scholarly journals Ixodes scapularis microbiome correlates with life stage, not the presence of human pathogens, in ticks submitted for diagnostic testing

PeerJ ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. e10424
Author(s):  
Joshua C. Gil ◽  
Zeinab H. Helal ◽  
Guillermo Risatti ◽  
Sarah M. Hird
Keyword(s):  
Disease Transmission ◽  
Beta Diversity ◽  
Pathogenic Bacteria ◽  
Ixodes Scapularis ◽  
Life Stage ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Babesia Microti ◽  
Human Pathogens ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Tick Microbiome

Ticks are globally distributed arthropods and a public health concern due to the many human pathogens they carry and transmit, including the causative agent of Lyme disease, Borrelia burgdorferi. As tick species’ ranges increase, so do the number of reported tick related illnesses. The microbiome is a critical part of understanding arthropod biology, and the microbiome of pathogen vectors may provide critical insight into disease transmission and management. Yet we lack a comprehensive understanding of the microbiome of wild ticks, including what effect the presence of multiple tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) has on the microbiome. In this study we chose samples based on life stage (adult or nymph) and which TBPs were present. We used DNA from previously extracted Ixodes scapularis ticks that tested positive for zero, one, two or three common TBPs (B. burgdorferi, B. miyamotoi, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Babesia microti). We produced 16S rRNA amplicon data for the whole tick microbiome and compared samples across TBPs status, single vs multiple coinfections, and life stages. Focusing on samples with a single TBP, we found no significant differences in microbiome diversity in ticks that were infected with B. burgdorferi and ticks with no TBPs. When comparing multiple TBPs, we found no significant difference in both alpha and beta diversity between ticks with a single TBP and ticks with multiple TBPs. Removal of TBPs from the microbiome did not alter alpha or beta diversity results. Life stage significantly correlated to variation in beta diversity and nymphs had higher alpha diversity than adult ticks. Rickettsia, a common tick endosymbiont, was the most abundant genus. This study confirms that the wild tick microbiome is highly influenced by life stage and much less by the presence of human pathogenic bacteria.

Dirty Money on Holy Ground: Isolation of Potentially Pathogen-ic Bacteria and Fungi on Money Collected from Church Offer-ings

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Akebe Luther King ABIA ◽  
Eunice UBOMBA-JASWA
Keyword(s):  
Disease Transmission ◽  
Sanger Sequencing ◽  
Pathogenic Bacteria ◽  
Culture Media ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Public Health Concern ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Currency Note ◽  
Bacteria And Fungi ◽  
Holy Ground

Background: Fomites (including money) can transmit diseases to humans. How the nature of money influences contamination has not been adequately demonstrated. Moreover, such studies in church settings are non-existent. Thus, we studied how money collected from a church could serve as human disease transmission vehicles. Methods: Overall, 284 money samples (currency notes and coins) were collected during two Sundays in the months of Nov and Dec 2015 from a church congregation in Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa. The presence of potentially pathogenic bacteria and fungi were investigated using culture (Colilert® method) and molecular methods (Sanger sequencing). Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) was used to visualize the possible positions of the bacteria on various parts of a currency note. Results: Of the 192 samples (first sampling round), 76 (39.6%) were positive for E. coli. Smaller notes (R10) recorded the highest E. coli counts per note. Of the 92 notes analyzed for potentially pathogenic bacteria and fungi (second sampling round), 76 (82%) showed growth on at least one of the six culture media used. Sequencing revealed three bacterial (Bacillus, Staphylococcus and Corynebacterium) and two fungal (Clavispora and Rhodotorula) genera. SEM revealed that microorganisms could enter cracks of creased notes. Conclusion: Unlike previous studies conducted where recent contamination could occur, the current study shows that microorganisms can survive on money; samples were collected from a church, where little or no exchange takes place. Moreover, using SEM demonstrates that aged and creased notes favor attachment of bacteria to money and could be of public health concern by transmitting disease within a given population.

scholarly journals A Comparison of Tick Collection Materials and Methods in Southeastern Virginia

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christina Espada ◽  
Hannah Cummins ◽  
Jon A Gonzales ◽  
Leo Notto ◽  
Holly D Gaff
Keyword(s):  
Disease Risk ◽  
Ixodes Scapularis ◽  
Life Stage ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
Amblyomma Americanum ◽  
Inspection Method ◽  
Large Samples ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Tick Ecology ◽  
Ixodes Affinis

Abstract In field studies of tick ecology, observed patterns may be biased by sampling methods. Results can vary by species, life stage, and habitat, and understanding these biases will improve comparisons of data across studies as well as assessment of human disease risk. A direct comparison of flagging versus dragging was conducted in southeastern Virginia. Transects were surveyed over a 6-wk period to identify differences in species and life stage collected, as well as differences between corduroy and denim material and inspection method for drags. Flagging collected more Ixodes affinis Neumann (Acari: Ixodidae) adults and Amblyomma americanum L. (Acari: Ixodidae) adults than dragging. Ground inspection was more efficient than tree inspection for collection of I. affinis adults, with no significant difference in inspection method for any other species or life stage. Corduroy was found to be more effective than denim in collecting nymphal A. americanum, although this may be an artifact of three large samples for corduroy collection of these ticks. There was no significant difference in Ixodes scapularis Say (Acari: Ixodidae) collection in any comparison. Dragging, tree inspection, and denim were not found to be more efficient in any scenario. This is the first comparison of flagging and dragging conducted in the southeastern United States. The community composition of ticks in this region greatly differs from regions where studies of these commonly used sampling techniques have been conducted. As the distributions of ticks continue to change over time, it will be important to evaluate best practices annually.

Comparison of Quality in Aquacultured Fresh Catfish Fillets II. Pathogens E. coli O157:H7, Campylobacter, Vibrio, Plesiomonas, and Klebsiella†

1997 ◽  
Vol 60 (10) ◽  
pp. 1182-1188 ◽  
Author(s):  
CUSTY F. FERNANDES ◽  
GEORGE J. FLICK ◽  
JUAN L. SILVA ◽  
THOMAS A. McCASKEY
Keyword(s):  
Ictalurus Punctatus ◽  
Channel Catfish ◽  
Pathogenic Bacteria ◽  
Escherichia Coli O157 ◽  
Human Pathogens ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Warm Weather ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Catfish Fillets ◽  
Plate Counts

Aquacultured channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) were evaluated for the presence of human pathogenic bacteria. Fresh catfish fillets procured from three catfish processors in the southeastern United States during the four annual seasons (e.g., summer, fall, winter, and fall) were screened for selected human pathogens. At each sampling time point, 20 freshly processed catfish fillets were randomly selected from each processor during each season. Five catfish fillets were randomly selected for aerobic plate counts and all 20 fillets were screened for five pathogenic bacteria viz. Campylobacter jejuni/coli, Escherichia coli O157:H7, Klebsiella pneumoniae subsp. pneumoniae, Plesiomonas shigelloides, and Vibrio cholerae. There was a significant difference (P < 0.05) in the aerobic plate counts due to differences in unit processing operations and processing season. C. jejuni/coli, E. coli O157:H7 and K. pneumoniae subsp. pneumoniae were not isolated. Only P. shigelloides and V. cholerae were isolated during the warm weather.

scholarly journals Integrating MFT-qPCR techniques in constructed wetland faecal bacterial purification monitoring; a case of a typical tropical hybrid constructed wetland system

2018 ◽  
Vol 78 (9) ◽  
pp. 2008-2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donde Oscar Omondi ◽  
Muia Anastasia Wairimu ◽  
Makindi Stanley Maingi ◽  
Onyango Godfrey Otieno ◽  
Kibet Caroline Jepkorir ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Constructed Wetlands ◽  
Constructed Wetland ◽  
Membrane Filtration ◽  
Pathogenic Bacteria ◽  
Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Human Pathogens ◽  
Purification Efficiency ◽  
Wetland System

Abstract The sanitation control of pathogens in the tropical effluents needs much more attention to ensure ecosystem health integrity and the safety of human health. The common use of chemicals in achieving this in wastewater treatment has remained unsustainable due to much health concern. Indeed, based on the numerous challenges associated with faecal pathogenic bacteria in wastewaters, the focus is now on achieving higher purification efficiencies in the elimination of the human pathogens from wastewater through eco-sustainable systems such as constructed wetlands (CWs). Hence, the need to explore the application of constructed wetlands in wastewater treatment under specific local environmental conditions for accurate understanding and improved treatment efficiency. This study therefore aimed at monitoring constructed wetlands faecal bacteria purification efficiency through integrated non-molecular membrane filtration technique and molecular quantitative polymerase chain reaction (MFT-qPCR) technique. The results showed some shortfall in the treatment system and also proved that integrating MFT-qPCR in faecal bacterial purification monitoring within a constructed wetland system provides a more accurate and reliable outcome. Additionally, the wetland purification efficiency was low (<80%) with the dissolved oxygen posing the strongest influence on faecal pathogenic bacterial purification trend across the wetland. Hence, the need to regularly carry out dredging and macrophyte harvesting as well as the use of holistic and more integrative approaches such as MFT-qPCR in managing and monitoring the performance of CWs in faecal pathogen eradication for improved CWs purification efficiency.

scholarly journals Comprehensive comparative genomics reveals over 50 phyla of free-living and pathogenic bacteria are associated with diverse members of the amoebozoa

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yonas I. Tekle ◽  
Janae M. Lyttle ◽  
Maya G. Blasingame ◽  
Fang Wang
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Single Cell ◽  
Pathogenic Bacteria ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Human Pathogens ◽  
Single Cell Genomics ◽  
Bacterial Phyla ◽  
Published Evidence ◽  
Culture Independent ◽  
Bacterial Replication

AbstractThe Amoebozoa, a group containing predominantly amoeboid unicellular protists has been shown to play an important ecological role in controlling environmental bacteria. Amoebozoans not only graze bacteria but also serve as a safe niche for bacterial replication and harbor endosymbiotic bacteria including dangerous human pathogens. Despite their importance, only a few lineages of Amoebozoa have been studied in this regard. In this research, we conducted a comprehensive genomic and transcriptomic study with expansive taxon sampling by including representatives from the three known clades of the Amoebozoa. We used culture independent whole culture and single cell genomics/transcriptomics to investigate the association of bacteria with diverse amoebozoans. Relative to current published evidence, we recovered the largest number of bacterial phyla (64) and human pathogen genera (51) associated with the Amoebozoa. Using single cell genomics/transcriptomics we were able to determine up to 24 potential endosymbiotic bacterial phyla, some potentially endosymbionts. This includes the majority of multi-drug resistant pathogens designated as major public health threats. Our study demonstrates amoebozoans are associated with many more phylogenetically diverse bacterial phyla than previously recognized. It also shows that all amoebozoans are capable of harboring far more dangerous human pathogens than presently documented, making them of primal public health concern.

scholarly journals Polyphenol Rich Sugar Cane Extract Inhibits Bacterial Growth

PRILOZI ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (3) ◽  
pp. 49-57
Author(s):  
Fatah B Ahtesh ◽  
Lily Stojanovska ◽  
Jack Feehan ◽  
Maximilian PJ de Courten ◽  
Matthew Flavel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sugar Cane ◽  
Disease Transmission ◽  
Pathogenic Bacteria ◽  
Food Poisoning ◽  
Antimicrobial Properties ◽  
Biological Properties ◽  
Human Pathogens ◽  
Food Borne ◽  
Anti Oxidant ◽  
Environmental Pathogens

AbstractPlants that are primarily used as a food source commonly have undervalued biological properties beyond the basic supply of nutrients. One important example of this are the antimicrobial properties of plants. Inclusion of natural and food grade antimicrobial ingredients in recipes to prevent food spoilage and disease transmission, or in cosmetic products to prevent transient and pathogenic bacteria would have world-wide public health implications. A patented natural polyphenol rich sugar cane extract (PRSE), is marketed as a high anti-oxidant and polyphenol ingredient, but its anti-microbial activity has not been reported previously. We determined the anti-bacterial properties of PRSE on common human pathogens relating to a range of diseases including food poisoning, tooth decay, acne and severe skin infections using disc/well diffusion experiments. Our findings indicate that PRSE is an efficient antimicrobial, which could be included at differing dosages to target a range of food borne and environmental pathogens.

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