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Frontiers in Microbiology 2024Acute febrile illnesses (AFI) in developing tropical and sub-tropical nations are challenging to diagnose due to the numerous causes and non-specific symptoms. The...
INTRODUCTION
Acute febrile illnesses (AFI) in developing tropical and sub-tropical nations are challenging to diagnose due to the numerous causes and non-specific symptoms. The proliferation of rapid diagnostic testing and successful control campaigns against malaria have revealed that non- pathogens still contribute significantly to AFI burden. Thus, a more complete understanding of local trends and potential causes is important for selecting the correct treatment course, which in turn will reduce morbidity and mortality. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) in a laboratory setting can be used to identify known and novel pathogens in individuals with AFI.
METHODS
In this study, plasma was collected from 228 febrile patients tested negative for malaria at clinics across Senegal from 2020-2022. Total nucleic acids were extracted and converted to metagenomic NGS libraries. To identify viral pathogens, especially those present at low concentration, an aliquot of each library was processed with a viral enrichment panel and sequenced. Corresponding metagenomic libraries were also sequenced to identify non-viral pathogens.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Sequencing reads for pathogens with a possible link to febrile illness were identified in 51/228 specimens, including (but not limited to): (N = 7), West Nile virus (N = 3), (N = 2), (N = 1), human herpesvirus 8 (N = 1), and Saffold virus (N = 1). Reads corresponding to were detected in 19 specimens, though their presence in the cohort was likely due to user error of rapid diagnostic testing or incorrect specimen segregation at the clinics. Mosquito-borne pathogens were typically detected just after the conclusion of the rainy season, while tick-borne pathogens were mostly detected before the rainy season. The three West Nile virus strains were phylogenetically characterized and shown to be related to both European and North American clades. Surveys such as this will increase the understanding of the potential causes of non-malarial AFI, which may help inform diagnostic and treatment options for clinicians who provide care to patients in Senegal.
PubMed: 38655084
DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1362714 -
BMC Infectious Diseases Apr 2024Cat scratch disease (CSD) is caused by Bartonella henselae (B. henselae) and presents as lymphadenopathy following close contact with cats. However, in context of the... (Review)
Review
Cat scratch disease (CSD) is caused by Bartonella henselae (B. henselae) and presents as lymphadenopathy following close contact with cats. However, in context of the global COVID-19 pandemic, clinical manifestations of CSD may vary, posing new challenges for healthcare professionals. Here we describe a case of a 54-year-old male with painful left upper arm mass, which gradually resolved until he was infected with COVID-19. The mass then rapidly progressed before admission. Meanwhile, pulmonary symptoms including pleural effusion emerged simultaneously. The cause was undetermined with routine blood culture and pathological test until the next generation sequencing (NGS) confirmed the presence of B. henselae. We believe this case is the first to report localized aggravation of CSD after COVID-19 infection and hopefully, offers treatment experience for clinicians worldwide.
Topics: Humans; Male; COVID-19; Bartonella henselae; Cat-Scratch Disease; Middle Aged; Latent Infection; SARS-CoV-2
PubMed: 38649899
DOI: 10.1186/s12879-024-09336-7 -
Journal of Ophthalmic Inflammation and... Apr 2024Cat-scratch disease (CSD) is caused by Bartonella henselae infection. In atypical cases of CSD, pathogen determination is challenging. We report a case of Bartonella...
BACKGROUND
Cat-scratch disease (CSD) is caused by Bartonella henselae infection. In atypical cases of CSD, pathogen determination is challenging. We report a case of Bartonella neuroretinitis with neither a clear history of scratches nor typical general symptoms. The diagnosis was made using metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS), a high-throughput sequencing technology.
CASE PRESENTATION
A female patient presented to the ophthalmologist with complaint of blurred vision in her right eye. Although with history of raising a cat, she reported no clear history of scratches or typical general symptoms, except a fever of unknown origin which resolved spontaneously. The best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of the right eye was count fingers. Fundus examination showed optic disc oedema, macular exudates and inferior exudative retinal detachment. Laboratory examination results showed increased value of serum C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate. Ocular involvement of toxoplasmosis, syphilis and tuberculosis were excluded. To identify the possible causative pathogen of the disease, mNGS of aqueous humour sample was performed and 521 reads of B. henselae were identified. Serological test results further showed a positive immunoglobulin G (IgG) titre of 1:64. Taking the contact history, clinical manifestations, mNGS and serological results into consideration, the diagnosis of Bartonella neuroretinitis (ocular CSD) was made. After appropriate treatment, the BCVA of the right eye improved to 20/25 in the last follow-up. Fundus examination showed a normal optic disc and macula, and the exudates had reduced.
CONCLUSION
mNGS, a fast and unbiased method, can be used to detect B. henselae (if present) in intraocular fluid samples.; however, the results should be interpreted together with the clinical symptoms and other auxiliary test results.
PubMed: 38637335
DOI: 10.1186/s12348-024-00387-0 -
Quantitative Imaging in Medicine and... Apr 2024
PubMed: 38617158
DOI: 10.21037/qims-23-1390 -
Frontiers in Microbiology 2024Rodents have been confirmed as hosts of various vector-borne zoonotic pathogens and are important for the maintenance of these microbes in nature. However, surveillance...
Rodents have been confirmed as hosts of various vector-borne zoonotic pathogens and are important for the maintenance of these microbes in nature. However, surveillance for zoonotic pathogens is limited for many wild rodent species in China, so our knowledge of pathogen ecology, genetic diversity, and the risk of cross-species transmission to humans is limited. In this study, 165 spleen samples of Daurian ground squirrels () were collected from Weichang Manchu and the Mongolian Autonomous County of Hebei Province, China, and , , and were identified by DNA detection using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Sequence analysis identified eight bacterial pathogens: , , R. longicornii, , , , , and Anaplasma cinensis. Co-infection of and in one sample was observed. Our results demonstrated the genetic diversity of bacteria in Daurian ground squirrels and contributed to the distribution of these pathogens. Six species, , , , R. longicornii, , and , are known to be pathogenic to humans, indicating a potential public health risk to the local human population, especially to herders who frequently have close contact with Daurian ground squirrels and are thus exposed to their ectoparasites.
PubMed: 38605713
DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1359797 -
BMC Infectious Diseases Apr 2024Cutaneous bacillary angiomatosis (cBA) is a vascular proliferative disorder due to Bartonella spp. that mostly affects people living with HIV (PLWH), transplanted...
BACKGROUND
Cutaneous bacillary angiomatosis (cBA) is a vascular proliferative disorder due to Bartonella spp. that mostly affects people living with HIV (PLWH), transplanted patients and those taking immunosuppressive drugs. Since cBA is mostly related to these major immunocompromising conditions (i.e., T-cell count impairment), it is considered rare in relatively immunocompetent patients and could be underdiagnosed in them. Moreover, antimicrobial treatment in this population has not been previously investigated.
METHODS
We searched the databases PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, OpenAIRE and ScienceDirect by screening articles whose title included the keywords "bacillary" AND "angiomatosis" and included case reports about patients not suffering from major immunocompromising conditions to provide insights about antibiotic treatments and their duration.
RESULTS
Twenty-two cases of cBA not related to major immunocompromising conditions were retrieved. Antibiotic treatment duration was shorter in patients with single cBA lesion than in patients with multiple lesions, including in most cases macrolides and tetracyclines.
CONCLUSIONS
cBA is an emerging manifestation of Bartonella spp. infection in people not suffering from major immunocompromising conditions. Until evidence-based guidelines are available, molecular tests together with severity and extension of the disease can be useful to personalize the type of treatment and its duration.
Topics: Humans; Angiomatosis, Bacillary; Skin; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Immunocompromised Host
PubMed: 38589795
DOI: 10.1186/s12879-024-09253-9 -
European Journal of Case Reports in... 2024A case of ocular bartonellosis under anti-tumour necrosis factor treatment is described.
INTRODUCTION
A case of ocular bartonellosis under anti-tumour necrosis factor treatment is described.
CASE DESCRIPTION
A 29-year-old woman with psoriasis who had been on certolizumab treatment was examined with a left visual deterioration following a fever bout, malaise, and placoid erythematous rashes on her neck. As there was acute anterior uveitis in her left eye, it was recommended to stop certolizumab treatment for a possible infectious aetiology. However, her physician elected to continue the certolizumab treatment. Ten days later, the patient noticed further visual decline despite the topical steroid treatment. This time, there were scattered yellow-white small retinitis foci at the left posterior pole. Infectious agents were searched and while antibodies were negative for immunoglobulin M, the immunoglobulin G titre was 1/80. Clinical findings were improved with the systemic treatment of oral trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (160/800 mg twice daily for six weeks) and azithromycin (500 mg once daily for two weeks).
DISCUSSION
Though extremely rare, ocular bartonellosis should be kept in mind in patients on anti-tumour necrosis factor treatment as rapid and accurate diagnosis may end up with an excellent visual outcome and full recovery.
LEARNING POINTS
Anti-tumour necrosis factor treatment is fraught with several ocular side effects including myositis, corneal infiltrates, scleritis, uveitis, optic neuritis, retinal vasculitis and ophthalmoplegia.When a new uveitis episode occurs in cases undergoing anti-tumour necrosis factor therapy, its cause poses a diagnostic challenge as it can have either an infectious or a non-infectious nature.Though very rare, ocular bartonellosis may also occur in immunocompromised individuals and a prompt diagnosis and appropriate treatment can lead to an excellent visual recovery.
PubMed: 38584900
DOI: 10.12890/2024_004360 -
International Journal For Parasitology.... Apr 2024Red foxes () have been recognized as natural reservoirs for multiple pathogens and a source of infection for domestic animals, wildlife and humans. To date, no reports...
Red foxes () have been recognized as natural reservoirs for multiple pathogens and a source of infection for domestic animals, wildlife and humans. To date, no reports are available on the and infection in red foxes from China. In 2018-2022, a total of 16 red foxes were sampled in two counties and a city in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (XUAR) in northwest China. Subsequently analyzed by DNA extraction amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). In the present study, based on nucleotide sequence and phylogenetic tree analyses, . and . were molecularly identified in red foxes. Our findings provide the first molecular evidence of . and . in red foxes from China.
PubMed: 38560661
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2024.100925 -
Frontiers in Veterinary Science 2024Dogs and cats are the hosts of many vector-borne human pathogens that can be transmitted to humans. Given their direct and intimate contact with humans, companion dogs...
BACKGROUND
Dogs and cats are the hosts of many vector-borne human pathogens that can be transmitted to humans. Given their direct and intimate contact with humans, companion dogs and cats are considered direct sentinels of vector-borne human pathogens. However, limited information is currently available regarding canine and feline zoonotic pathogens in China. This study detected canine and feline vector-borne human pathogens to better understand the potential risk to humans.
METHODS
Blood samples were collected from 275 domestic companion animals (117 dogs and 158 cats) living in Tianjin city, China, and the presence of DNA from , , , and was detected by semi-nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The PCR products of the expected size were sequenced, and these newly generated sequences were subjected to BLASTN, nucleotide identity, and phylogenetic analyses.
RESULTS
A total of 24 blood samples tested positive for vector-borne pathogens in companion dogs and cats in Tianjin city, China, with a relatively low positive rate of 8.7%. Specifically, seven human pathogens, including , , , , , , and , were identified. In addition, with zoonotic potential and were detected.
CONCLUSION
Our results indicate substantial genetic diversity in the vector-borne human pathogens circulating in companion dogs and cats. Interventions based on "One Health" should be taken to reduce the potential risks of contracting infection from companion dogs and cats in Tianjin, China.
PubMed: 38550787
DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1373178 -
Annals of Agricultural and... Mar 2024is one of the tick species of the greatest epidemiological importance in Europe. To date, the Eastern European and Western European populations of this tick species...
INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE
is one of the tick species of the greatest epidemiological importance in Europe. To date, the Eastern European and Western European populations of this tick species have been separated by an area located in Poland where the species has never been found. In this study, newly discovered localities in areas transformed by human activities in central-southern Poland are described.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
The specimens of the ornate dog tick were identified among ticks collected from companion animals in 2010, 2012, 2013, and 2014. They were examined using PCR methods to detect s.l., spp., , spp., spp., and. In the case of the positive results, the amplicons were sequenced and examined by a BLAST search.
RESULTS
In total, 6 specimens of were collected (3 females and 3 males). As declared by the owners, animal hosts stayed in the same area throughout the study period and had never travelled outside their place of residence. As many as 3/6 (50%) of adults removed from dogs were infected with .
CONCLUSIONS
The results expand the available data on the spread of the ornate dog tick and indicate that, since 2010, this tick species and transmitted by this tick species have probably been present in this area, which has a strongly transformed agricultural structure and and had previously been regarded as a -free zone. The presence of the ornate dog tick in urban and suburban habitats in central-southern Poland poses new threats to the health of companion animals and humans associated with the transmission of pathogens by this species.
Topics: Dogs; Animals; Male; Female; Humans; Dermacentor; Poland; Rhipicephalus sanguineus; Rickettsia
PubMed: 38549474
DOI: 10.26444/aaem/178401