Vector-borne Infections Research Articles

Epidemiological Risk Factors and Modelling Approaches for Risk Assessment of Lumpy Skin Disease Virus Introduction and Spread: Methodological Review and Implications for Risk-Based Surveillance in Australia

Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is a vector-borne infection caused by the poxvirus lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV) and is a serious disease of cattle, water buffalo, and banteng. While the disease has never occurred in Australia, it is regarded as a growing threat to the Australian cattle industry as there is on-going spread of the disease throughout Asia. The development of geospatial decision support tools, such as spatial epidemiological modelling, may assist in assessing areas at greater risk of this threat. To guide the design of disease modelling approaches to support future risk-based surveillance, existing LSDV epidemiological models need to be evaluated. In this study, we performed a literature review to evaluate existing LSDV epidemiological models, identify key risk factors for introduction and spread of LSDV, and consider previously adopted control strategies. The PRISMA guidelines were used to establish the processes for article selection and information extraction, and the PICO process was used to formulate search terms. From studies that met our inclusion criteria, we extracted information on LSDV epidemiological model structure and parameterisation, risk factors for LSDV transmission and spread, and biosecurity control strategies. The literature search retrieved a total of 402 articles from four databases, of which 68 were identified for inclusion in this review following screening. Of the 68 articles reviewed, 47 explored risk factors associated with LSDV transmission and spread, four explored risk factors of LSDV introduction, four explored existing surveillance strategies in LSD-free countries, and 14 presented epidemiological models. Our findings indicate that there are various risk factors for LSDV transmission in LSD endemic countries, including long-distance airborne movement of infected vectors such as stable flies and cattle movement between countries over land borders. Key risk factors for LSDV spread in LSD endemic countries include physical environmental characteristics, weather conditions, and population distributions of livestock and vectors. Our results indicate that while a variety of modelling studies have been conducted, the majority of studies experimentally explored LSD transmission mechanisms in vectors and cattle. Spatial and spatio-temporal models have primarily been developed for LSD endemic countries and focus on the spread of the disease in terms of environmental factors in relation to previous LSD events. There were very few studies on LSD-free countries, and these only focussed on risk of LSD introduction through specific entry pathways. This review did not identify any literature exploring the risk of spread of LSDV following introduction in LSD-free countries or geospatial modelling of the suitability of LSD-free countries for LSDV incursions. In conjunction with the risk parameters and models described in the identified literature, there is need to consider a wide range of risk factors specific to Australia to inform the design of risk-based surveillance for LSD in Australia.

Innate immune response against vector-borne bunyavirus infection and viral countermeasures.

Bunyaviruses are a large group of important viral pathogens that cause significant diseases in humans and animals worldwide. Bunyaviruses are enveloped, single-stranded, negative-sense RNA viruses that infect a wide range of hosts. Upon entry into host cells, the components of viruses are recognized by host innate immune system, leading to the activation of downstream signaling cascades to induce interferons (IFNs) and other proinflammatory cytokines. IFNs bind to their receptors and upregulate the expression of hundreds of interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs). Many ISGs have antiviral activities and confer an antiviral state to host cells. For efficient replication and spread, viruses have evolved different strategies to antagonize IFN-mediated restriction. Here, we discuss recent advances in our understanding of the interactions between bunyaviruses and host innate immune response.

Crowded and warmer: Unequal dengue risk at high spatial resolution across a megacity of India

The role of climate factors on transmission of mosquito-borne infections within urban landscapes must be considered in the context of the pronounced spatial heterogeneity of such environments. Socio-demographic and environmental variation challenge control efforts for emergent arboviruses transmitted via the urban mosquito Aedes aegypti. We address at high resolution, the spatial heterogeneity of dengue transmission risk in the megacity of Delhi, India, as a function of both temperature and the carrying-capacity of the human environment for the mosquito. Based on previous results predicting maximum mosquitoes per human for different socio-economic typologies, and on remote sensing temperature data, we produce a map of the reproductive number of dengue at a resolution of 250m by 250m. We focus on dengue risk hotspots during inter-epidemic periods, places where chains of transmission can persist for longer. We assess the resulting high-resolution risk map of dengue with reported cases for three consecutive boreal winters. We find that both temperature and vector carrying-capacity per human co-vary in space because of their respective dependence on population density. The synergistic action of these two factors results in larger variation of dengue’s reproductive number than when considered separately, with poor and dense locations experiencing the warmest conditions and becoming the most likely reservoirs off-season. The location of observed winter cases is accurately predicted for different risk threshold criteria. Results underscore the inequity of risk across a complex urban landscape, whereby individuals in dense poor neighborhoods face the compounded effect of higher temperatures and mosquito carrying capacity. Targeting chains of transmission in inter-epidemic periods at these locations should be a priority of control efforts. A better mapping is needed of the interplay between climate factors that are dominant determinants of the seasonality of vector-borne infections and the socio-economic conditions behind unequal exposure.

The importance of estimating the burden of disease from foodborne transmission of Trypanosoma cruzi.

Chagas disease (ChD), caused by infection with the flagellated protozoan, Trypanosoma cruzi, has a complicated transmission cycle with many infection routes. These include vector-borne (via the triatomine (reduviid bug) vector defecating into a skin abrasion, usually following a blood meal), transplacental transmission, blood transfusion, organ transplant, laboratory accident, and foodborne transmission. Foodborne transmission may occur due to ingestion of meat or blood from infected animals or from ingestion of other foods (often fruit juice) contaminated by infected vectors or secretions from reservoir hosts. Despite the high disease burden associated with ChD, it was omitted from the original World Health Organization estimates of foodborne disease burden that were published in 2015. As these estimates are currently being updated, this review presents arguments for including ChD in new estimates of the global burden of foodborne disease. Preliminary calculations suggest a burden of at least 137,000 Disability Adjusted Life Years, but this does not take into account the greater symptom severity associated with foodborne transmission. Thus, we also provide information regarding the greater health burden in endemic areas associated with foodborne infection compared with vector-borne infection, with higher mortality and more severe symptoms. We therefore suggest that it is insufficient to use source attribution alone to determine the foodborne proportion of current burden estimates, as this may underestimate the higher disability and mortality associated with the foodborne infection route.

Perceived Social Stigma of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Hubuna, Saudi Arabia.

Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (CL) is a vector-borne skin infection that remains prevalent in regions with poor socioeconomic conditions. Stigmatization occurs when individuals with physical or psychological disorders interact with societal stereotypes. The aim of this study was to explore the perceived social stigma surrounding CL among people residing in Hubuna, Saudi Arabia. This cross-sectional community-based survey recruited 618 individuals aged 18 years and above using the snowball sampling technique to reach hidden cases within the target population. Data was collected using a self-administered questionnaire and the Explanatory Model Interview Catalogue for Perceived Social Stigma (EMIC-SS-12) was used to assess the level of perceived social stigma. It includes questions on demographic variables, behaviors, and experiences. The analysis was performed using SPSS. The study included 618 participants, the majority of whom were women and girls (54.2%), with a mean age of 28 ± 12.7 years. The median score for perceived social stigma was 26.0. Only 2.1% (n = 13) of participants had the highest EMIC-SS-12 score of 36, while 7.6% (n = 47) scored zero. The mean score for overall perceived social stigma was 1.89 ± 0.91, while the mean score for experienced stigma was 1.99 ± 1.02. Univariate analysis showed that sex, employment, location of lesions, and number of lesions were insignificantly associated with stigmatization (P-value < 0.05), because these associations were uncertain because the CI includes or very close to 1. The study reveals insights into stigmatization associated with CL in the Habuna area of Saudi Arabia. It found that the median of perceived social stigma was 26. Factors such as sex, employment status, and location of the lesion are uncertainly associated with stigma. It is crucial to explore negative behaviors and perceptions and develop suitable health education programs.

Transverse myelitis with positive dengue infection

Transverse myelitis is a rare inflammatory disease of the spinal cord that presents with sensory deficits, and rapid onset of weakness with/without bowel and bladder dysfunction.. Dengue being a common vector borne infection, may also interfere with the neurological function of the patient. The report is about how transverse myelitis is difficult to diagnose and its non-specificity to a particular etiological factor, how dengue can be a rare but possible etiological factor in causing transverse myelitis. A 33 year old female came with the complaints of upper and lower limb weakness, she was found difficult to make sudden movements. Examinations revealed the spinal inflammation that is responsible for the weakness. Serum immunoglobulins confirmed the presence of dengue infection in the patient. Estimating the etiology of the infection turned out that dengue infection might be the possible cause for the spinal inflammation, thereby resulting in transverse myelitis. Appropriate pharmacotherapy and physiotherapy showed improvement in the patient’s condition which rapidly progressed to speedy recovery and provided her an independent stability to function on her own.

Development of Data-driven Machine Learning Models and their Potential Role in Predicting Dengue outbreak.

Dengue fever is one of the most widespread vector-borne viral infections in the world, resulting in increased socio-economic burdens. The WHO has reported that 2.5 billion people are infected with dengue fever across the world, resulting in high mortalities in tropical and subtropical regions. The current article endeavors to present an overview of predicting dengue outbreaks through data-based machine-learning models. This artificial intelligence model uses real-world data such as dengue surveillance, climatic variables, and epidemiological data and combines big data with machine learning algorithms to forecast dengue. Monitoring and predicting dengue incidences have been significantly enhanced through innovative approaches. This involves gathering data on various climatic factors, including temperature, rainfall, relative humidity, and wind speed, along with monthly records of dengue cases. The study functions as an efficient warning system, enabling the anticipation of dengue outbreaks. This early warning system not only alerts communities but also aids relevant authorities in implementing crucial preventive measures.

Scrub typhus in Indonesia: A cross-sectional analysis of archived fever studies samples.

Scrub typhus is an understudied vector-borne bacterial infection. We tested archived fever samples for scrub typhus seropositivity to begin charting its geographic distribution in Indonesia. We analysed 1033 serum samples from three sites. IgM and IgG enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) against Orientia tsutsugamushi was performed using Karp, Kato, Gilliam, TA 716 antigens. To determine the cutoff in the absence of a presumed unexposed population and gold standard tests, we identified the visual inflection point, performed change point analysis, and used finite mixture models. The optical density cutoff values used for IgM and IgG were 0.49 and 0.13, respectively. Across all sites, IgM seropositivity was 4.6% (95% CI: 3.4 to 6.0%) while IgG seropositivity was 4.4% (95% CI: 3.3 to 5.8%). The overall seropositivity across sites was 8.8% (95% CI: 8.1 to 11.7%). The overall seropositivity for Jambi, Denpasar, Tabanan were 9.7% (95% CI: 7.0 to 13.3%), 8.0% (95% CI: 5.7 to 11.0%), 9.0% (95% CI: 6.1 to 13.0%), respectively. We conclude that O. tsutsugamushi exposure in humans occurred at all sites analysed and could be the cause of illness in some cases. Though it was not the main cause of acute fever in these locations, it is still important to consider scrub typhus in cases not responding to beta-lactam antibiotics. Future seroprevalence surveys and testing for scrub typhus in acute febrile illness studies will be essential to understand its distribution and burden in Indonesia.

Human and animal exposure to newly discovered sand fly viruses, China.

The Hedi virus (HEDV) and Wuxiang virus (WUXV) are newly discovered Bunyaviruses transmitted by sandflies. The geographical distribution of isolation of these two viruses continues to expand and it has been reported that WUXV causes neurological symptoms and even death in suckling mice. However, little is known about the prevalence of the two viruses in mammalian infections. In order to understand the infection status of HEDV and WUXV in humans and animals from regions where the viruses have been isolated, this study used Western blotting to detect the positive rates of HEDV and WUXV IgG antibodies in serum samples from febrile patients, dogs, and chickens in the forementioned regions. The results showed that of the 29 human serum samples, 17.24% (5/29) tested positive for HEDV, while 68.96% (20/29) were positive for WUXV. In the 31 dog serum samples, 87.10% (27/31) were positive for HEDV and 70.97% (22/31) were positive for WUXV, while in the 36 chicken serum samples, 47.22% (17/36) were positive for HEDV, and 52.78% (19/36) were positive for WUXV. These findings suggest there are widespread infections of HEDV and WUXV in mammals (dogs, chickens) and humans from the regions where these viruses have been isolated. Moreover, the positive rate of HEDV infections was higher in local animals compared to that measured in human specimens. This is the first seroepidemiological study of these two sandfly-transmitted viruses. The findings of the study have practical implications for vector-borne viral infections and related zoonotic infections in China, as well as providing an important reference for studies on the relationship between sandfly-transmitted viruses and zoonotic infections outside of China.

Climate change and infectious diseases in pediatric global health

In recent years, the consequences of climate change on global health have drawn increasing attention. Climate change is known to trigger extreme weather events, alter rainfall patterns, raise ocean/sea levels, and disrupt ecosystems, resulting in devastating effects on human life and the environment. Children, especially those living in low-income countries, are particularly susceptible to climate change-related health risks. This article explores the implications of climate change on pediatric global health, particularly through its impact on infectious diseases. Infectious diseases, notably those transmitted by vectors like mosquitoes, are acutely sensitive to climate fluctuations. Warmer temperatures expand the geographic range of disease-carrying vectors, fostering the transmission and outbreak of diseases such as arboviral diseases (dengue, chikungunya, etc.), malaria, and other vector-borne infections. Climate-induced changes in water availability and food security heighten the risk of diarrheal diseases, disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations like young children. HIV and other viral diseases are also influenced by climate change. As well as in tuberculosis, these diseases are strongly determined by socioeconomical factors; and poverty, poor housing, forced population movement, or health system disruptions driven by climate change exacerbate disease burden and hinder their effective epidemiological control. Moreover, new infectious diseases may emerge from adaptation of microorganisms to higher temperatures. For example, fungal infections pose a significant concern, particularly for immunocompromised children. Addressing the multifaceted challenges of climate change on infectious diseases and child health demands urgent action. Establishing robust disease surveillance systems, implementing public health interventions, and fostering international collaboration are crucial in mitigating the incoming threats.

Опыт лечения тяжелой лихорадки денге препаратом риамиловир

The article presents the experience of using riamilovir in the treatment of a case of severe dengue fever. It describes a case of severe form of dengue fever in a tourist who returned from Thailand and was hospitalized in the State Budgetary Institution Infectious Clinical Hospital No 2 in Moscow and the successful use of off-label nucleoside analogue riamilovir to treat the patient. A patient with dengue fever confirmed by detection of IgM to dengue virus (DV) and DV RNA in serum had widespread petechial rash and profuse uterine bleeding on the 5th day of the disease, and developed thrombocytopenia up to 70·109 cells/liter. A second DV infection was suspected. On the same day, serum examination revealed high titer IgG to DV, and DV genotyping was performed (virus genotype I was detected). The patient's condition was considered as repeated DV infection, development of severe form of infection. Based on the data on the successful use of the nucleoside analog riamilovir for the treatment of classical dengue fever by Russian specialists in the Republic of Guinea, a council of specialists at the medical board decided to use the “off-label” drug to treat the patient. Within a day after the start of therapy, the symptoms of the disease began to regress and on the 10th day of the disease the patient was discharged from the hospital in satisfactory condition. The obtained positive experience of using the nucleoside analog Riamilovir in real clinical practice in the treatment of a patient with severe form of dengue fever opens new opportunities for the treatment of this infection. Full-scale clinical trials of this drug are needed to evaluate the possibility of including a new indication for use. Key words: Dengue fever, severe form, Riamilovir, antiviral therapy, vector-borne viral infections

Qualitative and quantitative analysis of vector-borne infection through fractional framework

Qualitative and quantitative analysis of vector-borne infection through fractional framework

Modeling the co-dynamics of vector-borne infections with the application of optimal control theory

Modeling the co-dynamics of vector-borne infections with the application of optimal control theory

Epidemiological Characterization of Dengue in South Andaman Islands, India: An Update

Dengue is a vector-borne viral infection and has become a significant tropical disease with increased recognition of atypical manifestations apart from the classical clinical features

Clinical, laboratory profile and molecular characterization of Orientia tsutsugamushi among fatal scrub typhus patients from Karnataka, India

Background Scrub typhus is a vector-borne infection caused by the obligate intracellular organism Orientia tsutsugamushi. In some cases, scrub typhus can result in severe complications, multiorgan failure and death. Objective To study the clinical and laboratory profiles of patients who succumbed to scrub typhus. Methods A prospective cohort study was conducted from August 2019 through April 2023 on scrub typhus patients admitted to our hospital. Clinical and laboratory parameters of all the patients were recorded, and blood samples were drawn. To confirm scrub typhus, a nested polymerase chain reaction (nPCR) was performed in collected samples. Viable amplicons were sequenced, and phylogenetic analyses were performed to identify infecting genotypes. Results A total of 261 patients were enrolled. Of these, nine (3.45%) patients succumbed at a median (Interquartile Range) duration of 5 (1.5, 10.5) days after admission. Sepsis with septic shock (9, 100%) and acute kidney injury (AKI) (6, 66%) were noted among the succumbed patients. All the succumbed patients (100%) required intensive care admission, inotropic and ventilatory support. While 5 (55%) patients required dialysis, two (22%) required blood transfusion. Three (33%) patient samples were co-positive for Leptospira IgM, and four (44%) patients had superinfection with Candida tropicalis, multi-drug-resistant (MDR) E. Coli sepsis, pan drug-resistant (PDR) Acinetobacter Baumanii, and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Phylogenetic analysis revealed Orientia tsutsugamushi Japanese Gilliam-variant (JG-v) like (50%), Karp-like (37.5%), and Japanese Gilliam (JG) like (12.5%) strains among succumbed patients. Conclusion Delay in scrub typhus diagnosis can result in severe complications, septic shock, and multisystem organ failure, culminating in death.

Rituximab Is Associated with an Increased Risk of Malaria Infection in a Malaria-Endemic Region

Rituximab has become a standard of care for the treatment of lymphoproliferative B-cell neoplasms, such as diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL). As an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody, rituximab depletes the B lymphocyte compartment and is associated with downstream impairment in humoral immunity and increased risk of infections. While such infections are often bacterial, non-bacterial infections also do occur. Malaria is a vector-borne protozoal infection caused by plasmodium species and is endemic in most parts of sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) where HIV infection is also endemic and an independent risk factor for malaria. Most studies evaluating the safety and efficacy of rituximab were in non-endemic malaria areas with a low prevalence of HIV in the US and Europe. Therefore, the effect of rituximab-induced immunodeficiency on malaria-specific immunity and the risk of malaria among DLBCL in malaria-endemic regions is not well established. The incidence of DLBCL in SSA is increasing due to the growth and aging of the population as well as epidemic levels of HIV infection. The objective of this retrospective study is to evaluate the risk for malaria infection among DLBCL patients treated with standard chemotherapy in Malawi, a malaria-endemic country with high HIV prevalence. We performed a retrospective analysis of 96 patients, aged ≥18 with DLBCL from the Kamuzu Central Hospital (Lilongwe, Malawi) Lymphoma Study, a prospective observational cohort treated with CHOP or R-CHOP 2013-2019. Symptomatic malaria cases were determined by retrospective chart review and defined as individuals with documented positive malaria rapid diagnostic test (MRDT) or peripheral blood film (PBF) during treatment or up to one year of follow-up. Laboratory malaria cases were individuals with positive P. falciparum histidine-rich protein 2 (HRP2) antigenemia using quantitative ELISA at mid-treatment (2 months), completion (4 months), or post-treatment (12 months). HRP2 antigenemia is suggestive of current or very recent P. falciparum malaria infection. Unadjusted odds ratios were calculated for risk factors for malaria using logistic regression. Treatment regimens varied slightly with 59 patients (62%) receiving CHOP, and 37 (38%) receiving R-CHOP. Fourteen of the 96 DLBCL (14.6%) patients developed symptomatic malaria during the treatment period and the remainder remained free of malaria-associated symptoms. Symptomatic malaria was not significantly associated with age, gender, DLBCL stage, number of treatment cycles received, prior history of TB, performance status, HIV infection, or HIV RNA viral load &amp;gt; 1,000 copies. However, among the symptomatic malaria cases, five (36%) received CHOP, and nine (64%) received R-CHOP. Patients treated with R-CHOP were more likely to develop symptomatic malaria than CHOP patients (OR 3.38, 95% CI 1.05-12.26; p=0.03). Thirty-two (24 CHOP, 8 R-CHOP) patients were positive for malaria based on the HRP-2 antigen test and there was no correlation with rituximab treatment. However, HRP-2 antigen concentrations were significantly higher in R-CHOP patients compared to CHOP patients (2.3 OD vs 0.58 OD; p=0.01). To our knowledge, this is the first study to evaluate the effect of rituximab on malaria risk among DLBCL patients treated with chemotherapy in a malaria-endemic region. This study suggests that rituximab increases the risk of symptomatic malaria in adult DLBCL patients. Data investigating the effect of rituximab on malaria-specific antibody production is currently being analyzed. Further studies are needed to determine whether antimalarial chemoprophylaxis should be implemented to improve the comprehensive care of cancer patients residing in malaria-endemic areas.

Chagas Disease, A Review of the Literature

Chagas disease is a vector-borne (triatomine) infection caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. Synonyms for this disease are: American trypanosomiasis, Chagas disease and T. cruzi infection. 10, 5 The most common form of transmission of Chagas disease is through hematophagous triatomine insects (triatominae), which develop in dwellings in precarious conditions, The disease can also be transmitted by blood transfusion, organ transplantation, oral and congenital routes, and even more rarely by exceptional routes such as sexual contact and non-Triatominae vectors. American Trypanosomiasis is endemic in much of Mexico, Central and South America 1,11. it is estimated that ~6 million individuals are infected throughout Latin America, while ~300,000 are infected in the U.S.1, 10, 11,16 Chagas disease has two clearly differentiated phases. Initially, the acute phase lasts about two months after infection, they may have a skin lesion or a purplish swelling of an eyelid, they may have fever, headache, enlarged lymph nodes, pallor, muscle aches, shortness of breath, swelling, and abdominal or chest pain. During the chronic phase, the infection can cause sudden death due to cardiac arrhythmias or progressive heart failure due to destruction of the cardiac muscle and its innervations. 15 Appropriate diagnostics for acute infection, nucleic acid amplification testing (NAAT) from blood is recommended; For chronic infection, serological testing is employed. Antitrypanosomal agents, benznidazole and nifurtimox, have shown efficacy in treating T. cruzi infection, The most serious complication is chronic chagasic heart disease, since it is the main cause of death in sick patients. 16

Molecular survey on vector-borne pathogens in clinically healthy stray cats in Zaragoza (Spain)

BackgroundIn Europe, feline vector-borne infections are gaining importance because of the changing climate, expanding habitats of potential vectors and expanding pathogen reservoirs. The main objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of vector-borne pathogens (VBPs) in stray cats in Zaragoza, Spain, and to investigate potential risk factors for infection, including feline leukaemia virus (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV).MethodsBlood samples from stray cats presented to the veterinary faculty in Zaragoza between February 2020 and 2022 were tested by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the presence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Anaplasma platys, Bartonella henselae, Ehrlichia canis, Rickettsia spp., haemotropic Mycoplasma spp., Hepatozoon spp., Leishmania infantum, piroplasms and microfilariae at the LABOKLIN laboratory. The cats were also tested for FeLV and FIV by PCR.ResultsNearly half of the cats (158/332, 47.6%) were positive for at least one VBP. Hepatozoon spp. were detected in 25.6%, haemotropic Mycoplasma spp. in 22.9%, B. henselae in 9.3% and L. infantum in 2.1% of the cats. Male sex had a statistically significant association with test results for haemotropic Mycoplasma spp. (odds ratio 1.38 [1.21;1.57]); regionality with Hepatozoon spp., B. henseale and FIV; and seasonality with Hepatozoon spp., haemotropic Mycoplasma spp., L. infantum and FeLV (P ≤ 0.05 each). A strong positive correlation was reported for the amount of rainfall and the number of cats that tested positive for Hepatozoon spp. (ρ = 753, P = 0.05). None of the cats tested positive for A. phagocytophilum, A. platys, E. canis, Rickettsia spp., piroplasms, or microfilariae. Co-infections with multiple VBPs were detected in 56 out of 332 cats (16.9%). Thirty-one of the 332 cats included in the study (9.3%) tested positive for FeLV (6.9%) and for FIV (3.6%). In 20/31 cats (64.5%) that tested positive for FeLV/FIV, coinfections with VBP were detected (P = 0.048, OR 2.15 [0.99; 4.64]).ConclusionsVBPs were frequently detected in stray cats in Zaragoza. In particular, regionality and seasonality had a statistically significant association with PCR results for most VBPs included in the study.Graphical

Antiparasitic effect of Farnesol against Leishmania major: A rationale from in vitro and in silico investigations.

Leishmaniasis is a vector-borne parasitic infection caused by the infective bite of female Phlebotomine sandflies. Treatment of leishmaniasis by conventional synthetic compounds is met by challenges pertaining to adverse effects which call for the discovery of newer anti-leishmanial molecules. This study was performed to evaluate the effect and modes of action of a sesquiterpene alcoholic molecule Farnesol on Leishmania major, the causative agent of Zoonotic CL. The cytotoxic effect of Farnesol against L.major promastigotes, amastigotes and macrophages was assessed by MTT test and counting. The IC50 on promastigotes by Farnesol on L.major was also evaluated by flow cytometry. In the findings, promastigotes were reduced at 167μM. The mean numbers of L.major amastigotes in macrophages were significantly decreased on exposure to Farnesol at 172μM. In addition, Farnesol induced significant apoptosis dose-dependent on L.major promastigotes. In silico protein-ligand_binding analyses indicated the effect of Farnesol in perturbation of the ergosterol synthesis pathway of Leishmania with attributes suggesting inhibition of Lanosterol-α-demethylase, the terminal enzyme of ergosterol synthesis machinery. Findings from flow cytometry reveal the role of Farnesol in apoptosis-induced killing in promastigotes. Farnesol was effective at very lower concentrations when compared to Paromomycin. Further studies are crucial to evaluate the therapeutic potential of Farnesol alone or in combination with other conventional drugs in animal models.

Solving Epidemics of Lyme and Other Vector-Borne Infections through the Immune System

Solving Epidemics of Lyme and Other Vector-Borne Infections through the Immune System