Publications

spotted fever rickettsia species in hyalomma and ixodes ticks infesting migratory birds in the european mediterranean area.	a few billion birds migrate annually between their breeding grounds in europe and their wintering grounds in africa. many bird species are tick-infested, and as a result of their innate migratory behavior, they contribute significantly to the geographic distribution of pathogens, including spotted fever rickettsiae. the aim of the present study was to characterize, in samples from two consecutive years, the potential role of migrant birds captured in europe as disseminators of rickettsia-infecte ...	2014	25011617
transcriptome of the female synganglion of the black-legged tick ixodes scapularis (acari: ixodidae) with comparison between illumina and 454 systems.	illumina and 454 pyrosequencing were used to characterize genes from the synganglion of female ixodes scapularis. go term searching success for biological processes was similar for samples sequenced by both methods. however, for molecular processes, it was more successful for the illumina samples than for 454 samples. functional assignments of transcripts predicting neuropeptides, neuropeptide receptors, neurotransmitter receptors and other genes of interest was done, supported by strong e-value ...	2014	25075967
first molecular detection of rickettsia africae in ticks from the union of the comoros.	rickettsia africae is the agent of african tick bite fever, a disease transmitted by ticks in sub-saharan africa. in union of the comoros, a recent study reported the presence of a rickettsia africae vector but no information has been provided on the circulation of the pathogenic agent in this country.	2014	25245895
influence of the biotope on the tick infestation of cattle and on the tick-borne pathogen repertoire of cattle ticks in ethiopia.	the majority of vector-borne infections occur in the tropics, including africa, but molecular eco-epidemiological studies are seldom reported from these regions. in particular, most previously published data on ticks in ethiopia focus on species distribution, and only a few molecular studies on the occurrence of tick-borne pathogens or on ecological factors influencing these. the present study was undertaken to evaluate, if ticks collected from cattle in different ethiopian biotopes harbour (had ...	2014	25248165
high prevalence of rickettsia africae variants in amblyomma variegatum ticks from domestic mammals in rural western kenya: implications for human health.	tick-borne spotted fever group (sfg) rickettsioses are emerging human diseases caused by obligate intracellular gram-negative bacteria of the genus rickettsia. despite being important causes of systemic febrile illnesses in travelers returning from sub-saharan africa, little is known about the reservoir hosts of these pathogens. we conducted surveys for rickettsiae in domestic animals and ticks in a rural setting in western kenya. of the 100 serum specimens tested from each species of domestic r ...	0	25325312
complete genome sequences of two middelburg viruses isolated from arthropods in the central african republic.	arboviral diseases are a major threat to human and animal health today. analysis of whole-genome sequences of decades-old arboviral strains may bring new insights into the viral evolution that might have facilitated outbreaks. here, we report the whole-genome sequences of two middelburg viruses isolated several decades ago in the central african republic.	2014	25342688
detection and characterization of zoonotic pathogens of free-ranging non-human primates from zambia.	wildlife may harbor infectious pathogens that are of zoonotic concern acting as a reservoir of diseases transmissible to humans and domestic animals. this is due to human-wildlife conflicts that have become more frequent and severe over recent decades, competition for the available natural habitats and resources leading to increased human encroachment on previously wild and uninhabited areas.	2014	25358853
identification of novel coxiella burnetii genotypes from ethiopian ticks.	coxiella burnetii, the etiologic agent of q fever, is a highly infectious zoonotic bacterium. genetic information about the strains of this worldwide distributed agent circulating on the african continent is limited. the aim of the present study was the genetic characterization of c. burnetii dna samples detected in ticks collected from ethiopian cattle and their comparison with other genotypes found previously in other parts of the world.	2014	25423309
improved molecular detection of ehrlichia and anaplasma species applied to amblyomma ticks collected from cattle and sheep in ethiopia.	detection of ehrlichia and anaplasma species in animals and tick vectors is crucial for an understanding of the epidemiology of diseases caused by these pathogens. in this study, a pair of primers designated ebr2 and ebr3 was designed from the anaplasma 16s rdna sequence and was used along with a previously described primer ehr 16sd for the simultaneous detection of ehrlichia and anaplasma species by nested pcr. the primers were used to amplify 925bp of dna from known species of ehrlichia and an ...	2015	25438799
risk factors associated with clinical dermatophilosis in smallholder sector cattle herds of zimbabwe at the amblyomma variegatum and amblyomma hebraeum interface.	a cross-sectional study was conducted to investigate factors for clinical dermatophilosis herd-level positivity in smallholder dip tanks from gokwe (chemawororo, gwanyika), kwekwe (koronika) and chegutu (chivero), zimbabwe, between september 2013 and april 2014. a total of 185 herds were clinically examined for disease and tick infestation. data on herd and potential herd level risk factors were collected using a structured questionnaire. a herd was classified as clinically positive if an animal ...	2015	25465222
a spatially explicit metapopulation model and cattle trade analysis suggests key determinants for the recurrent circulation of rift valley fever virus in a pilot area of madagascar highlands.	rift valley fever (rvf) is a vector-borne zoonotic disease that causes high morbidity and mortality in ruminants. in 2008-2009, a rvf outbreak affected the whole madagascar island, including the anjozorobe district located in madagascar highlands. an entomological survey showed the absence of aedes among the potential rvf virus (rvfv) vector species identified in this area, and an overall low abundance of mosquitoes due to unfavorable climatic conditions during winter. no serological nor virolog ...	2014	25474116
rhipicephalus microplus serine protease inhibitor family: annotation, expression and functional characterisation assessment.	rhipicephalus (boophilus) microplus evades the host's haemostatic system through a complex protein array secreted into tick saliva. serine protease inhibitors (serpins) conform an important component of saliva which are represented by a large protease inhibitor family in ixodidae. these secreted and non-secreted inhibitors modulate diverse and essential proteases involved in different physiological processes.	2015	25564202
identification of human semiochemicals attractive to the major vectors of onchocerciasis.	entomological indicators are considered key metrics to document the interruption of transmission of onchocerca volvulus, the etiological agent of human onchocerciasis. human landing collection is the standard employed for collection of the vectors for this parasite. recent studies reported the development of traps that have the potential for replacing humans for surveillance of o. volvulus in the vector population. however, the key chemical components of human odor that are attractive to vector ...	2015	25569240
cattle ticks in cameroon: is rhipicephalus (boophilus) microplus absent in cameroon and the central african region?	in most parts of the world, ticks are rapidly developing resistance to commonly used acaricides thus rendering control difficult. this constraint is further compounded by the introduction of new species in areas where they did not exist before. such is the case with the introduction into and rapid spread of rhipicephalus (boophilus) microplus in some countries of west africa. with the looming threat of its further spread in the region, the objective of the present study was to update knowledge o ...	2015	25575435
tick-borne haemoparasites in african buffalo (syncerus caffer) from two wildlife areas in northern botswana.	the african buffalo (syncerus caffer) is a host for many pathogens known to cause economically important diseases and is often considered an important reservoir for livestock diseases. theileriosis, heartwater, babesiosis and anaplasmosis are considered the most important tick-borne diseases of livestock in sub-saharan africa, resulting in extensive economic losses to livestock farmers in endemic areas. information on the distribution of tick-borne diseases and ticks is scarce in northern botswa ...	2015	25589064
novel candidatus rickettsia species detected in nostril tick from human, gabon, 2014.	we report the identification of a nymphal nostril tick (amblyomma sp.) from a national park visitor in gabon and subsequent molecular detection and characterization of tickborne bacteria. our findings provide evidence of a potentially new rickettsia sp. circulating in africa and indicate that tick bites may pose a risk to persons visiting parks in the region.	2015	25625886
native strains of beauveria bassiana for the control of rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato.	rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato ticks are widespread worldwide due to their adaptability to survive under different environmental conditions. they may act as vectors of a wide range of pathogens to humans and animals and their control is based on the use of chemical products on dogs and in the environment. alternative control strategies, such as the use of entomopathogenic fungi as bio-control agents have also been investigated. the ability of native strains of beauveria bassiana sensu lato ...	2015	25651851
detection of rickettsia spp in ticks by maldi-tof ms.	matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (maldi-tof ms) has been shown to be an effective tool for the rapid identification of arthropods, including tick vectors of human diseases.	2015	25659152
an update on the ecological distribution of the ixodidae ticks in zimbabwe.	in total 7657 ticks were collected from 121 dip tanks in 12 districts representative of zimbabwe's five ecological regions between september 2013 and may 2014. based on morphological traits four genera and 13 species of ticks were identified. amblyomma hebraeum (60.3 %), rhipicephalus microplus (58.7 %), rhipicephalus decoloratus (47.1 %), rhipicephalus appendiculatus (56.2 %), rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi (67.8 %), rhipicephalus (near) punctatus (13.2 %), hyalomma truncatum (38 %) and hyalomma ...	2015	25721256
orcokinin-like immunoreactivity in central neurons innervating the salivary glands and hindgut of ixodid ticks.	orcokinins are conserved neuropeptides within the arthropoda but their cellular distribution and functions in ticks are unknown. we use an antibody against the highly conserved n-terminal (nfdeidr) of mature orcokinin peptides to examine their distribution in six ixodid species: amblyomma variegatum, dermacentor reticulatus, hyalomma anatolicum, ixodes scapularis, ixodes ricinus and rhipicephalus appendiculatus. numerous immunoreactive neurons (~100) were detected in various regions of the synga ...	2015	25792509
metagenomic profile of the viral communities in rhipicephalus spp. ticks from yunnan, china.	besides mosquitoes, ticks are regarded as the primary source of vector-borne infectious diseases. indeed, a wide variety of severe infectious human diseases, including those involving viruses, are transmitted by ticks in many parts of the world. to date, there are no published reports on the use of next-generation sequencing for studying viral diversity in ticks or discovering new viruses in these arthropods from china. here, ion-torrent sequencing was used to investigate the presence of viruses ...	2015	25799057
identification of 24h ixodes scapularis immunogenic tick saliva proteins.	ixodes scapularis is arguably the most medically important tick species in the united states. this tick transmits 5 of the 14 human tick-borne disease (tbd) agents in the usa: borrelia burgdorferi, anaplasma phagocytophilum, b. miyamotoi, babesia microti, and powassan virus disease. except for the powassan virus disease, i. scapularis-vectored tbd agents require more than 24h post attachment to be transmitted. this study describes identification of 24h immunogenic i. scapularis tick saliva prote ...	2015	25825233
high seroprevalence for spotted fever group rickettsiae, is associated with higher temperatures and rural environment in mbeya region, southwestern tanzania.	rickettsioses are endemic in sub-sahara africa. burden of disease, risk factors and transmission are hitherto sparsely described.	2015	25849718
vector potential and population dynamics for amblyomma inornatum.	we studied the natural life cycle of amblyomma inornatum and its vector potential in south texas. this tick is distributed throughout south texas and most of central america. a. inornatum represented 1.91% of the ticks collected by carbon dioxide traps during a study of free-living ticks in the tamaulipan biotic province in south texas. the life cycle of a. inornatum in south texas showed a clear seasonal pattern consistent with one generation per year. nymphs emerged in the spring with a peak i ...	2015	25881916
canine vector-borne infections in mauritius.	canine vector-borne diseases have a worldwide distribution, but to the best of our knowledge, no research has been carried out to evaluate their presence on the indian ocean island of mauritius. an investigation into canine vector-borne infections was conducted in dogs (n = 78) resident at an animal shelter in port louis, mauritius using a combination of traditional microscopy and serological methods.	2015	25889893
laboratory evaluation of efficacy and persistence of a 1% w/w fipronil pour-on formulation (topline®) against glossina palpalis gambiensis, diptera: glossinidae.	one zebu bull of 365 kg live weight was treated along the back line with 36 ml of fipronil as a pour-on formulation. long-lasting mortalities of glossina palpalis gambiensis were recorded despite exposure to sunlight and regular rinsing with 50 l of water during the following 5 months. significantly higher mortalities were still observed even 140, 170 and 190 days after treatment following their triple releases or triple feeding of caged tsetse on the treated bull. mortalities of 70, 80 and 44%, ...	2015	25944739
challenges posed by tick-borne rickettsiae: eco-epidemiology and public health implications.	rickettsiae are obligately intracellular bacteria that are transmitted to vertebrates by a variety of arthropod vectors, primarily by fleas and ticks. once transmitted or experimentally inoculated into susceptible mammals, some rickettsiae may cause febrile illness of different morbidity and mortality, and which can manifest with different types of exhanthems in humans. however, most rickettsiae circulate in diverse sylvatic or peridomestic reservoirs without having obvious impacts on their vert ...	2015	25954738
conserved amblyomma americanum tick serpin19, an inhibitor of blood clotting factors xa and xia, trypsin and plasmin, has anti-haemostatic functions.	tick saliva serine protease inhibitors (serpins) facilitate tick blood meal feeding through inhibition of protease mediators of host defense pathways. we previously identified a highly conserved amblyomma americanum serpin 19 that is characterised by its reactive center loop being 100% conserved in ixodid ticks. in this study, biochemical characterisation reveals that the ubiquitously transcribed a. americanum serpin 19 is an anti-coagulant protein, inhibiting the activity of five of the eight s ...	2015	25957161
the recent evolution of a maternally-inherited endosymbiont of ticks led to the emergence of the q fever pathogen, coxiella burnetii.	q fever is a highly infectious disease with a worldwide distribution. its causative agent, the intracellular bacterium coxiella burnetii, infects a variety of vertebrate species, including humans. its evolutionary origin remains almost entirely unknown and uncertainty persists regarding the identity and lifestyle of its ancestors. a few tick species were recently found to harbor maternally-inherited coxiella-like organisms engaged in symbiotic interactions, but their relationships to the q fever ...	2015	25978383
molecular detection of rickettsia africae in amblyomma variegatum collected from sudan.	despite the increasing awareness of the importance of emerging vector-borne diseases, human tick-borne diseases, particularly rickettsial infections, are overlooked, especially in the countries such as sudan with limited resources to perform molecular-based surveys. this study aimed at detection and genetic characterization of rickettsia spp. in ticks collected from sudan. the samples were first screened for the presence of rickettsial agents by glta real-time pcr and subsequently characterized ...	0	25988442
infection and exposure to vector-borne pathogens in rural dogs and their ticks, uganda.	in rural parts of africa, dogs live in close association with humans and livestock, roam freely, and usually do not receive prophylactic measures. thus, they are a source of infectious disease for humans and for wildlife such as protected carnivores. in 2011, an epidemiological study was carried out around three conservation areas in uganda to detect the presence and determine the prevalence of vector-borne pathogens in rural dogs and associated ticks to evaluate the risk that these pathogens po ...	2015	26043771
identification of tick species and disseminate pathogen using hemolymph by maldi-tof ms.	matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (maldi-tof ms) is increasingly emerging tool for identification of arthropods including tick vectors using whole or body part of specimens. the challenges of the present study were to assess maldi-tof ms profiling for the both identification of tick species and rickettsia spp. in infected ticks using hemolymph as protein mixture.	2015	26051210
toxicity of millettia ferruginea darasana (family: fabaceae) against the larvae and adult ticks of amblyomma variegatum fabricius a three-host tick in cattle.	the in vitro toxicity of millettia ferruginea darasana (family: fabaceae) was tested against the larvae adult male and female of a three-host tick, amblyomma variegatum fabricius (family: ixodidae or hard tick), known as 'tropical bont tick' parasitic mainly to cattle found in ethiopia and other equatorial africa. the 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 % concentrations of the seed oil extracted with petroleum ether were found to kill all (100 % mortality) larvae after 12, 9, 6, 3 and 1.5 h respectively. the ...	2013	26064022
in vitro effect of the ethanolic extract of tephrosia vogelii on rhipicephalus sanguineus in abomey-calavi.	ticks are vectors of several diseases, of which many are zoonosis transmissible to humans. the use of tephrosia leafs' extract as a low cost acaricide is spreading among farmers in central kenya.	0	26101758
acaricidal activity of extracts from ligularia virgaurea against the sarcoptes scabiei mite in vitro.	the aim of the present study was to investigate the acaricidal activity of ligularia virgaurea. an extract was prepared by refluxing with ethanol and steam distillation, and its toxic effect was tested in vitro against sarcoptes scabiei. the data from the toxicity tests were analyzed using a complementary log-log (cll) model. the ethanol extract exhibited strong acaricidal activity against these mites; at a concentration of 2 g/ml it killed all s. scabiei within 2 h and at 1 g/ml it killed all s ...	2015	26170943
modulation of host immunity by tick saliva.	next generation sequencing and proteomics have helped to comprehensively characterize gene expression in tick salivary glands at both the transcriptome and the proteome level. functional data are, however, lacking. given that tick salivary secretions are critical to the success of the tick transmission lifecycle and, as a consequence, for host colonization by the pathogens they spread, we thoroughly review here the literature on the known interactions between tick saliva (or tick salivary gland ...	2015	26189360
propagation of the israeli vaccine strain of anaplasma centrale in tick cell lines.	anaplasma centrale has been used in cattle as a live blood vaccine against the more pathogenic anaplasma marginale for over 100 years. while a. marginale can be propagated in vitro in tick cell lines, facilitating studies on antigen production, immunisation and vector-pathogen interaction, to date there has been no in vitro culture system for a. centrale. in the present study, 25 cell lines derived from 13 ixodid tick species were inoculated with the israeli vaccine strain of a. centrale and mon ...	2015	26210950
identification and mechanistic analysis of a novel tick-derived inhibitor of thrombin.	a group of peptides from the salivary gland of the tick hyalomma marginatum rufipes, a vector of crimean congo hemorrhagic fever show weak similarity to the madanins, a group of thrombin-inhibitory peptides from a second tick species, haemaphysalis longicornis. we have evaluated the anti-serine protease activity of one of these h. marginatum peptides that has been given the name hyalomin-1. hyalomin-1 was found to be a selective inhibitor of thrombin, blocking coagulation of plasma and inhibitin ...	2015	26244557
arachnids of medical importance in brazil: main active compounds present in scorpion and spider venoms and tick saliva.	arachnida is the largest class among the arthropods, constituting over 60,000 described species (spiders, mites, ticks, scorpions, palpigrades, pseudoscorpions, solpugids and harvestmen). many accidents are caused by arachnids, especially spiders and scorpions, while some diseases can be transmitted by mites and ticks. these animals are widely dispersed in urban centers due to the large availability of shelter and food, increasing the incidence of accidents. several protein and non-protein compo ...	2015	26273285
resistance status of ticks (acari; ixodidae) to amitraz and cypermethrin acaricides in isoka district, zambia.	this study was designed to obtain data on the farmer's approach to tick control and to determine whether rhipicephalus appendiculatus neuman, amblyomma variegatum (fabricius), and rhipicephalus (boophilus) microplus (canestrini) were resistant to amitraz and cypermethrin acaricides, in isoka district, zambia. prevailing tick control practices were documented by administering a semi-structured questionnaire to 80 randomly selected smallholder livestock farmers from four agricultural camps (longwe ...	2015	26310511
high detection rate of rickettsia africae in amblyomma variegatum but low prevalence of anti-rickettsial antibodies in healthy pregnant women in madagascar.	tick-borne spotted fever group (sfg) rickettsioses are emerging infectious diseases in sub-saharan africa. in madagascar, the endemicity of tick-borne rickettsiae and their vectors has been incompletely studied. the first part of the present study was conducted in 2011 and 2012 to identify potential anthropophilic tick vectors for sfg rickettsiae on cattle from seven malagasy regions, and to detect and characterize rickettsiae in these ticks. amblyomma variegatum was the only anthropophilic tick ...	2016	26318262
occurrence and genotyping of coxiella burnetii in ixodid ticks in oromia, ethiopia.	this study was conducted from september 2011 to march 2014 to address the occurrence and genotypes of coxiella burnetii using molecular methods in ticks collected from domestic animals in ethiopia. ticks were tested for c. burnetii by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qpcr) targeting two different genes followed by multispacer sequence typing (mst). an overall prevalence of 6.4% (54/842) of c. burnetii was recorded. c. burnetii was detected in 28.6% (14/49) of amblyomma gemma, 25 ...	2015	26392155
an in vitro model to assess the immunosuppressive effect of tick saliva on the mobilization of inflammatory monocyte-derived cells.	tick-borne pathogens cause potent infections. these pathogens benefit from molecules contained in tick saliva that have evolved to modulate host innate and adaptive immune responses. this is called "saliva-activated transmission" and enables tick-borne pathogens to evade host immune responses. ticks feed on their host for relatively long periods; thus, mechanisms counteracting the inflammation-driven recruitment and activation of innate effector cells at the bite site, are an effective strategy ...	2015	26412247
molecular detection and characterization of babesia bovis, babesia bigemina, theileria species and anaplasma marginale isolated from cattle in kenya.	infections with babesia bovis, babesia bigemina, theileria species and anaplasma marginale are endemic in kenya yet there is a lack of adequate information on their genotypes. this study established the genetic diversities of the above tick-borne hemoparasites infecting cattle in kenya.	2015	26420543
parapatric distribution and sexual competition between two tick species, amblyomma variegatum and a. hebraeum (acari, ixodidae), in mozambique.	amblyomma variegatum and a. hebraeum are two ticks of veterinary and human health importance in south-east africa. in zimbabwe they occupy parapatric (marginally overlapping and juxtaposed) distributions. understanding the mechanisms behind this parapatry is essential for predicting the spatio-temporal dynamics of amblyomma spp. and the impacts of associated diseases. it has been hypothesized that exclusive competition between these species results from competition at the levels of male signal r ...	2015	26438193
development of a generic ehrlichia fret-qpcr and investigation of ehrlichioses in domestic ruminants on five caribbean islands.	the ehrlichia are obligate intracellular gram-negative tick-borne bacteria that are important human and animal pathogens. there is a need for assays to rapidly and reliably detect and differentiate the five generally recognized species into groups in a single reaction: e. canis, e. chaffeensis, e. ewingii, e. muris and e. ruminantium.	2015	26438311
ectoparasites prevalence in small ruminants in and around sekela, amhara regional state, northwest ethiopia.	this study was conducted to determine the prevalence and type of ectoparasites and to identify risk factors associated with ectoparasite infestations in small ruminants in and around sekela, northwest ethiopia. clinical examination and laboratory analysis were made on 304 sheep and 96 goats. the collected raw data were analyzed using χ (2)-test. out of the 400 sampled animals, 182 (45.5%) were infested with one or more ectoparasites. the prevalent ectoparasites observed were lice, ticks, ctenoce ...	2015	26464950
genetic diversity and population structure of theileria annulata in oman.	theileriosis, caused by a number of species within the genus theileria, is a common disease of livestock in oman. it is a major constraint to the development of the livestock industry due to a high rate of morbidity and mortality in both cattle and sheep. since little is currently known about the genetic diversity of the parasites causing theileriosis in oman, the present study was designed to address this issue with specific regard to t. annulata in cattle.	2015	26469349
bacteria associated with amblyomma cajennense tick eggs.	ticks represent a large group of pathogen vectors that blood feed on a diversity of hosts. in the americas, the ixodidae ticks amblyomma cajennense are responsible for severe impact on livestock and public health. in the present work, we present the isolation and molecular identification of a group of culturable bacteria associated with a. cajennense eggs from females sampled in distinct geographical sites in southeastern brazil. additional comparative analysis of the culturable bacteria from an ...	2015	26537602
arthropod surveillance programs: basic components, strategies, and analysis.	effective entomological surveillance planning stresses a careful consideration of methodology, trapping technologies, and analysis techniques. herein, the basic principles and technological components of arthropod surveillance plans are described, as promoted in the symposium "advancements in arthropod monitoring technology, techniques, and analysis" presented at the 58th annual meeting of the entomological society of america in san diego, ca. interdisciplinary examples of arthropod monitoring f ...	0	26543242
identification and characterization of a cathepsin l-like cysteine protease from rhipicephalus (boophilus) annulatus.	the tick rhipicephalus (boophilus) annulatus is one of the most important ectoparasites of bovines and is responsible for the transmission of different pathogens such as babesia and anaplasma. cysteine proteases are involved in several host-tick interactions including invasion of host tissues, immune evasion, pathogen transmission, embryogenesis and blood digestion. in this study, the gene encoding r. annulatus cathepsin l-like enzyme (racl1) was cloned into ptz57r/t vector, sequenced and analyz ...	2016	26597589
panola mountain ehrlichia in amblyomma maculatum from the united states and amblyomma variegatum (acari: ixodidae) from the caribbean and africa.	panola mountain ehrlichia (pme) has been suggested as an emerging pathogen of humans and dogs. domestic goats and white-tailed deer (odocoileus virginianus) are also susceptible and likely serve as reservoirs. experimentally, both the lone star tick (amblyomma americanum (l.)) and the gulf coast tick (amblyomma maculatum koch) can transmit pme among deer and goats. in the current study, we detected pme in adult wild-caught a. maculatum from the united states and amblyomma variegatum (f.) from th ...	2016	26744465
multiple pathogens including potential new species in tick vectors in côte d'ivoire.	our study aimed to assess the presence of different pathogens in ticks collected in two regions in côte d'ivoire.	2016	26771308
insight into the salivary gland transcriptome of lygus lineolaris (palisot de beauvois).	the tarnished plant bug (tpb), lygus lineolaris (palisot de beauvois) is a polyphagous, phytophagous insect that has emerged as a major pest of cotton, alfalfa, fruits, and vegetable crops in the eastern united states and canada. using its piercing-sucking mouthparts, tpb employs a "lacerate and flush" feeding strategy in which saliva injected into plant tissue degrades cell wall components and lyses cells whose contents are subsequently imbibed by the tpb. it is known that a major component of ...	2016	26789269
community structure, seasonal variations and interactions between native and invasive cattle tick species in benin and burkina faso.	the variation of tick abundance on ruminants had received little attention in west africa before rhipicephalus (boophilus) microplus started to invade this region in the early 2000s. ten years later, r. microplus was suspected to have replaced the native ticks. in addition to testing this hypothesis, this study investigated the interactions between native and invasive ticks and the relative role of climatic and geographical variables in the variations of tick community composition (beta diversit ...	2016	26819238
climate change, biodiversity, ticks and tick-borne diseases: the butterfly effect.	we have killed wild animals for obtaining food and decimated forests for many reasons. nowadays, we are burning fossil fuels as never before and even exploring petroleum in deep waters. the impact of these activities on our planet is now visible to the naked eye and the debate on climate change is warming up in scientific meetings and becoming a priority on the agenda of both scientists and policy decision makers. on the occasion of the impact of environmental changes on infectious diseases (iec ...	2015	26835253
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 ...	2016	26837859
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 ...	2016	26866478
in vitro acaricidal activity of bobgunnia madagascariensis desv. against amblyomma variegatum (fabricius) (acari: ixodidae).	the objective of the study was to determine the acaricidal properties of bobgunnia madagascariensis (desv.) j.h. kirkbr. and wiersema (leguminosae) against adult amblyomma variegatum (fabricius) ticks, using tephrosia vogelii hook.f. (leguminosae) as a positive control. plant extracts of both were prepared using methanol, acetone and chloroform as extraction solvents. methanol leaf extracts of t. vogelii (0.014 g) and methanol fruit extracts of b. madagascariensis (0.0062 g) gave the highest mea ...	2016	26894496
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 ...	2016	26901622
a global genomic characterization of nairoviruses identifies nine discrete genogroups with distinctive structural characteristics and host-vector associations.	nairoviruses are primarily tick-borne bunyaviruses, some of which are known to cause mild-to-severe febrile illness in humans or livestock. we describe the genome sequences of 11 poorly characterized nairoviruses that have ecological associations with either birds (farallon, punta salinas, sapphire ii, zirqa, avalon, clo mor, taggert, and abu hammad viruses), rodents (qalyub and bandia viruses), or camels (dera ghazi khan virus). global phylogenetic analyses of proteins encoded in the l, m, and ...	2016	26903607
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 ...	2016	26922323
matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry for comprehensive indexing of east african ixodid tick species.	the tick population of africa includes several important genera belonging to the family ixodidae. many of these ticks are vectors of protozoan and rickettsial pathogens including theileria parva that causes east coast fever, a debilitating cattle disease endemic to eastern, central and southern africa. effective surveillance of tick-borne pathogens depends on accurate identification and mapping of their tick vectors. a simple and reproducible technique for rapid and reliable differentiation of l ...	2016	26979606
paralog analyses reveal gene duplication events and genes under positive selection in ixodes scapularis and other ixodid ticks.	hard ticks (family ixodidae) are obligatory hematophagous ectoparasites of worldwide medical and veterinary importance. the haploid genomes of multiple species of ixodid ticks exceed 1 gbp, prompting questions regarding gene, segmental and whole genome duplication in this phyletic group. the availability of the genome assembly for the black legged tick, ixodes scapularis, and transcriptome datasets for multiple species of ticks offers an opportunity to assess the contribution of gene duplication ...	2016	26984180
perspectives on modelling the distribution of ticks for large areas: so far so good?	this paper aims to illustrate the steps needed to produce reliable correlative modelling for arthropod vectors, when process-driven models are unavailable. we use ticks as examples because of the (re)emerging interest in the pathogens they transmit. we argue that many scientific publications on the topic focus on: (i) the use of explanatory variables that do not adequately describe tick habitats; (ii) the automatic removal of variables causing internal (statistical) problems in the models withou ...	2016	27030357
tick-borne infections in human and animal population worldwide.	the abundance and activity of ectoparasites and its hosts are affected by various abiotic factors, such as climate and other organisms (predators, pathogens and competitors) presenting thus multiples forms of association (obligate to facultative, permanent to intermittent and superficial to subcutaneous) developed during long co-evolving processes. ticks are ectoparasites widespread globally and its eco epidemiology are closely related to the environmental conditions. they are obligatory hematop ...	2015	27047089
ethnoecological knowledge of ticks and treatment of tick-borne diseases among maasai people in northern tanzania.	the aim of this study was to understand traditional knowledge of tick ecology and remedies for tick-borne diseases (tbds) among the maasai people in northern tanzania.	2015	27065643
daboxin p, a major phospholipase a2 enzyme from the indian daboia russelii russelii venom targets factor x and factor xa for its anticoagulant activity.	in the present study a major protein has been purified from the venom of indian daboia russelii russelii using gel filtration, ion exchange and rp-hplc techniques. the purified protein, named daboxin p accounts for ~24% of the total protein of the crude venom and has a molecular mass of 13.597 kda. it exhibits strong anticoagulant and phospholipase a2 activity but is devoid of any cytotoxic effect on the tested normal or cancerous cell lines. its primary structure was deduced by n-terminal seque ...	2016	27089306
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 ...	2016	27090756
molecular detection of spotted fever group rickettsiae in amblyomma variegatum ticks from benin.	spotted fever group (sfg) rickettsiae are obligate intracellular, gram-negative bacteria transmitted by ticks and causing febrile illness in humans. despite the presence of suitable tick vectors, the occurrence of sfg rickettsiae has never been investigated in the republic of benin (west africa). in the present study, 910 amblyomma variegatum ticks collected from 8 different locations in north eastern benin were tested for sfg rickettsiae. the samples were first screened for the presence of rick ...	2016	27150592
an immunosuppressant peptide from the hard tick amblyomma variegatum.	ixodid ticks are well known for spreading transmitted tick-borne pathogens while being attached to their hosts for almost 1-2 weeks to obtain blood meals. thus, they must secrete many immunosuppressant factors to combat the hosts' immune system. in the present work, we investigated an immunosuppressant peptide of the hard tick amblyomma variegatum. this peptide, named amregulin, is composed of 40 residues with an amino acid sequence of hlhmhgngatqvfkprlvlkcpnaaqliqpgklqrqlllq. a cdna of the prec ...	2016	27153086
genomic characterization of the genus nairovirus (family bunyaviridae).	nairovirus, one of five bunyaviral genera, includes seven species. genomic sequence information is limited for members of the dera ghazi khan, hughes, qalyub, sakhalin, and thiafora nairovirus species. we used next-generation sequencing and historical virus-culture samples to determine 14 complete and nine coding-complete nairoviral genome sequences to further characterize these species. previously unsequenced viruses include abu mina, clo mor, great saltee, hughes, raza, sakhalin, soldado, and ...	2016	27294949
ehrlichia ruminantium infects rhipicephalus microplus in west africa.	the invasion of west africa by rhipicephalus microplus during the past decade has changed the ecological situation of the agent of heartwater ehrlichia ruminantium in this area. before, its local vector, amblyomma variegatum, was the most abundant tick species found on livestock. today, the abundance of the r. microplus is one magnitude higher than that of a. variegatum in many west-african localities. we investigated the potential of this new ecological situation to impact the circulation of e. ...	2016	27334439
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 ...	2016	27375615
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 ...	2016	27484910
molecular diagnosis of african tick bite fever using eschar swabs in a traveller returning from tanzania.	african tick bite fever is an emerging infectious disease among travellers caused by the pathogen rickettsia africae. most travel-associated cases have been reported from countries in southern africa. so far it has rarely been reported among travellers to eastern africa and our patient is one of the first described cases imported from tanzania. a woman presented with fever, chills, headache, myalgia and a rickettsial eschar on her ankle after returning from tanzania. the diagnosis of african tic ...	2016	27488618
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 ...	2016	27589998
prevalence and genetic characterization of anaplasma marginale in zebu cattle (bos indicus) and their ticks (amblyomma variegatum, rhipicephalus microplus) from madagascar.	tick-borne bovine anaplasmosis, caused by the obligate intracellular pathogen anaplasma marginale (rickettsiales: anaplasmataceae), is a major constraint to cattle production in tropical and subtropical regions. from madagascar, clinical cases were published but data based on molecular methods regarding the prevalence and genetic diversity of this pathogen on the island are lacking. the aims of this study were to investigate (1) the prevalence of a. marginale in malagasy zebu cattle (bos indicus ...	2016	27592064
improved assembly procedure of viral rna genomes amplified with phi29 polymerase from new generation sequencing data.	new sequencing technologies have opened the way to the discovery and the characterization of pathogenic viruses in clinical samples. however, the use of these new methods can require an amplification of viral rna prior to the sequencing. among all the available methods, the procedure based on the use of phi29 polymerase produces a huge amount of amplified dna. however, its major disadvantage is to generate a large number of chimeric sequences which can affect the assembly step. the pre-process m ...	2016	27605096
detection of rickettsia aeschlimannii and rickettsia africae in ixodid ticks from burkina faso and somali region of ethiopia by new real-time pcr assays.	in the framework of cooperation for development projects in burkina faso and ethiopia, we collected ixodid ticks from cattle, small ruminants and camels. we optimized new taqman probe real-time pcr assays to detect rickettsia aeschlimannii and rickettsia africae ompa gene in the collected samples. rickettsia africae was identified in 75.0% amblyomma variegatum (95%ci: 56.6-88.5), while r. aeschlimannii in 24.0% hyalomma truncatum (95%ci: 9.4-45.1) and 50.0% h. rufipes (95%ci: 29.9-70.0) collecte ...	2016	27641952
african tick-bite fever in traveler returning to slovenia from uganda.		2016	27648844
recombination is a major driving force of genetic diversity in the anaplasmataceae ehrlichia ruminantium.	the disease, heartwater, caused by the anaplasmataceae e. ruminantium, represents a major problem for tropical livestock and wild ruminants. up to now, no effective vaccine has been available due to a limited cross protection of vaccinal strains on field strains and a high genetic diversity of ehrlichia ruminantium within geographical locations. to address this issue, we inferred the genetic diversity and population structure of 194 e. ruminantium isolates circulating worldwide using multilocus ...	2016	27747194
coxiella detection in ticks from wildlife and livestock in malaysia.	recent studies have shown that ticks harbor coxiella-like bacteria, which are potentially tick-specific endosymbionts. we recently described the detection of coxiella-like bacteria and possibly coxiella burnetii in ticks found from rural areas in malaysia. in the present study, we collected ticks, including haemaphysalis bispinosa, haemaphysalis hystricis, dermacentor compactus, dermacentor steini, and amblyomma sp. from wildlife and domesticated goats from four different locations in malaysia. ...	2016	27763821
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 ...	2017	27825658
experiences in tick control by acaricide in the traditional cattle sector in zambia and burkina faso: possible environmental and public health implications.	livestock, especially cattle, play a paramount role in agriculture production systems, particularly in poor countries throughout the world. ticks and tick-borne diseases (tbds) have an important impact on livestock and agriculture production in sub-saharan africa. the authors review the most common methods used for the control of ticks and tbds. special emphasis is given to the direct application of acaricides to the host animals. the possible environmental and public health adverse effects (i.e ...	2016	27882313
shifts in the distribution of ixodid ticks parasitizing cattle in zimbabwe.	in an attempt to update information on the ecological distribution of ixodid ticks (ixodida: ixodidae) in zimbabwe, a cross-sectional survey was carried out between september 2013 and may 2015 at 322 dip tanks. a total of 15 tick species were collected, namely: amblyomma hebraeum koch (65.2%, n = 210/322), amblyomma variegatum fabricius (14.9%, n = 48/322), hyalomma rufipes koch (62.4%, n = 201/322), hyalomma truncatum koch (37.9%, n = 122/322), rhipicephalus appendiculatus neumann (60.6%, n = 1 ...	2017	27935088
occurrence of ticks in cattle in the new pastoral farming areas in rufiji district, tanzania.	ticks and tick-borne diseases plus trypanosomosis are a constraint to cattle rearing in tanzania. rufiji district was not known for important ticks infesting cattle because inhabitants were not engaged in keeping livestock. not only has settlement of pastoralists and cattle in rufiji increased the number of cattle but also cattle have been the source of bringing in and spreading of ticks. this study investigated tick species that have been introduced and managed to establish themselves in the ne ...	2016	27990463
insecticide and repellent mixture pour-on protects cattle against animal trypanosomosis.	african animal trypanosomosis (aat), transmitted by tsetse flies and tick-borne diseases are the main constraints to livestock production in sub-saharan africa. vector control methods such as pour-on offer individual protection against ticks but not against tsetse so far, for which protection has always been communal, through a reduction of their density. the latter requires the treatment of a large part of the herd in a given landscape and is not instantaneous.	2016	28027324
maldi-tof ms as an innovative tool for detection of plasmodium parasites in anopheles mosquitoes.	malaria is still a major public health issue worldwide, and one of the best approaches to fight the disease remains vector control. the current methods for mosquito identification include morphological methods that are generally time-consuming and require expertise, and molecular methods that require laboratory facilities with relatively expensive running costs. matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (maldi-tof ms) technology, routinely used for bacterial id ...	2017	28049524
identification and anticoagulant activity of a novel kunitz-type protein ha11 from the salivary gland of the tick hyalomma asiaticum.	kunitz/bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor proteins are abundant in the salivary glands of ticks and perform multiple functions in blood feeding, including inhibiting blood coagulation, regulating host blood supply and disrupting host angiogenesis. in this study, we identified a novel gene designated ha11 (hyalomma asiaticum 11 kda protein) from the salivary gland of the tick h. asiaticum. ha11 is encoded by a gene with an open reading frame of 306 bp that is translated into a deduced 101 amino ...	2017	28091958
infestation and identification of ixodid tick in cattle: the case of arbegona district, southern ethiopia.	the study was conducted from october 2014 to june 2015 to estimate tick prevalence and identify major tick genera infesting cattle and the associated risk factors in arbegona district, southern ethiopia. a total of 2024 adult ticks were collected from main body parts of animals and eight species of ticks which belong to three genera were identified. questionnaire survey was employed concerning the general case on the tick infestation problems on the cattle. from 384 cattle examined, 291 (75.7%) ...	2016	28105466
parasites of domestic and wild animals in south africa. xlix. ticks (acari: ixodidae) infesting white and black rhinoceroses in southern africa.	the objectives of the study were to determine the species composition of ticks infesting white and black rhinoceroses in southern africa as well as the conservation status of those tick species that prefer rhinos as hosts. ticks were collected opportunistically from rhinos that had been immobilised for management purposes, and 447 white rhinoceroses (ceratotherium simum) and 164 black rhinoceroses (diceros bicornis) were sampled in south africa, 61 black rhinos in namibia, 18 white and 12 black ...	2017	28155285
anteroposterior gradient during nymphal-adult moulting cycle of the tropical bont tick, amblyomma variegatum (acarina: ixodidae) : correlation between ecdysteroid titers and integument structure.	the structure of the extensible (alloscutum) and inextensible (scutum) integument of the nymph, amblyomma variegatum was examined during the whole bloodmeal and the nymphal-adult moulting cycle. integumental events were tentatively correlated with the ecdysteroid levels measured by radioimmunoassay. we observed that all the integumental events were realised along an anteroposterior gradient. during the 5 days corresponding to the bloodmeal, although the hormone concentration was low, a new endoc ...	1990	28305410
avathrin: a novel thrombin inhibitor derived from a multi-copy precursor in the salivary glands of the ixodid tick, amblyomma variegatum.	tick saliva is a rich source of antihemostatic compounds. we amplified a cdna from the salivary glands of the tropical bont tick (amblyomma variegatum) using primers based on the variegin sequence, which we previously identified as a novel thrombin inhibitor from the same tick species. the transcript encodes a precursor protein comprising a signal peptide and 5 repeats of variegin-like sequences that could be processed into multiple short peptides. these peptides share 31 to 34% identity with va ...	2017	28363953
review of cattle ticks (acari, ixodida) in ivory coast and geographic distribution of rhipicephalus (boophilus) microplus, an emerging tick in west africa.	the exotic tick rhipicephalus (boophilus) microplus was discovered in ivory coast in 2007 and then gradually in other countries in west africa. it is known to induce significant losses in farming and to replace other species of the same genus. in order to contribute to improve health and productivity of cattle in ivory coast regarding the emergence of this dreaded tick, a study was conducted to determine the current geographic distribution of the tick r. (b.) microplus and review cattle ticks in ...	2017	28497303
molecular and maldi-tof identification of ticks and tick-associated bacteria in mali.	ticks are considered the second vector of human and animal diseases after mosquitoes. therefore, identification of ticks and associated pathogens is an important step in the management of these vectors. in recent years, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (maldi-tof ms) has been reported as a promising method for the identification of arthropods including ticks. the objective of this study was to improve the conditions for the preparation of tick samples ...	2017	28742123
molecular detection of pathogens in ticks infesting cattle in nampula province, mozambique.	ticks are ectoparasites that can act as vectors of a large number of pathogens in wild and domestic animals, pets, and occasionally humans. the global threat of emerging or re-emerging tick-borne diseases supports the need for research focused in the zoonotic transmission, especially in countries like mozambique where rural populations are in close contact with domestic animals. the present study aims to: (1) identify tick species infesting cattle from monapo and nacala porto, districts of nampu ...	2017	28856544
presence of borrelia spp. dna in ticks, but absence of borrelia spp. and of leptospira spp. dna in blood of fever patients in madagascar.	the occurrence of tick-borne relapsing fever and leptospirosis in humans in madagascar remains unclear despite the presence of their potential vectors and reservoir hosts. we screened 255 amblyomma variegatum ticks and 148 rhipicephalus microplus ticks from zebu cattle in madagascar for borrelia-specific dna. borrelia spp. dna was detected in 21 amblyomma variegatum ticks and 2 rhipicephalus microplus ticks. one borrelia found in one rhipicephalus microplus showed close relationship to borrelia ...	2018	28986249
structural and functional studies of differentially o-glycosylated analogs of a thrombin inhibitory peptide - variegin.	variegin is a 32-amino acid long thrombin inhibitory peptide isolated from the salivary gland extract of tropical bont tick amblyomma variegatum. it was identified to be o-glycosylated on its thr-14 side chain, and this glycosylated form was 14-fold more potent than that of its non-glycosylated form. however, as the identity of this glycosylation remained elusive, the mechanistic details underlying its functional impact are not yet known. in this report, we synthesized four different o-glycosyla ...	2017	29110415
immunomodulatory effects of amblyomma variegatum saliva on bovine cells: characterization of cellular responses and identification of molecular determinants.	the tropical bont tick, amblyomma variegatum, is a tick species of veterinary importance and is considered as one of major pest of ruminants in africa and in the caribbean. it causes direct skin lesions, transmits heartwater, and reactivates bovine dermatophilosis. tick saliva is reported to affect overall host responses through immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory molecules, among other bioactive molecules. the general objective of this study was to better understand the role of saliva in int ...	2017	29354598