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PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases Nov 2023The causative agent of plague, Yersinia pestis, is maintained in nature via a flea-rodent cycle. Western Iran is an old focus for plague, and recent data indicate that...
BACKGROUND
The causative agent of plague, Yersinia pestis, is maintained in nature via a flea-rodent cycle. Western Iran is an old focus for plague, and recent data indicate that rodents and dogs in this region have serological evidence of Y. pestis infection. The purpose of this study was to conduct a large-scale investigation of Y. pestis infection in shepherd dogs, rodents, and their fleas in old foci for plague in Western Iran.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
This study was conducted in Hamadan province from 2014 to 2020. Rodents and fleas were collected from various locations throughout this region. Y. pestis was investigated in rodent spleen samples and fleas using culture, serology, and real-time PCR methods. Additionally, sera samples were collected from carnivores and hares in this region, and the IgG antibody against the Y. pestis F1 antigen was assessed using an ELISA.
RESULTS
In this study, 927 rodents were captured, with Meriones spp. (91.8%) and Microtus qazvinensis (2.6%) being the most prevalent. A total of 6051 fleas were collected from rodents and carnivores, most of which were isolated from Meriones persicus. None of the rodents or fleas examined tested positive for Y. pestis using real-time PCR and culture methods. Meanwhile, IgG antibodies were detected in 0.32% of rodents. All serologically positive rodents belonged to M. persicus. Furthermore, none of the sera from the 138 carnivores (129 sheepdogs, five Vulpes vulpes, four Canis aureus), and nine hares tested positive in the ELISA test.
CONCLUSION
This primary survey of rodent reservoirs shows serological evidence of Y. pestis infection. Western Iran is an endemic plague focus, and as such, it requires ongoing surveillance.
Topics: Animals; Dogs; Plague; Hares; Iran; Gerbillinae; Yersinia pestis; Siphonaptera; Flea Infestations
PubMed: 37948337
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011722 -
Proceedings of the National Academy of... Dec 2019Existing mortality estimates assert that the Justinianic Plague (circa 541 to 750 CE) caused tens of millions of deaths throughout the Mediterranean world and Europe,...
Existing mortality estimates assert that the Justinianic Plague (circa 541 to 750 CE) caused tens of millions of deaths throughout the Mediterranean world and Europe, helping to end antiquity and start the Middle Ages. In this article, we argue that this paradigm does not fit the evidence. We examine a series of independent quantitative and qualitative datasets that are directly or indirectly linked to demographic and economic trends during this two-century period: Written sources, legislation, coinage, papyri, inscriptions, pollen, ancient DNA, and mortuary archaeology. Individually or together, they fail to support the maximalist paradigm: None has a clear independent link to plague outbreaks and none supports maximalist reconstructions of late antique plague. Instead of large-scale, disruptive mortality, when contextualized and examined together, the datasets suggest continuity across the plague period. Although demographic, economic, and political changes continued between the 6th and 8th centuries, the evidence does not support the now commonplace claim that the Justinianic Plague was a primary causal factor of them.
Topics: Byzantium; History, Medieval; Humans; Pandemics; Plague; Population Dynamics; Yersinia pestis
PubMed: 31792176
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1903797116 -
BMC Veterinary Research Oct 2023Zoonotic diseases are like a sneaky game of "tag" between animals and humans, where the stakes are high and the consequences can be deadly. From the bubonic plague to...
Zoonotic diseases are like a sneaky game of "tag" between animals and humans, where the stakes are high and the consequences can be deadly. From the bubonic plague to COVID-19, zoonotic diseases have affected humanity for centuries, reminding us of our interconnectedness with the animal kingdom and the importance of taking proactive measures to prevent their spread. Whether it is avoiding contact with animals or practicing good hygiene, staying safe from zoonotic diseases is a game we all need to play.
Topics: Humans; Animals; COVID-19; Zoonoses; Plague
PubMed: 37789313
DOI: 10.1186/s12917-023-03736-8 -
Maturitas Jul 2021
Topics: COVID-19; HIV Infections; Humans; Influenza, Human; Pandemics; Plague; SARS-CoV-2
PubMed: 33579552
DOI: 10.1016/j.maturitas.2021.02.001 -
Archives of Microbiology Dec 2021The plague agent Yersinia pestis mainly spreads among mammalian hosts and their associated fleas. Production of a successful mammal-flea-mammal life cycle implies that... (Review)
Review
The plague agent Yersinia pestis mainly spreads among mammalian hosts and their associated fleas. Production of a successful mammal-flea-mammal life cycle implies that Y. pestis senses and responds to distinct cues in both host and vector. Among these cues, osmolarity is a fundamental parameter. The plague bacillus lives in a tightly regulated environment in the mammalian host, while osmolarity fluctuates in the flea gut (300-550 mOsM). Here, we review the mechanisms that enable Y. pestis to perceive fluctuations in osmolarity, as well as genomic plasticity and physiological adaptation of the bacterium to this stress.
Topics: Adaptation, Physiological; Animals; Insect Vectors; Plague; Siphonaptera; Yersinia pestis
PubMed: 34878588
DOI: 10.1007/s00203-021-02610-1 -
Pest Management Science Jan 2021
Topics: Agrochemicals; Humans; Plague
PubMed: 33289934
DOI: 10.1002/ps.6175 -
The British Journal of Ophthalmology Jul 2021
Topics: COVID-19; COVID-19 Vaccines; Conjunctivitis, Viral; Cornea; Humans; Immunization; Plague; SARS-CoV-2
PubMed: 34045223
DOI: 10.1136/bjophthalmol-2021-319687 -
Science Translational Medicine Sep 2021The COVID-19 pandemic has been devastating, but it enables us to learn from it and prepare for the next pandemic disease.
The COVID-19 pandemic has been devastating, but it enables us to learn from it and prepare for the next pandemic disease.
Topics: COVID-19; Humans; Learning; Plague; SARS-CoV-2
PubMed: 34524858
DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.abl9098 -
The American Journal of Tropical... May 2021Plague, a fleaborne rodent-associated zoonosis, is a neglected disease with most recent cases reported from east and central Africa and Madagascar. Because of its low... (Review)
Review
Plague, a fleaborne rodent-associated zoonosis, is a neglected disease with most recent cases reported from east and central Africa and Madagascar. Because of its low incidence and sporadic occurrence, most of our knowledge of plague ecology, prevention, and control derives from investigations conducted in response to human cases. Long-term studies (which are uncommon) are required to generate data to support plague surveillance, prevention, and control recommendations. Here we describe a 15-year, multidisciplinary commitment to plague in the West Nile region of Uganda that led to significant advances in our understanding of where and when persons are at risk for plague infection and how to reduce morbidity and mortality. These findings provide data-driven support for several existing recommendations on plague surveillance and prevention and may be generalizable to other plague foci.
Topics: Ecology; Epidemiological Monitoring; Humans; Incidence; Longitudinal Studies; Plague; Primary Prevention; Risk Factors; Uganda; Yersinia pestis
PubMed: 33939638
DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.20-1381 -
Advanced Materials (Deerfield Beach,... Dec 2023Bacterial pneumonia is the leading cause of death worldwide among all infectious diseases. However, currently available vaccines against fatal bacterial lung infections,...
Bacterial pneumonia is the leading cause of death worldwide among all infectious diseases. However, currently available vaccines against fatal bacterial lung infections, e.g., pneumonic plague, are accompanied by limitations, including insufficient antigen-adjuvant co-delivery and inadequate immune stimulation. Therefore, there is an urgent requirement to develop next-generation vaccines to improve the interaction between antigen and adjuvant, as well as enhance the effects of immune stimulation. This study develops a novel amino-decorated mesoporous manganese silicate nanoparticle (AMMSN) loaded with rF1-V10 (rF1-V10@AMMSN) to prevent pneumonic plague. These results suggest that subcutaneous immunization with rF1-V10@AMMSN in a prime-boost strategy induces robust production of rF1-V10-specific IgG antibodies with a geometric mean titer of 315,844 at day 42 post-primary immunization, which confers complete protection to mice against 50 × LD of Yersinia pestis (Y. pestis) challenge via the aerosolized intratracheal route. Mechanistically, rF1-V10@AMMSN can be taken up by dendritic cells (DCs) and promote DCs maturation through activation of the cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS)-stimulator of interferon genes (STING) pathway and production of type I interferon. This process results in enhanced antigen presentation and promotes rF1-V10-mediated protection against Y. pestis infection. This manganese-based nanoparticle vaccine represents a valuable strategy for combating fatal bacterial pneumonia.
Topics: Mice; Animals; Plague; Plague Vaccine; Nanovaccines; Manganese; Antigens, Bacterial; Vaccines; Pneumonia, Bacterial; Adjuvants, Immunologic; Bacterial Proteins
PubMed: 37784226
DOI: 10.1002/adma.202304514