Article
Microbiology
El Hadji Ibrahima Ndiaye, Adama Zan Diarra, Fatou Samba Diouf, Charles Bouganali, Lionel Almeras, Cheikh Sokhna, Georges Diatta, Philippe Parola
Summary: This study investigated the presence of Ornithodoros sonrai ticks in domestic burrows in Senegal and identified the micro-organisms they carried. The study found a high prevalence of tick infestation and the presence of tick-borne pathogens such as Borrelia spp. and Bartonella spp. This highlights the importance of understanding tick infestation and the potential risk of pathogen transmission in Senegal.
Article
Microbiology
Elianne Piloto-Sardinas, Ana Laura Cano-Arguelles, Apolline Maitre, Alejandra Wu-Chuang, Lourdes Mateos-Hernandez, Alexandra Corduneanu, Dasiel Obregon, Ana Oleaga, Ricardo Perez-Sanchez, Alejandro Cabezas-Cruz
Summary: This study analyzed and compared the microbiome of the salivary glands and midgut of O. erraticus and O. moubata. The results showed differences in the composition, diversity, and assembly of bacterial microbiome within each tick species, especially in O. moubata. Differences were also found in the microbiome of each tissue between species. However, shared keystone taxa and conserved patterns of interacting taxa between tissues and tick species suggest the presence of key microbial players that could be used as anti-microbiota vaccine candidates.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Entomology
Felipe R. Jorge, Lorena M. B. de Oliveira, Meylling M. L. Magalhaes, Barbara Weck, Glauber M. B. de Oliveira, Maria Carolina A. Serpa, Francisco B. P. Moura, Romilson S. Lopes Junior, Jessica M. L. dos Santos, Bruno M. Teixeira, Sebastian Munoz-Leal, Marcelo B. Labruna
Summary: This study investigated Ornithodoros ticks in the semiarid region of Brazil and identified several species through molecular characterization, including a potential novel species.
EXPERIMENTAL AND APPLIED ACAROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Parasitology
Abid Ali, Muhammad Numan, Mehran Khan, Ome Aiman, Sebastian Munoz-Leal, Lidia Chitimia-Dobler, Marcelo B. Labruna, Ard M. Nijhof
Summary: This is the first molecular study of an Ornithodoros species from Pakistan, confirming the genus of the specimens and detecting a Rickettsia sp. The study suggests that the specimen may belong to an undetermined species and is related to Rickettsia species from Chinese Argos japonicus ticks.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2022)
Review
Parasitology
Barbara Cristina Felix Nogueira, Artur Kanadani Campos, Sebastian Munoz-Leal, Adriano Pinter, Thiago Fernandes Martins
Summary: Records of accidental parasitism by ticks in humans are scarce in Brazil, mainly reported by researchers and professionals. A literature review was conducted including studies published from 1909 to 2022. The study identified nine species in the Argasidae family and 32 species in the Ixodidae family that have been reported biting humans in Brazilian biomes. The species with the highest number of parasitism records was Amblyomma sculptum. The Atlantic Forest was the most frequent biome where human parasitism occurred. Several species known for transmitting pathogens were also reported.
Letter
Immunology
Sebastian Munoz-Leal, Alvaro A. Faccini-Martinez, Bruno M. Teixeira, Maria Marlene Martins, Maria Carolina A. Serpa, Glauber M. B. Oliveira, Felipe R. Jorge, Richard C. Pacheco, Francisco B. Costa, Hermes R. Luz, Marcelo B. Labruna
Summary: Researchers conducted a molecular survey for Borrelia species in Ornithodoros ticks in 6 states in Brazil, discovering 4 potentially new species of relapsing fever group borreliae through phylogenetic analyses.
EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Simbarashe Chitanga, Herman M. Chambaro, Lavel C. Moonga, Kyoko Hayashida, Junya Yamagishi, Walter Muleya, Katendi Changula, Benjamin Mubemba, Manyando Simbotwe, David Squarre, Paul Fandamu, King S. Nalubamba, Yongjin Qiu, Sawa Hirofumi, Edgar Simulundu
Summary: This study detected Rickettsia lusitaniae in warthog burrow-dwelling soft ticks in national parks in Zambia, indicating a wider geographic and vector range for this pathogen in sub-Saharan Africa. The results provide new insights into the epidemiology of Rickettsia species and highlight the potential role of soft ticks in the transmission of these pathogens.
Article
Microbiology
Yongjin Qiu, Herman M. Chambaro, Kozue Sato, David Squarre, Edgar Simulundu, Masahiro Kajihara, Katendi Changula, Manyando Simbotwe, Hayato Harima, Joseph Ndebe, Ladslav Moonga, Ryo Nakao, Ayato Takada, Bernard Mudenda Hang'ombe, Hirofumi Sawa, Hiroki Kawabata
Summary: This study investigated the Borrelia spirochetes harbored by Ornithodoros ticks in Zambian National Parks. The findings revealed the first evidence of Old-World RF borreliae in Zambia, along with New World RF borreliae and Borrelia theileri. Real-time PCR with TaqMan probes accurately detected both types of RF borreliae, providing a useful tool for quantitative analysis. Further research should focus on isolating the different Borrelia species and conducting serosurveys on RF patients.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Krittika Nandy, Comfort Tamakloe, Daniel E. Sonenshine, Hameeda Sultana, Girish Neelakanta
Summary: This study reports the role of subolesin in blood feeding and innate immune gene expression in soft ticks. The researchers identified and characterized several innate immune genes in Ornithodoros turicata americanus ticks, and found that the knockdown of subolesin expression affected blood feeding and innate immune gene expression in these ticks.
PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Melina Garcia Guizzo, Lucas Tirloni, Sergio A. Gonzalez, Marisa D. Farber, Gloria Braz, Luis Fernando Parizi, Lucas Andre Dedavid e Silva, Itabajara da Silva Vaz Jr, Pedro L. Oliveira
Summary: Metagenomic studies have shown that bacteria and arthropods, including ticks, have widespread interactions, including symbiotic interactions. In this study, the absence of the mutualist endosymbiont CERM in R. microplus larvae led to changes in gene expression, specifically in genes involved in blood feeding capacity and extracellular matrix remodeling. These changes may explain the developmental blockage at the metanymph stage and reveal new physiological aspects of the symbiont-tick-vertebrate host interaction.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Veterinary Sciences
Sophia Koerner, Gustavo R. Makert, Sebastian Ulbert, Martin Pfeffer, Katja Mertens-Scholz
Summary: In European studies, the average infection rate of C. burnetii in ticks was determined to be 4.8%, with a significantly higher prevalence observed in Southern European countries possibly due to the abundance of different tick species. Specific detection methods and further research are crucial to determine the role of ticks in Q fever transmission. Further studies assessing the vector competence of ticks for C. burnetii in the last 20 years have been limited, indicating the need for more research in this area.
FRONTIERS IN VETERINARY SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Carmen Guzman-Cornejo, Andrea Rebollo-Hernandez, Angel Herrera-Mares, Sebastian Munoz-Leal, Laura Del Castillo-Martinez, Andres M. Lopez-Perez, Martin Cabrera-Garrido, Alejandro Oceguera-Figueroa
Summary: The present study analyzed the diversity of Rickettsia bacteria in ticks collected from the Chamela Biological Station in Mexico. Four Rickettsia taxa were identified, including a strain known to cause spotted fever. These findings are important for understanding the prevalence and transmission of tick-borne diseases in the region.
TICKS AND TICK-BORNE DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Entomology
Rafael Quirino Moreira, Vanessa Do Nascimento Ramos, Adriane Suzin, Diego Garcia Ramirez, Paulo Ricardo De Oliveira Roth, Maria Marlene Martins, Anna Monteiro Correia Lima, Matias Pablo Juan Szabo
Summary: This study evaluated the role of small mammal communities from different areas in a Brazilian tropical savanna in maintaining tick fauna. The findings suggest that forested habitats, especially riparian forests, lead to more hosts and tick infestation, with higher capture success in the dry season.
SYSTEMATIC AND APPLIED ACAROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Serhii Filatov, Filip Dycka, Jan Sterba, Ryan O. M. Rego
Summary: We developed a new method to assess the protein composition in the saliva of Ornithodoros moubata, a tick species that is a main vehicle for pathogen transmission. The method involves collecting saliva samples using an artificial membrane feeding technique and analyzing them using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. This method identified various proteins in the saliva samples and can detect proteins even when as few as 6 ticks fed on the diet. The findings suggest that these proteins may have important roles at the tick-host interface and in the vector-pathogen interactions.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Veterinary Sciences
Seyma S. S. Celina, Jiri Cerny
Summary: Coxiella burnetii is a zoonotic bacterium that poses a threat to public health and economy. Livestock are the primary source of infection, but wildlife and ticks may also contribute to its spread. Understanding the role of vectors and hosts is crucial in preventing the transmission of Coxiella burnetii.
FRONTIERS IN VETERINARY SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Entomology
Felipe R. Jorge, Sebastian Munoz-Leal, Glauber M. B. de Oliveira, Maria Carolina A. Serpa, Meylling M. L. Magalhaes, Lorena M. B. de Oliveira, Francisco B. P. Moura, Bruno M. Teixeira, Marcelo B. Labruna
Summary: A potentially novel Borrelia organism was detected in vampire bats from the Brazilian semiarid region, forming a monophyletic group with a Borrelia associated with a Colombian bat. This discovery suggests an independent event in the evolutionary history of Borrelia in bats.
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Warley Vieira de Freitas Paula, Lucianne Cardoso Neves, Luiza Gabriella Ferreira de Paula, Maria Carolina de Azevedo Serpa, Fabricio Peixoto de Oliveira, Filipe Dantas-Torres, Sebastian Munoz-Leal, Marcelo Bahia Labruna, Felipe da Silva Krawczak
Summary: In this study, the first molecular detection of B. theileri subclinical infection in a cow in Brazil is described. The detection was confirmed using PCR, and the implications of this finding for cattle health management in the region are discussed.
VETERINARY RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Zoology
M. Magioli, H. R. Luz, F. B. Costa, H. R. Benatti, U. Piovezan, F. B. P. Nunes, B. Lopes, M. Z. Moreira, M. B. Labruna, K. M. P. M. B. Ferraz
Summary: The study found that capybaras in Brazil exhibit adaptability in food utilization in different environments. By analyzing stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes in their hair, it was found that capybara populations in natural environments primarily consumed C-3 plants, while those in anthropized environments mainly fed on C-4 plants.
JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Parasitology
Alan Eriksson, Antoine Filion, Marcelo Bahia Labruna, Sebastian Munoz-Leal, Robert Poulin, Erich Fischer, Gustavo Graciolli
Summary: Human land use causes habitat loss and fragmentation, which affects host-parasite relationships. This study investigates how forest loss, fragmentation, and edge length impact the prevalence and abundance of bat ectoparasites.
PARASITOLOGY RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Paula A. Ossa-Lopez, Lorys Y. Mancilla-Agrono, Lizeth Fernanda Banguero Micolta, Hector E. Ramirez-Chaves, Juan David Carvajal Agudelo, Sebastian Munoz-Leal, Marcelo B. Labruna, Vett Lloyd, Fredy A. Rivera-Paez
Summary: This study conducted morphological and molecular analysis on 174 larvae of Ornithodoros hasei collected from three bat species in the Orinoquia Region of Colombia. The results confirmed the species identification and showed low genetic divergence between larvae from the Arauca Department and higher genetic divergence with larvae from other American countries. This work contributes to the understanding of the distribution and potential role of O. hasei as a vector for Borrelia.
TICKS AND TICK-BORNE DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Lucianne Cardoso Neves, Warley Vieira de Freitas Paula, Luiza Gabriella Ferreira de Paula, Bianca Barbara Fonseca da Silva, Sarah Alves Dias, Brenda Gomes Pereira, Bruno Sergio Alves Silva, Anaia da Paixao Seva, Filipe Dantas-Torres, Marcelo B. Labruna, Felipe da Silva Krawczak
Summary: Human cases of Brazilian spotted fever (BSF) have been recently reported in Goias state, Brazil, but the agent responsible for these cases remains unknown. In this study, antibodies against Rickettsia spp. were detected in dogs, horses, and capybaras, and rickettsial DNA was found in ticks collected from these animals and the environment. The DNA belonged to Rickettsia bellii, a species not belonging to the spotted fever group (SFG). Seroreactivity to SFG and R. bellii antigens was observed in animals, indicating the circulation of SFG rickettsiae in the region.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Shafi Ullah, Abdulaziz Alouffi, Mashal M. Almutairi, Nabila Islam, Gauhar Rehman, Zia Ul Islam, Haroon Ahmed, Itabajara da Silva Vaz, Marcelo B. Labruna, Tetsuya Tanaka, Abid Ali
Summary: Ticks are blood-feeding ectoparasites that can transmit life-threatening pathogens to humans and animals. This study detected Rickettsia conorii for the first time in the Hyalomma kumari ticks collected from goats and sheep in Pakistan. This finding is important for the surveillance and prevention of zoonotic diseases.
Article
Microbiology
Felipe S. Krawczak, Lina C. Binder, Fabio Gregori, Thiago F. Martins, Gracielle T. Padua, Jonas Sponchiado, Geruza L. Melo, Gina Polo, Marcelo B. Labruna
Summary: This study investigated the rickettsial infection in ticks, domestic dogs, and small mammals in a natural reserve in the Pampa biome in southern Brazil. The main vector, Amblyomma tigrinum, was not found to carry Rickettsia parkeri, but instead carried the non-pathogenic agent 'Candidatus Rickettsia andeanae'. The study area was determined not to be endemic for R. parkeri rickettsiosis, and a negative correlation was observed between the infection rates of R. parkeri and 'Candidatus R. andeanae' in A. tigrinum populations.
Article
Entomology
Sebastian Munoz-Leal, Jose M. Venzal, Alexander R. Kneubehl, Job E. Lopez, Thiago F. Martins, Marcelo B. Labruna
Summary: A new species of soft ticks of the Pavlovskyella subgenus was described in central Chile based on morphological and mitogenomic evidence. This new species differs from other South American soft ticks in several characteristics, including the presence of 13 pairs of dorsolateral setae, a hexagonal dorsal plate, and a blunt hypostome with denticles. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed the placement of this new species in a monophyletic clade with other South American species in the subgenus.
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Antonio Humberto Hamad Minervino, Arlei Marcili, Jonas Moraes-Filho, Julia T. R. Lima, Herbert S. Soares, Antonio F. Malheiros, Salatiel Ribeiro Dias, Solange M. Gennari, Marcelo B. Labruna
Summary: This study aimed to detect tick-borne pathogens in dogs from two indigenous communities in the Brazilian Amazon. The results showed that a significant number of dogs were infected with Ehrlichia canis, Anaplasma platys, and Hepatozoon canis. Additionally, it was found that ethnicity and tick attachment were associated with E. canis infection.
VECTOR-BORNE AND ZOONOTIC DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Luis E. Romero, Lina C. Binder, Arlei Marcili, Marcelo B. Labruna
Summary: This study investigated tick infestation in domestic dogs in El Salvador and identified five tick species. It also detected three spotted fever group Rickettsia agents, suggesting the occurrence of spotted fever cases caused by R. parkeri strain Atlantic rainforest in El Salvador.
TICKS AND TICK-BORNE DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Joao F. Soares, Marcelo B. Labruna, Derek B. de Amorim, Vinicius Baggio-Souza, Renata Fagundes-Moreira, Aline Girotto-Soares, Barbara Weck, Pablo H. Nunes, Thiago F. Martins
Summary: Adult hard ticks were collected from great horned owls in southern Brazil in 2020. The analysis of their external morphology revealed a new tick species, named Amblyomma monteiroae n. sp. Genetic sequencing showed that this new species is closely related to Amblyomma parvitarsum Neumann, 1901. This study increases the Amblyomma tick species in Brazil to a total of 34.
TICKS AND TICK-BORNE DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Hermes R. Luz, Marcelo B. Labruna, Richard C. Pacheco, Sergio L. Gianizella, Pablo H. Nunes, Matias P. J. Szabo, Monize Gerardi, Rodrigo H. F. Teixeira, Silvio C. da Silva, Louise B. Kmetiuk, Isabella P. Pesenato, Arlei Marcili, Joao L. H. Faccini, Thiago F. Martins
Summary: Abnormalities in external morphology were observed in 31 individual adult ticks of 15 different species collected from various locations in Brazil. These abnormalities included local anomalies such as malformations of body parts and general anomalies such as duplication of the opisthosoma. The findings expand the list of anomalous tick species in the Neotropics.
TICKS AND TICK-BORNE DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Shehla Shehla, Farman Ullah, Abdulaziz Alouffi, Mashal M. Almutairi, Zaibullah Khan, Tetsuya Tanaka, Marcelo B. Labruna, Kun-Hsien Tsai, Abid Ali
Summary: This study investigated the tick species infesting livestock in Pakistan and the presence of Rickettsia spp. The results showed the distribution of Rickettsia species in ticks and identified certain species that can cause zoonotic diseases.
Article
Agronomy
Gracielle Teles Padua, Luiza Gabriella Ferreira de Paula, Ana Carolina Borsanelli, Marcelo Bahia Labruna, Felipe da Silva Krawczak
Summary: Dermacentor nitens Neumann is a common tick species in horses in Brazil, mainly infesting the ears, nasal diverticulum, perineal and perianal regions. Infestations can cause severe damage, anemia, and can also transmit Babesia caballi. This study reports an unusual parasitic site of D. nitens on a formerly enucleated eye orbit in a female cross breed horse.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Harold Salant, Yaarit Nachum-Biala, Doni Zivotofsky, Tsachi Even Tzur, Gad Baneth
Summary: This study describes the presentation, clinical signs, parasitemia levels, laboratory findings and treatment of dogs infected with B. negevi. Treatment with imidocarb dipropionate was helpful for recovery from clinical disease but did not facilitate parasite elimination, and it is therefore recommended to treat canine B. negevi infection with the combination of atovaquone and azithromycin.
TICKS AND TICK-BORNE DISEASES
(2024)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Gervillien Arnold Malonga, Almoustapha Issiaka Maiga, Dimitry Moudiongui Mboungou Malanda, Mahamadou Saliou, Juth ece Private Malanda-Kiminou, Oumar Dolo, Anicet Luc Magloire Boumba, Alhassane Ba, Robert Murphy, Jean Felix Peko, Anne-Genevieve Marcelin, Vincent Calvez, Stephane Marot
Summary: A serological survey in sub-urban areas of the capital cities of Congo and Mali reveals human contact with Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) associated with previously described CCHFV risk factors.
TICKS AND TICK-BORNE DISEASES
(2024)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Aleksander Wymazal, Sabina Nowak, Robert W. Myslajek, Anna Bajer, Renata Welc-Faleciak, Maciej Szewczyk, Iga Kwiatkowska, Kinga M. Stepniak, Michal Figura, Agnieszka Kloch
Summary: The wolf population in Central and Eastern Europe has been increasing, but their frequent contacts with humans make them a potential zoonotic reservoir. This study found a high prevalence of tick-borne pathogens in free-ranging wolves from Poland.
TICKS AND TICK-BORNE DISEASES
(2024)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Nannet D. Fabri, Hans Heesterbeek, Joris P. G. M. Cromsigt, Frauke Ecke, Hein Sprong, Lonneke Nijhuis, Tim R. Hofmeester, Nienke Hartemink
Summary: In many parts of the northern hemisphere, different species of deer, small mammals, and birds coexist and their composition can strongly influence the outbreak potential of tick-borne pathogens. This study investigates how the abundance and composition of vertebrate communities affect the basic reproduction number R0 of tick-borne pathogens, and shows that species composition plays a substantial role in the outbreak potential of tick-borne diseases.
TICKS AND TICK-BORNE DISEASES
(2024)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Lynn M. Osikowicz, Maria R. Rizzo, Andrias Hojgaard, Sarah E. Maes, Rebecca J. Eisen
Summary: This article describes the prevalence and diversity of Lyme disease in the United States. By using different detection methods, the authors found various species of spirochetes present in specific tick species, revealing the potential transmission of pathogens among ticks.
TICKS AND TICK-BORNE DISEASES
(2024)
Review
Infectious Diseases
El-Sayed El-Alfy, Ibrahim Abbas, Somaya Saleh, Rana Elseadawy, Ragab M. Fereig, Mohamed Abdo Rizk, Xuenan Xuan
Summary: Published data on tick-borne pathogens in camels worldwide have been collected, providing an overview of their global prevalence and species diversity. Evidence of natural infection of camels with certain tick-borne pathogens is limited, particularly because most of the camels were considered healthy at the time of sampling. More research is needed to understand the role of camels in maintaining and transmitting these pathogens.
TICKS AND TICK-BORNE DISEASES
(2024)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Saana Sipari, Mikko Kiljunen, Minna Nylund, Eva R. Kallio
Summary: This study introduces a stable isotope analysis method to directly identify tick breeding hosts by sampling field collected larvae. The results show that stable isotope signatures can reflect the diet of the breeding host of the mother tick.
TICKS AND TICK-BORNE DISEASES
(2024)
