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Microorganisms
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Vector-Borne Diseases in Temperate and Tropical Regions
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Vector-Borne Diseases in Temperate and Tropical Regions

A special issue of Microorganisms (ISSN 2076-2607). This special issue belongs to the section "Parasitology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 March 2023) | Viewed by 17862

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Isabel Pereira da Fonseca

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Guest Editor
Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Animal Health (CIISA) and Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences (AL4AnimalS), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (FMV), University of Lisbon (UL), Lisbon, Portugal
Interests: protozoa; arthropods; vector born diseases; forensic entomology and zoonosis
Prof. Dr. Graça Maria Alexandre-Pires

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Animal Health (CIISA) and Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences (AL4AnimalS), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (FMV), University of Lisbon (UL), Lisbon, Portugal
Interests: animal physiology; animal behavior veterinary medicine; lymphocytes
Dr. Gabriela Santos Gomes

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Global Health and Tropical Medicine, GHTM, Associate Laboratory in Translation and Innovation Towards Global Health, LA-REAL, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, IHMT, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
Interests: immunology; parasitology; leishmania; molecular biology; cellular biology; vaccine; new drugs
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Vector-borne diseases (VBD) are of wide concern with severe repercussions in animal and human health. Arthropod vectors such as ticks and dipterans can transmit pathogens amid different mammals fast on a large scale. Prevention and control of these diseases depend on several features, namely, the distribution of arthropods vectors, their pathogen load, and host immune response.

Among emerging and neglected infectious diseases that threaten the world, climate change influences the transmission of a wide range of VBD, favoring the expansion of arthropods, as is the case of the sand fly, tsetse fly, and triatomine-borne diseases, causing disability and economic losses. Globalization, which includes trade and the flow of humans and animals across the globe, also facilitates the dispersion of parasitic diseases and vectors, generating new risks of infection.

As Guest Editors of this Special Issue, we invite you to submit research articles, review articles, and short communications related to VBD vector–host interactions, in particular topics such as infection, pathogenesis, survey, immune response, and One Health, among others.

Prof. Dr. Isabel Pereira da Fonseca
Prof. Dr. Graça Maria Alexandre-Pires
Prof. Dr. Gabriela Santos Gomes
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Microorganisms is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • vector-borne diseases
  • Babesia/Theileria
  • Leishmania
  • Trypanosoma
  • Borrelia
  • Coxiella
  • Anaplasma/Ehrlichia
  • immune response
  • survey
  • dog
  • cattle
  • zoonosis

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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15 pages, 788 KiB  
Article
Seroprevalence and Risk Factors Associated with Leishmania Infection in Dogs from Portugal
by Maria Almeida, Carla Maia, José M. Cristóvão, Cátia Morgado, Inês Barbosa, Ruben Foj Ibars, Lenea Campino, Luzia Gonçalves and Sofia Cortes
Microorganisms 2022, 10(11), 2262; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms10112262 - 15 Nov 2022
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3739
Abstract
Canine leishmaniosis (CanL) caused by Leishmania infantum is an important zoonosis in southwestern European countries where this disease is endemic, and dogs, as domestic animals in close contact with humans, are the reservoir hosts for the parasite. In Portugal, CanL is of relevant [...] Read more.
Canine leishmaniosis (CanL) caused by Leishmania infantum is an important zoonosis in southwestern European countries where this disease is endemic, and dogs, as domestic animals in close contact with humans, are the reservoir hosts for the parasite. In Portugal, CanL is of relevant veterinary concern. The previous national study revealed an overall seroprevalence of 6.3%. Since then, new prophylactic measures, such as vaccines, have been introduced in Europe. The aim of this study was to update seroprevalence for Leishmania infection and reassess risk factors in Portugal. A cross-sectional study was conducted from January–March 2021 with 1860 client-owned dogs from continental Portugal. A questionnaire and whole blood samples on filter paper were collected and a direct agglutination test was used to calculate anti-Leishmania antibody titres. True seroprevalence was 12.5% (95% CI 10.3–13.2%). Potential risk factors associated with L. infantum infection in dogs were age ≥ 2 years (aOR = 1.68, 95% CI 1.1–2.6) and residing in the interior regions of the country (aOR = 1.92, 95% CI 1.3–2.9) and non-use of repellents (aOR = 1.75, 95% CI 1.2–2.5). The key to controlling CanL and its impact on Public Health in endemic areas lies in continuous implementation of prophylactic measures, through the correct use of repellents/insecticides and vaccines and early detection and monitoring of infected dogs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vector-Borne Diseases in Temperate and Tropical Regions)
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10 pages, 1899 KiB  
Article
First Report of Autochthonous Canine Leishmaniasis in Hong Kong
by Jeanine Sandy, Anthony Matthews, Yaarit Nachum-Biala and Gad Baneth
Microorganisms 2022, 10(9), 1873; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms10091873 - 19 Sep 2022
Viewed by 1739
Abstract
Canine leishmaniasis is a zoonotic disease caused by Leishmania infantum; transmitted by the bite of phlebotomine sand flies. Leishmania infantum amastigotes were identified by cytology from a locally born Hong Kong dog exhibiting nasal, cutaneous, and systemic disease who was part of [...] Read more.
Canine leishmaniasis is a zoonotic disease caused by Leishmania infantum; transmitted by the bite of phlebotomine sand flies. Leishmania infantum amastigotes were identified by cytology from a locally born Hong Kong dog exhibiting nasal, cutaneous, and systemic disease who was part of a kennel of eight dogs. All eight kennel dogs were subsequently tested serologically by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by DNA sequencing for L. infantum infection. The local dog was seropositive and blood and splenic tissue were PCR positive for L. infantum whilst the other kennel dogs were negative on serology and PCR. Autochthonous transmission was suspected for the local dog as Hong Kong lacks known vectors of L. infantum. Either vertical transmission from the deceased dam who had previously died with disease suspicious for leishmaniasis or horizontal transmission from a second non-locally born kennel dog who had been diagnosed previously with leishmaniasis was possible. This is the first recorded autochthonous case of canine leishmaniasis in Hong Kong. Leishmaniasis should be considered as a differential for cutaneous or systemic illness in local untraveled dogs in Hong Kong. In addition, as dogs serve as L. infantum reservoirs for human infection attention should be paid to the possibility of leishmaniasis emerging in Hong Kong. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vector-Borne Diseases in Temperate and Tropical Regions)
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10 pages, 939 KiB  
Communication
Molecular Identification of Babesia spp. and Anaplasma marginale in Water Buffaloes in Veracruz and Tabasco, Mexico: A Retrospective Study
by José Juan Lira-Amaya, Rebeca Montserrat Santamaria-Espinosa, Roberto O. Castañeda-Arriola, Grecia Martínez-García, Diego J. Polanco-Martínez, Carmen Rojas-Martínez, Jesús Ántonio Alvarez-Martínez and Julio V. Figueroa-Millán
Microorganisms 2022, 10(9), 1702; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms10091702 - 24 Aug 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1585
Abstract
Two hundred and thirty-three blood samples of water buffalo were collected on four farms in Veracruz state and Tabasco state, Mexico, to detect and confirm the identities of Babesia and Anaplasma spp. sequences. Nested PCR assays were used for the amplification of specific [...] Read more.
Two hundred and thirty-three blood samples of water buffalo were collected on four farms in Veracruz state and Tabasco state, Mexico, to detect and confirm the identities of Babesia and Anaplasma spp. sequences. Nested PCR assays were used for the amplification of specific genes encoding B. bovis rhoptry-associated protein (RAP-1), B. bigemina SpeI-AvaI restriction fragment, and Anaplasma marginale major surface protein 5 (MSP5). Using DNA sequencing and BLASTn analysis for DNA homology hemoparasite identification, the identities of the hemoparasites were established by comparing the nucleotide sequences obtained in this study with those available in the GenBank database at the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). Water buffalo infection with at least one of the hemoparasites under study was detected in 45% (105/233) of the blood samples, while a mixed infection with B. bovis and B. bigemina was detected in 6.4% (15/233) of samples. For this cross-sectional study, mixed infections with the three hemoparasites were not detected. BLASTn analysis revealed that the nucleotide sequences of the water buffalo isolates shared sequence identity values ranging from 88 to 100% with previously published gene sequences of B. bovis, B. bigemina, and A. marginale. The current results confirm that water buffalo, as cattle, are also carriers of hemoparasite infections that are tick-transmitted, and suggest that they probably have an important role in the epidemiology of bovine babesiosis in Mexico. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vector-Borne Diseases in Temperate and Tropical Regions)
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12 pages, 1165 KiB  
Article
Genetic Diversity of Babesia canis Strains in Dogs in Lithuania
by Jana Radzijevskaja, Dalytė Mardosaitė-Busaitienė, Asta Aleksandravičienė, Birutė Karvelienė, Miglė Razgūnaitė, Inga Stadalienė and Algimantas Paulauskas
Microorganisms 2022, 10(7), 1446; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms10071446 - 18 Jul 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1800
Abstract
Canine babesiosis is an emerging and rapidly expanding tick-borne disease in central and northeast Europe. In the last two decades, the endemic area of Babesia canis has expanded from central Europe to the Baltic region. This study aimed to investigate the genetic diversity [...] Read more.
Canine babesiosis is an emerging and rapidly expanding tick-borne disease in central and northeast Europe. In the last two decades, the endemic area of Babesia canis has expanded from central Europe to the Baltic region. This study aimed to investigate the genetic diversity of B. canis strains isolated from naturally infected dogs in different regions of Lithuania using PCR-RFLP and sequence analyses based on a partial region of 18S rRNA and Bc28.1 genes. Blood samples from 149 dogs suspected of having babesiosis were collected in Lithuania during 2016–2017. Based on PCR-RFLP profiles and two nucleotide substitutions observed in 18S rRNA gene sequences, three B. canis genotypes were identified in Lithuania—18S rRNA-A, 18S rRNA-B and 18S rRNA-A/B—with the A/B genotype predominating (83.9%). Based on the obtained PCR-RFLP profiles of the Bc28.1 gene, four B. canis genotypes were identified: Bc28.1-B (53.8%), Bc28.1-34 (20.8%), Bc28.1-A (17.9%), and Bc28.1-34/A or B (7.5%). Sequence analysis of the partial Bc28.1 gene revealed eighteen polymorphic sites and thirteen sequence variants among the Lithuanian samples. The B. canis genotypes obtained were detected with varying prevalences in different regions of Lithuania. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vector-Borne Diseases in Temperate and Tropical Regions)
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13 pages, 1325 KiB  
Article
Molecular Detection of Bartonella Species in Rodents Residing in Urban and Suburban Areas of Central Thailand
by Phirabhat Saengsawang, Serge Morand, Marc Desquesnes, Sarawut Yangtara and Tawin Inpankaew
Microorganisms 2021, 9(12), 2588; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms9122588 - 15 Dec 2021
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2170
Abstract
Bartonella spp. are Gram-negative zoonotic bacteria transmitted to humans via various blood-sucking arthropods. Rodents have been identified as reservoir hosts of several zoonotic pathogens, including Bartonella spp. In Thailand, studies of Bartonella spp. in rodents from urban areas are limited; thus, a study [...] Read more.
Bartonella spp. are Gram-negative zoonotic bacteria transmitted to humans via various blood-sucking arthropods. Rodents have been identified as reservoir hosts of several zoonotic pathogens, including Bartonella spp. In Thailand, studies of Bartonella spp. in rodents from urban areas are limited; thus, a study in this area is necessary. The objectives of this study were to detect Bartonella spp. in rodents in Thailand and to compare the species’ distribution across different areas. In total, 70 blood samples from rodents in urban and suburban areas were tested for Bartonella spp. using a conventional polymerase chain reaction that targeted the citrate synthase (gltA) gene. All Bartonella-positive sequences were analyzed using polymorphism in order to build a phylogenetic tree. Approximately 38% of the rodents studied contained Bartonella DNA. Both Rattus exulans (Pacific rat) and R. tanezumi (Asian house rat) contained Bartonella spp. Four species of Bartonella were detected in blood samples: B. tribocorum, B. phoceensis, B. grahamii, and B. rattimassiliensis. In addition, eight Pacific rats contained the B. kosoyi–B. tribocorum complex. Bartonella phoceensis and B. tribocorum–B. kosoyi complexes were found in a specific habitat (p < 0.05). Interestingly, only seven haplotypes were identified in the sequences analyzed, and only haplotype A was found in both rodent species. Finally, a monitoring program for zoonotic Bartonella infection, especially the B. kosoyi–B. tribocorum complex, B. phoceensis, B. grahamii, and B. rattimassiliensis should be established, especially in high-risk areas. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vector-Borne Diseases in Temperate and Tropical Regions)
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Review

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15 pages, 887 KiB  
Review
Human Granulocytic Anaplasmosis—A Systematic Review of Published Cases
by Igor Dumic, Dorde Jevtic, Mladjen Veselinovic, Charles W. Nordstrom, Milan Jovanovic, Vanajakshi Mogulla, Elmira Mofid Veselinovic, Ann Hudson, Gordana Simeunovic, Emilia Petcu and Poornima Ramanan
Microorganisms 2022, 10(7), 1433; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms10071433 - 15 Jul 2022
Cited by 32 | Viewed by 3484
Abstract
Anaplasma phagocytophilum is an emerging, Gram-negative, obligate intracellular pathogen that is transmitted by a tick vector. Human infection ranges from asymptomatic to severe disease that can present with pancytopenia, multiorgan failure, and death. The aim of this systematic review is to analyze case [...] Read more.
Anaplasma phagocytophilum is an emerging, Gram-negative, obligate intracellular pathogen that is transmitted by a tick vector. Human infection ranges from asymptomatic to severe disease that can present with pancytopenia, multiorgan failure, and death. The aim of this systematic review is to analyze case reports and case series reported over the last two decades in peer-reviewed journals indexed in the Medline/PubMed database according to the PRISMA guidelines. We found 110 unique patients from 88 case reports and series. The most common mode of transmission was tick bite (60.9%), followed by blood transfusion (8.2%). Infection was acquired by blood transfusion in nearly half (42%) of the immunocompromised patients. Most patients reported fever (90%), followed by constitutional (59%) and gastrointestinal symptoms (56%). Rash was present in 17% of patients, much higher than in previous studies. Thrombocytopenia was the most common laboratory abnormality (76%) followed by elevated aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (46%). The diagnosis was most commonly established using whole-blood polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in 76% of patients. Coinfection rate was 9.1% and Borrelia burgdorferi was most commonly isolated in seven patients (6.4%). Doxycycline was used to treat 70% of patients but was only used as an empiric treatment in one-third of patients (33.6%). The overall mortality rate was 5.7%, and one patient died from trauma unrelated to HGA. The mortality rates among immunocompetent and immunocompromised patients were 4.2% (n = 4/95) and 18.2% (n = 2/11), respectively. Four of the six patients who died (66.6%) received appropriate antibiotic therapy. Among these, doxycycline was delayed by more than 48 h in two patients. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vector-Borne Diseases in Temperate and Tropical Regions)
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Other

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30 pages, 5227 KiB  
Systematic Review
Distribution and Prevalence of Anaplasmataceae, Rickettsiaceae and Coxiellaceae in African Ticks: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
by Carlo Andrea Cossu, Nicola E. Collins, Marinda C. Oosthuizen, Maria Luisa Menandro, Raksha Vasantrai Bhoora, Ilse Vorster, Rudi Cassini, Hein Stoltsz, Melvyn Quan and Henriette van Heerden
Microorganisms 2023, 11(3), 714; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms11030714 - 9 Mar 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2281
Abstract
In Africa, ticks continue to be a major hindrance to the improvement of the livestock industry due to tick-borne pathogens that include Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, Rickettsia and Coxiella species. A systemic review and meta-analysis were conducted here and highlighted the distribution and prevalence [...] Read more.
In Africa, ticks continue to be a major hindrance to the improvement of the livestock industry due to tick-borne pathogens that include Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, Rickettsia and Coxiella species. A systemic review and meta-analysis were conducted here and highlighted the distribution and prevalence of these tick-borne pathogens in African ticks. Relevant publications were searched in five electronic databases and selected using inclusion/exclusion criteria, resulting in 138 and 78 papers included in the qualitative and quantitative analysis, respectively. Most of the studies focused on Rickettsia africae (38 studies), followed by Ehrlichia ruminantium (27 studies), Coxiella burnetii (20 studies) and Anaplasma marginale (17 studies). A meta-analysis of proportions was performed using the random-effects model. The highest prevalence was obtained for Rickettsia spp. (18.39%; 95% CI: 14.23–22.85%), R. africae (13.47%; 95% CI: 2.76–28.69%), R. conorii (11.28%; 95% CI: 1.77–25.89%), A. marginale (12.75%; 95% CI: 4.06–24.35%), E. ruminantium (6.37%; 95% CI: 3.97–9.16%) and E. canis (4.3%; 95% CI: 0.04–12.66%). The prevalence of C. burnetii was low (0%; 95% CI: 0–0.25%), with higher prevalence for Coxiella spp. (27.02%; 95% CI: 10.83–46.03%) and Coxiella-like endosymbionts (70.47%; 95% CI: 27–99.82%). The effect of the tick genera, tick species, country and other variables were identified and highlighted the epidemiology of Rhipicephalus ticks in the heartwater; affinity of each Rickettsia species for different tick genera; dominant distribution of A. marginale, R. africae and Coxiella-like endosymbionts in ticks and a low distribution of C. burnetii in African hard ticks. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vector-Borne Diseases in Temperate and Tropical Regions)
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