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Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases Jul 2023The impact of tick-borne diseases caused by pathogens such as Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Neoehrlichia mikurensis, Borrelia miyamotoi, Rickettsia helvetica and Babesia... (Review)
Review
The impact of tick-borne diseases caused by pathogens such as Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Neoehrlichia mikurensis, Borrelia miyamotoi, Rickettsia helvetica and Babesia species on public health is largely unknown. Data on the prevalence of these pathogens in Ixodes ricinus ticks from seven countries within the North Sea Region in Europe as well as the types and availability of diagnostic tests and the main clinical features of their corresponding diseases is reported and discussed. Raised awareness is needed to discover cases of these under-recognized types of tick-borne disease, which should provide valuable insights into these diseases and their clinical significance.
Topics: Animals; Humans; North Sea; Borrelia; Tick-Borne Diseases; Ixodes; Borrelia Infections; Rickettsia; Europe
PubMed: 37116420
DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2023.102185 -
Parasites & Vectors Jun 2023Babesia spp. are intraerythrocytic apicomplexans that digest and utilize red blood cells in a similar way to intraerythrocytic Plasmodium spp., but unlike the latter,...
Babesia spp. are intraerythrocytic apicomplexans that digest and utilize red blood cells in a similar way to intraerythrocytic Plasmodium spp., but unlike the latter, are not sensitive to artemisinin. A comparison of Babesia and Plasmodium genomes revealed that Babesia genomes, which are smaller than those of Plasmodium, lack numerous genes, and especially haem synthesis-related genes, that are found in the latter. Single-cell sequencing analysis showed that the different treatment groups of Babesia microti with expressed pentose phosphate pathway-related, DNA replication-related, antioxidation-related, glycolysis-related, and glutathione-related genes were not as sensitive to artemether as Plasmodium yoelii 17XNL. In particular, pentose phosphate pathway-related, DNA replication-related, and glutathione-related genes, which were actively expressed in P. yoelii 17XNL, were not actively expressed in B. microti. Supplying iron in vivo can promote the reproduction of B. microti. These results suggest that Babesia spp. lack a similar mechanism to that of malaria parasites through which the haem or iron in hemoglobin is utilized, and that this likely leads to their insensitivity to artemisinin.
Topics: Humans; Babesia; Artemisinins; Plasmodium yoelii; Iron; Heme; Babesiosis
PubMed: 37291657
DOI: 10.1186/s13071-023-05783-4 -
Frontiers in Cellular and Infection... 2023
Topics: Animals; Babesia; Babesiosis; Ticks
PubMed: 38229974
DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1346960 -
Transfusion-transmitted spp.: a changing landscape of epidemiology, regulation, and risk mitigation.Journal of Clinical Microbiology Oct 2023spp. are tick-borne parasites with a global distribution and diversity of vertebrate hosts. Over the next several decades, climate change is expected to impact humans,... (Review)
Review
spp. are tick-borne parasites with a global distribution and diversity of vertebrate hosts. Over the next several decades, climate change is expected to impact humans, vectors, and vertebrate hosts and change the epidemiology of . Although humans are dead-end hosts for tick-transmitted , human-to-human transmission of spp. from transfusion of red blood cells and whole blood-derived platelet concentrates has been reported. In most patients, transfusion-transmitted (TTB) results in a moderate-to-severe illness. Currently, in North America, most cases of TTB have been described in the United States. TTB cases outside North America are rare, but case numbers may change over time with increased recognition of babesiosis and as the epidemiology of is impacted by climate change. Therefore, TTB is a concern of microbiologists working in blood operator settings, as well as in clinical settings where transfusion occurs. Microbiologists play an important role in deploying blood donor screening assays in endemic regions, identifying changing risks for in non-endemic areas, investigating recipients of blood products for TTB, and drafting TTB policies and guidelines. In this review, we provide an overview of the clinical presentation and epidemiology of TTB. We identify approaches and technologies to reduce the risk of collecting blood products from -infected donors and describe how investigations of TTB are undertaken. We also describe how microbiologists in non-endemic regions can assess for changing risks of TTB and decide when to focus on laboratory-test-based approaches or pathogen reduction to reduce TTB risk.
Topics: Humans; United States; Babesia; Babesia microti; Blood Transfusion; Babesiosis; Blood Donors
PubMed: 37750699
DOI: 10.1128/jcm.01268-22 -
Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) Dec 2023A review of the association between microbes and mental illness is performed, including the history, relevant definitions, infectious agents associated with mental... (Review)
Review
A review of the association between microbes and mental illness is performed, including the history, relevant definitions, infectious agents associated with mental illnesses, complex interactive infections, total load theory, pathophysiology, psychoimmunology, psychoneuroimmunology, clinical presentations, early-life infections, clinical assessment, and treatment. Perspectives on the etiology of mental illness have evolved from demonic possession toward multisystem biologically based models that include gene expression, environmental triggers, immune mediators, and infectious diseases. Microbes are associated with a number of mental disorders, including autism, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depressive disorders, and anxiety disorders, as well as suicidality and aggressive or violent behaviors. Specific microbes that have been associated or potentially associated with at least one of these conditions include , , , Borna disease virus, (Lyme disease), , , coronaviruses (e.g., SARS-CoV-2), , cytomegalovirus, enteroviruses, Epstein-Barr virus, hepatitis C, herpes simplex virus, human endogenous retroviruses, human immunodeficiency virus, human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6), human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1, influenza viruses, measles virus, , , rubella virus, Group A (PANDAS), , , (syphilis), , and West Nile virus. Recognition of the microbe and mental illness association with the development of greater interdisciplinary research, education, and treatment options may prevent and reduce mental illness morbidity, disability, and mortality.
PubMed: 38200989
DOI: 10.3390/healthcare12010083 -
Microorganisms Jul 2023The primary objective of this paper is to provide an evidence-based update of the literature on the use of bioactive phytochemicals, nutraceuticals, and micronutrients... (Review)
Review
The primary objective of this paper is to provide an evidence-based update of the literature on the use of bioactive phytochemicals, nutraceuticals, and micronutrients (dietary supplements that provide health benefits beyond their nutritional value) in the management of persistent cases of infection (Lyme disease) and two other tick-borne pathogens, and species. Recent studies have advanced our understanding of the pathophysiology and mechanisms of persistent infections. These advances have increasingly enabled clinicians and patients to utilize a wider set of options to manage these frequently disabling conditions. This broader toolkit holds the promise of simultaneously improving treatment outcomes and helping to decrease our reliance on the long-term use of pharmaceutical antimicrobials and antibiotics in the treatment of tick-borne pathogens such as , , and .
PubMed: 37512931
DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11071759 -
Veterinary Microbiology Nov 2023Ticks are the main vectors for the transmission of bacterial, protist and viral pathogens in Europe affecting wildlife and domestic animals. However, some of them are... (Review)
Review
Exploring the diversity of tick-borne pathogens: The case of bacteria (Anaplasma, Rickettsia, Coxiella and Borrelia) protozoa (Babesia and Theileria) and viruses (Orthonairovirus, tick-borne encephalitis virus and louping ill virus) in the European continent.
Ticks are the main vectors for the transmission of bacterial, protist and viral pathogens in Europe affecting wildlife and domestic animals. However, some of them are zoonotic and can cause serious, sometimes fatal, problems in human health. A systematic review in PubMed/MEDLINE database was conducted to determine the spatial distribution and host and tick species ranges of a selection of tick-borne bacteria (Anaplasma spp., Borrelia spp., Coxiella spp., and Rickettsia spp.), protists (Babesia spp. and Theileria spp.), and viruses (Orthonairovirus, and flaviviruses tick-borne encephalitis virus and louping ill virus) on the European continent in a five-year period (November 2017 - November 2022). Only studies using PCR methods were selected, retrieving a total of 429 articles. Overall, up to 85 species of the selected tick-borne pathogens were reported from 36 European countries, and Anaplasma spp. was described in 37% (159/429) of the articles, followed by Babesia spp. (34%, 148/429), Borrelia spp. (34%, 147/429), Rickettsia spp. (33%, 142/429), Theileria spp. (11%, 47/429), tick-borne flaviviruses (9%, 37/429), Orthonairovirus (7%, 28/429) and Coxiella spp. (5%, 20/429). Host and tick ranges included 97 and 50 species, respectively. The highest tick-borne pathogen diversity was detected in domestic animals, and 12 species were shared between humans, wildlife, and domestic hosts, highlighting the following zoonotic species: Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Babesia divergens, Babesia microti, Borrelia afzelii, Borrelia burgdorferi s.s., Borrelia garinii, Borrelia miyamotoi, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus, Coxiella burnetii, Rickettsia monacensis and tick-borne encephalitis virus. These results contribute to the implementation of effective interventions for the surveillance and control of tick-borne diseases.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Babesia; Encephalitis Viruses, Tick-Borne; Anaplasma; Theileria; Coxiella; Ixodes; Borrelia; Rickettsia; Animals, Domestic; Tick-Borne Diseases; Animals, Wild
PubMed: 37866329
DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2023.109892 -
Epidemiology and Infection Sep 2023Rodents and shrews are major reservoirs of various pathogens that are related to zoonotic infectious diseases. The purpose of this study was to investigate co-infections...
Rodents and shrews are major reservoirs of various pathogens that are related to zoonotic infectious diseases. The purpose of this study was to investigate co-infections of zoonotic pathogens in rodents and shrews trapped in four provinces of China. We sampled different rodent and shrew communities within and around human settlements in four provinces of China and characterised several important zoonotic viral, bacterial, and parasitic pathogens by PCR methods and phylogenetic analysis. A total of 864 rodents and shrews belonging to 24 and 13 species from were captured, respectively. For viral pathogens, two species of hantavirus (Hantaan orthohantavirus and Caobang orthohantavirus) were identified in 3.47% of rodents and shrews. The overall prevalence of spp., Anaplasmataceae, spp., spp., Spotted fever group Rickettsiae, spp., and were 31.25%, 8.91%, 4.17%, 3.94%, 3.59%, 3.47%, and 0.58%, respectively. Furthermore, the highest co-infection status of three pathogens was observed among spp., spp., and Anaplasmataceae with a co-infection rate of 0.46%. Our results suggested that species distribution and co-infections of zoonotic pathogens were prevalent in rodents and shrews, highlighting the necessity of active surveillance for zoonotic pathogens in wild mammals in wider regions.
Topics: Animals; Bartonella; China; Coinfection; Leptospira; Phylogeny; Rodentia; Shrews
PubMed: 37675640
DOI: 10.1017/S0950268823001450