Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Abhilasha Pankaj Boruah, Kiran T. Thakur
Summary: The rapid spread of arboviral infections, which are transmitted by arthropods, has become a global health concern. These infections can cause a wide range of clinical presentations, from asymptomatic infection to severe neurological diseases. The pathogenesis of arboviral infections is still being investigated, but shared neuroanatomical pathways among these viruses may provide insights for future therapeutic targets. It is crucial to consider the potential role of global climate change and human environmental disruption in the shifting infection transmission patterns and distribution of arboviral vectors when assessing patients with encephalitic presentations.
POSTGRADUATE MEDICAL JOURNAL
(2023)
Review
Microbiology
Annaleise R. Howard-Jones, David Pham, Rebecca Sparks, Susan Maddocks, Dominic E. Dwyer, Jen Kok, Kerri Basile
Summary: This review provides an overview of the epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical features, diagnosis, and prevention of flaviviruses during pregnancy and the neonatal period. It emphasizes the increased disease severity and risk of congenital malformations in pregnant women. Laboratory confirmation of infection is complex due to serological cross-reactivity, and accurate diagnosis relies heavily on clinical history. The development of novel vaccines and ongoing One Health engagement are crucial in mitigating the impact of flavivirus epidemics.
Article
Immunology
P. P. Mahesh, Prachi Namjoshi, Hameeda Sultana, Girish Neelakanta
Summary: This study provides evidence that targeting the I. scapularis membrane-bound organic anion transporting polypeptide 4056 (IsOATP4056) with an anti-vector vaccine affects the transmission of A. phagocytophilum from ticks to vertebrate hosts. The study suggests a promising candidate for the development of anti-tick vaccines and research on other tick-borne pathogens of medical importance.
Article
Agronomy
Wenxin Xue, Pengjun Xu, Xiufang Wang, Guangwei Ren, Xinwei Wang
Summary: The devastating impact of chemical pesticides has led to the adoption of sustainable agricultural pest management strategies, including biological control with natural enemies. China has successfully implemented natural-enemy-based biocontrol strategies, particularly for aphids and lepidopterans in tobacco cultivation. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the state-of-the-art natural-enemy-based biocontrol against arthropod pests in tobacco in China, including mass-rearing methods, augmentative release strategies, and the widespread use of natural enemies. Current and potential challenges for natural-enemy-based biocontrol in China are also discussed.
Article
Biology
Tania Zaviezo, Alejandra E. Munoz
Summary: Habitat or vegetation manipulation is a strategy in conservation biological control that has been studied relatively recently and is lacking in many parts of the world, especially when using native plants. A review of 56 studies from 2002 to 2022 on native plants and conservation biological control revealed that most studies were conducted in developed countries and focused on providing flower resources to natural enemies in various crops. The main knowledge gaps included the lack of understanding mechanisms, unknown effects on pest populations, and absence of cost-benefit analyses, similar to studies with non-native plants. Filling these knowledge gaps will enhance the transferability of this strategy in different cropping systems and locations and promote its adoption by farmers.
CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Nickolas G. Kavallieratos, Erifili P. Nika, Anna Skourti, Diego Romano Perinelli, Eleonora Spinozzi, Giulia Bonacucina, Loredana Cappellacci, Mohammad Reza Morshedloo, Angelo Canale, Giovanni Benelli, Filippo Maggi
Summary: The encapsulation of essential oils from Pimpinella anisum and Trachyspermun ammi in nanoemulsions demonstrated effective insecticidal properties against stored product insects, providing a potential sustainable solution for the protection of durable commodities.
INDUSTRIAL CROPS AND PRODUCTS
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Carolina Ocampo-Ariza, Justine Vansynghel, Denise Bertleff, Bea Maas, Nils Schumacher, Carlos Ulloque-Samatelo, Fredy F. Yovera, Evert Thomas, Ingolf Steffan-Dewenter, Teja Tscharntke
Summary: The presence of birds and bats in shaded agroforestry systems of native cacao varieties in Peru increased cacao yield by 118% and reduced predation on arthropods, while ants increased the abundance of sap-sucking insects and had negative impacts on cacao yield. The study emphasizes the importance of arthropod predation by birds and bats for increasing cacao yield and suggests the need for further research on their trophic interactions. Managing shade trees and adjacent forests can help maximize the benefits of birds and bats and minimize negative impacts in cacao agroforests.
ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Mircea Coroian, Cornelia Silaghi, Birke Andrea Tews, Emanuel Stefan Baltag, Mihai Marinov, Vasile Alexe, Zsuzsa Kalmar, Horvath Cintia, Mihaela Sorina Lupse, Andrei Daniel Mihalca
Summary: In a study conducted in the South-Eastern region of Romania, antibodies against West Nile and Usutu viruses were found in migratory and resident birds. These viruses, mainly transmitted by mosquitoes, pose a potential threat to human health as birds serve as the main reservoir.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Robert E. Rollins, Sabine Schaper, Claudia Kahlhofer, Dimitrios Frangoulidis, Aurelia F. T. Strauss, Massimiliano Cardinale, Andrea Springer, Christina Strube, Deon K. Bakkes, Noemie S. Becker, Lidia Chitimia-Dobler
Summary: This study highlights the role of migratory birds in the spread of tick species and tick-borne pathogens outside their endemic range. 16 captured birds from 10 different bird species on Ponza Island in Italy were found to carry ticks, with some ticks testing positive for Rickettsia and Borrelia species.
TICKS AND TICK-BORNE DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sissel Sjoberg, Arne Andersson, Johan Backman, Bengt Hansson, Gintaras Malmiga, Maja Tarka, Dennis Hasselquist, Ake Lindstrom, Thomas Alerstam
Summary: Great reed warblers and great snipes exhibit a diel cycle in flight altitudes, being higher during the day to avoid overheating by solar radiation. Analysis of temperature data confirms that flying birds are affected by solar radiation and supports the hypothesis that it is a key factor causing the observed diel cycles in flight altitude.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
DeAnna J. Friedman-Klabanoff, Megan Birkhold, Mara T. Short, Timothy R. Wilson, Claudio R. Meneses, Joshua R. Lacsina, Fabiano Oliveira, Shaden Kamhawi, Jesus G. Valenzuela, Sally Hunsberger, Allyson Mateja, Gregory Stoloff, Olga Pleguezuelos, Matthew J. Memoli, Matthew B. Laurens
Summary: This study evaluated the immunogenicity and safety of a mosquito salivary peptide vaccine in healthy adults. The results showed that the vaccine had a favorable safety profile and induced robust immune responses. Further research will determine if the vaccine translates into clinical efficacy against mosquito-borne diseases.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Kundave V. Rajendran, Girish Neelakanta, Hameeda Sultana
Summary: Ixodes scapularis ticks transmit pathogens through their saliva, which contains IsSMase protein that modulates host immune response. Tick saliva-derived exosomes suppress host immune response, delaying wound healing processes.
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Ari Jarvinen, Terho Hyvonen, Sakari Raiskio, Sari J. Himanen
Summary: Pest management in intensive crop production currently underutilizes natural biological control, but intercropping can potentially benefit generalist arthropod predators. A two-year field experiment comparing intercropping and monocropping systems for turnip rape and faba bean revealed a lower abundance of pests in intercropped fields. The abundance of ground-dwelling predators did not differ between cropping systems, with carabid beetles and spiders being the dominant generalist predator taxa. The abundance of turnip rape pests reflected host crop proportions in each cropping system.
AGRICULTURE ECOSYSTEMS & ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Jessica M. Baldwin, Silvana de Paula-Moraes, Michael J. Mulvaney, Robert L. Meagher
Summary: This study identified pest species associated with B. carinata and their distribution within the plant canopy, as well as investigated the impact of defoliation on crop yield. Results showed that different levels of artificial defoliation did not affect seed weight or oil content, but negatively impacted the number of pods per plant and yield during the vegetative and flowering stages.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY BIOENERGY
(2021)
Review
Parasitology
Jackson M. Muema, Joel L. Bargul, Meshack A. Obonyo, Sospeter N. Njeru, Damaris Matoke-Muhia, James M. Mutunga
Summary: An integrated approach to combating arthropod-borne diseases involves using natural compounds to design interventions that can block pathogen transmission. This review explores the potential of natural compounds in inhibiting the transmission of human pathogens and proposes translational strategies for disease control interventions.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2022)
Review
Biology
Michal Stanko, Marketa Derdakova, Eva Spitalska, Maria Kazimirova
Summary: In Slovakia, 22 tick species have been identified, with some species posing public health risks. These ticks carry and transmit various pathogens, including tick-borne encephalitis virus, Borrelia bacteria, and Babesia parasites. Incidence rates of tick-borne encephalitis and Lyme borreliosis have been increasing in Slovakia, while human cases of rickettsiosis and anaplasmosis remain sporadic.
Article
Microbiology
Eva Spitalska, Lenka Minichova, Zuzana Hamsikova, Michal Stanko, Maria Kazimirova
Summary: This study investigated the presence and genetic diversity of Bartonella, Rickettsia, Babesia, and Hepatozoon in fleas feeding on small mammals in different habitats in Slovakia. The results showed that Bartonella spp., Rickettsia spp., and apicomplexan parasites were commonly found in these fleas. The study expands our knowledge of the presence of zoonotic pathogens in fleas and their diversity.
Review
Immunology
Nighat Perveen, Khalid Muhammad, Sabir Bin Muzaffar, Tean Zaheer, Nayla Munawar, Bojan Gajic, Olivier Andre Sparagano, Uday Kishore, Arve Lee Willingham
Summary: Haematophagous arthropods can carry various pathogens and transmit them to humans and animals, making it important to study their relationship with viruses. Insects have an innate immune system that helps them fight infections. The cellular components of haemolymph, called haemocytes, play a central role in the insect immune system. Mosquitoes and ticks, blood-feeding arthropods, can transmit viral pathogens to their hosts. Despite the arthropod vectors' complex immune response, the viruses can still survive and be transmitted. A multidisciplinary approach is needed to control ectoparasite infestations and prevent vector-borne transmission of viral pathogens to humans and animals.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Muhammad Ibrahim, Sohail Ahmad, Israr Ud Din, Waqas Ahmad, Ijaz Ahmad, Sher Hayat Khan, Ihtesham Ul Haq, Jehan Zeb, Olivier Andre Sparagano
Summary: This study discovered a sheep breed in Chitral, Pakistan that has a relatively shorter gestation period (100 days) but can still give birth to normal lambs. Through the use of DNA markers, researchers identified genetic variations associated with gestation length in sheep, which may be linked to genes controlling this trait. The findings have implications for faster and more cost-effective sheep reproduction.
Article
Microbiology
Jehan Zeb, Baolin Song, Haytham Senbill, Muhammad Umair Aziz, Sabir Hussain, Munsif Ali Khan, Ishtiaq Qadri, Alejandro Cabezas-Cruz, Jose de la Fuente, Olivier Andre Sparagano
Summary: This study provides a comprehensive report on ticks infesting dogs in Pakistan, including the epidemiological and phylogenetic aspects of these ticks. The mitochondrial markers cox1 and 16S rRNA were used for molecular characterization of the tick species. The study identified six tick species infesting dogs, including Hyalomma dromedarii, Hyalomma excavatum, Rhipicephalus sanguineus s.l., Rhipicephalus turanicus s.s., Rhipicephalus haemaphysaloides, and Rhipicephalus microplus.
Editorial Material
Microbiology
Olivier Andre Sparagano
Review
Parasitology
Martin Sevcik, Eva Spitalska, Peter Kabat, Radek K. Lucan, Michaela Maliterna, Antonin Reiter, Marcel Uhrin, Petr Benda
Summary: Reticulinasus salahi is a tick species that parasitizes fruit bats in the Old World. Its distribution reflects the range of its primary host, Rousettus aegyptiacus. We reviewed and revised records of this tick and provided new records and a summary of hosts. Apart from the primary host, this tick also infects two bat species and humans.
PARASITOLOGY RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Adeyinka Fadahunsi, Christopher Kumm, Kirsty Graham, Adalbertoto A. Perez de Leon, Felix Guerrero, Oliver A. E. Sparagano, Robert D. Finn
Summary: The management of Rhipicephalus microplus, the cattle tick, is difficult due to its resistance to multiple acaricides. In this study, a cytochrome P450 oxidoreductase (CPR) from ticks was characterized biochemically. The findings suggest that targeting RmCPR could lead to the development of safer and more effective acaricides against R. microplus.
TICKS AND TICK-BORNE DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Tean Zaheer, Rao Zahid Abbas, Nighat Perveen, Olivier Andre Sparagano, Shanza Rauf Khan, Tauseef Ur Rehman, Ali Raza, Muhammad Kasib Khan, Muhammad Imran Arshad
Summary: This study explored the potential use of ZnO and ZnS nanoparticles as alternative acaricides to control Rhipicephalus ticks. The nanoparticles showed inhibitory effects on female ovipositioning and larval hatching, indicating their promising application in tick control.
Article
Microbiology
Mahvish Rajput, Muhammad Sohail Sajid, Muhammad Imran, Muhammad Tariq Javed, Olivier Andre Sparagano
Summary: Livestock owners in Pakistan have inadequate knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP) regarding ticks and tick-borne diseases. There is a need for appropriate education and extension programs to enhance the adoption of effective tick prevention and control strategies.
Article
Immunology
Wen Si, Ying Ni, Qianling Jiang, Lu Tan, Olivier Sparagano, Runsheng Li, Guan Yang
Summary: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune-mediated demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS) that may be caused by abnormal epigenetic changes in the genome. Using long-read nanopore DNA sequencing, we identified differentially methylated genes in the brains of mice with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), an animal model of MS. Our findings revealed specific genomic alterations related to important biological processes involved in EAE development, such as metabolism, immune responses, neural activities, and mitochondrial dynamics.
JOURNAL OF NEUROIMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Parasitology
Jehan Zeb, Baolin Song, Munsif Ali Khan, Haytham Senbill, Muhammad Umair Aziz, Sabir Hussain, Abdul Waris, Ala E-Tabor, Olivier Andre Sparagano
Summary: This study assessed the genetic diversity and prevalence pattern of vector-/tick-borne pathogens (V/TBPs) in ixodid ticks infesting dogs in Pakistan. The results revealed a diverse array of V/TBPs that pose a potential threat to public and canine health.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Sabir Hussain, Abrar Hussain, Muhammad Umair Aziz, Baolin Song, Jehan Zeb, F. M. Yasir Hasib, Angel Almendros, Alejandro Cabezas-Cruz, David George, Olivier Sparagano
Summary: In recent years, vector-borne diseases have become more prevalent worldwide and pose a burden on animal health. However, there has been no research on the occurrence of these diseases in pet dogs and cats in Hong Kong SAR. This study is the first to determine the seroprevalence of major vector-borne diseases in dogs and cats, such as those caused by D. immitis, E. canis, E. ewingii, A. phagocytophilum, A. platys, and B. burgdorferi s.s. The study also found the presence of Babesia sp. through PCR and DNA sequencing.
TICKS AND TICK-BORNE DISEASES
(2023)
Review
Veterinary Sciences
Muhammad Umair Aziz, Sabir Hussain, Baolin Song, Hammad Nayyar Ghauri, Jehan Zeb, Olivier Andre Sparagano
Summary: Ehrlichiosis in dogs is caused by Ehrlichia bacteria, with Ehrlichia canis being the most pathogenic species. Rhipicephalus sanguineus is the main vector, but Haemaphysalis longicornis is also involved in transmission in east Asian countries. The disease has acute, subclinical, and chronic clinical manifestations, with no age or sex predilection. Diagnosis can be done through microscopy, indirect immunofluorescence test (IFAT), and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). This review provides information on infection rates, prevalence in Asian countries, treatment options, and vectors responsible for transmission. Canine ehrlichiosis is an emerging zoonotic disease worldwide, with Ehrlichia canis being the most commonly implicated species. Dogs act as reservoirs, with Rhipicephalus sanguineus being the main vector. The disease affects multiple organs and can have acute, subclinical, or chronic manifestations. Diagnosis involves cytology, immunofluorescence testing, and PCR. Doxycycline, rifampicin, and minocycline are effective treatments. This review aims to provide an overview of the disease in dogs, prevalence in Asian countries, current treatment options, and vectors involved, while also identifying areas for further research.
VETERINARY SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Biology
Yuliya M. Didyk, Barbara Mangova, Eva Spitalska, Marketa Derdakova
Summary: Ticks in urban parks and green areas in Ukraine were found to carry Rickettsia spp. DNA, with 16.3% of I. ricinus and 29.1% of D. reticulatus testing positive. R. helvetica and R. monacensis were found in I. ricinus, while R. raoultii was found in D. reticulatus. This indicates a risk of rickettsiosis in popular tourist urban habitats in Ukraine.