Canine vector-borne infections of working dogs of the Sri Lanka Air Force, and free roaming, and privately owned dogs.

Canine vector-borne infections (CVBIs) are a global health problem. The military working dogs of Sri Lanka die at an early age, and CVBIs have been a leading speculated cause. We examined CVBIs in the working dogs of the Sri Lanka air force (SLAF) and free-roaming dogs (FRDs) and privately owned dogs (PODs) country-wide. Giemsa-stained smears were prepared and conventional PCR-positive DNA was subjected to sequencing and phylogeny. Of the 668 dogs sampled, 212 (31.7%) had one or more CVBIs. The prevalence of infections among the FRDs (40.0%) was significantly higher than SLAF working dogs (30.0%; χ2 = 10.5216; p = 0.0012) and PODs (26.2%; χ2 = 5.3414, p = 0.0208) but not between SLAF dogs and PODs (χ2 = 1.7655, p = 0.1838). Many infected dogs were asymptomatic (57.4%), which was higher among the FRDs. Seven infectious agents were identified: Babesia gibsoni, B. canis, Ehrlichia canis, Anaplasma platys, Leishmania sp., Hepatozoon canis, and filaria worms. The most common infection was B. gibsoni (13.8%), followed by E. canis (9.9%). Three tick species: Rhipicephalus linneai, Rhipicephalus haemaphysaloides and Haemophysalis bispinosa were found infesting the dogs. The SLAF dogs were thoroughly quarantined upon arrival, but the infection prevalence was similar to PODs.

Molecular detection of Ehrlichia spp., Anaplasma spp., and Bartonella spp. in dogs treated at a veterinary teaching clinic in Peru.

In recent years, vector-borne diseases have become widespread throughout the world and affect the health of humans and domestic animals. These diseases spread to areas where their primary vectors, fleas and ticks, thrive, particularly in tropical and subtropical climate regions, providing ideal conditions for their proliferation. The growing closeness between people and their pets increases the likelihood of bites from these ectoparasites, which represents a latent zoonotic risk. Therefore, the objective of the study was to determine the presence of Anaplasma spp., Ehrlichia spp., and Bartonella spp. in dogs treated at the Small Animal Clinic of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of the Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, located in Lima, Peru. Blood samples from 214 dogs were molecularly analyzed for hemopathogen detection. The results revealed prevalences of 2.6 % (6/214) for Anaplasma platys, 5.14 % (11/214) for Ehrlichia canis, and 0.46 % (1/214) for Bartonella rochalimae. No statistically significant relationship was found between the animal infection and the age, sex, breed, presence of fleas (Ctenocephalides felis) and ticks (Rhipicephalus sanguineus), and locality. This study reported molecularly for the first time the presence of A. platys, E. canis, and B. rochalimae in dogs from Lima city, and demonstrates the occurrence of zoonotic pathogens in pets treated at the veterinary clinic.

Parasite diversity among domestic goats of tropical monsoon climatic zone in India.

Among different climatic zones in India, the tropical monsoon region comprises a diverse ecosystem characterized by the endemic nature of several parasites including certain emerging and re-emerging vector-borne pathogens of humans, whereas a systematic investigation of the occurrence of different parasites among domestic goats in this area is not yet explored. The goal of the present study is to explore the parasite diversity focusing on molecular identification of vector-borne hemoparasites and its health impacts on domestic goats reared in the tropical monsoon climate zone of Kerala, India. Among 227 goats presented to the Teaching Veterinary Clinical Complex (TVCC) in the monsoon months of 2023, thirty animals were recruited for the study. The animals were screened for the presence of different hemoparasites (Anaplasma spp., Theileria spp., and Babesia spp.), ectoparasites (ticks, lice, and fleas), and gastrointestinal (GI) parasites (hookworms, threadworms, tapeworms, whipworms, and coccidia). The isolated hemoparasites were further characterized by sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. The correlation studies to elucidate the association between the occurrence of different parasites and clinical manifestations (hyperthermia, pallor of mucous membrane, circulatory failure, respiratory signs, neurological instability, and GI signs), blood picture (anemia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia), demographics (sex and age), and treatment history (hemoparasitic therapy, ectoparasiticidal application, and prophylactic deworming) were conducted. The co-infection status of these parasites was also evaluated. A substantial portion of the goats in the study group was found to be affected by vector-borne hemoparasitic diseases and their arthropod vectors or GI parasites or both. This can be attributed to the constantly warm and humid climate of the region, which is favorable for the survival and growth of different life cycle stages of these parasites and vectors. A strategic parasitic disease surveillance-cum-control program is the need of the hour for ensuring climate resilience and profitable goat farming in the region.

Control strategies for emerging infectious diseases: Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever management.

Background and Aims: Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) is a significant public health concern transmitted by ticks. This study seeks to thoroughly grasp the epidemiology and transmission patterns of CCHF, which is caused by the CCHF virus (CCHFV), a member of the Nairovirus genus in the Bunyaviridae family. Methods: The study investigates the global distribution and endemicity of CCHF, its mortality rates, modes of transmission (including tick bites, contact with infected animal blood, and limited person-to-person transmission), and factors influencing its prevalence across different regions. Genetic diversity within CCHFV and its impact on transmission dynamics are explored, along with efforts to control the disease through tick prevention, antiviral treatment, and the development of vaccines and diagnostics. Results: CCHFV exhibits widespread distribution, particularly in the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and Eastern Europe, with an overall mortality rate of approximately 30% and a case fatality rate ranging from 10% to 40%. Transmission occurs primarily through tick bites and contact with infected animal blood, with limited person-to-person transmission. Livestock workers, slaughterhouse employees, and animal herders in endemic areas are most affected by their frequent interaction with sick animals and ticks. Genetic diversity within CCHFV contributes to variations in transmission dynamics, complicating control efforts. Antiviral ribavirin shows efficacy in treating CCHF infection. Conclusion: This study underscores the importance of further research to understand the enzootic environment, transmission routes, and genetic diversity of CCHFV for effective control measures, including the development of vaccines, treatment options, and diagnostics.

TIME OF HOST-SEEKING OF MOSQUITO VECTOR SPECIES ON THE TEMPE CAMPUS OF ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY.

The Arizona State University (ASU) Tempe campus is inhabited by some 55,000 enrolled students as well as several mosquito species that can transmit West Nile virus, dengue, Zika, chikungunya, and yellow fever. The time of host-seeking of these vectors has not been quantified on the ASU Tempe campus, but this information is important to inform ground and/or truck-mount fogging operations targeting mosquitoes to prevent or control disease outbreaks. We quantified the time of host-seeking of the predominant mosquito vector species at the ASU Tempe campus during the post-monsoon season in 2021, using collection bottle rotators with encephalitis vector survey traps that were baited with CO2, at 3 h intervals during a full day. Culex quinquefasciatus, Aedes aegypti, and Culex tarsalis were the most abundant species captured. Pre-midnight host-seeking (18:00-00:00) accounted for 52% of all captures, whereas post-midnight host-seeking (00:00-06:00) accounted for 35% of all captures. Peak activity times were between 21:00 and 00:00 for Cx. quinquefasciatus and Cx. tarsalis, and between 15:00 and 18:00 for Ae. aegypti. Data can be used to inform local mosquito surveillance and control programs.

A brief review and guidance on the spatiotemporal sampling designs for disease vector surveillance.

Obtaining a representative sample of disease vectors (mosquitoes, flies, ticks, etc.) is essential for researchers to draw meaningful conclusions about the entire vector population in a target study area and during a specific study period. To achieve this, a carefully chosen surveillance design is required to ensure that the sample captures essential spatial and temporal variations in the target vector population(s) and/or that the study results can be generalized to the entire population. Designed-based and model-based spatiotemporal sampling (or in our context surveillance) designs can be used to maximize information gain within given resource constraints. In this paper, we aim to offer a concise overview of common spatiotemporal field sampling designs, their advantages and disadvantages and their practical applications in the context of surveillance and management of vector-borne diseases. At the end of the article, we offer guidance to help vector-borne disease surveillance planners design effective spatiotemporal surveillance interventions.

Lyme Disease Under-Ascertainment During the COVID-19 Pandemic in the United States: Retrospective Study.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a massive disruption in access to care and thus passive, hospital- and clinic-based surveillance programs. In 2020, the reported cases of Lyme disease were the lowest both across the United States and North Carolina in recent years. During this period, human contact patterns began to shift with higher rates of greenspace utilization and outdoor activities, putting more people into contact with potential vectors and associated vector-borne diseases. Lyme disease reporting relies on passive surveillance systems, which were likely disrupted by changes in health care-seeking behavior during the pandemic. Objective: This study aimed to quantify the likely under-ascertainment of cases of Lyme disease during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States and North Carolina. Methods: We fitted publicly available, reported Lyme disease cases for both the United States and North Carolina prior to the year 2020 to predict the number of anticipated Lyme disease cases in the absence of the pandemic using a Bayesian modeling approach. We then compared the ratio of reported cases divided by the predicted cases to quantify the number of likely under-ascertained cases. We then fitted geospatial models to further quantify the spatial distribution of the likely under-ascertained cases and characterize spatial dynamics at local scales. Results: Reported cases of Lyme Disease were lower in 2020 in both the United States and North Carolina than prior years. Our findings suggest that roughly 14,200 cases may have gone undetected given historical trends prior to the pandemic. Furthermore, we estimate that only 40% to 80% of Lyme diseases cases were detected in North Carolina between August 2020 and February 2021, the peak months of the COVID-19 pandemic in both the United States and North Carolina, with prior ascertainment rates returning to normal levels after this period. Our models suggest both strong temporal effects with higher numbers of cases reported in the summer months as well as strong geographic effects. Conclusions: Ascertainment rates of Lyme disease were highly variable during the pandemic period both at national and subnational scales. Our findings suggest that there may have been a substantial number of unreported Lyme disease cases despite an apparent increase in greenspace utilization. The use of counterfactual modeling using spatial and historical trends can provide insight into the likely numbers of missed cases. Variable ascertainment of cases has implications for passive surveillance programs, especially in the trending of disease morbidity and outbreak detection, suggesting that other methods may be appropriate for outbreak detection during disturbances to these passive surveillance systems.

Autoimmune Diseases Following Environmental Disasters: A Narrative Review of the Literature.

Environmental disasters are extreme environmental processes such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, landslides, tsunamis, floods, cyclones, storms, wildfires and droughts that are the consequences of the climate crisis due to human intervention in the environment. Their effects on human health have alarmed the global scientific community. Among them, autoimmune diseases, a heterogeneous group of disorders, have increased dramatically in many parts of the world, likely as a result of changes in our exposure to environmental factors. However, only a limited number of studies have attempted to discover and analyze the complex association between environmental disasters and autoimmune diseases. This narrative review has therefore tried to fill this gap. First of all, the activation pathways of autoimmunity after environmental disasters have been analyzed. It has also been shown that wildfires, earthquakes, desert dust storms and volcanic eruptions may damage human health and induce autoimmune responses to inhaled PM2.5, mainly through oxidative stress pathways, increased pro-inflammatory cytokines and epithelial barrier damage. In addition, it has been shown that heat stress, in addition to increasing pro-inflammatory cytokines, may also disrupt the intestinal barrier, thereby increasing its permeability to toxins and pathogens or inducing epigenetic changes. In addition, toxic volcanic elements may accelerate the progressive destruction of myelin, which may potentially trigger multiple sclerosis. The complex and diverse mechanisms by which vector-borne, water-, food-, and rodent-borne diseases that often follow environmental diseases may also trigger autoimmune responses have also been described. In addition, the association between post-disaster stress and the onset or worsening of autoimmune disease has been demonstrated. Given all of the above, the rapid restoration of post-disaster health services to mitigate the flare-up of autoimmune conditions is critical.

Dengue fever as autochthonous infectious disease in Italy: Epidemiological, clinical and virological characteristics.

BACKGROUND: Since August to November 2023, 82 cases of autochthonous or non-travel related Dengue virus (DENV) infection have been reported in Italy, highlighting a concerning trend of local transmission. We describe the clinical and laboratory findings of 10 autochthonous DENV in the metropolitan area of Rome admitted to the Lazzaro Spallanzani National Institute for Infectious Diseases. METHOD AND RESULTS: Ten patients (3 males, 7 females; median age: 51) with classic dengue fever symptoms were admitted between August and November 2023. Laboratory tests confirmed dengue infection through DENV non-structural protein 1 and/or immunoglobulins (IgM/IgG) positive tests, moreover leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, elevated transaminases were detected. A subset of patients underwent extensive biological sampling, including real-time RT-PCR and immunofluorescence, to monitor DENV-RNA and antibody levels over 30 days. DENV-1 was detected in 8 patients and DENV-3 in 2. Upon admission specific IgM antibodies were found in 7 patients while IgG antibodies in 4 patients. DENV RNA was consistently detected in blood within the first 8 days but was less common in saliva and urine. No DENV RNA was detected after day 24. CONCLUSION: These findings contribute to the understanding of the clinical course of DENV infection in a non-endemic setting as integrated epidemiological and clinical model to increase syndromic surveillance and timely diagnosis of DENV infections.

Association of Liver Function Tests With the Severity and Outcome of Dengue Fever in Children.

Background Dengue is one of the most common vector-borne diseases in India, and it is transmitted by Aedes family mosquitoes. Hepatic injury is known to occur from dengue infection. Direct hepatotoxicity and deranged host immune responses to the virus are responsible for this hepatic dysfunction. Hence, the study was undertaken to understand the deranged hepatic enzymes using liver function tests (LFTs) and the severity and outcome of dengue fever in children. Methods This study is an observational-descriptive study conducted between June 2022 and May 2024. The study population includes children between the ages of one month and 16 years who have been diagnosed with dengue fever and admitted to pediatric wards and pediatric intensive care units (PICUs), with a sample size of 151. Informed consent from guardians and institutional ethical clearance were obtained. Results A total of 4.8% (N = 7) mortality was seen in this study with dengue patients. Hepatomegaly was seen in 34% (N = 49) of cases. There is a clear statistical significance that is seen among the non-survived and survived dengue patients with a 10-fold increase in serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT) and serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT) levels, respectively, along with total bilirubin, activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), and prothrombin time (PT). Conclusions The current study shows that deranged LFTs are associated with more severe disease with more PICU admissions and mortality of the disease. The evidence clearly indicates the inclusion of LFTs as a routine investigation to understand the severity of the disease and the prognosis of the outcome.

Space-time dynamics of the dengue epidemic in Brazil, 2024: an insight for decision making.

BACKGROUND: Dengue is a vector-borne viral infection caused by the dengue virus transmitted to humans primarily by Aedes aegypti. The year 2024 has been a historic year for dengue in Brazil, with the highest number of probable cases ever registered. Herein, we analyze the temporal trend and spatio-temporal dynamics of dengue cases in Brazil during the first nine epidemiological weeks (EW) of 2024. METHODS: This is an ecological study, including all probable cases of dengue in Brazil during the period, carried out in two steps: time series analysis to assess the temporal trend and spatial analysis to identify high-risk clusters. RESULTS: 1,345,801 probable cases of dengue were reported. The regions with the highest increasing trend were the Northeast with an average epidemiologic week percent change (AEPC) of 52.4 (95% CI: 45.5-59.7; p < 0.001) and the South with 35.9 (95% CI: 27.7-44.5; p < 0.001). There was a statistically significant increasing trend in all states, except Acre (AEPC = -4.1; 95% CI: -16.3-10; p = 0.55), Amapá (AEPC = 1.3; 95% CI: -16.2-22.3; p = 0.9) and Espírito Santo (AEPC = 8.9; 95% CI: -15.7-40.6; p = 0.5). The retrospective space-time analysis showed a cluster within the Northeast, Central-West and Southeast regions, with a radius of 515.3 km, in which 1,267 municipalities and 525,324 of the cases were concentrated (RR = 6.3; p < 0.001). Regarding the spatial variation of the temporal trend, 21 risk areas were found, all of them located in Southeast or Central-West states. The area with the highest relative risk was Minas Gerais state, where 5,748 cases were concentrated (RR = 8.1; p < 0.001). Finally, a purely spatial analysis revealed 25 clusters, the one with the highest relative risk being composed of two municipalities in Acre (RR = 6.9; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: We described a detailed temporal-spatial analysis of dengue cases in the first EWs of 2024 in Brazil, which were mainly concentrated in the Southeast and Central-West regions. Overall, it is recommended that governments adopt public policies to control the the vector population in high-risk areas, as well as to prevent the spread of dengue fever to other areas of Brazil.

Changes in seasonality and sex ratio of scrub typhus: a case study of South Korea from 2003 to 2019 based on wavelet transform analysis.

BACKGROUND: Scrub typhus (ST, also known as tsutsugamushi disease) is a common febrile vector-borne disease in South Korea and commonly known as autumn- and female-dominant disease. Although understanding changes in seasonality and sex differences in ST is essential for preparing health interventions, previous studies have not dealt with variations in periodicity and demographic characteristics in detail. Therefore, we aimed to quantify the temporal dynamics of seasonal patterns and sex differences in the incidence of ST in South Korea. METHODS: We extracted epidemiological week (epi-week)-based ST cases from 2003 to 2019 Korean National Health Insurance Service data (ICD-10-CM code: A75.3). To determine changes in seasonality and sex differences, year-, sex-, and age-group-stratified male-to-female ratios and wavelet transform analyses were conducted. RESULTS: Between 2003 and 2019, 213,976 ST cases were identified. The incidence per 100,000 population increased by 408.8% from 9.1 in 2003 to 37.2 in 2012, and subsequently decreased by 59.7% from 2012 to 15.0 in 2019. According to the continuous wavelet transform results, ST exhibited a dual seasonal pattern with dominant seasonality in autumn and smaller seasonality in spring from 2005 to 2019. Overall, the periodicity of seasonality decreased, whereas its strength decreased in autumn and increased in spring. With an overall male-to-female ratio being 0.68:1, the ratio has increased from 0.67:1 in 2003 to 0.78:1 in 2019 (Kendall's τ = 0.706, p < 0.001). However, interestingly, the ratio varied significantly across different age groups. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings quantitatively demonstrated changes in seasonality with dual seasonal pattern and shortened overall periodicity and a decrease in sex differences of ST in South Korea. Our study suggests the need for continuous surveillance on populations of vector and host to address ST dynamics to preemptively prepare against global warming.

The Impacts of Climate Change on the Emergence and Reemergence of Mosquito-Borne Diseases in Temperate Zones: An Umbrella Review Protocol.

INTRODUCTION: Mosquito-borne diseases represent a global public health concern and are responsible for over 700 000 deaths globally every year. Additionally, many mosquito species have undergone a dramatic global expansion due to various factors, including climate change, and forecasts indicate that mosquito populations will persist in dispersing beyond their present geographic range, namely in temperate climates. The research literature on this topic has grown in recent years, including some systematic evidence synthesis. However, to provide a comprehensive overview of this growing literature needed for policy action, a summary of this evidence, including existing systematic reviews, is required. This study aims to undertake an umbrella review that explores the impacts of climate change on the emergence and reemergence of diseases transmitted by mosquitoes in temperate zones and the publication of the protocol is a fundamental step to ensure the credibility, transparency and reproducibility of this research. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: Studies published in scientific journals indexed by PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Epistemonikos, and Web of Science Core Collection to be included in this umbrella review will meet the following criteria: the topic of study (climate change and mosquito-borne diseases), regions (temperate zones), study designs (systematic reviews and meta-analysis), language (any) and date (since inception until December 31st, 2023). Titles and abstracts from selected articles will be evaluated by two authors independently and any discrepancy will be resolved through consensus or, if not possible, through a third author. The data will be extracted, and the risk of bias will be evaluated. The quality of the methodology of the included reviews will be assessed using AMSTAR 2. A narrative synthesis will examine the included systematic reviews. The quality of evidence for all outcomes will be judged using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation working group methodology.

Modelling bluetongue and African horse sickness vector (Culicoides spp.) distribution in the Western Cape in South Africa using random forest machine learning.

BACKGROUND: Culicoides biting midges exhibit a global spatial distribution and are the main vectors of several viruses of veterinary importance, including bluetongue (BT) and African horse sickness (AHS). Many environmental and anthropological factors contribute to their ability to live in a variety of habitats, which have the potential to change over the years as the climate changes. Therefore, as new habitats emerge, the risk for new introductions of these diseases of interest to occur increases. The aim of this study was to model distributions for two primary vectors for BT and AHS (Culicoides imicola and Culicoides bolitinos) using random forest (RF) machine learning and explore the relative importance of environmental and anthropological factors in a region of South Africa with frequent AHS and BT outbreaks. METHODS: Culicoides capture data were collected between 1996 and 2022 across 171 different capture locations in the Western Cape. Predictor variables included climate-related variables (temperature, precipitation, humidity), environment-related variables (normalised difference vegetation index-NDVI, soil moisture) and farm-related variables (livestock densities). Random forest (RF) models were developed to explore the spatial distributions of C. imicola, C. bolitinos and a merged species map, where both competent vectors were combined. The maps were then compared to interpolation maps using the same capture data as well as historical locations of BT and AHS outbreaks. RESULTS: Overall, the RF models performed well with 75.02%, 61.6% and 74.01% variance explained for C. imicola, C. bolitinos and merged species models respectively. Cattle density was the most important predictor for C. imicola and water vapour pressure the most important for C. bolitinos. Compared to interpolation maps, the RF models had higher predictive power throughout most of the year when species were modelled individually; however, when merged, the interpolation maps performed better in all seasons except winter. Finally, midge densities did not show any conclusive correlation with BT or AHS outbreaks. CONCLUSION: This study yielded novel insight into the spatial abundance and drivers of abundance of competent vectors of BT and AHS. It also provided valuable data to inform mathematical models exploring disease outbreaks so that Culicoides-transmitted diseases in South Africa can be further analysed.

Distribution of and Relationships between Epidemiological and Clinicopathological Parameters in Canine Leishmaniosis: A Retrospective Study of 15 Years (2009-2023).

Leishmaniosis is a vector-borne disease caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Leishmania, which are zoonotic and have an important impact on animal and public health globally. Between 2009 and 2023, blood samples from domestic dogs with clinical suspicion of leishmaniosis were received from 286 veterinary medical centres throughout mainland Portugal. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was utilised to detect antibodies against Leishmania infantum antigens. Additionally, a complete blood count and tests for total proteins, urea, creatinine and alanine aminotransferase, as well as protein electrophoresis, were also performed. No significant relationship between sex and breed was observed. The age distribution was bimodal, with the highest prevalence of disease occurring at 2-5 years of age and a secondary peak occurring at 6 years or over (p < 0.001). No statistical correlation was observed between creatinine and urea across the ELISA serological groups. In contrast, both the gamma globulin levels (r = 0.45; p < 0.001) and the albumin/globulin ratio (r = -0.36; p < 0.001) exhibited moderate correlations with the ELISA. These findings support recent seroprevalence studies in dogs, with some geographical areas in Northern Portugal exhibiting the highest values, which may be the result of geographical shifts in parasite circulation due to climate change.

Molecular Detection of Anaplasma phagocytophilum in Cats in Europe and Associated Risk Factors.

Infections with Anaplasma (A.) phagocytophilum in cats seem to be rare. The study aimed to determine whether infections in cats are underestimated and to identify the risk factors for infection. Blood samples of 1015 cats across Europe (2017-2022), sent to IDEXX Laboratories, Germany, were tested for A. phagocytophilum DNA. The influence of the cats' origin on A. phagocytophilum infection was assessed by univariable analysis, while multivariable logistic regression evaluated associations with the cats' sex and age, and the years, and seasonality of the samples' submission. Furthermore, univariable linear regression was used to determine patterns in PCR orders. The number of submitted samples increased significantly during the 6 years (p = 0.042). Anaplasma phagocytophilum DNA was detected in 76/1015 of cats (7.5%, 95% CI 6.0-9.3%). Infections were significantly more common in Northern compared to Central (p < 0.001, OR: 8.70) and Southern Europe (p < 0.001, OR: 39.94). A significantly higher likelihood for infections during the summer compared with winter (p = 0.047, OR: 3.13) was found. Bacteremia with A. phagocytophilum in European cats is not uncommon. Anaplasma phagocytophilum infection should be considered an important risk, particularly in Northern Europe. Effective tick prevention is crucial for managing feline health across Europe, not just in the Mediterranean region.

Ticks and Tick-Borne Pathogens: Occurrence and Host Associations over Four Years of Wildlife Surveillance in the Liguria Region (Northwest Italy).

Tick-borne diseases (TBDs) are a considerable public health problem worldwide. The occurrence of Anaplasma spp., Borrelia burgdorferi s.l., Coxiella burnetii, Rickettsia spp., and tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEv) was investigated via PCR and sequencing in 683 ticks collected from 105 roe deer, 61 wild boars, 49 fallow deer, and 2 chamois, in the Liguria region, northwest Italy, between 2019 and 2022. The ticks were morphologically identified. Four different tick species were found: Ixodes ricinus (66.8% of the collected ticks), Dermacentor marginatus (15.8%), Rhipicephalus sanguineus s.s. (15.7%), and Haemaphysalis punctata (0.9%). Six ticks (0.9%) were only identified as Rhipicephalus spp. Of the 222 pools analyzed, 27.9% were positive. Most pools (n = 58, 26.1% of pools analyzed) were positive for Rickettsia spp., and several species were found: Rickettsia slovaca was the dominant species (15.3%), followed by R. monacensis (8.1%), while R. helvetica (1.8%), R. massiliae (0.5%), and R. raoultii (0.5%) were found only sporadically. Anaplasma phagocytophilum was identified in three pools and B. burgdorferi s.l. in one pool. All samples were negative for C. burnetii and TBEv. Significant associations were found between I. ricinus and roe deer, D. marginatus and wild boar, and between R. monacensis and I. ricinus. The prevalence of Rickettsia spp. differed significantly between tick and host species. This updated picture of tick species and TBPs in wild ungulates in Liguria, where the population of these animals is increasing, shows a widespread presence of potentially zoonotic Rickettsia spp. Continuous monitoring and public information on preventive measures are needed.

The plasmid-encoded members of paralogous gene family 52 are dispensable to the enzootic cycle of Borrelia burgdorferi.

Lyme disease, the leading vector-borne disease in the United States and Europe, develops after infection with Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato bacteria. Transmission of the spirochete from the tick vector to a vertebrate host requires global changes in gene expression that are controlled, in part, by the Rrp2/RpoN/RpoS alternative sigma factor cascade. Transcriptional studies defining the B. burgdorferi RpoS regulon have suggested that RpoS activates the transcription of paralogous family 52 (PFam52) genes. In strain B31, PFam52 genes (bbi42, bbk53, and bbq03) encode a set of conserved hypothetical proteins with >89% amino acid identity that are predicted to be surface-localized. Extensive homology among members of paralogous families complicates studies of protein contributions to pathogenicity as the potential for functional redundancy will obfuscate findings. Using a sequential mutagenesis approach, we generated clones expressing a single PFam52 paralog, as well as a strain deficient in all three. The single paralog expressing strains were used to confirm BBI42, BBK53, and BBQ03 surface localization and RpoS regulation. Surprisingly, the PFam52-deficient strain was able to infect mice and complete the enzootic cycle similar to the wild-type parental strain. Indeed, the presence of numerous pseudogenes that contain frameshifts or internal stop codons among the PFam52 genes suggests that they may be subjected to gene loss in B. burgdorferi's reduced genome. Alternatively, the lack of phenotype might reflect the limitations of the experimental mouse infection model.

Malaria prevalence and associated population and ecological risk factors among women and children under 5 years in Rwanda.

Background: Malaria continues to pose a substantial public health concern in Rwanda, despite substantial progress in recent years. Little is known about effect of ecological factors and their interaction in malaria transmission. Understanding the prevalence and identifying risk factors, both population-based and ecological such as zooprophylaxis and irrigation are crucial for targeted intervention strategies. Methods: This study analyzed the 6th iteration of the Demographic and Health Survey conducted in Rwanda between 2019 and 2020. The study employed a nationally representative sample, utilizing rapid diagnostic tests and blood smear microscopy to determine malaria prevalence among women and under 5 years old children. Logistic regression analysis was used in R version 4.3.1 to evaluate population and ecological risk factors that are associated with malaria prevalence. Additionally, interactive effects of ecological factors on malaria were evaluated. Results: The analysis revealed a notable malaria prevalence in Rwanda, emphasizing the continued significance of malaria control efforts. Approximately 1.79 % of the population tested positive for malaria. Proximity to irrigation sites and lowland were identified as significant risk factors to malaria with adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 1.47(1.00-2.15) and AOR 5.44(4.01-8.61) respectively however cattle ownership exhibited a protective effect AOR 0.41(0.23-0.72). Interactive effects of livestock and irrigation on malaria prevalence were revealed. Additionally, population-based risk factors, including age, household wealth, utilization of Insecticide Treated Nets, were associated with varying malaria risks. Conclusion: This study underscores the persistent challenge of malaria in Rwanda and the importance of tailored intervention strategies. To effectively combat malaria, efforts must consider the interplay of ecological factors, such as high cattle density, and demographic factors, targeting high-risk populations, especially those living in proximity to lowlands and irrigation areas. These findings provide critical insights for advancing malaria elimination efforts in Rwanda and serve as a basis for comprehensive public health planning and action.