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Ohlopkova OV, Yakovlev SA, Emmanuel K, Kabanov AA, Odnoshevsky DA, Kartashov MY, Moshkin AD, Tuchkov IV, Nosov NY, Kritsky AA, Agalakova MA, Davidyuk YN, Khaiboullina SF, Morzunov SP, N'Fally M, Bumbali S, Camara MF, Boiro MY, Agafonov AP, Gavrilova EV, Maksyutov RA. Epidemiology of Zoonotic Coxiella burnetii in The Republic of Guinea. Microorganisms 2023; 11:1433. [PMID: 37374935 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11061433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Revised: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Q fever is a zoonotic infectious disease characterized by fever, malaise, chills, significant weakness, and muscle pain. In some cases, the disease can become chronic and affect the inner membranes of the heart, such as the valves, leading to endocarditis and a high risk of death. Coxiella burnetii (C. burnetii) is the primary causative agent of Q fever in humans. This study aims to monitor the presence of C. burnetii in ticks collected from small mammals and cattle in the Republic of Guinea (RG). METHODS Rodents were trapped in the Kindia region of RG during 2019-2020, and ticks were collected from cattle in six regions of RG. Total DNA was extracted using a commercial kit (RIBO-prep, InterLabService, Russia) following the manufacturer's instructions. Real-time PCR amplification was conducted using the kit (AmpliSens Coxiella burnetii-FL, InterLabService, Russia) to detect C. burnetii DNA. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS Bacterial DNA was detected in 11 out of 750 (1.4%) small mammals and 695 out of 9620 (7.2%) tick samples. The high number of infected ticks (7.2%) suggests that they are the main transmitters of C. burnetii in RG. The DNA was detected in the liver and spleen of a Guinea multimammate mouse, Mastomys erythroleucus. These findings demonstrate that C. burnetii is zoonotic in RG, and measures should be taken to monitor the bacteria's dynamics and tick prevalence in the rodent population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olesia V Ohlopkova
- State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology «Vector» of Rospotrebnadzor, Koltsovo 630559, Russia
| | - Sergey A Yakovlev
- Russian Research Anti-Plague Institute «Microbe» of Rospotrebnadzor, Saratov 410005, Russia
| | - Kabwe Emmanuel
- OpenLab "Gene and Cell Technologies", Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University, Kazan 420008, Russia
| | - Alexey A Kabanov
- State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology «Vector» of Rospotrebnadzor, Koltsovo 630559, Russia
| | - Dmitry A Odnoshevsky
- State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology «Vector» of Rospotrebnadzor, Koltsovo 630559, Russia
| | - Mikhail Yu Kartashov
- State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology «Vector» of Rospotrebnadzor, Koltsovo 630559, Russia
| | - Alexey D Moshkin
- State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology «Vector» of Rospotrebnadzor, Koltsovo 630559, Russia
| | - Igor V Tuchkov
- Russian Research Anti-Plague Institute «Microbe» of Rospotrebnadzor, Saratov 410005, Russia
| | - Nikita Yu Nosov
- Russian Research Anti-Plague Institute «Microbe» of Rospotrebnadzor, Saratov 410005, Russia
- State Research Center of Dermatovenerology and Cosmetology of Russian Ministry of Health, Moscow 107076, Russia
| | - Andrey A Kritsky
- Russian Research Anti-Plague Institute «Microbe» of Rospotrebnadzor, Saratov 410005, Russia
- Limited Liability Company, «Biotech Campus», Moscow 117437, Russia
| | - Milana A Agalakova
- Faculty of Preventive Medicine, Ural State Medical University, Yekaterinburg 620014, Russia
- Limited Liability Company, «Quality Med», Yekaterinburg 105318, Russia
| | - Yuriy N Davidyuk
- OpenLab "Gene and Cell Technologies", Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University, Kazan 420008, Russia
| | - Svetlana F Khaiboullina
- OpenLab "Gene and Cell Technologies", Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University, Kazan 420008, Russia
| | | | - Magasuba N'Fally
- Faculty of Medicine, Pharmacy and Dentistry, University Gamal Abdel Nasser, Conakry 001, Guinea
| | - Sanaba Bumbali
- Research Institute of Applied Biology of Guinea, Kindia 100, Guinea
| | | | | | - Alexander P Agafonov
- State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology «Vector» of Rospotrebnadzor, Koltsovo 630559, Russia
| | - Elena V Gavrilova
- State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology «Vector» of Rospotrebnadzor, Koltsovo 630559, Russia
| | - Rinat A Maksyutov
- State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology «Vector» of Rospotrebnadzor, Koltsovo 630559, Russia
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Nemaungwe TM, van Dalen EMSP, Waniwa EO, Makaya PV, Chikowore G, Chidawanyika F. Biogeography of the theileriosis vector, Rhipicephalus appendiculatus under current and future climate scenarios of Zimbabwe. EXPERIMENTAL & APPLIED ACAROLOGY 2023:10.1007/s10493-023-00796-1. [PMID: 37171505 PMCID: PMC10293362 DOI: 10.1007/s10493-023-00796-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Climate directly influences the epidemiology of vector-borne diseases at various spatial and temporal scales. Following the recent increased incidences of theileriosis in Zimbabwe, a disease mainly transmitted by Rhipicephalus appendiculatus, we determined lethal temperatures for the species and current and possible future distribution using the machine learning algorithm 'Maxent'. Rhipicephalus appendiculatus larvae had an upper lethal temperature (ULT50) of about 44 ± 0.5 °C and this was marginally higher for nymphs and adults at 46 ± 0.5 °C. Environmental temperatures recorded in selected zonal tick microhabitats were below the determined lethal limits, indicating the ability of the tick to survive these regions. The resultant model under current climatic conditions showed areas with high suitability indices to the eastern, northeastern and southeastern parts of the country, mainly in Masvingo, Manicaland and Mashonaland Central provinces. Future predictions as determined by 2050 climatic conditions indicate a reduction in suitable habitats with the tick receding to presently cooler high elevation areas such as the eastern Highlands of Zimbabwe and a few isolated pockets in the interior of the country. Lowveld areas show low suitability under current climatic conditions and are expected to remain unsuitable in future. Overall, the study shows that R. appendiculatus distribution is constrained by climatic factors and helps identify areas of where occurrence of the species and the disease it transmits is highly likely. This will assist in optimizing disease surveillance and vector management strategies targeted at the species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tinotenda M Nemaungwe
- Division of Veterinary Technical Services, Ministry of Lands, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Harare, Zimbabwe
- Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of the Free State, PO Box 339, Bloemfontein, 9300, South Africa
| | - Ellie M S P van Dalen
- Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of the Free State, PO Box 339, Bloemfontein, 9300, South Africa
| | - Emily O Waniwa
- Division of Veterinary Technical Services, Ministry of Lands, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Pious V Makaya
- Division of Veterinary Technical Services, Ministry of Lands, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Gerald Chikowore
- Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of the Free State, PO Box 339, Bloemfontein, 9300, South Africa
- Centre for Biological Control, Department of Zoology and Entomology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, 6140, South Africa
| | - Frank Chidawanyika
- Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of the Free State, PO Box 339, Bloemfontein, 9300, South Africa.
- International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), PO Box 30772-00100, Nairobi, Kenya.
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Mohamed A, Fedlu M, Nigussie T, Wali MA. Prevalence, seasonal dynamics and associated variables of ixodid tick cattle infestation in Gondar, northwestern Ethiopia. Parasite Epidemiol Control 2023; 21:e00294. [PMID: 36923734 PMCID: PMC10009281 DOI: 10.1016/j.parepi.2023.e00294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2022] [Revised: 02/12/2023] [Accepted: 02/26/2023] [Indexed: 03/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Ticks are ectoparasites that impact the health and productivity in farm animals. They are also important vectors for pathogens transmitted to animals and humans. A cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2018 to April 2019 with the objectives of determining the prevalence, identifying genera and seasonal dynamics of adult ixodid ticks infesting cattle in and around Gondar, northwestern Ethiopia. Pearson Chi-square Test was used to evaluate the association of tick prevalence with explanatory variables. One way analysis of variance was used to compare mean tick density of cattle with the explanatory variables. The overall prevalence of cattle ixodid tick infestation was found to be 65.8% (95% CI = 60.0-71.2%). The effect of breed, sex, age and body condition score on tick prevalence was investigated. However, only the body condition score of study animals was found to have statistically significant effect on the prevalence of tick infestation. Monthly analysis of tick infestation showed statistically significant variation (χ2 = 36.17, p = 0.00) during the study period (November 2018 - April 2019). The highest monthly prevalence was recorded in March (85.0%), and the least in February (42.0%). A comparison of the tick prevalence across seasons showed statistically significant differences (χ = 34.10, p = 0.00), being highest (82.5%) during the short rainy season. During the study period, a total of 3796 adult ixodid ticks were collected from different body regions of the study animals. Three ixodid tick genera were identified, with the genus Rhipicephalus being the most prevalent (n = 2122 (55.9%) of the total adult ticks (3796). The overall mean tick density per host for all genera was 12.78 ticks, with a marked difference in tick density during the three study seasons. The highest MTD was recorded during the short rainy season (MTD = 18.58), (F = 19.71, p < 0.05). The present study has shown that ticks are highly prevalent in the study area. Therefore, an appropriate tick control program should be designed and implemented.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Muhammed Fedlu
- Gurage Zone Cheha Woreda Livestock and Fishery Resources Development Office, Ethiopia
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Šujanová A, Čužiová Z, Václav R. The Infection Rate of Bird-Feeding Ixodes ricinus Ticks with Borrelia garinii and B. valaisiana Varies with Host Haemosporidian Infection Status. Microorganisms 2022; 11:microorganisms11010060. [PMID: 36677352 PMCID: PMC9861293 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11010060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Revised: 12/18/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Birds are known to maintain and spread human pathogenic borreliae, but they are common hosts of diverse parasite communities, notably haemosporidians. Only a few studies examined whether tick infestation and/or Borrelia prevalences vary with hosts' haemosporidian infection status. METHODS Here, we study whether Ixodes ricinus infestation rates and Borrelia infection rates in bird-feeding ticks vary according to haemosporidian infection status in a community of free-living avian tick hosts. RESULTS Birds of six avian species harbored the majority of ticks. Both the tick infestation prevalence and the intensity peaked during spring and summer, but while bird-feeding nymphs prevailed in spring, bird-feeding larvae dominated in summer. Almost half of the bird-feeding ticks were found to be positive for B. burgdorferi s.l. Although the majority of infections involved bird-associated B. garinii and B. valaisiana, B. garinii appears to be the dominant Borrelia strain circulating in locally breeding avian species. We detected a negative link between the hosts' haemosporidian infection status and the Borrelia infection rate of bird-feeding ticks, but the association was dependent on the host's age. CONCLUSIONS Our results on tick infestation intensity support the idea that more immunologically vulnerable hosts harbor more ticks but suggest that different mechanisms may be responsible for tick infestation rates among immunologically naïve and experienced avian hosts. The results on Borrelia infection rates in bird-feeding ticks are consistent with studies revealing that intracellular parasites, such as haemosporidians, can benefit from the host immune system prioritizing immune responses against extracellular parasites at the expense of immune responses against intracellular parasites. The findings of our study urge for a more robust design of parasitological studies to understand the ecology of interactions among hosts and their parasites.
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Shuai LY, Wang LQ, Wang JJ, Xia Y, Zhai BY, Xu WJ, Chen XM, Yang XY, Zhang FS. Ecological correlates of ectoparasite load in a rodent: Complex roles of seasonality. Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2022; 18:244-248. [PMID: 35800108 PMCID: PMC9253529 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2022.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2022] [Revised: 06/19/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Understanding the mechanisms driving parasite distributions is not only important for understanding ecosystem functioning, but also crucial for disease control. Previous studies have documented the important roles of host sex, host body size, host behavioral trait (such as boldness and trappability), and seasonality in shaping parasite load. However, few studies have simultaneously assessed the roles of these factors, as well as their interactions. In spring and summer of 2021, we conducted live trapping in Hohhot, China, to collect ectoparasites on Daurian ground squirrel (Spermophilus dauricus), a small rodent widely distributed in East Asian grassland. We then used generalized linear models to explore the effects of several biological factors (sex, body weight, trappability, and reproductive status) and seasonality on the abundance of ticks and fleas in S. dauricus. Significant but inconsistent seasonal effects were observed: tick load was significantly greater in summer than in spring, while flea load was greater in spring than in summer. Seasons also significantly interacted with host trappability and body weight to affect tick abundance. Our results highlight the importance of considering seasonal changes in parasitism, as well as interactions between season and host biological traits in shaping parasite distributions. Both fleas and ticks show seasonal changes in abundance but in different directions. Relationship between host body weight and tick load changes between seasons. Effect of trappability on tick abundance depends on season.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling-Ying Shuai
- College of Life Sciences, Huaibei Normal University, Huaibei, China
| | - Li-Qing Wang
- Grassland Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hohhot, China
- Corresponding author.
| | - Jian-Jun Wang
- Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Comprehensive Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hohhot, China
| | - Yang Xia
- College of Life Sciences, Huaibei Normal University, Huaibei, China
| | - Bin-Yan Zhai
- College of Life Sciences, Huaibei Normal University, Huaibei, China
| | - Wen-Jie Xu
- College of Life Sciences, Huaibei Normal University, Huaibei, China
| | - Xing-Ming Chen
- College of Life Sciences, Huaibei Normal University, Huaibei, China
| | - Xiao-Yu Yang
- College of Life Sciences, Huaibei Normal University, Huaibei, China
| | - Fu-Shun Zhang
- Grassland Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hohhot, China
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Insights into Nanopesticides for Ticks: The Superbugs of Livestock. OXIDATIVE MEDICINE AND CELLULAR LONGEVITY 2022; 2022:7411481. [PMID: 35720185 PMCID: PMC9200545 DOI: 10.1155/2022/7411481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Livestock is an integral part of agriculture countries where ticks play significant role as potent pests causing considerable losses to economy and health. Drug resistance has made these pests supersede conventional therapies and control programs Nanotechnology here comes as an advancing and significant candidate alternatively able to reverse drug resistance. Nanoparticles, hence, against ticks may better be considered as nanopesticides that act in ways other than conventional drug efficacies. The methods of nanoparticles production include green synthesis, chemical synthesis, and arthropod-based synthesis. Pros and cons of these nanopesticides are by no means neglectable. Studies are fewer than needed to comprehensively discuss nanopesticides. Current review thus systematically covers aspects of ticks as livestock pests, their drug resistance, advent of nanotechnology against pests, their production methodologies, mechanisms of actions of ticks, and current limitations. This review opens several avenues for further research on nanoparticles as nanopesticides against ticks.
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