Article
Infectious Diseases
Rossella Panarese, Roberta Iatta, Frederic Beugnet, Domenico Otranto
Summary: This study evaluated the incidence of Dirofilaria immitis and Leishmania infantum infections in two dog shelters in southern Italy. The results showed that one of the dog shelters had higher infection rates, potentially posing a threat to animal and human health.
TRANSBOUNDARY AND EMERGING DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Jorge Isidoro Matos, Sara Nieves Garcia-Rodriguez, Noelia Costa-Rodriguez, Alicia Caro-Vadillo, Elena Carreton, Jose Alberto Montoya-Alonso
Summary: This study assessed the diagnostic value of echocardiography tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) in determining the presence of pulmonary hypertension (PH) in dogs with heartworm disease. The TDI measurements showed significant differences between dogs with and without PH, and cut-off values with excellent sensitivity and specificity were found. The TDI mode may be a useful adjunct diagnostic method for PH in dogs with Dirofilaria immitis.
Article
Parasitology
Karen Ann Ward, Linda Susan Jacobson, Aveline Baldasan Lacaden, Kelly Ann Harrison
Summary: This retrospective study evaluated modified three-dose melarsomine treatment protocols in a shelter setting and compared them to the American Heartworm Society (AHS)-recommended protocol. The results showed that using the new protocols can increase the lifesaving capacity and improve the quality of life for shelter dogs by reducing the duration of exercise restriction and length of stay.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Remy Betous, Anthony Emile, Hua Che, Eva J. Guchen, Didier Concordet, Thavy Long, Sandra Noack, Paul M. Selzer, Roger Prichard, Anne Lespine
Summary: Nematode parasites enter their definitive host as infectious larvae and DAF-12 plays a role in their development to adulthood. The filarial nematodes' DAF-12 exhibit higher sensitivity to ligands and can be specifically activated by mammalian sera. These findings suggest that filarial nematodes have evolved to sense and adapt to their host environment to resume larval development.
Review
Parasitology
Timothy G. Geary
Summary: Despite the perception that heartworm is a solved problem in veterinary medicine, increasing frequency and geographic distribution of heartworm infections, along with resistance to preventative therapies, pose ongoing challenges. The lack of basic information on heartworms limits research into new prevention and treatment methods. Recent advances in technical platforms and laboratory animal models offer opportunities for discovering new drugs, diagnostic biomarkers, and parasite-derived molecules, as well as insights into the host-parasite relationship.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2023)
Article
Parasitology
Andrew R. Moorhead, Christopher C. Evans, Kaori Sakamoto, Michael T. Dzimianski, Abdelmoneim Mansour, Utami DiCosty, Crystal Fricks, Scott McCall, Ben Carson, C. Thomas Nelson, John W. McCall
Summary: According to the study, using doxycycline prior to adulticide administration can effectively reduce the levels of Wolbachia and its associated metabolites, which are a leading cause of pulmonary pathology. The current guidelines recommend a 30-day wait period after using doxycycline, but this wait period may not be necessary. Therefore, reducing the wait period and doxycycline dosage may bring practical benefits to animals, pet owners, and veterinarians.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2023)
Article
Parasitology
Jeff M. Gruntmeir, Jeff R. Abbott, Peter E. Kima, Maureen T. Long, Byron L. Blagburn, Heather S. Walden
Summary: Heat treatment was found to increase the sensitivity of commercial heartworm antigen tests, particularly in cases of single sex or low infection intensities. The heat also caused denaturation of antibodies, affecting antigen detection.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2023)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Jose Alberto Montoya-Alonso, Sara Nieves Garcia Rodriguez, Elena Carreton, Ivan Rodriguez Escolar, Noelia Costa-Rodriguez, Jorge Isidoro Matos, Rodrigo Morchon
Summary: This study analyzed the exposure to feline heartworm in Spain and found that the disease is widely distributed throughout the country. The study emphasized the link between infected dogs and exposed cats, and called for effective awareness and prophylaxis measures to control the spread of feline heartworm in Spain.
FRONTIERS IN VETERINARY SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Kennedy Mwacalimba, Deborah Amodie, Lisa Swisher, Marina Moldavchuk, Christopher Brennan, Claire Walther, Kelly Bowman
Summary: The study found that injectable moxidectin had a higher 12-month preventive purchase compliance rate compared to monthly heartworm disease preventives, generating more revenue for veterinary hospitals.
FRONTIERS IN VETERINARY SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Parasitology
Erich W. Zinser, Tom L. McTier, Nicole S. Kernell, Debra J. Woods
Summary: Research has shown that cryopreserved microfilariae of Dirofilaria immitis can develop into third-stage larvae in vector mosquitoes and are infectious to both dogs and ferrets, where they undergo normal development into adult worms and complete the heartworm lifecycle.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2021)
Review
Parasitology
Molly D. Savadelis, Tom L. McTier, Kristina Kryda, Steven J. Maeder, Debra J. Woods
Summary: Heartworm disease remains a significant and pathogenic disease in dogs, despite the regular use of preventive products. Some strains of D. immitis have developed resistance to the only available drug class, macrocyclic lactones (MLs), for heartworm prevention in the United States. The optimization of dose and formulation of moxidectin provides a unique opportunity to improve efficacy against ML-resistant strains. Two new products, ProHeart (R) 12 and Simparica Trio (R), have demonstrated 100% preventive efficacy against recent field strains of heartworm, offering important advances in heartworm prevention for veterinarians and pet owners.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2022)
Article
Parasitology
Rachel Smith, Daniel Felipe Barrantes Murillo, Kelly Chenoweth, Subarna Barua, Patrick John Kelly, Lindsay Starkey, Byron Blagburn, Theresa Wood, Chengming Wang
Summary: This study is the first nationwide molecular survey of Dirofilaria spp. in dogs and cats in the USA. The results revealed a higher prevalence of Dirofilaria immitis in dogs in the USA, with a lower prevalence in cats. The Southern states had a significantly higher prevalence compared to other regions, and Dirofilaria repens was not detected in the USA.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2022)
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Biplab K. Saha, Alyssa Bonnier, Woon Hean Chong, Hau Chieng, Adam Austin, Kurt Hu, Boris Shkolnik
Summary: Human pulmonary dirofilariasis is a rare disease caused by Dirofilaria immitis, the same parasite responsible for canine heartworm. The incidence of this disease is increasing worldwide due to greater awareness and factors affecting the mosquito vector. Most patients have no symptoms and are diagnosed with pulmonary nodules, while some may experience acute symptoms of pneumonia. Currently, there are no specific clinical tests, and diagnosis is usually made through surgical resection and histopathologic identification of the worm.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF THE MEDICAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Kennedy Mwacalimba, Andrea Wright, Konstantinos Giannakakis, Richard L'Estrange, Tinh-Son Nguyen
Summary: In the 5 years from 2010 to 2015, 73% of dog owners who visited a veterinary practice at least twice made less than two purchases of HW preventatives from the veterinary practice. For those with at least two preventative purchases, 76.7% of dogs receiving IM and 24.4% of dogs prescribed with MHW products purchased enough doses to provide continuous protection over the observation period.
FRONTIERS IN VETERINARY SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Zsofia Lanszki, Brigitta Zana, Safia Zeghbib, Ferenc Jakab, Nikoletta Szabo, Gabor Kemenesi
Summary: Canine distemper virus (CDV) is a major viral pathogen in domestic dogs, with low survival rates in unvaccinated animals. A study documented a 1-year-old mixed-breed male dog with a unusually long course of persistent CDV infection, along with a co-infection of vector-borne heartworm, excreting CDV for 17 months.
VETERINARY SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Entomology
Matthew T. Pileggi, John R. Chase, Runhang Shu, Lin Teng, Kwangcheol C. Jeong, Phillip E. Kaufman, Adam C. N. Wong
Summary: Antibiotic use in livestock is a major driver of resistance evolution and spread, with a missing link between agricultural antibiotic use and its impact on human health. This study found that house flies and stable flies from a livestock operation carried multidrug-resistant bacteria, including those resistant to cefotaxime. The fly gut may serve as a reservoir for the acquisition and dissemination of resistance genes.
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Entomology
Christopher S. Bibbs, Phillip E. Kaufman, Rui-De Xue
Summary: Field development for optimizing the use patterns of spatial repellents is an ongoing research need. Results from investigating volatile pyrethroids in blends formulated into vegetation spray show that combination treatments have consistently higher adult mosquito reductions compared to single applications of metofluthrin or other existing products. Additionally, metofluthrin-containing treatments demonstrate significant decrease in nonviable mosquito eggs, total eggs, and adult mosquitoes, suggesting potential complex interactions for mosquito control in the field.
JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Entomology
Roxie L. White, Christopher J. Geden, Phillip E. Kaufman, Dana Johnson
Summary: This study compared the virulence of Metarhizium anisopliae and four Beauveria bassiana strains for managing house flies, finding that some strains killed flies faster than M. anisopliae. However, attempts to induce faster fly mortality through selection did not result in shorter time to fly death.
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Marvin E. Langston, Heidi E. Brown, Charles F. Lynch, Denise J. Roe, Leslie K. Dennis
Summary: The study suggests that lifetime and adulthood sun exposure may be important risk factors for cutaneous melanoma (CM).
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Robin B. Harris, Heidi E. Brown, Rachelle L. Begay, Priscilla R. Sanderson, Carmenlita Chief, Fernando P. Monroy, Eyal Oren
Summary: This cross-sectional study examined the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection and associated factors in the Navajo population. The results showed that the prevalence of H. pylori infection in Navajo is similar to that of Alaska Natives, and households using unregulated water and males had higher odds of infection.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Review
Entomology
Thomas C. Moore, Heidi E. Brown
Summary: This study estimates the flight distance of the yellow fever mosquito and investigates the factors affecting mosquito flight range. The average flight distance of Ae. aegypti was found to be 105.69 meters.
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Erika Austhof, Heidi E. Brown
Summary: Using a case study of a global warming audience segmentation tool, this research explores how public health can utilize consumer panels and online crowdsourcing markets for research. The study found similarities and differences between consumer panels and crowdsourcing markets in demographics and global warming beliefs. Both methods can be useful for understanding global warming sentiment, but attention is needed for sample representativeness and diversity.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Entomology
Yuexun Tian, Caitlin E. Taylor, Cynthia C. Lord, Phillip E. Kaufman
Summary: In this study, the resistance expression of Rhipicephalus sanguineus s.l. strains to permethrin and fipronil was evaluated. The results showed high resistance to permethrin and tolerance to fipronil in both Florida and California populations. The Florida population utilized both metabolic resistance and target site insensitivity against permethrin, while the California population had the target-site insensitivity resistance allele.
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Xinyue Huang, Phillip E. Kaufman, Giridhar N. Athrey, Chris Fredregill, Christina Alvarez, Vinaya Shetty, Michel A. Slotman
Summary: In this study, we found that detoxification enzyme genes, especially cytochrome P450 genes, play an important role in metabolic resistance to the insecticide malathion in Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes. Through RNA interference, we validated the functional roles of the CYP325BC1 and CYP9M12 genes in malathion resistance and demonstrated that knockdown of these genes significantly increased susceptibility to malathion in Culex quinquefasciatus.
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Kimberly S. Bailey, Heidi E. Brown, Viktor Lekic, Kathi Pradeep, Juanita L. Merchant, Robin B. Harris
Summary: This study investigated the baseline knowledge and barriers related to Helicobacter pylori (Hp) care among 1042 respondents. The results showed low knowledge of Hp and reported difficulties with treatment compliance. Therefore, increasing awareness of Hp infection and addressing treatment barriers could potentially reduce the risks of Hp antibiotic resistance and complications like gastric cancer.
Article
Oncology
Leslie K. Dennis, Heidi E. Brown, Amanda K. Arrington
Summary: Little is known about the epidemiology of Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) and mucosal melanoma (MM). This study analyzed data from the US SEER program to compare the incidence rates and prognostic factors of MCC and MM with cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM). The results showed an increase in the incidence rates of MCC and MM over time, highlighting the need for a better understanding of these diseases due to their higher potential for late diagnosis and poor survival.
Article
Mathematical & Computational Biology
Eric Kamana, Di Bai, Heidi E. Brown, Jijun Zhao
Summary: Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium falciparum cases in Anhui China have shown opposite trends in the past decade. While long term and seasonal trends in the transmission rate of P. falciparum in Africa have been well studied, little research has been done on the transmission rate of P. vivax transmitted by Anopheles sinensis in China. This study aims to analyze the recent transmission dynamics in Anhui province, examining the breakpoints, transmission rate, and seasonality of both P. vivax and P. falciparum malaria cases. The findings suggest the importance of considering climatic factors, investments, and migration patterns in the control and prevention of malaria.
INFECTIOUS DISEASE MODELLING
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Indira Chakravarti, Monica Miranda-Schaeubinger, Adriana Ruiz-Remigio, Carlos Briones-Garduno, Edith A. Fernandez-Figueroa, Concepcion Celeste Villanueva-Cabello, Alejandra Borge-Villareal, Yadira Bejar-Ramirez, Alejandro Perez-Gonzalez, Cesar Rivera-Benitez, Eyal Oren, Heidi E. Brown, Ingeborg Becker, Robert H. Gilman
Summary: This study aimed to screen pregnant women from endemic areas for Trypanosoma cruzi infection and provide timely treatment for Chagas disease. Among 150 pregnant women, 20% tested positive, but only 6% were confirmed positive by PCR. Current diagnostic tests have limitations, and further evaluation of different assays may improve the diagnosis and management of Chagas disease.
TROPICAL MEDICINE AND INFECTIOUS DISEASE
(2022)
Article
Entomology
C. J. Geden, D. Nayduch, J. G. Scott, E. R. Burgess, A. C. Gerry, P. E. Kaufman, J. Thomson, V Pickens, E. T. Machtinger
Summary: The house fly is a global pest that carries pathogens and causes significant economic losses. Effective management requires a combination of cultural, mechanical, biological control, and insecticide use. Research is needed to improve monitoring systems, develop faster-killing strains, and explore new attractants for traps. Understanding the fly microbiome and developing system-specific IPM strategies are also important for controlling house flies in different animal systems.
JOURNAL OF INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Entomology
K. Rochon, J. A. Hogsette, P. E. Kaufman, P. U. Olafson, S. L. Swiger, D. B. Taylor
Summary: Stable flies are global pests of livestock, companion animals, and humans, causing economic losses and transmitting diseases. The challenges in managing these flies lie in their developmental habitats, high mobility, and ability to exploit cultural practices. An integrated pest management approach incorporating cultural, mechanical, biological, and chemical control options is essential for effective stable fly management.
JOURNAL OF INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT
(2021)