Atypical Presentation of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever in Pregnancy
We describe an atypical presentation of RMSF in the third trimester. A 37-year-old multiparous woman at 310/7 weeks' gestation presented normotensive with headaches and fever but no rash or significant tick exposure. She was initially treated for atypical hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet count syndrome but further decompensated, requiring intensive care unit transfer, intubation, and emergent delivery. Doxycycline administration was associated with marked improvement with no significant sequalae to mother or infant. Later convalescent serologies were positive for RMSF. RMSF is a clinically challenging di...
Source: American Journal of Perinatology Reports - January 23, 2024 Category: Perinatology & Neonatology Authors: Wu, Jenny Dotters-Katz, Sarah K. Varvoutis, Megan Tags: Case Report Source Type: research
Defining the “Correlate(s) of Protection” to tick-borne encephalitis vaccination and infection – key points and outstanding questions
Tick-borne Encephalitis (TBE) is a severe disease of the Central Nervous System (CNS) caused by the tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV). The generation of protective immunity after TBEV infection or TBE vaccination relies on the integrated responses of many distinct cell types at distinct physical locations. While long-lasting memory immune responses, in particular, form the basis for the correlates of protection against many diseases, these correlates of protection have not yet been clearly defined for TBE. This review addresses the immune control of TBEV infection and responses to TBE vaccination. Potential correlates o...
Source: Frontiers in Immunology - January 22, 2024 Category: Allergy & Immunology Source Type: research
Preliminary survey on the distribution of Ixodid ticks in domestic ruminants and vegetation of Pathanamthitta district, Kerala, South India
CONCLUSION: The study concludes that, despite the absence of any TBD outbreaks, the Pathanamthitta district has a high diversity of tick fauna and a high rate of tick infestation in domestic ruminants, especially in goats. Hence active tick surveillance is necessary in order to prevent TBD outbreaks in future; the study also emphasizes the importance of performing tick surveillance in both KFD endemic and non-endemic regions.PMID:38238777 | DOI:10.4103/0972-9062.393970 (Source: Journal of Vector Borne Diseases)
Source: Journal of Vector Borne Diseases - January 18, 2024 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: S Sahina S Sithalakshmi R Balasubramanian Source Type: research
Molecular identification of Borrelia and SFG Rickettsia spp. in hard ticks parasitizing domestic and wild animals in southeastern Spain
This study increases the knowledge about the presence ofBorrelia spp. DNA and SFGRickettsia spp. DNA in different hard tick species from this geographical area. (Source: Veterinary Research Communications)
Source: Veterinary Research Communications - January 17, 2024 Category: Veterinary Research Source Type: research
Magnetic resonance imaging in acute meningoencephalitis of viral and unknown origin: frequent findings and prognostic potential
ConclusionPresence of FLAIR lesions, restricted diffusion as well as the extent of ADC hypointensity in initial MRI are parameters which might be of prognostic value regarding the longterm clinical outcome for patients with meningoencephalitis of viral and of unknown origin. Although not described before, affection of limbic structures by TBE is possible as shown by our results: A substantial proportion of our TBE patients had FLAIR signal abnormalities in these regions. (Source: Frontiers in Neurology)
Source: Frontiers in Neurology - January 17, 2024 Category: Neurology Source Type: research
GSE165139 Induction and suppression of Haemaphysalis longicornis ticks antiviral RNA interference responses by arthropod-borne RNA viruses (RNA-Seq)
In this study, utilizing arthropod-borne RNA viruses, including SFTSV, we find abundant virus-derived small interfering RNAs (vsiRNAs) are induced in H. longicornis after infection through either microinjection or natural blood-feeding. Furthermore, we identify a Dicer2-like homolog, the core protein of antiviral RNAi pathway, in H. longicornis and knocking down this gene exacerbated virus amplification. To counteract this antiviral RNAi of ticks, viruses have evolved suppressors of RNAi (VSRs). Here, we show that reduced viral replication inversely correlated with the accumulation of vsiRNAs in ticks after infection with ...
Source: GEO: Gene Expression Omnibus - January 16, 2024 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Tags: Expression profiling by high throughput sequencing Haemaphysalis longicornis Source Type: research
Viruses, Vol. 16, Pages 128: Current Progress of Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome Virus (SFTSV) Vaccine Development
U. Jung
SFTSV is an emerging tick-borne virus causing hemorrhagic fever with a case fatality rate (CFR) that can reach up to 27%. With endemic infection in East Asia and the recent spread of the vector tick to more than 20 states in the United States, the SFTSV outbreak is a globally growing public health concern. However, there is currently no targeted antiviral therapy or licensed vaccine against SFTSV. Considering the age-dependent SFTS pathogenesis and disease outcome, a sophisticated vaccine development approach is required to safeguard the elderly population from lethal SFTSV infection. Given the recent emergence...
Source: Viruses - January 16, 2024 Category: Virology Authors: Dokyun Kim Chih-Jen Lai Inho Cha Jae U. Jung Tags: Review Source Type: research
Molecular screening of tick-borne microorganisms in ticks from rural areas of Panama, with the first record of Ehrlichia minasensis in Rhipicephalus microplus from Central America
AbstractDuring a molecular screening of rickettsial, borrelial and protozoal agents in ticks from rural areas of Panama, we detected DNA ofRickettsia amblyommatis in fourAmblyomma mixtum collected from horses in a locality in Los Santos province.Ehrlichia minasensis andAnaplasma marginale were identified from three and twoRhipicephalus microplus, respectively, collected on cows from Chiriqui province. No DNA from other tick-borne agents was found. These results increase the information ofR. amblyommatis andA. marginale in Panama, and also mark the first record ofE. minasensis in Central America. (Source: Veterinary Research Communications)
Source: Veterinary Research Communications - January 15, 2024 Category: Veterinary Research Source Type: research
Seroprevalence of tick-borne encephalitis virus and vaccination coverage of tick-borne encephalitis, Sweden, 2018 to 2019
ConclusionA difference was observed between low- and high-incidence TBE regions, on the overall TBEV seroprevalence and when separated into vaccinated and infected individuals. The estimated incidence and manifestation index argue that a large proportion of TBEV infections are not diagnosed.PMID:38214080 | PMC:PMC10785208 | DOI:10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2024.29.2.2300221 (Source: Euro Surveill)
Source: Euro Surveill - January 12, 2024 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Bo Albinsson Tove Hoffman Linda Kolstad Tomas Bergstr öm Gordana Bogdanovic Anna Heydecke Mirja H ägg Torbj örn Kjerstadius Ylva Lindroth Annika Petersson Marie Stenberg Sirkka Vene Patrik Ellstr öm Bengt R önnberg Åke Lundkvist Source Type: research
Collaborative Modeling of the Tick-Borne Disease Social-Ecological System: A Conceptual Framework
AbstractHard-bodied ticks have become a major concern in temperate regions because they transmit a variety of pathogens of medical significance. Ticks and pathogens interact with hosts in a complex social-ecological system (SES) that influences human exposure to tick-borne diseases (TBD). We argue that addressing the urgent public health threat posed by TBD requires an understanding of the integrated processes in the forest ecosystem that influence tick density and infection prevalence, transmission among ticks, animal hosts, and ultimately disease prevalence in humans. We argue that collaborative modeling of the human-tic...
Source: EcoHealth - January 12, 2024 Category: Environmental Health Source Type: research
Molecular detection of Rickettsiales and a potential novel Ehrlichia species closely related to Ehrlichia chaffeensis in ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) from Shaanxi Province, China, in 2022 to 2023
This study provides a reference for the formulation of biological control strategies for ticks and tick-borne diseases in Shaanxi Province, and could lead to an improved control effect. (Source: Frontiers in Microbiology)
Source: Frontiers in Microbiology - January 11, 2024 Category: Microbiology Source Type: research
Viruses, Vol. 16, Pages 107: Molecular Detection and Phylogenetic Analysis of Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus from Ticks Collected from Cattle in Kyrgyzstan, 2023
In this study, we collected 40 ticks from cattle in Kyrgyzstan. Molecular marker analysis identified the ticks as Ixodes persulcatus (97.5%; n = 39) and Haemaphysalis punctata (2.5%; n = 1). Real-time PCR screening revealed two ticks to be positive for TBEV, but only one tick was amplified using nested PCR targeting the TBEV envelope (E) and non-structure 5 (NS5) gene. The obtained sequences belonged to the TBEV Siberian subtype and phylogenetic tree analysis results confirmed that the virus was related to the Bosnia strain. We also performed next-generation sequencing, which confirmed the TBEV Siberian subtype. Continuous...
Source: Viruses - January 11, 2024 Category: Virology Authors: Haneul Jung Chi-Hwan Choi Minji Lee Seong-Yoon Kim Bekbolsun Aknazarov Rysbek Nyrgaziev Nurzina Atabekova Elmurat Jetigenov Yoon-Seok Chung Hee-Il Lee Tags: Brief Report Source Type: research
Seroprevalence of tick-borne encephalitis virus and vaccination coverage of tick-borne encephalitis, Sweden, 2018 to 2019
ConclusionA difference was observed between low- and high-incidence TBE regions, on the overall TBEV seroprevalence and when separated into vaccinated and infected individuals. The estimated incidence and manifestation index argue that a large proportion of TBEV infections are not diagnosed. (Source: Eurosurveillance)
Source: Eurosurveillance - January 11, 2024 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Bo Albinsson, Tove Hoffman, Linda Kolstad, Tomas Bergstr öm, Gordana Bogdanovic, Anna Heydecke, Mirja Hägg, Torbjörn Kjerstadius, Ylva Lindroth, Annika Petersson, Marie Stenberg, Sirkka Vene, Patrik Ellström, Bengt Rönnberg and Åke Lundkvist Source Type: research
Predicting the global potential distribution of two major vectors of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever under conditions of global climate change
This study aims to explore the potential global suitability of areas for the vectors of Rocky Mountain spotted fever, includingDermacentor variabilis andAmblyomma cajennense under both historical and future climate scenarios. The study also seeks to investigate the impact of climatic factors on the distribution patterns of these vectors. Data on species distribution were downloaded from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility, Web of Science and PubMed database. The climatic variables were downloaded from WorldClim Global Climate Database. The Maximum Entropy Model was used to evaluate the contribution of monthly prec...
Source: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases - January 10, 2024 Category: Tropical Medicine Authors: Haoqiang Ji Source Type: research
