Article
Infectious Diseases
Georg Gerhard Duscher, Alain C. Frantz, Anna Kuebber-Heiss, Hans-Peter Fuehrer, Mike Heddergott
Summary: Baylisascaris procyonis, a common gastrointestinal parasite of raccoons, has been detected for the first time in Austria, highlighting the importance of monitoring and providing information about this parasite to the public and practitioners. Genetic profiling suggested that the raccoon and its parasite originated from the nearest German raccoon population.
TRANSBOUNDARY AND EMERGING DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Parasitology
Andrea Lombardo, Giuseppina Brocherel, Carla Donnini, Gianluca Fichi, Alessia Mariacher, Elena Lavinia Diaconu, Virginia Carfora, Antonio Battisti, Nadia Cappai, Luca Mattioli, Claudio De Liberato
Summary: Italian researchers have reported the first finding of the zoonotic parasite Baylisascaris procyonis in raccoons in Tuscany, highlighting the potential health risks associated with the introduction of non-native species.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2022)
Article
Parasitology
Alain C. Frantz, Stephanie Lippert, Mike Heddergott
Summary: Reliable microsatellite profiles of host individuals can be obtained by amplifying DNA extracted from a parasitic nematode. This approach can be used to reconstruct invasion pathways of roundworms when samples of the raccoon hosts are lacking.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Miriam Maas, Rea Tatem-Dokter, Jolianne M. Rijks, Cecile Dam-Deisz, Frits Franssen, Hester van Bolhuis, Mike Heddergott, Anna Schleimer, Vinciane Schockert, Clotilde Lambinet, Pauline Hubert, Thomas Redelijk, Rene Janssen, Ana Paula Lopes Cruz, Irene Campos Martinez, Yannick Caron, Annick Linden, Christophe Lesenfants, Julien Paternostre, Joke van der Giessen, Alain C. Frantz
Summary: The geographic range of the zoonotic raccoon roundworm is expanding, creating new public health risks in parts of Europe. The prevalence of the parasite was determined in Dutch raccoons, with genetic analysis suggesting some populations were introduced from captivity. Public education and awareness are essential to reduce the public health risk posed by this parasite.
TRANSBOUNDARY AND EMERGING DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Shannon K. French, David L. Pearl, William B. Sutton, Andrew S. Peregrine, Claire M. Jardine
Summary: In urban environments, factors associated with the prevalence and transmission of raccoon roundworm infection were studied. The study found that total green space was negatively associated with infection odds, while residential zoning demonstrated a quadratic relationship.
Article
Plant Sciences
Dali Gaganidze, Tinatin Sadunishvili, Mariam Aznarashvili, Ekaterine Abashidze, Manana Gurielidze, Simon Carnal, Fabio Rezzonico, Manana Zubadalashvili
Summary: Since its initial appearance in the Mtskheta-Mtianeti region in 2016, fire blight has spread to several other regions of Georgia during the years 2017-2018, especially affecting the eastern part of the country. The causative agent, Gram-negative bacterium Erwinia amylovora, was confirmed by PCR in hundreds of instances on different organs of symptomatic apple, quince, and pear trees. Sequencing of the CRISPR regions revealed the presence of two distinct genotypes that can be traced back to Europe in the twentieth century, indicating multiple introduction events through import of diseased plant material in recent years.
JOURNAL OF PLANT PATHOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Maria Dolores Ramos-Barbero, Clara Gomez-Gomez, Laura Sala-Comorera, Lorena Rodriguez-Rubio, Sara Morales-Cortes, Elena Mendoza-Barbera, Gloria Vique, Daniel Toribio-Avedillo, Anicet R. Blanch, Elisenda Balleste, Cristina Garcia-Aljaro, Maite Muniesa
Summary: In this study, 25 new crAss-like phages (termed crAssBcn) infecting Bacteroides intestinalis were isolated and genetically characterized, showing their wide distribution in fecal samples from people around the globe.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Arman Issimov, Torebek Baibatyrov, Aigul Tayeva, Shynar Kenenbay, Sholpan Abzhanova, Gulnara Shambulova, Gaukhar Kuzembayeva, Madina Kozhakhiyeva, Inna Brel-Kisseleva, Olga Safronova, Lyailya Bauzhanova, Gulzhan Yeszhanova, Kainar Bukarbayev, Alma Katasheva, Francisco A. Uzal
Summary: This study investigated the prevalence of Clostridium perfringens in meat products at meat fairs in four cities of West Kazakhstan. The results showed that Clostridium perfringens was found in almost all tested meat products, with beef samples having the highest contamination rate. This study is the first survey on the prevalence of Clostridium perfringens in meats in Kazakhstan.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Deo Okure, Joel Ssematimba, Richard Sserunjogi, Nancy Lozano Gracia, Maria Edisa Soppelsa, Engineer Bainomugisha
Summary: Air pollution is a significant issue in urban centers in Uganda, with high levels of PM2.5 and NO2 exceeding health standards. The study reveals diurnal variations in pollution levels and inverse relationships between seasonal particulate levels and precipitation.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Virology
Ekaterine Khmaladze, Matthew R. Mauldin, Davit Tsaguria, Mari Gavashelidze, Ketevan Sidamonidze, Tea Tevdoradze, Yu Li, Mary G. Reynolds, Paata Imnadze, Yoshinori Nakazawa
Summary: This study identified previously unrecognized poxvirus infections in Georgia through retrospective screening of archived DNA samples that were originally diagnosed as anthrax-negative. The presence of orf virus, bovine papular stomatitis virus, and pseudocowpox virus was confirmed in the human samples tested. This highlights the importance of timely identification of such infections by enhancing laboratory capacity.
ARCHIVES OF VIROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Eman E. Abdeen, Walid S. Mousa, Ola H. Harb, Gehad A. Fath-Elbab, Mohammed Nooruzzaman, Ahmed Gaber, Walaa F. Alsanie, Ahmed Abdeen
Summary: The study investigated the prevalence, antimicrobial susceptibility, virulence determination, and genetic characteristics of Listeria monocytogenes in different food products from Menoufiya governorate in Egypt. L. monocytogenes was found in 6.8% of the tested food samples, displaying high susceptibility to some antibiotics while showing multidrug resistance. The genetic analysis showed high nucleotide similarity with global clones and clustered with other Listeria species.
Article
Ecology
Marta Sylla, Malgorzata Swiader, Jose Luis Vicente-Vicente, Gustavo Arciniegas, Dirk Wascher
Summary: The resilience of the local food system is highlighted as a key strategic goal for a sustainable future. The definition of the local scale depends on the product and supply chain, ranging from site scale to regional and national levels. This study explores the potential for functional urban areas (FUAs) to provide vegetarian diets to their residents, using the MFSS model methodology. The results show that the first five FUAs in the nine European city regions analyzed can meet the demand for vegetarian and local food, with only the first three having enough agricultural land to sustain this diet.
LANDSCAPE AND URBAN PLANNING
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Mike Heddergott, Stephanie Lippert, Annette Schliephake, Wolfgang Gaede, Anna Schleimer, Alain C. Frantz
Summary: The raccoon roundworm has spread to a naive raccoon population in Germany through natural dispersal of infected raccoons. This poses a threat to human health, highlighting the importance of continuous monitoring and public awareness.
Article
Microbiology
Xiaofei Li, Xiangxiang Xu, Xinyi Chen, Yunlu Li, Jiale Guo, Jie Gao, Xinan Jiao, Yuanyue Tang, Jinlin Huang
Summary: Campylobacter is a major cause of bacterial foodborne diseases globally, and poultry is a significant reservoir for its transmission to humans. This study reveals a high prevalence of Campylobacter in diseased poultry in China, highlighting the need for farms to develop effective strategies to reduce infection.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Aakanksha Singh, Ganesh Kumar Saya, Vikas Menon, Jeby Jose Olickal, Revathi Ulaganeethi, Roshina Sunny, Sadhana Subramanian, Ashutosh Kothari, Palanivel Chinnakali
Summary: The study found a high prevalence of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts in the area, with unemployment, physical abuse, and family issues significantly associated with suicidal behaviors.
JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Ellen Haynes, Kayla B. Garrett, Erin K. Box, Hubert Zirimwabagabo, Philip Tchindebet Oaukou, Kyler Abernathy, Michael J. Yabsley, Christopher A. Cleveland
Summary: Infections of Guinea worm in dogs and cats have been increasing in Chad, Africa. Study using animal-borne video cameras revealed that cats engage in risky behaviors such as scavenging, stalking prey, and consuming infected items at a high frequency, suggesting they may contribute to the transmission of the parasite. Cats could potentially serve as a new source for Guinea worm transmission.
APPLIED ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR SCIENCE
(2023)
Editorial Material
Parasitology
Michael J. Yabsley, Alec T. Thompson
TRENDS IN PARASITOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Kevin D. Niedringhaus, Marissa Gordon, Michael J. Yabsley, Jackie Gai, Francisco A. Uzal, Kevin D. Woolard
Summary: Free-living amoebae can cause rare diseases and death in humans and animals worldwide. Identifying the species of amoeba involved is important due to variations in exposure routes and clinical progression. This study reports a fatal infection by the free-living amoeba Balamuthia mandrillaris in a Siberian tiger, confirmed through PCR assay and sequencing. Different modalities, including PCR, immunofluorescence, electron microscopy, and immunohistochemistry, are often used to confirm the pathogen in these cases.
JOURNAL OF VETERINARY DIAGNOSTIC INVESTIGATION
(2023)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Deborah L. A. Chong, Brittany McHale, Kayla B. Garrett, Michael J. Yabsley
Summary: A wild adult Greater Sage-grouse from Oregon, US, was found dead, with multiorgan necrosis and inflammation caused by protozoal schizonts and phanerozoites. Molecular characterization identified these protozoa as Plasmodium homopolare H2 and a novel Leucocytozoon sp. lineage. This is the first report of fatal systemic haemosporidiosis in Greater Sage-grouse.
JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Kayla Garrett, Justin Brown, Ryan K. A. Grunert, Jonathan Hunte, Mark G. Ruder, Kyle Van Why, Michael J. Yabsley, Christopher A. Cleveland
Summary: Echinococcus spp. are parasitic tapeworms that affect the health of wildlife, domestic animals, livestock, and humans. Two species of interest in North America are Echinococcus multilocularis and Echinococcus canadensis. The primary hosts for these parasites include red foxes, gray foxes, coyotes, and wolves. Different intermediate hosts are used for each species. Recent reports in the eastern US emphasize the need for surveillance of Echinococcus spp. in this region.
JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Mark W. Cunningham, Daniel P. Wolf, Katherine A. Sayler, Michael Milleson, Brittany Bankovich, Paul Schueller, Betsy S. Haley, Savannah Stura, Michael J. Yabsley
Summary: During the study in Florida, we found the presence of Baylisascaris procyonis (raccoon roundworm) in 9 counties, with an overall prevalence of 3.7%. We identified housing density, the presence of the endoparasite Macracanthorhynchus ingens, and urbanicity as important factors in predicting the presence of raccoon roundworm. It is important for public health officials, wildlife rehabilitators, wildlife managers, and others to recognize that all raccoons in Florida may potentially be infected with B. procyonis, especially in areas with high housing density.
JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Kevin D. Niedringhaus, John P. Dumbacher, Freeland Dunker, Shelby Medina, Becki Lawson, Heather M. A. Fenton, J. Mark Higley, Ellen Haynes, Michael J. Yabsley
Summary: Barred Owls have expanded their range and their presence is suspected to have contributed to the decline of the Northern Spotted Owl. A study was conducted to understand the health threats to Barred Owls and to determine the prevalence and effects of periorbital nematode infection in these owls. It was found that 49% of the sampled Barred Owls were infected with periorbital nematodes, but the effect on their health is still unclear.
JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Julia C. Frederick, Alec T. Thompson, Prisha Sharma, Guha Dharmarajan, Isobel Ronai, Risa Pesapane, Ryan C. Smith, Kellee D. Sundstrom, Jean I. Tsao, Holly C. Tuten, Michael J. Yabsley, Travis C. Glenn
Summary: The blacklegged tick is a vector of Lyme disease and its genetic variation is associated with its vectorial capacity. Through studying genome-wide markers of 353 blacklegged tick samples, differences in genetic variation among different geographic regions were found, especially in populations from the Northeast and Upper Midwest, where Lyme disease is most common. The study also identified 10 variable DNA sites that contribute the most to population differentiation.
Article
Ecology
Meredith Lane, Mitra Kashani, Joel LN. Barratt, Yvonne Qvarnstrom, Michael J. Yabsley, Kayla B. Garrett, Richard S. Bradbury
Summary: This study evaluated the efficacy of nUPDx in detecting parasitic infections in animals. nUPDx was able to detect parasitic infections in various animal samples, and identified co-infections that were not detected by other methods.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY-PARASITES AND WILDLIFE
(2023)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Sonia M. Hernandez, Shannon E. Curry, Maureen H. Murray, Lisa A. Hoopes, Roger Nilsen, Christopher Gregory, Branson Ritchie, Katelyn Adkins, R. Ethan Cooper, Taylor J. Ellison, Henry C. Adams, Michael J. Yabsley, Elizabeth Howerth, Nicole L. Gottdenker
Summary: The infection of Macrorhabdus ornithogaster was discovered for the first time in American white ibis in Florida, and the infection was found to be potentially associated with clinical disease and mortality. Further studies on this pathogen in free-living birds are needed.
JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE DISEASES
(2023)
Correction
Ecology
Alexander T. Strauss, Daniel C. Suh, Kate Galbraith, Sarah M. Coker, Katie Schroeder, Christopher Brandon, Elizabeth M. Warburton, Michael J. Yabsley, Christopher A. Cleveland
Article
Ecology
Alexander T. Strauss, Daniel C. Suh, Kate Galbraith, Sarah M. Coker, Katie Schroeder, Christopher Brandon, Elizabeth M. Warburton, Michael J. Yabsley, Christopher A. Cleveland
Summary: Parasites play important roles in ecosystems by infecting common hosts, such as Daphnia, which are critical for freshwater ecosystems. This study found two previously unreported parasite species infecting three Daphnia species in shallow ponds in Georgia, USA. The prevalence and impact of these parasites varied among ponds and host species, suggesting their potential significance in these freshwater ecosystems.
Article
Ecology
Michael J. Yabsley, Sarah M. Coker, Catharine N. Welch, Kayla B. Garrett, Maureen Murray, Ryan Grunert, Julia S. Seixas, Whitney M. Kistler, Shannon E. Curry, Henry C. Adams, Charlie S. Nakatsu, Liandrie Swanepoel, Seth T. Wyckoff, Troy M. Koser, Elizabeth Kurimo-Beechuk, Ellen Haynes, Sonia M. Hernandez
Summary: The American white ibis is increasingly urban in Florida and relies on urban and suburban habitats, potentially altering parasite transmission. Parasites, especially haemosporidians, in ibis have been understudied. This study found a high prevalence and genetic diversity of Haemoproteus in white ibis in South Florida, suggesting a significant presence of haemosporidia in this population.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY-PARASITES AND WILDLIFE
(2023)
Article
Parasitology
Seth T. Wyckoff, Tell Judkins, Nicole M. Nemeth, Mark G. Ruder, James A. Martin, Michael J. Yabsley
Summary: This study investigated the health impacts of gastrointestinal and periorbital parasites in bobwhite in western Oklahoma, USA. The results showed a low prevalence and diversity of parasites in bobwhite, but at least one gastrointestinal or ocular parasite species was detected in more than half of the sampled birds. The study also found a negative association between burdens of A. pennula infections and fat stores in bobwhite.
VETERINARY PARASITOLOGY- REGIONAL STUDIES AND REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Parasitology
Jenna R. Gettings, Christopher S. Mcmahan, Christopher A. Cleveland, Andrea Varela-Stokes, Kris Hubbard, Sarah A. Hamer, Heather S. Walden, Michael J. Yabsley
Summary: Domestic dogs are susceptible to various vector-borne pathogens that are not only important for their health but also pose a risk to human health. This study found a correlation between the prevalence of vector-borne pathogens in shelter-housed and owned dog populations, suggesting that shelter-housed dogs have higher rates of heartworm infection and seroprevalence of Ehrlichia spp. and B. burgdorferi compared to owned dogs. The findings provide valuable data on the risk of vector-borne diseases in dogs and contribute to our understanding of the relationship between shelter-housed and owned dogs in terms of seroprevalence of these pathogens.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2023)
