-
Parasitology Feb 2023In this work we reviewed historical and recent data on spp. infection combining data collected in Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Iran, China and... (Review)
Review
In this work we reviewed historical and recent data on spp. infection combining data collected in Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Iran, China and Mongolia. We specifically focused on a complex of co-existing species (, and ) sharing the same animal reservoirs and vectors. In addition, we analysed the presence of dsRNA viruses in these species and discussed future research directions to identify species-specific traits, which may determine susceptibility of different spp. to viral infection.
Topics: Animals; Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous; Disease Reservoirs; Gerbillinae; Leishmaniasis; Leishmania major; Turkmenistan
PubMed: 36453145
DOI: 10.1017/S0031182022001640 -
Communications Biology Nov 2021Powassan virus lineage 2 (deer tick virus) is an emergent threat to American public health, causing severe neurologic disease. Its life cycle in nature remains poorly...
Powassan virus lineage 2 (deer tick virus) is an emergent threat to American public health, causing severe neurologic disease. Its life cycle in nature remains poorly understood. We use a host-specific retrotransposon-targeted real time PCR assay to test the hypothesis that white-footed mice, considered the main eastern U.S. reservoir of the coinfecting agent of Lyme disease, is the reservoir for deer tick virus. Of 20 virus-infected host-seeking nymphal black-legged ticks 65% fed on shrews and none on mice. The proportion of ticks feeding on shrews at a site is positively associated with prevalence of viral infection, but not the Lyme disease agent. Viral RNA is detected in the brain of one shrew. We conclude that shrews are a likely reservoir host for deer tick virus and that host bloodmeal analysis can provide direct evidence to incriminate reservoir hosts, thereby promoting our understanding of the ecology of tick-borne infections.
Topics: Animals; Disease Reservoirs; Encephalitis Viruses, Tick-Borne; Encephalitis, Tick-Borne; Massachusetts; Rhode Island; Shrews
PubMed: 34811484
DOI: 10.1038/s42003-021-02828-1 -
EcoHealth Mar 2022In the Americas, infectious viral diseases caused by viruses of the genus Mammarenavirus have been reported since the 1960s. Such diseases have commonly been associated... (Review)
Review
In the Americas, infectious viral diseases caused by viruses of the genus Mammarenavirus have been reported since the 1960s. Such diseases have commonly been associated with land use changes, which favor abundance of generalist rodent species. In the Americas-where the rates of land use change are among the highest worldwide-at least 1326 of all 2277 known rodent species have been reported. We conducted a literature review of studies between 1960 and 2020, to establish the current and historical knowledge about genotypes of mammarenaviruses and their rodent reservoirs in the Americas. Our overall goal was to show the importance of focusing research efforts on the American continent, since the conditions exist for future viral hemorrhagic fever (VHF) outbreaks caused by rodent-borne viruses, in turn, carried by widely distributed rodents. We found 47 species identified down to the species level, and one species identified only down to the genus level (Oryzomys sp.), reported in the Americas as reservoirs of mammarenaviruses, most these are ecological generalists. These species associate with 29 genotypes of Mammarenavirus, seven of which have been linked to VHFs in humans. We also highlight the need to monitor these species, in order to prevent viral disease outbreaks in the region.
Topics: Americas; Animals; Arenaviridae; Disease Reservoirs; Hemorrhagic Fevers, Viral; Rodentia
PubMed: 35247117
DOI: 10.1007/s10393-022-01580-0 -
Viruses Jul 2021Rodents (order Rodentia), followed by bats (order Chiroptera), comprise the largest percentage of living mammals on earth. Thus, it is not surprising that these two... (Review)
Review
Rodents (order Rodentia), followed by bats (order Chiroptera), comprise the largest percentage of living mammals on earth. Thus, it is not surprising that these two orders account for many of the reservoirs of the zoonotic RNA viruses discovered to date. The spillover of these viruses from wildlife to human do not typically result in pandemics but rather geographically confined outbreaks of human infection and disease. While limited geographically, these viruses cause thousands of cases of human disease each year. In this review, we focus on three questions regarding zoonotic viruses that originate in bats and rodents. First, what biological strategies have evolved that allow RNA viruses to reside in bats and rodents? Second, what are the environmental and ecological causes that drive viral spillover? Third, how does virus spillover occur from bats and rodents to humans?
Topics: Animals; Chiroptera; Disease Outbreaks; Disease Reservoirs; Humans; Rodentia; Virus Diseases; Zoonoses
PubMed: 34452374
DOI: 10.3390/v13081509 -
Frontiers in Cellular and Infection... 2021
Topics: Animals; Chiroptera; Disease Reservoirs; Immunity, Innate; Viruses
PubMed: 33718290
DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.651289 -
PLoS Pathogens Sep 2018
Review
Topics: Animals; Birds; Chiroptera; Disease Outbreaks; Disease Reservoirs; Histoplasma; Histoplasmosis; Humans; Soil Microbiology; Spores, Fungal
PubMed: 30212569
DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1007213 -
Viruses May 2021Rodents are a speciose group of mammals with strong zoonotic potential. Some parts of Africa are still underexplored for the occurrence of rodent-borne pathogens,...
Rodents are a speciose group of mammals with strong zoonotic potential. Some parts of Africa are still underexplored for the occurrence of rodent-borne pathogens, despite this high potential. Angola is at the convergence of three major biogeographical regions of sub-Saharan Africa, each harbouring a specific rodent community. This rodent-rich area is, therefore, strategic for studying the diversity and evolution of rodent-borne viruses. In this study we examined 290 small mammals, almost all rodents, for the presence of mammarenavirus and hantavirus RNA. While no hantavirus was detected, we found three rodent species positive for distinct mammarenaviruses with a particularly high prevalence in Namaqua rock rats (). We characterised four complete virus genomes, which showed typical mammarenavirus organisation. Phylogenetic and genetic distance analyses revealed: (i) the presence of a significantly divergent strain of Luna virus in Angolan representatives of the ubiquitous Natal multimammate mouse (), (ii) a novel Okahandja-related virus associated with the Angolan lineage of for which we propose the name Bitu virus (BITV) and (iii) the occurrence of a novel Mobala-like mammarenavirus in the grey-bellied pygmy mouse () for which we propose the name Kwanza virus (KWAV). This high virus diversity in a limited host sample size and in a relatively small geographical area supports the idea that Angola is a hotspot for mammarenavirus diversity.
Topics: Animals; Arenaviridae; Arenaviridae Infections; Disease Reservoirs; Genome, Viral; Geography, Medical; Phylogeny; Prevalence; RNA, Viral; Whole Genome Sequencing
PubMed: 34070551
DOI: 10.3390/v13060982 -
Journal of the Royal Society, Interface Jul 2022In this article, we take a mathematical approach to the study of population-level disease spread, performing a quantitative and qualitative investigation of an model...
In this article, we take a mathematical approach to the study of population-level disease spread, performing a quantitative and qualitative investigation of an model which is a susceptible-infectious-susceptible () model with exposure to an external disease reservoir. The external reservoir is non-dynamic, and exposure from the external reservoir is assumed to be proportional to the size of the susceptible population. The full stochastic system is modelled using a master equation formalism. A constant population size assumption allows us to solve for the stationary probability distribution, which is then used to investigate the predicted disease prevalence under a variety of conditions. By using this approach, we quantify outbreak vulnerability by performing the sensitivity analysis of disease prevalence to changing population characteristics. In addition, the shape of the probability density function is used to understand where, in parameter space, there is a transition from disease free, to disease present, and to a disease endemic system state. Finally, we use Kullback-Leibler divergence to compare our semi-analytical results for the model with more complex susceptible-infectious-recovered () and susceptible-exposed-infectious-recovered () models.
Topics: Communicable Diseases; Disease Outbreaks; Disease Reservoirs; Disease Susceptibility; Epidemiological Models; Humans; Models, Biological; Stochastic Processes
PubMed: 35857906
DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2022.0253 -
BMC Infectious Diseases Oct 2016Coccidioidomycosis, a potentially fatal fungal infection, is considered an emergent mycotic disease because of the increased incidence of fungal infections registered... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Coccidioidomycosis, a potentially fatal fungal infection, is considered an emergent mycotic disease because of the increased incidence of fungal infections registered over recent years. Infection occurs through the inhalation of arthroconidia from two main species of Coccidioides: Coccidioides immitis and C. posadasii, which are both endemic to arid and semi-arid regions of North America. Coccidioides species not only infect humans but can also infect other mammals (land, aquatic, wild or domestic), reptiles and birds.
OBJECTIVE
To obtain information regarding the habitat of Coccidioides spp. and the animals infected by this fungus and to identify the role that infected animals play as reservoirs and disseminators of this fungus in nature.
MATERIALS
A literature review was conducted to identify the habitat of Coccidioides spp. and the infected non-human animal species targeted by this fungus.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS
This review allows us to suggest that Coccidioides spp. may be classified as halotolerant organisms; nevertheless, to perpetuate their life cycle, these organisms depend on different animal species (reservoirs) that serve as a link with the environment, by acting as disseminators of the fungi in nature.
Topics: Animals; Coccidioides; Coccidioidomycosis; Disease Reservoirs; Disease Vectors; Ecosystem; Humans; North America
PubMed: 27724885
DOI: 10.1186/s12879-016-1902-7 -
Parasites & Vectors Jan 2018Key aspects of 36 mosquito-borne arboviruses indigenous to Africa are summarized, including lesser or poorly-known viruses which, like Zika, may have the potential to... (Review)
Review
Key aspects of 36 mosquito-borne arboviruses indigenous to Africa are summarized, including lesser or poorly-known viruses which, like Zika, may have the potential to escape current sylvatic cycling to achieve greater geographical distribution and medical importance. Major vectors are indicated as well as reservoir hosts, where known. A series of current and future risk factors is addressed. It is apparent that Africa has been the source of most of the major mosquito-borne viruses of medical importance that currently constitute serious global public health threats, but that there are several other viruses with potential for international challenge. The conclusion reached is that increased human population growth in decades ahead coupled with increased international travel and trade is likely to sustain and increase the threat of further geographical spread of current and new arboviral disease.
Topics: Africa; Animals; Arbovirus Infections; Arboviruses; Disease Reservoirs; Humans; Mosquito Vectors
PubMed: 29316963
DOI: 10.1186/s13071-017-2559-9