scholarly journals Hedgehogs and Squirrels as Hosts of Zoonotic Bartonella Species

Pathogens ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 686
Author(s):  
Karolina Majerová ◽  
Ricardo Gutiérrez ◽  
Manoj Fonville ◽  
Václav Hönig ◽  
Petr Papežík ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Wide Spectrum ◽  
Mammalian Species ◽  
Blood Feeding ◽  
Bartonella Species ◽  
Geographical Regions ◽  
High Infection ◽  
Causative Agents ◽  
European Hedgehog ◽  
Pathogen Screening ◽  
Vector Borne

Free-living animals frequently play a key role in the circulation of various zoonotic vector-borne pathogens. Bacteria of the genus Bartonella are transmitted by blood-feeding arthropods and infect a large range of mammals. Although only several species have been identified as causative agents of human disease, it has been proposed that any Bartonella species found in animals may be capable of infecting humans. Within a wide-ranging survey in various geographical regions of the Czech Republic, cadavers of accidentally killed synurbic mammalian species, namely Eurasian red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris), European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) and Northern white-breasted hedgehog (Erinaceus roumanicus), were sampled and tested for Bartonella presence using multiple PCR reaction approach targeting several DNA loci. We demonstrate that cadavers constitute an available and highly useful source of biological material for pathogen screening. High infection rates of Bartonella spp., ranging from 24% to 76%, were confirmed for all three tested mammalian species, and spleen, ear, lung and liver tissues were demonstrated as the most suitable for Bartonella DNA detection. The wide spectrum of Bartonella spp. that were identified includes three species with previously validated zoonotic potential, B. grahamii, B. melophagi and B. washoensis, accompanied by ‘Candidatus B. rudakovii’ and two putative novel species, Bartonella sp. ERIN and Bartonella sp. SCIER.

scholarly journals Hedgehogs, Squirrels, and Blackbirds as Sentinel Hosts for Active Surveillance of Borrelia miyamotoi and Borrelia burgdorferi Complex in Urban and Rural Environments

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (12) ◽  
pp. 1908
Author(s):  
Karolina Majerová ◽  
Václav Hönig ◽  
Michal Houda ◽  
Petr Papežík ◽  
Manoj Fonville ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Borrelia Burgdorferi ◽  
Borrelia Burgdorferi Sensu Lato ◽  
Borrelia Miyamotoi ◽  
Red Squirrel ◽  
Tissue Samples ◽  
Rural Environments ◽  
High Infection ◽  
European Hedgehog ◽  
Vector Borne ◽  
Common Blackbird

Lyme borreliosis (LB), caused by spirochetes of the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.) complex, is one of the most common vector-borne zoonotic diseases in Europe. Knowledge about the enzootic circulation of Borrelia pathogens between ticks and their vertebrate hosts is epidemiologically important and enables assessment of the health risk for the human population. In our project, we focused on the following vertebrate species: European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus), Northern white-breasted hedgehog (E. roumanicus), Eurasian red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris), and Common blackbird (Turdus merula). The cadavers of accidentally killed animals used in this study constitute an available source of biological material, and we have confirmed its potential for wide monitoring of B. burgdorferi s.l. presence and genospecies diversity in the urban environment. High infection rates (90% for E. erinaceus, 73% for E. roumanicus, 91% for S. vulgaris, and 68% for T. merula) were observed in all four target host species; mixed infections by several genospecies were detected on the level of individuals, as well as in particular tissue samples. These findings show the usefulness of multiple tissue sampling as tool for revealing the occurrence of several genospecies within one animal and the risk of missing particular B. burgdorferi s.l. genospecies when looking in one organ alone.

scholarly journals Can the European Hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) Be a Sentinel for One Health Concerns?

Biologics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 61-69
Author(s):  
Catarina Vinhas Jota Baptista ◽  
Fernanda Seixas ◽  
José Manuel Gonzalo-Orden ◽  
Paula A. Oliveira
Keyword(s):  
One Health ◽  
Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Mammalian Species ◽  
Physical Contact ◽  
Erinaceus Europaeus ◽  
Health Concerns ◽  
Suburban Areas ◽  
Global Problems ◽  
European Hedgehog

Erinaceus europaeus is a cosmopolitan mammalian species broadly distributed in Europe, from natural to suburban areas. Due to its ecological role and susceptibility to distinct zoonotic agents, E. europaeus could be a suitable sentinel candidate for many global problems that negatively affect human and animal health. Hedgehogs can work as bioindicators to environmental contamination and can be hosts for multiple tickborne zoonotic agents. Thus, people who directly or indirectly make physical contact with this species are exposed to a variety of threats. Moreover, it has also been studied as an indicator for antibiotic resistance, which was already confirmed for tetracyclines. Additionally, it was also reported as a reservoir for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). More recently, hedgehogs have been recently recognised as potential reservoirs of MERS-CoV-like strains. Among other animals, this species can possibly represent an intermediate reservoir for SARS-CoV-2. The aim of this review is to briefly expose the scientific attainments about hedgehog health, namely agents, diseases, and threats that significantly affect general health concerns and that contribute to achieve One Health principles.

scholarly journals In Vitro and In Vivo Effectiveness of Carvacrol, Thymol and Linalool against Leishmania infantum

Molecules ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (11) ◽  
pp. 2072 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Reza Youssefi ◽  
Elham Moghaddas ◽  
Mohaddeseh Abouhosseini Tabari ◽  
Ali Akbar Moghadamnia ◽  
Seyed Mohammad Hosseini ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mtt Assay ◽  
Leishmania Infantum ◽  
Standard Drug ◽  
In Vivo Test ◽  
Causative Agents ◽  
Ic50 Values ◽  
Vector Borne ◽  
Effective Drugs

Background: One of the most important causative agents of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is Leishmania infantum, which is mainly spread by Phlebotomus and Lutzomyia sandflies in the Old and New World, respectively. Novel and effective drugs to manage this neglected vector-borne disease are urgently required. In this study, we evaluated the toxicity of carvacrol, thymol and linalool, three common essential oil constituents, on amastigotes and promastigotes of L. infantum. Methods: in vitro experiments were performed by 24 h MTT assay. Carvacrol, thymol and linalool at concentrations ranging from 1.3 to 10 μg/mL were tested on promastigotes of L. infantum. For in vivo test, two groups of hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) received 100 mg/kg of body weight/day of carvacrol and thymol as intraperitoneal injection on day 7 post-infection, followed by a 48 h later injection. The third group was treated with the glucantime as standard drug (500 mg/kg) and the last group (control) just received normal saline. On the 16th day, the number of parasites and histopathological changes in liver and spleen were investigated. Results: 24 h MTT assay showed promising antileishmanial activity of thymol and carvacrol, with IC50 values of 7.2 (48 μM) and 9.8 μg/mL (65 μM), respectively. Linalool at all concentrations did not affect L. infantum promastigote viability. In vivo toxicity data of carvacrol and thymol showed that the former at 100 mg/kg was the safest and most effective treatment with little side effects on the liver. Conclusions: Overall, thymol and carvacrol are highly promising candidates for the development of effective and safe drugs in the fight against VL.

scholarly journals Time to Micromanage the Pathogen-Host-Vector Interface: Considerations for Vaccine Development

Vaccines ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica E. Manning ◽  
Tineke Cantaert
Keyword(s):  
Vaccine Development ◽  
Blood Feeding ◽  
Adaptive Responses ◽  
Host Pathogen Interactions ◽  
Current Increase ◽  
Vector Borne Diseases ◽  
Vector Borne Disease ◽  
Host Pathogen ◽  
Added Benefit ◽  
Vector Borne

The current increase in vector-borne disease worldwide necessitates novel approaches to vaccine development targeted to pathogens delivered by blood-feeding arthropod vectors into the host skin. A concept that is gaining traction in recent years is the contribution of the vector or vector-derived components, like salivary proteins, to host-pathogen interactions. Indeed, the triad of vector-host-pathogen interactions in the skin microenvironment can influence host innate and adaptive responses alike, providing an advantage to the pathogen to establish infection. A better understanding of this “bite site” microenvironment, along with how host and vector local microbiomes immunomodulate responses to pathogens, is required for future vaccines for vector-borne diseases. Microneedle administration of such vaccines may more closely mimic vector deposition of pathogen and saliva into the skin with the added benefit of near painless vaccine delivery. Focusing on the ‘micro’–from microenvironments to microbiomes to microneedles–may yield an improved generation of vector-borne disease vaccines in today’s increasingly complex world.

scholarly journals Evolutionary transition from blood feeding to obligate nonbiting in a mosquito

2017 ◽  
Vol 115 (5) ◽  
pp. 1009-1014 ◽  
Author(s):  
William E. Bradshaw ◽  
Joshua Burkhart ◽  
John K. Colbourne ◽  
Rudyard Borowczak ◽  
Jacqueline Lopez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Blood Meal ◽  
Disease Transmission ◽  
Blood Feeding ◽  
Evolutionary Transition ◽  
Genetic Changes ◽  
Wyeomyia Smithii ◽  
Extant Species ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Differential Gene ◽  
Vector Borne

The spread of blood-borne pathogens by mosquitoes relies on their taking a blood meal; if there is no bite, there is no disease transmission. Although many species of mosquitoes never take a blood meal, identifying genes that distinguish blood feeding from obligate nonbiting is hampered by the fact that these different lifestyles occur in separate, genetically incompatible species. There is, however, one unique extant species with populations that share a common genetic background but blood feed in one region and are obligate nonbiters in the rest of their range: Wyeomyia smithii. Contemporary blood-feeding and obligate nonbiting populations represent end points of divergence between fully interfertile southern and northern populations. This divergence has undoubtedly resulted in genetic changes that are unrelated to blood feeding, and the challenge is to winnow out the unrelated genetic factors to identify those related specifically to the evolutionary transition from blood feeding to obligate nonbiting. Herein, we determine differential gene expression resulting from directional selection on blood feeding within a polymorphic population to isolate genetic differences between blood feeding and obligate nonbiting. We show that the evolution of nonbiting has resulted in a greatly reduced metabolic investment compared with biting populations, a greater reliance on opportunistic metabolic pathways, and greater reliance on visual rather than olfactory sensory input. W. smithii provides a unique starting point to determine if there are universal nonbiting genes in mosquitoes that could be manipulated as a means to control vector-borne disease.

scholarly journals Borrelia infection in rodent host has dramatic effects on the microbiome of ticks

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Phineas T. Hamilton ◽  
Elodie Maluenda ◽  
Anouk Sarr ◽  
Alessandro Belli ◽  
Georgia Hurry ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Vector Competence ◽  
Bacterial Community Composition ◽  
Blood Feeding ◽  
Rodent Host ◽  
Vector Borne Diseases ◽  
Bacterial Microbiome ◽  
Vector Borne ◽  
Scale Experiment ◽  
Tick Microbiome

AbstractBackgroundVector-borne diseases remain major causes of human morbidity and mortality. It is increasingly recognized that the community of microbes inhabiting arthropods can strongly affect their vector competence, but the role of the tick microbiome in Borrelia transmission – the cause of Lyme disease – remains unclear.ResultsHere, we use a large-scale experiment to clarify the reciprocal interactions between Borrelia afzelii and the microbiome of Ixodes ricinus, its primary vector. In contrast to other reports, we find that depletion of the bacterial microbiome in larval ticks has no effect on their subsequent acquisition of B. afzelii during blood feeding on infected mice. Rather, exposure to B. afzelii-infected hosts drives pervasive changes to the tick microbiome, decreasing overall bacterial abundance, shifting bacterial community composition, and increasing bacterial diversity. These effects appear to be independent of the acquisition of B. afzelii by ticks, suggesting they are mediated by physiological or immunological aspects of B. afzelii infection in the rodent host.ConclusionsManipulation of the microbiome of I. ricinus larvae had no effect on their ability to acquire B. afzelii. In contrast, B. afzelii infection in the mouse had dramatic effects on the composition of the gut microbiome in I. ricinus nymphs. Our study demonstrates that vector-borne infections in the vertebrate host shape the microbiome of the arthropod vector.

scholarly journals Insecticidal, Repellent and Antifeedant Activity of Essential Oils from Blepharocalyx cruckshanksii (Hook. & Arn.) Nied. Leaves and Pilgerodendron uviferum (D. Don) Florin Heartwood against Horn Flies, Haematobia irritans (Diptera: Muscidae)

Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (22) ◽  
pp. 6936
Author(s):  
Javier Espinoza ◽  
Cristian Medina ◽  
Washington Aniñir ◽  
Paul Escobar-Bahamondes ◽  
Emilio Ungerfeld ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Essential Oil ◽  
Essential Oils ◽  
Biological Activities ◽  
Wide Spectrum ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
Blood Feeding ◽  
Antifeedant Activity ◽  
Haematobia Irritans ◽  
Horn Fly ◽  
Horn Flies

Haematobia irritans is a cosmopolitan obligate blood-feeding ectoparasite of cattle and is the major global pest of livestock production. Currently, H. irritans management is largely dependent on broad-spectrum pesticides, which has led to the development of insecticide resistance. Thus, alternative control methods are needed. Essential oils have been studied as an alternative due to their wide spectrum of biological activities against insects. Thus, the main aim of this study was to evaluate the insecticidal, repellent and antifeedant activity of the essential oils from Blepharocalyx cruckshanksii leaves and Pilgerodendron uviferum heartwood against horn flies in laboratory conditions. The composition of the essential oils was analyzed using gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. Accordingly, α-pinene (36.50%) and limonene (20.50%) were the principal components of the B. cruckchanksii essential oil, and δ-cadinol (24.16%), cubenol (22.64%), 15-copaenol (15.46%) and δ-cadinene (10.81%) were the most abundant compounds in the P. uviferum essential oil. Mortality of flies and feeding behavior were evaluated by non-choice tests, and olfactory response was evaluated using a Y-tube olfactometer. Both essential oils were toxic to horn flies, with LC50 values for B. cruckchanksii essential oil of 3.58 µL L−1 air at 4 h, and for P. uviferum essential oil of 9.41 µL L−1 air and 1.02 µL L−1 air at 1 and 4 h, respectively. Moreover, the essential oils exhibited spatial repellency in the olfactometer using only 10 µg of each oil, and these significantly reduced the horn fly feeding at all doses evaluated. Although further laboratory and field studies related to the insectistatic and insecticide properties of these essential oils against H. irritans are necessary, B. cruckshanksii leaves and P. uviferum heartwood essential oils are promising candidates for horn fly management.

scholarly journals The Phylogenetic Analysis of Cimex hemipterus (Hemiptera: Cimicidae) Isolated from Different Regions of Iran Using Cytochrome Oxidase Subunit I Gene

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Awat Samiei ◽  
Mousa Tavassoli ◽  
Karim Mardani
Keyword(s):  
Dna Sequencing ◽  
Cytochrome Oxidase ◽  
Blood Feeding ◽  
Coi Gene ◽  
Sequencing Analysis ◽  
Nucleotide Polymorphisms ◽  
Bed Bugs ◽  
Geographical Regions ◽  
Dna Sequencing Analysis ◽  
I Gene

Background: Bedbugs are blood feeding ectoparasites of humans and several domesticated animals. There are scar­city of information about the bed bugs population throughout Iran and only very limited and local studies are availa­ble. The aim of this study is to assess the phylogenetic relationships and nucleotide diversity using partial sequences of cytochrome oxidase I gene (COI) among the populations of tropical bed bugs inhabiting Iran. Methods: The bedbugs were collected from cities located in different geographical regions of Iran. After DNA ex­traction PCR was performed for COI gene using specific primers. Then DNA sequencing was performed on PCR products for the all 15 examined samples. Results: DNA sequencing analysis showed that the all C. hemipterus samples were similar, despite the minor nu­cleotide variations (within the range of 576 to 697bp) on average between 5 and 10 Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Subsequently, the results were compared with the database in gene bank which revealed close similarity and sequence homology with other C. hemipterus from other parts of the world. Conclusion: In conclusion, this study has demonstrated the ability of the COI gene to differentiate between the C. hemipterus populations from a few different locations in Iran. The current research is the first report of phylogenetic and genetic species diversity analysis conducted on C. hemipterus in Iran. These results provided basic information for further studies of molecular epidemiology, public health and pest control operators in Iran.

scholarly journals Overview on Common Respiratory Virus

2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (03) ◽  
pp. 24-32
Author(s):  
P. Sagadevan ◽  
R. Ramya ◽  
S. Rathishkumar ◽  
S. Vijayakumar ◽  
L Surendran ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Neonatal Intensive Care ◽  
Respiratory Virus ◽  
Wide Spectrum ◽  
Clinical Manifestations ◽  
Virus Infections ◽  
Respiratory Compromise ◽  
Hygiene Measures ◽  
Causative Agents ◽  
Virus Diagnostics ◽  
Common Respiratory Virus

Respiratory viruses have been recognised as causative agents for a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations and severe respiratory compromise in neonates during birth hospitalisation. Early-life respiratory virus infections have also been shown to be associated with adverse long-term consequences. Preventing virus infections by intensifying hygiene measures and cohorting infected infants should be a major goal for neonatal intensive care units, as well as more common use of virus diagnostics.

scholarly journals Antimicrobial activity and therapeutic efficacy of thiacycline in subclinical mastitisin sheep

2020 ◽  
pp. 5-17
Author(s):  
A. Yu. Aliev ◽  
B. B. Bulathanov
Keyword(s):  
Antimicrobial Activity ◽  
Therapeutic Efficacy ◽  
Wide Spectrum ◽  
Antimicrobial Effect ◽  
Subclinical Mastitis ◽  
Farm Animals ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Antibacterial Drug ◽  
Combination Drug ◽  
Causative Agents

Relevance. The work is devoted to the results of studying of the antimicrobial and therapeutic efficacy of the drug thiacycline in subclinical mastitis in sheep. The aim of our research еsеwas to study the antimicrobial activity and therapeutic efficacy of thiacycline in subclinical mastitis in lactating ewes.Methods. The study of antimicrobial activity was carried out by the method of serial dilutions in a liquid nutrient medium, on the basis of the Caspian zonal NIVI in the laboratory on the study of diseases of non-infectious etiology of farm animals. The therapeutic efficacy of thiacycline was studied in the SEC "Bukhti" of the Gunib district of Dagestan Republic on ewes of the Dagestan rock, aged from 3 to 5 years, with subclinical mastitis, in the amount of 51 heads. Animals on the basis of analogues were divided into two groups: experience (n = 26), control (n = 25). The animals of the experimental group were treated with thiacycline, the drug was administered intramuscularly, once a day, in dose 0.1 ml/kg. The test combination drug thiacycline developed by VIC. The control group was treated with bicillin-3, in dose 600,000 units per head, with an interval 72 hours.Results. The complex antibacterial drug thiacycline has a wide spectrum and high antimicrobial effect against museum strains and potential causative agents of sheep mastitis. The therapeutic efficacy of thiacycline in the treatment of subclinical mastitis in sheep – 97.0%, which is on 13.0% higher compared to bicillin-3. On the 7th day after the last administratin of preparation all the physicochemical parameters of milk corresponded to the physiological norm.

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