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genetic characterization of spotted fever group rickettsiae in questing ixodid ticks collected in israel and environmental risk factors for their infection.this study aimed to genetically characterize spotted fever group rickettsiae (sfgr) in questing ixodid ticks from israel and to identify risk factors associated with sfgr-positive ticks using molecular techniques and geographic information systems (gis) analysis. 1039 ticks from the genus rhipicephalus were collected during 2014. 109/1039 (10·49%) carried sfgr-dna of either rickettsia massiliae (95), 'candidatus rickettsia barbariae' (8) or rickettsia conorii (6). higher prevalence of sfgr was f ...201728330517
mediterranean spotted fever: a rare non-endemic disease in the usa.we report a case of a 43-year-old israeli male who presented with an intermittent fever associated with a gradual appearance of diffusely scattered erythematous non-pruritic maculopapular lesions, generalized body malaise, muscle aches, and distal extremity weakness. he works in the israeli military and has been exposed to dogs that are used to search for people in tunnels and claimed that he had removed ticks from the dogs. in the hospital, he presented with fever, a diffuse maculopapular rash, ...201728191378
rocky mountain spotted fever in mexico: past, present, and future.rocky mountain spotted fever, a tick-borne zoonosis caused by rickettsia rickettsii, is among the most lethal of all infectious diseases in the americas. in mexico, the disease was first described during the early 1940s by scientists who carefully documented specific environmental determinants responsible for devastating outbreaks in several communities in the states of sinaloa, sonora, durango, and coahuila. these investigators also described the pivotal roles of domesticated dogs and rhipiceph ...201728365226
"candidatus rickettsia asemboensis" in rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks, brazil."candidatus rickettsia asemboensis" is an obligate intracellular bacterium of the rickettsiales order, genetically related to species belonging to the rickettsia felis group, agents of flea-borne spotted fever. here we report for the first time the detection of "ca. r. asemboensis", a flea-associated organism, in rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks. it is the first occurrence of this emerging bacterium in brazil, which increases the geographical distribution of this r. felis-like agent.201727986544
status of tick infections among semi-wild cattle in arunachal pradesh, india.to explore the seasonal prevalence of tick infections in mithun (bos frontalis) and yak (b. grunniens) a study was conducted in papum pare district, kurung-kumey district and west kameng district of arunachal pradesh, india from december 2012 to november 2014. adult ticks were collected from both the animals during the month of december 2012 to november 2014. ectoparasites were identified on the basis of their morpho-anatomical features observed through light microscope. a total of nine differen ...201727614479
parasites and vector-borne diseases in client-owned dogs in albania: infestation with arthropod ectoparasites.to establish the diversity and seasonality of ectoparasite infestation in client-owned dogs in albania, 602 dogs visiting four small animal clinics in tirana from march 2010 to april 2011 inclusive were examined for ectoparasites by full body search and total body comb. in addition, ear swab specimens collected from all dogs and scrapings taken from skin lesions suspicious of mite infestation were examined for parasitic mites. overall, 93 dogs (15.4 %, 95%ci 12.6-18.6) were demonstrated to be in ...201727796564
tick (acari: ixodidae) infestations in cattle along geba river basin in guinea-bissau.tick infestations are a major problem for animal production in tropical areas where prevention and control remain deficient. the present study sought to assess the awareness of traditional cattle producers towards the importance of ticks and aimed at the identification of tick species infesting bovines within the geba river basin, guinea-bissau. interviews with producers revealed that the majority directly correlates the presence of ticks with the occurrence of diseases in cattle. however, insuf ...201727825658
the effects of neem oil (azadirachta indica a. juss) enriched with different concentrations of azadirachtin on the integument of semi-engorged rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato (acari: ixodidae) females.several studies searching for methods to control rhipicephalus sanguineus s.l., (dog tick) infestations have been developed aiming to minimize the damages caused by these ectoparasites to the hosts and the environment, which is harmed by the indiscriminate use of toxic acaricide products. in this scenario, neem oil has been used as a natural alternative against ticks, once this chemical has repellent properties and interferes in the growth regulation of these ectoparasites, inhibiting ecdysis. t ...201728370810
efficacy of a new spot-on formulation of selamectin plus sarolaner against four common tick species infesting cats in europe.a single application of a new spot-on formulation of selamectin plus sarolaner (stronghold(®)plus, zoetis) was evaluated for efficacy against the most common tick species infesting cats in europe. in each of the seven laboratory studies, 16 adult and purpose-bred cats were randomly allocated to one of two treatment groups based on pre-treatment tick counts. weekly infestations with 50 unfed adult ixodes ricinus (2 studies), ixodes hexagonus (1 study), dermacentor reticulatus (2 studies), or rhip ...201728395754
molecular and functional characterization of bm05br antigen from rhipicephalus microplus.rhipicephalus microplus is a cattle-specific tick, causing considerable losses in the livestock industry. the identification of molecules responsible for modulation of host defenses during different parasite stages can help in the development of alternative methods, such as vaccination, to control tick infestations. hq05, a protein of unknown function identified in the tick haemaphysalis qinghaiensis, induced a significant protective immune response when used as a vaccine in sheep. in the presen ...201728043800
first report of amitraz and cypermethrin resistance in rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato infesting dogs in mexico.engorged female rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato (ixodida: ixodidae) were collected from dogs in the state of yucatán, mexico. fourteen tick populations were collected from dogs at seven veterinary clinics, four residential homes and three cattle farms. the larval immersion test was used in the progeny of collected adult females to test susceptibility to amitraz and cypermethrin. dose-mortality regressions, 50% lethal concentrations (lc50 ), confidence intervals and slope were estimated by pr ...201727859488
synanthropic mammals as potential hosts of tick-borne pathogens in panama.synanthropic wild mammals can be important hosts for many vector-borne zoonotic pathogens. the aim of this study was determine the exposure of synanthropic mammals to two types of tick-borne pathogens in panama, spotted fever group rickettsia (sfgr) and borrelia relapsing fever (rf) spirochetes. one hundred and thirty-one wild mammals were evaluated, including two gray foxes, two crab-eating foxes (from zoos), four coyotes, 62 opossum and 63 spiny rats captured close to rural towns. to evaluate ...201728060928
molecular detection of rickettsia species in ticks collected from the southwestern provinces of the republic of korea.rickettsiae constitute a group of arthropod-borne, gram-negative, obligate intracellular bacteria that are the causative agents of diseases ranging from mild to life threatening that impact on medical and veterinary health worldwide.201728069059
rickettsia felis, an emerging flea-borne rickettsiosis.rickettsia felis is an emerging insect-borne rickettsial pathogen and the causative agent of flea-borne spotted fever. first described as a human pathogen from the usa in 1991, r. felis is now identified throughout the world and considered a common cause of fever in africa. the cosmopolitan distribution of this pathogen is credited to the equally widespread occurrence of cat fleas (ctenocephalides felis), the primary vector and reservoir of r. felis. although r. felis is a relatively new member ...201627340613
comparative efficacy of oral administrated afoxolaner (nexgard™) and fluralaner (bravecto™) with topically applied permethrin/imidacloprid (advantix(®)) against transmission of ehrlichia canis by infected rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks to dogs.the ability of the topical spot-on advantix(®) (50 % permethrin/10 % imidacloprid) to prevent transmission of ehrlichia canis by infected rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks to dogs has previously been reported. the recent market introduction of chewable tablets containing the novel compounds, afoxolaner (nexgard™) and fluralaner (bravecto™) enabled us to conduct a comparative efficacy study with respect to the ability of these three products to block transmission of e. canis by ticks to dogs. the sp ...201627317101
virulence genes of rickettsia rickettsii are differentially modulated by either temperature upshift or blood-feeding in tick midgut and salivary glands.rickettsia rickettsii, the etiological agent of rocky mountain spotted fever, is transmitted to humans by ticks. during tick feeding, r. rickettsii is exposed to both temperature elevation and components of the blood meal, which have previously been associated with the reactivation of its virulence. these environmental stimuli were also reported to modulate virulence genes of r. rickettsii infecting a set of organs of adult females of its natural vector, amblyomma aureolatum.201627287539
risk factors for bartonella species infection in blood donors from southeast brazil.bacteria from the genus bartonella are emerging blood-borne bacteria, capable of causing long-lasting infection in marine and terrestrial mammals, including humans. bartonella are generally well adapted to their main host, causing persistent infection without clinical manifestation. however, these organisms may cause severe disease in natural or accidental hosts. in humans, bartonella species have been detected from sick patients presented with diverse disease manifestations, including cat scrat ...201626999057
passive surveillance of ixodes scapularis (say), their biting activity, and associated pathogens in massachusetts.a passive surveillance of tick-borne pathogens was conducted over a 7-year period (2006-2012), in which a total of 3551 ticks were submitted to the university of massachusetts for pcr testing. the vast majority of these ticks were ixodes scapularis from massachusetts (n = 2088) and hence were the focus of further analysis. two taqman duplex qpcr assays were developed to test i. scapularis ticks for the presence of three human pathogens: borrelia burgdorferi, anaplasma phagocytophilum, and babesi ...201627248292
countrywide serological evaluation of canine prevalence for anaplasma spp., borrelia burgdorferi (sensu lato), dirofilaria immitis and ehrlichia canis in mexico.canine vector-borne diseases (cvbd) have become a major concern for canine and human public health. the aim of the study described here is to add epidemiological data regarding four pathogens responsible for cvbd, namely anaplasmosis, borreliosis, dirofilariosis and ehrlichiosis in a national survey conducted in mexico.201627474020
first identification and description of rickettsioses and q fever as causes of acute febrile illness in nicaragua.rickettsial infections and q fever present similarly to other acute febrile illnesses, but are infrequently diagnosed because of limited diagnostic tools. despite sporadic reports, rickettsial infections and q fever have not been prospectively studied in central america.201628036394
host body size and the diversity of tick assemblages on neotropical vertebrates.identifying the factors that influence the species diversity and distribution of ticks (acari: ixodida) across vertebrate host taxa is of fundamental ecological and medical importance. host body size is considered one of the most important determinants of tick abundance, with larger hosts having higher tick burdens. the species diversity of tick assemblages should also be greater on larger-bodied host species, but empirical studies testing this hypothesis are lacking. here, we evaluate this rela ...201627812506
host specificity in a diverse neotropical tick community: an assessment using quantitative network analysis and host phylogeny.host specificity is a fundamental determinant of tick population and pathogen transmission dynamics, and therefore has important implications for human health. tick host specificity is expected to be particularly high in the tropics, where communities of ticks, hosts and pathogens are most diverse. yet the degree to which tropical tick species are host-specific remains poorly understood. combining new field data with published records, we assessed the specificity of tick-host associations in pan ...201627357506
brazilian spotted fever with an approach in veterinary medicine and one health perspective.there is increasing interaction between man and pathogens transmitted by arthropods, especially by ticks. it is on this background that a holistic approach stands out, for the sake of public health. brazilian spotted fever is an endemic disease at the country's southeast, with amblyomma sculptum as its major contributor, followed by a. aureolatum and potentially rhipicephalus sanguineus. dogs have been considered sentinels, and in some areas the disease in dogs can precede human disease. conside ...201626881183
growth of ehrlichia canis, the causative agent of canine monocytic ehrlichiosis, in vector and non-vector ixodid tick cell lines.canine monocytic ehrlichiosis is caused by ehrlichia canis, a small gram-negative coccoid bacterium that infects circulating monocytes. the disease is transmitted by the brown dog tick rhipicephalus sanguineus s.l. and is acknowledged as an important infectious disease of dogs and other members of the family canidae worldwide. e. canis is routinely cultured in vitro in the canine monocyte-macrophage cell line dh82 and in non-vector ixodes scapularis tick cell lines, but not in cells derived from ...201626837859
identification of a novel β-adrenergic octopamine receptor-like gene (βaor-like) and increased atp-binding cassette b10 (abcb10) expression in a rhipicephalus microplus cell line derived from acaricide-resistant ticks.the cattle tick rhipicephalus (boophilus) microplus is an economically important parasite of livestock. effective control of ticks using acaricides is threatened by the emergence of resistance to many existing compounds. several continuous r. microplus cell lines have been established and provide an under-utilised resource for studies into acaricide targets and potential genetic mutations associated with resistance. as a first step to genetic studies using these resources, this study aimed to de ...201627484910
borrelia sp. phylogenetically different from lyme disease- and relapsing fever-related borrelia spp. in amblyomma varanense from python reticulatus.species of the genus borrelia are causative agents of lyme disease and relapsing fever. lyme disease is the most commonly reported vector-borne disease in the northern hemisphere. however, in some parts of the world lyme borreliosis and relapsing fever may be caused by novel borrelia genotypes. herein, we report the presence of a borrelia sp. in an amblyomma varanense collected from python reticulatus.201627342652
origin and evolution of rickettsial plasmids.rickettsia species are strictly intracellular bacteria that have undergone a reductive genomic evolution. despite their allopatric lifestyle, almost half of the 26 currently validated rickettsia species have plasmids. in order to study the origin, evolutionary history and putative roles of rickettsial plasmids, we investigated the evolutionary processes that have shaped 20 plasmids belonging to 11 species, using comparative genomics and phylogenetic analysis between rickettsial, microbial and no ...201626866478
sero-epidemiological survey of crimean-congo hemorrhagic fever virus in tunisia.crimean-congo hemorrhagic fever (cchf) is a tick-borne disease associated with a high case fatality rate and transmitted mainly by hyalomma marginatum. the geographical distribution of h. marginatum covers most of the western mediterranean basin. we aimed to investigate whether cchf virus (cchfv) is circulating in tunisia. samples from unexplained acute febrile patients (n = 181) and a high risk group of humans, mainly slaughter workers (n = 38), were collected in the summer of 2014 and analyzed ...201626956221
safety evaluation of parastar(®) plus in dogs and assessment of transferable residue of fipronil and cyphenothrin from dogs to humans.dogs are easily infested with fleas, ticks, and other ectoparasites serving as vectors for transmitting bacterial, viral, and parasitic diseases. therefore, the use of ectoparasiticides is inevitable and important. the present investigation was undertaken with two specific objectives: one, to evaluate the safety of fipronil and cyphenothrin in dogs after topical application of parastar(®) plus, and two, to determine the transferable residue of these insecticides from dogs to humans. six healthy, ...201627747219
molecular detection and characterization of zoonotic and veterinary pathogens in ticks from northeastern china.tick-borne diseases are considered as emerging infectious diseases in humans and animals in china. in this study, ixodes persulcatus (n = 1699), haemaphysalis concinna (n = 412), haemaphysalis longicornis (n = 390), dermacentor nuttalli (n = 253), and dermacentor silvarum (n = 204) ticks were collected by flagging from northeastern china, and detected for infection with anaplasma, ehrlichia, babesia, and hepatozoon spp. by using nested polymerase chain reaction assays and sequencing analysis. an ...201627965644
proceedings of the ix international symposium on phlebotomine sandflies (isops ix), reims, france, june 28th-july 1st, 2016. 201627677701
anaplasma species of veterinary importance in japan.anaplasma species of the family anaplasmataceae, order rickettsiales are tick-borne organisms that can cause disease in animals and humans. in japan, all recognized species of anaplasma (except for anaplasma ovis) and a potentially novel anaplasma sp. closely related to anaplasma phagocytophilum have been reported. most of these detected tick-borne pathogens are believed to be lowly pathogenic in animals in japan although the zoonotic a. phagocytophilum has recently been reported to cause clinic ...201627956767
detection of bartonella tamiae, coxiella burnetii and rickettsiae in arthropods and tissues from wild and domestic animals in northeastern algeria.in recent years, the scope and importance of emergent vector-borne diseases has increased dramatically. in algeria, only limited information is currently available concerning the presence and prevalence of these zoonotic diseases. for this reason, we conducted a survey of hematophagous ectoparasites of domestic mammals and/or spleens of wild animals in el tarf and souk ahras, algeria.201626791781
gray wolf exposure to emerging vector-borne diseases in wisconsin with comparison to domestic dogs and humans.world-wide concern over emerging vector-borne diseases has increased in recent years for both animal and human health. in the united sates, concern about vector-borne diseases in canines has focused on lyme disease, anaplasmosis, ehrlichiosis, and heartworm which infect domestic and wild canids. of these diseases, lyme and anaplasmosis are also frequently diagnosed in humans. gray wolves (canis lupus) recolonized wisconsin in the 1970s, and we evaluated their temporal and geographic patterns of ...201627898670
ticks (acari: ixodidae) infesting cattle and some other domestic and wild hosts on the french mediterranean island of corsica.corsica is a mountainous french island in the north-western mediterranean presenting a large diversity of natural environments where many interactions between domestic animals and wild fauna occur. despite a favourable context for ticks and tick-borne diseases (tbds), the tick fauna of corsica has not systematically been investigated.201627842608
systemically and cutaneously distributed ectoparasiticides: a review of the efficacy against ticks and fleas on dogs.acaricidal (tick) and insecticidal (flea) efficacy of systemically and cutaneously distributed ectoparasiticide products for dogs are compared based on permethrin and fluralaner as representative molecules. results of efficacy studies against fleas and ticks are reviewed that show generally good to excellent results. both externally and systemically distributed treatments have benefits and weaknesses in potentially preventing pathogen transmission by these arthropod vectors.four general properti ...201627502490
exposure to vector-borne pathogens in candidate blood donor and free-roaming dogs of northeast italy.many vector-borne pathogens including viruses, bacteria, protozoa and nematodes occur in northeast italy, representing a potential threat to animal and human populations. little information is available on the circulation of the above vector-borne pathogens in dogs. this work aims to (i) assess exposure to and circulation of pathogens transmitted to dogs in northeast italy by ticks, sandflies, and mosquitoes, and (ii) drive blood donor screening at the newly established canine blood bank of the ...201627357128
dermacentor reticulatus: a vector on the rise.dermacentor reticulatus is a hard tick species with extraordinary biological features. it has a high reproduction rate, a rapid developmental cycle, and is also able to overcome years of unfavourable conditions. dermacentor reticulatus can survive under water for several months and is cold-hardy even compared to other tick species. it has a wide host range: over 60 different wild and domesticated hosts are known for the three active developmental stages. its high adaptiveness gives an edge to th ...201627251148
seroprevalence of vector-borne pathogens and molecular detection of borrelia afzelii in military dogs from portugal.canine vector-borne diseases (cvbds) are increasingly being reported worldwide and represent a serious threat to both animal and public health. military dogs may constitute a risk group for the agents causing these diseases, as they frequently work outdoors in different areas and are thus exposed to vector arthropods. in order to assess the risk of exposure of this type of dogs, a serological and molecular survey was conducted in military working dogs in portugal. one hundred apparently healthy ...201627160284
molecular detection of tick-borne bacteria and protozoa in cervids and wild boars from portugal.wildlife can act as reservoir of different tick-borne pathogens, such as bacteria, parasites and viruses. the aim of the present study was to assess the presence of tick-borne bacteria and protozoa with veterinary and zoonotic importance in cervids and wild boars from the centre and south of portugal.201627160767
factors associated with anaplasma spp. seroprevalence among dogs in the united states.dogs in the united states are hosts to a diverse range of ticks and tick-borne pathogens, including a. phagocytophilum, an important emerging canine and human pathogen. previously, a companion animal parasite council (capc)-sponsored workshop proposed factors purported to be associated with the infection risk for tick-transmitted pathogens in dogs in the united states, including climate conditions, socioeconomic characteristics, local topography, and vector distribution.201627004557
novel spotted fever group rickettsiae in haemaphysalis qinghaiensis ticks from gansu, northwest china.rickettsia spp. are obligate intracellular bacteria and well known as transmitted by arthropods. these pathogens have a broad geographic distribution and a high degree of biological and clinical diversity. this study was conducted to determine the prevalence and molecular characterization of rickettsia spp. in ticks collected from gansu, where borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and anaplasma phagocytophilum were previously reported in ticks and ruminants.201626968160
genomic insights into the ixodes scapularis tick vector of lyme disease.ticks transmit more pathogens to humans and animals than any other arthropod. we describe the 2.1 gbp nuclear genome of the tick, ixodes scapularis (say), which vectors pathogens that cause lyme disease, human granulocytic anaplasmosis, babesiosis and other diseases. the large genome reflects accumulation of repetitive dna, new lineages of retro-transposons, and gene architecture patterns resembling ancient metazoans rather than pancrustaceans. annotation of scaffolds representing ∼57% of the ge ...201626856261
update on canine and feline blood donor screening for blood-borne pathogens.an update on the 2005 american college of veterinary internal medicine (acvim) consensus statement on blood donor infectious disease screening was presented at the 2015 acvim forum in indianapolis, indiana, followed by panel and audience discussion. the updated consensus statement is presented below. the consensus statement aims to provide guidance on appropriate blood-borne pathogen testing for canine and feline blood donors in north america.201626806261
small regulatory rnas of rickettsia conorii.small regulatory rnas comprise critically important modulators of gene expression in bacteria, yet very little is known about their prevalence and functions in rickettsia species. r. conorii, the causative agent of mediterranean spotted fever, is a tick-borne pathogen that primarily infects microvascular endothelium in humans. we have determined the transcriptional landscape of r. conorii during infection of human microvascular endothelial cells (hmecs) by strand-specific rna sequencing to ident ...201627834404
identification, distribution and population dynamics of francisella-like endosymbiont in haemaphysalis doenitzi (acari: ixodidae).francisella-like endosymbionts (fles) with significant homology to francisella tularensis (γ-proteobacteria) have been characterized in several tick species, whereas knowledge on their distribution and population dynamics in ticks remains meager. hence, in the current study, we identified a novel francisella-like endosymbiont (fles-hd) from the tick haemaphysalis doenitzi and evaluated the putative functions of this symbiont. results indicated that fles-hd had 100% infection rate and a perfect v ...201627731377
spotted fever group rickettsiae in ticks of migratory birds in romania.birds are important hosts and dispersers of parasitic arthropods and vector-borne zoonotic pathogens. particularly migratory species may carry these parasites over long distances in short time periods. migratory hotspots present ideal conditions to get a snapshot of parasite and pathogen diversity of birds migrating between continents. the aim of this study was to investigate the presence and diversity of rickettsia spp. in ticks collected from birds at a migratory hot-spot in the danube delta, ...201627207258
candidatus coxiella massiliensis infection.bacteria genetically related to coxiella burnetii have been found in ticks. using molecular techniques, we detected coxiella-like bacteria, here named candidatus coxiella massiliensis, in skin biopsy samples and ticks removed from patients with an eschar. this organism may be a common agent of scalp eschar and neck lymphadenopathy after tick bite.201626811945
rickettsial disease in the peruvian amazon basin.using a large, passive, clinic-based surveillance program in iquitos, peru, we characterized the prevalence of rickettsial infections among undifferentiated febrile cases and obtained evidence of pathogen transmission in potential domestic reservoir contacts and their ectoparasites. blood specimens from humans and animals were assayed for spotted fever group rickettsiae (sfgr) and typhus group rickettsiae (tgr) by elisa and/or pcr; ectoparasites were screened by pcr. logistic regression was used ...201627416029
ixodes scapularis tick saliva proteins sequentially secreted every 24 h during blood feeding.ixodes scapularis is the most medically important tick species and transmits five of the 14 reportable human tick borne disease (tbd) agents in the usa. this study describes lc-ms/ms identification of 582 tick- and 83 rabbit proteins in saliva of i. scapularis ticks that fed for 24, 48, 72, 96, and 120 h, as well as engorged but not detached (bd), and spontaneously detached (sd). the 582 tick proteins include proteases (5.7%), protease inhibitors (7.4%), unknown function proteins (22%), immunity ...201626751078
morphological and molecular identification of the brown dog tick rhipicephalus sanguineus and the camel tick hyalomma dromedarii (acari: ixodidae) vectors of rickettsioses in egypt.rickettsioses have an epidemiological importance that includes pathogens, vectors, and hosts. the dog tick rhipicephalus sanguineus and the camel tick hyalomma dromedarii play important roles as vectors and reservoirs of rickettsiae. the aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of rickettsiae in ixodid ticks species infesting dogs and camels in egypt, in addition to, the morphological and molecular identification of r. sanguineus and h. dromedarii.201627847418
kampinos national park: a risk area for spotted fever group rickettsioses, central poland?ixodid ticks are important vectors of a variety of bacterial and protozoan pathogens which cause infections in humans. in this study, altogether 1041 questing ixodes ricinus (n = 305) and dermacentor reticulatus ticks (n = 736), sympatrically occurring in kampinos national park (kpn), central-east poland, were analyzed by pcr for rickettsia species. overall, the pathogen prevalence in ticks was 27.5 % for i. ricinus and 42.8 % for d. reticulatus. sequencing analysis showed that the first tick sp ...201627631765
a survey of ticks (acari: ixodidae) of companion animals in australia.ticks are among the most important vectors of pathogens affecting companion animals, and also cause health problems such as tick paralysis, anaemia, dermatitis, and secondary infections. twenty ixodid species have previously been recorded on dogs, cats, and horses in australia, including rhipicephalus sanguineus, ixodes holocyclus and haemaphysalis longicornis, which transmit tick-borne diseases. a survey of hard ticks (acari: ixodidae) was conducted during 2012-2015 to investigate tick species ...201627160149
an evidence-based review on medicinal plants used as insecticide and insect repellent in traditional iranian medicine.insects can be the cause of major ecological problems; they can transmit microbes and parasites that affect humans, and damage food crops, trees, and homes. the total economic cost of insect-related damage and disease is immeasurable. in traditional iranian medicine (tim), several medicinal plants have been identified as insecticides or insect repellents, but many of them are still unknown. therefore, the aim of this study was to review the insecticidal or insect repellent activity of certain me ...201627186389
tick-borne pathogens of zoonotic and veterinary importance in nigerian cattle.ticks and tick-borne diseases undermine cattle fitness and productivity in the whole of sub-saharan africa, including nigeria. in this west african country, cattle are challenged by numerous tick species, especially during the wet season. consequently, several tbds are known to be endemic in nigerian cattle, including anaplasmosis, babesiosis, cowdriosis and theilerioris (by theileria mutans and theileria velifera). to date, all investigations on cattle tbds in nigeria have been based on cytolog ...201627090756
effect of the saliva from different triatomine species on the biology and immunity of tlr-4 ligand and trypanosoma cruzi-stimulated dendritic cells.triatomines are blood-sucking vectors of trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of chagas disease. during feeding, triatomines surpass the skin host response through biomolecules present in their saliva. dendritic cells (dcs) play a crucial role in the induction of the protection to aggressive agents, including blood-sucking arthropods. here, we evaluated if salivary components of triatomines from different genera evade the host immunity by modulating the biology and the function of lps- or t. c ...201627938380
an update on the epidemiological situation of spotted fever in brazil.spotted fever is a tick-borne rickettsial disease. in brazil, its notification to the ministry of health is compulsory. since 2007, cases of spotted fever have been integrated to the notifiable diseases information system, and epidemiological analyzes are part of the routines on surveillance programs.201627555867
molecular evidence of bartonella species in ixodid ticks and domestic animals in palestine.ticks play an important role in disease transmission as vectors for human and animal pathogens, including the gram-negative pathogen bartonella. here, we evaluated the presence of bartonella in ixodid ticks and domestic animals from palestine. we tested 633 partly engorged ticks and 139 blood samples from domestic animals (dogs, sheep and camels) for bartonella using its-pcr. bartonella dna was detected in 3.9% of the tested ticks. none of the ticks collected from sheep and goats were positive f ...201627540374
ectoparasites of stray dogs in mazandaran, gilan and qazvin provinces, north and center of iran.the aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of ectoparasite infestations in stray dogs in mazandaran, gilan and qazvin provinces in fall and winter in 2013(december to march).201627308294
rangelia vitalii in a free-ranging maned wolf (chrysocyon brachyurus) and co-infections.an adult free-ranged female maned wolf was rescued from a periurban area subject to anthropogenic disturbances in the minas gerais, brazil. the animal presented poor body condition and anemia. the clinical condition rapidly deteriorated culminating in dead and a necropsy was performed. the main gross lesions were marked anemia and blood content in the intestines accompanied by many types of parasites. the protozoa rangelia vitalii was identified by histopathological analysis predominantly within ...201627761403
effect of amblyomma maculatum (acari: ixodidae) saliva on the acute cutaneous immune response to rickettsia parkeri infection in a murine model.rickettsia parkeri luckman (rickettsiales: rickettsiaceae) is a pathogenic spotted fever group rickettsia transmitted by amblyomma maculatum koch (acari: ixodidae) in the united states. the acute innate immune response to this pathogen and the effect of tick feeding or salivary components on this response is largely unknown. we hypothesized that a. maculatum saliva enhances r. parkeri infection via downregulation of the acute cellular and cytokine immune response. c3h/hen mice were intradermally ...201627521760
comparative speed of kill of sarolaner (simparica™ chewables) and fluralaner (bravecto(®)) against induced infestations of amblyomma americanum on dogs.the lone star tick, amblyomma americanum, infests dogs and cats in north america and transmits the pathogens ehrlichia chaffeensis and ehrlichia ewingii, which cause monocytic and granulocytic ehrlichiosis in dogs and humans, and cytauxzoon felis which causes cytauxzoonosis in cats. a parasiticide's speed of kill is important to minimize the direct deleterious effects [related to blood-feeding] of tick infestation and reduce the risk of transmission of tick-borne pathogens. in this study the spe ...201627430425
evasins: therapeutic potential of a new family of chemokine-binding proteins from ticks.blood-sucking parasites, such as ticks, remain attached to their hosts for relatively long periods of time in order to obtain their blood meal without eliciting an immune response. one mechanism used to avoid rejection is the inhibition of the recruitment of immune cells, which can be achieved by a class of chemokine-binding proteins (ckbps) known as evasins. we have identified three distinct evasins produced by the salivary glands of the common brown dog tick, rhipicephalus sanguineus. they dis ...201627375615
prediction of g protein-coupled receptor encoding sequences from the synganglion transcriptome of the cattle tick, rhipicephalus microplus.the cattle tick, rhipicephalus (boophilus) microplus, is a pest which causes multiple health complications in cattle. the g protein-coupled receptor (gpcr) super-family presents a candidate target for developing novel tick control methods. however, gpcrs share limited sequence similarity among orthologous family members, and there is no reference genome available for r. microplus. this limits the effectiveness of alignment-dependent methods such as blast and pfam for identifying gpcrs from r. mi ...201626922323
induction of humoral immune response to multiple recombinant rhipicephalus appendiculatus antigens and their effect on tick feeding success and pathogen transmission.rhipicephalus appendiculatus is the primary vector of theileria parva, the etiological agent of east coast fever (ecf), a devastating disease of cattle in sub-saharan africa. we hypothesized that a vaccine targeting tick proteins that are involved in attachment and feeding might affect feeding success and possibly reduce tick-borne transmission of t. parva. here we report the evaluation of a multivalent vaccine cocktail of tick antigens for their ability to reduce r. appendiculatus feeding succe ...201627589998
arsenophonus nasoniae and rickettsiae infection of ixodes ricinus due to parasitic wasp ixodiphagus hookeri.arsenophonus nasoniae, a male-killing endosymbiont of chalcid wasps, was recently detected in several hard tick species. following the hypothesis that its presence in ticks may not be linked to the direct occurrence of bacteria in tick's organs, we identified a. nasoniae in wasps emerging from parasitised nymphs. we confirmed that 28.1% of ixodiphagus hookeri wasps parasitizing ixodes ricinus ticks were infected by a. nasoniae. moreover, in examined i. ricinus nymphs, a. nasoniae was detected on ...201626901622
ticks infesting domestic dogs in the uk: a large-scale surveillance programme.recent changes in the distribution of tick vectors and the incidence of tick-borne disease, driven variously by factors such as climate change, habitat modification, increasing host abundance and the increased movement of people and animals, highlight the importance of ongoing, active surveillance. this paper documents the results of a large-scale survey of tick abundance on dogs presented to veterinary practices in the uk, using a participatory approach that allows relatively cost- and time-eff ...201627388169
a review of canine babesiosis: the european perspective.canine babesiosis is a significant tick-borne disease caused by various species of the protozoan genus babesia. although it occurs worldwide, data relating to european infections have now been collected for many years. these data have boosted the publication record and increased our working knowledge of these protozoan parasites. both the large and small forms of babesia species (b. canis, b. vogeli, b. gibsoni, and b. microti-like isolates also referred to as "b. vulpes" and "theileria annae") ...201627289223
molecular ecological insights into neotropical bird-tick interactions.in the tropics, ticks parasitize many classes of vertebrate hosts. however, because many tropical tick species are only identifiable in the adult stage, and these adults usually parasitize mammals, most attention on the ecology of tick-host interactions has focused on mammalian hosts. in contrast, immature neotropical ticks are often found on wild birds, yet difficulties in identifying immatures hinder studies of birds' role in tropical tick ecology and tick-borne disease transmission. in panama ...201627203693
detection of vector-borne pathogens in cats and their ectoparasites in southern italy.vector-borne pathogens are the subject of several investigations due to the zoonotic concern of some of them. however, limited data are available about the simultaneous presence of these pathogens in cats and their ectoparasites. the aim of the present study was to define the species of ectoparasites found on cats as well as to investigate vector-borne pathogens in cats and their ectoparasites in southern italy.201627160725
evaluation of the in vitro expression of atp binding-cassette (abc) proteins in an ixodes ricinus cell line exposed to ivermectin.ticks are among the most important vectors of pathogens causing human and animal disease. acaricides are used to control tick infestation, although there are increasing reports of resistance. recently, over-expression of atp-binding cassette (abc) transporter proteins (p-glycoproteins, pgp) has been implicated in resistance to the acaricide ivermectin in the ticks rhipicephalus (boophilus) microplus and rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato. ixodid tick cell lines have been used to investigate dru ...201627090214
knock-down and speed of kill of a combination of fipronil and permethrin for the prevention of ctenocephalides felis flea infestation in dogs.a topical combination of fipronil + permethrin (frontline tri-act/frontect, merial) has recently been developed to control fleas, ticks, mosquitoes, sandflies and stable flies on dogs. two studies were conducted to assess its speed of kill and knock-down effect on ctenocephalides felis fleas. the combination was compared to either fipronil alone or to a combination of permethrin, dinotefuran, and pyriproxyfen,201626830931
fatal babesia canis canis infection in a splenectomized estonian dog.a previously splenectomized dog from estonia was presented with a sudden lack of appetite and discoloration of the urine. despite supportive therapy, its condition deteriorated dramatically during 1 day. severe thrombocytopenia and high numbers of protozoan hemoparasites were evident in blood smears, and the hematocrit dropped from 46 to 33 %. the dog was euthanized before specific antibabesial treatment was initiated. blood samples from the dog and from two other dogs in the same household test ...201626810086
assessment of the prophylactic speed of kill of frontline tri-act(®) against ticks (ixodes ricinus and rhipicephalus sanguineus) on dogs.the objective of the study was to assess the speed of kill of a single topical treatment with a combination of fipronil and permethrin (frontline tri-act(®)/frontect(®)) against experimental infestations of ixodes ricinus and rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks on dogs. in this parallel group designed, randomised, single centre, controlled efficacy study, 16 healthy adult dogs were allocated to two groups: 8 dogs were treated with the topical combination on day 0 and the other 8 dogs served as untrea ...201626795064
first report of cytauxzoon sp. infection in a domestic cat from portugal.cytauxzoonosis is an emerging and life-threatening tick-borne feline disease caused by haemoprotozoan parasites of the genus cytauxzoon. information regarding epidemiological and clinical presentation of infections by species other than cytauxzoon felis is scant. a case of cytauxzoon sp. infection is described in a 2-year-old mixed breed male domestic cat from portugal, presenting a history of acute lethargy, anorexia and pyrexia.201627160193
hierarchical bayesian spatio-temporal analysis of climatic and socio-economic determinants of rocky mountain spotted fever.this study aims to examine the spatio-temporal dynamics of rocky mountain spotted fever (rmsf) prevalence in four contiguous states of midwestern united states, and to determine the impact of environmental and socio-economic factors associated with this disease. bayesian hierarchical models were used to quantify space and time only trends and spatio-temporal interaction effect in the case reports submitted to the state health departments in the region. various socio-economic, environmental and c ...201626942604
comparative speed of kill of oral treatments with simparica™ (sarolaner) and bravecto®(fluralaner) against induced infestations of rhipicephalus sanguineus on dogs.rhipicephalus sanguineus is the most widely distributed tick species infesting dogs worldwide, which may cause discomfort to the host and transmit diseases. acaricides with a rapid and sustained speed of kill are thus important to prevent infestation and to reduce the risk of disease transmission. in this study, the speed of kill of a monthly administered simparica™ (sarolaner) treatment against induced infestations with r. sanguineus on dogs was evaluated and compared with a single dose of brav ...201626911244
molecular detection and identification of spotted fever group rickettsiae in ticks collected from the west bank, palestinian territories.tick-borne rickettsioses are caused by obligate intracellular bacteria belonging to the spotted fever group (sfg) rickettsiae. although spotted fever is prevalent in the middle east, no reports for the presence of tick-borne pathogens are available or any studies on the epidemiology of this disease in the west bank. we aimed to identify the circulating hard tick vectors and genetically characterize sfg rickettsia species in ixodid ticks from the west bank-palestinian territories.201626771654
discovery of sarolaner: a novel, orally administered, broad-spectrum, isoxazoline ectoparasiticide for dogs.the novel isoxazoline ectoparasiticide, sarolaner, was identified during a lead optimization program for an orally-active compound with efficacy against fleas and ticks on dogs. the aim of the discovery program was to identify a novel isoxazoline specifically for use in companion animals, beginning with de novo synthesis in the zoetis research laboratories. the sarolaner molecule has unique structural features important for its potency and pharmacokinetic (pk) properties, including spiroazetidin ...201626961590
morphological alterations in salivary glands of rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks (acari: ixodidae) exposed to neem seed oil with known azadirachtin concentration.neem (azadirachta indica) has attracted the attention of researchers worldwide due to its repellent properties and recognized effects on the morphology and physiology of arthropods, including ticks. therefore, this study aimed to demonstrate the effects of neem seed oil enriched with azadirachtin on salivary glands of rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks, targets of great veterinary interest because of their ability to transmit pathogens to dogs. for this, r. sanguineus semi-engorged females were subj ...201626852009
species diversity and spatial distribution of ixodid ticks on small ruminants in greece.a cross sectional field study on the distribution of ixodidae ticks was carried out over two consecutive tick seasons (2012 and 2013) in small ruminants (309 farms) located in mainland and five islands of greece. a total of 2108 ticks (1199 females, 908 males, and 1 nymph) were collected from sheep and goats. two species of rhipicephalus, two of ixodes, five of hyalomma, three of haemaphysalis, and one of dermacentor were detected. the species with the widest distribution were rhipicephalus sang ...201627655133
evaluation of pharmacokinetics and efficacy of ivermectin following oral administration in dogs against experimental infection of ctenocephalides felis felis and rhipicephalus sanguineus.with the increasing number of pets in home the human-animal relationship is increasingly close and care about control disease growing. ivermectin (ivm) is frequently used because its proven safety. ivm is recommended for the treatment of demodectic scabies and prevention of heartworm in dogs, but informally is extremely used to control of ctenocephalides felis felis and rhipicephalus sanguineus. the aim of this study is evaluate the use of ivm in dogs, by the oral route at 0.6μg/kg dose, against ...201627692320
francisella-like endosymbiont in a tick collected from a chicken in southern thailand.francisella is a genus of bacterial pathogens potentially lethal to humans. we report here for the first time a novel francisella-like endosymbiont discovered in a hard-tick (rhipicephalus sanguineus s.l.) obtained from a chicken (gallus domesticus) in thailand. the phylogenetic results indicate the 16s rdna sequences of this francisella bacterium form a unique clade with the francisella-like endosymbiont of the tick species, amblyomma varanense and amblyomma helvolum, that have previously been ...201627244963
prevalence of ectoparasites in owned dogs in kerman city, southeast of iran.the present study aimed to investigate the intensity and distribution of natural infestation of ectoparasites in owned dogs during june to november 2011 in kerman city, southeast of iran. one hundred two domestic dogs (63 males, 39 females) with age ranged between 45 days to 13 years were examined for ectoparasites infestation including (tick, lice, flea and mite) in kerman city. detailed questionnaire about grooming and bathing interval, keeping place (outdoor, indoor) and purpose of keeping we ...201627413320
the putative role of rhipicephalus microplus salivary serpins in the tick-host relationship.inflammation and hemostasis are part of the host's first line of defense to tick feeding. these systems are in part serine protease mediated and are tightly controlled by their endogenous inhibitors, in the serpin superfamily (serine protease inhibitors). from this perspective ticks are thought to use serpins to evade host defenses during feeding. the cattle tick rhipicephalus microplus encodes at least 24 serpins, of which rms-3, rms-6, and rms-17 were previously identified in saliva of this ti ...201626844868
ticks infesting humans in northern misiones, argentina.this work presents records of ticks infesting humans in northern misiones province, argentina. also, notes on potential transmission of tick-borne pathogens are included. a total of 282 ticks attached to researchers were collected and identified by their morphological characters. eight tick species were found: amblyomma brasiliense, amblyomma coelebs, amblyomma dubitatum, amblyomma incisum, amblyomma ovale, haemaphysalis juxtakochi, rhipicephalus sanguineus and rhipicephalus microplus. some of t ...201627135846
fleas and ticks in carnivores from a domestic-wildlife interface: implications for public health and wildlife.fleas and ticks are parasites of wild and domestic mammals, and can be vectors of several pathogens. in rural areas, domestic carnivores such as the domestic dog (canis lupus familiaris l.), may act as a "bridge" between natural areas and human settlements where ectoparasites can be used as a metric of such link. the aim of this study was to identify fleas, ticks, and rickettsia spp., collected from domestic and wild carnivores in a natural reserve and surrounding human settlements in central ch ...201627539151
exposure of dogs to spotted fever group rickettsiae in urban sites associated with human rickettsioses in costa rica.the zoonotic transmission cycles of rickettsia rickettsii and other spotted fever group (sfg) rickettsiae in latin america have usually been associated with rural or sylvatic environments, although domestic dogs can be implicated in more populated settings. in this study, exposure of dogs to sfg rickettsiae in the greater metropolitan area of costa rica was investigated. dogs from sites associated with human cases and from dog shelters were evaluated by indirect immunofluorescence assay (ifa) us ...201626995323
efficacy of water- and oil-in-water-formulated metarhizium anisopliae in rhipicephalus sanguineus eggs and eclosing larvae.conidia of the entomopathogenic fungus metarhizium anisopliae (ascomycota: clavicipitaceae) were assessed against rhipicephalus sanguineus (arachnida: ixodidae) eggs under laboratory conditions. clusters of 25 eggs were applied either directly with the fungal conidial formulations or set on previously fungus-treated filter paper. treatments consisted of conidia formulated in water or an oil-in-water emulsion at final concentrations of 3.3 × 10(3), 10(4), 3.3 × 10(4), 10(5), or 3.3 × 10(5) conidi ...201626364059
tick repellents and acaricides of botanical origin: a green roadmap to control tick-borne diseases?arthropods are dangerous vectors of agents of deadly diseases, which may hit as epidemics or pandemics in the increasing world population of humans and animals. among them, ticks transmit more pathogen species than any other group of blood-feeding arthropods worldwide. thus, the effective and eco-friendly control of tick vectors in a constantly changing environment is a crucial challenge. a number of novel routes have been attempted to prevent and control tick-borne diseases, including the devel ...201627146901
notes from the field: community-based prevention of rocky mountain spotted fever - sonora, mexico, 2016.rocky mountain spotted fever (rmsf), a life-threatening tickborne zoonosis caused by rickettsia rickettsii, is a reemerging disease in mexico (1,2). r. rickettsii is an intracellular bacterium that infects vascular endothelium and can cause multisystem organ failure and death in the absence of timely administration of a tetracycline-class antibiotic, typically doxycycline. epidemic rmsf, as described in parts of arizona and mexico, is associated with massive local infestations of the brown dog t ...201627880753
distribution of spotted fever group rickettsiae in hard ticks (ixodida: ixodidae) from panamanian urban and rural environments (2007-2013).tick-borne rickettsiosis is an important emerging disease in panama; to date, there have been 12 confirmed cases, including eight fatalities. to evaluate the distribution of rickettsiae in panamanian ticks, we collected questing and on-host ticks in urban and rural towns in elevations varying between 0 and 2300 m. a total of 63 sites (13 urban and 50 rural towns) were used to develop models of spatial distributions. we found the following tick species: rhipicephalus sanguineus s.l. (present in 5 ...201627068930
prevalence and infection intensity of rickettsia massiliae in rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato ticks from mendoza, argentina.rickettsia massiliae belongs to the spotted fever group and in the new world is commonly associated with the brown dog tick, rhipicephalus sanguineus. herein we investigate the presence of r. massiliae in rh. sanguineus sensu lato ticks in a location near the andean foothills (mendoza, argentina), to provide a prevalence estimate and to assess the infection intensity of this pathogen. rickettsia massiliae infection was found in 5.1% of the rh. sanguineus s.l ticks analyzed, all with high infecti ...201627394145
occurrence of mycoplasma haemocanis in dogs infested by ticks in campo grande, mato grosso do sul, brazil.hemotropic mycoplasmas in dogs, such as mycoplasma haemocanis, have been described worldwide. recently, these pathogens have been reported to be causative agent of zoonosis. it is known that its transmission may occur through the action of blood-sucking arthropods (e.g. ticks or fleas), through blood transfusion, contaminated fomites and/or transplacentally. in brazil, m. haemocanis is present in practically all regions and the tick rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato is suspected the main vecto ...201627580391
isolation and maintenance of rickettsia raoultii in a rhipicephalus sanguineus tick cell line.rickettsia raoultii, a member of the spotted fever group rickettsiae, has been implicated in cases of debonel/tibola/senlat, and has been detected in dermacentor spp. and rhipicephalus pumilio ticks by pcr. r. raoultii has been isolated in mammalian and tick cell lines. this study aimed to isolate r. raoultii from spanish dermacentor marginatus in tick cell lines. a single adult d. marginatus collected from vegetation in la rioja (northen spain) in october 2012 was surface-sterilised, triturated ...201626428859
detection of rickettsiae in fleas and ticks from areas of costa rica with history of spotted fever group rickettsioses.outbreaks of spotted fevers have been reported in costa rica since the 1950s, although vectors responsible for transmission to humans have not been directly identified. in this study, species of rickettsia were detected in ectoparasites from costa rica, mostly from five study sites where cases of spotted fevers have been reported. ticks and fleas were collected using drag cloths or directly from domestic and wild animals and pooled according to species, host, and location. pools were analyzed in ...201627592065
rickettsia (rickettsiales: rickettsiaceae) vector biodiversity in high altitude atlantic forest fragments within a semiarid climate: a new endemic area of spotted-fever in brazil.rickettsioses are re-emerging vector-borne zoonoses with a global distribution. recently, rickettsia sp. strain atlantic rainforest has been associated with new human spotted-fever (sf) cases in brazil, featuring particular clinical signs: eschar formation and lymphadenopathy. these cases have been associated with the tick species, amblyomma ovale from 2010 until 2015, the brazilian health department confirmed 11 human sf cases in the maciço de baturité region, ceará, brazil. the present study r ...201627480099
ectoparasites of free-roaming domestic cats in the central united states.free-roaming domestic cat (felis catus) populations serve as a valuable resource for studying ectoparasite prevalence. while they share a similar environment as owned cats, free-roaming cats do not receive routine veterinary care or ectoparasiticide application, giving insight into parasite risks for owned animals. we examined up to 673 infested cats presented to a trap-neuter-return (tnr) clinic in the central united states. ectoparasite prevalences on cats were as follows: fleas (71.6%), ticks ...201627692321
manual for maintenance of multi-host ixodid ticks in the laboratory.use of laboratory animals as hosts for blood-sucking arthropods remains a time-proven and the most efficient method for establishment and propagation of slowly feeding ixodid ticks, despite introduction of techniques involving artificial feeding on either animal skins or synthetic membranes. new zealand white rabbits are usually the most accessible and most suitable hosts routinely used for establishment and maintenance of a large variety of multi-host tick species. here we describe standard pro ...201627651325
new records of ticks (acari: ixodidae) from dogs, cats, humans, and some wild vertebrates in alaska: invasion potential.during 2010-2016, tick specimens were solicited from veterinarians, biologists, and members of the public in alaska. eight species of ticks were recorded from domestic dogs. some ticks were collected from dogs with recent travel histories to other countries or other u.s. states, which appears to explain records of ticks not native to alaska such as amblyomma americanum (l.) (lone star tick), ixodes scapularis (say) (blacklegged tick), and ixodes ricinus (l.). however, we recorded dermacentor var ...201627524823
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