. Recent studies have addressed ncRNAs in vectors or vertebrate hosts, with relatively few studies investigating the role of ncRNAs derived from pathogens and their involvement in establishing infections, especially in the context of vector-borne diseases. This Review summarizes recent data focusing on pathogen-derived ncRNAs and their role in modulating the cellular responses that favor pathogen survival in the vertebrate host and the arthropod vector, as well as host ncRNAs that interact with vector-borne pathogens.

scholarly journals Outbreak of Leptospirosis in Kerala

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 745-747
Author(s):  
Sruthi James ◽  
Brijesh Sathian ◽  
Edwin Van Teijlingen ◽  
Mohammad Asim
Keyword(s):  
Monsoon Rainfall ◽  
Disease Outbreaks ◽  
Farm Animals ◽  
Occupational Hazard ◽  
Vector Borne Diseases ◽  
The North ◽  
Mucous Membranes ◽  
Vector Borne ◽  
Risk Of Exposure ◽  
North And South

In South Asia, the monsoon brings life to vegetation, but at the same time has potential to cause public health problems. Notably, the climate change due to global warming is affecting the extent of monsoon rainfall in the region causing flooding which increases the risks of major disease outbreaks.  Flooding and standing water after heavy rainfall increases the risk of vector-borne diseases such as dengue, malaria, plague, chikungunya, typhoid, cholera and Leptospirosis.  Worldwide, Leptospirosis is one of the most common and emerging zoonoses, except on the North and South Poles. Rat fever or leptospirosis is a bacterial infection caused by the spiral-shaped bacteria (spirochete) of the genus Leptospira. This infection is mainly seen in wild and even domesticated species of rodents. It is mainly transmitted to humans by exposure of the mucous membranes (oral, nasal & eye) and skin abrasions or cuts to the urine or tissues of infected rodents or soil contaminated by their urine. Rats are the primary reservoir of leptospirosis, although farm animals and livestock, such as horses, pigs, dogs or cattle, and even wild animals can also be a reservoir for the bacteria. However, human-to-human transmission seems to occur occasionally. It is also an occupational hazard with potential risk of exposure among outdoors workers such as farmers, cleaners, veterinarians, agricultural workers. Moreover, there exists an increased chance of a recreational hazard to those who swims and wades in contaminated waters .

scholarly journals Cross-Immunity and Community Structure of a Multiple-Strain Pathogen in the Tick Vector

2015 ◽  
Vol 81 (22) ◽  
pp. 7740-7752 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonas Durand ◽  
Maxime Jacquet ◽  
Lye Paillard ◽  
Olivier Rais ◽  
Lise Gern ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Deep Sequencing ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Arthropod Vector ◽  
Tick Vector ◽  
Vector Borne ◽  
Vertebrate Hosts ◽  
Cross Immunity ◽  
Multiple Strains ◽  
Pathogen Strains

ABSTRACTMany vector-borne pathogens consist of multiple strains that circulate in both the vertebrate host and the arthropod vector. Characterization of the community of pathogen strains in the arthropod vector is therefore important for understanding the epidemiology of mixed vector-borne infections.Borrelia afzeliiandB. gariniiare two species of tick-borne bacteria that cause Lyme disease in humans. These two sympatric pathogens use the same tick,Ixodes ricinus, but are adapted to different classes of vertebrate hosts. BothBorreliaspecies consist of multiple strains that are classified using the highly polymorphicospCgene. Vertebrate cross-immunity against the OspC antigen is predicted to structure the community of multiple-strainBorreliapathogens.Borreliaisolates were cultured from field-collectedI. ricinusticks over a period spanning 11 years. TheBorreliaspecies of each isolate was identified using a reverse line blot (RLB) assay. Deep sequencing was used to characterize theospCcommunities of 190B. afzeliiisolates and 193B. gariniiisolates. Infections with multipleospCstrains were common in ticks, but vertebrate cross-immunity did not influence the strain structure in the tick vector. The pattern of genetic variation at theospClocus suggested that vertebrate cross-immunity exerts strong selection against intermediately divergentospCalleles. Deep sequencing found that more than 50% of our isolates contained exoticospCalleles derived from otherBorreliaspecies. Two alternative explanations for these exoticospCalleles are cryptic coinfections that were not detected by the RLB assay or horizontal transfer of theospCgene betweenBorreliaspecies.

Deer Browse Resistant Exotic-Invasive Understory: An Indicator of Elevated Human Risk of Exposure to Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae) in Southern Coastal Maine Woodlands

2006 ◽  
Vol 43 (6) ◽  
pp. 1142-1152 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan P. Elias ◽  
Charles B. Lubelczyk ◽  
Peter W. Rand ◽  
Eleanor H. Lacombe ◽  
Mary S. Holman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ixodes Scapularis ◽  
Human Risk ◽  
Deer Browse ◽  
Exotic Invasive ◽  
Risk Of Exposure

Arthropod Vector-Borne Uveitis in the Developing World

2010 ◽  
Vol 50 (2) ◽  
pp. 125-144 ◽  
Author(s):  
Moncef Khairallah ◽  
Salim Ben Yahia ◽  
Sonia Attia
Keyword(s):  
Developing World ◽  
Arthropod Vector ◽  
Vector Borne

The emergence of ticks and tick-borne diseases in the USA.

2021 ◽  
pp. 477-485
Author(s):  
Charles Hart ◽  
Saravanan Thangamani
Keyword(s):  
Expert Opinion ◽  
Tick Species ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Primary Source ◽  
Clinical Disease ◽  
Emerging Pathogens ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Vector Borne ◽  
Risk Of Exposure ◽  
Direct Threat

Abstract Ticks are the primary source of vector-borne pathogens in the USA. The native tick species of the USA are adapted for a number of distinct ecosystems and mammalian hosts. As such, several overlapping sylvatic cycles exist within the tick populations. These occur in nature without human involvement. The incursion of humans into these environments can result in sylvatic spillover of these pathogens to humans, causing clinical disease. As tick populations shift, the risk of exposure to emerging, newly introduced and re-emerging pathogens increases, posing a direct threat to human and animal health. Several genera are the source of most tick-borne pathogens in the USA. These include Dermacentor, Amblyomma and Ixodes, with a lesser role for Ornithodoros soft ticks. This expert opinion focuses on the influence of the changing landscape of ticks in the USA and its impact on the emergence of tick-borne pathogens that occurs as a result.

scholarly journals Competition between strains of Borrelia afzelii inside the rodent host and the tick vector

2018 ◽  
Vol 285 (1890) ◽  
pp. 20181804 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dolores Genné ◽  
Anouk Sarr ◽  
Andrea Gomez-Chamorro ◽  
Jonas Durand ◽  
Claire Cayol ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Competitive Ability ◽  
Vertebrate Host ◽  
Mixed Infections ◽  
Rodent Host ◽  
Borrelia Afzelii ◽  
Arthropod Vector ◽  
Tick Vector ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Tick Transmission ◽  
Vector Borne

Multiple-strain pathogens often establish mixed infections inside the host that result in competition between strains. In vector-borne pathogens, the competitive ability of strains must be measured in both the vertebrate host and the arthropod vector to understand the outcome of competition. Such studies could reveal the existence of trade-offs in competitive ability between different host types. We used the tick-borne bacterium Borrelia afzelii to test for competition between strains in the rodent host and the tick vector, and to test for a trade-off in competitive ability between these two host types. Mice were infected via tick bite with either one or two strains, and these mice were subsequently used to create ticks with single or mixed infections. Competition in the rodent host reduced strain-specific host-to-tick transmission and competition in the tick vector reduced the abundance of both strains. The strain that was competitively superior in host-to-tick transmission was competitively inferior with respect to bacterial abundance in the tick. This study suggests that in multiple-strain vector-borne pathogens there are trade-offs in competitive ability between the vertebrate host and the arthropod vector. Such trade-offs could play an important role in the coexistence of pathogen strains.

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