Article
Microbiology
Hanna J. Laukaitis, Triston T. Cooper, Chanakan Suwanbongkot, Victoria Verhoeve, Timothy J. Kurtti, Ulrike G. Munderloh, Kevin R. Macaluso
Summary: This study assessed genetic mutants of Rickettsia felis in a flea transmission model to identify genes involved in vector infection. The alteration of sca1 expression resulted in unique infection phenotypes, with the mutant strain showing enhanced growth kinetics in vitro but significantly reduced loads during flea infection, leading to limited transmission potential.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Veronica Santoyo-Colin, Sokani Sanchez-Montes, Beatriz Salceda-Sanchez, Heron Huerta-Jimenez, Virginia Alcantara-Rodriguez, Ingeborg Becker, Fernando Gual-Sill, Andres M. Lopez-Perez
Summary: Murine typhus is a commonly neglected disease caused by Rickettsia typhi in Latin-American countries. The study in Mexico City urban reserve identified the presence of Rickettsia typhi in fleas collected from opossums, highlighting the potential urban outbreak risk due to human-wildlife interactions.
ZOONOSES AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Suwanna Chaorattanakawee, Achareeya Korkusol, Bousaraporn Tippayachai, Sommai Promsathaporn, Betty K. Poole-Smith, Ratree Takhampunya
Summary: Through NGS technology, a study was successfully conducted on samples of rodents and host animals from different regions of Thailand, which found the highest percentage of Rickettsia DNA in fleas, primarily from dogs. The study also showed that Ctenocephalides felis orientis is the most common host with a high positivity rate, and identified the risk of tick-borne Spotted Fever Group rickettsiosis and flea-borne murine typhus transmission in certain provinces of Thailand.
Article
Parasitology
Conrad A. Matthee, Anandi Bierman, Boris R. Krasnov, Sonja Matthee, Luther van der Mescht
Summary: This study conducted a metagenetic analysis of flea samples collected from different sampling sites in South Africa, and found that the bacterial diversity of the parasites is influenced by host species and environmental factors. Differences in microbiome compositions were observed between different flea species and across geographic sampling sites, with temperature and humidity identified as potentially important environmental factors.
Article
Microbiology
Amelia R. Silva-Rohwer, Kiara Held, Janelle Sagawa, Nicolas L. Fernandez, Christopher M. Waters, Viveka Vadyvaloo
Summary: The transmission of plague-causing Yersinia pestis is facilitated through biofilm-mediated blockage in its flea vector, with CsrA playing a key role in controlling c-di-GMP synthesis and biofilm formation.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Kexin Fang, Kaitlyn Philpot, Xinyu Chi, Jennifer Ketzis, Aifang Du, Chaoqun Yao
Summary: Small Indian mongooses are invasive on over 60 islands worldwide and have been confirmed as reservoirs for rabies, leptospirosis, and salmonellosis. This study found that they also harbor fleas that may carry Bartonella henselae and Rickettsia felis, highlighting the need to consider them in the control and prevention of emerging zoonotic diseases.
VECTOR-BORNE AND ZOONOTIC DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Furong Wei, Xiaokai Jia, Ying Wang, Yuetao Yang, Junyun Wang, Chunhua Gao, Yong Wang
Summary: This study reports the sequencing and assembly of the mitochondrial genome of Xenopsylla cheopis. The genome is 18,902 bp in length, with a composition of 40% A, 44% T, 6% G, and 10% C. Phylogenetic analysis shows that X. cheopis clusters with Ctenocephalides felis.
MITOCHONDRIAL DNA PART B-RESOURCES
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Jean-Paul Demoncheaux, Hacene Medkour, Meriem Louni, Laurie Laugier, Christelle Pasqualini, Florence Fenollar, Bernard Davoust, Oleg Mediannikov
Summary: This study investigated the presence of Bartonella spp. in African giant pouched rats and their ectoparasites in Dakar, Senegal. The study found a high prevalence of Bartonella infection in both the fleas and blood samples of the rats, with isolated strains identified as B. massiliensis and two potential new species. These findings suggest that Cricetomys gambianus and its fleas may pose a public health risk in Dakar.
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Basil Mathew, Kari L. Aoyagi, Mark A. Fisher
Summary: This study identified a novel antimicrobial peptide, cheopin, with potent activity against Gram-negative bacteria but weaker activity against Y. pestis. The research found that the Ara4N modification of Y. pestis LPS is crucial in conferring resistance against cheopin, providing insights into the innate immunity of fleas.
ACS INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Review
Infectious Diseases
Aya Attia Koraney Zarea, Maria Tempesta, Amienwanlen Eugene Odigie, Daniela Mrenoshki, Angela Fanelli, Vito Martella, Nicola Decaro, Grazia Greco
Summary: This comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the global impact of Bartonella species on pet health. The study found a global prevalence of 15.3% in cats and 3.6% in dogs. Factors such as age, lifestyle, and ectoparasite infestation were associated with higher Bartonella spp. prevalence in cats. Dogs were found to be infected by different subtypes of Bartonella species. The study provides valuable information for implementing preventive and control measures against Bartonella spp. in cat and dog populations.
TRANSBOUNDARY AND EMERGING DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Melinda B. Tanabe, Lucas S. Blanton, Mauricio La Rosa, Camille M. Webb
Summary: Murine typhus, a flea-borne disease with global distribution, has recently reemerged in the United States. Limited data exists on its presentation, treatment, and outcomes in pregnant women. A review of cases showed patients frequently presented with fever, headache, and elevated liver enzymes, with serology being the main diagnostic tool. Treatment varied, but overall pregnancy outcomes were favorable. More exclusive and large-scale studies are needed to further understand murine typhus during pregnancy.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Valentina Virginia Ebani, Simona Nardoni, Michela Maestrini, Stefania Perrucci, Francesca Mancianti
Summary: The study evaluated the occurrence of antibodies against Rickettsia conorii, Rickettsia felis, Rickettsia typhi, Neospora caninum, Bartonella henselae, and Toxoplasma gondii in cats from Tuscany. A high percentage of cats were found to have antibodies to at least one investigated pathogen, indicating that even asymptomatic cats may carry zoonotic pathogens and pose a risk of infection to other animals and humans.
Article
Entomology
A. Cevidanes, C. Ulloa-Contreras, S. Di Cataldo, M. S. Latrofa, D. Gonzalez-Acuna, D. Otranto, J. Millan
Summary: Wild and domestic carnivores in central Chile share ectoparasites, with dogs having a higher infestation of Rhipicephalus sanguineus and Ctenocephalides spp., while foxes have higher infestation of Amblyomma tigrinum and Pulex irritans. Genetic analyses showed limited sharing of nucleotide sequence types between dogs and foxes, indicating infrequent interspecific transmission. The ecological association and biological cycles of ticks and fleas play a key role in determining the ectoparasite fauna of sympatric carnivores.
MEDICAL AND VETERINARY ENTOMOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Parasitology
Minh-Trang Thi Hoang, Van-Phuong Ngo, John Stenos, Dinh Ng-Nguyen
Summary: This study utilized molecular and serological methods to demonstrate the presence of active R. felis infections in the communities in the Central Highlands of Vietnam.
Article
Microbiology
Karen O. Mathews, David Phalen, Jacqueline M. Norris, John Stenos, Jenny-Ann Toribio, Nicholas Wood, Stephen Graves, Paul A. Sheehy, Chelsea Nguyen, Katrina L. Bosward
Summary: This study assessed the exposure levels and risk factors for Rickettsia spp. among Australian wildlife rehabilitators, finding that rehabilitators are more likely to contract Rickettsia-related illnesses. However, the exact source of increased seropositivity remains unclear.
Article
Immunology
Chanakan Suwanbongkot, Ingeborg M. Langohr, Emma K. Harris, Wellesley Dittmar, Rebecca C. Christofferson, Kevin R. Macaluso
INFECTION AND IMMUNITY
(2019)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Zhilin Li, Kevin R. Macaluso, Lane D. Foil, Daniel R. Swale
PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES
(2019)
Article
Ecology
Lisa D. Brown, Lillian L. M. Shapiro, Grayson A. Thompson, Tania Y. Estevez-Lao, Julian F. Hillyer
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2019)
Article
Immunology
Udoka Okaro, Sierra George, Sabrina Valdes, Kevin Macaluso, Burt Anderson
MICROBIAL PATHOGENESIS
(2020)
Article
Biology
Timothy P. Driscoll, Victoria Verhoeve, Joseph J. Gillespie, J. Spencer Johnston, Mark L. Guillotte, Kristen E. Rennoll-Bankert, M. Sayeedur Rahman, Darren Hagen, Christine G. Elsik, Kevin R. Macaluso, Abdu F. Azad
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Victoria I. Verhoeve, Mariah L. Plumer, Timothy P. Driscoll, Kevin R. Macaluso, Abdu F. Azad, Joseph J. Gillespie
MITOCHONDRIAL DNA PART B-RESOURCES
(2020)
Article
Microbiology
Eliane Esteves, Chanida Fongsaran, Ingeborg M. Langohr, Sean P. Riley, Marcelo B. Labruna, Sirlei Daffre, Andrea C. Fogaca, Kevin R. Macaluso
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Timothy P. Driscoll, Victoria Verhoeve, Cassia Brockway, Darin L. Shrewsberry, Mariah Plumer, Spiridon E. Sevdalis, John F. Beckmann, Laura M. Krueger, Kevin R. Macaluso, Abdu F. Azad, Joseph J. Gillespie
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Lisa D. Brown, Ryne Maness, Clark Hall, Joshua D. Gibson
Summary: In fleas, infection leads to an increase in ROS levels, strengthening the immune response. Inhibiting ROS production can effectively limit microbial colonization and reduce infection loads.
INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Parasitology
Hanna J. Laukaitis, Kevin R. Macaluso
Summary: The study of vector competence is crucial in understanding the ecoepidemiology of vector-borne diseases. The synergy between rickettsial invasion, replication, and transmission within vectors is essential for successful disease transmission. Examining the molecular interactions and the relationship between pathogens and vectors is important in understanding rickettsiae.
TRENDS IN PARASITOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Apichai Bourchookarn, Christopher D. Paddock, Kevin R. Macaluso, Walairat Bourchookarn
Summary: This study shows that there is a difference in growth and infectivity between R. parkeri and R. amblyommatis in mammalian and tick cells. The pathogenic R. parkeri replicates at a higher rate and displays a higher level of infection compared to R. amblyommatis. Understanding the growth characteristics of spotted fever group Rickettsia in different cell lines provides insight into their biology and pathogenesis.
JOURNAL OF PURE AND APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Natthida Tongluan, Layne T. Shelton, J. Hunter Collins, Patrick Ingraffia, Gregory McCormick, Maria Pena, Rahul Sharma, Ramanuj Lahiri, Linda B. Adams, Richard W. Truman, Kevin R. Macaluso
Summary: This study found that ticks may serve as a vector for the transmission of M. leprae and that tick cells are suitable for maintaining viable M. leprae for an extended period.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Chanida Fongsaran, Krit Jirakanwisal, Natthida Tongluan, Allison Latour, Sean Healy, Rebecca C. Christofferson, Kevin R. Macaluso
Summary: This study investigated the potential transmission of R. felis from infected cat fleas to other arthropods. The results showed that infected cat fleas can transmit the rickettsiae to both ticks and mosquitoes during cofeeding, providing a potential avenue for the diversity of R. felis-infected arthropods in nature.
PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Stephen Lu, Monika Danchenko, Kevin R. Macaluso, Jose M. C. Ribeiro
Summary: Hematophagous behavior has independently evolved in various arthropod species. The salivary gland and saliva composition of blood-feeding arthropods have been found to interfere with host defensive response and facilitate blood acquisition and pathogen transmission. The study focuses on the cat flea's salivary gland composition using Illumina-based sequencing, which reveals coding sequences belonging to various functional classes and confirms the presence of several putative secreted protein families.
Article
Microbiology
Hanna J. Laukaitis, Triston T. Cooper, Chanakan Suwanbongkot, Victoria Verhoeve, Timothy J. Kurtti, Ulrike G. Munderloh, Kevin R. Macaluso
Summary: This study assessed genetic mutants of Rickettsia felis in a flea transmission model to identify genes involved in vector infection. The alteration of sca1 expression resulted in unique infection phenotypes, with the mutant strain showing enhanced growth kinetics in vitro but significantly reduced loads during flea infection, leading to limited transmission potential.