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Parasites & Vectors Feb 2024Armenia is considered particularly vulnerable to life-threatening vector-borne diseases (VBDs) including malaria, West Nile virus disease and leishmaniasis. However,...
BACKGROUND
Armenia is considered particularly vulnerable to life-threatening vector-borne diseases (VBDs) including malaria, West Nile virus disease and leishmaniasis. However, information relevant for the control of the vectors of these diseases, such as their insecticide resistance profile, is scarce. The present study was conducted to provide the first evidence on insecticide resistance mechanisms circulating in major mosquito and sand fly populations in Armenia.
METHODS
Sampling sites were targeted based mainly on previous historical records of VBD occurrences in humans and vertebrate hosts. Initially, molecular species identification on the collected vector samples was performed. Subsequently, molecular diagnostic assays [polymerase chain reaction (PCR), Sanger sequencing, PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP), quantitative PCR (qPCR)] were performed to profile for major insecticide resistance mechanisms, i.e. target site insensitivity in voltage-gated sodium channel (vgsc) associated with pyrethroid resistance, acetylcholinesterase (ace-1) target site mutations linked to organophosphate (OP) and carbamate (CRB) resistance, chitin synthase (chs-1) target site mutations associated with diflubenzuron (DFB) resistance and gene amplification of carboxylesterases (CCEs) associated with resistance to the OP temephos.
RESULTS
Anopheles mosquitoes were principally represented by Anopheles sacharovi, a well-known malaria vector in Armenia, which showed no signs of resistance mechanisms. Contrarily, the knockdown resistance (kdr) mutations V1016G and L1014F/C in the vgsc gene were detected in the arboviral mosquito vectors Aedes albopictus and Culex pipiens, respectively. The kdr mutation L1014S was also detected in the sand fly, vectors of leishmaniasis, Phlebotomus papatasi and P. tobbi, whereas no mutations were found in the remaining collected sand fly species, P. sergenti, P. perfiliewi and P. caucasicus.
CONCLUSIONS
This is the first study to report on molecular mechanisms of insecticide resistance circulating in major mosquito and sand fly disease vectors in Armenia and highlights the need for the establishment of systematic resistance monitoring practices for the implementation of evidence-based control applications.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Insecticide Resistance; Insecticides; Mosquito Vectors; Acetylcholinesterase; Anopheles; Armenia; Malaria; Phlebotomus; Psychodidae; Leishmaniasis; Mutation; Pyrethrins; Aedes; Culex
PubMed: 38321481
DOI: 10.1186/s13071-024-06139-2 -
Journal of Comparative Pathology Feb 2024Phlebotomine sand flies (Diptera: Phlebotominae) are vectors of human and animal pathogens, including Leishmania species protozoan parasites and viruses of the genus... (Review)
Review
Phlebotomine sand flies (Diptera: Phlebotominae) are vectors of human and animal pathogens, including Leishmania species protozoan parasites and viruses of the genus Phlebovirus. In Europe, visceral zoonotic leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania infantum, a deadly disease when left untreated, is endemic in southern countries, and dogs are the main reservoir hosts for human infection. Most phleboviruses cause asymptomatic infections or flu-like syndromes in humans, but Toscana phlebovirus can cause meningitis and encephalitis. These diseases are likely to re-emerge, posing a growing threat to public and animal health. Potential triggers include the movement of humans and dogs, increasing numbers of immunosuppressive conditions, climate change and other human-mediated environmental changes. An overview of the main epidemiological characteristics of the pathogens transmitted by sand flies in Europe and the potential triggers involved in their emergence and re-emergence are reviewed here. There is a need to implement mandatory notification of human and canine leishmaniases and human phleboviruses and coordinated epidemiological surveillance programmes at a European level, and to raise awareness among healthcare professionals and citizens about sand fly-borne diseases, following a One Health approach.
Topics: Animals; Dogs; Humans; Psychodidae; Europe; Leishmaniasis, Visceral; Encephalitis; Leishmania infantum; Dog Diseases
PubMed: 38320331
DOI: 10.1016/j.jcpa.2024.01.001 -
Ecology and Evolution Feb 2024The Guizhou golden monkey () is a critically endangered wildlife species, and understanding its diet composition may be useful for assessing its feeding strategies. DNA...
The Guizhou golden monkey () is a critically endangered wildlife species, and understanding its diet composition may be useful for assessing its feeding strategies. DNA metabarcoding was used to determine the dietary diversity of . DNA was extracted from 31 faecal samples and amplified chloroplast and mitochondrial DNA was sequenced using the Illumina NovaSeq platform. A comparative analysis of the sequences revealed that the five most abundant plant genera were , , , and . In winter, mostly consumed shrubs, herbs and shrubs/trees according to the habit of plant genera with higher abundances comparatively. The five most abundant families in animal diet were Psychodidae, Trichinellidae, Staphylinidae, Scarabaeidae and Trichoceridae. This study is the first to show the composition of the winter animal diets of based on DNA metabarcoding. These results provide an important basis for understanding the diet of wild , which inhabits only the Fanjingshan National Nature Reserve, China.
PubMed: 38314313
DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10893 -
PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases Jan 2024Sand fly transmitted Leishmania species are responsible for severe, wide ranging, visceral and cutaneous leishmaniases. Genetic exchange can occur among natural...
Sand fly transmitted Leishmania species are responsible for severe, wide ranging, visceral and cutaneous leishmaniases. Genetic exchange can occur among natural Leishmania populations and hybrids can now be produced experimentally, with limitations. Feeding Phlebotomus orientalis or Phlebotomus argentipes on two strains of Leishmania donovani yielded hybrid progeny, selected using double drug resistance and fluorescence markers. Fluorescence activated cell sorting of cultured clones derived from these hybrids indicated diploid progeny. Multilocus sequence typing of the clones showed hybridisation and nuclear heterozygosity, although with inheritance of single haplotypes in a kinetoplastid target. Comparative genomics showed diversity of clonal progeny between single chromosomes, and extraordinary heterozygosity across all 36 chromosomes. Diversity between progeny was seen for the HASPB antigen, which has been noted previously as having implications for design of a therapeutic vaccine. Genomic diversity seen among Leishmania strains and hybrid progeny is of great importance in understanding the epidemiology and control of leishmaniasis. As an outcome of this study we strongly recommend that wider biological archives of different Leishmania species from endemic regions should be established and made available for comparative genomics. However, in parallel, performance of genetic crosses and genomic comparisons should give fundamental insight into the specificity, diversity and limitations of candidate diagnostics, vaccines and drugs, for targeted control of leishmaniasis.
Topics: Animals; Phlebotomus; Leishmania donovani; Psychodidae; Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous; Crosses, Genetic; Genomics; Leishmaniasis, Visceral
PubMed: 38295092
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011920 -
Euro Surveillance : Bulletin Europeen... Jan 2024BackgroundHuman leishmaniasis is a protozoan disease transmitted by sand flies and endemic in the Mediterranean region. In Italy, leishmaniasis is present in the south... (Observational Study)
Observational Study
BackgroundHuman leishmaniasis is a protozoan disease transmitted by sand flies and endemic in the Mediterranean region. In Italy, leishmaniasis is present in the south and the western coastal regions, with an epidemic peak detected in northern Italy in the early 1970s.AimTo examine temporal trends, and demographic, clinical, geographical and environmental features of human leishmaniasis cases recorded by the local health unit (LHU) of Bologna, northern Italy.MethodsIn this retrospective observational study, we analysed human leishmaniasis cases recorded from 2004 to 2022 within the Bologna LHU. We also conducted serological investigations for canine leishmaniasis in owned dogs living near the place of infection of human cases.ResultsIn total, 173 cases of human leishmaniasis were detected, and 154 cases were considered autochthonous. An increase of human cases was observed since 2004, with incidence peaks above 2 cases/100,000 inhabitants in 2013, 2018 and 2022; epidemic peaks were preceded by dry summers. Most cases lived in the plain and hilly areas less than 400 m above sea level and many resided in isolated housing, in city outskirts, and/or near uncultivated areas, watercourses and railway sections. The incidence of canine leishmaniasis did not increase in the study period.ConclusionAn epidemic of human leishmaniasis with fluctuating annual numbers of cases, probably related to environmental and climatic factors, was identified in the Bologna LHU. Understanding the risk factors and the environmental characteristics related to places of infection is crucial to evaluate the public health implications of leishmaniasis.
Topics: Humans; Animals; Dogs; Leishmaniasis, Visceral; Retrospective Studies; Leishmaniasis; Psychodidae; Italy; Dog Diseases; Leishmania infantum
PubMed: 38275016
DOI: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2024.29.4.2300190 -
Microsystems & Nanoengineering 2024This study introduces a novel image capture and lighting techniques using a cutting-edge hybrid MEMS scanner system designed for compact microscopic imaging. The scanner...
This study introduces a novel image capture and lighting techniques using a cutting-edge hybrid MEMS scanner system designed for compact microscopic imaging. The scanner comprises a tapered optical fiber waveguide and innovative aerosol-jet printed PZT (lead zirconate titanate) bimorph push-pull actuators on a stainless-steel substrate, effectively addressing issues that are commonly associated with PZT on silicon substrates such as fracture and layer separation. By leveraging nonlinear vibration, the scanner achieves a spiral scan pattern from a single signal input, in addition to the expected two-dimensional scanning and target illumination from two phase-shifted inputs. This capability is further enhanced by a novel process to taper the optical fiber, which reduces illumination scattering and tunes the fiber to the resonant frequencies of the scanner. The precisely tapered tip enables large fields of view while maintaining independent 2-axis scanning through one-degree-of-freedom actuation. Experimental validation showcases the successful generation of a spiral scan pattern with a 60 μm diameter scan area and a 10 Hz frame rate, effectively reconstructing scanned images of 5 μm lines, cross patterns (15 μm in length with a 5 μm gap), and structures of a Psychodidae wing.
PubMed: 38259520
DOI: 10.1038/s41378-023-00646-5 -
Viruses Jan 2024Wuxiang virus (WUXV) is the first sandfly-borne isolated from collected in China and has been established as a consistent viral presence in the local sandfly...
Wuxiang virus (WUXV) is the first sandfly-borne isolated from collected in China and has been established as a consistent viral presence in the local sandfly populations of both Wuxiang County and Yangquan City. However, its distribution in the Shanxi Province remains unclear. In this study, three novel WUXV strains were isolated from sandflies collected from Jiexiu City, Shanxi Province, China, in 2022. Subsequently, whole-genome sequences of these novel strains were generated using next-generation sequencing. The open reading frame (ORF) sequences of the WUXV strains from the three locations were subjected to gene analysis. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that WUXV belongs to two distinct clades with geographical differences. Strains from Wuxiang County and Yangquan City belonged to clade 1, whereas strains from Jiexiu City belonged to clade 2. Reassortment and recombination analyses indicated no gene reassortment or recombination between the two clades. However, four reassortments or recombination events could be detected in clade 1 strains. By aligning the amino acid sequences, eighty-seven mutation sites were identified between the two clades, with seventeen, sixty, nine, and one site(s) in the proteins RdRp, M, NSs, and N, respectively. Additionally, selection pressure analysis identified 17 positively selected sites across the entire genome of WUXV, with two, thirteen, one, and one site(s) in the proteins RdRp, M, NSs, and N, respectively. Notably, sites M-312 and M-340 in the M segment not only represented mutation sites but also showed positive selective pressure effects. These findings highlight the need for continuous nationwide surveillance of WUXV.
Topics: Animals; Phylogeny; China; Amino Acid Sequence; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing; Psychodidae; RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase
PubMed: 38257803
DOI: 10.3390/v16010103 -
Frontiers in Cellular and Infection... 2023The Hedi virus (HEDV) and Wuxiang virus (WUXV) are newly discovered Bunyaviruses transmitted by sandflies. The geographical distribution of isolation of these two...
INTRODUCTION
The Hedi virus (HEDV) and Wuxiang virus (WUXV) are newly discovered Bunyaviruses transmitted by sandflies. The geographical distribution of isolation of these two viruses continues to expand and it has been reported that WUXV causes neurological symptoms and even death in suckling mice. However, little is known about the prevalence of the two viruses in mammalian infections.
METHODS
In order to understand the infection status of HEDV and WUXV in humans and animals from regions where the viruses have been isolated, this study used Western blotting to detect the positive rates of HEDV and WUXV IgG antibodies in serum samples from febrile patients, dogs, and chickens in the forementioned regions.
RESULTS
The results showed that of the 29 human serum samples, 17.24% (5/29) tested positive for HEDV, while 68.96% (20/29) were positive for WUXV. In the 31 dog serum samples, 87.10% (27/31) were positive for HEDV and 70.97% (22/31) were positive for WUXV, while in the 36 chicken serum samples, 47.22% (17/36) were positive for HEDV, and 52.78% (19/36) were positive for WUXV.
DISCUSSION
These findings suggest there are widespread infections of HEDV and WUXV in mammals (dogs, chickens) and humans from the regions where these viruses have been isolated. Moreover, the positive rate of HEDV infections was higher in local animals compared to that measured in human specimens. This is the first seroepidemiological study of these two sandfly-transmitted viruses. The findings of the study have practical implications for vector-borne viral infections and related zoonotic infections in China, as well as providing an important reference for studies on the relationship between sandfly-transmitted viruses and zoonotic infections outside of China.
Topics: Humans; Animals; Dogs; Mice; Psychodidae; Sandfly fever Naples virus; Chickens; Phlebotomus; Zoonoses; Mammals; Antibodies, Viral; China
PubMed: 38235489
DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1291937 -
Acta Parasitologica Mar 2024Leishmania major is main causative agent and Phlebotomus papatasi is only proven vector of Zoonotic Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (ZCL) in Iran. Human leishmaniasis is mostly...
PURPOSE
Leishmania major is main causative agent and Phlebotomus papatasi is only proven vector of Zoonotic Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (ZCL) in Iran. Human leishmaniasis is mostly susceptible to climatic conditions and molecular variations of Leishmania parasites within sandflies.
METHODS
L. major was analyzed based on geographical, environmental, climatic changes and haplotype variations within P. papatasi. Molecular tools and different geographical aspects were employed using Arc-GIS software for mapping the geographic distribution of samples and other statistics tests. Fragments of ITS-rDNA, k-DNA, and microsatellite genes of Leishmania were used for PCR, RFLP, sequencing, and phylogenetic analyses.
RESULTS
Totally 81 out of 1083 female P. papatasi were detected with Leishmania parasites: 70 and five were L. major and L. turanica, respectively. Golestan and Fars provinces had the highest (13.64%) and lowest (4.55%) infection rates, respectively. The infection rate among female P. papatasi collected from gerbil burrows was significantly higher (15.15%) than animal shelters, yards, and inside houses (4.48%) (P < 0.0%). Microsatellite was more sensitive (22.72%) than k-DNA (18.8%) and ITS-rDNA (7.48%). More molecular variations of L. major were found in Isfahan province.
CONCLUSIONS
Arc-GIS software and other statistics tests were employed to find Leishmania positive and haplotype variations among sand flies. Geographical situations, altitude, climate, precipitation, humidity, temperature, urbanization, migrations, regional divergences, deforestation, global warming, genome instability, ecology, and biology of the sand flies intrinsically, and the reservoir hosts and neighboring infected locations could be reasons for increasing or decreasing the rate of Leishmania infection and haplotype variations.
Topics: Animals; Leishmania major; Phlebotomus; Iran; Haplotypes; Female; Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous; Phylogeny; Genetic Variation; Microsatellite Repeats; Insect Vectors; DNA, Protozoan; Gerbillinae; Humans
PubMed: 38231310
DOI: 10.1007/s11686-023-00776-w -
Archives of Razi Institute Aug 2023Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a vector-borne disease widely distributed in tropical and subtropical areas of North and South America, Europe, Asia, and Africa....
Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a vector-borne disease widely distributed in tropical and subtropical areas of North and South America, Europe, Asia, and Africa. Considering the increasing number of CL cases in recent years and the fact that no study has been conducted to identify CL fauna and vectors in Alborz province, this study was carried out to identify sand flies and CL vectors in this region. Sand flies were collected from August to October 2021 from plain and mountainous indoor and outdoor areas of the region using sticky paper traps and were detected morphologically. DNA was extracted from the midguts of female sand flies. In this study, 1157 sand flies were collected and identified. The number of sand flies caught from indoor and outdoor places was 367 (31.72%) and 790 (68.28%), respectively. Overall, six species of flies were of the genus (Raynal, 1937), including (, 695 [60.07%]; Scopoli, 1786), (13 [1.12%]; Shchurenkova, 1926), (232 [20.05%]; Parrot, 1917), (14 [1.21%]; Annandale, 1910), (4 [0.35%]; Marzinowsky, 1917), (18 [1.56%]; Alexandri Sinton, 1920), and four were of the genus (Artemiev, 1978), including (109 [9.42%]; Adler, Theodor & Lourie, 1930), (53 [4.58%]), (14 [1.21%]; Sintoni Pringle, 1933), (5 [0.43%]). spp. were dominant in indoor and outdoor places, with a prevalence of 695 (60.07%). The () gene was identified in five samples of spp. This suggests that is the potential vector spp. in the study area. Moreover, was confirmed as the aetiological agent of CL cases in Alborz province. The identification of vectors and parasite spp. is very important for the treatment and operational planning of disease vectors.
Topics: Female; Animals; Iran; Insect Vectors; Phlebotomus; Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous; Psychodidae; Leishmania major
PubMed: 38226373
DOI: 10.32592/ARI.2023.78.4.1277