Frequency Of Bites Research Articles

Twenty Years of Lyme Borreliosis in the Netherlands: Temporal Trends in Seroprevalence and Risk Factors

Lyme borreliosis (LB) is not notifiable in many European countries, and the patchwork of surveillance strategies in Europe perpetuates knowledge gaps. In the Netherlands, LB incidence has been estimated from recurring general practitioner surveys since the 1990s. To complement the incidence data, this study aimed to estimate the prevalence of antibodies against Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in the general population of the Netherlands in 1995/1996, identify risk factors for seropositivity, and compare these findings to data from 2016/2017 to identify temporal trends. Sera from participants (n = 8041, aged 0–80 years) in a cross-sectional nationwide surveillance study were assessed for the presence of antibodies against B. burgdorferi s.l., using a screening ELISA and immunoblot confirmation. Risk factors associated with seropositivity were evaluated using multivariable analysis. A significant difference in weighted seroprevalence was observed between 1995/1996 (2.8%) and 2016/2017 (4.3%). In both cohorts, the seroprevalence was significantly higher among men than among women, and increased with age and tick bite frequency. The upward trend in age-specific seropositivity in individuals over 50 was steeper in 2016/2017 than in 1995/1996, possibly due to improved fitness among contemporary elderly, allowing increased outdoor activities. This study highlights significant trends in the seroprevalence of B. burgdorferi s.l. antibodies in the general population of the Netherlands over 20 years. The doubling of seroprevalence underscores the increasing burden of LB, and the importance of continued surveillance. Targeted interventions, particularly for elderly populations, may help raise awareness to the risks of tick bites and reduce the growing disease burden and societal costs associated with LB.

Seropositivity to tick-borne pathogens in nature management workers in the Netherlands

The incidence of tick-borne infections other than Lyme borreliosis and tick-borne encephalitis is rising in Europe, including the Netherlands. Nature management workers, being highly exposed to ticks, serve as valuable sentinels for seroprevalence studies on tick-borne pathogens (TBPs). This study assessed nature management workers’ seropositivity to TBPs including Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Babesia divergens, B. microti, Borrelia burgdorferi s.l., Rickettsia conorii and R. typhi in the Netherlands. In addition, the study examined coexposure to multiple TBPs and identified risk factors for B. burgdorferi s.l.- and A. phagocytophilum-seropositivity.The study included 525 nature management workers who donated serum and completed a questionnaire. Sera were analysed for exposure to A. phagocytophilum, B. divergens, B. microti, R. conorii and R. typhi using immunofluorescence assays. For B. burgdorferi s.l. antibody detection, the recommended two-tier testing strategy was used. Risk factor analysis was performed using logistic regression modelling.Seropositivity was 30.9 % for B. burgdorferi s.l.; 16.4 % for A. phagocytophilum; 6.5 % for R. conorii; 2.3 % for R. typhi; 4.2 % for B. divergens; and 0.4 % for B. microti. Almost half (49.3 %) of the participants demonstrated seropositivity for one or more pathogens. Risk factors for B. burgdorferi s.l.-seropositivity included being male, increasing age and tick bite frequency. For A. phagocytophilum-seropositivity, increasing age and working in North Holland province were significant risk factors.This study illustrates the exposure to TBPs in the Netherlands, emphasizing the need for ongoing vigilance and international collaborations to better understand and address the growing threat of TBPs in regions with demonstrated environmental TBP circulation.

Increase of coastal shark bite frequency linked to the COVID-19 lockdown reveals a territoriality-dominance behaviour toward humans

Increase of coastal shark bite frequency linked to the COVID-19 lockdown reveals a territoriality-dominance behaviour toward humans

Personal electric deterrents can reduce shark bites from the three species responsible for the most fatal interactions

The frequency of unprovoked shark bites is increasing worldwide, leading to a growing pressure for mitigation measures to reduce shark-bite risk while maintaining conservation objectives. Personal shark deterrents are a promising and non-lethal strategy that can protect ocean users, but few have been independently and scientifically tested. In Australia, bull (Carcharhinus leucas), tiger (Galeocerdo cuvier), and white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) are responsible for the highest number of bites and fatalities. We tested the effects of two electric deterrents (Ocean Guardian’s Freedom+ Surf and Freedom7) on the behaviour of these three species. The surf product reduced the probability of bites by 54% across all three species. The diving product had a similar effect on tiger shark bites (69% reduction) but did not reduce the frequency of bites from white sharks (1% increase), likely because the electrodes were placed further away from the bait. Electric deterrents also increased the time for bites to occur, and frequency of reactions and passes for all species tested. Our findings reveal that both Freedom+ Surf and Freedom7 electric deterrents affect shark behaviour and can reduce shark-bite risk for water users, but neither product eliminated the risk of shark bites entirely. The increasing number of studies showing the ability of personal electric deterrents to reduce shark-bite risk highlights personal protection as an effective and important part of the toolbox of shark-bite mitigation measures.

Clinical Presentation and Outcomes of Alpha-Gal Syndrome

Background and AimsAlpha-Gal Syndrome (AGS) is an IgE-mediated allergic reaction to galactose-α-1,3-galactose, primarily linked with lone star tick bites in the US. It presents with symptoms ranging from urticaria and gastrointestinal (GI) manifestations to delayed anaphylaxis following red meat consumption. We aimed to study AGS patients' clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and outcomes. MethodsA retrospective chart review of patients who underwent serological testing for suspected AGS between 2014-2023 at Mayo Clinic was performed. Patients with positive serology were age and sex-matched with those who tested negative. Clinical characteristics of seropositive cohort with and without GI symptoms were compared, and outcomes assessed. ResultsOf 1260 patients who underwent testing, 124 tested positive for AGS. They were matched with 380 seronegative controls. AGS patients reported a higher frequency of tick bites (OR 26.0 [95% CI 9.8-68.3]), prevalence of urticaria (56 % vs. 37%; P=.0008) and were less likely to have asthma (OR 0.4 [0.3 to 0.7]). They had a lower prevalence of heartburn (6% vs. 12%; P=.03) and bloating (6% vs. 13%; P=.03). 47% had GI symptoms and higher proportion were female than those without GI symptoms (69% vs. 35%; P=.002). During a mean follow up of 27 months, 22 of 40 patients reported symptom resolution after avoiding red meat, and 7 were able to transition to regular diet. ConclusionA diagnosis of AGS should be strongly considered in patients with a history of tick bites and clinical presentation of allergic or GI manifestations. Dietary intervention is effective in most but not all patients.

16 Effects of fiber supplementation during gestation on sow and piglet performance

Abstract Our objective was to determine the effects of fiber supplementation during gestation on sow and piglet performance. A total of 200 PIC Camborough P1+ sows were used. At breeding, sows were balanced by body weight (BW) within parity and randomly allotted to 1 of 2 dietary treatments, which consisted of 1) Control; corn-soybean meal gestation diet; and 2) Fiber; inclusion of soybean hulls in the formulation at a level to yield a dietary crude-fiber content 6%. Females were housed in individual stalls throughout the entire gestation. At d 90 of gestation, serum glucose, fecal dry matter, fecal volatile fat acids (acetate, propionate, butyrate, isovalerate, and valerate), urinary traits (color, turbidity, density, pH, and presence of nitrate or blood), and frequency of stereotypic behavior (sham chewing, teeth grinding, bar biting, and floor licking) was accessed. Perineal scoring was visually evaluated at d 105 and 110 of gestation. Farrowing traits (farrowing length, and number of piglets born alive, stillborn, and mummified fetuses) and piglet vitality (meconium presence, umbilical cord integrity, oxygenation, and heart rate) were individually monitored. Individual piglet BW was obtained within 12 h of birth and after 24 h for colostrum intake, and at weaning. Sow daily lactation feed intake was registered. Data were analyzed using generalized linear mixed models with the Glimmix procedure of SAS with sow serving as the experimental unit. There was no evidence (P > 0.10) for differences in sow BW at d1, d112 of gestation, and at weaning. Sows fed the greater fiber diet showed lower levels of post-prandial glucose (-6%; P < 0.10), darker urine (+33%; P < 0.10) with greater pH (+5%; P < 0.05), and greater levels of fecal butyrate (+62%; P < 0.05) and isovalerate (+15%; P < 0.10) at the end of gestation (d 90). Feces from sows fed the control diet were drier (P < 0.05) at d 90 of gestation. Fiber supplementation reduced the frequency of teeth grinding (-52%; P < 0.10), bar biting (-74%; P < 0.05), and floor licking (-65%; P 0.10) behaviors. There was no evidence for treatment differences (P > 0.10) for perineal scores. Piglet vitality was not affected by the treatments, except for a marginal increase in blood oxygen saturation for piglets from sows fed the greater fiber diet (+1%; P < 0.10). Treatment did not impact (P > 0.10) farrowing duration, number of total piglets born, born alive, stillborn, and mummified, nor average piglet birth weight and colostrum intake. Sows fed diet with fiber supplementation during gestation had a marginal increase in average daily feed intake during lactation (+0.50kg/d; P = 0.08), which resulted in improved piglet BW gain (P < 0.05) and weaning weights (+0.20kg; P < 0.05). In summary, providing increased level of fiber supplementation via soybean hulls to gestating diets did not impact sow reproductive performance. Beneficial effects were observed for welfare lactation feed intake, piglet BW gain and weaning weights.

Trends in Animal Bites and Rabies-related Deaths in Northern Iran: Implications for Public Health Interventions.

Rabies remains a public health problem in middle-income countries like Iran, despite being preventable. This study aimed to evaluate the six-year incidence of animal bites in the southern Caspian Sea region from 2016 to 2022, and focus on estimating the direct costs of animal bite cases using the incidence-based method. A multicenter, registry-based study was conducted using surveillance data of animal bites. Of the 40922 cases reported during the study period, 65.9% were male and 34.1% were female. Animal bites were most frequent among individuals over 50 years of age (23.5%), while children under 10 years of age had the lowest frequency of animal bites (2.3%). Animal bites were most common in June. Dogs were responsible for 33277 (81%) cases, cats for 5,624 (13.7%) cases, cows for 1054 (2.5%) cases, and other animals for the remaining cases. During the six-year study period, four deaths due to rabies were reported in the study area. The annual bite incidence rate was 386.3 per 100000 people in northern Iran. The males-to-female ratio was highest in 2019 (M/F ratio=2.4, 95% CI=1.2‒3.4). The elderly are at higher risk of animal bites, especially in rural areas. It is important to emphasize the use of protective clothing, washing wounds with soap water and rabies vaccination as initial treatment. Targeted vaccination efforts for eligible animals should be prioritized to minimize unnecessary financial burden. Educating farmers about rabies prevention programs, especially in cases of cow bites, is also important.

Sex-dependent audience effect in foraging guppies

Abstract The presence of bystanders can influence the behavior of a forager, which has mainly been studied in primates and birds. We tested the effect of the absence and presence of an unfamiliar audience (females, males, and their combination) near or far from a food patch on the foraging behavior of guppies (Poecilia reticulata). Our investigation includes both males and females, recognizing that different social dynamics and reproductive strategies between the sexes could lead to varied responses to audience effects. For each focal fish, we measured the latency to start feeding, bite frequency, time spent near the audience, and overall mobility. Both males and females started feeding faster when food was close to any audience type. Specifically, females exhibited a faster feeding response in the presence of a female audience. Males reduced their feeding rate in the presence of male and mixed audiences, while both sexes increased their consumption when food was close to the audience. Focal fish, irrespective of their sex, spent more time in the vicinity of the audience zone when the audience was present, but surprisingly, females spent less time with a female audience compared to others. Only females increased their mobility when the food patch was far from any audience. Here, we show that guppies adjust their foraging behavior in the presence of an audience. The specific responses observed varied between the sexes, reflecting the distinct social trade-offs faced by each sex.

An equatorial mid-Atlantic Ocean archipelago as nursery area for the cookiecutter shark: Investigating foraging strategies of neonates through bite mark inferences.

This study delves into the foraging ecology of the cookiecutter shark (Isistius brasiliensis) in the Saint Peter and Saint Paul Archipelago (SPSPA), assessing bite marks on pelagic fishes collected between March and September 2018. Examination of 200 individuals from five species revealed the shark's predilection for targeting adult fish, ensuring efficient removal of energy-rich tissue layers. However, a notable exception is Thunnus albacares, preyed on predominantly during its juvenile stage, possibly due to vertical spatial segregation. Recent bites were pervasive across species, with wahoo displaying a distinctive pattern. Cookiecutter shark bites predominantly targeted the lateral body portion (>55%) except for yellowfin tuna, which exhibited a preference for the ventral region (95%). The estimated length distribution suggests the SPSPA as a potential nursery area for cookiecutter sharks. Bite mark positions and frequencies may be linked to fish behavior, swimming velocity, and fishing gear strategy, highlighting the complex interplay in pelagic ecosystems.

Modeling and Analysis of an Age-Structured Malaria Model in the Sense of Atangana–Baleanu Fractional Operators

In this paper, integer- and fractional-order models are discussed to investigate the dynamics of malaria in a human host with a varied age distribution. A system of differential equation model with five human state variables and two mosquito state variables was examined. Preschool-age (0–5) and young-age individuals make up our model’s division of the human population. We investigated the existence of an area in which the model is both mathematically and epidemiologically well posed. According to the findings of our mathematical research, the disease-free equilibrium exists whenever the fundamental reproduction number R0 is smaller than one and is asymptotically stable. The disease-free equilibrium point is unstable when R0>1. We showed that the endemic equilibrium point is unique for R0>1. Also, the most influential control parameters of the spread of malaria were identified. Numerical simulations of both classical and fractional order were conducted, and we used ODE (45) for classical part and numerical technique developed by Toufik and Atangana for fractional order. The infected population will grow because of the high biting frequency of the mosquito and the high likelihood of transmission from the infected mosquito to the susceptible human. R=1.622, which is more than one, indicating that the mosquito vector keeps on growing. This supports the stability of the endemic equilibrium point theorem, which states that the disease becomes endemic when R=1. The susceptible human population will decrease because of the presence of the infective mosquito, which has a high biting frequency for the first couple of days. Since the infective mosquito bit the susceptible human, the susceptible human became infected and went to the infected human compartments. Then, the susceptible population will decrease and the infested human population will increase. After a certain amount of time, it becomes zero due to the growth of protected classes. In this case, a disease-free equilibrium point exists and is stable. This condition exists because R0=2.827×10−5 is less than 1. This supports the theorem that the stability of the disease-free equilibrium point is obtained when R0<1. Depending on equation, we have shown that the possibility of some endemic equilibria exists when R0<1, that is, it undergoes backward bifurcation, even when the disease-free equilibrium is locally stable, and the result means that the society may misunderstand the level of malaria prevalence in the community.

Simultaneous detection and genomic characterization of Zika virus Protein M, E and NS1 using optimized primers from Asian and African Lineage

PurposeDespite positive serological outcome, molecular confirmations have encountered little/no success either due to protocol accuracy, primer targets, or choice of sample amongst others. This study aims at providing an optimized protocol for the molecular detection of Zika virus amongst serologically positive respondent using samples from 2 selected hospitals in North Central Nigeria. Materials and methodsAbout five (5) ml of blood samples was collected from a total of 400 participants for serological analysis, the IgM-positive samples were processed for molecular analysis using target primers from Asian and African lineage while a structured questionnaire was used to evaluate risk factors. ResultsPrevalence of 19% (38) and 45% (90) IgM and IgG positivity was recorded amongst respondent in Federal Medical Center (FMC), Keffi (R2=1) while 36% (72) and 42% (84) was recorded in General Hospital (GH), Minna (R2=1). The respective risk factors such as proximity of respondent to stagnant water or drainage channel, frequency of mosquito bite, prevention strategy, implementation of the prevention strategies for mosquito, and consumption of bushmeat were significant at set standard of P<0.05. Molecular quantification revealed cut-off values (Ct) from 21.73 to 25.75 for all the 3 targeted protein while sequence analysis showed relatedness to deposited sequences in GenBank. ConclusionsThe abundance of the viral proteins as well as the genetic relatedness is indicative of presence of multiple strains of the virus or conservation of region across different geolocations. In lieu of the outcome, primers from multiple lineages is thereby recommended to forestall/overcome the challenge of cross-reactivity/false-negativity with Zika virus detection.

Epidemiology of cat bites to people in Uruguay: Effects of the age and sex of the victim, season of the year and the COVID-19 pandemic

Background: Cat bites to people are an important public health problem. However, very little information exists on the epidemiology of people bitten by cats at the level of an entire country in Latin America. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic significantly influenced people's lives and their relationships with pets, which could potentially affect the frequency of people bitten by cats. Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of people bitten by cats in Uruguay (2010 to 2020) according to the sex and age of the victim, season of the year, and to compare the prevalence in the pandemic year (2020) with that of the pre-pandemic years (2010- 2019). Methods: Cross-sectional study. Cat-bite notifications for the 2010 to 2020 period were analyzed using data from the Uruguayan Ministry of Public Health (Uruguay). Results: The annual cat-bite rate for the 2010-2020 period was 2.1 per 100,000 people. The frequency of cat bites varied with the victim´s sex (p&lt;0.0001), being greater in females (n=506, 66.5%) than in males (n=255, 33.5%). The age at being bitten by cats varied with the sex of the victim, with males being bitten at an earlier age than females (p&lt;0.0001). Among the age categories of 30 to 74 years, females were bitten more than males (p&lt;0.05). Overall, cat bites were much less frequent in the oldest age categories (over 75 years old, p&lt;0.05). The percentage of cat bites tended to change with the season of the year (p=0.08), with most bites occurring in spring and summer. The frequency of cat-bite injuries was similar between 2020 and the pre-COVID-19 pandemic years. Conclusion: In Uruguay, cat bite incidents were affected by the victim's sex (more in females) and age, as well as by the season. During the initial year of the COVID-19 pandemic, the rate of cat bites was no different to those in earlier years.

Human spotted fever group Rickettsia seroprevalence and associated epidemiologic factors among diverse, marginalized populations in South Carolina

Illness caused by spotted fever group Rickettsia (SFGR) is increasing nationally, with affluent, white residents most likely to be diagnosed. The common under-representativeness of marginalized populations in research studies and these vulnerable populations’ health inequities make veritable epidemiologic risk factor profiling challenging, which inhibits equitable public health intervention. The current study leveraged 749 banked sera and associated surveys from a cross-sectional minority-represented COVID-19 study to perform an SFGR seroprevalence investigation. SFGR titers (1:64, 1:128, 1:256, 1:512, and 1:1024) were measured using commercially available indirect fluorescent antibody slides—SFGR positive cases were defined as titers ≥1:128. Multivariable logistic regression and Getis-Ord-Gi* hotspot analyses were used to identify seropositivity-associated factors and determine seropositive clusters. Among a mostly minority and lower socioeconomic population, a 3.4 % SFGR seropositivity was noted at the ≥1:128 titer level. Male gender (Odds Ratio (OR): 3.20; adjusted Odds Ratio (aOR)s: 3.73), age (aOR: 1.05), any frequency of tick bite (OR: 2.29), and spending time working outdoors (OR: 5.05) were associated with SFGR IgG seropositivity. Moreover, the geospatial analysis showed clusters of seropositivity in areas where previous case reports occurred, suggesting potential endemic foci.

Evaluation of clinical features of snakebite in patients referred to Razi Hospital in Qaemshahr City

BackgroundSnakebites are one of the most important health issues globally that cause morbidity, discomfort, and even death. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical features of snakebite in patients referred to Razi Hospital in Ghaemshahr city. MethodsIn this descriptive, cross-sectional study, 325 snakebite patients admitted to Razi Hospital in Qaemshahr city between the years 2014 and 2019 were studied. All information was extracted from patients' medical records. SPSS software version 25 was used to analyze the data. ResultsPatients ranged in age from 9 to 71 years with a mean of 36.6±10.7 years. 238 cases (73.2%) were male and 87 cases (26.8%) were female. The highest frequency of bites with 162 cases (49.8%) was related to the lower extremities and summer with 122 cases (37.5%) had the highest frequency of bites. The highest frequency of local symptoms was related to bruising (17.8%), erythema (16.9%), and pain (15.7%), and the highest frequency of systemic symptoms were related to weakness (24%), and sweating (14.2%). For 88.2% of cases, antivenom was used. 33.8% of the patients received antibiotics, mostly ciprofloxacin+clindamycin. ConclusionThe results obtained in this study showed that common local complications in patients included bruising, erythema, and edema and systemic complications such as weakness, subcutaneous bleeding, and sweating. Antivenom was used for most of the cases and no deaths were reported. Also, unscientific actions such as incision and suction are still performed in cases that require more awareness and training.

Simultaneous detection and genomic characterization of Zika virus Protein M, E and NS1 using optimized primers from Asian and African Lineage

PurposeDespite positive serological outcome, molecular confirmations have encountered little/no success either due to protocol accuracy, primer targets, or choice of sample amongst others. This study aims at providing an optimized protocol for the molecular detection of Zika virus amongst serologically positive respondent using samples from 2 selected hospitals in North Central Nigeria. Materials and methodsAbout five (5) ml of blood samples was collected from a total of 400 participants for serological analysis, the IgM-positive samples were processed for molecular analysis using target primers from Asian and African lineage while a structured questionnaire was used to evaluate risk factors. ResultsPrevalence of 19% (38) and 45% (90) IgM and IgG positivity was recorded amongst respondent in Federal Medical Center (FMC), Keffi (R2=1) while 36% (72) and 42% (84) was recorded in General Hospital (GH), Minna (R2=1). The respective risk factors such as proximity of respondent to stagnant water or drainage channel, frequency of mosquito bite, prevention strategy, implementation of the prevention strategies for mosquito, and consumption of bushmeat were significant at set standard of P<0.05. Molecular quantification revealed cut-off values (Ct) from 21.73 to 25.75 for all the 3 targeted protein while sequence analysis showed relatedness to deposited sequences in GenBank. ConclusionsThe abundance of the viral proteins as well as the genetic relatedness is indicative of presence of multiple strains of the virus or conservation of region across different geolocations. In lieu of the outcome, primers from multiple lineages is thereby recommended to forestall/overcome the challenge of cross-reactivity/false-negativity with Zika virus detection.

Epidemiology of dog bites to people in Uruguay (2010-2020).

Dog bites to people are a serious public health problem. Limited information exists at the country level in Latin America. The COVID-19 pandemic changed people's lifestyles and their relationship with pets, and this could potentially affect the incidence of dog bites injuries. The main objectives of our study were to determine the prevalence of dog-bite injuries in Uruguay from 2010 to 2020 and to compare the prevalence in 2020 to that of pre-pandemic years. Cross-sectional study. Dog-bite notifications for the 2010 and 2020 period were analysed using data from the Uruguayan Ministry of Public Health. The annual dog-bite injury rate for the 2010-2020 period was 87.51 per 100,000 people. The frequency of bites varied with the victims' sex, with males accounting for 51.8% of the bites (p < 0.0001), and with age, with a higher frequency of bites in the ≤14 years old age group (p < 0.01). The frequency of dog bites was also higher in spring and summer than in autumn (p < 0.0001). There was no statistical difference in the frequency of dog-bite injuries when comparing 2020 with the pre-COVID-19 pandemic years. In Uruguay, the frequency of dog-bite injuries varied with season and with the age and sex of the victim. In the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of people bitten by dogs was no different than that of previous years. This is the first study in Latin America to report national rather than regional data and to include all age groups.

Frequency, geographical distribution and outcomes of pit viper bites in Malaysia consulted to Remote Envenomation Consultancy Services (RECS) from 2017 to 2020.

Not all pit viper species are present in every state of Malaysia and their distribution varies according to altitude. There is limited information on pit viper bite incidence and its geographical distribution. This was a cross-sectional study of confirmed pit viper bite cases referred to Remote Envenomation Consultancy Services (RECS) from January 2017 to December 2020. Data was collected following the approval of institutional research ethics committee. Universal sampling methods were used. Confirmed pit viper bite cases in each state, geographical location and the antivenom used were reported. A total of 523 confirmed pit viper bite injuries occurred over the 4-year study period. The majority were Malaysians, male and young adults. Most were non-occupational related (83.9%) and involved the upper limbs (46.8%). The commonest pit viper species involved was Trimeresurus purpureomaculatus (23.7%). Green pit viper antivenom (GPAV) was the most frequent antivenom used (n = 51) with the majority of patients requiring only one dose (3 vials). This study provides a better appreciation of indigenous pit viper species distribution for each state and reflects the requirement of appropriate antivenom to be stocked in each state or district hospital.

Oral immunotherapy in alpha-gal red meat allergy: Could specific IgE be a potential biomarker in monitoring management?

Oral immunotherapy (OIT) is a promising treatment for food allergies. Our aim was to establish the long-term safety and efficacy of a novel red meat (RM) OIT in galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose (alpha-gal) allergy in adults. Out of 20 patients with confirmed RM allergy, five (41.66%) underwent an early OIT, seven (58.33%) underwent a delayed protocol and eight patients who were not desensitized formed the patient control group. 15 and 27 day RM OIT for early-onset and delayed-onset alpha-gal allergy were administered, respectively. Desensitized patients were recommended to continue eating at least 100 g RM every day for 6 months and every other day in the following 6 months. After a year, the consumption was recommended 2/3 times in a week. Patients were followed up with skin tests with commercial beef and lamb extracts, fresh raw/cooked beef and lamb and cetuximab and also with serum alpha-gal specific Immunoglobulin-E (sIgE) in the first and fifth years. All patients who underwent OIT became tolerant to RM. During the 5 year follow-up, the median alpha-gal sIgE concentration gradually decreased in nine patients who consumed RM uneventfully while remained unchanged in the control group (p = .016). In two patients, rare tick bites acted as inducers of hypersensitivity reactions with concomitant elevation of alpha-gal sIgE concentrations whereas one patient with low follow-up alpha-gal sIgE concentrations consumed RM uneventfully after frequent tick bites. Our study showed the long-term safety and efficacy of alpha-gal OIT. Additionally, alpha-gal sIgE seems to be a potential biomarker to monitor OIT.

Structure of Aggressive Behavior in Underyearlings of the Rainbow Trout Oncorhynchus mykiss (Salmonidae) Changes under the Influence of Diplostomum pseudospathaceum (Trematoda) Parasites

The dynamics of aggressive behavior of the underyearlings of the rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss infected with metacercariae of the trematodes Diplostomum pseudospathaceum has been studied in an experimental heterogeneous environment for 48 days. The fish competed for the dark area of the bottom by charges, biting, chasing, and frontal and lateral displays. The sharply increased aggressiveness of fish when the parasites became infective (1.0–1.5 months after infection), i.e., capable of infecting the final host (piscivorous birds), manifested itself in an increased frequency of bites (more than 20 times compared to the control) and charges (almost three times) and was accompanied by fast movements, sharp maneuvers, and low ability to compete for shelters. The share of comparatively slow displays and chasing was much smaller. The strategy of D. pseudospathaceum manipulation of fish behavior consists of two stages: (1) protecting the host from predators; (2) increasing the vulnerability of the host. At the first stage, the general level of aggression decreases sharply; at the second, on the contrary, aggressiveness rapidly increases, but the ratio of different categories of aggression changes. The share of categories that make the host more vulnerable to predators increases. High activity and low competitiveness of infected fish contribute to their rapid extermination by predators or moving to another habitat. Such migration of fish can increase the fitness of the parasite, facilitating its dispersal in the water body.

Similarities and differences in the characteristics of the epidemical process tick-borne encephalitis and Lyme borreliosis

Objective: To identify common and distinctive characteristics of the epidemical process of tick-borne encephalitis and Lyme borreliosis on the example of the Republic of Karelia.Materials and methods. The frequency of infected tick bites, dynamics, intensity, territorial, gender, age and social features of the incidence of tick-borne encephalitis and Lyme borreliosis in 2000–2021 were analyzed according to official statistics, epidemiological examination of foci and laboratory studies. The results of studies of 2379 blood samples of adults who were not ill and not vaccinated against tick-borne encephalitis for the presence of antibodies to the virus were analyzed.Results. The virulence of ticks in 2000–2021 decreased from 23.6 to 1.3%, infection with borrelia at the level of 13.4– 38.4%. The average long-term incidence rates of tick-borne encephalitis and Lyme borreliosis were 6.2 and 6.6 per 100 thousand, the dynamics of incidence had an average pronounced downward trend, correlated with the dynamics of requests for medical care of the population affected by ticks. The main clinical form of tick–borne encephalitis is meningeal (48%). Non-erythemic forms of borreliosis in recent years amounted to 39.1%. Antibodies of class G to tick-borne encephalitis virus were detected in 11.8±0.7% of the examined individuals. The territory of risk of infection with tick-borne encephalitis and Lyme borreliosis is the central and eastern part of the south of the Republic, where I.persulcatus dominates. The proportion of urban residents among patients with both infections is higher, but the incidence of urban and rural populations did not have significant differences. The incidence rates of tick-borne borreliosis in persons aged 40-49, 50-59 and 60 years and older are 1.6-2.2 times higher than those of tick-borne encephalitis, but the difference is not significant. At working age, the percent of men is higher than women, there are no differences among the elderly.Conclusions: Similar and different features of the epidemic process of tick-borne encephalitis and tick-borne borreliosis have been identified, which should be taken to improving the detection of diseases, predicting the situation and planning preventive measures.