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Ecology and Spatio-Temporal Patterns of Zoonotic Diseases

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A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Infectious Disease Epidemiology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 September 2020) | Viewed by 27347

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Jason K. Blackburn

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Guest Editor

Spatial Epidemiology & Ecology Research Laboratory, Department of Geography & Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
Interests: bacterial zoonoses; GIS; spatial modeling; ecological niche modeling; pathogen persistence; wildlife diseases; animal movements; medical geography; anthrax; brucellosis; melioidosis

Dr. Michael H. Norris

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Guest Editor

Spatial Epidemiology & Ecology Research Laboratory, Department of Geography & Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
Interests: pathogenesis; bacterial zoonoses; immunology; host/pathogen interactions; medical geography; anthrax; brucellosis; melioidosis

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Zoonotic diseases are those that can affect humans and animals and present significant public health challenges globally. Many zoonotic diseases, such as anthrax and brucellosis, require significant and sustained animal vaccination and control campaigns to manage and reduce human disease burden. Wildlife can be affected by and play a role in disease persistence in these examples. With diseases such as these, a One Health approach is essential to tracking disease and public health response at the livestock–wildlife–human interface. Other zoonoses, such as Ebola, still have poorly understood animal reservoirs. Understanding the geographic distribution and timing of zoonotic disease outbreaks is essential for improving surveillance and targeting educational and control campaigns. Pathogens such as Bacillus anthracis, which causes anthrax, can persist in the environment for long periods of time. To understand transmission, it is important to understand the environments where persistence and subsequent host contact can lead to new cases. In the case of Ebola, wildlife sampling campaigns are important tools to tracking down possible virus reservoirs. Bird surveillance in poultry operations and wild bird populations is ongoing worldwide to better track and survey for avian influenza. In all these examples, ecologists, epidemiologists, spatial modelers, clinicians, and laboratorians are working independently and collaboratively to piece together data on the geographic distribution, timing, and intensity of outbreak events. Spatial and spatio-temporal analyses are critical for informing these efforts in developing mapping tools and seasonal predictors to better advise policymakers, public health workers, and communities on disease risks.

This Special Issue is focused on advances in and applications of spatial, mathematical, and bioinformatics tools for addressing ecological and space–time patterns of zoonotic diseases. These studies are informed and strengthened by data relating outbreak intensity to pathogensis and pathogen biology and how they shape host infection and immune response. Recent advances in spatial analysis are matched by advances in bioinformatics, proteomics, and laboratory experimentation, allowing the One Health community to better relate disease outbreaks to specific environmental drivers and pathogen biology. For this Special Issue of IJERPH, we invite papers focused on the intersection of ecology and spatio-temporal patterns of zoonotic diseases. Interdisciplinary studies are critical to the field and highly encouraged.

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, directly illustrates the impact zoonoses can have on the human population and society. While work is ongoing to determine and better describe the reservoir(s) and amplifying host(s) species, there is no argument that the virus spillover from animals to humans and is now established as a human-to-human pathogen. Zoonoses remain critically important to understand, surveil for, monitor, and when possible prevent. Understanding ecology and spatio-temporal patterns are two vital components of global zoonosis monitoring. Given the impacts of COVID-19 on society, as the research community as part of that, and its importance as a zoonosis, the deadline for this special issue has been extended. The call is open until 30 September 2020 and works on COVID-19 that meet the call welcome.

Dr. Jason K. Blackburn
Dr. Michael H. Norris
Guest Editors

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Keywords

Zoonotic disease
Disease ecology
Spatio-Temporal epidemiology
One Health

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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10 pages, 1994 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Spatial Patterns of Anthrax Outbreaks and Cases among Livestock in Lesotho, 2005–2016

by Relebohile Juliet Lepheana, James Wabwire Oguttu and Daniel Nenene Qekwana

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(20), 7584; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17207584 - 19 Oct 2020

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2940

Abstract

Background: Although anthrax occurs globally, the burden of the disease remains particularly high in Africa. Furthermore, the disease anthrax has significant public health and economic implications. However, sufficient attention has not been given to the geographic distribution of anthrax outbreaks and cases in Lesotho. Therefore, this study investigates the spatial patterns of anthrax outbreaks and cases among livestock in Lesotho from 2005 to 2016. Methods: A cross-sectional study design was adopted to realise the objectives of this study using retrospective data of anthrax outbreaks and cases recorded by the Department of Livestock Services (DLS) between 2005 and 2016. Anthrax outbreaks were geo-coded at village level and aggregated at district level. Proportions and 95% CI of anthrax outbreaks and cases by village and district were calculated. Cartographic maps displaying the distribution of anthrax outbreaks and cases at village and district level were constructed. Results: A total of 38 outbreaks were reported over the study period, and they were clustered in the Lowlands districts of Lesotho. Most outbreaks (52.6%, 20/38) in livestock were reported in the Maseru district. The Leribe district reported the lowest proportions of outbreaks (5.3%, 2/38) and cases (0.6%, 3/526). At the village level, 18% (7/38) of outbreaks were in Maseru Urban, followed by Ratau (16%, 6/38) and Mofoka (13%, 5/38). The Maseru district reported the highest (1.3%, 369/29,070) proportion of cases followed by Mafeteng (0.9%, 73/8530). The village with the most cases was Kolo (10.5%, 21/200), followed by Thaba-Chitja (7.7%, 33/430). Conclusion: Anthrax outbreaks and cases exclusively occur in the Lowlands districts of Lesotho, with villages such as Mahobong, Pitseng, Kolo, and Thaba-Chitja having a higher risk of anthrax disease. Findings of the present study have serious public health implications in light of the fact that between 2003 and 2008 Lesotho’s main abattoir was closed; hence, most of the meat in Lesotho was imported and/or sourced from the informal slaughter facilities. Much larger studies are needed to further investigate factors contributing to spatial disparities in anthrax outbreaks and cases observed in this study. Findings of the present study can be used to guide the formulation of a policy on prevention and control of anthrax in Lesotho. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecology and Spatio-Temporal Patterns of Zoonotic Diseases)

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14 pages, 1906 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Distribution of Serological Response to Burkholderia pseudomallei in Swine from Three Provinces of Vietnam

by Michael H. Norris, Hang Thi Thu Tran, Morgan A. Walker, Andrew P. Bluhm, Diansy Zincke, Trinh Thanh Trung, Nga Vu Thi, Ngoc Pham Thi, Herbert P. Schweizer, Fred Unger, Jason K. Blackburn and Nguyen Thi Thu Hang

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(14), 5203; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17145203 - 18 Jul 2020

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3637

Abstract

(1) Background: Burkholderia pseudomallei is an environmentally mediated saprophytic pathogen that can cause severe disease in humans. It is well known that B. pseudomallei survives in tropical moist soil environments worldwide, but melioidosis is gaining recognition as a public and veterinary health issue in Vietnam. The contribution of animals to human disease is unknown, necessitating further investigation. (2) Methods: Swine sera were collected from two populations, one grazing and one commercially farmed, from three provinces in Vietnam. ELISAs utilizing B. pseudomallei capsular polysaccharide (CPS), outer polysaccharide (OPS), and Hcp1 protein were used to screen serum samples. Positive samples were mapped to the commune level. Seroprevalence calculations and pig population estimates were used to approximate number of swine exposures per commune. (3) Results: Grazing pigs from Hoa Binh had significantly higher seropositivity levels (11.4%, 95% CI: 9.7–13.1) compared to farmed pigs from Ha Tinh and Nghe An (4%, 95% CI: 3.3–4.7). Average swine seropositivity rates were ~6.3% (95% CI: 5–7.9), higher than previously identified in Vietnam (~0.88%). (4) Conclusions: Initial serological sampling identified a significant number of seropositive and potential melioidosis infections occurring in swine in Vietnam. This work is a critical step in understanding the role swine may play in the epidemiology of human melioidosis in Vietnam. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecology and Spatio-Temporal Patterns of Zoonotic Diseases)

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19 pages, 2632 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Local Population Structure and Seasonal Variability of Borrelia garinii Genotypes in Ixodes ricinus Ticks, Slovakia

by Zuzana Mtierová, Markéta Derdáková, Michal Chvostáč, Yuliya M. Didyk, Barbara Mangová, Veronika Rusňáková Tarageľová, Diana Selyemová, Alžbeta Šujanová and Radovan Václav

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(10), 3607; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17103607 - 21 May 2020

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 2803

Abstract

Lyme disease (LD) is the most common tick-borne human disease in Europe, and Borrelia garinii, which is associated with avian reservoirs, is one of the most genetically diverse and widespread human pathogenic genospecies from the B. burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.) complex. The clinical manifestations of LD are known to vary between regions and depend on the genetic strain even within Borrelia genospecies. It is thus of importance to explore the genetic diversity of such pathogenic borreliae for the wide range of host and ecological contexts. In this study, multilocus sequence typing (MLST) was employed to investigate the local population structure of B. garinii in Ixodes ricinus ticks. The study took place in a natural wetland in Slovakia, temporally encompassing spring and autumn bird migration periods as well as the breeding period of resident birds. In total, we examined 369 and 255 ticks collected from 78 birds and local vegetation, respectively. B. burgdorferi s.l. was detected in 43.4% (160/369) of ticks recovered from birds and in 26.3% (67/255) of questing ticks, respectively. Considering the ticks from bird hosts, the highest prevalence was found for single infections with B. garinii (22.5%). Infection intensity of B. garinii in bird-feeding ticks was significantly higher than that in questing ticks. We identified ten B. garinii sequence types (STs) occurring exclusively in bird-feeding ticks, two STs occurring exclusively in questing ticks, and one ST (ST 244) occurring in both ticks from birds and questing ticks. Four B. garinii STs were detected for the first time herein. With the exception of ST 93, we detected different STs in spring and summer for bird-feeding ticks. Our results are consistent with previous studies of the low geographic structuring of B. garinii genotypes. However, our study reveals some consistency in local ST occurrence and a geographic signal for one of the clonal complexes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecology and Spatio-Temporal Patterns of Zoonotic Diseases)

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11 pages, 1746 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Spatial Associations Between Land Use and Infectious Disease: Zika Virus in Colombia

by Joshua S. Weinstein, Timothy F. Leslie and Michael E. von Fricken

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(4), 1127; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17041127 - 11 Feb 2020

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3168

Abstract

Land use boundaries represent human–physical interfaces where risk of vector-borne disease transmission is elevated. Land development practices, coupled with rural and urban land fragmentation, increases the likelihood that immunologically naïve humans will encounter infectious vectors at land use interfaces. This research consolidated land use classes from the GLC-SHARE dataset; calculated landscape metrics in linear (edge) density, proportion abundance, and patch density; and derived the incidence rate ratios of the Zika virus occurrence in Colombia, South America during 2016. Negative binomial regression was used to evaluate vector-borne disease occurrence counts in relation to Population Density, Average Elevation, Per Capita Gross Domestic Product, and each of three landscape metrics. Each kilometer of border length per square kilometer of area increase in the linear density of the Cropland and Grassland classes is associated with an increase in Zika virus risk. These spatial associations inform a risk reduction approach to rural and urban morphology and land development that emphasizes simple and compact land use geometry that decreases habitat availability for mosquito vectors of Zika virus. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecology and Spatio-Temporal Patterns of Zoonotic Diseases)

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16 pages, 3561 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Linking Geospatial and Laboratory Sciences to Define Mechanisms behind Landscape Level Drivers of Anthrax Outbreaks

by Michael H. Norris and Jason K. Blackburn

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16(19), 3747; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16193747 - 4 Oct 2019

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 4644

Abstract

Background: A seasonal predictor of anthrax outbreaks is rainfall, which may be approximated by NDVI using remote sensing. How rainfall or vegetative green-up influences bacterial physiology or microecology to drive anthrax outbreaks is not known. Methods: Rainfall and NDVI dependency of anthrax epizootics was demonstrated with global and local phenological analysis. Growth analysis of B. anthracis in response to pH and calcium gradients was carried out. The influence of pH and calcium levels on expression of toxin and sporulation related proteins in broth culture models was characterized using engineered B. anthracis luminescent reporter strains. Results: Short-term bacterial growth and longer-term bacterial survival were altered by pH and calcium. These conditions also played a major role in pagA and sspB promoter-driven luminescent expression in B. anthracis. Conclusions: Rainfall induced cycling of pH and calcium in soils plays a plausible role in amplifying spore load and persistence in endemic anthrax zones. Observed evidence of B. anthracis favoring soil alkalinity and high soil calcium levels in the environment were linked to physiological conditions that promote bacterial growth, survival, toxin secretion and spore formation; illustrating the utility of bringing laboratory-based (controlled) microbiology experiments into the fold of zoonotic disease ecology. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecology and Spatio-Temporal Patterns of Zoonotic Diseases)

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14 pages, 1095 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Ecological and Epidemiological Findings Associated with Zoonotic Rabies Outbreaks and Control in Moshi, Tanzania, 2017–2018

by Niwael Mtui-Malamsha, Raphael Sallu, Gladys R. Mahiti, Hussein Mohamed, Moses OleNeselle, Bachana Rubegwa, Emmanuel S. Swai, Selemani Makungu, Edward G. Otieno, Athuman M. Lupindu, Erick Komba, Robinson Mdegela, Justine A. Assenga, Jubilate Bernard, Walter Marandu, James Warioba, Zacharia Makondo, Jelly Chang’a, Furaha Mramba, Hezron Nonga, Japhet Killewo, Fred Kafeero, Yilma J. Makonnen, Ariel L. Rivas and Folorunso O. Fasina Show full author list Hide full author list

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16(16), 2816; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16162816 - 7 Aug 2019

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 5045

Abstract

Approximately 1500 people die annually due to rabies in the United Republic of Tanzania. Moshi, in the Kilimanjaro Region, reported sporadic cases of human rabies between 2017 and 2018. In response and following a One Health approach, we implemented surveillance, monitoring, as well as a mass vaccinations of domestic pets concurrently in >150 villages, achieving a 74.5% vaccination coverage (n = 29, 885 dogs and cats) by September 2018. As of April 2019, no single human or animal case has been recorded. We have observed a disparity between awareness and knowledge levels of community members on rabies epidemiology. Self-adherence to protective rabies vaccination in animals was poor due to the challenges of costs and distances to vaccination centers, among others. Incidence of dog bites was high and only a fraction (65%) of dog bite victims (humans) received post-exposure prophylaxis. A high proportion of unvaccinated dogs and cats and the relative intense interactions with wild dog species at interfaces were the risk factors for seropositivity to rabies virus infection in dogs. A percentage of the previously vaccinated dogs remained unimmunized and some unvaccinated dogs were seropositive. Evidence of community engagement and multi-coordinated implementation of One Health in Moshi serves as an example of best practice in tackling zoonotic diseases using multi-level government efforts. The district-level establishment of the One Health rapid response team (OHRRT), implementation of a carefully structured routine vaccination campaign, improved health education, and the implementation of barriers between domestic animals and wildlife at the interfaces are necessary to reduce the burden of rabies in Moshi and communities with similar profiles. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecology and Spatio-Temporal Patterns of Zoonotic Diseases)

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18 pages, 2307 KiB

Open AccessReview

Spatiotemporal Distribution of Dengue and Chikungunya in the Hindu Kush Himalayan Region: A Systematic Review

by Parbati Phuyal, Isabelle Marie Kramer, Doris Klingelhöfer, Ulrich Kuch, Axel Madeburg, David A. Groneberg, Edwin Wouters, Meghnath Dhimal and Ruth Müller

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(18), 6656; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17186656 - 12 Sep 2020

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 4240

Abstract

The risk of increasing dengue (DEN) and chikungunya (CHIK) epidemics impacts 240 million people, health systems, and the economy in the Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) region. The aim of this systematic review is to monitor trends in the distribution and spread of DEN/CHIK over time and geographically for future reliable vector and disease control in the HKH region. We conducted a systematic review of the literature on the spatiotemporal distribution of DEN/CHIK in HKH published up to 23 January 2020, following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. In total, we found 61 articles that focused on the spatial and temporal distribution of 72,715 DEN and 2334 CHIK cases in the HKH region from 1951 to 2020. DEN incidence occurs in seven HKH countries, i.e., India, Nepal, Bhutan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Myanmar, and CHIK occurs in four HKH countries, i.e., India, Nepal, Bhutan, and Myanmar, out of eight HKH countries. DEN is highly seasonal and starts with the onset of the monsoon (July in India and June in Nepal) and with the onset of spring (May in Bhutan) and peaks in the postmonsoon season (September to November). This current trend of increasing numbers of both diseases in many countries of the HKH region requires coordination of response efforts to prevent and control the future expansion of those vector-borne diseases to nonendemic areas, across national borders. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecology and Spatio-Temporal Patterns of Zoonotic Diseases)

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